Given the reality that now stands before me, I'm unable to maintain my composure any longer.

“Why...won’t it open...?!”

After Grunhilda’s punishment had been carried out, she most likely had me locked here in the dry-storage of the kitchen.

No doubt some of the boys were forced by Grunhilda to carry me in here after I lost consciousness...

Even so, I can't blame them. After all, I wouldn’t want them to be punished for disobeying Grunhilda after all, so in the end, it doesn’t really matter.

Considering that I can’t seem to remember the specifics at all…

That’s my best guess as to what happened.

Still, she even bothered to lock me in here after doing something so terrible...

With that thought, my hands tremble, but not in anger.

Then soon, my whole body shakes involuntarily.

Immense sorrow soon overtakes me, as I begin to wail uncontrollably.

"Sniff... W-Waaaah...!"

Why...?

I’d like to understand, if for even just a moment...

A simple answer to a question I’ve wondered since Father passed away.

Why are you doing these things?

When is it that you started becoming so cruel, so spiteful?

We used to be a loving, happy family.

Me, Papa, and you, Mother.

I love both of you.

Even now, after everything that's happened, I still do.

However, with things the way that they are now as time passes on, I can feel my heart becoming more and more cold

Somebody can only remain so hopeful for so long…

Before they reach their breaking point.

Truthfully told... I had already long since given up hope for any kind of meaningful change in my life to happen since you passed away, Father.

Hope for acceptance from others...

The feeling of belonging...

Or even finding my rightful place, a place where I feel that I belong.

…

Maybe it’s my fault...

Perhaps I've just been too optimistic for my own good.

Then suddenly, as I think such thoughts to myself, I remember her.

“L-Luna…”

My... friend...

She dared to stand up for me and put herself in harm’s way just for my sake.

Despite how terrible and cruel Grunhilda can be, Luna had the courage to stand against her.

Perhaps she only did it because she didn't know anything about the awful things that had happened to the children before at the hands of Grunhilda.

After all, tonight was the first time we met after all, not to mention she's completely new here to the Orphanage...

I couldn’t have expected her to know the potential disaster that would come with trying to defy the "order" of things around here.

Heh…

Luna even gave Jessabelle a piece of her mind too, didn’t she?

She’s really something.

I truly wish... that I could be just like her.

To stand in the face of adversity and come out proudly on top without any kind of regrets.

There's no doubt she’s comfortable with being herself.

“I wonder where Luna... gets that kind of strength from…”

“Why can you just…"

"Stand up for people like that so easily...?”

“Why do you… care so much…”

“About me…?”

More tears begin to fall.

Then, a sudden voice fills my ears with a resolute tone.

Luna’s words ring out to me, as if she were speaking clearly to me

“It’s because we’re friends, Mai!"

"I told you that before, didn’t I?”

"Y-Yes… You did..."

At least that’s what she had told me before.

Perhaps for now, I should avoid thinking about things that I don’t quite seem to understand.

Otherwise, I'll just start ruminating and obsessing over it.

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Right now, there's more pressing issues are at hand.

One thing does seem odd to me though…

That memory of what Luna said to me sure was vivid.

"Almost like... she was right here…"

"Haha..."

Perhaps I’ve lost my mind by this point.

After all... who wouldn’t?

Then I hear a voice, as if responding to my previous statement.

“What...? I couldn’t hear what you said, Mai!”

“Anyway, I’ll have you out of there in a second!"

"Wait just a bit longer!”

“Buh?!”

…An absolutely incredulous and stupid noise of purely unknown nature escapes from my mouth.

It sounded as if Luna was actually speaking to me from the opposite side of the door.

“L-Luna…?"

"Is that actually you?”

“Sure is!”

“One sec…!”

CLACK CLINK CLICK

Then, I finally noticed what sounded like a series of noises that sounded metallic in nature.

Seems as if Luna is tampering with the lock in some fashion.

----------------------------------------

After a few more moments pass…

"It’s open!”

Upon hearing that, the door slowly opens as a familiar flaxen-blonde haired girl pulls it open in her direction.

Her green eyes glitter and give off a gentle glow as they're lit by a few crystals here in the kitchen

“Hope you didn’t wait long for me!"

"Told you I’d come back for you, didn’t I?”

Luna beams a brilliant, proud grin at me.

“Now come on, we should get out of here!

"..."

“You're probably starving too, huh?”

Letting out a small chuckle, Luna beckons for me to step out of the dry-storage.

With that, as I step out...

Luna’s face changes from that of glee and excitement to that of sheer disgust and horror.

"..."

“Mai...?"

“Huh?"

"What’s wrong, Luna...?”

Luna’s face contorts angrily, as her pupils dilate from sheer rage.

“That bitch!!!!"

"I told her that if she put a single finger on you...!!!!”

"A-Ah... L-Luna..."

She just said something that my Father always told me to not say, so I can't help but feel a bit awkward...

But that’s not the important issue here…!

I don’t want her and Grunhilda to hurt each other already!

No matter what, I won’t let it happen!

“Luna! Stop it already! Please!”

Pleading with her, I can’t stand for anymore violence or ill-fitted feelings to occur between people I care about...

Especially not for my sake.

“Eh...?"

Luna’s face changes from that of anger to sudden dejection.

"What are you saying, Mai…?”

Trying my best to convey my feelings properly, I attempt to gently take hold of her hand.

“Um...”

“O-Ow!”

“Mai…!”

After extending my left arm out of impulse, I clutch my shoulder with my right hand.

With my back against the wall, near the open door of the dry-storage, my body slumps onto the kitchen floor from the excruciating pain

Luna kneels down next to me, her hands seemingly moving undecidedly about.

She doesn't seem very sure of what to do, as an expression of worry crosses her face.

