The letter remained in Veronica's hand.
She had already read it three times.
Not because the contents were difficult to understand. Quite the opposite.
The message was painfully simple.
The Bureau wanted her presence.
After everything that had happened tonight, after years of deliberately cutting herself away from them, after faking her own death and building an entirely new life for herself, the Bureau had finally decided that she was worth remembering.
Veronica's fingers tightened around the paper.
The edges crumpled beneath her grip.
"I'm not going."
Her voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
Mrs. Esposito, who had been sitting across from her, sighed heavily. She knew that tone. It was the tone Veronica used when she had already made up her mind and was daring someone to challenge her.
"Baby, listen. You don't have much of a choice. The moment you accepted the power—"
"Accepted?!"
The word exploded from Veronica's mouth.
Mrs. Esposito immediately stopped.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
Veronica slowly lowered the letter.
Her eyes were fixed on her mother.
"The moment I accepted it?"
Mrs. Esposito hesitated.
"The moment you were given—"
"Don't you dare try to sugarcoat this."
Veronica's voice trembled.
Not from fear.
From anger.
"You forced this power onto me. You never gave me a choice."
"Listen, Vero—"
"No."
Veronica stood.
"I'm not listening."
Her chair scraped against the floor.
"This is exactly why I left before."
Mrs. Esposito's expression fell.
Mr. Esposito, who had remained quiet until now, finally stepped forward.
"Listen. Whether it was given or forced, it makes no difference. The power is inside you, and as such, you're either part of the Bureau or the enforcers make a choice."
Veronica stared at him.
"That isn't fair."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"Why couldn't you all just leave me alone?"
Neither parent answered.
"I did everything."
She held the letter up.
"I disappeared. I cut ties. I even faked my own death. I went through all of that because I wanted a normal life."
Her fingers trembled.
"And I had one."
For a brief moment, her anger gave way to something softer.
"I was happy."
The words came out almost painfully.
"But no."
She looked between her parents.
"I don't even have the right to my own happiness!"
"Listen—"
"No!"
Veronica slammed the letter onto the table.
"I stopped listening a long time ago. Listening to you is exactly the reason Kuro died!"
The room went silent.
Mr. Esposito's expression changed.
His hands clenched.
Then—
BANG!
His fists slammed against the table hard enough to make the letter jump.
"Enough!"
Veronica flinched, but she didn't back down.
"Are you seriously going to blame us for you not being able to control yourself?"
Her eyes widened.
"I wouldn't have had to worry about controlling myself if you didn't force this power into me!"
"Whether you liked it or not, you are an Esposito!"
Mr. Esposito's voice shook the room.
"You would have inherited the power eventually! I was shortening the process!"
"And what did that get you?"
Veronica's voice dropped.
"Kuro."
Mr. Esposito froze.
"Your son."
Her eyes began to glisten.
"The one person in this family who actually cared about me."
Her voice grew quieter with every word.
"And he's gone."
Mrs. Esposito lowered her gaze.
"You still aren't satisfied."
Veronica wiped at the corner of her eye angrily.
"Have you not ruined my life enough?"
Mrs. Esposito slowly stood.
"No. That's not true."
She took a cautious step toward her daughter.
"We all care about you."
Veronica laughed.
It wasn't a happy laugh.
"Really?"
She looked at her mother.
"Tell me where that care was back when I was powerless."
Mrs. Esposito opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Veronica stared at her.
The silence was answer enough.
"....."
"That's what I thought."
Her voice was bitter now.
"You know, I bet you only came looking for me because of my power."
"That's not—"
"You probably just want your little golden goose back."
"No, that's not..."
Mrs. Esposito struggled to find the right words.
Veronica folded her arms.
"I'm listening."
Her mother swallowed.
"You're not our golden goose."
She stepped closer.
"You're our daughter."
Veronica's expression remained cold.
"Our prized possession."
The moment the words left her mother's mouth, Veronica's eyes narrowed.
"Exactly."
Mrs. Esposito blinked.
"What?"
"That right there."
Veronica pointed toward her.
"Your prized possession."
