Fort Nelson, Church, 27th of September 2015, 1000 hours:
The large wooden door of the church opened once more as grey clouds continued shadowing over the town below. People could be seen walking out from within, shaking hands with the priest, and greeting each other. Anoki, Lily, and Miyuki, dressed in either a dress or a combination of knee-length skirts and blouses with blazers or sweaters, or any piece of garment that's suitable for cold climates, could be seen walking out after shaking hands with the priest, followed by two parent figures, Yua and Patricia, wearing their usual long skirts and long sleeves.
"Hey, Lily, where's your mother? Why did she didn't come today?" Asked Miyuki.
"Huh?" Lily turned her head towards Miyuki; she thought for a moment to think of a reply before giving a vague answer. "Uh.. Stuff."
"You... don't remember?" Asked Anoki.
"Uhh.." Lily stared up, thinking and trying to remember why and what had happened. It took her a few seconds until it came into her mind. "Oh, now I remember. My mother and I met with Ms. Cathleen, who was walking with that Alan person, and Alisia, during our way back after buying groceries." Lily answered.
"Huh? What's Alisia doing with them?" Asked Miyuki, her eyebrows went wide open.
"Well uhh.."
Fort Nelson, Town Centre, 26th of September 2015, 1510 hours:
An SUV could be seen driving through the streets in the town centre, passing through stores and restaurants. Small amounts of water could be seen dropping from the grey clouds, dropping on the SUV's window surface. Sarah could be seen on the driver's seat, keeping her eyes straight forward, while Lily could be seen just beside her on the left seat, eyes closed and her body relaxed. In the middle seat, there could be seen multiple paper bags with multiple items inside, mostly food ingredients.
"You should really start exercising more, Lily." Said Sarah as she still kept her eyes forward. "Join one of the school clubs or something."
Lily yawned, moving her body to the side and facing the door. "I did ask to join Alisia in the new club."
"Well, anything but that. Tankery is dangerous, and besides, you'll spend most of your time there just sitting and making your back stiff anyways." Sarah rejected Lily's proposal.
"You're no fun.." Lily curled herself up on the seat, lifting her legs to tuck in after taking off her shoes.
"Keep your legs down, young lady." Sarah tutted, looking at Lily for a short second before looking back to the front. She was a bit annoyed with Lily's lazy behaviour. But at the same time, she was spoiling her; she couldn't really blame her, could she?
Sarah then saw a group of three people: one boy and a woman carrying a little girl on her back. Their faces looked quite alien to her; maybe they're new around here? She looked closer, particularly at the girl the woman was carrying, as her clothing looked somewhat familiar. As the car drew closer and closer, Sarah recognised the face of the girl; it was Alisia.
"What is she doing with them?" Sarah showed a face of concern; she moved the steering wheel to the left, moving the car to the side, before pushing on the brakes, pushing it slowly as to not cause the car to stop immediately and push everything forward, including herself. The car eventually stopped smoothly, stopping right beside the road. She then proceeded to open the left-door window with the panel on her right door.
"Hey." Sarah called the two figures.
The two figures looked at the car with a look of confusion; the woman spoke up first.
"Ye? Is there anything wrong?" Asked the woman in an accent that reminded Sarah of the people from the TV shows she sometimes watches, still holding the dazed Alisia on her back.
"What are you doing with her?" Asked Sarah in a polite tone.
"Ah, this lass?" The woman turned her head towards Alisia, who was dazing blankly. "Well, uh, let's say I'm her teacher who's uh.. Going to be in this town for a little while, shall I say, yes? Darling?" She turned towards the young man beside her.
"Wha- Huh?-"
"Shh.. Play along!" She whispered.
The young man looked back and forth at Sarah and the woman before then releasing a sigh. ".. Right. Mother." he cringed at the last word.
