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Church, 13th of September 2015, Day time:
The sun shined through the clouds, wind breezed through the air, birds chirped while they stood on poles, roofs and cables. Then there's the church, standing in between other buildings. The large dark wooden door opened, the priest in black clothing stood by the door as he shaked hands with the people who attended the mass. There was Alisia, with her friends, that is Lily, Anoki, and Miyuki, all of them dressed with formal clothing, either a dress or a combination of a knee-lenght skirt, blouses, some with blazers.
While the four continued talking, there were the mothers of the four, wearing formal and feminine clothes, of long skirts and long sleeved clothes with different styles and colours. "Well, ladies. How about we head to that one restaurant in the intersection?" Maria suggested with a grin on her face.
Alisia looked back at Maria, nodded with a tired look. "Sure..." then followed with everyone agreeing.
"So, Mrs Anderson, I would love to know more about you! heard you once lived with Mister and Mrs. Harlington." Said Sarah in an excited tone.
The black haired woman that is Yua Anderson, just remained quiet, walking beside Maria while looking back and forth, left and right in a fast pace. Maria noticed and spoked to her, trying to ease her nerve "You don't need to be this cold, you're not in Japan anymore, and its safe! No need to be paranoid.." She placed her hand on Yua's shoulder with a reassuring look on her eyes.
Yua looked at Maria, before then sighing. "S-Sorry... I'm just, a bit paranoid for the moment.."
Some dinner restaraunt, 12th of September 2015, Day time:
The sun shined bright, penetrating through the blue transparent window. People were seen eating, and talking with each other. Most are familiar faces, like Jack, Isabelle, and some of the school's teachers. Most of them wearing formal clothes, as they seemed to have just came back from the church.
The four girls were sitting just beside their mother's tables, talking with each other. Yua sat beside Maria, while Sarah sat on the other side with Patricia. Miyuki can be seen talking non-stop, while Alisia just laying her head on the table, her eyes closed, tired.
Miyuki tried talking and even patting Alisia's hair, but just as she's about to lay a hand, Alisia moved her head and glared at Miyuki, her eyes staring daggers into her eyes, causing Miyuki to froze in fear, before then she moved her hands away in a slow manner.
"Oh my, your daughter sure is quite the chatterbox, only a week in and already got some friends, eh?" Sarah remarked.
Yua looked at Sarah, a bit surprised from her words, before then she replied back. "Y-Yes.. She is surpringly very active... Mrs. Carter."
Then the server came, bringing food on the tray. "Is this table 11?"
Maria looked at the server, before then she nodded, "Yes, this is."
The server then placed the tray down, placing the plates on the table, before then heading back to the kitchen to deliver the other orders. Sarah then began opening a conversation. "So, Mrs Anderson, may I ask?" Sarah asked as she looked at Yua, which Yua then looked at her.
"Y-Yes?" Said Yua in a low yet stern tone.
"Well, I was just asking, I heard your family once lived close to Mrs. Harlington's family. Where and how was it?" Asked Sarah, as she looked at Yua with a look of enthusiasm on her eyes.
"W-Well... We once lived in Nagasaki, before then moving to Yokohama, specificly Kanagawa where we later met Mr and Mrs. Harlington. Life was quite good, my husband used to meet alot with Mr. Harlington. My daughter used to be in contact with Alisia."
"Oh, so Miyuki used to? Do tell more." Sarah stared at Yua, waiting for more questions, but there's no answer out. Then Maria interupted.
"Uhm, Ms Carter... Try not to look into her like that, it's kinda uncomfortable and rude for her." Said Maria.
Sarah flinched back to her seat, her eyes broke contact with Yua's. "Ah! Sorry, I didn't know that."
There was silence, before then Yua continued. "Well, it seems that Alisia doesn't remember her at all. But oh well, not like Miyuki also remembers at all, she can be forgetful at times ever since we moved here. I might consider getting her to a doctor."
"Oh, Alisia is also forgetful. But at least it hasn't affected her grades at all, except for math, she still hates it, probably to this day." Maria sighed.
"Oh, she still hates math? Guess Mrs. Himari really was that harsh teaching her... No wonder." Said Yua.
Patricia remained quiet for the conversation, until this Mrs. Himari's name was then mentioned. She then asked. "Who's this Mrs Himari? Is she her former teacher?"
Maria looked at Patricia and answered, "Ah, no. That's my relative that married to my husband's distant cousin who happens to be a former teacher before getting married, basically Alisia's distant aunty."
"Alisia used to live with her and her daughter, when Mr and Mrs. Harlington were so busy at work, to the point of almost having no time to spare to spend with her. Margaret and Alisia was so close, that I even almost considered them as siblings, only because of their different hair colour saved me from thinking so." Yua added.
"Oh, I see... Well, they're so close... Do they still meet each other?" Patricia asked again.
"Oh, last time they met was... One and a half years ago? I don't know after that..." Sarah stated.
"They kinda do, but Alisia told me she rarely lifts the phone, it's been over a year now, she even didn't attend last year's family reunion, don't know why. I tried asking Mrs. Himari, but she said she is rarely in contact with her, probably too occupied with college." Maria sighed. "They were so close back then as Mrs Anderson mentioned earlier, although at least now she has some friends."
