"Morning, Tsu-chan. What time did you get back?" Haven asked as she got out of bed. She was a bit surprised to see Fia up and about before her on a weekday.

Fia flinched as she heard Haven's voice and quickly threw on her green military jacket. Tying her hair up, she turned on her heel and escaped through the door. The sound of the front door being quietly opened and closed whispered through the halls.

"Fia?" Haven asked with concern.


"Where's Fia?" Nagisa asked. "I haven't seen her since the hockey game."

"No idea," Karma went around the kitchen preparing breakfast for the two of them. "Where's Haven? I thought you two would be close after what happened last weekend," he added.

Nagisa's face flushed. "How did you know about that?"

Karma smirked. "A little birdie told me."

"We haven't really talked since then," Nagisa admitted, "I'm not sure what our relationship is anymore…"


Nagisa walked to the hall where he bumped into Haven.

"Oh, Hi, Haven," Nagisa blushed

"Gisa," Haven lowered her head.

He sidestepped left and she stepped to her right, successfully blocking each other's way. The two blushed even redder as they both stepped the other way. Finally, they sorted themselves out and hurried off.


"Where's Fia?" Haven loomed over the redhead sprawled on the couch.

"How should I know?" he retorted.

"You tease her about things I don't even know about! How do you not know where she is every second of everyday?" Haven grumbled.

"Well, you're her best friend. How did you manage to lose her?"

"I wish she'd stop avoiding all of us," Haven sighed and sat on the couch next to Karma.

"You've got that right. It's been days, hasn't it?"

Haven nodded her head, "I'm worried about her. In all of my years of knowing her, she hasn't ever shut herself off from me like this."


There was a furious pounding on the front door. "OPEN UP THE DOOR, YOU BRATS!"

The three housemates looked at each other as the pounding continued.

"I say don't let her in," Karma voted. Haven went back to her computer, silently showing her agreement.

"I'll get it," Nagisa relented as he got up to open the door.

Momentarily, Jelavic walked in, dragging the fourth housemate with her. Angrily, the blonde put her hands on her hips as Fia collapsed onto the carpet beside her. "What the hell do you think you're doing?! Aren't you supposed to be a team or something? If so, then tell me why this girl hasn't stopped sulking for the entire week!" Fia slowly tried to crawl away but she was dragged back by her teacher. "It's normal for her to be shy, but completely silent? I don't think so! I'm calling a house meeting. That's what you call them, right?" Jelavic looked to Fia who nodded slowly in response.

"She's the one who's been avoiding us!" Haven protested, "She hasn't even told me what's wrong!"

Karma sweatdropped slightly. He guessed that Haven and Nagisa still didn't have a full grasp on what had happened over the last weekend.

Jelavic sighed and turned to look at Fia who had curled up into a ball at her feet. The older woman crouched down and put her arms around the smaller female. "Stop crying already. How many times do I have to tell you that's not going to get you anywhere?"

"Fia, what's wrong?" Nagisa asked with concern.

"She made a stupid plan that backfired and people got hurt," Karma sighed.

Tightly grasping at her heart, Fia glared at Karma with red eyes and a severely hurt, accusatory expression.

"What? It wasn't like you were going to tell them anytime soon. They deserve to know," Karma shot her a look.

Fia, using Jelavic's support, pushed herself onto her feet. She bowed her head to Nagisa and spoke shakily as if releasing her words meant releasing her tears. "I-I'm sorry, Nagisa… I'm so sorry that I didn't realize your feelings sooner. I'm sorry I dragged you into this whole mess. I'm sorry that I wasn't a better friend." She turned to Haven and cringed. "I'm sorry for not considering your feelings too… I'm sorry that I asked you to go out on a date with someone you don't care about in that way and… I'm so, so, so sorry, Benny… Wherever you are… I didn't mean to mess up like this…" She gripped the hem of her shirt tightly and fought back tears. Hanging her head, she sniffled quietly in the silent, unmoving room.

Haven ran over and gave Fia a hug. "I was never mad at you to begin with," she sighed in relief, "I was really starting to worry, you know!"

Fia pulled away slowly and smiled regretfully. "S-sorry to worry you…" she whispered. "I'm going back to my room now… Please don't call me unless you really have to." She turned away and tried to drag herself in the direction of her room.

"Oh, no you're not!" Jelavic grabbed the back of her shirt.

