Chapter 57

“Canceled again.”

Casper scratches his head as he reads his email replies from a certain “@NanZi_Noir” informing him of her absence due to “Technical Reasons” as he slumps his shoulders wondering if their plans to do a ”collab” would even push through. He had been planning for weeks that his stream character “Jetta Vee Dub” would have “Raven Noir” as a guest in his show and play videogames on stream together but after multiple tries to sync their schedule, it seems that the collab wouldn’t push through.

‘That’s the third time now. You think she’ll push through?’ Julian said, lying on his back on the sofa just outside the streaming room, playing on his handheld.

‘Honestly at this point… I doubt it. Which is sad cuz I really looked up to her… and …well…’

‘She’s a bitch?’

‘Er-- nahh-- nahh not like that… but I kinda feel side tracked ya know?’ Casper replies, defeated as he starts to put on his motion capture suit to start his stream for the night.

‘Well you know what they say… Never meet your heroes.’ Julian responds as he hears Casper sigh in defeat.

‘Well unless they meet you, in which case maybe the… opposite can happen?’

‘The fuck you talkin ‘bout Cass?’ Julian chuckles.

‘I dunno… wishful thinking I guess…’

Julian never bothered to answer back as Caper continued to suit up in awkward silence, failing to keep his anxiety in line, itching for an answer or a reply.

‘You think Denzo’s watching?’

Julian does a double take before putting down his game. Suffice to say Casper had gotten his attention. ‘Why you asking?’ He dubiously asked.

‘Ya think he stopped being a fan after knowing I’m actually a guy?’ Casper wondered. Julian leaned his head back to ponder for a moment before getting back to his game.

‘Why? You missed knowing he has eyes on you?’

‘Wh-- huh?!’ Casper was startled while he was putting on the trouser part of the suit, almost tripping on his clothes.

‘Just askin…’ Julian responds nonchalantly. Casper, on the other hand, wasn't having any of it and zips up his suit, going back inside the streaming room without saying any word.

…

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…

…

‘What?’

Yukino breaks the silence between her and Nica as she continues to fidget around her seat looking wildly impatient as they have been waiting for almost two hours for a certain person.

It has already been a week since Yukino has made the promise to Nica’s parents about her safety and now, on the morning before her promise expires, she is on the verge of fulfilling that.

If only the flight was not delayed.

They have been waiting for hours in their seats and Nica was starting to feel the effects of boredom.

Also she was starving.

‘How can you just sit there without losing your mind?’ Nica snarks back.

‘I’m used to waiting…’ Yukino gloomily replied.

‘Well so am I but not for this long… And we haven’t even had breakfast yet!’ She responds back, finally losing her composure as she stands from her seat to ease her unease. Pacing back and forth to take her mind away from her stomach.

Yukino looks up at Nica as the words finally register in her mind. And as soon as it does, her body reacts and she feels a slight rumble in her tummy.

‘I heard that…’ Nica said with a teasing smirk which irked Yukino. ‘Fine…’ She said, defeated.

Yukino was about to get up from her seat when she heard the flight they were waiting for, being announced from the airport's intercom. As the both of them suddenly lose their feeling of hunger, deciding to go ahead and take their spot near the gate.

‘You got the sign?’ Yukino asked.

‘Yup!’ Nica responds as she searches her bag for her tablet as she scrolls around to find their guest’s name.

‘Now that I look at it again, I’d say she’s got quite a unique name… Are you sure this is her?’ Nica asks as she starts to doubt the identity of their guest.

‘Well my sister’s contact has a weird name as well so I guess it’s a thing.’ She replies as she stands on her tippy toes trying to spot anyone in the crowd of people exiting out of the gate.

Meanwhile Nica sets her tablet screen to full brightness mode as she turns around the display and holds it just below her chin, displaying the name towards the gate.

------ Zereneya Veloce ------

As soon as Nica showed her sign, someone from the crowd started pushing people around. The pair couldn’t get a read on who was causing the commotion as all they could see was people getting pushed and the occasional authoritative shout from the back saying: “Get back here!”

