A week had passed since Ophelia had beaten both Arma and Zessica to a pulp and no one had dared to mention anything to do with the trials when the two of them were present. When Arma woke up, he had some time trying to get used to the idea of having to wear a sling and plaster and for a few days he was slightly forgetful. Fortunately, the week after their horrible disaster event, Arma and Zessica was back in shape with the tall lad having bandages reaching from the wrist to the elbow.

The day before summer vacation, at lunch, Phoenix decided to visit their class and check how they were going through. Of course that meant dragging Zatch by the ear from her class and fetching Stabs in two Years above. She ignored the complaints from Zatch who was going on about why should he tag along too just because she is scared to go alone which earned a reasonable statement that it’s because she was worried from Stabs.

All three of them stood before the class door and Phoenix exhaled out a long sigh. She could feel her fingers quavering furiously from the nerves. Why she had them was beyond what she could comprehend and ponder over at the moment. Placing a firm grip on the doorknob, Phoenix cautiously opened it, barely enough for all three of them to peek in.

To their surprise, Arma was talking something over with Zessica who placed her chair in front of Arma’s desk. The short girl pointed some things on Arma’s book and then pointed pencil at Arma, explaining something that the tall lad couldn’t understand. It took him a full minute of processing before nodding in conclusion that he had understood. As they continued to talk over the lessons, there were times where he would slump back in his chair and groan lightly, begging Zessica to give him some slack.

In these cases, Zessica would usually remark back with a polite insult or tell him several good reasons why she is not going to do so. That day, she gave him the latter but it was evident that the charm she had back then was no longer there and everything she uttered out of her lips were empty and dead. There was still that awkward atmosphere between the two mismatched partners and both of them were forcing themselves to act normal to each other.

“I spy with my little eye, three stalkers before my beloved Zessy~” Phoenix, Stabs and Zatch almost jumped out of their skins and turned to find a smirking Euphino watching from behind. He looked like his normal teasing self with the exception of him not having his smirk quite reach his eyes. Phoenix tried to catch her breath before scowling at the curly haired lad.

“We aren’t stalking your imaginary girlfriend Euphino. Really. Get a life. We were worried about them.” Euphino almost dropped his smirk, almost but held it in at the last second. He placed his hands in his jacket pocket before walking towards the Team of three. He leaned sideways a bit, stealing a peek at the two broken players before settling his gaze on the three before him again.

“Not much improvement huh? Well...summer is around the corner so I would be merciful with all five of you...why not join me to the beach that I happened to have an Uncle who owns it?” All three of the trio blinked simultaneously at the curly haired lad. Euphino almost chuckled, baffled at how all three of them did that in synchronisation. It was almost funny. Almost two seconds later, Euphino’s eyes widen when Phoenix grabbed both his hands, clasping it tightly with her warm ones.

“Really? Would you do that? Let us join you? I mean this would be a great opportunity for both of those idiots to finally get over the trauma and maybe try again next year!” Phoenix squealed lightly, her red hair bouncing excitedly on her shoulders. She had a hundred watt winning smile that suit well with her round face, almost making her look like a child. Euphino was flabbergasted when he realised that he was blushing slightly before glancing away from Phoenix.

“U-uh...You are welcome...I guess?” The curly haired lad answered awkwardly. He turned to find the guy in glasses, Zatch, narrowing his eyes in disapproval at him. Euphino wasn’t sure if it’s the fact that he invited them over to a beach or that he had caught him blushing slightly at his team mate. Whatever it was, Euphino wasn’t in the mood to face a battle of the wits and remarks against the guy in glasses yet. Stabs on the other hand share Phoenix’s enthusiasm.

“Wait till we tell them. They might even say yes without hesitation.”

“No.” Zessica spoke in a clear cut tone, rejecting the invitation without hesitation as she rubbed Lucky’s head gently which purred. All of them were back in Arma’s living room, sitting on the L-shaped couch that can occupy ten people. The moment she heard the negative answer from the short girl, Phoenix’s enthusiasm deflated like a punctured balloon with her face frozen with the same expression she had when she explained it to them.

Arma, who had been silent the whole time, cringed inwardly. It didn’t help that Phoenix hadn’t been with Zessica long enough to get used to her deadpanned and straightforward answers. In all honesty, he felt sorry for Phoenix. It was like raising false hope within her only to find out it was all lies in the next second. He also didn’t mind the idea of going to the beach, but after learning that it was owned by Euphino’s Uncle, a part of him wanted to stay back as well.

