"Thank you for the meal," Dior murmured. She looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, Dior. It's not really all that difficult. I'm not the best at cooking or anything, but I think I do alright," I replied.

"That is not what matters, it was very delicious. Dior will enjoy the next time."

"Right," I said, and smiled at her.

"Are you gonna have cake too?" Morada asked, holding up a knife.

Dior cringed. "Cake is a little... much."

"That's okay. Maybe later, if you feel up to it."

The small girl gave a weak nod, before settling back in her chair.

Morada cut into the ice cream cake. "So, you guys have any plans? It's not often we have a whole day off."

"Not really," I answered. "I just came back out here because the power's down at my apartment, and I put the perishables on ice. It didn't come back the next day, so I figured I'd make use of this space since it has electricity and cook up some stuff before it goes bad."

"You cooked the food you saved?" Dior asked, looking confused.

I shrugged. "I couldn't exactly finish all this by myself, so letting it go to waste would've been a shame. Plus, I got a few extra days worth of meals.".

"That makes sense. You seem to have many... needs." Dior frowned. "Dior can provide some assistance if you require it, as repayment."

Repayment?

I looked at her with confusion.

"I don't know if that's really necessary, Dior. You helped save my life the other night."

"Dior has already been paid for that service ahead of time," the girl replied with a huff.

"Besides," I smiled. "I don't think that's how it works. We don't have to be indebted to each other or anything."

Morada smiled and took a piece of the cake.

She took a bite and chewed it thoughtfully, before swallowing. "It's good to be helpful, Dior. But, you're friends now. Friends don't need to owe each other favors, they just do nice stuff for each other because it's nice. You get me?"

Dior sighed. "Yes... this one understands. She does not have many friends. It is nice."

Midori snorted in amusement. She glanced over at Dior and smiled, and her eyes twinkled mischievously.

"Is something the matter?"

Midori waved her hand. "Oh, nothing, nothing. Don't mind me."

"Dior does mind. What are you laughing about?"

"You've come such a long way since you started living with me and Talia, that's all."

I blinked. "You live together?"

Dior frowned, and Morada glanced over at Midori. She was smiling and giggling softly, looking at the small blonde girl with her eyes twinkling.

Midori beamed. "Moved over here from Asia together, even."

"Yes. It was the only way."

"Ah, c'mon," Midori teased, scooting over nudging her with a playful elbow. "We've gotten used to it, right?"

Dior huffed and crossed her arms.

"It has been tolerable. But that is it. Tolerable."

"Oof! So harsh!" Morada cried out, holding her cheeks.

Dior glared at her.

"Dior would not mind if you were to leave too."

"Ouch!" Morada swooned in an exaggerated manner, and laughed.

Dior rolled her eyes and looked away, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

I laughed. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. Sounds like it's going well."

"Better than expected, yes," Dior said. "Dior did not expect it would last, and now it has."

"Yeah," Midori said, beaming. "I'm glad we've stuck together."

I smiled. It was a heartwarming thing to hear, even if I didn't have all the details or context. I wondered what sort of background the two girls had to make it this far together. I didn't want to pry, but I was curious. Maybe it wasn't the best time for it though.

"So, um... What about you guys?" I said. "Are you planning anything?"

Midori tapped her chin thoughtfully, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief.

"Ah, well..." Midori began. "I don't have any real plans. We've been so busy lately with the attack. But I'm always happy to see you. I can drop by and visit more often."

"See me of all people?" I said with surprise.

"Of course! I like hanging out with you." She smiled at me, her eyes twinkling. "And besides, I think you can use a little bit of fun. You don't know too many people out here yet, and I want to help."

"Why do I have a bad feeling about that?" I said with a laugh.

Midori grinned, and I could tell from the look in her eyes that she was plotting something mischievous. "Don't worry, it'll be fun!"

I sighed, shaking my head, but smiling nonetheless.

"Right, sure." I turned to the other girl in the room. "How about you, Morada?"

"Me?" She shrugged and took another bite of ice cream cake. "Not sure, really."

She looked thoughtful, tapping her plate with a spoon.

"I think I might just stay in. It's nice to take some time off, but I'm not in the mood for anything big. Maybe work on a painting or two, maybe some crafts."

"Really?"

"Yeah." She glanced around. "It's a beautiful day. And, I mean... the city is kind of a mess right now, isn't it? The chaos event really did a number. I mean, the damage to the city itself is kinda superficial but there are still monsters roaming all over the Lenahopeking Territory out west. A lot of services are offline. Even a lot of the local transit lines are down."

