CHAPTER 3

ANYA

October 29

"I expect you all to give your very best try in tomorrow morning's rehearsal!" The music teacher looked over all the students as the bell rang. "Only the hardest workers will be the pumpkin royalty. You're dismissed, go back to your classroom."

The class erupted into conversation. Damian was swarmed by his friends, who started encouraging him to get the boys' solo. Anya let her eyes glaze over as she swung her arms cheerfully. She caught a girlish voice above the crowd.

"Because you're soooo good-"

Becky scowled at Amelia's back. "She's so arrogant!" Becky pointed at the other girl. "You should be the pumpkin queen, Anya-chan! Not her!"

"Eh?" Anya blinked and followed the finger to where Amelia was cooing and giggling in a crowd of other girls. "Pumpkin queen?" It took a moment to remember. She put up her hands defensively. "Anya doesn't want to sing the solo," she said.

"Maybe you'd get another star," Becky said slyly. "The solos are for the students who really impress the teacher, after all! Wouldn't your Father be so proud of you? I think your Mother would be so happy she might cry."

Anya stiffened. Her jaw dropped. "Aahh…" she fidgeted. "Anya… really really doesn't want to sing alone." The thought was so scary. "But another star .."

"Think about it," Becky wheedled. She skipped ahead and then began walking backwards. "Ne, Anya-chan? We forgot to talk about costumes!" Her eyes sparkled. "We should be princesses!" She clapped her hands. "How about the snow princess? Or the forest princess? The ocean princess?" She gasped. "A fairy princess veterinarian!"

Anya blinked again. "Bondman," she said.

Becky's face turned funny. "Bondman," she repeated.

"Yes. Bondman. Princess Honey." Anya nodded. That was the princess she was going to be! She already had the costume.

"Well… I guess I can be the Bondman princess." Becky's eyebrows pulled together in thought. "She's pretty cute, I think."

'"Very cute!" Anya cheered.

Their teacher leaned out of the classroom to scowl at whoever was being loud.

Anya jumped into better posture and filed into the classroom, back super-straight. "Hehehe…"

When school finished, she piled onto the bus and waved goodbye to Becky. She colored on the ride, tongue sticking out between her teeth as she focused on making a dog that was also a lemon.

At her stop, she shoved everything back in her bag and skipped down to where Mama should be waiting.

She looked one way. She looked the other.

"Mama isn't here," Anya said, uncertainly. She took a deep breath. "Anya will go home alone!" She started off at a march, because she was a big girl. It was only a couple of minutes to the apartment and then up the stairs. She twisted the doorknob to find it was unlocked. "Anya is home!" She beamed. Mama must have been testing her, and she'd passed it.

The wrong voice greeted her. "Aa."

She stared up at him. "Father?" Anya looked into the kitchen and down the hallway. Mama was always here. "Eh?"

'Oh, she's disappointed that it's me and not Yor-san.'

That wasn't true! Anya was just surprised.

"Yor-san has to work late today," he said. His eyes moved when he smiled down at her "So it is just the two of us. Wash your hands and take off your school uniform. I need your help with the snack."

'Anya can help!'

Anya let her excitement come out her mouth and she ran to wash her hands.

They made snacks together, Anya on her very own step stool. She beamed and leaned into Daddy. He was warm and strong and he knew so many things.

When they had finished eating and washing their hands, Anya went off to watch Spy Wars while Daddy cleaned up in the kitchen. She didn't know how much time passed as she gradually crept closer and closer to the T.V.

Electricity buzzed against her nose. Reluctantly, Anya scooted backwards from the T.V. screen. Her eyes itched so she blinked, but she didn't want to miss a second!

"Anya, it's time for dinner!"

Daddy's voice was faint. She barely noticed it over the trombone music. Anya bounced in place, hands splayed on the carpet.

The T.V. turned off.

"Eh?!"

Anya jerked around.

Daddy was standing there in his white apron, holding the remote. "It's recorded," he reminded her. He was trying to be stern but his eyes were soft. "You can finish after you eat. Please go wash your hands."

"Okay!" Anya chirped. She jumped up and skipped to the bathroom. She pulled out the step stool because she was a big girl who could wash her hands alone. She began humming the alphabet song, dancing in place as she sudsed her hands thoroughly. She shook her hands, flicking water on the mirror, and then ran to the dinner table.

