Although it has happened many times, the girl is still not used to her existence disappearing any sudden like this. A hint of pain resurfaced inside her chest, which was not the first time.

"What else can I do? I only could wait until my record of the past goes normal again," Arisa murmured as she calmed down by picking up one of Nita's snacks. She stayed in her seat to observe the conversation between her friends and Vanilla.

Even though this anomaly is quite annoying for her, Arisa has her own way of spending time when her existence disappears. She remembered what Tirto's–her brother due to record of the past–reaction when Arisa suddenly appeared behind her when he took a drink in the kitchen. He had almost thrown the cup somewhere when Arisa giggled behind him.

Arisa did the same to Vanilla since her modus operandi did not vary. She will follow her from behind to wherever her adoptive sibling is inside the house to see what kind of reaction she'll show when Arisa appears out of nowhere.

"By the way, Vanilla. How are you feeling about your new family?" asked Nita suddenly.

"Eh...?" Vanilla is not ready at all.

Arisa agrees that Nita asks an honest question because she never thought of that. So, she puts on her ears and will not blink for any second while observing Vanilla.

"Nita, what are you asking her? That's totally inappropriate!" Tesa protested.

"Shh, shut up for a bit, Tesa. Let her speak."

"Regarding that...," Vanilla tried to compose the right words in her head. She doesn't know what to answer if someone asks that kind of question.

"Hmm, hmm?" Nita is leaning closer.

"I... quite comfortable with my new family," Vanilla replied lowly.

Upon hearing that, Nita nods a little. "So that's how is it."

Tesa still feels terrible about the little girl. Yet, she feels relieved knowing that answer.

While Arisa is still engrossed in stealing Nita's snacks just because. Of course, she is still listening.

"... I am very grateful to Mom, who doesn't mind raising me as her own child…. Thanks to them, I felt like I understood something that I had never experienced in my entire life..."

Arisa is aware that when her existence is disappeared temporarily this time, her mom is the one who takes her place. She is aware that when her presence disappears several times at some point in the past, she will be replaced by one of her parents. So, everything she did would still be engraved in people from the past's memory. It's just that they won't remember if the girl named Arisa is the one who did it. Instead, her mom or dad was the one who did it.

Following the current conversation, Vanilla remembers that the mother of the Tanjung family is the one who adopted her, not Arisa. Arisa has no problem with that because her position will return once her record of the past is stable again.

"...I just found out if there is a life like this. I don't need to deal with the stench… warm food on the dinner table has been prepared without me doing anything…."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Arisa fell silent while sipping on Tesa's cold drink when Vanilla's words pierced her ears. Arisa's mind brings her memories back to the first time she met the little girl. When she is on top of the dam alone amid the landfill garbage with a shabby appearance and pungent smell.

At that time, Vanilla's gaze was the sight of someone who had never seen anything more beautiful in this world than the view of the city dam.

"It's rare to see Vanilla speak this much. I wonder what else she will say next?" commented the adoptive sibling.

"So," Vanilla continued, "I'm really grateful to be in this place. To eat a very delicious snack… and, importantly… yummy ice cream.

Arisa will never forget that sudden smile coming from the little girl, which appeared nowhere.

"Guh–-so… I understand that muuuch!"

"Huh! Tesa? Why are you crying?" Nita definitely didn't see it coming.

"You can't understand that much…? I can't imagine what Vanilla has been through this time until she got adopted by her current family, huhuhu..."

Arisa swiftly returned to her previous seat and hugged Vanilla as tightly as possible. Although her little sister could not feel it, Arisa would still want to hold her. She understood what Vanilla had been through so far.

Her petite shoulders, along with the warmness through her tiny fingers, go through Arisa's hands–

I don't know about this feeling. Is this what they called sympathy?

"Huh?! Arisa! Why did you suddenly appear out of nowhere!" Nita almost shouted, seeing her friend.

“Awawawa... how come? You can play magic, Arisa?" asked Tesa incredulously at Arisa's appearance in front of her.

"Oh, hi, guys. I just went back from the toilet," Arisa replied with her usual smile.

Wow, my record of the past is so unstable today.

Vanilla almost dropped her ice cream spoon, sensing her sister's sudden presence. When she turns to her brother, Arisa gives her a mysterious smile.

"Again, disappear and appear casually?" asked the little girl.

"That's right. Can't surprise you anymore, isn't it?"

Vanilla neither answered nor broke free from Arisa's arms. She allowed her adoptive sister to be around her like that for the next few minutes.

And then, nothing else happened that time. Nita and Tesa have a heated debate about Arisa's ability to appear from nothing until they give up without an answer, while Vanilla is under Arisa's hugs until dusk comes. They decide to go home.

Arisa tells Vanilla it's time to go home. Yet, she shakes her head.

"I want to be here longer."

"I see. Perhaps, the evening sun catches your attention."

Vanilla stays silent. She stands up and leans against the fence to see the scenery further. Her eyes capture how the twilight's rays shimmered on the Major River, giving her an illusion of sparkles on its surface.

Then, Vanilla gazes up, looking at the orange sky that warms her eyes.

Arisa follows what Vanilla does and stays by her side. After all, she can also enjoy the fresh air at this height. The breezes were not too strong either, and that was enough for Arisa to stay at this place a little longer.

"... Big sister, I definitely will go to school so I can repay you and our family for what you've done to me."

"Oh? That's great. Basic education is a right for everyone, so you should get it. Education is the primary need of humanity, you know."

"Yes. By going to school, I'll become someone who deserves to be adopted by you or the Tanjung Family."

As Arisa turns her head, Vanilla looks at her with an intense gaze—filled with determination and great devotion. She smiles while she strokes Vanilla's head softly.

Yet another strange feeling arises when she witnesses Vanilla, who wants to do something about her life without being told by anyone. In fact, Arisa didn't expect anything in return from Vanilla when she decided to adopt her. However, she is sure now that she's delighted about it.

Is this what they called the pride of a little sister who is eager to achieve something?

"Point taken. We will tell Dad about it later. Now, let's go home first, and don't forget to bring ice cream or snacks for your brother. He will definitely appreciate it, just like us."

Vanilla nods and follows her sister to order a takeaway.

As someone who was once saved from a life with a giant cage called a dam, Vanilla is determined to return the favor to anyone she considers important to her. Especially to Arisa, who has introduced her to the world and given her life a fresh, cold, and sweet new start.