Suffice to say it didn’t take that long before everyone’s eyes were on this person as both Nica and Yukino looked at each other in confusion. Soon enough, the two finally get their answer as a spitfire of a lady comes blasting through the doors, pushing everyone in her path with fire bursting out of her emerald eyes, running straight for Nica who was holding the sign.

‘HELLO!!!’

‘U-uh… hi…’

‘So you’re Nica?!’

‘Y-yeahh??’

‘COOOOOOOOOOLLLLL!!! And you must be Keeeeennoooooo???!!!’

‘Eh--er… Yes I am!’ Yukino said, trying to match her energy.

‘There you are! You TWERP!!’

Suddenly a woman with the same blonde hair appears from behind and grabs the hyperactive girl on her collar to reign her back.

‘Owww! Stop! That hurts!’

‘Oh you must be her mother…’ Nica responds as the woman looks at her with confusion. Meanwhile Yukino squints her eyes then gasps in surprise realizing who the person was.

‘Miles?’

‘Hello Yuki. Sorry you two had to witness this dumbassery…’ Miles said as she karate chops the top of the “spitfire’s” head.

‘N-no… it’s alright… she’s… unique.’

‘Hear that Miles?! I’m unique! I--AM--UNIQUE!!’

‘Shut up Zee!’ Miles shouts as she forcefully wrings back her collar, slightly choking her to shut her up as the two look on with concern at how rough Miles was treating her.

‘Uhh… aren’t you treating Zee a bit too harshly?’ Nica asks.

‘Nah-uh-uh-uhh!! Stop!!’ Zee quickly reprimands Nica, wagging her finger in front of her. ‘It’s Neeya! Not Zee! Neeya! Only old people call me that and old people are no fun!’

Nica was quite taken aback by “Neeya’s” sudden outburst whilst on the other hand Yukino nods as if she can relate to what she had just said.

Meanwhile Miles was starting to pop her veins trying to keep her composure intact.

‘Can we just go? Aren’t you people hungry?’ She said whilst clenching her jaw, resisting the urge to strangle Neeya in front of the viewing public. Thankfully the two girls who had been waiting were easy to talk to, partly because the both of them were also starving.

The rest of the morning went by quickly as Nica’s memory was starting to fade the longer her stomach remained empty. All she could remember was feeling surprised that Yukino’s driver knew Neeya’s “mother” and that Neeya was surprisingly quiet during the ride.

Nonetheless her memories started to kickstart once more after she had finished her meal, which, to her surprise, was a gigantic fast food burger.

Two of them to be exact.

And she could tell because Yukino has the same order, but unlike her, she was struggling with her last bite.

‘Pwahh!’ Yukino exhaled in relief after gobbling down her last bite. As both Miles and Neeya observe them with intrigue from the opposing side of the table, with Simon sitting at the middle positioning himself like a guard in case “anything” happens.

‘Wow… no chill.’ Neeya states as Miles readies her karate chop above her head.

There was a sudden spike in bloodlust that spread throughout the table which was quickly dissipated by Simon “coughing” to get their attention.

‘Sorry…’ Neeya apologized, which shocked the both of them as the overly hyperactive girl was now acting all meek and mild at the table before them.

‘Forgiven.’ Simon said. ‘Though I must remind people that it takes two to tango and that fire can never happen without something to ignite it.’ He continued whilst staring at both Nica and Yukino, sounding like he was gently reprimanding them but from the perspective of the pair, it didn’t feel like it was being directed towards them exactly.

‘Anyways…’ Miles quickly changes subject. ‘If you’re done, can we leave? We still need to introduce Zee to her foster family before we can drop you guys off at the Robbie residence.’

‘Foster family?’ Nica curiously asks.

‘Yes. we’re putting her under the guise of an exchange student program and thus we shall be providing her with a foster family to stay with’ She answers.

‘But can’t she stay with you?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Aren’t you her mother?’

