"Eve! Wait up!" shouted Train who was following her when she went outside.
"Train," Eve stopped from walking, "Could you please stop following me?!"
"No, I won't," he said stubbornly.
"Just leave me alone!"
"You should talk to us, y' know"
"And why would I? There's nothing we should talk about. Besides, there are much better things to so."
"Better things, huh? And what are those? Perfecting your transformation?!" he said mockingly.
Eve was silenced.
"I hate you!!" she suddenly said.
"Wha--?!"
Eve ran away from him instantly.
"Eve!! Wait! EVE!!"
He called a few times but she just ignored him. He thought of following her but Tearju appeared and stopped him. Tearju told him that she'll just talk to Eve later.
3 3 3
Train, Sven, and Tearju waited in the dining hall for Eve to return. But dusk came and she still hasn't returned. The three grew worried so Train and Sven decided to look for her. And Tearju stayed behind.
After a few minutes, Tearju walked towards the main door to wait there. And to her surprise, she saw Eve just sitting outside the inn.
"Eve!! Where were you? We were very worried; Sven and Train even went out to look for you. I thought you wouldn't return."
"I want to ask you something. I just can't approach you earlier because those two was with you."
"Those two? They are your friends…"
"...I… I… want to ask you… When will I die?"
"Eve…! Why do you—"
"Why do I ask? I just want to know. And I suppose you know the answer to that…"
Tearju hesitated to speak, "I…. I…know… But what good will it bring to you? What would you do? Run away again from your friends? They are your family… They are worried about you… They are the ones who you should run to…"
Eve didn't respond. She looked down. "Family…?"
"Yes…"
Eve still looked down, she didn't want to look at Tearju's eyes. "...The cat still has its own home…though it's wandering somewhere…"
"What? What are you saying, Eve?"
"…but…is the cat still wayward or tamed…?"
"Eve, what are you talking about? I can't understand you…"
Eve looked dazed… It seems that she was not with herself. And Tearju definitely noticed it.
She kneeled in front of Eve, "Eve, are you okay?"
"...the cat looks wayward but the reminiscences won't go away…"
"Eve! What's happening to you?" Tearju became worried. Eve didn't seem to hear her. She was just sitting there motionless, slowly whispering.
"…it would hurt if the chimes…would fade…"
Then Tearju put her hands on Eve's shoulder and shook her. "Eve! Eve!"
Eve suddenly fell to Tearju.
"EVE!! EVE!!"
When Tearju looked at her face, she saw that she fell unconscious. Then she carried her and brought her to her room straightaway.
3 3 3
Train and Sven came back late. When they arrived at the inn, Tearju was not there. They thought that she became tired of waiting and thus, she went to her room, so the two decided to tell her that they never found Eve.
3 3 3
Sven knocked at the door of Tearju's room. Then she opened the door…
"Hey."
"I'm sorry, Tearju, we never found Eve," said Sven with a sad face.
"Please come in…" said Tearju.
When the two entered, they saw Eve lying on the bed.
"Eve!" shouted Sven. "What happened?" he turned to Tearju.
"I found her sitting out front. And while we we're talking, she suddenly collapsed…"
When the two went outside to continue their , Train walked closer to Eve. He gazed at her…he noticed that Eve seemed weaker now… He placed his hand lightly at her head.
"Eve…" muttered Train. He looked at her with concern.
"T…Train…" He heard her utter his name.
"Hime…!" He saw Eve slowly open her eyes. He instinctively removed his hand from her head.
"Train…" she paused for a moment, "I'm…sorry…"
"Eve, you don't have to say sorry."
"…"
"How are you? Are you alright? I heard that you collapsed while talking to Tearju…"
"Oh…that… I just felt weak…and suddenly blacked out…"
"I see… You know, I was worried about you when you ran away… I thought the night would pass without us finding you…" Train blushed a little.
Eve also blushed when she heard that from him. "…I'm sorry…" she whispered.
"Oh, never mind that. The important thing is that you're alright now."
"…"
"By the way, I'm also sorry, Hime-chi…"
"Why…?"
"I think I was asking too much questions…"
"…n--no… It's okay…"
Then silence filled the room.
"Um… Train… I want to ask you something…"
"What is it?"
Before Eve could continue, Tearju and Sven unexpectedly came back, interrupting the two.
"Eve! You're already awake!" Tearju shouted gladly as she ran to Eve and hugged her. "I'm glad!"
"When did she wake up?" asked Sven to Train.
"J—Just a few minutes before you came back."
Then Sven approached her next.
"Please Eve, don't run away again. We're here to support you. We're you're friends."
Eve nodded and smiled at him.