"So… I'm not really sure what to think," Ennis finished.
"Hmm," Star leaned back against the bench, deep in thought.
Ennis had felt still felt troubled by the events that had taken place at the mist wall, particularly Firo's worry over her wellbeing. Ennis had no experience with such relationships and was not sure why Firo had acted the way he did and what she, Ennis, should do in response. The day was comfortably warm and Ennis found herself wandering towards to park as she pondered these thoughts. Once there she had seen Star and decided to ask for advice. She had tried to ask others, but they seemed to skirt the issue for some reason. Of course they had been good friends and associates of Firo before Ennis had shown up so it stood to reason that they would put Firo's wellbeing a head of hers, but Ennis could not stop puzzling over Firo's actions and her own feelings about them. Since Star had no connection to Firo or the Martillo family she seemed a good person for Ennis to get a decent answer from.
"Well…?" Ennis asked timidly after a moment. She wasn't sure of Star could give her a useful answer at this point or not. After all, Ennis could not come out and say that Firo was immortal and she is a homunculus. Ennis had done the best she could to explain her relation with Firo while leaving out the parts that would seem impossible.
"To be honest, I'm not the best person to ask about relationships," Star said sheepishly, blushing slightly. "But I'll give you the best answer I can. Firo thinks of you as a really special person that he cares for really deeply…"
Ennis cut Star off.
"That's what I don't understand. I mean, I know we are friends but…"
"I told you this before Ennis," Star said firmly. "No matter what you may believe about yourself you are a very good person inside. People would naturally like you for that reason."
Ennis nodded slightly and waited for Star to continue.
"Anyway, like I was saying, you're very important to Firo. But… there are a lot of different ways a person can be important to someone, so I can't say what kind of important you are to Firo."
"Oh…" Ennis replied. She had been hoping for an answer that was more straight-forward.
"Don't look so down," Star replied. "To be honest, no one ever really has an answer for this. Relationships are always complicated, I don't know why but they just are. I think the reason that no one you've talked to so far has given you an answer is because they don't want to interfere. They just want to let things take their own course."
Star leaned forward and squeezed Ennis's hand reassuringly.
"But I can tell you this," she continued. "Firo likes you for you. Just keep being yourself and everything should turn out alright, even if you don't always understand it all."
Ennis smiled at Star. The two of them sat in silence for a few moments before a thought dawned on Ennis.
"I don't think I ever asked you why you're always here," she said.
"Oh, that's easy," Star said with a smile before reaching behind the bench and pulling her guitar around. "This is a good place to make some money."
"You play music?" Ennis asked, curious.
"Yep," Star answered, strumming the guitar a few times before tightening the strings so the guitar was in tune. "Want to hear a song?"
"Sure," Ennis replied. After all, it was the least she could do since Star had listened to her story so patiently and did her best to give advice.
"Why do you look so familiar?
I could swear that I have seen your face before
I think I like that you seem sincere
I think I'd like to get to know you a little bit more
I think there's something more
Life's worth living for
Who knows what could happen
Do what you do
Just keep on laughing
One thing's true
There's always a brand new day
I'm gonna live today like it's my last day
How do you always have an opinion
And how do you always find
The best way to compromise
We don't need to have a reason
We don't need anything we're just wasting time
I think there's something more
Life's worth living for
Who knows what could happen
Do what you do
Just keep on laughing
One thing's true
There's always a brand new day
I'm gonna live today like it's my last day
As Star continued Ennis found herself comforted and encouraged by the song at the same time. It had an up-beat tune and made Ennis feel like even though things at the moment were confusing, somehow it would all work out alright and, in time, Ennis would have answers to all of her questions
Find yourself
'Cause I can't find you
Be yourself
Who are you?
Who knows what could happen
Do what you do
Just keep on laughing
One thing's true
There's always a brand new day
I'm gonna live today like it's my last day
So you go and make it happen
Do your best
Just keep on laughing
I'm telling you
There's always a brand new day
Who knows what could happen
Do what you do
Just keep on laughing
One thing's true
There's always a brand new day
I'm gonna live today like it's my last day
Star finished her song and then, to her surprise, she heard the sound of clapping. Star looked up to see Firo and Maiza standing a few yards away. Maiza was quietly applauding her performance.
"Hey, Ennis," Firo said, approaching the bench. "Czes said you'd be here. I'm going to lunch, would you like to come?"
"Yes I would," Ennis responded energetically. She was about to get up but then she stopped and looked at Star. "Would you like to come?"
Firo cringed inwardly. He had been hoping that this might be lunch just with him and Ennis. Sure Maiza had tagged along, but there were other people for him to talk to at the Alveare.
"I would like to," Star said slightly embarrassed, "but I don't really have a lot of money right now."
Firo cheered inwardly. It's not that he felt vindictive towards Star, in fact in some other situation he probably would have felt sorry for her plight, but at the moment Firo was just happy that his plan for lunch with Ennis hadn't been ruined… until Maiza spoke that is.
"I'll pay for it. The more the merrier, right?" Maiza said, coming forward to stand next to Firo. Maiza did not mind being charitably once in a while, especially towards a friend of Ennis.
"Really?" Star said, looking up at Maiza. She paused for a moment, looking Maiza up and down as though trying to come to a decision.
"Really, it's no trouble at all," Maiza insisted. Although his tone was cordial he still was watching Star's face with attentive scrutiny. She knew something about all of this, though how much she knew Maiza could not be sure.
"Thank you," Ennis said.
"Yes," Star replied, standing up and holding out her hand. "Thank you…?" Her voice trailed off with a questioning tone.
"Maiza," Maiza responded, shaking Star's hand. "Maiza Avaro."
"Nice to meet you," Star said. "I'm Star Auros."
Maiza had to use his real name with Ennis and Firo being so close. But Maiza knew there were other ways to figure out if Star was an immortal or not. If she was an immortal then, well, there wasn't much harm in revealing themselves to her. After all, she had been around for a few weeks, from what Maiza had heard, which was plenty of time to devour someone. Of course if she wasn't an immortal, then that was a whole different problem.
