The Author's POV

Darkness engulfed Ashton's metropolis with the passing of the twelfth hour.

"Haaa..."

Melissa stared at the scenery outside and sighed. Her features were beautifully illuminated by the lights coming from above as she sat on a tiny stool.

"Ashton city looks a lot better at night, don't you think?"

"...Excuse me?"

The barista in front of her was taken aback. In spite of the current time in Ashton city, Melissa's orders were absolute, and he was thus forced to work at these hours.

"Y..yes, it indeed does look more beautiful."

"The beauty of the lights coming from the buildings is best appreciated at night.

They dispel the darkness brought on by the night."

"R..right."

The barista reluctantly nodded his head.

If he had to be completely honest, right now, all he wanted was to sleep. Additionally, he found Melissa's comments to be incomprehensible, which made the situation rather uncomfortable for him.

Regardless, a job was a job, and he could only put on a fake smile and nod his head.

"Pfff."

Melissa suddenly let out a small laugh as the cup in her hands loosely hung by the tips of her fingers.

"...Looks like you find my words boring."

The barista's face hardened. He had been caught red-handed.

Melissa laughed in self-depreciation when she saw his expression. She then waved her hand in his direction.

"Don't worry, you're not fired. I get it, I'm annoying."

Taking a sip of her drink, she smacked it against the counter.

"I'm one annoying bitch, so do me a favor. Give me another shot.

As she raised an eyebrow at the barista, a slight flush developed on the side of her cheeks. At this point, she was acting extremely differently from how she usually did. She was obviously inebriated, as evidenced by her flush and words.

"I don't think..."

"No point refusing. If you won't give it to me, I'll just get it myself."

Melissa stood up from her seat. Sweeping her eyes on the numerous bottles that stood behind the marble counter, her eyes paused toward a certain bottle.

"1987, Melionette? Sounds fancy."

Setting her eyes on the target, she tried to jump over the counter.

"Let's stop here."

A hand pressed against her shoulder before she could do that.

"Eh?"

Melissa turned her head.

"Emma? Amanda?"

It surprised her to see Emma and Amanda standing behind her. What were they doing here?

Emma ignored Melissa while she turned her head to look at Amanda.

"Looks like you were right, Amanda. She's acting exactly like you said she would."

"Mhm."

Amanda quietly nodded her head.

She was currently wearing a one-piece black dress that perfectly highlighted her physique. It was the same dress she wore at the funeral. The same was for Emma. It was clear from their attires that they didn't have time to change.

"What do you guys want?"

Melissa's eyes grew clearer as her thoughts started to slowly calm down.

"...How did you get in here?"

Emma flashed a black card.

Melissa's brows twitched when she saw the card. She could faintly recall giving one to Emma in the past when she was begging her for one.

Melissa gave her one out of pity. Naturally, she knew about her situation.

She was starting to regret that decision right now.

"What's with that look? You think we wouldn't know what you're thinking about after seeing the state you were in after we returned?"

Moving to the counter, Emma sat down on a stool. Then, looking at the barista, she pointed at the same bottle Melissa was previously looking at.

"1987, Melionette. A glass each."

"...Sure."

The barista nodded after taking a short glance at Amanda and Emma. They looked responsible.

"I thought you were going to stop me from drinking."

"Why would we?"

Emma asked while a small pill appeared in her hand.

She then handed it to Melissa.

"Not like I'm worried about getting a hangover with this."

"...Right."

Melissa weakly turned her head and sat on a stool beside Emma.

Amanda followed her example and sat next to her.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Silence permeated the room as the three women sat serenely next to one another. The stillness was allowed to linger since none of the three of them wanted to speak first.

"Your drinks."

The clicking sound of glasses being set down on the counter disturbed the silence.

Simultaneously, all three girls reached out for their respective glasses and took a sip.