Her voice was almost a whisper.
"That's all you see me as."
The accusation hung in the air.
Mr. Esposito looked away.
Mrs. Esposito's face fell.
Neither of them had an immediate answer.
Before either could respond, another voice entered the argument.
"Listen, big sis—"
Veronica turned.
Priscilla had been standing nearby, watching the argument unfold.
"Don't even start."
Priscilla stopped.
"And you and your damn future sight are the cause of all this."
Priscilla's expression tightened.
"I only told Mom and Dad you'd contract something powerful. I didn't know it would be a behemoth bear or that you'd go on a rampage."
"Well, good for you."
Veronica's eyes burned.
"Are you happy now?"
Priscilla's mouth opened.
Then closed.
"....No."
Veronica gave a small nod.
"That's what I thought."
Priscilla lowered her head.
For all her future sight, there were some things she couldn't predict.
And there were some mistakes that no amount of foresight could undo.
Veronica turned away from her.
"And as if all of this wasn't already bad enough..."
Her expression hardened again.
"You dragged Mike into it."
The mention of his name made the atmosphere shift.
"You know, if it wasn't for him being here, I'd have razed this mansion to the ground by now."
Mrs. Esposito looked at her daughter for a long moment.
Then she approached her.
Slowly.
Carefully.
There was no anger in her expression now.
Only exhaustion.
"Listen, baby."
Veronica didn't turn around.
"We made mistakes."
Mrs. Esposito's voice was soft.
"We aren't perfect. I know we caused you pain."
Veronica's hands tightened into fists.
"But we are still family."
She finally looked back.
"You may not like it, but you're stuck with us."
A faint, sad smile appeared on Mrs. Esposito's face.
"And we only want the best for you."
Veronica's expression didn't soften.
"Give us a chance."
Her mother's voice nearly broke.
"Please."
For a moment, Veronica said nothing.
The anger was still there.
So was the resentment.
So was the grief.
But underneath all of it was something she hated admitting existed.
She still cared.
That was what made everything hurt so much.
Mr. Esposito stepped forward.
"Your mother is right."
Veronica looked at him.
"We only want the best for you."
He paused.
"Even if you leave the Bureau, they'll hunt you down."
His expression became serious.
"We can protect you."
Veronica stared at him.
"Well, if you want to protect me..."
She picked up the letter again.
"...give me Item Number 137."
Both of her parents froze.
Priscilla's eyebrows rose.
Mr. Esposito stared at his daughter.
"Wait."
His voice was almost disbelieving.
"You still want to run?"
Veronica's expression didn't change.
"You realize you're only delaying the inevitable."
"Doesn't matter."
She folded the letter.
"That's my choice."
Mr. Esposito rubbed his forehead.
He already knew he had lost this argument.
"Fine."
Veronica turned toward the stairs.
"Then can we at least come along?"
She stopped.
"No."
"Veronica—"
"You'll only slow me down."
Mr. Esposito sighed.
"Veronica."
She turned around.
There was no anger in her expression this time.
Only determination.
"No."
She held his gaze.
"If you want any hope of me becoming part of this family again..."
Her voice hardened.
"...give me the item."
Silence.
Mr. Esposito stared at her for several seconds.
Finally, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Fine."
He shook his head.
"Item Number 137."
A faint smile tugged at Veronica's lips.
"The ticket around the world, right?"
"The very one."
Mr. Esposito pointed toward the stairs.
"But at least let us attend the meeting before I give you the item."
Veronica considered it.
Then nodded.
"Fine."
"Go get ready."
Veronica turned away.
She started toward the stairs, but paused briefly.
For just a second, she glanced back at her parents.
Neither of them noticed.
Her expression was difficult to read.
Then she continued upstairs.
The letter remained tightly clenched in her hand.
Whatever happened next, Veronica had already made one thing clear.
She would not allow anyone else to decide where her life went.
Not the Bureau.
Not the enforcers.
And not even her own family.
Veronica climbed the stairs with the Bureau's letter still in her hand.
Her footsteps were slow.
The argument downstairs had left her exhausted, both physically and emotionally. She had expected the evening to continue with preparations for the meeting.
