"Absolutely not!" Haru declared.
"And why not?" Ariha demanded to know.
"You're not going to drop this, are you?' Haru snapped.
"Not on your life!"
"Man this is better than any Mexican standoff I've ever seen," Ahsim declared.
"SHUT UP!" Ariha and Haru yelled as one.
"I think, we should let them go."
The words came from Kei, who was leaning against the wall in Haru's room.
"Stay out of this Kei," Haru ordered.
Kei shrugged nonchalantly and went on playing Cat's Cradle with Kori.
"I won't sit here and play bodyguard for your sister! She's not in danger as long as she's here!" Ariha yelled.
"You've quit once Ariha! You gave up once. How can I trust that you won't quit again just when the others need you? How can I even trust that you aren't working against us?"
"You think I'm a spy?" Ariha asked, a little shocked.
"Oh this is gonna be fun," Ana declared.
Hachi pulled out her phone, punching in a number.
"Who are you calling?" Misha asked in a whisper.
"Funeral home. Haru's gonna die," Hachi replied.
"Well it seems obvious. You've pushed everyone away, you keep to yourself way too much, you're bring in a mind reader and to top it all of you're the boss's daughter! What am I suppose to do?"
"Trust me!" Ariha yelled.
"Yes, hello, I'd like to know how much a coffin costs," Hachi said into her phone.
"Make it black," Misha requested.
"Why should I trust you!?" Haru yelled.
"Because, I am the unwanted daughter," Ariha said.
"What?" Haru asked.
"Angsty back story time," Kori announced.
Ariha half smiled.
"Yep. See, I may be the older daughter but my parents, they always loved my younger sister, Arisa more. Arisa could do no wrong. When Arisa and I played and she got hurt, I was punished. I excelled at school so my parents lied and said I was Arisa. With the money that Okami Corps got, it was easy to do so. If my grades slipped, I was punished severely. Nothing I did was good enough. I was imperfect."
Ariha slowly removed the eye patch she wore over her right eye.
"And even when Arisa took away the sight in my eye, she was still perfect."
Ariha's right eye was stitched close and a long scar ran through it.
"She used a spoon first to try gouging it out. When that proved too slow, she stabbed me."
"Sick," Misha said, mildly fascinated.
Ariha looked at Haru.
"Do you see now? I have no loyalty to them."
Haru stared at the missing eye, brows furrowed.
"I trust her."
Haru's eyes shot to Kei.
"You have trust issues, Haru," he said with a smile.
"And I trust her," Taykoe said. "Hell we all trust her."
"Except Ana who trusts no one," Hachi said.
Ana shrugged.
"It's a system that works," she said.
Ariha smiled at them before returning her attention to Haru.
"Come one, what do you say?" she asked.
Haru sighed.
"I still say no," he said.
"Oh come on! And we just had a breakthrough moment!" Misha objected.
Haru let out a shrill whistle.
"Stop spazzing for a second and let me explain!" he ordered. "Usually when they detain someone they keep it silent. Why do you think they'd make it a public announcement?"
"To lure you guys in," Keiichi answered, finally speaking up.
He smirked.
"Come on Ariha, this is Arisa we're talking about. And Keiko. Together , they're fuckin' geniouses. Keiko must know that the mews are against them and are trying to save manga. With that in mind, what would be a way to ensure that you capture the mews? Exactly, announce that you've detained a manga artist."
"Stop reading Haru's mind," Ariha ordered.
Keiichi smiled sheepishly.
"Do you have a plan then cheater?" Haru asked, pouting a bit.
"Yes. Yes I do," Keiichi announced.
"Do tell."
"Tomorrow, let Kei bring Kori to the Corp."
"They'll detain her too, you moron," Haru growled.
"We need someone inside now shut up and listen. From your thoughts, I get that you've completed a new mew gadget that will allow one of the mews to shrink down,correct?"
The mews all looked at Haru.
"Yes. What of it?' Haru asked.
"Give it to one of the girls or Ahsim. Send them in with Kori."
Keiichi looked at Ariha.
"Do you think you could make a distraction? Something to keep Keiko busy?"
Ariha smirked.
"Please. It's me your talking to. Remember third grade?"
Keiichi thought for a moment.
"Actually no, you were quite a distraction for m-oh I see your point," he said.
Keiichi turned to Haru.
"Now what do you say?" he asked.
Haru smiled weakly.
"I think this may just work," he admitted.
"Score!" Ana cheered.
"Yes, I'd like to cancel my reservation on that coffin," Hachi said. "It looks like the man is going to make it after all."
