"Back so soon?" Haru asked as Kei walked in.
Kei stuck his tongue out at the back of Haru's head, peeling off his wet jacket.
"It's raining," he announced.
His nose twitched.
"What's that smell?" he asked.
"Dinner," Ahsim replied.
He looked at Misha who sat on the counter beside the sink.
"Go tell people," he ordered.
Misha slid off the counter and jogged up the stairs.
"Dinner!" she yelled as she went.
Kei sat beside Haru.
"She managed to slip away," Kei announced.
"Poor Kei," Haru taunted. "Did you ask Keito to help you?"
"Keito isn't around. After all, he trains the Punishers and with the mews around he's being pushed into overtime."
Kei pouted.
"Never have I met someone so perfect at avoiding me," he grumbled.
"The sad thing is I bet she doesn't even know she's doing it," Haru laughed.
Misha thundered down the stairs, almost tripping on the last step. She glared at it.
"Hello old friend," she growled.
Ana yawned, following Misha.
"Did you get Taykoe?" she asked.
"She wasn't in her room," Misha replied.
Ana stopped.
"What are you talking about? An hour ago she was taking a nap," Ana said.
They looked at each other before running up the stairs to Taykoe's room. The room was dark and empty, the curtains to the balconey blown open by rain water.
"Taykoe's gone," Ana whispered.
Taykoe squinted against the rain, running through the empty streets.
"It's not pointless. We're not a mistake. And we're not the enemy. I'll prove it!" she declared.
"Aren't you just the least bit upset?" Keiichi inquired.
"Nope," Ariha declared.
She poked at her noodles disdainfully.
"I thought you said you could cook," she remarked.
"I said I could sort of cook. Sheesh, you don't listen to anyone, do you?" he asked.
Ariha's phone vibrated.
"Ugh! It better not be your creepy doppleganger," Keiichi declared.
Ariha picked up her phone, looking at the screen.
"It's Ana," she announced, genuinely surprised.
She answered anyway.
"Hello?"
"Is Taykoe with you?" Ana asked, sounding out of breath.
"Taykoe?" Ariha repeated. "Why would she be with me? I quit, remember?"
Ana let out an exasperated grunt.
"Look, we can't find her. Kei's out looking for her. Haru's worried she's going to do something drastic or stupid. Or both."
Ariha was silent for a minute.
"That's your problem. Not mine."
With that, she hung up. Keiichi studied her before taking a sip of his water.
"I won't think any less of you if you go," he declared.
Ariha glanced at him.
"Did I mention there are roller skates in the closet?"
Minutes later, Ariha was skating through the rain slicked streets towards the mansion.
