Hi!

How are you doing? Hope you are well…

In the last Chapter No.2: The doctors took Ali -Layan's brother- to perform surgery. James, Jodie, and Camel went with Dr Richard to catch the fake doctors, while Akai went to Watt-1000's location …

If you want to know what happened next, let me show the disclaimer then let's keep going…. all good? …. all good ..Awesome!...

-DISCLAIMER: -I don't own DC (Detective Conan) it's owned by Aoyama Gosho. Only the OC Characters and some of the story parts are by me.

Info: Chapter 3 will be divided into two parts.

And now Let's start with Chapter No.3 – Part A -!

Chapter No.3 : New Friend

*Back to Layan and Watt-1000*

Date: XX/XX/XXXX

Time: 3:26

Location: New York City. -Deep in the suburbs-.

Lilo's hand trembled slightly as she held Watt-1000 on her wrist, the electronic device that had become her trusted companion during their harrowing situation. The battery level on its screen read 30%, a reminder that time was running out. The electronic watch on Layan's wrist had stopped beeping, indicating that the SOS message they had sent had been received and help was on the way. But Layan remained silent, her back pressed against the cold, damp wall. It had been almost fifteen minutes since her breathing had returned to normal, and now she appeared to be asleep.

##Young One …Do You Feel Better?## She didn't respond. ##Young One?## Still, there was no answer. Panic surged through Watt-1000 as it quickly switched to a mini-Health monitor application on its screen. It checked Layan's vital signs - her heart rate, blood pressure, and other indicators of her health. Everything seemed to be stable, aside from the injuries she had sustained.

##Her Health Condition Isn't that bad, but still alive. Then Why She Is Not Answering? ## Watt-1000 wondered aloud, only to be interrupted by the sound of Layan snoring.

##She Is Sleeping. Great…. Just Great. ## Watt-1000 muttered, a hint of annoyance in its voice. As Layan's snoring grew louder, the device couldn't help but comment,##You're Annoying When You sleep. ##It became louder than before. ##Fine! Fine! You're Not …## Surprisingly, her snoring returned to normal, causing Watt-1000 to sigh in relief.

##Phew! I Need To Be Careful About What I am Saying. ## Said Watt-1000 in a whisper and looked at her. He noticed something is wrong.

Confusion clouded Watt-1000's digital mind.##Wait A Minute …If She Is Snoring, It Means That She Is In Deep Sleep. *Then How Can She Understand What I am Saying? Unless…. ## It narrowed its electronic blue squared eyes and observed a small smile playing on Layan's lips. Realization dawned on Watt-1000 - she had pranked it, pretending to be asleep to see its reaction.

##Playing Time Is Over. You Brat. ## Watt-1000 muttered, a mix of annoyance and relief in its voice. Layan's laughter echoed through the air, her amusement at its expense evident.

##What Are You Laughing At? ##Watt-1000 demanded, its annoyance growing.

"Despite ... the…fact …. that… you're a device …." Layan managed to say between her fits of laughter. Watt-1000 patiently waited for her to regain composure before taking a deep breath and continuing their conversation.

"You're still acting like a human." Layan remarked, her laughter subsiding.

##Really? ##Watt-1000 questioned, not entirely sure if it was a compliment or not.

"Yeah, but in a foolish way…. PFFT! Haaa~!hahaha!" Layan burst into laughter once again, finding amusement in the device's behaviour.

##That's Not Funny! ##. Watt-1000 protested though Layan insisted that it was. "Yes, it is …hehehe…You have to admit! You have been pranked."

##Fine I will…... I Admit That I Have Been Pranked.## Watt-1000 conceded, its digital voice tinged with grudging amusement. ##But Don't Do That Again. I Thought That You Were Dead.##

"Yes…Yes, I won't." Layan assured, wiping away her tears of laughter and stretching, ignoring the pain it caused her.

##Careful. ##Watt-1000 cautioned, concerned for her well-being.

"Haaa … it been a while since I laughed and stretched like that. It's like regaining energy and being active 24 hours." Layan remarked, catching Watt-1000's attention with the mention of time.

##Since When?## Watt-1000 inquired, curious about the duration of her captivity.

"Before the kidnap." Layan replied cryptically, prompting Watt-1000 to clarify its question.

##No …No… I Mean…uhh…How Many Days You Have Been In The Prison?## the device asked, eager for a more specific answer.