“B-but why?” Stabs asked, completely aghast with their all too soon rejection. Even Zatch looked a bit baffled. The only one who was unperturbed by their answer was Euphino, who had his arms crossed over his chest and nodding to no one in particular, as if he had expected it coming.

“I don’t like summer. It makes me sweaty and dizzy as well. I can’t handle the heat well and the medicines prescribed to me by Nurse Tear don’t work efficiently on summer. Also, I get sunburn easily.” Zessica explained with a deadpanned look, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Stabs found himself opening and shutting his jaw like a goldfish, unable to respond properly from the shock yet. Zessica’s excuse seemed reasonable, but it really ruined the mood.

“Well I know you won’t come when Zessica isn’t coming, but come on! Please? Pretty please? Just for a few days? You been really down in the dumps this past week so let’s get away from all the troubles and loosen up a bit yea?”

 Phoenix begged lightly, her face looking hopeful. Arma watch as Phoenix’s ‘puppy eye’ face tried to entice Zessica, which failed miserably considering that Zessica didn’t bat an eye. The tall lad almost laughed out loud at Phoenix’s childish nature. She had always been the excited little kid in summer. There was also the irony of the heat and her Major that made it doubly hard for him to hold back.

“How long?” Zessica asked, almost choking Euphino and Zatch nothing but thin air. Even Arma was startled to find that despite how she was unfazed by Phoenix’s ‘puppy eye’ look, she was trying to debate on whether to go or not. Phoenix, looking as if she got the biggest lollipop in the world turned to Euphino, gesturing him to answer. Euphino blushed slightly, which did not go unnoticed by Arma and then cleared his throat.

“A-A few weeks I guess...Like two?” Euphino stated awkwardly, turning his statement to a question. He glared at Arma when the tall lad narrowed his eyes suspiciously at him and then at Phoenix, only to settle on Euphino again. Arma turned to find Zatch was giving Euphino a death glare that was completely oblivious of it. A smirk crept of the tall lad’s face when he realised what was going on. Maybe Phoenix had a chance after all.

“Hmm...if it’s not too hot I might g-

Zessica was cut off short when Phoenix practically pounced on the short girl, embracing her in a tight suffocating hug. Lucky jumped off of Zessica’s lap and leapt straight into Arma’s who was taken aback. After all, Lucky had never been on good terms with the tall lad. Arma watch it hiss at him lightly but remain on his lap, resting there instead. The tall lad didn’t take the risk of petting it and watched Phoenix basically cuddling the short girl. For a moment, Arma would have sworn Zessica’s eyes widened by a fraction before returning back to its lifeless state again.

“Yay! You are going to come! You are going to come! This is going to be so much fun! Hey, that rhymed!” Arma chuckled light heartedly as he confirmed the haunting suspicion that was nagging in his mind. Apparently, after observing Phoenix unknowingly, the tall lad figured that her mood depends on the season. Meaning when its winter, she would be grumpy and in summer, she is the happiest girl in the world. In spring she is really sarcastic and in autumn, she had a sense of humour. Then again, Phoenix is a short-tempered girl and acts on impulse so his hypothesis could be wrong.

“You wouldn’t mind if I invite one more person now would you?” Euphino suddenly asked, gaining everyone’s attention. Zatch squinted his eyes at the curly haired lad before answering warily.

“Who would that be exactly?” Arma would have sworn Euphino had turn to glance at him and smirk openly when he uttered the name out loud.

“Titania.” Suddenly, the atmosphere became tense and Phoenix stared bewildered at the curly haired lad, still clinging on the poker faced Zessica. Stab’s expression was frozen over while Zatch simply raising his eyebrows skyward. Arma’s expression was a mixture of terror, anger towards Euphino and doubts. He had already confessed to Phoenix that he was in love with Zessica to which she simply took without any nasty comments. Instead, Phoenix supported him for his ‘sad unrequited love’ like how he supported Phoenix with hers. Also, she, along with Zatch and Stabs had known that Arma did have some slight admiration towards Titania so how would things go between the two girls who haven’t even met yet?

“Sure, why not? I would like to meet her since I never got the chance to.” Zessica noted out loud, sealing everyone’s fate. Euphino snickered evilly at Arma who glared back at the lad who was allowing himself triumph at the tall lad’s misery. He took out his phone and started texting rapidly to someone, presumably to Titania as he ordered out the instructions casually.