What she hadn't expected was what awaited her when she opened the door to her bedroom.
She stopped.
Her expression immediately went cold.
There, sitting on her bed, was Haru.
And on top of him was Lucy.
The two were laughing like they had completely forgotten the rest of the world existed.
Veronica stared.
Neither of them noticed her.
She slowly pushed the door open a little further.
"Am I interrupting?"
The laughter stopped instantly.
Lucy froze.
Haru froze.
Both slowly turned their heads toward the doorway.
Veronica stood there with her arms folded.
She continued speaking in an unnervingly calm voice.
"What an interesting activity."
Lucy's face went pale.
"It's not what it looks like!"
Veronica raised an eyebrow.
"Well, it looks pretty clear to me."
She glanced between the two.
"Two adults sharing a bed. What am I missing?"
"It's not like that!"
Haru immediately tried to explain.
Veronica's eyes narrowed.
"Then what is it like?"
Before either of them could answer, another voice came from the doorway.
"Thank you, my lady."
Carla appeared.
She looked exhausted.
Not slightly tired.
Exhausted.
The sort of exhausted that suggested she had already spent far too much of her day dealing with nonsense.
"I tried to stop them."
She gestured toward the bed.
"But they are a wild pair."
Veronica slowly looked at her.
"Wild?"
Carla nodded.
"Wild how?"
Carla sighed.
"They turned your bed into a trampoline."
Veronica's eyes shifted toward her bed.
Then back toward Haru.
Then Lucy.
Then back toward her bed.
"You did what?"
Haru immediately raised both hands.
"In my defense, you can't blame me."
Veronica's eyebrow twitched.
"It's not my fault the bed is temptingly bouncy."
Lucy burst out laughing again.
Veronica stared at them.
For several seconds, nobody said anything.
Then she slowly reached into her clothing.
Haru's smile disappeared.
Veronica produced a revolver.
She began loading it.
"Woah!"
Haru immediately backed away.
"Woah! Woah! Woah! Let's not get too hasty!"
He pointed at the weapon.
"Put the gun down!"
Lucy raised both hands.
"It's not what it looks like!"
Haru stared at her.
"Why do those words sound familiar?"
Carla rubbed her temples.
She had apparently accepted that this was simply her life now.
"My lady, I know turning your bed into a trampoline is atrocious..."
She carefully glanced at the gun.
"...but don't you think you're going a tad bit too far?"
Haru blinked.
"Wait."
Veronica looked at him.
"Wait what?"
Haru pointed at the bed.
"So you two weren't doing anything naughty?"
Lucy looked offended.
"Obviously not!"
Veronica slowly lowered the revolver.
"I see."
Haru sighed in relief.
Then Veronica's expression changed.
"But still."
She raised the gun again.
Haru's eyes widened.
"What now?!"
Veronica pointed the revolver directly at him.
"How dare you bounce on my bed with another woman."
Haru stared at her.
"That sounds so wrong."
Lucy covered her mouth, desperately trying not to laugh.
Haru continued.
"But still, how is that what you're worried about?"
Veronica puffed her cheeks.
"It's my bed."
She folded her arms.
"So it's only right you bounce with me."
Carla's expression went blank.
"My lady..."
She slowly covered her face.
"Please refrain from saying that."
She sighed.
"It's sending a lot of wrong messages."
Veronica ignored her.
"I'll say what I want."
She pointed accusingly at Haru.
"How dare he go bouncing with other women."
She emphasized the final words.
"On my bed, no less."
Haru stared at her.
"Are you actually jealous about a trampoline?"
"Yes."
"That's ridiculous."
Veronica's cheeks puffed out even further.
Carla suddenly stepped between them.
"Enough."
She wrapped an arm around Veronica and gently patted her head.
"There, there."
Veronica blinked.
Carla smiled.
"I bet Mike will make it up to you somehow."
She looked toward him.
"Right, Mike?"
Mike, who had wisely remained silent throughout most of the confrontation, suddenly found himself dragged into it.
He gave an awkward smile.