No energy to fight back, Fia just fell backwards and onto the floor again. "Ow…"

"That's it. I'm calling my student here," Jelavic frowned as she whipped out her cellphone. "You remind me a lot of her. I think she can smack some sense into you." With that, Jelavic walked out of the apartment to make her call.

Fia flopped down on the carpet and stared up at the ceiling. She whimpered and she covered her face with the back of her arms. "Dammit, Felix… Where are you when I need you…?"

Haven went over to her friend and tried to comfort her. "Come on, Tsu-chan. It's not as bad as you thought. I won't hold it against you," she murmured soothingly. Karma watched on from the couch thoughtfully.

"Yeah, Fia. It's okay, I didn't realize myself until recently," Nagisa tried to comfort her but his words fell on deaf ears.

Jelavic walked back in, followed by a tall woman with piercing emerald eyes and flowing copper hair that was naturally streaked with strands of gold. She looked only a few years older than the housemates there. The woman placed her hands on her hips and surveyed the room.

"Irina, what am I doing here?" the woman sighed as she adjusted her fitting red halter top over her high-waisted skinny jeans.

Fia sat up suddenly, startling Haven. She turned to see the newcomer and tears streamed down her face anew. "FELICIA?!" Fia scrambled onto her feet and pulled the taller woman into a tight hug.

The woman named Felicia sweat-dropped. "Who are - Fia?!" Her demeanor instantly relaxed and she wrapped her arms tightly around Fia. Fia latched her arms around Felicia's neck and gave her a teary grin as a rambling stream of Italian left her mouth. Felicia smiled as she wiped away Fia's tears and reciprocated. Unlike Fia's very animated and musical Italian, Felicia's was more refined and elegant. The two clung to each other and smiled softly as they cherished the feeling of having the other in their arms.

Jelavic stared blankly at the pair. "Does… Does anyone else know what's going on here?"

"Theories, unconfirmed theories," Nagisa replied with a sweatdrop.

"So, that's Felicia," Karma muttered to himself. He recognized the girl from the photograph Fia had showed him in Felix's room. Even then, Karma felt like the two looked like family for sure.

"Is that her older sister's name?" Haven asked.

Jelavic approached the two with wide blue eyes. "You two knew?!"

"Not exactly, Ms. Bitch -" Suddenly, Karma had Felicia's face in his.

"I bet you're the asshole who's been fucking with my sister. I will beat the crap out of you if you -" Felicia was fighting off Fia with her other hand. "Fia, would you please stop interrupting me? I am trying to give this dick a piece of my mind. Would you rather I give him my dagger instead? I won't stand for anyone who hurts you."

Fia dead-panned. "I never even said anything!"

"You kept glancing at him. He looks like a trouble-maker anyways. I figured he's the one you either love, hate, or want to kill for both reasons."

She blushed. "Wait, what?"

Felicia laughed smugly. "So I wasn't wrong?" Fia pouted as her cheeks turned pink. "You were always terrible at hiding things from me," Felicia chuckled as she pinched Fia's cheek. "This isn't any better than the time you stole my gelato and thought you could hide it from me."

"Fee'cia!" Fia whined in protest. "I was only 4!"

She smirked. "Si, 4 years a thief! It wasn't fair that Felix always gave you his gelato too. No wonder you have such wide hips."

Fia's face turned red. "FEE'CIA!"

Jelavic's eyes gleamed. "Now I can teach two proteges! I'm going to show you how to utilize all of your feminine wiles!"

Felicia and Fia both dead-panned. "How about no?" they responded together.

Fia grabbed her sister's arm and hid behind her. "Commence Operation Timo Time?"

She nodded and, before anyone could react, Felicia was dragging Fia out the front door at top speed.

"What?" Haven asked with a blank expression.

"HEY! GET BACK HERE!" Jelavic yelled as she began chasing the pair of girls down.

The boys exchanged glances. This week was just getting weirder and weirder.


Felicia and Fia circumambulated the frozen pond by the apartments. They were both laughing, something about the expression on Jelavic's face.

"So, you've really been training with Ms. Jelavic for the last five years?" Fia asked tentatively.

Felicia nodded. "Almost six years now. When I left, Irina was the one who took me in. I guess I owe my occupation to her. You're really training under her too?"

Fia sighed. "Well, I guess you could say that… Much different circumstances though. I'm glad you took the whole assassin thing well."

"How could I not? Does the family know?" Felicia asked. Reading Fia's expression, she laughed lightly. "Didn't think so. Are you really still holding onto your first kiss?"

