-Wingless-

             “I’m, uh, looking for this antique shop. It’s…on this street, perhaps you might know where it is?” Luce inquired, pointing at an address on a slip of paper.  She suddenly realized that the person she was talking to was a child, which brought her to asking where her parents were. 

The child’s aquamarine hues flicked to the paper, as she read the address, in an attempt of remembering a shop that corresponded to that description. Because of that, the response to the following question was voiced almost without a further thought.

“No” Only an instant later her mind analyzed her own assertion, thus realizing it might be completely misunderstood.

“You will! I-” Minori certainly wanted to keep on arguing her point, but with him making her spin in the air, she had to try her best and hide the amused smile that menaced to blossom on her lips. No, she couldn’t allow it to happen, otherwise she would prove him right. However, giving an attentive observation, it could be noticed the child’s combative spirit was beginning to waver, and her outraged frown along with it, as she was starting to enjoy the air that ruffled her chocolate locks.

   I won’t give up for my team! I can’t let them down now!

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“Stop calling me small!” As her childish yelps became sharper, Minori began to flail even more in his hold. “I’ll get my revenge for this one day!”

           Luce approached a girl standing in front of her. She appeared to be a bit frantic, but she tried to maintain a calm composure as much as possible.  She gently tapped the girl on the shoulder, and offered an awkward smile. 

As the child felt the tapping on her shoulder, her imminent reaction had been a sudden wince, since she was quite lost in her thoughts and that gesture abruptly brought her back to reality. 

Turning around in a swift motion that caused her long, mahogany locks to float around her shoulders, she prepared herself to face a possible prowler; however, as soon as she caught glimpse of the girl and heard her request, Minori assumed a confused expression: she was so convinced of the tragic scenario she had created in her head that such unpretentious statement almost seemed out of place for a moment. 

Yet… There was one. A young girl who was different from the pitiful creatures Eva walked by. The girl who sought her out to return an item- something that Eva didn’t particularly need but certainly enjoyed. (And this meeting would be the start of something; that something would reveal itself for a very long time though.) Though she hadn’t expected the headbutt that would result in her stumbling forward a few steps… No. Who expected a young girl to come crashing into them just for the sake of returning a lost object?

But because of the unexpected help (her sore lower back disagreed), Eva herself did something very unexpected. She smiled, the action a little less forced than previous attempts had been in other cities.

With her small hands now free, as the object had successfully been returned to its rightful owner, the child allowed herself some moments to try and recover from that not insignificant effort, as she placed a hand on her chest, as if it could aid her heart and breath to retrieve their regular rhythms. Because of this, the little girl’s brain elaborated the blonde’s question rather slowly.

“Eh?” Moving a step backwards and inhaling a good quantity of fresh air that could give her lungs some relief, she prepared herself to speak her response, which unfortunately was still accompanied by many wheezes.

“I see… well, it’s good that you’re helping around                               the house at your age.”

“I do my best!” Chirping those words with a hint of pride in her childish voice, she clenched her tiny fists in front of her chest, in a clear display of her eagerness about the matter. In truth, Minori’s logic was rather simple, probably due to her age: her parents hosted her and gave her a family, so she was going to try and make them glad of the choice they made by adopting her.

Even if the cat probably couldn’t feel embarrassed over receiving a silly name, Ebisu still thought it important to give the little one a dignified title. “We could call it Kin, or Michi.. Maybe Seiko?” For such a little thing, it was a bit heavy for his noodle-like arms. Gently, he set the kitty free, down on the ground. 

The child observed the tiny creature a little more, following each of its movements since the moment Ebisu put it down; seeing how the kitten was wandering around the two of them, trying to explore that small area on those unsteady, delicate legs with a curiosity only a newborn could have, Minori realized the boy certainly chose the one that most suited their aspiration as cat owners-to-be.

“I think Michi suits this kitty!” Placing her hands on the ground, the chocolate haired girl moved a little closer to the small animal, a bright smile curling her lips as she addressed it directly 

“You don’t say?” He snickered while pulling her cheek almost softly. “But you’re so small and frail~”

Hearing those words, Minori’s attitude immediately changed, becoming more similar to that of a hissing kitten that tries to look threatening.

“ frankly speaking, i wanna give up. ”

“ they love me cause i’m hot. ”  

“ just try to guess the answer. ”

“ everyone here knows you don’t care. ”

“ fine, do things your way. ”

“ i want to be in love. ”

“ no, i would rather make money. ”

“ shut up already, i’m not going. ”

“ because you said that, fuck you! ”

“ i hate you more than anything. ”

“ just sit down? let me explain? ”

“ can i be a little nasty? ”

“ there’s nothing wrong with being sexual. ”

“ i want you to like me. ”

“ don’t you dare lie to me. ”

“ i’m way too scared to fall. ”

“ terrified of my love for you? ”

“ we were both afraid, shut up. ”

“ it wasn’t anyone’s fault. not really. ”

“ life’s too short to care anymore. ”

“ i dreamt about you last night. ”

“ really? what did you dream about? ”

“ i dreamt you chose me instead. ”

“ how did you become like this? ”

“ this isn’t any of your business. ”

“ i’m losing my mind, losing control. ”

“ you weren’t there! i needed you! ”

“ please don’t start with me, okay? ”

“ why do you always leave me? ”

“ this is all we have left. ”

“ i turned around. you were gone. ”

“ all i can think about is you. ”

“ wow, you look like shit today. ”

“ i called and you didn’t answer. ”

“ i wanna be a child forever. ”

“ today, my love is in mourning. ” 

“ your words felt like sharp knives. ”

The little child held her breath as he was inspecting the patient, not wanting to distract him during that delicate moment. As he named the disorder, her aquamarine eyes widened, as cerise lips were slightly parted in a surprised expression, mixed with all the apprehension such situation required. However, that trusting smile he dedicated her certainly succeeded into transmitting her some extra optimism.

Burying once again her tiny hands in the snow, Minori began to re-mold the bunny; luckily, even without gloves that could shield her from the cold, that contact did not bother her, since having already spent much time on that activity, her skin adapted to the temperature, with her palms being almost as icy as the snow itself.

“We can’t” Pronouncing that assertion in the most resolute tone her infantile voice allowed her, Minori was ready to assist him during that delicate operation, already identifying with a nurse or, to be more pricise, the right hand of that eminent vet, as she imagined the situation to be.