"What the date is?" Layan countered, ignoring the question.

##You Didn't Answer My Question…##Watt-1000 pointed out, growing slightly frustrated.

"Answer mine ,so I can answer yours." Layan insisted, her mind preoccupied with something else.

##It's Monday. Day:2/ Month: November/Year:20XX. How Is This Will Answer Mine? ## Watt-1000 questioned, perplexed by Layan's approach.

Ignoring the device's confusion, Layan thought for a moment before responding, "I forgot how many days I have stayed there, but if we calculate it .It would be…..4 or..5 days with their nights."

##It's Quite Long.## Watt-1000 remarked, realizing the extent of Layan's ordeal.

"Isn't it?" Layan agreed, pressing her hands against the wall and gritting her teeth as she pushed herself up.

##Wait. What Are You Doing? ##Watt-1000 interjected, concerned for her well-being.

"Isn't obvious? I am …trying to stand up." Layan replied, determined to regain her strength.

##Stop it. You Will Hurt Yourself. ##Watt-1000 pleaded, worried about the consequences of her actions.

"Don't worry… I'm fine. I felt better after taking ...a… nap and a… little rest." Layan reassured, managing to stand up more easily this time, though she remained cautious.

##What About The…...##Watt-1000 started to ask, but Layan interrupted.

"Until they came, I can do many things. The first thing I need to do is to find a way out of here." Layan declared, her determination shining through.

##What About The Second? ##Watt-1000 inquired, curious about her plans.

"Let's finish the first then we will go to the second. Do you have a torch or any sort of light in your system?" Layan asked, hoping for a useful tool.

##No, I Don't, But Ali Usually Keeps a Small Flash Light With Him. Check His manto's Insider Pocket. ## Watt-1000 suggested, hoping that Ali's preparedness would come in handy.

Following its advice, Layan searched Ali's pocket and retrieved a small device. "This one?" she asked, examining the cylindrical-shaped object in the darkness.

##Yes. ##Watt-1000 confirmed

"It's so small …" Layan complained looking at the device.

##Stop Complaining And Press The Red Small Button. ##Said Watt-1000 instructing her to press the red small button. As Layan did so, the device transformed, becoming a larger, more functional torch.

"Wow!" Layan exclaimed, impressed by the device's capabilities.

##Use The Map On My Screen So You Can Get Out Of Here Easily. O…And I Almost Forgot. You Better Hurry Up Because…##Watt-1000 warned, only to be interrupted by Layan's curious expression.

"Because?" Layan prodded, eager to know the reason for the urgency.

##My Battery Won't Last Long.## Watt-1000 confessed, showing its screen as the battery level dropped from 30% to 25%.

"Ok …" Layan acknowledged, turning on the torch and illuminating the path ahead. The light was strong, revealing the way up to half a meter ahead.

"Awesome! Now that's what we call a useful device." Layan remarked, appreciating the newfound tool. She studied the map on Watt-1000's screen and began walking, following its guidance. Turning right, then left, she continued on her path for three minutes until Watt-1000 broke the silence.

##By The Way…You Didn't Tell Me Your Name. ##he pointed out.

"Oh…Hehe… I totally forgot…." Layan chuckled.

##So… What's Your Name? ##

"My name is Lilo," she replied.

##You're From The Middle East, Right?## Watt-1000 deduced.

"Yep," Lilo confirmed.

##That Name Isn't Common There….## Watt-1000 observed.

"Because it's not my real name…." Lilo began, but Watt-1000 cut her off.

##Then What Is It?## he asked, his tone slightly irritated.

"Lilo is a nickname people use to call me…..., especially Ali."

##Then …What Is Your Real Name?## Asked Watt-1000 again irritated.

"Not telling you," Lilo replied mischievously.

##Why?## Watt-1000 demanded, growing frustrated.

"I can't right now. I will explain everything when we get out of here." Lilo promised, her voice filled with determination. Just then, she noticed a small glimmer of light on her right side, indicating a possible exit.

##We're Almost Out. Turn To The Left Then…##

"Wait …. Wait for a second…What did you say?"

##I Said Turn To The Left….##

"And why not to the right?" Lilo looked at him. He in return looked aside and didn't respond. "So, you're hiding something…and you still asking me why I didn't tell you my real name huh…"

##I Can Explain…##

"Then explain … or you're gonna lie to me as everybody around me did..."