"Heh..."

“Hehe…”

Upon seeing her in such state, I let out a chuckle.

“Seems like you can get flustered too... huh Luna?"

"Hehehe…!”

Looking at me straight in the face with an expression of surprise, Luna starts puffing up her cheeks.

She looks... really annoyed.

“…And here I was actually worried about you..."

She mutters under her breath.

"I guess you’re fine after all, huh?”

In response, as she turns her face to the side, I can’t help but poke at her puffed out cheek with my finger.

“…”

“Buh?!”

As the air vacates her cheeks from the press of my finger, it results in an incredibly stupid, yet familiar sound.

"W-What do you think you're doing...?!"

"Pfft...!"

"Hahaha!"

“...And just what are you laughing at, idiot?!”

From ear to ear, I smile and begin to laugh so loudly that I can feel my stomach begin to hurt.

Which for once, feels great.

After all, these are tears of happiness, not sadness.

It's been years since I've cried like this!

“Well, whatever...!"

"I heard you making some weird noises earlier from inside that room earlier too, you know?!”

“Ehh…??”

R-Right... Guess she heard that...

Feeling incredibly embarrassed, It dissuades me from laughing any further at Luna's expense.

"..."

In my embarrassment, I turn away from Luna, feeling somewhat awkward to make eye-contact with her.

"...!"

Soon, I feel the sensation of a finger on my cheek.

Looking back at her, I see a happily grinning Luna...

Her eyes are closed in a purely mischievous manner.

"Hehe!"

"..."

Staring at her, I must have the most dumbfounded look on my face...

I can’t even tell what kind of expression that I'm making right now.

“Heh…"

"You’re pretty cute, you know that, Mai?”

“Anyway...!"

"Now we’re even!”

“W-Wha–"

"Wha…?!”

What did she just say??

“Y-You…"

"You… said…”

“Hmm?"

"Is something the matter, Mai?”

She called me cute... didn’t she…?

No! There’s no way! I’m not cute! I’m just a boring nobody after all! I’m a bookworm who just stays inside and reads books all day!

Someone who plays Chess, cooks and reads books for fun…!

W-Who would call someone like me cute?!

…

Even so, she probably just said that to cheer me up!

That must be it!

While I'm trapped in my delusions, Luna then dusts herself off then offers a hand to me, with the clear intention of helping me stand up.

Giving her a wry smile, I grasp her hand.

“Haha...! Thanks for trying to make me feel better Luna!”

As I hold Luna's hand, with her help, I’m lifted back up to my feet.

She stares at me puzzledly.

“Hm...?"

"I’m not sure what you mean, but...!"

"Whatever! That’s not what’s important!”

“Seriously! Take a look at yourself!"

“Huh…?”

“C’mere! Look!”

“Ah…”

She takes a hold of my uninjured arm, leading me back into the dry-storage...

There, Luna brings me close to what appears to be the subtle outline of a mirror.

It’s so dimly lit that I can barely see it…

“Um… Luna. I can’t really see anything in here, you know?”

“Oh, really? My bad. I forget that not everyone can see in the dark that well..."

"I guess we’ll just take it outside for a moment where the lighting is a bit better.”

“We can just put the mirror back after.”

Luna crouches down near the mirror, inspecting it momentarily.

“Let’s see…”

She then turns back at me, grinning with an affirming thumbs up.

“This mirror has some wheels on it, so let’s borrow it for a moment, okay?”

“S-Sure…”

Reluctantly, I agree and comply with Luna’s decision.

She pushes the full-length mirror out of the dry-storage and into the kitchen.

“Phew…!"

"Now take a look at what that old hag did to you!"

"You shouldn’t even be walking around, let alone be laughing in your condition!”

“…!”

Is it really that bad?

Feeling a bit reluctant, hesitation crosses my mind...

Then gathering up my courage, I step before the mirror.

“…”

Staring at myself, a girl with very long black hair and sapphire blue eyes is wearing a formerly beautiful hand-stitched light-blue dress as she gazes back, dumbfoundedly.

Numerous nicks and tatters cover her outfit.

There's an alarming amount of cuts, bruises and dried-up blood on my face, nose and forehead.

Also... my left arm is covered in an extremely sizeable blue and purple bruise that extends down from my shoulder, just past my elbow.

"..."

----------------------------------------

A small amount of time had passed as I continued examining my image in the mirror.

The reality of what had happened is more than enough for me to once again, ask myself an important question...

A question to which I have yet to figure out the answer to.

Then without restraint, the question takes on new form as it escapes my mouth.

“Mother…”

“Why do you… hate me?”

After all, if you loved me, I'm more than certain that none of these things would have ever happened.

Especially not since Father died.

Instead of being there for each other after he died, she insistently shunned and distanced herself from me.

With every month since his passing, my Mother grew more and more bitter and cruel.

Now... I hardly recognize her as the same woman who I grew to love since I was a child.

Her abuse and neglect far extend past what she does to me, seeing as how the other Orphanage children here are also made to starve on occasion whether or they misbehave or simply make her upset or angry...

I don't think it matters one bit to her.

As long as they're willing to speak out, or allow themselves to not be controlled by her...

Then, well... I don't need to think any further on the subject, I'm sure.

"..."

Within my intense ruminations, I stand there silently in front of the mirror...

My disheveled reflection continues to stare back at me, giving me the same hopeless feeling that I feel deep inside my heart right now.

Hmm?

Then suddenly, I notice something that appears to be affixed to the bottom-right corner of the mirror.

It looks quite old…

The edges are giving off a somewhat yellow tinge to them.

"A photo, huh...?"

…

Wait...

This photo is...!

Leaning down, I stare intently at the photo.

"That’s me, Father and Mother…!"