This town is again full of people today...

It’s so cluttered and crowded...

...that I feel that if it’s this place, it could erase my existence away...

Three floors above the street, Marin is standing beside Rushia’s bed with both hands clenched at her sides. Rushia has one arm over her face and her silver-white hair spread across the pillow, still wearing the black sleep top she fell asleep in. The clock beside the bed is already past the time they were supposed to leave.

Marin: Hey, Rushia.

Rushia!

It’s morning! Hey.

Marin leans over the mattress and raises her voice.

Wake up, Rushia!

Rushia shifts under the blanket, pressing her face deeper into the pillow.

Rushia: Ju...st a bit more, Marin.

Marin: How long is that?

Rushia lifts her head just enough to look at Marin through half-open eyes.

Rushia: Until Marin’s boobs grow to about 85...

Marin jerks forward, and slams her axe next to Rushia's head, cutting the pillow in two.

Rushia’s arm shoots out from the bed. The Beretta is in her hand before Marin can bring her foot down. Rushia presses the muzzle directly against Marin’s forehead while still lying across the mattress.

Marin freezes with one leg lifted beside the bed, staring down the barrel inches from her face.

Marin: If you say it again, I’ll really kill you!

Rushia keeps the pistol against Marin’s forehead for another second, then lowers it only enough to rest it beside her cheek.

Rushia: I’m joking, j-o-k-i-n-g.

Marin loses her temper too easily.

Rushia glances toward the clock. Her eyes widen.

Oh, shit, I’m seriously going to be late!

She throws the blanket off, grabs the Beretta from the mattress, and gets to her feet. Marin is still standing beside the bed with her fists clenched and her hair sticking out from sleep.

Rushia: Marin, I’m taking a shower first, so please take care of the lunch boxes.♥

Rushia disappears into the bathroom before Marin can answer. Water starts running behind the closed door. Marin stands there for a second, looks at the Beretta Rushia left on the bed, then looks at the clock and swears under her breath.

Several minutes later, the apartment door flies open.

Rushia comes out first with her school shirt half-buttoned, her blue-green tie hanging loose around her neck, and her glasses pushed up on top of her head while she tries to force her blazer sleeve over one arm.

You turn into the stairwell entrance at the same moment Rushia rushes through it.

Her shoulder slams into your chest. The schoolbag slips from Rushia’s hand and hits the concrete between the two of you. The zipper opens. A black Beretta slides halfway out beside your shoe.

Rushia catches the grip before it can fall farther, pushes it back into the bag, then finally looks up at you through her glasses. Rushia stays in front of you with one hand around the gun inside the bag and the other still gripping the loose end of her tie.