“So we will leave tomorrow at Nine A.M. Pack your things and we will meet up at the bus stop at the real Center of Wind Crest.” Everyone except Arma and Zessica nodded, making all four eyes stare at them.

“I don’t know where that is.” Zessica explained without hinting any embarrassment while Arma grew a deep shade of red. Sure he had been there by accident, considering he was running for his life from a mob of cats and that he got terribly lost, but the tall lad didn’t even bother with familiarising with his surroundings so that he could remember that place again.

“Well we will just pick you at Eight forty-five in the morning and all of us can go to the fountain together.” Stabs pitched in, coming to the tall lad’s rescue while preventing anyone from asking him whether he knew the place or not. Arma gave a silent ‘thank you’ at Stab’s way who simply nodded and winked in response, indicating that he got his back.

“Well then it’s settled. Titania says she will come. So...later losers.” Euphino waved while the tall lad refrained himself from throwing the couch at the annoying guy. The other three had stayed back for movie marathons and trying to defeat each other’s score in video games. That day, was the first day when Phoenix, Stabs and Zatch witnessed Zessica’s unique skill in getting the upper hand in each and every game she holds on to. However, despite beating all of them in one go and not breaking a sweat, Arma could see that her heart was not in it, causing her to score slightly less than she usually scores.

When night followed, all three of their guest finally left and the two of them started packing in silence. No words were exchanged between them. It was as if their duel against Ophelia had made them go back to what they were before, strangers. Arma knew that he would have to break the awkward ice between them somehow, he just didn’t know how as of yet.

Without even greeting each other with the usual ‘good night’, the two of them went to bed quite early. Arma knew that he would have trouble sleeping and wondered whether Zessica too, was lying on her bed, wide awake. For one whole week he hadn’t heard Oliver in his dreams and this made him worry. Had Ophelia sort of destroyed his existence with that gun shot? Arma tried not to think this was the case because for one thing, what and who is Oliver? Why had he interfered in their battle?

Before he knew it, it was morning and he had hardly slept all night with all those questions popping in his mind. Sighing, Arma got up and changed to his casual attire before coming outside. He lazily strolled down the now dented golden spiral stair case before stopping short in the kitchen. His eyes widened in bewilderment when he saw Zessica, having dark circles under her eyes and practically nodding off to sleep, adding flour instead of milk to her cereal. As Arma stared at her aghast, Zessica poured some water in it and stirred it lazily before taking a large portion in her mouth.

The next few seconds was cracked Arma to bits. She let it savour in her mouth for a few seconds and instantly, her eyes widened and she spurted out all of the contents in her mouth. By then, she was blinking rapidly as if she was awoken up to cold water being splashed on her face. She then lightly clapped her face, forcing her eyelids open before realising someone had witnessed her mind boggling glory.

“O-oh my God....Z-Zessica...you are killing me...hahaha” Arma wheezed as he felt a six pack coming to cramp his stomach. He was still howling loudly when he saw her blushing furiously, forcing his laughter to a sudden stop. He blinked as Zessica’s eyes widened in what looked like dismay before she quickly averted her eyes, not daring to look at him.

“Hey, don’t do that. Please don’t keep your emotions to yourself again.” Arma begged lightly, causing her to look even further. Her hands were clamped shut into fists. After watching her for a while, Arma sighed and advanced towards her. He saw her flinch momentarily and look even further away from him when he sat nonchalantly beside the quiet girl.

“I am sorry.” Arma spoke out loud. He watch as Zessica tense up and could only imagine what sort of expression she was making, or more likely having in her mind at the moment. After a few long silent seconds later, he heard a very meek and timid voice drifting to his ears.

“What for? There is nothing for you to apologise for. You are not at fault...”

“You may think so but really, it’s my fault. I promised you that I won’t let her harm you and come even a meter close to you but I broke the promise less than half an hour when it was made. I can only imagine what you are going through at the moment since you keep it all in so I am sorry. I understand that if you don’t trust me anymore and don’t want to be my part-

Arma couldn’t finish what he was rambling about when at the corner of his eyes; Zessica sharply turned her attention to him. Instinctively, she grabbed his left arm and held on it as if her life depended on it. There was a look of panic in her eyes, not wanting to lose something important.