The silence continued for the next minute.

can laugh

the display of drinks

who appears to be so powerful on the outside, really just wants her father's favor. and the only reason why she acts the way she does is because

the drink she set down on the counter and gulped

"Must be really funny..."

"Nah."

set her glass down beside

her arms,

"This is uncomfortably tight."

to Melissa. Scratching

honest, I kind of get how

the tip of

why you acted the way you did. It's not like I only knew you from the academy. Ever since we were little I would always see you try your best to please your father. At one point I was even

"Jealous?"

Melissa shook her head.

if anyone would be

actually. Not only is your father the strongest in the world, but you're also incredibly smart. There's many out there that don't

"...Smart, huh?"

and wiped them with her clothes. Her

useful in this day

think too

Emma rolled her eyes.

as unthinkable. One example of that is the magic card system. That invention alone has helped us advance

I were you, I'd simply put more emphasis on myself than on what other people think.

"That so?"

her lips as she thought of

could see what Emma was trying to express, but she was

Her brows furrowed.

keep it in

tapped on her ring and took out

face

"What are those?"

voice reached her

the potions for a

I need to get rid

memories exposed, seeing Ren's memories, and her talk

was time

that she could no longer be who she had been in the past, and getting rid of the potions was the first step in her transformation. Taking

I took another

"Take them."

pushed the potions in Emma's

she almost lost herself in the

"Eh...right."

she was confused, she still complied. Then, she looked at

quite a while now, Amanda. Isn't there something that

"Eh..ah!?!"

flinched when she heard Emma's voice. Her reaction startled the two girls who looked

her eyes darted toward a particular area on the counter. An area where there was a slight stain that came as

"Amanda?"

"Yes?"

body flinched once again

not hear what we

she finally

she wiped off

"You happy now?"

"For what?"

with a blank and expressionless look. She

"You..."

***

Click—!

big monitor in front of me turned on when I inserted the black box

around me while a dim white light illuminated the

cursor till a message appeared on

like to play the

[Yes] [No]

the cursor around the screen, my hand paused.

"Haaaa..."

out a nervous breath and tightened my grip

Click—!

top part of the

should I

I pressed on the

the

sitting in. No, rather, it looked an awful lot less

have to go on a dangerous mission, but I guess you might never know what will happen in the future. Could just be a video log for me to relieve some of my

his wrist, he checked the time

important happened just yet, I won't make this any longer

"Smallsnake?"

void suddenly interrupted.

where are you?

"Haa..."

between the distant door and the camera, Smallsnake

I'll have

"Smallsnake!!!"

"I'm coming!!"

hand, the screen turned

"Hahahaha.."

from my lips while my arm covered my mouth and my body

'...I remember this.'

day, I remember needing Smallsnake for something urgent. Was taken aback

it makes

been a

image formed

His physique appeared somewhat drab in comparison to the last time, and beneath his eyes

voice also

"Hmmm..."

the chair and blankly looked toward the ceiling without saying

a month since

video was

I know you're not. The fact that Angelica is still doing

his two fingers

and stuff, so like...she would definitely know if you were alive or not and...what's the relationship between you two like? ...No, never mind...haaa...I can't do this...please come back, it's really hard doing

leaned forward and tapped

new video began to play

a fucking asshole,

taken aback by his

a human too. I've never had you not tell me to shut up after more than two phrases! The worst part is that I've become accustomed to

Smallsnake smacked the desk.

complain whenever you tell me to shut up, I now accept it like it's a given! Not even that, Ryan has also started to pick a couple of things from you, and this

"Hehehe...he.."

was resting on the table, my body trembled as I tried to suppress my laugh. My other hand clenched at my chest

more videos began to replay, arousing all sorts of different emotions in

she said to apologize to me? Oh,

no longer calls me stick like human

seriously just go on a trip without us just like that?

anguish, sadness, grief,

the timer started to reach the end as the videos continued to play. A sense of dread filled me while my eyes tracked the

'No...'