I grimaced. I had no doubt that was going to cost the Terrans a ton in the long run. Damage from a major Chaos event like this was no small matter.

Morada nodded. "But eh, it's life, you know? Things happen and you adapt. It's like a hurricane, I suppose. I'm just glad the school is okay, as well as everyone here. No casualties, no one hurt... we got lucky. And that's something worth celebrating." She smiled.

She winked at Dior, who frowned in response.

"Dior does not like your expression."

"It's just my face!" Morada said, holding up her hands. "Besides, I think you should smile more. You've been doing better with that recently!"

Dior puffed her cheeks and huffed, before suddenly taking a spoonful of ice cream.

I laughed.

The four of us talked for a while, mostly chatting about the day's events and the news about the city, and how we were handling the aftermath.

Dior was still eating, and her eyes seemed a bit glazed over, her body relaxed, and her expression calm. She seemed to have recovered from the earlier bout of nausea.

Midori, however, seemed a little more subdued. She seemed distracted. The way her gaze kept drifting off into the distance, her fingers fidgeting, it felt like she was thinking of something.

"Is everything alright?" I asked her, and she snapped to attention, her eyes widening.

She blinked, and then smiled at me. "Yeah! Yeah. Just, thinking."

My eyes landed on a chrysanthemum-shaped broach on her school jacket. "About?"

She paused. "Just, uh, stuff."

I gave her an inquiring look. She seemed to hesitate, before letting out a long sigh.

"Fine," she said. "It's nothing important. It's just... I was thinking of my family. This environment got me a bit nostalgic, you know?"

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Oh?"

"Yeah." She nodded, glancing at Morada and Dior. "Family is what you make of it at the end, though."

"I see."

"Mmhm."

She looked away for a second before turning back to me. "It's weird, you know? I haven't been back to Edo for so long, it feels like forever."

"You're homesick, aren't you?"

I could understand all too well, and I'd only been away for a few weeks.

She nodded slowly, her eyes glistening. "I am. I'm not really close to most of my relatives. I don't get along with my dad at all, but I miss my brother, and my older cousins, and the rest of them. It's strange."

"I can relate," I said, patting her on the shoulder.

She gave me a weak smile and took a sip of water, before looking at Dior. She frowned slightly. The little blonde girl was still eating ice cream, and she had gotten herself another piece.

"Should you really be eating that?" Midori asked. "I thought you weren't feeling well earlier?"

"Dior is fine," she replied, her tone defensive. "It is cold and sweet and yummy."

Morada chuckled and reached over to ruffle the blonde girl's hair.

"Hey! Stop it!"

The small girl puffed her cheeks, glaring at the flamboyant girl.

"You're just adorable!" Morada teased.

Dior's expression soured, but her face was growing red. "Dior will not be made a joke of. You will rue this!"

Morada laughed and backed off. Dior scrunched her nose up, before huffing and taking another spoonful of ice cream. She turned back to me and smiled.

"This is really nice, thank you."

"You're welcome." I said. I paused, considering my words.

"Say, Dior, do you mind if I ask a question? You mentioned you had been living with Talia and Midori. How come?"

The small girl paused. She blinked slowly before looking up at Midori. Midori just shrugged in response and smiled back at her.

"Dior does not think she is at liberty to answer that," she said. "But it is not a pleasant story."

"Oh."

Dior glanced at Midori again, and then at me, her expression hesitant. "Perhaps one day Dior will share it, but not now."

"That's okay," I replied. "It was a bit intrusive to ask that, anyway."

"It's alright," Dior said. "Perhaps another day."

I smiled, nodding.

"Sorry." Dior bowed her head.

I shook my head. "No need to apologize, Dior. If you don't want to share, that's fine."

I didn't pry further. I could respect her desire for privacy. Besides, it's not like we were close or anything, right? Maybe we could be one day, but I wasn't about to force the issue now.

I glanced over at Midori, and she smiled back. She had a thoughtful expression on her face.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked.

"Nothing much. I guess I just... I was wondering how I'd feel if I'd never left home." She sighed. "It was nice growing up. And it was great to have such a big family, you know? But, it also meant... I didn't get to have a lot of space to grow, if that makes sense."

"Makes sense."

She looked down at her plate of ice cream and frowned.

"It's weird," she mused. "I've always wanted to do something different. I didn't like how I had to fit in a box and do things the 'right way' back home. And now I have that chance, but... I don't know. Sometimes, I just wonder if I'm doing the right thing."

"What do you mean?"

Midori bit her lip. "Like... what am I really accomplishing by being out here?"

I didn't know how to respond.

Midori shrugged. "Sorry, that was a bit of an off comment."

