Rain starts pouring down, and Himari slowly gets up and rushes back inside. Shit shit I gotta dry off and fast! She quickly finds a bathroom and grabs a paper towel. However, someone walks in and she quickly goes into the first empty stall she sees.

  Sure enough, 3 girls walk into the room. And she can immediately tell who it was by their voices

  "How did you not go to the bathroom before you left home Miyazaki?!" Nepha & Mimi question.

  "I don't know I just forgot., Miyazaki said as she went into another empty stall.

  Praise whatever god is up there that there's an empty stall but why the hell did it have to be these 3?! This is a damn joke! Himari thought

  "How did you hold it in for so long?" Nepha asked

  It was then Miyazaki shot Mimi and nepha with a prideful smirk "willpower baby."

  ....

  Nepha and Mimi slam the stall door, "Why did you both slam it you only need one person for that?!" Miyazaki shouts.

  "Shut up!" Nepha and mMimireply are in perfect sync.

  Ok, they seem to be just talking so...

  "hey so about what rintaro-sensei told us."

  Huh about what?

  "I'm still trying to process it we'll talk about it later today alright." nepha said

  What did he tell them?

  "she looked so nervous," Mimi said

  "well to be fair Mimi you were a bit forward don't you think? Grabbing her hand I thought you were gonna kiss it or something." Miyazaki comments still in the stall.

  "as if! Focus on your willpower crap you tall baboon!"

  "Oh you know she's mad she goes back to her valley girl accent when she's mad or just woke up."

  Mimi blushes "n nepha shut up it's just a tick and it would happen way less if this lady gorilla didn't piss me off every day!"

  Miyazaki laughs "Aw you love me though"

  "Don't blow a kiss in the bathroom stall that's disgusting!"

  "aw, so you prefer it outside of the bathroom eh? And you told me you don't swing that way." Miyazaki teased

  "I don't and you totes know I don't!"

  "Oh, California girl is back!" Nepha comments to which Mimi ust blushes and pouts deciding to stay quiet.

  Oh, brother no one cares about your stupid argument just get the hell out of here already!..why the hell am I trying to laugh?!

  "The way she rushed out you think we caused that? And what was that all about anyway?" Nepha asked

  "Yeah, I saw she looked at her phone and then ran maybe a family emergency?"

  "let's not assume things it could be something very small like maybe it was...her... Time as one would put it."

  HUH?!

  "Mimi!?"

  "And you think that's small!"

  "Oh stop you two! Is it really that far off?"

  "you just said it with no filter!"

  "Nepha I cleaned it up!"

  "the youth of today is so shameless!"

  "I don't wanna hear that from the bathroom stall kisser! and how long are you gonna be in there any way it's been 2 minutes!" Mimi shouts.

  "go on without me I'll follow you behind soon!"

  "Unbelievable fine we'll wait by the door! But if we hear the bell ring we aren't covering for you!" Mimi shouts before leaving and nepha follows behind.

  Ok, two down one to go I should be fine soon this paper towel isn't really working though.

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  Miyazaki flushed opened the door and washed her hands.

  Ok, I'll be able to get out soon dry off, and then-

  Yo" This catches Himari off guard completely and she doesn't know if she should reply or not.

  What the hell? Does she know it's me!? No, she just seems like the typical tomboy so-

  "...don't take too long in there ok..Himari."

  W wha-

  "I bet you're wondering how I figured it out well class just ended and when we walked in there was a wet trail not to mention...your feet didn't move once while in there. Typically even sitting down your toes are gonna move try to adjust not to mention you were standing up... and I could hear dripping too."

  What the hell? How was it so obvious and yet I didn't do anything? Shit shit shit!

  Miyazaki sighs "Look you don't gotta tell us anything we only just met but I know of your reputation. Loner yeah? Well if you need someone to talk to you can count on us."

  With that Miyazaki left

  ...count on them? ... not a coincidence she's just saying that. Besides I wouldn't feel right dragging others into my mess. I have to handle this on my own! And besides I've been alone all my life ill be fine here!