"Well uhh, is she lost? The girl." Asked Sarah as she kept staring back and forth at Alisia and the woman
"Ah, nah. We went to the shooting range till' we met this one student with her uncle. Her uncle is one busy bloke, so he asked us to take care of her." Said the woman, "Oh and, she got in an... accident where she almost shot herself."
Sarah's eyes widened, her breathing stopped upon hearing that Alisia almost shot herself. "Oh my- is she hurt?"
"Ehh, just a tiny winy bit." The woman moved Alisia from her rear and to the front, the young girl still in a shocked state. The woman held Alisia by the armpits, keeping her standing while being completely limp and paralysed. "I guess this is what the folks calls uhh.. Shell shock. She got a bit of a scratch on the head too." The woman then lifted the hair that was covering Alisia's forehead, revealing a band-aid with some blood stain.
"Oh, goodness.. Do you need help?" Sarah did a quick check on the window, checking the rear and the front of the road, before then opening the door, leaving it open, and walking straight towards Alisia that was being held standing.
"Well, her wound is not that fatal, but her mind sure is.. A bit in a shock still. We're trying to find her house, but we don't know where it is, nor do we know who her parents are." Said the woman.
"Well, I know her. I know her mother too; her house is just across the road." Sarah stopped on her steps before levelling her height down to reach Alisia's height. "Are you okay, dear?"
"She's not gonna respond; we tried..." The young man paused a bit and looked towards Sarah's fingers, checking and finding a ring on them before continuing. "Mrs?"
"Hm? Ah, my bad. I'm Sarah Carter, and you two?"
"I'm Alan-" The young man was suddenly tapped from behind on the shoulders. He looked back and towards the woman, who was smiling at her, as if saying something to her, something he doesn't like most likely.
He was confused for a moment before realising what she was trying to say. He tutted before then looking back at Sarah. "I'm Alan.. Smith. Her name's Cathleen. My mother."
"Ah, I see." Sarah nodded. "What an accent you got there; are you from Britain?"
"Well, yes. England, specifically," said Alan.
"Well, since you know her well... well, uhh, mind if you take care of her instead? I got me problems to deal with." Asked Cathleen in a pleading tone.
"Oh, well sure thing. Let me uhh, get a seat for her." Sarah went towards the middle seat door, opening it, which revealed paper bags with grocery items inside. "Yikes.. Please hang on a second."
Lily was still asleep on the front seat but was stirred the moment she heard the sound of a door opening. Her eyes fluttered a bit and she opened just slightly to see her mother moving the grocery items to the right seat, stacking them, and seeing a familiar figure being carried and seated inside.
Lily yawned, being too tired to see what was happening around her, and decided to close her eyes back and return to her deep slumber.
Present day:
"Ehh?! There was Ms. Smith and that one guy?" Said Miyuki in a surprised tone.
"Are you sure?" Anoki asked Lily to be reassured with the information that Lily just relayed.
"Dunno.. Was too tired from walking all day buying groceries and standing... for hours. Maybe some spinning too." Lily stretched her arms. "Ugh, church seats are so uncomfortable."
"Well, you're supposed to hear the preaching, not sleep." Said Anoki.
"Right, right.." Lily replied in a low tone before yawning.
"So, where's Alisia now?" Asked Miyuki.
"Uhh, guest room? Where else?" Lily replied.
"In your house?" Miyuki asked once more.
"Yeah, she still has this weird blank stare since yesterday. I don't think she slept last night." Lily answered.
"Hey.. should we go visit her?" Miyuki suggested.
"Da-me." (No.) Yua's voice could be heard from behind in a scolding tone.
"Ehhh?" Miyuki turned back towards her mother, her eyebrows furrowed in disappointment.
Yua remained silent as she continued staring down towards Miyuki, shaking her head, disapproving what she was suggesting.
"Well, Mrs. Yua. Exams would not be around until next month in the 10th." Said Patricia, pausing before continuing. "It's not really that competitive here compared to what you're used to in Japan, I heard. Things are a lot more relaxed here, so don't push her too much, or else Miyuki would get a bit... Too stressed, should I say?"
