I was looking my brother's car window, to my left. I was sitting on the posterior seat, near Hunley's little sister. Hunley was on the front passenger seat and of course, my brother was at the driving seat. I took a look at the sky: it was cloudy and a bit darker. Not much of a nuisance, really…

I have an umbrella, in case it starts raining. I believe my brother has one too. Oh… speaking of him, he said that Mr. Tarfo wants to meet us personally, at his office. We're now traveling in my brother's car, to reach Mr. Tarfo. Rof explained to meet Hunley, before we all go pay a visit to this man… but it wasn't possible. I'm still trembling about what happened before…

This is a serious problem: I don't want to lose my student job. My entire career depends on that... it's my only chance, to aspire for a better future! And my dad… that's the last thing he wanted from me and Rof… I can't disappoint him!

… wait a minute… my brother said that this couldn't be true. My… I forgot to ask him about this detail. But again, I was also forgetting many other things, in a time like that. The world seems to be stopped, so suddenly…

In any case, I know that my dad wanted to see the best of me! And I'll make sure to achieve this! Even if that means… sigh… holding my emotions more… and trying to be perfect in every occasion. Especially now, if I want to help Hunley!

He's talking with my brother, but… I didn't feel like listening to their conversation. I'm still thinking about what happened before… I don't want to fail… I-I need to make up a plan and avoid any more absen

"Hey, Technie!"

Hmm? Fara touched my right shoulder, with her wobbly hand… what she wants from me, now?

"Ya 're alway' so mut'?" She was smiling at me.

… it's been a while, but… why this little girl talks like that?! I barely understood her question, this time! Her parents don't talk like that... although, Hunley seems to understand her without any problems. This family… sure has a lot more, than you would expect.

"'ello? Ya go' dream'?"

Ah!

"N-no… I was trying to understand your last question."

"Ma 'ast 'uestion? You 'ean gettin' to dreamlan'?"

"No, the question before that."

"Aaah! Ok, I 'ill sa' it 'orrectly, 'hen!" Fara clears her throat. "You… are… always… so… mute…?"

She was pulling so much tension in her face. I can't believe she's struggling so much, just to ask me this simple question, in a correct way. Anyway, let's act like a perfect, educated girl and answer properly to her question.

"I only talk when it's necessary."

… she's smiling even wider…

"… shyyyyyyy?"

A-AGH!

"No, no! I-I'm not shy…! T-that doesn't make any logical sense!"

She's doing a grimace… w-what does she have in mind, now?!

"Yeeaaahhh… ya ma' 'ppear al' tou', bu' 'hen Hun 's nea' ya, 'here you 'ecome 'epper!"

...

"Sorry, but I fail to understand."

Fara puffs loudly.

"You… may… appear… all… tough…"

"No, there's no need for a translation!"

"Ya sure…?"

She raises her eyebrows, pulling them together. I'm starting to feel a little sorry for her, but I don't want to see her suffer, trying to communicate with me.

"Yes. In any case, I'm not shy."

Fara sighs loudly… well, you can't always be perfect. Luckily your own brother can understand

"Can… you… help… me… talk… better…?"

…

"Practice. That's all I have to say."

"Practice…?"

"Yes. Keep talking like this and eventually, you'll improve your communication skill."

She smiled, while opening her mouth. I can see her gripping the front passenger seat and lean her head, on the seat's lateral board.

"Brother… I am… going… to talk… like… you!"

"Huh? Fara, why are you talking like this?" I couldn't see Hunley from here.

"Because… people… can… understand… me!"

"Ehm… b-but I can understand you just fine, and so our parents."

"But… Mirii… doesn't!"

Hunley turns his head, looking at me.

"Is this true?"

… what I should say? He doesn't seem relaxed, about this whole situation. Uhm… maybe…

"It was her choice. She can talk, like she wants to."

He stares at me, for a while… then he smiles and gets back to his seat. I have the impression, that I choose my answer wisely.

"Did you hear what Mirii said? You can talk like you want! Just don't think about it, ok?"

"But… brother…"

"Fara, please… you know that there is a clear reason, for your special talking."

Special talking? I thought, that she was talking like those Squidpeople, from the dry lands. Does she have a special mind, too?

