Jack, Yune, and Mary asked around the city for any information about Annie. Yune was fine with helping Jack, but it was Mary who did most of the work. She was tired of it, but felt the need to help after they helped her. She never did like to feel indebted to another. Her powers of mind control were essential to getting information. However, even with her powers, they were no closer to finding the girl.
They also fought the occasional Night Demon, but Jack was disappointed that they haven't found another one with Annie's signature. If she found one similar to the monster she fought before, she would at least feel that she was getting close, but there was no hint to it. She even began to think that maybe Annie moved to another city. She wasn't one hundred percent certain that Annie was at Janken City anymore, but she still wanted to be sure. Somebody in the city must have seen her, she thought. They went to art stores and nearby shops to ask, but no one has seen any girl with that description. A highschooler with blonde hair who has a fascination with art.
They even tried to ask the shopkeep, but he wouldn't give any answers.
He said to them, "I can't just give up the location of a Light Guardian knowing that you'll kill her. No matter how much you give, she does rake in a lot of black coins. I would be losing money in giving her up."
And so, even the shopkeeper was useless in their search.
When the sun began to set, the three walked back home tired and hungry.
Night approached as they relaxed at home. But they wouldn't be relaxing for too long for Nina was close. She stood on one of the house's rooftops and waited. Nina was already in her Light Guardian form. Her weapons sheathed. She could sense that the house was dangerous. It gave off the feeling of hundreds of Night Demons, but only if she had the thought of getting close to it. Perhaps, they had some Night Demons as pets, she thought, but she's never heard of anybody who kept those monsters for their own personal plaything.
Otherwise, it looked like any other old house. She didn't know what to expect, but she needed those three girls. There was no turning back. She crept forward with her weapons drawn. Then, she began to think to herself about the phrase "weapons drawn".
"My weapons are drawn. Why is it called when you take out your weapons, I draw them? I didn't draw any weapons. I'm no sketch artist. Were pens and pencils involved in the creation of taking out weapons. Did knights perhaps kill people with pencils? I only thought Keanu Reeves could do something like that," Nina said while making her way forward. A mere distraction. A distraction that she had to create for herself amidst the terrifying feeling of getting closer to that house. And she needed some lighthearted humor, but none of her team were very good at it to begin with.
As she reached just a step away from the door, her whole body began to quake. She didn't know wat could be past that door, but whatever was there, she expected a fight.
And with a swift kick, she kicked the door wide open. And what she saw was not what she was expecting. The chill in her spine disappeared.
What met her was the sight of the three girls just... doing nothing. It looked like just a normal house. And a normal family.
Yune was in the middle of cooking curry with rice.
Jack was doing her homework while occasionally looking at her phone.
And Mary was lying on the couch on her phone looking at memes while watching a magical girl anime on the TV.
They all stared at each other with open mouths. None of them knew how to respond. It was just so sudden.
The oven and stove sizzled. The TV kept running with Japanese voices being heard. A drop of sweat began to roll off of Jack's face. Now, only a sense of confusion and awkward displacement could be felt throughout the room.
And then the drop of sweat fell onto the floor. Nobody was sure from who. And all hell broke loose by the sound of it. The three girls suddenly jumped up in surprise.
Jack instantly transformed in a flurry of flame. And from the fires emerged her red-armored form. The kitchen table along with all of her work was knocked over.
Yune and Mary also had no time to think and transformed as well. Their transformation plain for Nina to see.
Mary threw her phone in the air and a dark shadow enveloped her. After the shadow left, Mary was fully transformed with her long sharp claws for all to see. Then, her phone dropped right on top of the TV cracking the phone without her noticing.
Yune also transformed with the shadow coming over her. Chains began to swirl around her and knock over the kitchen appliances. Then, as Yune was finished transforming, she remembered that the stove and oven was on. She quickly turned them off and prepared to fight.
