"You and Apollo are so adorable together, just like siblings!"

Trucy giggled when she heard Pearls' comment.

"Oh, you think so? I wish I had a little brother like that!" she stuck her tongue out.

"Though I haven't seen Mr. Apollo lately... Last time I've been here was a few weeks ago..." the spirit medium bit her nail. She was told by Mr. Nick to keep quiet about Apollo, but talking with Trucy she couldn't help it.

"Y-yeah, Polly hasn't been here lately... Daddy says he's busy with his work," the little magican crossed her arms in thought.

"Maybe you should go visit him sometime? You really get along well and I'm sure he'd appreciate your dropping by."

Trucy wondered. Apollo wasn't coming by the agency lately, as if he'd quit working there. But that can't have been the case, can it?

"Mhm, I guess I have to! What does he think, not visiting his best assistant!"

They both laughed. But at the same time, something hurt Trucy inside.

"I-I've heard it again in his voice. Doubt."

Athena sat down on the couch in the agency next to Trucy. She'd just come back from Apollo's new agency. Although Phoenix told his employee not to tell his daughter about it yet, the orange-haired girl couldn't keep it a secret anymore.

"I don't know what kind of conversation happened between Mr. Wright and Apollo, but... He's not going to come back to the agency."

Trucy looked at her friend with concern.

"Polly... Isn't coming back...?" there was a slight crack in her voice.

Athena sighed and looked straight into the magician's eyes.

"Trucy, maybe you should go and... Talk with him. You may be able to find out what's changed his mind. You were always the closest to him."

"I-I feel a bit scared now. It's been two weeks since I last saw him..." Trucy clutched her blue cape anxiously.

Noone said anything for a few minutes after that. The girl in yellow suit had to think about her respose, she knew that Trucy needed to hear something encouraging.

"You know, at first I thought you were related," she broke the silence.

"E-eh?" Trucy got surprised by that statement.

"You were getting along so well, just like siblings!" Athena continued, hoping that it'd help. "I was shocked when Apollo told me you weren't his sister."

The younger girl didn't reply, but a faint smile appeared on her face.

"I know you're worried about him. That's why I suggested you go and visit him," the orange-haired girl smiled. "For his own sake. I bet he'd love to see his little 'sister'."

Trucy finally giggled.

"Okay, you all keep telling me to go, so i guess I should really do that!"

"Daddy, I'm going out to visit Polly!"

Phoenix flinched. He was so busy with paperwork for the latest trial that he didn't notice his daughter was about to dash out of the agency.

"Trucy, wait!" he got up from his desk instantly. "You didn't tell me anything about going out anywhere today!"

The little magician stopped in the doorway. Her father's reaction was a bit unexpected, if not weird.

"It's just a friendly visit, there's nothing wrong with that, is t-there?"

The spiky-haired man walked up to the door.

"No, no... But is it a good idea?" he said quietly, nearly mumbled to himself.

"Why wouldn't it be...?" Trucy felt a bit nervous, not sure why her dad was asking that question.

"You two haven't seen each other in several days. Did he call you to come?" it started to feel like Phoenix didn't want her to see Apollo.

"No, it's supposed to be a surprise visit," the girl pouted. "Daddy, am I not allowed to go? Please, I want to see Polly!"

The man in a blue suit looked away. He couldn't refuse anything when it was his daughter asking.

"Okay, okay. Just..." he hesitated a bit. "Just what?"

Suddenly Phoenix hugged Trucy tightly. "Just remember Daddy loves you, no matter what you might hear from Apollo..."

The girl looked up at her father. He looked so sad she got worried herself. Whatever happened those weeks ago, she was going to find out that day. Phoenix let her go and waited till she walked down the staircase before he closed the door.