The two got Kirito and Niara to join them and soon, they were on the way. Ban noticed them as they left and gave them a nod, indicating how he and the rest would take care of the kids while they're gone. In about half an hour, they reached the cafe.

Coming in, the first thing they heard was a woman's voice. "Welcome and watch your step. We just waxed the floor."

Her presence caught them off guard, but they disregarded it for the moment. They took the seats by the counter and the blue haired woman came up to them. She had a different aura from when they first met her in the Paradise Satelite. A lot less... insane perhaps? But she was still as sharp as she was back then. "You're not here for a drink."

Kirito shook his head with a smirk. "What makes you think that, Dr. Mummy?"

She rolled her eyes. "Watch it, Kazama. It was a hassle to deal with you back then."

"Uhm... Mami-san..." Yuuya called uncertainly. It was only when she nodded that he continued. "Has Eva been here before?"

She showed a frown. "The blonde kid, right? Can't say she has. I used to meet her every once in a while when I go out for walks. Apparently, we take the same paths when we want some peace."

Niara blinked. "That often? Eva never mentioned you to any of us."

"I asked her not to." She crossed her arms. "There's a part of me that actually wishes to not see you unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Like if we needed information?" Kirito sneered.

"Like if you're gonna be a costumer. Hurry up and order already." She said, her patience beginning to wear off.

"Mint and chocochip..." Jin muttered.

"Hm?"

"Oh, that's the ice cream flavor she wanted to have, right?" Yuuya asked.

He shook his head. "But it doesn't make sense. She hates that flavor."

Kirito hummed in thought before nodding. "Oh yeah, I think she mentioned that once before."

Niara blinked. "Then why would she say she wanted it?"

Jin sighed. "Well, she never tried it. She just thinks that it's really weird. She said she might as well have frozen milkshake made from chocolate wrapped in leaves."

The other three were silent at this. Eva had always been all kinds of strange, but that statement somehow managed to render them speechless.

On he other hand, Mami raised an eyebrow. "Well, what do you know. I thought it was really dumb at first, but apparently you really could recite it word for word." The four turned to her with confused expressions, making her sigh. She turned to the door that led to the lower levels. "Follow me."

~~~~~

The brunette stalked up the steps. She made sure no noise was made as she climbed to look for their missing friend. Eventually, she got to the top and violet eyes met with her teal ones.

"Hannah..." The boy was leaning against the wall, his PDA in hand.

She took a seat beside him, a little ways away. "Muraku-san, are you reading the message?"

He gave a small nod. "Yeah... After the past three years, I didn't think she'd be..."

"Hojou Moeka... I'm assuming she's your sister?"

He nodded again. "Yes... We have an age gap of six years. We were close, but we didn't get to see each other often because of her job..." He grimaced at the memory. "That day, I... I really thought she was..."

He felt a hand on his shoulder. "I don't think I could imagine how it feels to be in your shoes right now, but... I'm happy for you."

"Thank you... It's only..." His hand reached for hers and he pulled them down, turning to face her. "For whatever reason, I don't feel happy at all... Beyond anything, I'm really..." He let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't know. Hearing the news from Eva-san just really shocked me. We now know the two people who were assumed to be dead are still alive."

"Moral of the journey: Don't jump to conclusions without solid evidence." She said, only half joking.

He nodded. "Right. That's a rule we've learnt during War Time, but we also have to consider the second part of that lesson."

"Without assumptions, there wouldn't be options?"

"Exactly."

"Then assuming Eva-san is right about your sister, what do you want to do?" She asked him the exact same question that had been running through his head.

He took a look at his phone again and then turned back to her. "Can I ask you to read this with me so I could decide?"

"Sure." She scooted closer.

Ignoring the fact that their shoulders are now touching, because Nikolai probably wouldn't like that, Muraku held up the phone for her to see.

'Murakun, you remember me, don't you? I'm sure you do, and you probably don't like it. Guess that makes sense. Abandoning our family and all other relationships I have... Betraying everything I stood for. That promise I made to help you whenever you need it... You had to endure everything on your own since I was gone, right?'

Hannah began to think twice about this, and it must've shown on her face, because Muraku told her that it was fine. Letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding, she continued to read.

'I have so much I wanted to say to you, really... They're mostly apologies, but I think it would be more proper and believable if I say it to you in person. I just need you to know that I'm safe thanks to Miss Evangeline and Mister Avalstone. I'll come and find you when it's over, so please don't worry about me... Not that I deserve your worry after all that, but... Anyway, take care. I love you.

P.S. Don't tell mom and dad.

Moeka'

Hannah couldn't comprehend what exactly it was that she was talking about. All she knew is that Hojou Moeka is in hiding and she has no intentions of being found. She thought back to Eva's words and tried to connect the dots to the message.

So she went missing three years ago and then Eva-san found her somewhere... Somehow... She did this while predicting and calculating the World Saber's movements...

She couldn't understand them no matter how much she thought. There weren't enough pieces to finish the puzzle.

Muraku saw the look on her face and he let out a sigh. There's just too much contradiction between what they know and what is happening. He stood up and motioned for her to do the same.

"We need a change of pace."

~~~~~~~~~~

Discrepancy: A difference between conflicting facts, claims, or opinions