Yua thought for a moment, wondering whether she should allow Alisia to go and visit her friend or not. After a moment, she nodded. "Well, there aren't that many homeworks you have, so maybe I'll let this pass. Just remember to be back before the sun sets."
"Ha ii!" (Alright!) said Miyuki in an enthusiastic tone.
"Can I go too?" Asked Anoki, looking up towards Patricia, her mother.
"Just make sure to be home before the sun goes down; I don't want you to be home when grizzlies start roaming around the streets."
"Will do."
Carter Resident, 1018 hours:
The three girls were on the door, with Lily approaching the door and knocking on the door, "I'm back." She opened the door, revealing an entrance with a foyer placed lower than the main house's floor.
"Slippers over there if your socks or leg is wet or dirty." Lily pointed towards the drawer beside the door. She took off her shoes and placed them on the shoe cabinet that was above the slipper's drawer before walking in.
Both Anoki and Miyuki nodded; they then grabbed each a pair of slippers from the lower drawer and followed Lily from behind.
"Sumimasen." (Excuse me.) Miyuki muttered as she walked up the house's main floor. "So, where is she?"
"Uhh." Lily walked over to the hallway and towards the dining table that's connected to other rooms and the kitchen. "Mom, you there?"
"Huh.. guess all houses in this town have the same layout." Anoki remarked, after looking around the house, the layout reminding her of Alisia's house she visited some time ago.
"Alisia's house is like this too. Mine too, though. But some have different entrances. " Miyuki commented.
A dark wooden door near the kitchen, only separated by the difference in elevation, could be seen opening, revealing a woman with long braided blonde hair that was Sarah, wearing a plain coloured dress with an apron and a pair of sandals. "You're back?- Oh, you brought friends here?"
Lily turned towards her. "Yeah.. They said they want to see Alisia."
Sarah nodded. "I see.. Well, she's here." She looked towards Anoki and Miyuki and invited them, "Come on in."
The two girls walked over to her, passing through the kitchen section before eventually arriving at the door. There, they could see the familiar dark brown-haired short girl on the bed wearing a white gown, laying against the headboard. Her face was pale, and her eyes that were staring blankly had bloodshots and had bags. There were also her clothes folded neatly beside her on the nightstand, fresh and clean. A blanket was covering half of her body.
Miyuki looked over at the girl, her face showing an expression of concern; the same could be the same with Anoki. Miyuki then turned towards Sarah, asking her. "What happened to her?"
"Well, she almost shot herself in the firing range. She's been unresponsive since yesterday and hasn't slept or eaten." Sarah released a heavy sigh and looked towards the paralysed girl. "I've been trying to call her parents, but so far no response."
"What about her mother?" Asked Anoki.
"Nope, not even her mother. Well, they're usually very busy."
Miyuki's expression turned sorrow upon hearing what Sarah just said: being helpless and not being helped by your own is just... sad. She walked closer to Alisia, looking closer at Alisia, whose face was still pale, her eyes red, as if she were possessed.
"Oh well, anyways, do you mind if I make a cup for both of you?" Asked Sarah as she looked over at the two girls.
"Oh, well, sure, Mrs. Carter," said Anoki.
Miyuki turned back and said to her, "Sure, Mrs. Carter."
"Right! I'll be right back in a few minutes." Sarah then walked away from the doorframe and headed towards the kitchen, where she began pulling out several cups along with a small box from the cabinets filled with tea bags.
Miyuki looked back towards Alisia with an expression of pity. She then walked closer and was towering over her a few meters away. She then lifted her right hand and was about to land a touch on Alisia's head for a pat before being called out by Anoki.
"Hey.. I don't think touching her is a good idea." Anoki spoke up to stop Miyuki. "Last time she bit the woman from yesterday."
Miyuki halted her hand's movement, stopping right on top of Alisia's head. "... She did?"
"Yee... she bit her a bit too hard." She answered.
