We Find Comfort In The Apricity

Measure 65: Lights On A Stage

"If you follow me through here, we'll reach my— err home!" The girl pointed at a small wooden fence. The team that followed her walked through the small, narrow streets of this town. The place had a dark hue of grey, maybe it was because of the storm but everything seemed dull. Even the girl, with such a bright personality, wore depressing clothes.

The houses were made of wood, stone and some other natural materials. The entire half of the town they had seen looked impoverished. From far away and in between the clouds you could see a tall sign that read 'We Find Comfort In The Apricity' with a small honeydew-boy that did a thumbs up & had a huge smile.

Past the wooden fence they had to climb, they reached a wooden shed. The girl fit perfectly fine but everyone else had to sit criss-crossed in order to fit.

"I invite you my— err home! I will offer you a hot beverage for this weather~!" The girl was extremely joyous, she tied a cloth around her waist and one around her head as if it was an apron. She hummed a merry tune and brought out an old metal pot. In it she poured water, she made a fire and carefully placed a sort-of metal box on top of the fire. She placed the pot there and heated the water, she grabbed a honeydew melon and cut it in small pieces. She crushed the melon into a purée-like substance and poured it into the water. Then she threw in a few chamomile flowers. She stirred and waited a few minutes then turned off the fire. She drained the liquid and poured it into small cups.

She waltzed back to her guests and offered them the beverage. She sat down with them, and smiled widely while she drank it.

"Ah! It's not as good as mom's honeydew tea but I like it!"

The six of them looked at their cups then at one another, with their eyes they argued on who was going to try it first. Taiju ended up losing so he tried the drink and found it was surprisingly tasty. He gave the okay and everyone drank it as well.

"Uh you keep mentioning your mom but where is she?" -Kohaku

"Mom? She's— umm I ran away!" The girl was blunt, she didn't even sugarcoat it.

Her response caught Taiju by surprise that he choked on his drink. "Y-You live alone?! You ran away from your mom?! Wouldn't she be worried?!"

"It's okay!!"

Everyone thought the same thing at once, this girl had more guts than any of them did right now.

"O-Oh I see, uhh what's your name again sweetie?" -Yuzuriha

"Sple— err in uhh?"

Yuzuriha, Taiju and Senku froze, 'was she about to say Splenda?' They all thought at the same time. They exchanged confused looks but didn't say a word. Maybe they just misheard.

"What was that? Erin? Hi Erin, I'm Kohaku, this is Taiju, Yuzuriha, Gen, Ryusui, and Senku! I'm sorry we scared you before, but you see we're not from here we come from another island far, far away." -Kohaku

"Our ship had a few problems so we had to make an emergency landing, we were guided by the green light we saw before." -Ryusui

"The green light? Oh! That's for opening night!...pssttt! I have a secret!!" The girl leaned in closer to everyone and motioned for them to do the same so they did and she whispered. "I'm not from here either!"

They returned to their sitting positions and the girl continued. "As a thanks for the ice cream, I'll keep your secret if you can keep mine!"

"Great! Thanks kid! Now can you tell us about the important stuff, what's this opening night? What's going on in this island?"