As the three girls readied themselves for a fight, the only thing they could think of was that they knew what they did. Nina and Anne must have figured out that we killed Kira, the three thought.
They took two steps forward, but unexpectedly, Nina threw down her weapons and they faded. She then transformed back into her normal form.
Then, she began to plead. "Please, I need your help!" she yelled with her head down.
Mary, Jack, and Yune suddenly went from an aggressive stance to just confusion. They had no idea what was happening. Jack even managed to control herself upon hearing that phrase.
They looked at her in bewilderment.
"Uhh... why don't you take a seat and we'll see what we can help you with," Yune said before looking around the house which from one second turned into a giant mess.
Jack put the table and chairs back in place. Mary sighed in relief seeing that her phone was still working even though there was a large crack in the corner of the screen. Yune handed out bowls of rice and curry to all of them. However, Nina politely rejected it. Nonetheless, the three were hungry and decided to dig in while listening to her plea.
Nina sat on one side of the table, while Jack, Mary, and Yune sat on the opposite side. They eyed her carefully and didn't risk transforming themselves back. Luckily, the bottom portion of their mask would fade, so that they could still eat their warm rice. They munched and chewed on their warm food. Yune's cooking was always pretty good. It felt like it had a mother's touch.
"So, why are you here?" Yune asked. None of three wanted to bring up anything to do with Kira. They knew what they did and had no regrets about it.
However, Nina now saw their transformation, but she didn't care. It was strange seeing a Light Guardian transform with a shroud of darkness, but after seeing Anne, she had bigger worries to think about.
"I need your help. I think Anne is in trouble," Nina said while shaking. She wasn't used to asking for help. She was more accustomed to being a leader; being the one who helps others, but now she felt reduced to nothing. Her two friends. One dead. The other became something different. It was like she was in a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from. But it was real. She would remember Kira. Mourn her. But she wouldn't let herself forget. And now she had to make sure Anne wouldn't meet the same fate.
She knew that Anne had changed, but not sure how. Was she under the control of some Night Demon? Or more likely, is that Anne was changed after Kira died, Nina thought. Still, she didn't know. She didn't like it, but she needed the help of Yune, Jack, and Mary. The last people she would expect help from.
She explained her situation to them while Yune and Jack listened intently. Mary listened, but was bored of hearing her talk. Still, she didn't do anything that would cause trouble.
After Nina was finished, she requested once more, "Please. I need your help. I need you to find what's wrong with Anne. She's not talking to me. I don't know what else to do."
"Very sad story, but why should we care?" Mary asked unscrupulously.
"Mary may be direct, but she makes a point. Why us? We're not friends. And we don't even pretend to be," Yune asked.
Nina was silent for a moment and then replied, "Because she's become more like you three."
"What does that mean?" Yune asked calmly.
"Last I saw her, she acted more... angrier. And more precisely, she's become more like you, Jack," Nina said.
Jack taking offense to that replied, "What the hell is that supposed to be mean?"
"Like that. Aggressive. Angry. Scary. I thought... maybe... she would respond better to you. She once told me that she felt a connection with you, Jack. After she met you long ago. I was hoping that especially you could help. Please. I'll go on my two knees if you would," Nina pleaded with all her strength. She didn't have anything to give. Just the hope that
"No. That wouldn't be necessary," Jack replied embarrassed.
"Well, it sounds to me like it's more of a Jack problem. Not ours," Mary replied while looking at her phone.
"I have to agree. So, Jack, it's your choice, then. What do you want to do? Whatever you want, we'll follow," Yune said.
It was all too sudden for Jack. She didn't know what to do. But she did feel a connection towards Anne when they first met. And now, she did feel sorry for her. She didn't regret what she did, but was sympathetic towards what Anne was probably feeling. So, she nodded her head. She transformed out of her guardian form.
Jack's transformation faded into smoke. And with two words, Anne's mood brightened.
Jack said without any hesitation, "I'll help."