Miyuki thought for a moment, considering her action and wondering whether it would be appropriate or not. Then she just lifted her shoulders. "Can't be that bad, right?"
"Not my fault if you lose a finger or two.." Anoki rolled her eyes, sighing.
"Heh... trust me." Miyuki dismissed her and proceeded to lower her hand to Alisia's head without thinking much.
Her hand landed on top of Alisia's head, and she began moving it across her hair, giving a single stroke in a soft motion. But Alisia suddenly flinched upon the second stroke, causing Miyuki to be startled and retreat back.
"Hehe, she's so cute." Miyuki giggled at the sight of Alisia before pulling her hand after feeling the odd surface on her head. "Though her hair's a bit rough."
"Maybe because she hasn't taken a bath or shower yet?" Anoki speculated before pointing at Alisia. "I mean.. look at her; her hair is messy. I see a lot of dry scalps sticking out."
"Ehhh…" Miyuki nodded before eventually looking back at the hand she used to stroke Alisia's hair, seeing some dry scalps sticking on her palm before wiping it on her skirt's surface.
Anoki leaned in closer to Alisia, standing right in front of her. She looked close at her; Alisia's eyes were staring blankly. "Do you think she notices us right now?"
"Huh? Uhh.. I don't know. But she did react to my touch." Said Miyuki.
"Hmm.." Anoki waved her hand in front of Alisia's eyes, trying to get her attention, but no reaction came. "Huh."
"What are you two doing?" A voice appeared from behind.
Anoki and Miyuki turned their attention back to see Lily dressed in a simple, plain-coloured gown, calling them both.
"Oh, Lily. You're back!" Said Miyuki.
Lily walked towards them both before then looking towards Alisia. "She's not awake yet?"
"Nope, aside from some touches that make her flinch, she's not." Said Anoki.
Lily nodded. Then, the woman, Carter, entered the room with a tray with four cups on it. "I'm back."
The three girls looked back at Carter upon hearing her arrival.
"Oh, what's that?" Anoki asked.
"Well, I forgot to buy tea yesterday and there's only liptons left. Do you all mind?" Carter asked.
"Oh, well.. Uhh.. Sure thing!" Said Miyuki in a hesitant yet cheerful tone.
Suddenly, Anoki approached her from behind and whispered to her from behind. "Do you think she'll wake up if we give her that?"
Miyuki looked back at her thought for a moment. "I mean… It can?" She looked back towards Carter. "Mrs. Carter, can I have a cup?"
"Oh, sure." Carter placed the tray down and handed over a cup towards Miyuki.
Miyuki walked towards Carter, took the cup, and walked back to Alisia before placing it on her lip and tilting the cup slightly to pour the content inside her mouth. Though there were many droplets dropping, the lipton still went into Alisia's mouth and down her throat. Alisia gulped in the content, and then...
Alisia spat the tea out and jolted out from her numbness. Miyuki flinched and accidentally dropped the cup, causing the content to splatter all over the blanket.
Alisia coughed out as much of the tea that she gulped in, opening her mouth and showing her tongue before wiping it with her hand in disgust.
"Well, that worked," said Anoki.
Carter was in a state of confusion upon looking at what she just saw. "What did you just do?"
"Hmm?" Miyuki looked back towards Carter. "Oh, well. Anoki suggested something about waking her up by giving her that tea. She doesn't like liptons."
"Oh my, I almost forgot... But geez, how rude that was. You two better apologise to her." Carter shook her head in disapproval.
Alisia was still wiping her tongue and coughed at the end before looking down at the blanket. It was all soaked wet. She then turned towards Anoki with her still red eyes, from the result of sleep deprivation, and then Lily, and eventually Miyuki, who just stood up after taking the cup she just dropped.
She continued glaring into Miyuki's eyes, with a dangerous intent within them. Miyuki gulped upon looking at the stare and tried looking away but the stare was too intense for her to break from.
"H-Hey… Good morning, Alisia!" Miyuki gave her an awkward, nervous smile.