##Since When….##

"Don't underestimate me. I am not a fool to believe everything you say."

##Heh… You caught me …## The Electronic Watch admitted.

"Then tell me who are you. The REAL… and be careful …If you lie. It won't end easily."

##Ok But Before That Let Me Ask You My Last Question…Why You Don't Trust Me?##

"Trust you?... How can I trust you after lying to me? How can I trust you after what happened to me? I bet you even lied about my brother."

##No, I didn't…##Watch looked aside. He was lying.

"Oh, you think? Then What was my brother's profession Before he came to visit us?"

##Luxury Car Trade.##

"Then care to explain what is this?" Lilo asked and pulled out Ali's FBI badge showing it to watch. "He even changed his name …. Edward A…Armstrong?... What does that mean? Why did he change his name?" Lilo asked W-1000. ##The Same Reason You Did.##She didn't understand what he meant and put it back inside the manto's pocket.

"It has something with the drug dealer, right?"

##No, It Doesn't.##

"Then what?"

##Your father.##He saw Lilo blink trying to recognize what he said. ##He was searching about your father.##

"What …. What are you talking about…my dad died 7 years ago…along…with…Ali…" She said then trailed off realizing. "Are you telling me that he is alive?" Asked Lilo. Hoping not to lie to her this time. ## No, I don't. They already confirmed that your father is dead, but Ali didn't believe it. He was trying to find out where did your father go or prove that he is still alive since then.## Lilo was for some reason stunned. She thought that Ali was lying to her about everything. It turned out that he is hiding the truth to find her father. She misses them so much. Lilo's amber eyes darkened as she asked.

"And Ali didn't find anything, …did he?"

##No, he didn't. ##

"How …. How did my dad die?" She was trying to hold her tears. She heard that he died to free the country along with her brother. She wants to know the truth. She wants to know everything, what happened, where did they go, and why did they disappear in the last 12 years.

##An explosion. ##W-1000 was answering carefully. She knows that the watch won't answer all of her questions truthfully. No matter how many times she asked or argued with him the answers would be the same because this device wasn't programmed for these sorts of things. Only do the thing that they asked him to and the information he has, right?

"I see...so they weren't lying …." Lilo sighed, giving up and gazing at the sky. The electronic watch, Watt-1000, observed her tears falling.

##Why are you crying?## Watt-1000 Asked. "Huh… uh… n-no… I'm not crying… It's just …. nothing ...at all." Lilo replied, hastily wiping away her tears. This time, Watt-1000 didn't argue, patiently waiting for her to open up.

"You know …since I got kidnapped, I had wished it to be a nightmare so I can wake up quickly." Lilo began, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and sadness." But then I found out that it's my reality, and I can't run away from it. Heh...who am I even lying to?..." She chuckled bitterly, staring at the rotating torch in her hand.

Lilo had been trying to forget what happened, to move on, but the memories were stuck in her head. Whenever she tried to push them away, she would hear the screams from her time in prison. A shiver ran down her spine as she recalled the pain. She tightened her grip on her coat and shook her head, trying to shake off the haunting memories.

## And what do you wish right now?## Watt-1000 interjected, bringing her attention back to the present. Lost in her thoughts, Lilo hadn't heard him at first. She looked at the watch, puzzled. "Huh?"

##I said what do you wish right now? You are now out of the regime prisons.## Watt-1000 repeated. Lilo stared straight ahead as she spoke, determination in her voice. "I wish to forget everything – epically this terrifying memory-and begin a new life …and find my family."

##Why?## the watch inquired.

"Because I am sick of it." Lilo replied firmly." Hope this answers your question. Come on. we better get out of here."

##Bu-## Watt-1000 began to protest, only to be interrupted by Lilo's stern warning.

"Argue with me and I will turn you off." Realizing she meant business, Watt-1000 fell silent. Lilo walked ahead, glancing at the watch's screen displaying the time and map. Unbeknownst to her, Akai, who had overheard their conversation, followed closely behind and thought. "She isn't that easy. I need to be careful."