"No worries. It's cool."

"I know I have my own plans for what I want to do, but sometimes, I can't help but think we would've been happier if I hadn't."

I looked over at Midori.

She had a pensive expression, a distant look in her eyes, her lips pursed. "You have a family you're close to, right?"

"Yeah," I replied. "I mean, I lost my mom young and my Dad raised my sister and me all by himself. Aside from that we're a pretty normal family despite how much of a wreck Earth is, actually."

"I'm a bit jealous."

"You shouldn't be," I replied, laughing. "My sister's a bit wild."

She smiled. "Oh? Is she a lot like you, then?"

"More than I'd like to admit," I replied with a laugh. "I mean, we have very different personalities, but I think she's way more stubborn than I am, and way more of a showoff. I mean, seriously, she doesn't stop to take a breath half the time, and she always seems to have her mind set on something. She's pretty much a force of nature."

"That's not really a bad thing though, is it?" Midori replied.

I shrugged. "It depends. She has a good heart, and she cares about me, but it can get a little much, you know?"

Midori giggled.

"I bet," Morada chimed in, nodding along. "I mean, I'm an only child, but I've got plenty of cousins. It can be tough dealing with a big family, but they're still family. I wouldn't trade mine for anything in the world. We've had some tough times, and sometimes you fight, but you still love 'em."

"True." I said, thinking back to how I was with Izumi. "And, I guess that's the thing. It's hard not to worry about each other when things go wrong. And now... she's not here, and I have to worry even more."

"Yeah..." Midori nodded.

"Still," Morada said. "Family's important. And I bet if things get tough for either of you guys, your families will be there for you. No matter how far you go."

Midori nodded, smiling softly.

I thought about my own family, my Dad, Izumi, and my Mom who I lost so early.

I'd never been away from my family for more than a few days, and now I wasn't sure when I'd see them again. It made me sad and a little anxious, and I wondered how things would play out from here on out. I hoped I could see them again soon.

Izumi was growing up fast, but I still worried. I'd been the one to look after her ever since I could remember, and that was a tough habit to break.

"You alright, man?" Midori asked. "You've been pretty quiet all of a sudden. Is there something you wanna talk about?"

"Huh?" I looked over at her. "Nah, I'm good. I was just thinking about home too."

She nodded.

"I cherish cities like this. World cities," she said. "But, it's a little different, you know?"

"Yeah." I looked over at the window. The sky was clear, the trees swaying gently in the breeze. It was so peaceful here, so serene, but I could never really feel like this was home. "I think that's what bothers me. This is all great, but it's not the same as home, and I miss it."

"Yeah. Same." Midori replied. She looked around the room, and her eyes drifted to Morada. Morada seemed lost in thought, a dreamy expression on her face, her hand playing with a lock of her hair.

Midori glanced over at me, a smile creeping across her face. "I mean, at least we're both in a good situation. I'm lucky that Talia's got my back. But, hey, count on us a little bit, won't you? I know we haven't known each other for all that long, but I want you to feel like you've got people to lean on, if you need it. Don't try to take everything on your own shoulders."

I looked over at her. She had a soft look in her eyes and was smiling warmly. Her face was kind and open, and her eyes twinkled with warmth.

I didn't know what her deal was. She'd put her life on the line to protect me during the bank robbery, and I still wasn't sure why she did it. I wasn't used to people being that kind, at least not without ulterior motives, but I had to admit she'd done a good job of showing me that she cared.

"Thanks," I said. "I appreciate that. And, likewise, if you ever need anything, I've got your back. I literally owe you my life at this point."

Midori gave a little smile and shrugged. "It's no biggie, but I'll keep that in mind." She stood up from the chair, brushing off her pants, before picking up the empty plates and bowls. "Well, I'm gonna go wash these and head back home. I promised Talia a date night and I've been looking forward to this all day."

"A date night?" Morada said, tilting her head. "Oh. That sounds nice. What're you guys doing?"

"Just dinner," Midori said. "But, you know, we'll have a nice time. I'm looking forward to seeing her all dressed up for me."

"Nice!" Morada grinned and winked at her. "Have fun, then! And don't keep her waiting. I know how impatient Talia can get."

Midori chuckled and got started on the plates. "I won't, I promise."

She glanced at Dior. The girl was still sitting there quietly, eating a piece of cake with a dreamy look on her face.

"You want me to bring you back home with me, kiddo? Or are you staying here?" Midori asked.

Dior blinked, then tilted her head.

"This one will leave with you..." She looked up at Midori. "Dior apologizes for being... difficult, before. It is not your fault. You are a kind friend."