Her younger sister blushed. "Y-Yes. I promised that I would keep it until I really fell in love…" Fia mumbled.

"I admire your romanticism, but that can really hinder you if you're on the job," Felicia explained. "You know, Irina has quite the secret technique."

"S-So I've heard…" she laughed nervously.

The two carefully climbed down the icy hill and stood by the shore together to take in the quiet rush of winter wind.

"It's… Good to have you back," Fia said slowly. "I take it that your being here has to stay a secret from the family?"

Felicia smiled bitterly. "Please and thank you. Hey, you better not be crying again," she sighed as she noticed the expression on Fia's face. "Why were you crying earlier anyway? Don't think I don't recognize your puffy, red eyes. You were always the cry baby of us three."

Fia pouted. "W-Was not… Okay, maybe I am," she laughed a little. "Wouldn't you always hold my hand though?" Felicia nudged Fia with her elbow but took her hand anyway. The girl smiled and leaned against her older sister. "I… It's a long story."

"We've been apart for five years. I expect a lot of long stories. We have to start somewhere, don't we? Why don't you start by telling me about that boy?"

She face-palmed and whined in protest. "Why are you so fixated on him?"

"Because I can tell that he's the one on your mind." Felicia replied flatly. "Are you going to talk or am I going to have to squeeze the answer out of you?"

Fia bit her lip. "Well… He always annoys me like it's his passion, but he's… Actually not a bad person… I guess I'm upset that I couldn't just see the entire situation for myself and my precious friends got hurt… I'm upset that he was the one who got me to realize that - and that he was still the one…" She clenched her fists tightly. "That he was still the one who understood how I was feeling most… And that he was the one who knew the right things to say." Fia huffed as she finally got her feelings off of her chest. "How can you always tell what I'm thinking…?"

"I'm your sorella, or did you forget?" Felicia smiled. "You better not ever forget that."

Fia laughed. "How could I? You're the only one in the family who shares the same problems I do!"

Felicia stole a glance at Fia's chest. "Difference is, I don't get flustered about it."

Against her will, Fia proved her sister's point as her face flushed pink. "Sh-Shut up!"

She laughed and tousled pinkish, auburn hair. "I always liked how honest you are."

"H-Huh?" Fia looked up at Felicia with wide eyes. "What do you mean?"

Emerald eyes softened. "Even if you say otherwise, your eyes, your demeanor, your reactions are all very genuine. You aren't like me." Felicia paused for a moment. "Why don't you just be honest with him?"

Fia tilted her head. "Y-You mean Karma?"

"Who else? Take it from me, you'll feel better."

She nodded slowly. "A-Alright… Will you stay around for awhile?"

Felicia frowned. "You'd be crazy to think that I'd leave you alone with that delinquent for too long." Letting her words sink in, Felicia led Fia back to the house and they walked the whole way hand-in-hand.

The girls pushed the front door open and quickly stepped into the warm apartment. Fia found Karma sitting on the floor of the living room, skimming through a textbook. Felicia shoved Fia forward and she stumbled through the hall until she clumsily landed on the floor in front of Karma. He looked up from his book.

"Hey, Fia," he smirked. "Nice of you to drop in."

Fia sat up and rubbed her butt. "Th-Thanks…"

Felicia stood with her arms crossed behind her sister. "Redhead, where are the other two?"

Karma used his thumbs to gesture at either bedroom. She nodded and winked at her sister as if to say "Have fun, Fia~." Fia dead-panned as she watched her sister invade both rooms and drag Nagisa and Haven out. Nagisa was struggling to put on his jacket while Haven just shot ice daggers at the woman. She pulled them both out the door by the scruff of their necks. Fia and Karma sweat-dropped as they watched them go.

"What was that about?" he asked.

Fia blushed and tugged on his sleeve. "Karma, I want to talk."


Felicia continued to glance between Nagisa and Haven. She had taken them to one of the student cafes so that Fia and Karma could talk, but she hadn't realized how awkward these two were. To make matters worse, they kept alternatingly stealing glances at each other as if the other wouldn't notice. Felicia sighed.

"What are your names again?" she said with a faint smile.

"I'm Haven," the white haired girl muttered.

"My name is Nagisa Shiota," the bluenette responded.

She acknowledged them both with a nod. "I'm Felicia, one of Fia's sisters. I take it you guys are her friends and housemates?"