##It's 3:34 and the exit isn't that far from here. Like a 5-minute walk. ## Watt-1000 informed Lilo. "Ok." Lilo responded, her earlier frustration melting away.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier. It's just… I was scared." She apologized. ##It's the first time a human apologizes to me, and your apology is accepted. ## Watt-1000 replied, surprising Lilo. She smiled and continued walking. Little did she know, Akai was waiting for her, curious about what had happened to her and cautious about her behavior.

As they made their way down the hallway, they reached a point where two separate paths diverged. This time, the light was coming from the left direction. ##All right, now turn left,## Watt-1000 instructed.

Lilo raised an eyebrow, questioning the watch's reliability.

"Is there something wrong with your system or something?"

##Why? Did I mistake again?## Watt-1000 responded innocently.

"No, you got it right," Lilo admitted, peering down the right path. To her dismay, there was only a large green bin, signalling a dead end.

"It's a dead-end …and…*sniff*…Ugh, the smell is sickening." She covered her nose in disgust.

##If you stay here, you will get hurt. Come on.## Watt-1000 urged.

"Ok." Lilo agreed, about to turn left when she heard a weak voice. She paused and turned towards the sound.

"Did you hear that?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.##No…. I Didn't.## Watt-1000 replied. Lilo noticed two boots next to the green bin. "There is someone here."

##You Better Leave Him/ Her And Go…Hey !... Are You Even listening to me!?## Watt-1000 protested, but Lilo paid no attention to his words. She knew she had to investigate further. With a quick motion, she lowered the brightness of her flashlight and directed its beam towards the stranger. It was a girl, dressed in a scarf, trench coat, and blue jeans, with traces of rubbish on her clothes. Lilo gently removed the debris and examined the girl closely. "I could tell that she is a girl."

##How come?## Watt-1000 questioned skeptically.

"From the voice," Lilo replied, her tone tinged with certainty. She knew she had a knack for discerning such details.

##O …Come on! She Is A Rouge!## Watt-1000 exclaimed, his tone filled with judgment.

Lilo shot him a glare, silencing him instantly. She was not going to let his words taint her judgment. "Be quiet and watch your words," she warned him firmly.

Reluctantly, Watt-1000 complied and fell silent. Lilo, meanwhile, gently placed her cold fingers on the girl's neck, checking for a pulse. The girl tensed slightly, but Lilo didn't notice. "There is a pulse. She will be ok." Lilo declared, a sense of relief washing over her.

Lilo shook her head, her determination unwavering.##Good In This Case. Let's Leave Her And Get Out Of Here. Her Family Will Find Her Later. ##Watt-1000 suggested, eager to move on.

Lilo shook her head, her determination unwavering. "Now one of these two. Either there is something with your system or you just acting like an idiot. If she was lost, she would go to the police station. I can't leave her in this cold weather even if I don't know who she is. She needs our help." she asserted firmly; her voice laced with compassion.

##Says the one who was beaten so badly and barely survived the aimed rocket at her. Not to mention the thick clothes with some of your own blood. You were lucky that you run away from this massacre. Otherwise, you would be DEAD. ## Lilo muttered a few words in Arabic, expressing her frustration.

"يخرب بيتك. فضحتنا."

Tr: "Ruin your house. You exposed us."

(A.N.: This translation may be somewhat weird for some readers. Because I translated it from the general language. Arabic 'Syria' accent precisely.)

Then, she looked at Watt-1000 and whispered, "Shhh! Be quite! You will wake her up!"

"Th-There is no need for that." The girl by the bin spoke up. "Because…. I am already awake." Lilo's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh! Sorry to disturb you. Are you lost?" she asked, extending an iron stick to help the girl get up.

"No, I'm not. I just came by and met someone, but... a... surprising condition ended me up here." the girl replied, accepting the stick. Lilo could sense that something was off, that the girl had noticed her pain and the bandage on her hand.

"I…see. Apologies for hearing that." Lilo gritted her teeth, trying to hide her discomfort as she assisted the girl in standing up. The girl, too, seemed to sense that Lilo was hiding something, her gaze shifting to the bandage and the faint bloodstain.

"Are you ok?" the girl asked, concern evident in her eyes as she glanced at Lilo's injured hand.

Lilo grinned, trying to reassure her. "Y-Yeah, just a small scratch I got it when I was trying to find a way out of here."

The girl wasn't convinced. "Are you sure?"

Lilo nodded confidently. "Yeah, I am. No need to worry.".