"Oh, yes."
He nodded.
"Definitely."
Veronica narrowed her eyes.
"You'd better."
Mike chuckled.
He couldn't help it.
Seeing Veronica like this was almost surreal.
She was normally so composed.
So confident.
So intimidating that most people would probably think twice before even standing too close to her.
And now she was standing there with puffed cheeks while Carla comforted her over a bed.
"Something funny?"
Mike immediately stopped laughing.
"Nah."
He shook his head.
"This is just the first time I've seen you so..."
He searched for the right word.
"...vulnerable."
Veronica's eyes narrowed.
Mike continued before he could stop himself.
"It's the complete opposite of the beast of a woman you usually are."
Silence.
Carla's eyes widened.
Lucy's mouth fell open.
Mike slowly realized his mistake.
"Excuse me?"
Veronica's hand moved toward the revolver.
Mike immediately raised his hands.
"Hold on!"
She grabbed it.
"That was supposed to be a compliment!"
"You called me a beast!"
"I meant you're usually very strong and fearless!"
Veronica pulled the weapon free.
"Seeing you vulnerable just caught me off guard!"
"Mike, I don't think you're helping!"
Carla grabbed Veronica from behind.
Veronica struggled against her.
"Let me go!"
"My lady, please!"
"He's getting a bullet!"
"Perhaps we can discuss this without the bullet?!"
Mike backed toward the wall.
"Okay!"
He thought quickly.
"Veronica, calm down."
She glared at him.
"Go back to your cute self, please."
Everything stopped.
Veronica's face turned bright red.
The bear claw that had begun forming over her hand immediately vanished.
She looked away.
"Idiot."
Mike blinked.
"What?"
She crossed her arms.
"Why do you say the dumbest things at the right times?"
Mike stared at her.
"What do you mean?"
"Just forget it."
Lucy had been watching the entire exchange with an amused expression.
Then she suddenly grabbed Mike's hand.
She looked up at him with wide eyes.
"Hey, Mike."
He looked down.
"Yeah?"
"I'm cute too, right?"
"Of course."
Mike didn't even hesitate.
Veronica slowly turned her head.
"You didn't even hesitate."
Mike's eyes widened.
"Uh-oh."
Veronica lunged.
"Get over here!"
Mike immediately ran.
"Wait!"
She chased him around the room.
"Come back here!"
"You just said you weren't angry anymore!"
"I changed my mind!"
Carla sighed.
"Why do I feel like this is going to be a long evening?"
Lucy simply laughed.
For a few moments, the earlier tension disappeared.
The Bureau.
The enforcers.
The argument.
Kuro.
All of it seemed distant.
But then—
Veronica suddenly stopped.
The smile disappeared from her face.
A loud ringing filled her ears.
Her vision blurred.
"What...?"
She pressed a hand against her head.
The room seemed to tilt.
The floor rushed toward her.
"Veronica!"
Mike caught her before she hit the ground.
He held her firmly.
"Are you okay?"
Veronica closed her eyes.
The ringing continued.
Then, slowly, it faded.
She opened her eyes again.
Mike was staring down at her with genuine concern.
"I'm fine."
She tried to stand.
Her legs immediately gave out.
Mike caught her again.
"Clearly you're not okay."
"I told you I'm fine—"
Carla rushed over.
She placed the back of her hand against Veronica's forehead.
"It's nothing serious."
Veronica looked at her.
"The adrenaline just finally wore off."
Mike frowned.
"Adrenaline?"
Carla nodded.
"She's been through quite a lot today. Fighting, transforming, pushing herself beyond her limits..."
She looked toward Veronica.
"Her body has finally decided that enough is enough."
Veronica tried to straighten herself.
"See?"
She gave Mike a determined look.
"I'm fine."
Carla shook her head.
"No."
Veronica frowned.
"I need to attend the meeting."
"The meeting won't take place until this evening."
"But—"
"Veronica."
Carla's voice became firm.
"Rest."
"But—"
"Shhh."
Carla gently pushed her toward the bed.
"No buts."
Veronica's resistance slowly disappeared.
