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.

laugh

the display of drinks before her, she set her glass on

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

she set down on the counter and

"Must be really funny..."

"Nah."

her glass down

arms,

"This is uncomfortably tight."

back to Melissa. Scratching the side of

I kind of get

tip

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 of

"Jealous?"

Melissa shook her head.

as if anyone would be jealous of

the strongest in the world, but you're also incredibly smart. There's many out there that

"...Smart, huh?"

glasses and wiped them with her clothes.

only that was actually useful

too little of

Emma rolled her eyes.

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

what other people think. It's what I've been doing, and it kind of

"That so?"

pursed her lips as she thought of Emma's

Emma was trying to express, but she was

Her brows furrowed.

keep it in

tapped on her ring and took out several potions

across Melissa's face when she looked

"What are those?"

voice reached

staring at the potions for a moment, she

need to

memories, and her talk

time

in the past, and getting rid of the potions was the first

hurt if I

"Take them."

pushed the potions in Emma's

a brief moment, she almost lost herself in

"Eh...right."

and put them away. Even though she was

for quite a while now, Amanda. Isn't there

"Eh..ah!?!"

heard Emma's voice. Her reaction startled the two girls who

twitched and her eyes darted toward a particular area on the counter. An area where there was a slight

"Amanda?"

"Yes?"

body flinched once again when she heard

not hear what

facepalmed halfway through her sentence as she finally got the

her arm, she wiped off the

"You happy now?"

"For what?"

and expressionless look. She was clearly trying to feign ignorance

"You..."

***

Click—!

when I inserted the

me while a dim white light illuminated

the cursor till a

you like to play the

[Yes] [No]

around the screen, my hand paused. I

"Haaaa..."

nervous breath and tightened my grip on the

Click—!

pressed the top part of

should I

voice echoed throughout the air once I pressed on the mouse, and I lowered

on the screen was

rather, it looked an awful lot less advanced than what it was at the moment. Clearly indicating that this video had been taken quite

I will have to go on a dangerous mission, but I guess you might never know what will happen in the future. Could

checked the time

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

"Smallsnake?"

interrupted. It sounded awfully

where are you?

"Haa..."

the distant door and the camera,

looks like I'll have to

"Smallsnake!!!"

"I'm coming!!"

the screen turned

"Hahahaha.."

from my lips while my arm covered my mouth and my body trembled. I felt

'...I remember this.'

I remember needing Smallsnake for something urgent.

guess it

been

new image formed on the

drab in comparison to the last

also

"Hmmm..."

Smallsnake leaned back on the chair and blankly looked toward the ceiling without

a month since you've

words I understood that this video was recorded while

I know you're not. The fact that Angelica is still doing fine is proof of that....cause you know, the two of you

his two

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

went blank as Smallsnake leaned

began to play after

a fucking asshole, you know

slightly taken aback by

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

Smallsnake smacked the desk.

to 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,

"Hehehe...he.."

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

began to replay, arousing all sorts of different emotions

angel. Should I open up a shrine for her? Remember when she said to apologize to me? Oh, god,

Angelica no longer calls me stick like human anymore! That's progress I tell

wow. Did you seriously just go on a trip without us just like that?

anguish, sadness, grief,

reach the end as the videos continued to play. A sense of dread filled me while

'No...'