“No! You got that wrong! It’s not your fault! It’s mine! I keep slowing you down and I keep being a burden to you! It’s like what Zatch said. I am holding back. I don’t use my Major to its full potential. I don’t know why but I hesitate every time I use it. If I stopped being so hesitant I would have been more helpful. I can’t stop thinking how she tortured you and beat you up while I stood there all hopeless and weak! I am so weak and I hate it! I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! I don’t want to someone to get hurt because of me...”

Zessica’s voice trailed off weakly as she poured all the thoughts and doubts in her heart to the surprised tall lad. However, once she did this, there was an awkward silence in the air. Arma blinked at the short girl, still trying to think of how to respond since this was probably the first time he heard her voicing her thoughts out loud. Zessica blinked too, before blanching terribly. Dread was evident in her eyes and the hand that grabbed the tall lad’s arm trembled which she retracted back awkwardly.

“A-ah...I...um...” Zessica started, quavering furiously as the several incomprehensible thoughts filled her mind to the brink, going overload. At one point it eventually burst, making her dizzy to which Arma caught her by both shoulders before she crashed on the floor.

“Woah Zessica! Are you alright? Did you even sleep at all last night?” Arma asked concernedly while Zessica shrugged her shoulders awkwardly.

“I kept getting nightmares so it’s a bit difficult to sleep actually. What about you? You look like you haven’t been sleeping well too.”

“Yea...I just been thinking about...stuff...” Arma trailed off, losing the track of the conversation and once again silence reclaimed the awkward atmosphere. Zessica was avoiding his gaze by looking down on her trembling hands. Arma was at lost at what to do. How can he cheer up someone who hates herself when he too, hates himself? How are they going to mend the broken pieces together when both of them are claiming that the other was not at fault?

That was then it hit him, like a bolt out of the blue. He had misread the situation wrong once again. There was a way to cheer each other up and it was so simple, Arma almost slapped himself for not seeing it sooner.

“Zessica...” He uttered her name gently, as if it was the most precious thing in the world and would break if he didn’t say it clearly. The short girl tensed lightly before hesitantly looking up to meet his gaze. Her eyes widened by a fraction in surprise when Arma gave her the most heart warming smile he could conjure within him.

“I am really happy you said what you been holding in your thoughts for this past week. I don’t want you to hold that burden all alone because I can see it’s too heavy for you to carry. I would like you to share the burden with me so that we can go through with this together. Both in pain and in happiness. I would like to know more about you.” Zessica’s eyes widened even further and before she could muster up all the courage to respond, Arma beat her to it.

“Also, do you hate me?” Arma asked, casually repeating the question that Zessica asked him exactly a week ago. Arma can see the vague recognition settling in Zessica as she blinked in astonishment. The tall lad simply smiled warmly at her, eagerly waiting for her answer.

“...No I don’t. I like you.” Even though Arma knew that what she meant by ‘like’ was seeing him as a friend or possibly like an older brother figure, the tall lad would have swore time stopped. He felt his heart skip a bit the moment she said that word. It was amazing how a simple word such as like can stir so many emotions in Arma and he knew that he was openly blushing crazily at her. Trying not to avert his gaze away that would only make his efforts go to waste, he proceeded forth.

“And I can never hate you. You know that right?” Arma watch as Zessica stare at him with the gap of her eyebrows furrowed over, as if he was a complex puzzle that she can’t figure out. Even the tall lad had to admit that sometimes he doesn’t get himself. After a while, the short girl nodded confidently.

“Then that’s it. We forgive each other and the past is in the past. Let’s go make some fun memories instead hmm?” Arma chuckled lightly, his arms wide open to gesture the amount of enjoyable memories they were going to create. What the tall lad didn’t expect was to find a single tear escape from Zessica, causing his eyes widen in panic. Had he placed more salt in the wound that he tried not to?

Before he could mull over it, Zessica suddenly jumped off her seat and pounced straight into Arma’s open arms, embracing him in a tight hug. The tall lad almost fell back with the amount of force Zessica used to collide to him. Fortunately, he had managed to grab a hold of the kitchen table at the last minute and got his sense of balance back. Zessica sobbed softly as Arma felt the heat radiating from his face due to the fact that they were so close. He was sure Zessica would hear how fast his heart was beating at the moment but decided not to think about that as well.