"Hello, Mama!" Anya gave Yor a hug around the waist and then climbed up into her seat. Her eyes went wide at dinner. "Fried rice!" she cried out. She slapped her hands on the table. "Fried rice, fried rice!"

Yor beamed. "It smells wonderful, Loid-san," she said quietly. "I thought your plan was to make chicken today?"

Daddy's eyes slid to Yor. He didn't let his expression change. "The chicken didn't turn out correctly, and we had leftover rice to use," he said with a smile.

Anya knew what this meant. Daddy had to cook twice, so-

"Mama put soap on the pan again!" Anya declared.

"Eh?" Yor jumped and turned wide eyes on Anya. "Soap- soap cleans things, Anya!"

Daddy's smile was a little strained. "Green tea or water?" He asked.

"Anya wants apple juice!"

"Green tea or water."

Anya pouted. "Water." She held out her glass.

"Water, please." Daddy corrected.

"Apple juice, please!"

"It was a nice try," Yor said. She patted Anya's hand and smiled. "Maybe juice can be your dessert!" She looked at Daddy.

He nodded. "That's fine," Daddy agreed.

Anya wilted. She wanted ice cream for dessert…

After dinner and dessert, Anya raced back to finish watching the new Spy Hunter episode. She sat on the sofa this time and swung her legs. When a new character came on the screen, she sat straight up with a gasp. "Mama!" Anya bounced. "Mama!"

Yor rushed into the room, eyes flicking to Anya, the window, the door, and then back to Anya. Her body relaxed. "What is it?"

Anya pointed to the T.V., where the ballerina was still on screen. Ribbons trailed from her custom pink bazooka as she leapt into the air. "That's you!" she said triumphantly. "For Halloween!" Candy Dancer blew down the wall of the secret park fortress and landed on the rubble. Her tutu ruffled in the wind.

Yor turned her head to the side and examined the character. "She seems nice. Okay, Anya. I'll find a ballerina costume."

Anya cheered. "And I'm the princess! And Daddy is Bondman!"

"Of course he is," Yor agreed warmly. She bussed a kiss to the top of Anya's head and then took a few steps towards the door. "Daddy is reading now, Anya. Please use your indoor voice from now on, alright?"

"Yes, Yor," Anya agreed. She was turning her attention back to the T.V. when she accidentally caught a stray thought from Yor.

'I'll make a call while they're busy. I forgot to tell the shopkeeper about my successful assignment. ah.. what was his name? I don't remember who I killed.'

Yor had her arms crossed and was tapped at her chin with one finger.

Anya's full body flinched. She stared, aghast.

It took a few seconds for Yor to notice. "Anya?" Her eyes went wide and worried. "Is something wrong?"

Beep

Beep

Beeeeep

"Spy Hunter is almost over!" Anya spat out, the first excuse that popped into her head once her brain rebooted. "and, ah, Anya is very sad-"

Yor made a sympathetic sound.

"Becky is going to be the princess too," Anya babbled. "She said she wanted a set costume and we should be princesses and I said I was going to do Bondman and so she said she'd do Bondman princess for the concert and then we will match after! It will be good!"

She remembered something and frowned. "I can't wear my costume at the concert," Anya said darkly. A cloud blew over her face. Becky was going to wear her princess costume during the cello concert.

But Anya didn't play the cello. She had to be in the pumpkin choir.

Anya wilted. She didn't wanna be in the pumpkin choir! Especially if she might have to be the pumpkin queen. She felt her eyes swell up with tears.

"Is it too late to learn the cello?" Anya wondered quietly. She looked up for an answer. "Mama, can you teach me the cello today?"

Yor was frowning. She didn't seem to hear. "Anya-chan, is there any chance that Becky thinks you meant you'd be Bondman?"

She blinked. She thought over their conversation. …Maybe.

"No," Anya said stubbornly. She curled her fingers into her dress. "Of course not. I can't be Bondman. Daddy is going to be Bondman."

Yor's expression became thoughtful.

'If we are Bondman, the Bondman princess, and the Spy Wars ballerina as a family, will Anya's friend feel left out?'

Was… Was Becky going to be upset? Anya felt sweat drip down her face. "Anya will talk to Becky tomorrow!" she declared. She hoped Becky wouldn't be sad. Anya felt a guilty shudder. She wanted world peace! She didn't want to make anybody sad.