  Himari walks out of the stall and looks in the mirror...

  No...no...no!

  Nepha, was on the train all by herself, she had her headphones on but no music was playing

  Why did she run out so fast? Is she that sonically awkward? No but the look on her face. She looked...terrified. Was it a family emergency? No because she was back in class but for some reason wearing a hood.

  "nepha"

  Running that fast for the bathroom is a little odd but maybe she really had to go., although what Miyazaki said to us kind of debunks that too if she just stood there... So was she hiding? If so from what?

  "nepha!"

  This uneasiness ... it's the same feeling I got when I first met you...

  "NEPHA! I like that name"

  Nepha's eyes shot open as she snaps out of her thoughts she sees an older woman wearing a blue suit. "Miss nepha this is our final stop are you ok? You look like you seen a ghost?"

  Nepha shakes her head, " Yeah I'm fine thank you hold on. ..final stop?! W where are we now mam?" Nepha said smiling TWICE REALLY I DID THIS TWICE IN ONE DA-

  "W where are we now mam?" Nepha said smiling TWICE REALLY I DID THIS TWICE IN ONE DA-

  "828 Zen Street the 10th and final stop."

  Nepha gets off the train and looks around the subway... Wasn't friendly, the benches were chippy and the floor tiles were cracked.

  The old lady looked concerned and cleared her throat "y you can wait inside if you want to ms. Nep-

  "no no I'll be fine thank you ms!' Nrpha says walking away with a smile concerning the old woman who wanted to stop her but it looked like it wouldn't work.

  Nepha looked around the neighborhood, the blinds were closed despite it being the middle of the day. There was a cool breeze coming through.

  Nepha however walks without a care in the world seeing a nearby store. She goes there and checks her phone Alright so just gotta wait 15 minutes.

  Suddenly nepha sees a woman who has blonde hair and brown eyes. The older woman was struggling with her bags so nepha quickly rushed over to help.

  "Oh thank you young lady I love your hair it looks so smooth!" Nepha chuckles at the older woman "Thank you my friend Mimi did it it used to be long but it was a pain to take care of. My name is nepha what's yours?"

  "Akari, Akari Suzuki, thank you for helping me with these bags."

  "The pleasure is all mine, Suzuki!"

  Akari laughs "Now no need to be formal everyone here calls me Akari"

  "Oh ok Akari-chan!" they both laugh as they start walking.

  Nepha looked around and the atmosphere was still the same closed doors and blinds every house you looked not to mention the trash everywhere "Akari you mentioned everyone here calls you that but..why does it feel like we're the only two people in the world?"

  Akari sighs "Well as you can see the town isn't exactly in the best shape. Truth be told I barely really see anyone these days. Everyone is always scared of being robbed or worse. Akari gets a little tense. It's a ghost town really but an affordable one."

  It was there that nepha paid attention to the food in the bag, it was a lot of cans.

  "But enough about that stuff kids your age shouldn't worry about that. What I wanna know is that uniform you don't happen to go to Tsubaki High do you? My daughter goes there so that's how I noticed."

  Nepha laughs "Really now? What's your daughter like? Maybe I met her."

  "Oh man where do I begin? Well for starter- oh hey here she comes now."

  A girl with a grey hood covering her head and green eyes stood still as she Akari and Nepha, Nepha rushes over to the girl. "Himari hi!"

  Akari looks usurped "Ohh you two know each other?!"

  What the hell? My mother talked with Ms. Popular about how the hell is she even her- ok stay calm stay calm.

  'w-what are you doing here?" damnit why didn't I tell her to go home!?

  "I fell asleep and ended up missing my stop hehe!"

  As aloof as ever

  "Nepha you can stay with us if you like at least until you have to-

  NO NO DEAR GOD NO!

  "That sounds lovely Akari-chan oh dear God they go on first name basis already dear God help me! "however I have to go to the station now" THANK YOU, GOD

  "Oh in that case Himari why don't you walk Nepha to the station also what's with that hood on your head?"