"Speaking of being close, does Alisia has a sibling? Usually siblings are always close to each other." Asked Patricia.
"Well... I'd say pretty distant. Back then I trusted Mrs. Himari or Mrs. Anderson to take care of them while we're busy. Besides Alisia, they always go outside without being noticed, either to their friends' house or the park. Eventually I decided to tip them to Mrs. Carter, except for Alisia since Mrs. Himari said that she's quite a lovely girl and a good friend for Margaret." Said Maria.
"Oh, and they're such ruffians when I took care of them, but, your decision years ago kinda made them hate you a lot for favouring Alisia." Said Sarah.
"Yes... I know... My mind was very occupied at the time, I regret favouring only her." Maria released a heavy sigh, looking down. "Now they rarely contact either me or my husband.."
Patricia nodded, she was about to ask another but stopped. Before then after a few seconds, she sighed and asked again. "Can I ask another question? Sorry for asking too much."
"Ah, no worries, I'm open to questions, ask as much as you want while we're here!" Maria gave a smile towards Patricia.
"Oh, well, I want to ask something that may be a bit too personal... What is your husbands' job? You always say that he's very busy, that it even involves you."
There was silence from Maria, she looked up, thinking for an appropriate answer. "Uh, how should I say this... Lets say that he's a businessman, handling a lot of stuff."
Patricia blinked, looking at Maria's sudden hesitation in answering the question, but she decided to shook it off and nodded. It was till all of the sudden, Alisia came over. "Mom... Can I sit with you?"
Maria turned her head at Alisia, with a confused and worried look. "What happened Alisia?"
"Miyuki keep on harrashing me... I'm trying to sleep." Alisia complained in a tired and annoyed tone.
"I-I was just trying to pat her! Her hair just looks so soft... She looked soo cute too! How can I not resist?" Said Miyuki in defense. "You have an instinct and reaction time of a fly..." Miyuki pouted.
"Miyuki..." Yua stared at Miyuki, her tone went stern. Miyuki decided not to continue arguing.
Maria thinked to herself, wether should she let Alisia sit beside her or not. She wanted to say yes, but at the same time wants her to stay with her friends and socialize, instead of isolating herself. It was till then the first won over her kind. "Ok, ok... Come here.. Have you ate your food?"
Alisia sighed, she nodded before then she sat beside Maria. She leaned on Maria's shoulder, her eyes closed.
"Ehh... Kawaii..." Miyuki giggled.
Maria released a heavy sigh, as Alisia leaned on her. She then placed her hand on her head and started stroking Alisia's hair in a soft and gentle manner, before then Sarah decided to spoke up to her. "Uhh, Mrs Harlington. I recommend not to spoil her that much, having a child clinging too much to their parents can be a very bad thing."
"Oh, don't you also happen to spoil Lily?" Said Maria in her defense, although not in an aggressive tone.
"Well, uhh.. Good point.. But that's what my mother said." Said Sarah.
There was silence, before then Yua decided to speak. "The food's getting cold you know..."
"Ah! Well, you all can start eating..." Said Maria as she continued stroking Alisia's hair, and began eating her food.
Sidewalk, 12th of September 2015, Afternoon:
The group walked out from the restaurant, with a look of content on their faces, except for Alisia whose eyes still closed, and still clinging close to her mother, causing her to question Alisia. "Jeez... When did you sleep last night?" Maria looked at Alisia with a worried look.
"Oh, well. Speaking of her tiredness, One night I saw Alisia still on the computer through the window." Said Sarah.
Maria released a heavy sigh, looking at Alisia. "I left her for too long..." she looked down. "Such a bad mother I am..."
"Well, Mrs. Harlington. I gotta go, I got some other things to do back home." Sarah let go of Lily before then she approached Alisia and lift her up with her hands, causing Alisia's eyes to jolt open and her face to blush. "Stop playing your computer at night, ok?" Alisia continued blushing, before then she nodded, while starring at Sarah's face. Then Sarah placed Alisia down and grabbed Lily's hand again. "Well, happy Sunday."
Alisia was left flustered, her mind now fully awake, still red from embarassment. Miyuki saw this and giggled. "Hehe... Kawaii.."
"Aww, the flustered sleepyhead..." Said Anoki in a teasing tone.
"Shut..." Alisia stared at Miyuki with a sharp look on her eyes. Which caused Miyuki to froze, her eyes unable to break from Alisia's.
"Well, I guess we'll be going then." Said Yua.
"Well, Mrs. Harlington. Anoki said something about yesterday tea, I have to say, it tasted wonderful." Said Patricia.
"Ah, I am glad to have recommend you such a good tea." Maria smiled.
After a while, the group said their goodbyes and went to their paths. But deep down in Maria's thoughts. She's worried about Alisia, still thinking what should she do with Sarah's earlier comment of Alisia staying up late, and her responsibility as a mother. The wind went cold, and the sky turned into a gradation of red and orange, as the sky began to set down in the horizon on their backs. It seemed that fall has begun.