FIVE

Now that she's found Elfnein, she sees her sister everywhere: clutching a woman's hand just before class ("That's Tsubasa Kazanari, an old friend," Hibiki tells her with a guilty wince), ducking behind Darahim's tall form in the hallways ("She's nicer than you," is the stony reply to faint her question of Did you know?), and slipping around bookshelves in the library (somehow, Elfnein's been here for almost half a year).

Every time that Elfnein flinches away from her, she wishes she hadn't wasted her chance (to do what?). But—Aunt Finé had talked to them about Papa. That's important, too. There's so much they don't know about Papa! Every story Aunt Finé told them just led to more questions: who-what-when-where-why. Who else can tell them who their father was, if not Aunt Finé?

On the other hand—Elfnein changed. Elfnein has new parents. That's… that's….

She doesn't think of Miku and Hibiki as her parents. They're not her parents; it doesn't matter how Miku's solemn approval makes her feel, or how Hibiki's relentless optimism affects her. They're not her father. They're just two people who are supposed to take care of her.

("Hibiki and I would like to offer you our home.")

It's obvious from the way Elfnein looks at Kazanari that she thinks of that person as a parent. And the way they looked at Elfnein—the way the other Kazanari had crashed to her knees in front of Elfnein, the way both Kazanaris had crushed Elfnein into an emotional hug, the way both Kazanaris had sobbed so loudly she could hear them from the other side of the door—it's obvious that they think of Elfnein as their daughter, as theirs.

Something twists in her throat, but she ignores it. She just watches Elfnein hide behind her new parents. Hibiki's hand on her shoulder doesn't make her feel better (not when she remembers Hibiki's harsh voice asking her why she can't behave). Miku's close, tangible presence behind her doesn't comfort her, either (not when she remembers Miku drooping over the kitchen table that night, face slack and breath staggered while Hibiki had whispered I'm sorry, over and over again).

She leaves with Miku and Hibiki.

Eventually, Miku goes back to her normal shifts at the hospital. The stiffer Kazanari comes alone to pick up Elfnein. Leiur randomly explains in bits in pieces, like: "Mr. Oreki asked me to be Elfnein's guide," "I keep her company after school," and "She doesn't mind when I leave her alone." Elfnein stops turning tail when she catches sight of Carol.

But things aren't normal. They're strangers to each other. Her sister—her annoying, timid, boring little sister—is someone else now.

Papa's gone (forever). Aunt Finé had to leave, because she's a bad person (was Papa a bad person?). Chris Yukine invades her house more often (she doesn't mind it so much when Yukine makes Miku and Hibiki laugh, but sometimes Yukine makes them brood even more and that's…).

"Are y'sad, Carol?"

"No," she replies automatically, scuffing her foot on the blacktop and crossing her arms. Micha keeps her head tilted, eyes quizzical, so she grumbles, "I'm just bored. Recess is boring. There's nothing to play."

"Are y'mad that Rin said y'have to be on time out 'cause y'made Shinji cry and she said it was grea' but also annoyin' an' since he got kicked out last time it's your turn?"

She cringes at the long-winded and too-detailed reminder and huffs, "I'm not mad or sad. Shinji's stu—" she cuts herself with a glance to Micha, who watches her intently as always. "—Shinji's a meanie. He hogs the ball and he's a sore loser. It's not fun to play with people like that."

People like that. People like herself. She used to monopolize games and whine when she lost; she used to ignore people when they'd say: "Why don't you ask Elfnein what she wants to play, hm? It's not fair if you always decide, Carol," "You're just bullies!" and "Why can't you just behave!" She used to be horrible like Shinji.

Obviously, it's her own fault that Elfnein won't talk to her now.

But Elfnein doesn't know that Carol has changed, too! She has to show Elfnein, somehow, that she's changed. She's better, even if she still messes up like when they ran away from school.

"Hey, look! Rin's wavin' at us! D'you think she wants us to play now?"

She looks up in time to see Shinji stomping away. She's tempted to ignore Rin's calls (out of spite, which she knows is just another bad part of her personality, okay), but then she sees Elfnein watching the soccer game on the other side of the court.

This, this is an opportunity. She is better, and she's going to prove it Elfnein!

"C'mon, Micha. Let's go play."


a/n:

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