  FUCK "Alright and it's just to give me some shade." What Himati didn't notice was that nepha was paying attention to her hair she saw a little red on her shoulder.

  Himari and nepha walk in silence for a moment, Himari is paying attention to nepha.

  How airheaded can someone be? She's walking this place without a care in the world it's almost scary. She's just humming so carefree, is she that laid back?

  "Hey himari...what's your favorite food?"

  Oh great small talk the one thing that never works. "lobster"

  Neoha looked surprised "Oh wow didn't think you were a seafood person."

  "wait then what did you think was my favorite?"

  "reptiles"

  WHAT

  Nepha laughs at the bewildered expression on Himari's face. "I kid I kid I just wanted to see your reaction it was priceless," she said with a sly grin.

  "yeah yeah, I guess since we're playing 20 questions what's your favorite food then?"

  Nepha put a finger On her chin "Hmm I love steak! Ooo and teriyaki and I love some pasta too! Ugh, it's so hard to decide!"

  ...d don't laugh

  Nepha sees the small crack on her cheek and grins "Ohhh was I about to make the ghost crack a smile? Eh eh eh?" nepha was poking Hinari's arm as she was doing this.

  Himari lightly smacks it away " your seeing things!" Himari turns to her side blushing.

  Nepha giggles before asking another question "Hinari-chan is it just you and your mother?"

  "No, my dad shows up when he can he's a truck driver though So it's not like he has much free time."

  Nepha raised an eyebrow "A truck driver but you live in a street like this? It's a little odd."

  Heh, she does have some brains after all. "I get that but the company he drives for isn't doing hot not to mention that and the gas and it's tough to make ends meet."

  "So no other family home at all."

  "if they are around I don't know them."

  "Himari you dye your hair tio yeah? So do I my hair used do be black you know?"

  Himari's eyes widen at the question was... Did she plan all that? No think of who you're talking about. She just wanted to talk about having something in common yeah I'm sure of it

  "yeah, what about it? I didn't know your hair used to be black why did you change it?

  It was at this question that Himari swore she noticed something... For a brief second, it looked like Nepha's eyes dimmed before brightening up a second later.

  ... I must have just been seeing things right?

  "I just wanted a change," she said with a smile

  That's bullshit but... it's not my place to pry.

  "..same reason for me....m my natural hair color.... Is blonde"

  Nepha's eyes light up and she grabs Himari's hood. "ooo let me let me see let me see!"

  "n no! Don't you have a train to catch?! And it's not blonde now anyway!

  Nepha smiles and stops "Oh right I do! Thanks for walking me Himari oh! After school, me, Mimi, and Miyazaki are all getting some ice cream wanna come along?"

  ...what they're inviting me to something ugh I'll just make everything awkward! I should say no and save myself the embarrassment

  "...s sure I'll come I'll ask my mom for money."

  "great see you tomorrow!" Nepha then gets on the train and it leaves.

  ...

  ...

  Shit

  Hinari got up the next day getting ready, she walked to Akari.

  “Mom, can I have um 10 bucks?”

  “Sure homey have fun at the hang out.”

  “wait how do you know about that?”

  “I followed you two oh it was so Interesting I told your dad all about it.”

  “m-mom!”

  Akari just giggled as Himari took the money.

  The rest of the day went by in a blur for Himari.

  Meanwhile, the trio were walking to school talking.

  “Invited her for ice cream huh? Well, there's no other way to break the ice.....pun intended ” Miyazaki said Mimi smacked her arm in response.

  “I'm more surprised she agreed to it did you give her the puppy dog eyes or something? Mimi asked.

  “no no, I just smiled at her!”

  “same effect,” Mimi and Miyazaki say in synch.

  The trio walked in off but in the distance was a girl with blonde pigtails and red eyes.

  “heh…how interesting”

  Himari didn't see the trio in homeroom. Shit I should have given them my phone number....wait am I excited? No no this is just a one-time thing after they see how I am they'll leave me alone then suddenly she gets a text.

  Huh did one of them find it?

  Her heart sank when she read who it was …

  “hey kid let's talk”

  Text from satsuki