Her eyelids became heavy.
She tried to fight it.
She really did.
But exhaustion finally won.
Within moments, she was asleep.
Mike looked down at her.
For once, he didn't make a joke.
He simply sighed.
"She really pushed herself too far."
Lucy nodded.
"Yeah."
Carla pulled the blanket over Veronica.
"Let her sleep."
The room became quiet.
For the first time since the battle, Veronica finally rested.
When Veronica finally opened her eyes again, the first thing she noticed was a face staring down at her.
She blinked.
Then frowned.
"Ugh."
Lucy grinned.
"I see you've returned to the land of the living."
"I hate that your face is the first one I see."
"For once, I agree with you."
Lucy leaned closer with a smug smile.
"But at the same time, I won't let you get ahead of me."
Veronica stared at her.
"The hell is that supposed to mean?"
Before Lucy could answer, another voice came from the side.
"Okay, since you two have the energy to argue, you could give my hands a break."
Mike's voice.
Veronica's eyes moved downward.
She suddenly became aware that she wasn't lying on an ordinary pillow.
Something beneath her head was moving.
Up.
Down.
Up.
Down.
A steady rhythm.
Almost like breathing.
Veronica's eyes widened slightly.
She slowly lifted her head.
The "pillow" beneath her produced a familiar groan.
"Ugh..."
Veronica froze.
She looked down.
Mike was lying beneath her.
His chest rose and fell with every breath.
She had apparently spent the last several minutes sleeping on him.
Mike stared at her.
"Hey."
Veronica blinked.
"You're awake."
"Get the hell off."
Veronica considered this for a moment.
Then lowered her head back onto his chest.
"No."
Mike's eyes widened.
"I'm still very tired."
"Use a normal pillow, then."
"No."
"Why?"
Veronica closed her eyes.
"This is better."
Mike stared at the ceiling.
"You've got to be kidding me."
Lucy giggled beside them.
"Deal with it, big boy."
Mike turned his head toward her.
"You weren't even tired."
Lucy shrugged.
"Well, it just so happens that fighting someone who can turn into mist is tiring."
Mike looked at her incredulously.
"My hands are dying."
"Come on, don't be dramatic."
Lucy leaned back comfortably.
"Besides, think about it."
She grinned.
"You've got not one but two beauties sharing a bed with you."
Mike sighed.
"Gratefulness will get you very far in life."
"Oh, please."
Lucy suddenly tilted her head.
"Hold on."
Mike looked at her.
"What?"
"Did you just now realize?"
"Realize what?"
"What I said."
Mike stared blankly.
Lucy smiled.
"Sure got your heart racing."
She pointed at his chest.
"Poor thing would probably leap right out of your chest if we weren't here holding it down."
Mike groaned.
"Give me a break."
Lucy leaned closer.
"Yet another reason to be grateful."
Mike opened his mouth to respond.
"Hey!"
Lucy poked his side.
"Don't tickle me!"
"I'm not doing anything!"
"Then why did you say that?"
"I'm just talking."
"Your talking is suspicious."
Veronica, who had been lying quietly against Mike's chest, opened one eye.
She was beginning to regret waking up.
Then—
A small bump appeared beneath the blanket.
Everyone froze.
Mike looked down.
"What the..."
The bump moved.
Lucy stared.
Veronica slowly raised her head.
Another bump appeared beside the first.
Mike's expression changed.
"Okay."
He swallowed.
"That's not what you think."
Lucy stared at the blanket.
"Mike..."
"That's not it."
The two bumps moved.
Slowly.
They travelled upward.
Veronica's eyes widened.
Lucy looked at Mike.
Mike looked at Lucy.
Neither knew what to say.
The lumps continued moving.
"Mike..."
"I swear, that's not my Excalibur!"
Veronica's face turned beet red.
Lucy's jaw dropped.
"Control that thing!"
"I'm telling you that's not my Excalibur!"
The lumps continued upward.
Mike looked increasingly desperate.
"Why does nobody believe me?!"
The two bumps reached his chest.
Then his shoulder.
Then his neck.
The blanket slowly lifted.
