[3]

Turning very, very slowly, Megumi was soon face to face with an unfamiliar woman. Never had she been more confused in her life. Just who was this woman? A guest? Megumi scratched her head in confusion. No, that couldn't be right. They never had guests, never really. It was always just the two of them, and an occasional visit from her Father. So who...? The woman didn't even look at her - she was busy emptying the contents of her fridge. "Ah, you guys don't have any of the good stuff...bummer." she muttered as she raided the fridge. As if this was her own house. Although Megumi usually had a hard time speaking up, it was as if a switch was flipped. Now, she struggled with keeping her mouth shut. So, she managed a strained smile as she asked: "Um, I don't think we've ever met." The redhaired woman briefly stopped eating before glancing at her. "Yeah, we haven't." ... A tense silence spread over the room. Both of them just staring at eachother. Megumi with a smile that was growing more and more irritated, and the strange woman, who managed to hold her stare while munching on a sandwich... "So..." Megumi began, hoping the lady would introduce herself already. "So...?" The lady repeated, while tilting her head confusedly. "So what? What do you want to say, kid?" Then the woman sighed deeply and put her hands up in an exaggeratedly defeated manner. "And what's with the staring? Kinda weird. Not too articulate, are you, kiddo?", and then she went back tearing through the fridge. Megumi twitched. Now, usually, Megumi is a very polite girl. But something in this woman's way of speaking was just so effective in pushing her buttons, and so, in that moment, Megumi felt her patience for the woman snap. But before she had a chance to blow up and tell this woman anything, her mother burst into the room. "Megumi, hello! Ah, I see you've met my sister! Shiori, have you said hello yet? "Your sister? Your... sister." Megumi said, but before she turned to look at Shiori in horror. "Mom, are you absolutely SURE this isn't just a random burglar? Because I think I would prefer it that way..." Her mom threw her a mildly miffed look, but the redhead beside her just started laughing boisterously. "Hahaha! Rika, this kid is hilarious! Okay, that settles it! I was on the fence about it, but now I've decided! I'll stay here!" She exclaimed excitedly. Megumi clasped her mouth shut. Rika, her mother, gasped. "Oh, will you really? That would mean so much to us! How long will you stay?" Aunt Shiori let out a contemplative hum. "Hmm, well...I was thinking, maybe two months' time...?" Megumi's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. The idea of living with this woman for two whole months?! "Really now?", she couldn't help but say sarcastically. "No, you're right. If I'm coming to live here, I might as well stay for a bit longer. How does 6 months sound?" 'Six months...SIX MONTHS?? You've got to be KIDDING ME!' Megumi thought in despair. But again, she was ignored. Her mother looked absolutely overjoyed. "That sounds great!" The two women exited the kitchen, talking excitedly and catching up, but just Megumi stayed, and stared into nothing. Only two words occupied her mind, repeating themselves again and again... 'Six. Months...?!'