The two college students nodded.

"So, tell me how you guys met."

"I met her freshman year. We were lab partners in a science class," Haven replied.

"My best friend was antagonizing her, so I had to go make him stop," Nagisa rubbed the back of his head.

Felicia turned to Haven first. "Science? My little sister is still into chemistry?"

Haven nodded her head with a slight grimace, "There has been at least one chemical mishap a year since I met her."

She laughed lightly. "Only once a year?"

Nagisa smiled. "I'm not surprised. What's the weirdest thing she's ever done?"

Haven thought for a few moments. "The shrinking was weird, but the bioluminescence lasted for an entire week."

Felicia shook her head. "That girl was always a fan of light tricks. She was able to manipulate fire with hand sanitizer. It went well… Until my hair caught on fire."

The bluenette sweat-dropped. "What happened then?"

"To make up for it, she had to grow and harvest red crystals for me. I still have them," Felicia said as she daintily touched the jeweled necklace hanging around her neck.

"It's pretty," Haven said with a slight smile.

The older woman returned Haven's smile, but her expression soon changed to one of curiosity. "I can understand glowing, but how did you shrink?"

Haven and Nagisa exchanged awkward glances.

"I think she was trying to cure cancer by shrinking tumors or something… Smoke started coming from the beaker and we got a facefull of it," Haven reminisced, "I put her in a spice jar to keep her safe and went to get the boys."

"You shrunk right before my very eyes," Nagisa smiled, "I'm still wondering how the mini clothes you had were such close duplicates of your real ones."

"Fia had them in her room. I think she made them," Haven smiled.

"That makes sense," Nagisa laughed a bit at the idea.


Karma closed his textbook and put his hands behind his head. "You finally feeling better, Fia?" he asked.

She nodded slowly. "I'm… I'm sorry about the other night. I-I shouldn't have snapped at you like that."

"I… Could have done things differently," he admitted slowly. "Are you really okay now?"

Fia smiled embarrassedly. "Well, I had plenty of time to think about what you said…" she admitted. "I was frustrated… But I was frustrated in part because you were right all along." Fia paused to shift and gather her thoughts. "I… don't feel like I should be apologizing anymore. I think… I should be thanking you, Karma."

He gave her a questioning look. "What for?"

"For helping me accept my decision. Whether it was right or wrong, it's already happened and I have to stick by that. It's really rare that I ever really believe in myself." She smiled brightly at him. "And if it was wrong, well, I learned and now I'm going to keep moving forward with my friends."

Karma smiled back at Fia and placed his hand lightly on her head. The thought had occurred to him that Fia might never come around and he was glad that she had. "This is the part where I get to say, 'I told you so,' right?" he teased.

She straightened her posture with dignity and resolve. "If you have to, I'll let it go just this once~."

"What fun is that?" Karma asked. "I guess I'll just have to stick around and make sure I get another chance."

Fia stuck her tongue out at him. "As if I'd let that happen!"

Karma shook his head. "You know it will. Just don't cry again when it does!"

Her cheeks reddened. "I'm not gonna cry!" she pouted insistently.

"Sure," Karma said it sarcastically but he was rubbing Fia's cheek with his thumb. He had to say, he didn't like it when she cried, and he'd seen her cry way too many times in the last week alone. "If you do, I'll make fun of you."

Fia laughed incredulously. "Like there's ever a time when you don't tease me!"

"Next time, I might not go so easy on you," he smirked. "So no more crying?"

She shook her head with a smile. "Yeah, yeah. I got it. No more crying."


Felicia walked Haven and Nagisa back to their apartment. When the three entered through the door, they all dead-panned together. Fia and Karma had somehow made podiums of cardboard boxes and were both loudly proclaiming their merits to the world. Had their week of ignoring each other finally broken them both?

Karma cleared his throat. "Well, if I become president, I promise to make all petty thieveries punishable by prank!"

Fia pounded her fist down on her 'podium,' causing the box to capsize and collapse. "What will that solve?!" she demanded as she righted the cardboard. "If I become president, every good samaritan will be rewarded with cannolis~!"

"That's going to go straight to everyone's hips," Karma stuck his tongue out. "Freedom of weaponry and open mass-destruction."

"Freedom of cute plushies and public execution of Karma Akabane to make an example of all teasing, sadistic meanies!"

Karma laughed. "Fine, then if I become president, I will thereby decree that all tsunderes have to be a part of my personal entertainment troupe!"