Both Miles and Neeya recoiled back after hearing Nica’s assumption as the both of them burst into laughter. Leaving both Nica and Yukino in a state of confusion.

‘Oh god if I had a quarter for everytime I heard that.’ Miles said in a fit of laughter as she wiped a tear from her eye. ‘Honey just because we look alike doesn’t mean we’re related.’

‘Really? But both of you look so alike?’ Yukino adds.

‘We do but that doesn’t meean we’re related… Like… eww…’ Neeya answered as Miles raised an eyebrow taking offense to her snide remark.

‘Also a fun fact. Though she might look and act like you two. Zee here is closer in age to your elder sister, Yuki.’ Miles quipped as Neeya zaps her with a death stare, prompting Simon to “cough” once more.

‘It seems the apple never falls far from the tree…’ He remarked. As the two blondes zap him a death stare.

Prompting another “cough”.

‘Wait… If that’s the case then why can’t she stay with us? Wouldn't it make sense to make Neeya stay at our household since she’s gonna be “secretly” guarding me anyways?’ Nica asks again.

‘Well I have thought of that but… Zee has “reasons” and she might just interfere with your father’s work.’ Miles replies as Neeya nods beside her in concurrence.

‘What does my father’s work have to do with whatever reason she has? Is it illegal?’ Nica asks, getting even more curiously invested.

‘Uhhhh… No but…’

‘I’m a noisy person. Let’s leave it at that.’ Neeya interjects.

Nica looks confused but decides to refrain from pushing any further as the answer was good enough of a reason to not stay with her parent’s house, knowing fully how much her father likes to keep the silence within their home.

‘Alright then fine… but where’s she gonna stay?’

[The Palace of Midas]

-Somewhere East of the Metro-

‘Oh I see… smart.’

Yukino says as she recognizes the place where their car was parked. Miles had already gone inside along with Neeya telling the two of them to stay put with Simon as they will only be stopping shortly before heading straight towards Nica’s place.

‘Smart in what way?’ Nica asked.

‘Oh I forgot you didn’t know.’ Yukino responds. ‘This was where Neil used to stay.’

Nica’s eyes widened after realizing where they were. ‘Wait? Really? This is Neil’s place??’

‘His sisters’ place, actually. And since she and Neeya seem to be around the same age as each other, things will be fine. I guess…’ Yukino said, biting her nails seemingly hoping what she said was actually correct.

…

‘Heey Wendy!’ Miles greets the woman on the front desk who happens to be Neil’s older sister as she eyes the blond lady beside her.

‘Hmm… So you must be…uh… Zen… Zena… Zeda… uh…’

‘It’s Zereneya… Wendy.’ Miles steps in to correct her, sensing that she couldn’t pronounce her name. ‘But you can call her z--’

‘Neeya! It’s Neeya… for short…’ Neeya butts in, a gesture which surprises Miles.

‘Interesting…’ Miles thought to herself. As she silently observes the two from the side.

‘Well Neeya, Welcome!’ Wendy greets her as she continues to stare at her inquisitively.

‘Hmmm…You know If you’re bored with your downtime, I can offer you a spot within our rosters.’

‘Hell no.’ Miles swiftly shuts her down, to which Neeya quickly catches on. ‘Why Miles? Afraid seeing your image getting tainted?’

‘Woah! Wait? Is she?’ Wendy curiously asked.

‘No! And shut your mouth Zee you have a job to do here.’ Miles responds.

‘Fine… whatever…’ Neeya replied whilst giving Wendy a covert wink. ‘Anywho my “Pimp” here is running me on the clock so… can you show me to my room… and maybe a little tour?’

‘Zereneya!’ Miles shouts from the sidelines to reprimand her, making Wendy chuckle.

‘It’s okay Miles, I got her.’ Wendy smiles reassuringly as the two disappear behind the curtain whispering to each other, with the last words Miles was ever to catch were saying:

“So behind there is where the magic happens…”

…

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…

…

‘What took you guys so long?’ Yukino complained as they had been stuck inside the car waiting the long wait for the second time that day, that they were just sick of it.