"… al' righ', bub. Ya win…"

Fara falls on her seat, landing on her bottom part. She was looking down... … maybe I should give her some perfectionism lessons and make her always strive, for personal improvements. Uhm… but I'll be able to teach her properly? I don't think that my mom's method is going to be useful, on this little girl.

"We're arrived, guys." Rof said that.

The car stops slowly and my brother was looking at this parallel parking space: it was located to my left. He rotates the steering wheel multiple times, towards the required direction, while changing it in case the car was about to touch, the other parked cars.

He successfully parked his car and turns his car key, counterclockwise, to shut it down.

"Now, Hun and Fara." My brother turns his head to his right, looking at Hunley first, then he also turns his shoulders to his right, to look at Hunley's sister. "You stay both here, for just a moment."

"Ok?" Hunley said.

Fara raised her head, even before Rof was starting to talk with both of them.

"Wh'?"

"You'll see." My brother frees himself from the safety belt, by pushing a red button located on its locking buckle.

I opened the car door and got out of it. The first thing I did, was looking behind me: there was a villa of huge proportions. That must be Mr. Tarfo's location: it seems very luxurious. I couldn't see much from here, aside the trees inside his garden.

My brother opened both the car's door for Hunley and Fara.

"There's no other car in the road: you can go out."

The little girl jumped out of it. A dare move, if you want my opinion on it.

"Hey! I-I can't get out!"

Hmm? Why Hunley can't get out of… … oh… of course.

"Just press the red button, Hun. It's located right here." Rof moved ahead his back and reached the red button, with his red forefinger.

Click.

"Aaaah, thanks!"

I walked to the other side of the car, approaching towards everyone. Once Hunley was out of the car, my brother closed both the doors: Fara didn't thought about closing her own door. Not that this was an unforgivable mistake or anything: after all, those two come from a different reality than us.

My brother locked down his car and starts looking at the road, to his right.

"Wait, let pass that car first!"

While he was saying that, Hunley expanded his eyes as he was looking at the car passing by. I think that my brother was too dramatic with that phrase: it's not like we would cross the road, while the car was zooming on it.

Once it was gone, we walked at decisive pace: Hunley was almost running.

"Hun, 'ait!"

His sister's call made him stop. If it wasn't for their appearance, I couldn't tell which of those siblings is the older one. Although, I saw Hunley acting like a proper mature Inkling, before… anyway, we all got near the villa's gates. The gate's artistic ability was really high, I must admit.

My brother got near the… gold interphone? It's even shiny. This detail could very well explain, the man I'm about to encounter.

DRIIIN!

I would better pay attention, this time.

Yes?

"Oh, good afternoon! I'm Kelpshell, remember?" He was rubbing his hands, while lowering his eyelids and frowning just a little.

Yes, I do. I believe you have another appointment with Mr. Tarfo.

"Correct!" He smiles.

I'm afraid to announce, that Mr. Tarfo changed his conditions.

Uhm? He changed his conditions?

"Huh?! Wh-what conditions?"

He would like to meet the girl and the boy, at his office, alone.

"Why this change?!"

… Mr. Kelpshell, please don't complain now. If you want to make the deal, the boy and the girl must meet him alone.

Deal? Rof never talked about a deal, before!

"Brother, what's the meaning of this?"

My brother looks at me and stood in silence.

"… t-this is getting me off. I-I didn't thought that he'd change the meeting conditions, at any moment."

Mr. Kelpshell? Please, hurry. Mr. Tarfo has other important appointments to attend, later in the day.

He still stared at me. Then he sighs loudly and looks at the golden interphone once again.

"I have one more question."

Yes?

"There's the boy's little sister with me, could she"

No no, she can't enter. Only the boy and the girl.

Fara frowns a lot, while lowering her eyelids, as she was puffing her cheeks. She didn't say anything, though.

"Ok. I'll send them inside."

Good.

The gates were slowly opening. It looks like, the time has come.

"Mirii, Hun… please be careful, ok?"

Rof wraps me, with his arms. I… I suddenly feel a slight pain, coming from my stomach. He kissed, on my forehead.

"… ok, brother." I smiled unintentionally.

I looked at Hunley: he was caressing Fara's head, while she was hugging him. He nods at me smiling too.

"Let's go, Hunley."

Our respective siblings let us go and we both entered inside: Rof waved his right hand towards, while putting his left hand inside his left pocket. Fara was waving both her hands, with a smiling open mouth and jumping up and down, with both her eyes closed.