Alisia continued glaring at her. Her breathing grew heavier, fuming in anger, and without a warning, she lunged forward towards Miyuki. Miyuki flinched back in fear, and Alisia fell down towards the floor, hitting head first.
"Ow…"
"A-Are you alright?!" Miyuki went down to help getting Alisia back up, but Alisia immediately stood back up and lunged towards Miyuki, before stopping midway, feeling a jolt of pain on her head, and immediately placing her hands on the area of the wound.
"Oww.." She held her head down, grunting and whimpering.
"Y-You good?" Miyuki looked at Alisia with concern but also fear after almost being lunged at by her.
"Gosh.." Carter walked towards Alisia and picked her up in bridal style and placed her down in a cushion seat just beside the night table before heading towards the door. "Let me get some fresh clothes and sheets."
Lily looked as her mother walked out of the room and looked back at the two girls. "... So now what?"
Anoki looked back towards Lily. "Huh? I don't know."
Everything was silent for a moment as no one talked, until eventually Alisia was able to recover from the jolting pain. She then looked at the three girls who were staring at her. "Uh, why am I here?" She looked around in confusion. "I was with the Ms. Mia in the firing range."
"Firing range?" Miyuki asked and looked at the other two girls for clarification.
"Yeah, there is a firing range around here just near the town center. A very big one." Said Anoki.
"Oh, the town's firing range. Been there once and watched people shooting. It looked kinda fun," said Lily.
Alisia looked at the three girls with a look of confusion; she doesn't really know why she was there or how. She looked around and it appeared that she was currently at Lily's house, recognising it from the design of the room, being the guest room, which she had stayed here before due to many reasons. She tried to remember what happened last time, but then she felt something wet on her skin. She looked down at the dress she was wearing; the bottom part of it was smeared with some kind of liquid.
"Why am I wet?" she asked.
"Oh, about that. We tried waking you up by feeding you with liptons Mrs. Carter made, but then, uh..." Miyuki stopped, figuring for a word suitable to describe what just happened.
"You almost attacked Miyuki, maybe," said Anoki bluntly.
"Yeah, yeah, you almost bit me," said Miyuki. "Maybe."
"Bite?" asked Lily with a confused look.
Hearing the word bit made Alisia's face turn red in embarrassment and she looked down to avoid everyone's gaze, remembering the accident last Friday where she bit the instructor lady's finger to the point of causing some blood to spill out.
"I'm back." Carter could be seen entering the room, bringing with her a blanket, a sheet, and a white new gown. "So, have you apologised to her?"
Miyuki looked towards Carter. "Oh, I almost forgot!" She looked back towards Alisia. "Hey… I'm sorry for what I did… Will you forgive me, please?" She asked, clasping her hands together.
Alisia looked up towards Miyuki, her arms crossed. "Hm." She said dismissively.
"I-Is that a yes or a no?" Miyuki asked.
Alisia looked away, arms still crossed, and nodded slightly. "Hm."
Miyuki blinked and noticed her nodding. Her lips curled, forming a smile and cheering. "Yatta!" (Hurray!)
"Alisia, are you going to school tomorrow?" Asked Anoki.
"Well, she's just a bit tired; she didn't sleep last night." Carter placed the items she was holding on the table right beside Alisia's clothing and began dismantling the wet sheet and blanket off the bed. "Go change your dress, Alisia. Oh, and take a bath while it; there's a spare towell by the toilet."
Alisia nodded and stood up from the seat and went to beside the bed to wore on the slippers. She took the gown from the table and walked out of the room, walking towards the bathroom that was just beside the room's door.
"So, how's the club thingy you all are on? Is it good?" Asked Lily.
Both Anoki and Miyuki looked back towards Lily upon her asking the question.
"Well, it's a bit tough. I have a hard time switching the gears and moving the control sticks. The tank we ride on is a bit uncomfortable but it's fun, I guess." Said Anoki. "Then when getting chased and stuff, dodging shots and trying not to get hit. The suspense and the adrenaline… Different experience compared to the other sports in school."