“There there, shh...It’s going to be alright. We are going to go through it together okay? You are not alone...” Arma hushed quietly, stroking the top of her head gently. He kept doing this till Zessica’s small frame finally stop quivering and her sobs ceased to a stop. When the short girl pushed herself away from Arma, he let go of her and caught her wiping off the newly shed tears with one elegant finger. She then looked up, having a small smile. It was a sad one for it didn’t reach her eyes but it was a smile nonetheless and it was enough for Arma’s heart to skip a beat again. Despite that Zessica seemed to be forcing herself to smile, Arma smiled back without further pressing on it.

“I got one question now...” Zessica asked suddenly, sounding a lot like her usual self. There wasn’t really much difference but Arma knew that by the tone of her voice, she was feeling better. That meant that she was finally on the road to recovery.

“How are we going to bring Lucky to the beach?” Arma tensed slightly before catching the very feline at one corner of the kitchen, watching them with those turquoise cautious eyes. Last time they left together to school, Lucky ended up ambushing the classroom and scaring people off. Of course that meant Zessica to do most of the explanation and almost rounding herself to detention.

The only reason she avoided that was she already left the principal’s office and the principal was left aghast, wondering whether he had seen a ghost. Arma wondered whether the rumour of a ghost wandering around school was due to Zessica as well. Then again, this was a problem. How were they going to bring a cat that is completely attached to Zessica to the beach?

***

“Well aren’t you an early bird. What happened? Girlfriend dumped you or something?” Euphino teased as he slowly walked up to Zatch who was sitting on a bench with three large suitcases beside him. Zatch simply snickered lightly, mimicking Euphino’s teasing tone as he remarked back.

“Oh you wish, I can see you checking her out from miles away.” When Euphino glared, Zatch allowed himself to laugh out loud in triumph for his victory. Euphino simply rolled his eyes while suppressing an embarrassed blush before thinking of another smart counterattack.

“What’s this? Jealous that I might take your girlfriend away?” Zatch stopped laughing but his smile remained frozen on his face. His eyes narrowed at the curly haired lad before answering back.

“You really misinterpreted the whole thing. She is not my girlfriend you knuckle head.”

“Oh but you wish! What a sad life!” Euphino sneered before getting his turn to laugh at Zatch who rolled his eyes sarcastically at the curly haired lad.

“Jokes, aside, what did Zero say?” Zatch asked in a matter of fact tone, getting down to the important business at hand. Euphino stopped laughing instantly as he cleared his throat awkwardly before answering back.

“Well, he doesn’t know what exactly happened but he had never seen that guy, Oliver before. The host even checked all the NPCs and the NPCs with artificial intelligence scattered all over the whole game itself with the AI’s permission. There was none that fit the description of Oliver. Although, Arma did say that Oliver had claimed that he was part of the AI which is the complicated part. He isn’t an NPC and one with artificial intelligence and he can’t be human as well because if he isn’t lying, he is the core of the AI. But why was he there in the picture back in the orphanage? Just who the heck is he?” Zatch nodded to no one in particular, trying to come up with several theories to make sense with what was going on.

“He can’t be the AI itself coz that would mean the AI is favouring specific players. It can’t be a bug or a virus since the creator of Blessed Combat is dead and that no one knows how the AI functions, no one except that ‘Boss’. I can’t imagine him creating a virus since why would the son of the creator would want to hijack the whole virtual world, the only hope for humanity to live in? World domination? That would be too cliché for a villain. ” Zatch ruled out confidently but that was the only thing he could come up with. No matter how he looked at it, it didn’t make any sense.

“I remember Zero said something about the ‘Boss’ had assured him that the AI doesn’t take sides so the fact that the AI doesn’t take sides is true. From what Zero said, apparently the ‘Boss’ is deeply looking into this and that battle as well and is also debating whether to give Team twenty three another chance since the whole battle itself didn’t become fair when Oliver interfered.” Euphino proceeded, whistling as he finished with his report.

“Are you implying that this ‘Boss’ himself, doesn’t know what is going on and who Oliver is?” Zatch asked curiously when that thought popped in out of the blue. Euphino merely shrugged and scratched the back of his head nonchalantly. Honestly he couldn’t be bothered with the limited information they had as of now but he won’t deny that something was afoot in the virtual world.