‘Ugh well we needed to “declutter” some of the stuff inside my room. Lots of obsolete tech inside of that place… Not my type.’ Neeyah said, crossing her arms, annoyed as she didn’t get the chance to relax after their long flight.

‘What room exactly?’ Yukino asked, her ears picking up a crucial detail from Neeya’s statement.

‘Neil’s…’ Miles answered as a chill went down Nica’s spine. ‘She’s… really staying in Neil’s room?’ She curiously asked.

‘Now formerly! It’s mine now.’ Neeya reacts, making Miles roll her eyes in response.

‘Oh yeah? What if the kid returns?’ Miles critiqued, plunging Nica deeper in worry. She was not enjoying the conversation in any way at all.

‘Bahh, I’ll catch ‘im first before he thinks of getting back. Besides me and his sister get along already. I’m pretty sure she’s gonna kick him out rather than me if he ever comes back.’

‘Really? How so?’ Yukino asked, butting in, looking intrigued at what she had to say.

‘Ugh, she hates that kid for some reason. And knowing that my job here is to keep you guys away from him… I’d say that he must be a piece of work.’ Neeyah said as Yukino nodded but looked like she wanted more from the answer than what she had given her. Nonetheless it wasn’t much of an insight as she already knew his relationship with his sister, but she tried to shoot her shot to learn something new, frustratingly it wasn’t enough.

‘Anyways I’m gonna go get some shut eye before we get to the next place since the jetlags’ been pulling me down ever since we landed.’

‘You were jetlagged in that state?!’ Miles said in surprise, referring to Neeya’s people pushing commotion at the gates earlier.

‘Yawn-- Yea… I was close to dozing off when I saw my name on the tablet.’ Neeya remembered as she let out another heavy yawn.

‘She saw that? But she was buried in the crowd?’Yukino thought. She was about to ask another curious question but was thwarted when she started to hear Neeya’s snoring breaths from the seat in front of them as she sank back on her seat, feeling a deep curiosity at the people whom her sister was associated with. After all this time she had been helping within the ins and outs of her sister’s projects not knowing what they were for or whom she was working with.

This is the first time she had been exposed to those people who she seem to be keeping in the shadows, though she couldn’t help but speculate that the people Lorna had introduced were also new to her as well, having a good hunch that they have some sort of connection to the last chaos that riddled the metro a couple of weeks ago. As she couldn’t help but imagine what kind of people her sister was surrounding herself with.

On one hand she feels like she was getting ahead of herself for speculating that these people were competent enough without witnessing them work in action. But just by basing their value through sheer gut feeling and trust on Lorna’s judgment of character, she knew deep inside there was more to what meets the eye.

Simon had already proved that to her by being an amazingly convenient assistant to her, being able to clear her tasks in an instant, even finding a solution for her bluff on Nica’s parents by introducing Neeya. At the same time, Miles herself was an interesting person to her as well. Appearing abruptly inside their household without any warning but with full acceptance by her parents, which is a rarity, since her only objective was to dump her android assistant as a form of “payment” as she had put it, and leaving without elaborating any further..

In all honesty Yukino was not really expecting for all her troubles to be solved conveniently in the way that it has been currently going so far, and she is still holding on for that slim chance of things going downhill as things normally do, but besides not letting her guard down to keep herself primed when things go wrong, everything around her was constantly telling her that all is right in the world.

Which is a testament to the kind of people that were surrounding her at this moment. In contrast, the people she was used to working with inside the student council office never gave her this bulletproof feeling of security before, giving her a gauge of what it is like to be inside a group where the least competent person was her.

Needless to say, for Yukino, it felt quite refreshing.

And with that, her mind relaxes and opens itself to all questions and answers that her usual tense mind kept blocking to keep her focused. And one of those questions seemed to be something she remembered that she wanted to ask ever since she saw Miles appear with Neeya that morning.

‘Miles?’

‘Yeah?