"TYRANNY!" Fia giggled. "DOWN WITH THE TYRANT!"

Felicia, Nagisa, and Haven watched on, unsure of how to react to their strange behavior.

The redhead grabbed his podium and trapped Fia in the box. "That's heresy! I'll tease you until you surrender and swear fealty to me!"

Fia laughed and thrashed around in the box. "Karma! You already do that!"

Felicia was the first of the stunned three to move. She walked over to the two and freed Fia from the box. "Having fun?" she asked with a strained smile.

Her little sister nodded vigorously. "Vote Fia~! I'll make this apartment a wonderful kingdom that thrives off of friendship and magic!"

Karma snickered. "You're acting five again. Vote Karma and you'll never be bored~," he promished devilishly.

"I support Fia," Haven interjected.

"Well, what about you, Nagisa?" Karma shot his friend a look.

"Fia," he replied flatly.

The Italian jumped around happily, clapping her hands quickly. "Yay~! I'll be grand supreme empress in no time!"

Felicia shook her head and bonked her sister on the head. "Why don't I trust you? I think I'll just have to steal the crown from you."

Fia gasped. "You wouldn't dare! Karma! I propose an alliance!"

He grinned sadistically. "If you insist, your highness~."

Before anyone could respond, a pillow castle had been erected by Fia and Karma. A volley of couch cushions came flying at Felicia, Nagisa and Haven. It wasn't quite mach 20, but it was still unexpected. Haven ducked and crawled to her room. Nagisa, startled, dodged the pillows before pulling a mechanic pencil from his vest pocket. Holding it like a dagger, he charged the fort to assassinate the king.

Felicia sighed and sat down at the kitchen counter as she watched the chaos unfold. She shook her head with a smile. It was going to be a long, crazy evening, but that was something they thrived off of, wasn't it?


Nagisa had just returned from class the following Monday and was walking into the apartment when he bumped into a white-haired girl.

"Hi, Haven," Nagisa greeted her, "Where are you headed?"

"Hi Nagisa!" she smiled, "I think I'll go see how Benny's doing. I haven't seen him all week."

The two passed each other and went on their merry way. A few minutes later, Haven knocked on Benny's front door.

"Who is it?" he called from inside.

"It's Haven," she called.

Benny opened the door, "Come in, I was just about to call you."

"Really?" Haven asked as she walked into the living room.

"Yeah, I needed to tell you something," he began as the two of them sat down.

"What is it?"

"Haven, I like you," he said.

"I like you too, you're a really good friend of mine," Haven gave him a smile.

Benny frowned and grabbed Haven by the shoulders. He looked seriously into her eyes. "I don't think you understand, Haven. I don't see you like a friend. I love you! I really love you - and I have for the last two and a half years!" he shouted. "Ever since I met you, I haven't been able to get you out of my mind, let alone out of my heart! Why don't you understand that?!"

Haven gave him a blank expression, then started repeating, "Error! Stack overflow!"

Benny pulled out his cell phone and dialed Fia's number. "Hey, Fia, I think I broke Haven!" he panicked into the phone. A few moments later, he brought the phone closer to Haven.

From the receiver, Fia's voice could be heard, "I'M COMING TO GET YOU, ANGEL!"


Felicia: (knocks Karma and Fia on the heads) Well, now that you two are getting along, CLEAN UP THIS DAMNED MESS!

Fia: EEP! (scrambles to replace couch cushions but gets trapped under upside-down couch)

Karma: (sweat-drops) I got it. (goes to help her)

Fia: C'mon! I gotta get outta here so I can find Angel!

Karma: … (smirks) Nah, I think I'm going to leave you there.

Fia: (o A o) You wouldn't!

Felicia: (clears throat) Excuse you?

Karma: (cheeky smile) The readers will just have to wait another chapter to find out what happened with Haven.

Haven: Error! Stack overflow! Error! Stack overflow! Error! Stack overflow!

Nagisa: Is she okay?

Felicia: (sighs) Narrator. Just get to the chapter preview already. I'm tired of babysitting.

Fia: You're only three years older than me!

Felicia: In maturity?

Fia: … More like thirty…

Felicia: WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!

Narrator: Well, it seems like Benny really has broken Haven. This chapter was as choppy as their emotions, but least everyone seems to be recovering! Next time we'll resolve this whole Benny thing and it's someone's birthday!