"We get to see big explosions! Then seeing stuff getting hit and having the white flag pop out, its so satisfying." Said Miyuki. "How about you? Have you joined any club yet?"
"Uhh, no. I haven't… Clubs are optional so I don't think I'd be joining any," said Lily.
"Not joining any? Why not?" Carter looked towards Lily; she had just finished replacing the wet sheet with a new one. Her hands could be seen folding the wet blanket.
"I did ask that I wanted to join the tankery club, but you said no to it."
"You can pick anything but tankery, like tennis, football, volleyball, or even basketball, or even the hunting club. Just not tankery." Carter objected, saying it in a polite tone.
As Lily was about to ask once more, Carter cut her and spoke up once more. "Now, don't you have math homework?"
Lily halted and decided not to continue and nodded hesitantly.
"Well, get into it then." Said Carter in an imperative tone. "If you're having any difficulties solving it, just tell me."
Alisia walked back in, her hair a bit wet and her skin appearing more smoother and cleaner than the previous state. She was wearing the fresh gown Carter gave her earlier. She overheard the conversation that was happening upon her entering; her eyebrows furrowed.
"Huh? What homework?" Asked Alisia, thinking for a second before eventually realising. "Oh wait. Aghh- I forgot…"
Carter's eyes widened. "You haven't done any, Alisia? I thought you always did your homework at school."
Alisia looked down, avoiding Carter's gaze, not answering at all.
"Well, I guess it's normal to slack off a bit after a long holiday. How about you stay here? Bring your homework and study with Lily. Besides, it's not healthy being at home all alone." Carter suggested her. "I'll tell your parents you'll be staying with us for today."
"Well uhh.." Alisia hesitated, thinking whether she should accept the offer.
"It's also not healthy staying up all night until 2 AM playing with your computer, you know." Said Carter in a teasing tone before turning into a sadder tone. "It pains me seeing your window shining all bright early in the morning."
Alisia coughed as Carter mentioned her nightly activities, still looking down, her face turning red from embarrassment. "W-Well, I tried limiting myself to only play before 12 PM…" she muttered.
"Mrs, Carter." Miyuki called her out.
"Yes?" Carter turned towards Miyuki.
Miyuki looked towards Anoki, whispering to her, before looking back towards Carter. "Can we stay here too? Maybe we can study together and perhaps have a sleepover!"
"Sleep..over?" Asked Lily in a confused tone.
"It's something people usually do with friends," Anoki explained.
"Hmm…" Carter placed her hand on her chin, thinking. "Well, I would love to have a few guests. Ask your parents first, and then you can bring your things here. If they don't, well, maybe next time."
"Ok then!" Miyuki smiled, clasping her hands together. "I'll go ask them first!"
"Me too, then," said Anoki.
"Well, if your parents didn't approve, you don't need to come back and tell me." Carter then looked back towards Alisia. "Well, Alisia. Your clothes are there on the table." She pointed at the night table, where Alisia's clothes could be seen laying dormant.
Alisia nodded and went on to grab her clothes and went out once more towards the bathroom to change.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Carter looked towards Lily. "You could start now while waiting for her and maybe others."
"... 'kay." Lily sighed and went out of the room, walking across the kitchen before eventually arriving at her room, which was across the room from where the guest room is.
"Well then, Mrs. Carter. We'll be going. Sorry if we don't come back." Said Anoki.
"It's alright." Carter reassured.
And so, both Miyuki and Anoki went out of the house and began making their way towards their home. Alisia could be seen coming out with her usual clothes, heading back to take some of the essential things.
Half an hour went by, and only Alisia returned back to Lily's house; there were no signs of Miyuki and Anoki returning. Hours went by until the sun eventually began sinking below the horizon, and the light poles and lights from people's houses began to light up the surroundings, followed with the rest of the town, and yet still no sign of both returning back.