‘I’m curious… I thought you said you’d be away for a while for an important job overseas? So now I kinda wanna ask you something…’

‘Uhuh… go shoot… though I think I already know.’

‘What are you really here for?’

[5516]

-Robbie household-

‘We’re dropping you three here for the moment. Yuki, you know where we’ll be, so just sit tight and call us in advance when you need a pickup. Simon will drive here in an instant.’

‘You won’t be here to come pick us up?’ Yukino asked.

‘No. It’s gonna be a long conversation.’ Miles said as she gave Simon a small nod. ‘By the way… don’t rush, take your time and if things end badly, meaning that you have no choice but to leave early. Simon here is under instructions to drive you around for a bit.

And Zee?’

‘What?’

‘You did book the plan B right?’

‘Yup! Midnight.’

‘Good. Simon will see you then.’

Miles said her parting words as the three alight the vehicle. Both Yukino and Nica are now starting to feel the tension as this could be the make or break moment of the day.

‘You ready?’ Yukino said whilst wearing a smile on her face to comfort Nica as she could only nod in response, feeling her nerves quiver, not knowing what to do next.

‘Are you gonna ring the bell?’ Yukino asks.

‘Oh. yea.’ Nica said as the three of them were answered and they disappeared behind the front gate. Sure and unsure at the same time, on how Nica’s situation is going to progress.

…

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…

…

‘So… you’re the person tasked to guard my daughter?’

‘No.’

‘What?!!’

Both Nica and Yukino shift their surprised gazes onto Neeya as she stares back at them with eyes that look cold, confident. A full contrast to the person they met at the airport.

She was calm, collected and emotionless.

To sum it up, she looked exactly like Miles, only younger and with longer hair.

‘Wait I thought--’ Neeya held a hand up to Yukino as she stepped forward towards Nica’s parents who sat before them inside his study.

‘I am here for many things. Protecting your daughter is just my cover. Capturing her harasser - A side hobby.’

‘Wha- I-- I am confused? Nica! Who have you brought inside our home?!!’ Her father, Lucas, shouts, but before Nica could answer Neeya had already pulled out a silenced gun, aimed right at his face.

‘You are to continue your daughter’s education in the same school. You are to let me escort your daughter if the situation requires it. You are to completely surrender your daughter’s security to me “AND” should the situation require, You are to let your daughter spend the night in a safehouse that has been designated by me.

Long story short. I shall be her guardian regardless whether or not you approve of my methods.

DO all this plus maintain and make sure that my cover as an exchange student isn’t compromised in any shape and form and you get to keep your happy family intact.

Is this understood?’

Neeya looks at them with a cold stare as Lucas stammers for a reply. On the other hand, her mother, Tina, who stood firmly beside her husband, takes a deep breath and asks:

‘Can you guarantee the safety of my daughter?’

Neeya smiles and cocks her silenced firearm, flipping it around so that the handle faces Tina, essentially offering it to her.

‘Wanna prove it?’ Neeya flatly states.

Tina puts on a determined look as she decides to grab the gun. Neeya anticipates the move and prepares her grip to prevent her from snatching it.

But at the last minute, Tina changes her approach. Grabbing the handle and slipping her finger on the trigger.

-Click-

Nothing happens as Tina looks at the gun, shocked and confused that it didn’t go off.

‘Did you seriously think that I’m gonna let you kill me?’ Neeya smirks sadistically as Tina lets go of the gun in pure primal fear.

‘If an accomplished adult like you can’t even kill me, what chance does a highschooler have?’ Neeya said while she looks deep into the eyes of Nica’s parents, feeling satisfied that she’s proved her point.

‘Well then, I guess I won’t be needing plan B.’ Neeya said with a smile as her usual happy go lucky aura gradually resurfaced.

‘S-shall I call Simon?’ Yukino asked, trying her best to just act normal while Nica was in pure frozen shock.

‘Nahh… too early. Let’s get some ice cream instead.’ She said in a jolly tone.

‘But… um… dad?’ Nica stuttered.

