The girl with a blue dress

IV

Miki bid farewell to Liam as she was just a few steps away from the route she once stood before discovering the abandoned manor, after Liam went back to his owner Delphine, Miki gripped the collar tightly and climbed over the rails so that she can finally go where she has been meaning to go to.

Instead of running back to her house she ran on the other side of the road to go to the person who'll fix the collar, she ran faster as she finally spotted the nearing end of the shortcut she soon slowed down after almost tripping and falling on her face, Miki put her hands on her knees and panted as sweat was running down on her face. She soon stood up and walked towards the end of the route then swiped the tall grass that was hanging just above her forehead and finally went out.

She looked at the road as the vehicle passed a soft breeze embraced her as she inhaled the familiar scent of her town, she sighed and crossed the road and walked on the sidewalk she passed by the busy market that was filled with people buying some foods or necessities.

"Miki!" A voice yelled making the latter turn around to find the voice, it was her mother with both her brother and grandma who were just outside the flower shop the girl sighed then shoved the collar into her pocket and finally walked to them.

"I thought you were in the house" Her mother raised a brow at her.

"Ah well, I had to see a friend" Miki lied while rocking back and forth and looked down. "Why really? Which friend was it?" Her mother squinted her eyes to her she wasn't buying what Miki had said, "Ah yeah it was um" Miki panicked she was never a good liar what the hell is she supposed to say?

'ah yeh, I met a pretty girl from that abandoned manor you warned me not to go to' yeah pretty sure that wouldn't work.

"Marie! Didn't you said you were going back to your workplace?" Suddenly a soft voice intervened while she was having a crisis, Miki glanced on her side to see her grandma the grandma smiled at her and put a hand on her shoulder as a message that she'll take care of this.

'Oh grandma Ichika I love you' Miki sighed out of relief as she is saved by her one and only grandmother.

"Oh right" Miki's mother Marie scrambled and shoved the shopping bags to Miki and grabbed her phone from her bag, "I need to go" Marie grabbed her daughter in a hurry but gently and kissed her forehead then did the same to her son. "What? but It's Saturday I thought you only work a half-day on weekends?" Miki furrowed her brows as she was confused 'Is ma gonna work late? But she promised that she won't do it again' the latter thought she was worried that her mother was gonna tire herself again just like what had happened 5 months ago. "Something important had happened Miki they need me there, It's just today okay?" Marie reassured her daughter and quickly went to call a taxi that just passed her "I'll be home soon! Take care of your brother!" The mother had said before going inside the taxi and finally went off.

"She'll be alright Miki" Grandma Ichika comforted her granddaughter "Now I am very sure you are hungry you didn't eat lunch right?" asked the grandmother calmly making Miki quickly turn to her grandma "How'd you know?" She asked while her grandma shoved her and her brother to start walking towards a restaurant "I have my ways" grandmother Ichika chuckled, "Granny! Let's eat ice cream!" shouted Ren in excitement "Alright then let's go!" Grandma Ichika stated as she raised her arm and pointed up the sky, many would think that Grandma Ichika is a child that is stuck on a 50 years old body because of the way she acts but that's just how she is.

Soon we arrived at a fast-food restaurant ordered some food and finally sat down to eat Ren was busy licking his ice cream while Miki was munching on her chicken nugget she was hungry after all. "Granny, aren't you gonna eat something?" Asked Miki finally finishing her last chicken nugget
"Ah no dear, I had already eaten besides this is for the both of you hungry little cats" "But granny I'm not a cat! I'm a Dinosaur!!" stated Ren while roaring and throwing his hands up in the air as if he was a ferocious t-rex. "Oh you sure are" Grandma Ichika cooed while ruffling her grandson's hair, she then shifted her gaze towards her granddaughter who was busy disinfecting her hands by rubbing the alcohol on her hands and wiped it off on her shirt.

"By the way Miki where were you?" asked Grandma Ichika "If you went to one of your friends then why were you lying to your mother?" she too indeed was curious about where her said granddaughter was.
"Ah well, you know that route we use for shortcuts? Ma told me there was an abandoned manor there" Miki said as she went leaned on the table. "But didn't ma said to never go there?" Miki's younger brother suddenly interrupts while licking his favorite chocolate ice cream.
Grandma Ichika gasped and finally had gotten the idea. "You broke your promise didn't you?" "But it wasn't on purpose! I-" Miki sighed she was dead meat if her grandma was gonna tell this to her mother. "I was just-" "Curios?" her grandmother cut her off "Oh Miki don't worry I won't tell your mother" Grandma Ichika smiled sweetly to her grandaughter, how can she be like that towards her precious Miki.

"You won't?" Miki questioned in disbelief "I won't, you reminded me a lot of your dad when he was just the same age as yours" Her grandma chuckled at the memory she had with her son.
"Grandma?" Ren asked
"Yes?"
"Do you think papa is in the right place now?" The innocent boy questioned.

Grandma Ichika wiped the mouth of Ren that was covered with ice cream
"Yes, yes he is" Grandma Ichika smiled making Ren smiled too "Let's go now?" She asked her grandchildren and proceeded to walk out of the restaurant after earning a nod from her grandchildren.
"Hey Grandma I need to go somewhere real quick can you go home first?" Miki asked
"Oh, you are? Alright go now be careful on your way"

After that Miki ran fast avoiding people here and there, shouting sorry's every time she accidentally bumps some person, she needs to hurry or she'll miss her chance.

'They close their shop every 2 pm on the weekends I need to hurry up it's already 1:50' thought Miki as she continues to run.

After a whole minute of running she finally arrived at the workshop, she took deep and quick breathes and wiped her sweat. Miki stood straight and went to the workshop that had a big sign that says 'Ennoshita's Leather Works' the latter stepped on the stair and pushed open the door while the bell dinged, she went straight to the counter and ring the bell multiple times.
Soon after a man with thick-framed glasses and a jumper suit came out.
"Sheesh, I already know it's you from the way you were ringing the bell" the man grunted "Ya know nobody rings the bell multiple times other than y-" the man stopped talking as he saw the appearance of the troublemaking girl. Miki and the man stared at each other for a quick 10 seconds until the man finally spoke "What happened to you?" Asked the man as he squinted his eyes "You looked like you've been chased" the man laughed at Miki's haggard look as Miki rolled her eyes.

"Listen Mr. Ennoshita I need you to repair something" Miki stated as she fixed herself
"Oh? This seems to be very important" The man who's known as Ennoshita sat down on his chair and removed his gloves.
"It's from a friend of mine" stated Miki as she reached into her pocket and brought out the collar that was torn into two then gave it to the men, Mr. Ennoshita held the collar and was amazed by its quality.
"What a genuine leather"
"So?"

Ennoshita fixed his glasses
"This might take a while Miki since I still have a few works piling up"
"It's fine! As long as you can fix it" Miki stated eagerly.
"Is it really from a friend?" Mr. Ennoshita wiggled his eyebrows at the girl
Miki became flustered and quickly went out of the shop
"Goodbye, Mr. Ennoshita have a great day!"

"The girl with a blue dress"