All three stared.
The room fell silent.
Then—
A soft sound came from beneath it.
"Meow."
Everyone froze.
"Nike?"
The name escaped from all three of them at once.
The blanket shifted again.
Nike emerged.
The cat calmly climbed onto Mike's chest as though nothing unusual had happened.
Lucy and Veronica stared at her.
Their expressions carried an almost identical mixture of embarrassment and disappointment.
Mike sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness."
Nike ignored him.
Instead, she sat down and began pawing curiously at the locket around Mike's neck.
Mike looked down.
"What are you doing?"
Nike simply stared at the locket.
Then pawed at it again.
"That's not yours."
Nike ignored him completely.
The second lump moved.
Chelsea emerged from beneath the blanket.
Unlike Nike, the dog immediately made her priorities clear.
She climbed onto Mike's chest, planted her paws against him, and began licking his face.
"Hey!"
Mike tried to turn away.
Chelsea followed.
"Stop!"
She licked him again.
Mike tried to push her away, but both Veronica and Lucy were still holding onto his arms.
"Seriously?"
He struggled.
"I can't even defend myself!"
Chelsea continued enthusiastically.
Lucy laughed.
"She missed you."
"I can tell!"
Another lick.
"Okay! I get it!"
Eventually Chelsea calmed down and settled on Mike's chest.
She looked up at him with bright, earnest eyes.
Mike stared back.
"You're lucky you're cute."
Chelsea's tail wagged.
Veronica watched the exchange.
Despite herself, the corners of her mouth lifted.
The room had become strangely peaceful.
After everything that had happened, this ridiculous scene felt almost normal.
Then the bedroom door opened.
Carla stepped inside.
She stopped.
Her eyes moved across the room.
Veronica was sitting on the bed.
Lucy was beside her.
Mike was lying beneath them.
Nike was sitting on his chest.
Chelsea was sprawled across him.
Carla stared for a long moment.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you..."
Nobody moved.
"...but we need to begin preparations for the meeting."
Mike gave her a tired look.
"Please tell me you have a normal explanation for any of this."
Carla smiled politely.
"No."
Mike sighed.
"Fair enough."
Before anyone could say anything else—
BANG!
The door suddenly flew open.
Edward stormed inside carrying two suits.
"Hey, Mike!"
Mike looked over.
Edward held up the suits.
"Which do you think would look better..."
He paused.
"...on me?"
Silence.
Edward looked around.
Mike looked at Edward.
Veronica looked at Edward.
Lucy looked at Edward.
Nike continued pawing at the locket.
Chelsea continued lying on Mike's chest.
Carla slowly closed her eyes.
Edward finally realized that something was wrong.
"What the hell are you three—"
Veronica's hand moved.
Carla reacted instantly.
She stepped forward and poked Edward directly in both eyes.
"Ah!"
Edward dropped the suits and covered his face.
"My eyes!"
"That's what you get for not knocking."
Mike immediately seized the opportunity.
He slipped free from the bed and grabbed Edward by the shoulders.
"You saw nothing."
Edward blinked rapidly.
"What?"
"You heard me."
Mike guided him toward the door.
"You saw absolutely nothing."
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
"Good."
Mike pushed him into the hallway.
"Keep it that way."
Edward rubbed his eyes.
"Fine."
He paused.
"But I'll need a favor in return."
Mike nodded.
"Don't worry."
He gave Edward a grin.
"I got you, my guy."
The two disappeared down the hallway.
Behind them, Carla looked at the remaining chaos.
Veronica sighed.
Lucy laughed.
Nike finally abandoned Mike's locket.
Chelsea rested her head against Veronica's leg.
For a brief moment, nobody mentioned the Bureau.
Nobody mentioned the battle.
Nobody mentioned the letter.
They simply existed together in the strange, comfortable chaos that had somehow become normal for them.
Mike and Edward made their way down the hallway, leaving the chaos of Veronica's bedroom behind them.
Edward was still rubbing his eyes.
"You know, for someone who claims to be my friend, you didn't exactly defend me."
Mike shrugged.
"Hey, I saved you from further injury."