‘Yeah dad can we?’ Neeyah quickly turns around to meet his gaze flashing him with her murderous eyes.

‘Yes! Yes! It’s okay my daughter is- it's okay to- ice cream yes!’

‘YAY! Thanks father!’ Neeya exclaims, noticing that the other two were still shocked silent, not knowing what to do, nudging them on the side trying to coerce them to play along.

‘Y-yeah ice cream sounds nice? Right Nica?’

‘Uhh-- Yes! Thanks? Dad?’

‘Let’s go then! Hahahahaha’ Neeya says while laughing out loud as the trio disappear out of the room and towards wherever they were supposed to go. Meanwhile her parents were watching them leave, unable to do anything until they were sure that Neeya was nowhere to be found.

‘Dear I dunno what’s worse anymore…’ Lucas contemplates as he was finally able to breathe after Neeya’s intimidation. ‘Our daughter having a stalker? Or having a trigger happy merc as her bodyguard?’

‘I dunno dear… I dunno…’ Tina responds as she swiftly walks towards the liquor cabinet to pour herself and her husband a glass. ‘I guess we just have to trust the Lorans.’ She continued.

The encounter only lasted a few minutes and the sky was only just starting to turn orange. Nica was walking out of their house with a blank mind and a blank feeling in her heart. For her the last few moments were the most intense moments she had ever felt in her life. She could’ve sworn that she was about to see her father getting murdered in cold blood in front of her.

But none of that even happened.

In fact everything had gone according to their plan. And she had just witnessed the approval of her parents in letting her stay in school.

Everything had been solved. She doesn’t have to lose her friends. She doesn’t have to be a stranger anymore. She gets to keep her sense of belongingness.

So why?

Why was she still feeling that something was wrong.

That something was off…

She looks up and sees both Neeya and Yukino talking as if nothing had happened. Like her parents were not just threatened a few minutes ago and that they are now letting the very person who had issued that threat take them out for ice cream.

To her everything about it seems so wrong that she felt unworthy.

Or rather, that her freedom wasn’t worth fighting for anymore.

Somehow she started to wish that they had failed instead. And lost everything and started over.

‘Nica?’ Yukino called out, snapping back to her senses. ‘Something wrong?’ She asked as Nica looks back at her, looking aloof.

‘Still terrified of what I did?’ Neeya teased.

For some reason her tone has awakened something inside Nica. Yukino could only look on as her actions had completely caught her off guard, seeing Nica leap forward and land a slap on Neeya’s cheek.

She smiles, seemingly enjoying her display of emotion, quickly replying with a slap of her own.

Not letting Neeya get the last laugh, Nica slaps her back.

And Neeya replies.

So Nica replies.

And so on and so forth.

Until Yukino was looking at a full on brawl between the two. Pulling hair and collars and scratching and slapping and screaming and shouting that it was a surprise that none of the neighbors were rushing outside to stop them as she took it upon herself to risk being hurt and steps in the middle to break their melee.

Much to her surprise it wasn’t Neeya who needed the most restrain as she found herself gripping and clenching onto Nica more to keep her from retaliating, even taking a few slaps herself in the name of keeping her away.

‘WHYYYY ARE YOU STOPPPING MEE WHHHYYY??!!’ She shouts. She shouts so loud that her voice was already borderline screeching. Already she can see and feel what Nica was feeling.

She had let go.

All of her restraints. All of her fears. All of her frustrations and feelings of powerlessness.

All of it, she had let go.

Part of it was because she felt relaxed. Relaxed that her problems were gone. Relaxed that the threats around her had mellowed. But there is also the other part of her. The part that was angry. The part that was frustrated.

The part that pissed her off.

All these years she spent holding back, preventing herself from saying what she wanted to say and feeling what she wanted to feel. All of these years that she felt afraid to be labeled disobedient. All of those years of dreaming to take charge of what she wanted and seemingly feeling inadequate or afraid of being seen as an ingrate. All of those years and all of those reasons she used to justify herself.

All undone.

