Chapter 47: Ess:
''Oh look at you! Perfect again as you should be! How could anyone not adore you?''
Ess admired herself in the mirror, gliding a hand through her now fully green again hair. Not a single pink spot left to be found. The look of it flowing in the air delighting the young Tetra.
The young girl spends a totally not excessive amount of time admiring herself from every possible angle. As far as she was concerned, she was at her absolute best again.
With a big grin across her face, Ess finally felt satisfied enough to turn her back on the mirror in her room.
''Now that I recovered from that horrifying prank I can focus on what matters!'' The girl mused to herself, reaching towards the pom-poms close to her.
Silently, the girl made some practice moves, feeling absolutely pumped. The determination would have been blatant to anyone if they could have seen her.
''The big game isn't far away. They'll all see you, Gotta make it count!'' Ess now cheered out loud, continuing to make her moves, as if in front of a captivated audience.
She kept on going and going, lost in her thoughts of the big game. Her big time to be in the cheerleading spotlight.
Soon enough though, the sweat began to form itself on her forehead. How long had she been doing this anyways? She didn't even bother to keep track.
Ess allowed herself to take a break, sitting on her bed to catch her breath for a bit.
As if on impulse. Ess grabbed her phone to check if Emii, Merigu, or Shosu wrote something in their Versing group.
Nothing, they probably were doing something anyway.
She could have just put her phone away now and the reflex to do so was there but Ess felt the strong urge to take a quick look at her gallery.
Unsurprisingly, it was full of selfies, the cheerleader squad and the self-proclaimed Banshee Trio, that said though. Ess wasn't looking for either of these.
Scrolling down just a bit, Ess quickly came across her favorite photo of a certain bug-loving boy. His smile, rad hair antennae, sleepy but cute expression~ It made the girl melt just looking at him.
''You'll only have eyes for me after that!'' Ess giggled to herself, still thinking of her master plan. As far as she was concerned, it was perfect.
Putting her phone away, Ess froze up a bit. She was looking in the direction of her bedside table, which displayed yet another picture.
Framed in the photograph was a young Ess, with a tan man with silver hair and a woman in a light red dress. The younger version of the Tetra daughter carries an innocent and pure expression of joy, the love glimmering in her eyes.
All the bravado came to a halt. All Ess wanted was to hold the picture for a bit. She sat there without another word, staring at it. Her mind being full of thoughts, yet struggling to articulate any of them, even in her head.
Despite this, this stinging feeling was there and she knew exactly what it was.
Not like she hadn't felt this way for long enough by now.
There wasn't any time left to ponder on that though. The sudden sound of someone knocking at her door swiftly ripped Ess out of her thoughts.
''Y-Yeah?'' Ess called out, still a bit out of it, but attentive enough to quickly put the photo back on her bedside table.
''Ess, I have prepared dinner for you.'' The robotic, yet warm voice of Zed filled the room, as the robot opened the door.
''Okay papa! I'll go down right now!'' Ess, swiftly in a better mood upon seeing her robotic father figure, replied.
She was about to get up, but to her surprise, Zed sat down on her bed, right next to her and motioned for her to stay just a little bit.
He could process quite easily that the girl was confused about that.
''How are you doing, Ess?'' The robot asked to the point.
''Huh? I'm doing fine papa! Finally got the pink out of my hair. Is it about that?'' She asked.
''Affirmative, but not just that. There were also reports of you getting hung onto the school's flagpole by your undergarments. I was requested to wait until you approach me about it, but you never did.'' Zed explained in fatherly concern.
Ess for her part was red in the face, she didn't need to have that humiliating story brought up again.
''Everyone forgot about that story already, we can drop that!'' She called out defensively.
''Are you certain? My worrying protocol has been initiated some time ago.''
''I can take care of myself! I'm not a little kid anymore!'' Ess protested, more aggressively than she intended, it was rare for her to raise her voice against him. She now sat with her back turned towards him and her arms crossed in a visibly upset manner.
Zed for his part, was taken aback a little. Still, he placed an arm on Ess' shoulder in a manner so soft one would deem it impossible for a normal robot.
''I only want to assure your safety and well-being. Nothing takes priority over that.''
Ess quickly softened up. She knew he meant well, she could and would never even want to do so.
''I know and I'm sorry, papa, but it's really okay.'' She assured her beloved father figure, trying to make up for her brief outburst with a hug, which Zed returned.
''I believe you, but if something does happen, I will always be here for you.'' Zed assured his daughter in all but blood.
''Thanks for that, Papa. I'll go downstairs for dinner now, okay?'' Ess broke the hug, but still held onto his hand.
''Enjoy your meal.'' Zed softly padded Ess on the back, sending her on her way.
Even after she left, he remained there on her bed. Zed too, took note of the photo on her bedside table. The man in particular was someone he knew all too well and his A.I. was more than advanced enough to know what Ess may have been thinking.
A robotic sigh escaped him. He too felt things should be a bit different.
Especially for Ess' sake.