“Either that or he is hiding something. That’s what we need to find out about and the only one who can answer that is the ‘Boss’ himself. Unless we gather many sources and find the whereabouts of the creator’s son or when Arma managed to get in contact with Oliver, we are pretty much stuck in a rut. Heh, I would never have even thought the idea of having you as my informant contacts.” Euphino chortled not so innocently. Zatch mirrored the same mischievous smile.

“That’s why they say life is unpredictable.”

“What about you? What did you get at your end?” Euphino asked curiously, fishing his hand deep into his jeans pocket. Almost immediately, the evil smile Zatch almost permanently wore was cleanly wiped off his face and the frowning one remained.

“You are talking about the memories you along with those other two lost right? For now I can’t advance forth in Zessica’s case since the AI is heavily blocking me from doing so. I tried to find yours too. The only thing that I could find is that you were on the same team as Arma in the orphanage basketball team and that you were moaning for your parent’s death sometime till you started getting along with everyone. The only family member you have is your Uncle, who we are going to meet in a while. All the things we know at the moment and then I hit the dead end when it came to the Taboo. The AI restricted me from going further in that too.”

Euphino didn’t respond, wondering why the most important memory had to be the ones that occurred in the Taboo and why the AI was so keen on not making them get that information. Seeing the curly haired lad’s lack of response, Zatch risked proceeding forth from there as well.

“So I went to Arma’s case as well. Nothing much like yours. Had parents that were too busy to spare time for him. Same basketball team as you and was in the same orphanage as you. He wasn’t present in the Taboo so there wasn’t much data I could get from there.  There were pictures of you and Zessica with him in the orphanage and I must say, both you and Zessica have changed back then. It’s like both of you had a personality transplant or something” The curly haired rolled his eyes again, something he often did back in the day where he was depressed.

“Sure Sherlock, anything else?”

“Hmm... there were several more pictures with Oliver in the background but with us still not knowing what his existence and his motives are, there isn’t much we can do about that. I got nothing from Arma’s case as well. I am pretty much staring at a brick wall. Unless I get something, anything; that is linked to your erased memories, I can finally break this stupid wall.”

“Hmm...”Euphino hummed thoughtfully, pressing his finger under his nose and above his upper lip solidly, swimming deep into his thoughts. He knew they were missing something, something that was important and he also admits that very thing is the only weapon that would hammer the wall down. Deep down, he can’t help but feel that he was forgetting something, something vital.

“I just realised something. You said you haven’t seen Zessica for two years after the Taboo. Where and what was she doing in those two years?” Zatch asked suddenly, breaking all chains of thoughts that were accumulating in Euphino’s mind like shatter glass. The curly haired lad refrained himself from groaning before thinking of a way to respond.

“That’s right. The last time I met her before I enrolled in school was at the hospital, right after the Taboo. She looked clearly lost and the nurses said that she too was suffering memory loss which wasn’t so...severe...then...”

“Euphino?” Zatch asked vigilantly, noticing Euphino’s eyes being glazed over as he lost sense of time and travel back in to the past. Zatch continued to observe him carefully when Euphino sharply turned to him, his eyes enlarged in a mixture of realisation and befuddlement. Zatch almost jumped out of his skin when Euphino groaned and slapped his forehead harshly, a red bruise already forming at the area where he smacked.

“Aaargh! How can I not realise this before? Zessica still had her memories of that damn witch!” Zatch blinked.

“Witch? As in... Ophelia?”

“Yes. Her. Aaargh I am an idiot. Right after the Taboo occurred all of us were sent to the hospital. Back then, Zessica still had her memories of Ophelia. I just never mentioned that damn witch at that time because whenever someone mentions Ophelia, Zessica would scream and go mad. She would thrash about and create so much of a row; the nurses had to put sedatives on her. Thinking back on it now, she had her memories of Arma too. She asked me once where Arma was and that she wanted to see him again and that she misses him because lately he stopped visiting.”

Zatch was evidently taken aback completely when he heard Euphino mentioning that the short pipsqueak still had memories of Arma back in the hospital. It was just, bizarre and for the first time in Zatch’s life, he can’t find himself to accept it as easily as he was able to before.

“Are you saying that her memories were still intact even after the Taboo? She didn’t lose her memories during the Taboo?” Abandoning his shell of composure, Euphino nodded furiously.

“Yea she still had them. The only thing she couldn’t remember was...what again...I know she said something about... a relative?... A sibling?” Euphino frowned deeply, tapping on his forehead as if that would help him remember. All the excitement he was going through didn’t help his foggy memories to clear faster.

