[“What do you plan to do this holiday?”]

Sprawled on the bed, I looked up at the screen.

“I don’t know. Play a lot of games before school starts.”

[“We have an entire month. It’s funny how we think about the holidays when we’re in class. But when it’s the holidays, we want to go back to school. I’m bored already, there’s nothing to do at home nyan.”]

I replied with a meek smile.

I’m sorry my life isn’t as nice as yours Brunette. Staying at home is crazy scary.

[“Do you know, there's a rumor going around that next year, we’re going to have new transfer students? I don’t know which class they’ll end up in. Are you going to go for art classes, or science classes? I think the transfer students are definitely going to end up in science classes.”]

“Definitely science.”

“Boo-hoo. Then you’ll definitely have no problems applying. I don’t know about myself though. I hope we end up in the same class. Maybe in the same class as the transfer students. That would be nice wouldn’t it? If only I had better grades..” Xe mulled.

“Where did you get the news about the new students anyways? Was it in the group chat?”

“ShareWiw. Hold on, let me send you his profile.”

Ding. A side panel was created, showing me posts from a person by the name Stuart Asgard. Who is this guy? His follower count is.. three million?!

[“You see this post here, it’s got the Saint High logo. And down in the description, you see that he said, ‘see you soon’. A celebrity is coming to our school, kyaa! Don’t you think it’s a dream come true?!”]

“What kind of celebrity..”

His profile had lots and lots of photos of himself. Anyone could tell that he’s a modeler from a single glance. Posing for apparels, acting as an ambassador for certain brands or coming on for talk-show interviews.

[“He looks cool right?!”]

I.. will have to agree with Brunette that.. this person, Stuart, does.. have a really cool looking face..

Really? He’s going to join our school?

[“If you follow his content, you’ll see that he’s been talking about finding love as of late. Oh man, what if he came to find a life partner in Saint High?”]

For a moment I felt the pain rise to the surface of my heart, my fingers trembled.

It’s over Pu’er, stop thinking about him. Move on.

It’s over..

He doesn’t like you..

He already made it clear..

Just move on..

“So.. this person, do you know him on the surface as a fan or..”

[“Have you followed him yet?”]

“I don’t think I want to.”

I’m not into these kinds of cheesy celebrity stuff.

I don’t like the drama and controversy surrounding these sorts of people.

“I won't force you. Can’t wait for next year, I want to see his real face.”]

“Right..”

[“Anyways, it’s getting late. Call you next time, chaw~”]

“See you.”

Call ended. I melted onto my bed.

Stuart Asgard.

A modeler is coming to school eh?

Hm..

He’s good looking.

But I don’t know what kind of person he is. He might have a lot of followers and all the attention in the world. But all that means nothing if he’s an egoistic manipulator.

I opened up TinyArmies.

Oh, he still hasn’t..

Stop that. He already stopped playing this game long ago.

Then.. is there a point in continuing?

Leaving the game screen, I rolled around the bed and hugged my pillow.

The pain was coming back.

I’m lonely.

I don’t know what to do.

It’s like.. my life’s aim had just disappeared.

I don’t feel like doing anything at all. I just want it to be over..

It’s alright. I’ll be fine.

Hah.. I watched a video just recently. Heartbreaks hurt the least for elves, but lasts the longest. It’s the opposite for girls where heartbreak hurts the most but lasts the shortest. Boys are in the middle.

“Was he lying?”

So what if there was a reason for his actions?

Maybe to protect me from something?

No.. stop trying to delude yourself.

It’s over. So just stop.

“Ugh.. it’s hurts..”

Elves have it hard.

[“Pu’er, are you alright?”]

A message from aei.

[“I’m alright aei. Anything?”]

[“I want to ask if you want to join us to the hotspring?”]

Mom and aei already know that I’ve broken up with him. Somehow, they were being really considerate and kind this past week. No arguments had broken out.

It would’ve been such a happy period if not for this damn heartache.

[“Hot spring? When?”]

[“Right now.”]

What time is it? 5 o’clock?

[“After that we have dinner?”]

[“Yes. We can take away food for you if you like.”]

[“I’m coming down, thank you.”]

I rose from the bed. A strand of hair fell in front. I blew it up.