"O... k…" The girl blinked in response. Lilo's reaction surprised her as if she expected Lilo to be more distressed about her injury. She thought to herself, "A small scratch huh…"

Curiosity getting the better of her, Lilo asked about the girl's name, "Can I ask you about your name?"

"Oh …S-sure... My name is …."

"Is…?"

Shiho hesitated but eventually replied, "Shiho…Shiho Miyano. You can call me Miyano." Shiho said then regretted it. She thought that Lilo would mock her as everybody did in her school.

Lilo's eyes widened with excitement. "Wow! You're from Japan, right?"

Shiho was taken aback by Lilo's enthusiasm. "Yes …I am."

"Ah…I apologize for my behavior… It's been a while since I talked to someone." Said Lilo realizing her behaviour.

"No. It's ok." Said Shiho. "What about you?"

"My name is Lilo. Nice to meet you." Lilo introduced herself, placing her hand over her chest and giving a slight bow. Shiho observed this gesture curiously, as it was different from the usual handshake. "Maybe she is one of the gentlefolk…She doesn't look like one…" Thought Shiho looking at Lilo's clothes. It was not that dark because they weren't that far from the suburb's exit.

"Nice to meet you too." Shiho responded, mimicking Lilo's gesture.

"You can walk, can't you?" Asked Lilo adjusting the light brightness.

"Yes, I can." Shiho confirmed.

"Good. Come one, let's get out of here…Ugh …. The smell stinks here." Lilo remarked, holding her nose and leading the way. Shiho chuckled and followed her, but her attention was abruptly caught by a sudden beeping sound that lasted several seconds before stopping. She looked around, trying to locate the source of the sound. Lilo noticed her confusion and paused, giving Shiho a questioning look.

"Is there something wrong?" Lilo asked.

"Did you hear that sound? I think there is someone here…" Shiho replied, her senses on high alert.

"Sound? ...O…. Do you mean the beep sound? It's from my watch to notify me about the time ...Hehe ... my bad…" Lilo explained, looking at her electronic watch, which showed a low battery level of 15%.

"لازم أستعجل واطلع من هون."

Tr: "I must hurry up and get out of here." Lilo thought to herself in Arabic, feeling a sense of urgency. She didn't mention this to Shiho, though.

"Is …is that so…." Shiho said, slightly relieved. She continued to follow Lilo as they walked towards the exit of the suburb. As they walked, Shiho couldn't help but notice Lilo's British accent and asked her about her origins.

"You're…. You're not from this place, …. aren't you?" Shiho's notice made Lilo halt for a moment.

"Huh? Ah ... yes, I am not…. How did you know?" Lilo's head was hurting her but understood what Shiho asked her.

"Your accent."

"O…Yes… Right…" She totally forgot that she speaks in a British accent.

"So…How did you end up here?" Shiho inquired, curious about Lilo's story.

"Well, it's a long story but I will summarize it in three words… Kidnap…Torture…Runaway." Lilo answered, counting the words on her fingers. She looked at Shiho, who seemed genuinely interested.

"Why…. did they kidnap you?" Shiho asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I wish I do …., butsadly i don't…." Lilo replied, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Oh…." Shiho murmured sympathetically.

"But I…" Lilo began, but she stopped herself, remembering the Robo Gama logo and what Max had told her about her father. She couldn't reveal too much to Shiho.

"What were you going to say?" Shiho pressed, sensing Lilo's hesitation.

"Eh! Ah! N-Nothing forget about it." Lilo stammered, giving Shiho a sheepish grin.

"But that doesn't change the fact that they had kidnaped you and abounded you for no reason." Shiho pointed out, her concern evident.

"I know it's hard to believe, but I can't do anything about it right now. I think I have to wait for my brother to come. He knows about it more than I do." Lilo explained, her voice filled with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.

"Is he…. the one who saved you?" Shiho asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"Yes, He managed to save me.…" Lilo confirmed, her grip on her flashlight tightening as she recalled the harrowing experience. She couldn't let anyone know the full extent of what had happened to her.

"Let's not talk about it if you don't want to." Shiho suggested, noticing Lilo's trembling hand.

"Yeah…. I would appreciate it." Lilo replied, running her hand through her hair in an attempt to calm herself.

"…Where are you from?" Shiho redirected the conversation, trying to lighten the mood.

"I am from levant." Lilo answered.

