Four months since Matsya’s death:

  “Cherry! What did you do? Your hair…” Fester began to grind at their teeth in shock.

  Cherry looked like a choke-hold delinquent, a mixie hybrid. Her hair draping to the bottom of her back; a bizarre shaggy mullet. “What do you think?”

  “Eh…” Fester tried to hold back his cringe. “I-it looks amazing, yes. Right Horst?”

  “Huh, yo…” Horst said with his attention to the wind.

  “This time don’t imitate me,” Cherry said with a ditto face.

  “Mm…”

  The three children held heads high outside the classroom windows. By the track field sat a dobermann with a clammy smile.

  “Yo…” Horst said dryly.

  “Hey, that’s the dog from the other day. Eh, Argos!”

  “Argos…so that’s its name!” Cherry mentioned.

  “Whoa! Look what he’s doing,” Fester pointed. Argos stood on his hind legs, dancing the macarena. Its shimmy was more stylish than any hula girl. He then began to trot along like a skipping clown. “Hey-hey Horst, let's follow. Cherry, are you coming?”

  Cherry stood motionless by the window, her gaze cloaked in white. Mist coiled the edges of the doorway. A vision-less hand clad in blinding light. Cherry turned, whipping her hair in a swirling motion.

  “Sup,” Urjohar said meekly. His face was bandaged as his bruises slipped through his chocolaty skin. His knotted hair was no more, it turned to floppy curls ready to be braided. Sitting in the back corner of the room was Taiga, a youth with a buzzed head, thick glasses and a wrinkled attire. Taiga stood up, his legs taking half the amount of steps needed than everybody else. Urjohar picked up his shoes whilst looking up at the tall figure that arrived in front of him.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “Hah, no more braids?” Taiga asked

  “You could help me with em,” Urjohar replied.

  “…”

  “Hey, what’s up?” Urjohar poked.

  “Nothing… Just thought you would stop all that fighting. You don’t even get money for it,” Taiga said, shrugging.

  “Ooooh…tell me, what fights earn you cash? You talking ‘bout that Zodiac Palace.”

  “Wow, Urjo, Taiga! Have ya seen the dog?” Fester asked.

  “N-no,” they said in unison.

  “Upstairs, I’m upstairs, Horst.”

  “Huh, who…?” Horst questioned with sweat gripping his palms.

  “Ooo, spooky,” Fester said. “Think he went upstairs.”

  “Yo, Horst, why you shaking?” Urjohar asked with glee.

  Entering the classroom, Fester asked, “Cherry, found the dog yet?” Wide eyed, Fester paused.

  Cherry stood in silence as she was embraced by Jaromir. The room was blinded with light… The boy’s tank top and baggy jeans reflected the smoky white of the room. His hug was as gentle as the clouds in the sky. Jaromir…

  Is that the dog…? Fester thought. Horst paused in shock. Jaromir turned, his smile as soft as God’s.

  “You…” Horst whispered.

  Fester began to shiver, his eyes watered as he began to hyperventilate.

  “Festy…?” Cherry said with concern. Oh no! Is she having another attack?

  Coming down the hall strode Taiga and Urjohar.

  “Ah come on, a dog in the school, impossible,” Urjohar crooned.

  “Found the dog, where is it?” Taiga asked in the open. “My god, I don’t believe it…”

  “…” Urjohar dropped his bag, clenching his fists and quickly walked up to Cherry and Jaromir. “Yo, Cher, who is this guy?”

  “Ja…Jaromir…” Cherry muttered, her lips quivering.

  “Ja, impossible, he should be dead! How can he be here?” Urjohar questioned in surprise.

  “Mmwa!” Jaromir gave Urjohar a big smooch on his forehead. Urjohar, in shock, stood complacent like a newborn duck. “Nice hair…” Jaromir added.