Straightening my clothes, I made my way to the living room.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine..”

“Let’s go to the hotspring to cheer you up alright? Anywhere you want to eat after this?”

“I don’t know..”

“We’ll give hir some time to decide, Cynthia.”

“Alright. Get ready, we’re going to leave soon.”

“Un.”

I went to wash up my face before heading out together with aei and mom.

We took the train down to Onzzen. That was the name of the place, located quite far out of the city. The trip took around 30 minutes. I didn’t meet any angels or demons along the way.

Making our way out of the transit and into the outskirts, the evening glow of the sky lit the world in orange. There were few moving cars around these parts. Strolling through the empty parking space, we made it to the Onzzen’s front counter. There, aei paid for the keys, a locker and access to the mixed bath.

After taking a shower to clean our body, we wrapped ourselves with a white towel. OptAR is waterproof, but mom told me to remove it because the heat of the water might damage it.

I dipped into the water. First the toes to feel the temperature, before soaking into it. The towel became heavy after absorbing all that water.

Ah.. so nice. To enjoy a warm bath during winter.

I missed the days when my father was still here..

My aei and mom came in next.

It’s weird. Their miasma gauges were moderate for both superficial and deep. So why are they acting so kind?

Maybe I was wrong about what the miasma gauge actually measured?

“It’s been a long time since we last came here.”

“Nice isn’t it? We should come here again next time.”

“Ah, Pu’er stay close. Just in case.”

Because we weren’t the only ones using the place, safety was something of concern. I made my way over to mom’s side.

My mom and aei began talking about their work. How this person didn’t do their part right, or how that person is always not on schedule..

I don’t like it whenever they talk about this. But I bore with it because I had nowhere else I could go.

If they were working in such a toxic environment, why don’t they just quit? I don’t understand.

“Lil.. oh right.”

I wasn’t wearing my glasses.

I’ve grown into the habit of using it, not having it feels really funny.

So this is how the real world looks and feels like without technology.

It’s.. so plain.

I closed my eyes, feeling the drowsiness slowly take me away.

“Pu’er, don’t sleep.”

“O-Oh..”

“It’s really quiet here. Is it because today’s a Monday?”

“Maybe. At this sort of time, most people are having dinner.”

“Right, right.”

“Pu’er, have you thought of what you want to eat for dinner?”

“How about the grill bar?”

“You want to eat there again?”

“Then we’ll go after this.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you feeling better now?”

“A little.”

“Heartbreak doesn’t settle in a day.”

“I’m just asking..”

After soaking for about an hour, we exited the hot spring and went to that restaurant with the grill stove in the middle.

We ordered the usual.

As the food came, served by the robot, I was brought back to the last time when aei, mom and I talked about him.

Puppy love.

They were right. It won’t be successful. It would be better for me to focus on myself than to find a boyfriend at this sort of age..

Why did I like him?

I looked at my parents who were joyfully talking to each other..

Ah.

That’s why.

It’s because I..

I wanted love.

Now I’m getting love.

But once this is over, things’ll return to the past. Aei and mom arguing all the time, disorder in the house, getting scolded for no good reason..

What did I do wrong?

I’m an angel aren’t I? So maybe that’s my role? To stop the conflict?

But how? If doing what they tell me won’t resolve the problem then..

“Pu’er!”

“Eh?”

The piece of bacon dropped on my clothes.

“What did I tell you? Focus when you eat!”

I picked up the piping hot bacon and tossed it on my plate. Now there’s a stain on my shirt. I used the tissue to wipe it.

“Here, use this.”

“Thank you.”

Mom offered me a wet wipe instead.

The grease became more diluted, spreading over a larger area of my shirt.

“Looks like I’ll have to start the washing machine tonight.”

“Be careful with your food Pu’er.”

I nodded meekly.

That’s why.

I wanted proof that a family where people don’t argue with each other exists. I want someone to be concerned about me, to care about me, without nagging me on what I should or shouldn’t do. Someone who doesn’t call me out on every little thing.

Am I wrong?

Is there no such thing as a happy family?

Maybe it was a good idea that he broke up with me. Maybe we would’ve ended up just like my parents.

Not to mention, Avner grew up in a similar family to mine so chances are that..

The pain in my heart lightened up a little.