"You were the one who pushed me out of the room."
"Exactly. I saved you from Veronica."
Edward thought about that.
"...Fair point."
They reached the changing room, where the two of them separated to get dressed.
A few minutes later, Mike stepped out wearing a royal blue suit with a crisp white necktie. He adjusted the tie in front of a large mirror before looking himself over.
"Damn."
He turned slightly.
"This fit's got me feeling like royalty."
Edward emerged beside him in a black suit with a red bow tie.
Mike looked him over.
"Looking sharp, my boy."
Edward smiled.
"Thanks."
He glanced at himself in the mirror, adjusting his jacket.
"Do you think Lucy will like it?"
Mike paused.
"Yeah..."
Edward's expression brightened.
"...I don't know about that, bud."
Edward's smile disappeared.
"I've never heard her say much about smart wear."
Mike shrugged.
"You'll just have to gamble."
Edward sighed.
"I see."
He ran a hand through his hair.
"Well, in the meantime, I'll have my barber do my hair."
Mike immediately turned toward him.
"Hell no."
Edward blinked.
"What?"
"He won't touch a hair on my head."
Edward stared at him.
"Why?"
Mike folded his arms.
"As a man, you can cheat on many things."
Edward raised an eyebrow.
"Such as?"
"A test. Your diet. Your sleep schedule."
Mike pointed toward his hair.
"But the one thing you should never cheat on is your barber."
Edward laughed.
"Oh, come on. Just this once."
"Hell no."
"Fine."
Edward picked up his jacket.
"Then I'll get the car."
Mike looked at him.
"Where are we going?"
"To your barber."
Mike's eyes widened.
"Wait, what?"
"We'll make it quick."
Mike stared at him for a few seconds.
Then smiled.
"Now you're talking."
Edward grinned.
"Let's go."
The two headed out.
---
Meanwhile...
In the ladies' changing room, the atmosphere was considerably calmer.
Veronica, Lucy, and Carla were preparing themselves for the evening while discussing what had happened since the festival.
Lucy adjusted her clothes before glancing toward Veronica.
"So where were you two after the festival?"
Veronica paused.
"Who?"
"You and Carla."
Carla looked over.
"We were hunting down Jack Marcel."
Lucy's expression immediately hardened.
"Jack?"
Veronica nodded.
"Yeah."
Lucy clenched her fist.
"Knowing you, you caught him."
She turned toward Veronica.
"Take me to him."
Veronica raised an eyebrow.
"I'd be damned if I don't knock out some of his teeth for what he did to me."
Carla exchanged a glance with Veronica.
"Well..."
Lucy immediately noticed.
"What?"
Veronica sighed.
"There's a problem."
"What?"
"He's dead."
Lucy froze.
"...You killed him?"
Veronica shook her head.
"What? No."
She folded her arms.
"His dad got him before I did."
Lucy's expression became serious.
"The Marcels are clearly our enemies."
"Yeah."
Veronica looked away.
"They are."
The room fell quiet for a moment.
The subject of Jack's death carried a weight that none of them felt like joking about.
Lucy eventually broke the silence.
"Still..."
She looked at Veronica.
"After everything that happened, I'm glad you're okay."
Veronica glanced at her.
For a moment, her expression softened.
"Yeah."
Carla smiled faintly.
"You two really have been through quite a lot."
Lucy scoffed.
"That's putting it mildly."
Veronica gave a small laugh.
"At least he's not around to cause trouble anymore."
Carla nodded.
"True."
A brief silence followed.
Then Carla walked over carrying two dresses.
"My lady."
Veronica looked at her.
"Pick one."
Carla held the dresses out in front of her.
Veronica stared at them.
Lucy leaned closer to inspect them.
The tension that had filled the room only moments earlier slowly faded, replaced by the much more ordinary problem of deciding what to wear.
Veronica looked from one dress to the other.
"Hmm..."
Lucy smiled.
"Now this is a problem I can get behind."
Carla sighed.
"I knew you'd say that."
Veronica folded her arms.
"Well?"
She looked between the dresses.
"Which one?"