"I-I can explain…"

"Hmph!"

The blue-dressed girl and the green haired girl wearing a black t-shirt had moved places into the creative hall, which was dark (as usual) with only the afternoon sun rays giving the minimal amount of lighting.

Just in front of these two quarreling girls was Mari with her football cap and her t-shirt-hotpants apparel, just sitting there on the floor silently and watching the show that's unveiling right in front of her.

"You didn't come back all of a sudden, and when I came to visit you, you're 'not available'? You…I… I'm so angry with you! I'm happy, but I'm also angry! And then you and your family moved out to this… dump?"

"Wait, my family moved…? And… I never heard of you coming to my house ever since I stopped coming to your house…" Abbi's expression darkened, understanding what actually happened, "Mama."

Abbi made an expression that even Ella never knew Abbi could make; Abbi frowned and her eyebrows crossed. Abbi was angry. Ella, who was also angry, was startled by Abbi's sudden anger.

"Abbi…?"

Abbi's angry spell was instantly broken by Ella's call, "Oh, sorry," Abbi scratched her cheeks, "Ella, I never meant to push you away. It's… because of Mama. And me. It's… a long story, so could you at least let me explain?"

Ella, realizing that all was not as it seemed, nodded in agreement to Abbi's request, "... Okay."

"H-how could she?! That–!" From Ella's mouth from there on came out curses that were very unfitting of her childlike look. Abbi and Mari looked at Ella with horrified expressions and shock.

"Ella! Who in the world taught you that?!" Abbi covered Ella's mouth with her hands with Ella resisting it.

"Mmph! I'm not done cursing that b–!" Abbi covered Ella's mouth once again before the B word escaped her mouth.

"Ella! Goodness me, you used to be such an angel! What happened?!"

"Uncle John happened!"

For the record, Ella once had a music teacher named John. He was a nice fellow and Ella saw him as an uncle figure. However, he was fired just a few weeks after he was employed, and it wasn't because his teaching was bad. On the contrary, he was one of the best piano teachers she had met. The reason why he was fired was because he would teach her swear words and to use them on people she didn't like during their breaks. Ella still kept contact with him through letters in secret since she was very fond of him.

"Mmph-! Let go of me, Abbi!"

"I will once you stop swearing! It's bad for your 'angel child' image!"

"I don't care about whatever 'angel child' image you're talking about! Besides, I never wanted to look like a kid! I'm a year older than you! I'm a woman!" Ella pinched Abbi's cheek in the midst of their skirmish.

"No, you are not, young lady!"

On the other hand…

Mari froze at a sudden revelation.

Wait… Ella… is older than me?

Remembering the times she treated Ella like a kid; she was surprised that she didn't feel weirded out. Perhaps Ella really fitted as a little sister figure over a friend of her age. Mari stared at Ella who was struggling with Abbi due to her own cussing. Ella really, really doesn't look like her age.

"Hehe," Mari giggled at the sight of two dear friends fighting with each other in a friendly way, if that made sense. Covering her smile whilst she was laughing, her laugh grew louder, just loud enough for Ella and Abbi to stop fighting.

Noticing the both of them had stopped fighting and was looking at her, Mari stared at the both of them nervously as she went silent. Abbi's eyebrows frowned, approaching Mari on all fours quickly. Of course, Mari was taken aback from this sudden behavior.

"Wh-wha!?" Mari pushed herself back away from the ever approaching Abbi. Abbi had her hands on Mari's sides, as she closely inspected her face.

Pale, chapped lips, and noticeably thinner.

"Goodness me, Mari. What happened to you?" Abbi looked at Mari with concern, "And… mngh!" Abbi smelled Mari, her nose catching the unpleasant scent of sweat, "Oh, you must have sweated bullets. Follow me back to my apartment!"

Abbi stood up and offered a hand to Mari, helping her to stand up. Mari hesitantly took the hand, and stood herself up on her legs.

Abbi caught a whiff of Ella's smell, "Ugh! You too, Ella!".

"Ack!" Abbi picked Ella up by the back of her dress' collar as if she was a cat. For a 17 year old, she was very light.

The three of them then setted off to Abbi's apartment.

The sunset scenery from Abbi's apartment floor was an amazing one. Since the town of Nowhere wasn't very big and because of how high up you would be from the floor, you could see the vast forest and wilderness that wasn't touched by the unfinished city development. The trees were then contrasted with a beautiful blend of orange and blue from the setting sun and its reflected light from the atmosphere. It was an even more amazing spot when it was windy; which it was at the moment.

With a towel slinged around her neck and new clothes borrowed from Abbi, Mari stared into this vast and beautiful panorama, entranced. The wind blew through her wet hair and tickled her pale cheeks, which gave her a cool sensation…. doubled with another cooler object touching her right cheek.

"Wah!"

The sudden coldness gave Mari a shock as she yelped by reflex.

As she tried to see what was the cold thing that touched her cheek, she was greeted by the green haired girl, both of her hands holding two orange colored canned drinks.

"Here! Something for you to drink," Abbi offered one of the orange-colored cans to Mari, to which Mari hesitantly accepted.

Orange Star Soda, huh, Mari read the name of the canned drink. The packaging was decorated with old fashioned renaissance decor and it was finished with an oval bordered painting of oranges with a white star on top of it (talk about overdesigning). This was the first time Mari saw this canned drink, perhaps it wasn't widely circulated. Mari opened the can and took a little swig.

Sparkly with a touch of sourness and mellow sweetness. It was soothingly good.

"Do you like it? It's my favorite drink. It's really hard to come by it these days, though," Abbi spoke as she opened her can.

Mari nodded as she quietly drank the contents of the soda can.

"Hey, Mari, are you okay?," Abbi spoke again, this time with concern in her voice.

Mari stopped drinking from her drink and looked at Abbi, encountering Abbi's eyes that was also looking at her with concern. "Um… yes! I'm fine," Mari's eyes darted around, trying to avoid Abbi.

Abbi sighed, "Mari, you seem… thinner."

"I said I'm fine," said Mari, slightly defensive.

"... Is this about Sunny?"

"Ye- I mean no! I… am fine," Mari looked away.

Abbi looked at her in silence, and proceeded to also look towards the orange horizon. Funnily, the orange color matched the soda cans.

"... Mari, Sunny misses you, you know?"

Mari bit her lips, denying whatever came out of Abbi's mouth, "That's… not true."

"But it is, you know? He occasionally asks me and Hiko to go to your town to see what you're doing. Even Hiko nearly got arrested for being suspicious," Abbi giggled.

Mari looked at Abbi, deep down her heart a tint of fleeting hope.

"But… he's still staying with you," Mari wasn't convinced.

"That's because he feels at fault. He pushed you and you could've died, and… he's afraid he'd do it again," Abbi looked down, "besides, 'I am not good enough' was what he said."

Mari's eyes widened, "That's…" Mari's heart broke a little bit.

"... not true, right? I know you still love Sunny. I can tell," Abbi approached Mari and put her hand on Mari's shoulder, "You two just have to talk it out, tell him how much you love him."

The two of them stood silent. The warmth of Abbi's hand comforted Mari as she reflected on herself and the choices in front of her.

"I-"

"Abbi! Where's your hairdryer?" Ella was peeking out of Abbi's apartment with wet hair.

"It's in the left drawer!"

"Okay!" Ella closed the door shut.

Abbi looked at Mari again, coming back to the conversation, "Anyways… Talk with him, okay? It may not look like it, but he really wants to talk to you. You're his beloved sister, after all!"

Mari's lips trembled at the last sentence, "... Okay."

"Good!" Abbi patted Mari's back, "Now, let's head back soon."