"Hey, no worries," Midori said, smiling at her.

Dior nodded and returned to her cake, and Midori returned to scrubbing the plates and spoons. After she was done, she set them aside and dried them.

Morada stood up, walking to the door. She turned and smiled back at Midori, before heading outside.

Midori gave me a wink, before grabbing her things and heading out. "I'll see you around, yeah?"

"Sure thing. Thanks for coming."

She gave me a bright, sincere smile, and then walked out. Dior followed suit.

I closed the door behind them, and went back into the kitchen. I grabbed a couple of the bowls and set them on the drying rack.

I felt a strange sense of contentment. There wasn't much to do today apart from homework, so I didn't feel like I was wasting time or anything. But, it was weird.

My chest glowed briefly, and Rai-chan appeared next to me in her usual straw hat and sundress outfit.

She gave me a look, before 'sitting' down at the table.

"How's the apartment, Ikki?" She asked.

"Good, I guess," I said, sitting down at the table next to her. "It's not much to look at right now. But I'll figure it out."

"You will, huh?"

"Yeah."

"I'm glad."

I sat there, looking at the empty plates on the rack.

Midori definitely gave me a good impression — she was the very picture of an older sister type. I had a feeling she'd make for a great friend, but I still wasn't entirely sure I could trust her. I didn't want to be too cynical, but I'd learned the hard way to be careful. It felt nice to be on the other end of that dynamic though.

"Hey, Ikki..."

I looked up to see Rai-chan staring at me, a strange, serious expression on her face.

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue. She stared at me for a second, and then her eyes softened and she smiled.

"I'm happy for you. You've been having a good time here."

"Me too," I replied. "Thanks, by the way."

"For?"

"Everything. You've done a lot for me. It's nice having a friend."

She giggled, her eyes glittering. "And don't you forget that! I'm always gonna have your back. I know this is hard for you, but I'm here to support you. So don't forget, yeah? We'll see this thing through together, whatever happens. Alright?"

I nodded. "Thanks, Rai-chan."

I walked over to the brown paper bag Midori had left on the counter, opening it to reveal a box of peaches. They looked fresh and juicy.

"Hmm," I said.

I pulled one of the peaches out of the bag, looking it over. It had a nice, firm skin and it felt ripe.

"Looks tasty." I said, placing the bag on the table.

"Yeah." Rai-chan replied. She was watching me curiously.

I frowned, rubbing my chin. Something about it was bothering me.

"What's up, Ikki?"

"I'm not sure." I picked up the bag, and placed it on the table, peering inside again.

There was a card in there, and I reached in to take it.

'Good luck! - M' it said in handwritten text. There was a little doodle of a peach with a face and a bow, smiling happily, along with two other fruits next to it.

I laughed at that. She definitely had some personality. Something was bothering me though.

I looked back in the bag. I couldn't figure it out at first. Then it dawned on me.

"If Midori rushed over straight from practice... when'd she get time to stop and pick these up?" I asked, looking at the bag of peaches.

Rai-chan tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

I pointed at the bag of peaches. "It's a logo from the supermarket a couple blocks from here. Where we bought the rice."

"And...? So?"

"The gym's in the opposite direction from here, and it's a pretty far walk from there. Plus, the peaches look fresh."

She paused, considering that for a second.

"So...?" she asked, her voice trailing off.

"How did we not cross paths with her if she was getting them? And why didn't she text ahead?"

"Good point."

I frowned, and turned my head, looking out the window. It didn't add up.

"Maybe I'm just reading too much into this, but... something about it is bugging me," I muttered, walking over and sitting at the table. "Like... maybe there's something else going on. Maybe I'm being paranoid."

"It could be a coincidence."

I shrugged, biting my lip. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it didn't matter. Maybe I should just let this go. "I mean... she doesn't seem to have any bad intentions. But, it feels off. And, the way she showed up right after I got here... it feels like it's a little too convenient."

"Right, that was a bit odd," Rai-chan agreed, leaning forward and putting her head on her hands.

Rai-chan paused, a thoughtful expression on her face.

She was right, I was just overthinking it.

"Hey," I said. "Thanks, Rai-chan."

"Hmm?"

"For listening to my crazy talk. It's been a weird week, and I don't know what's going on, but it's nice to have someone to talk to. Thanks."

She giggled. "Well, I'm always here. And, if you're really bothered by it, we could always go and talk to her, maybe figure it out together."

I smiled at her, before looking down at my hands.

These Terrans and their magic and weirdness were messing with my head. Maybe this was just how things were done around here.

I shook my head, dismissing the intrusive thoughts.

"You know what? Nah. Never mind."

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