And worse;

She made it look, oh so simple.

-What is that power?

-How can I get that power?

-I need that power.

-I have now seen it and now I want it for myself

-A gun and a loud mouth?

-That’s it?

-That’s all it took?

-And here I was telling myself to build brownie points to gain favors and all it took was a bit of force?’

-Bullshit.

-BULLSHIT!

‘Let go of her Keeno…’ Neeya said calmly as she stood her ground firmly in front of Nica, unfazed and unafraid.

Looking down on her screaming and wailing. Desperate to take a shot at her.

‘You sure?’ Yukino asked as she continued to struggle to keep Nica in check.

‘There’s nothing you can do anyways… All she’s seeing now is red.’ Neeya said as Yukino looked at her, unsure whether to follow or not, but Neeya nodded and looked at her eye to eye, reassuring that it was okay, as she let go of her grip.

Nica stumbles forward and moves to strike her, but Neeya has already seen through and catches her hand before she even makes contact, swiftly restraining her other limbs and giving her no escape.

‘Are you pissed?

Pissed that the daddy’s little girl scheme didn’t work anymore?’

‘FFFFUUCK YOUU!!!!’

‘Pissed at the fact that everything you’ve done can be achieved by acting like a bitch?

How pathetic…

You fear your own weakness but you don’t make steps in trying to overcome them.

I bet you always make excuses don’t you?’

‘SHHUUTT UUPPPP!!!’

‘So you do.

Even more sad.

So then…

What’s your excuse huh?’

Neeya provokes her prompting Nica to spit on her face. But just smiles and wipes it off as she tries to mimic the most pathetic tone of voice she could make.

‘I’ve been hurt so much! So much that I don’t wanna get hurt anymore. So all I can do is hide.

Hide myself. Hide behind people. Hide behind my window. Distance myself from others. Close all my doors. Boohoohoo

I can never have friends. Cuz I’ll just get hurt again. Boohoohoo.’

Neeya laughs as Nica slowly falls into a crying fit. The rage that was burning within her slowly dissipated, weakening.

‘And now that I have friends I’m sooo afraid of being hurt losing them ohhh nooo! After all I’ve spent sooo much time and soooo much “courage” to open up it would be a waste of “MY” energy to--’

-SLAP-

‘Stop it…’ Yukino said after hitting Neeya on the cheek. ‘Can’t you see? She’s not trying to fight you anymore…’

‘Yes I can see.’

‘You’re just bullying her!’

‘Of course I am!’

Yukino gasps at Neeya’s sudden admission. As she looks at her with pure confusion asking herself what was on her mind.

‘She’s probably asking why am I the way I am, and how does she become the kind of person that’s just as capable as me.’ Neeya said as she tips up Nica’s chin so she could look her in the eyes before continuing.

‘Girl you think you know pain. But you don’t.

You wanna be me?

You wanna be as capable as me?

Then suffer.

Then find a way to end that suffering.

Even If you have to beg for it.

Until then.

Until you keep on holding on to whatever pride you have.

You’re just gonna be weak.’

She says her last words before letting go of her grasp in Nica, as she falls on her knees crying. Yukino could only do what she could to comfort her. But after hearing what Neeya had to say, she couldn't help but agree.

And though she pities her for her current sorry state, wanting to say things to encourage her, lift her spirits. She knew well enough it would just add to her detriment as with a heavy heart, Yukino tried her best to keep silent.

…

…

…

‘Fine.’

Nica breaks her silence. Speaking in between sniffles as she places her hand on Yukino’s arm giving her a nod to tell her she was fine. Finally giving herself the strength to stand and face Neeya once more, looking at her eye to eye.

‘Ice cream is on me.’ She faintly said as Neeya’s expression became softer after hearing her.

It didn’t take too long before she was back to her happy go lucky self.

But this time instead of walking side by side with Yukino. She was now walking with Nica as Yukino looked ahead at the two, relieved but worried, hoping that things would turn out fine.

Now all that’s left is to find a place with ice cream.