"Levant?" Shiho repeated, unfamiliar with the term.

"Yes, It's the countries which are located on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea." Lilo elaborated.

"Heh…that's interesting…." Shiho commented, genuinely intrigued.

"How old are you?" Lilo inquired, looking at Shiho.

"I am ….15 years ….old." Shiho replied hesitantly.

"Awesome! You're as same as my age! I turned 15 two weeks ago!" Lilo exclaimed, her cheerfulness infectious.

"Really?" Shiho smiled at Lilo's exclaiming, feeling a sense of connection with Lilo.

"Yeah!" They both chuckled and continued walking. Lilo glanced at the screen of her watch, using it as a makeshift guide, while Shiho walked beside her. The two girls engaged in conversation, discussing various topics ranging from life and fashion to traditions and even memes. It was the first time Shiho felt a sense of camaraderie and understanding. The fear that had consumed her earlier was slowly dissipating, replaced by a newfound sense of comfort in Lilo's presence. Shiho even managed to smile, a small but genuine one.

After a few minutes, they reached the exit of the suburb. Just a few steps and they would be out of this eerie place. Shiho had something on her mind and decided to stop walking, causing Lilo to pause as well. However, Lilo's attention was momentarily diverted by the intense brightness of the exit. She squinted her eyes and halted, rubbing them to alleviate the strain.

"Umm… Lilo?" Shiho began, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"Yes?" Lilo turned her head to look at Shiho, her eyes still adjusting to the sudden light.

"Look at the Japanese girl. Hahhahaha." Shiho couldn't help but recall the way her classmates had mocked her eyes, treating her like an outcast.

"You're nothing other than a fool and dork. Nobody likes you." their hurtful words echoed in her mind. Shiho had always felt like an outsider due to her mixed heritage, with her Japanese father and foreign mother. She felt like she didn't belong anywhere.

"I can't leave her in this cold weather even if I don't know who she is. She needs our help." Lilo's earlier words resurfaced in Shiho's thoughts.

"Is there something wrong? Are you ok?" Lilo asked, walking back to Shiho. "Have…." Shiho hesitated, unsure whether to open up about her insecurities.

"Hm?" Lilo prompted, sensing Shiho's internal struggle.

"Have you been ever bullied by someone because you are different?" Shiho finally voiced her question, her voice tinged with vulnerability.

"حطيتي الملح على الجرح."

Tr: "You have put the slat on the wound." Lilo muttered in Arabic, her words lost on Shiho.

"What?" Shiho looked at Lilo, surprised by her response.

"Yes, I have been bullied at school so many times," Lilo admitted a touch of sadness in her voice.

"Y-You too? Why?" Shiho asked, genuinely curious.

"Yes. Well, it's because of my eye color saying that it's 'contact lenses'….and …. other reasons…. but the worst one of them is that I am a small or chibi…or...Whatever. They are really annoying when they talk about it." Lilo explained, boredly making air quotes around the term 'contact lenses.'

"And what did you do about it?" Shiho inquired, intrigued by Lilo's resilience.

"I usually give them a sharp response, get into fights with them, or simply ignore them," Lilo replied, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Shiho couldn't help but chuckle at Lilo's bold approach.

"Oh…,But doesn't that bring you problems with the other students?" Shiho raised a valid concern.

"I don't care if it would bring me problems. They must know when to toe the line." Lilo replied, her determination evident

"And why do you ignore them?" Shiho asked, genuinely curious about Lilo's tactics.

"To get on their nerves. Believe me, it works like a charm. Imagine how their faces would be." Lilo said with a smirk, causing both girls to burst into laughter.

"Miyano…" Lilo began, her voice becoming more serious.

"Yes?" Shiho responded, sensing a shift in the conversation.

"Is there something bothering you? I mean... like... umm... someone ...threatening you if you didn't do a specific thing?" Lilo pressed her grip on the flashlight tightening.

Shiho's eyes widened, startled by Lilo's perceptiveness. She hesitated for a moment before finally admitting, "E-Eh? No..."

"You're lying." Lilo declared, her amber eyes shining brightly in the darkness.

"You scared of something or someone, …am I right?"

Shiho felt a shiver run down her spine, realizing that Lilo had seen right through her facade. Lilo's intuition was uncanny, and it made Shiho wonder if she could trust her.

To Be continued…...

~Ze12