“Her brothers and her cousin?” Zatch tagged in, helping Euphino a bit to which the curly haired lad took it gratefully.

“Yes! She couldn’t remember their faces. After a few days, she suddenly disappeared into thin air. The doctors and nurses tried to find her but it seems she just vanished, leaving without a trace. No one discharged her and her whereabouts were unknown. I’ve been trying to find her and my own memories of the Taboo since then.”

Zatch pondered over the whole thing carefully, trying not to miss out any small detail no matter how unimportant it seemed. They finally got another breakthrough which only left more questions than answers. Still, a break was a break and it gave them something to work on.

“Arma said that Oliver stated the Phantom Dancer was responsible to everyone’s memory losses during the Taboo. We can safely assume that he is a player that has a Minor or Major that steals people’s memories. Oliver had also stated that Zessica’s memory loss is also due to him so it can’t be amnesia due to shock. Theoretically thinking, during the time after Zessica disappeared from the hospital, the Phantom Dancer met her personally and erased her memories too. Now the question is, why and what are his motives? What does he achieve from stealing people’s memories?”

“The fact that he destroyed most of the game stage in that time? Didn’t quite work out well now did it? Obviously someone ratted him out.” Euphino replied casually, already feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders lifting. Something about finally getting to somewhere blew all the stress he was going through away.

“Who ratted him out again? We can’t ask him or her what he looks like and maybe track him down. Gather some of his darkest secret and use it against him.” Zatch spoke in glee, chipperly clapping his hands together like a happy guy he was. Something about this left a bad taste in Euphino’s mouth. He hadn’t expected Zatch to be so...devious. However, Zatch’s fun went short lived when both of them realised who this particular person was at the same time, which was none other than Ophelia.

“Never mind, forget the last part.” Zatch muttered and for once, Euphino agreed. Both of them weren’t too willing to face the very culprit behind their childhood friend’s misery and they haven’t had enough guts to go to their graves yet.

“Still, why is Ophelia the only one who can remember?” Euphino asked curiously to which Zatch only shrugged back in response. They let the subject drop and didn’t talk about it any further when Phoenix, Stabs, Arma and Zessica arrived. Euphino raised one eyebrow at the cat that was purring gently in Zessica’s arm.

“Will you mind another passenger?” Zessica asked almost sheepishly. Euphino grinned in response and nodded in approval. A few minutes later, Titania arrived. Euphino sneered widely at Arma who was trying his best not to stare at her but was failing miserably. The infamous idol was wearing a fade pink blouse and short denim shorts that exposed a lot of her legs. Since it was summer, Arma couldn’t really criticise about the attire. She also wore a huge white sunhat and had an equally large luggage with her. Once they were all huddled together, Arma couldn’t help but smile back friendlily at Titania who was showing her glamorous smile.  

“Oh and you must be Zessica!” Titania cooed, extending out her right hand. The short girl stared at it for a moment, making the infamous idol feel a bit awkward a bit before meekly shaking it with her own.

“And you must be Titania. You are as beautiful as everyone say” Zessica verbalized out loud, causing Titania to smile in glee with her cheeks growing pink.

“Aww! Thank you! I just know that we will be fast friends!” Titania cooed again, this time pinching both Zessica’s cheek playfully. Arma could see that Zatch was shaking, refraining himself from laughing. Even he had to admit that he himself felt a bubble of laughter almost bursting out of him. It was just too funny. Arma had never seen someone to do pinch Zessica’s cheek as if she was a child. He saw the condemnation in Zessica’s eyes as she made no effort in pushing Titania away. She didn’t have to when Lucky, all of a sudden hissed loudly at Titania, forcing her to take a few steps back from surprise. Everyone except Zatch and Zessica also jumped from the sudden hostility.

“Sorry, Lucky isn’t too friendly with people.” Zessica bowed her head lightly as a gesture of apologising before petting Lucky’s head gently, assuring him that the idol won’t harm him. Titania simply nodded, watching the cat warily before beaming back at everyone.

“What are we waiting for? Let’s go to the beach!”

Author's note: This was supposed to be sort of like a slow road to recovery and lightheart chapter so I hope I succeeded in that. As usual I sorta rushed this, considering that I updated yesterday xD so please notify me any errors you see in this chapter.

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