Makano wakes up to the sound of a distant conversation from her room. The morning is still young, few vehicles run active at this time. She gets out of bed and walks out of her room. She wears a dirt white nightgown. It has long sleeves and runs all the way down to the top of her ankles. Its collar lies slightly below her clavicle bones. She walks towards the noise of the conversation. Once she gets close enough to understand the words she stops and listens. "I can't stress this enough. You have to pay the mortgage by Wednesday and no later" says a man. "I just don't have the money… is there any way to postpone it or…?" asks Grandfather. "No, and there's nothing I can do for you… I'll be back when the payment is do" says the man as he begins to leave. Grandfather shows him to the front door of the shop. "It's an interesting shop, you have… Have a nice day" says the man. "You as well, Mr. Geon" replies Grandfather. Grandfather walks over to the shop's counter and sits down in a wooden chair. He messages his face with his hands. He gives off a stressed impression on his face. Makano enters the room. "Grandpa?" says Makano. "Makano, sorry if I woke you up" says Grandfather. "Is something wrong?". "Yes, unfortunately". "What is it?". "I need to pay off the overdue mortgage soon for the shop but we don't have enough money". "What will happen if we don't pay for it?". "We lose this building and I go to jail". Makano pauses in shock for a moment then says "NO, that can't happen! You don't deserve to go to jail!". "I know it may sound cruel… but I'm just glad you don't have to go". "..." Makano's eyes begin to water. She hugs her Grandfather and he hugs her back.
Noon starts as the city bustles with activity. Makano flies over many different neighborhoods on SÄU. She watches overhead as part of her job. She finds an open spot to land near a small park she spots. After landing, she walks over to that park. The park has a square shaped perimeter that is bigger than an average house but is still relatively small. It has four smooth stone paths leading to the center of it. The grass and bushes are fake, only the four trees are real. The tallest one stands in the center of the park but even that one is a bit small. Makano examines the tree. The trees have very few leaves on their branches. She takes off her right glove and touches the tree's bark. "Grandpa, told me many stories about the overworld… he told me what the trees looked like above…" thinks Makano.
After staring at the tree for a while, Makano goes back to SÄU. When she is heading back she spots some people surrounding SÄU. They are three men dressed in an assortment of dirty and mildly clean street clothes. The first and third have hair but the second guy is bald.
"How much do you think this will sell for?" asks a man. "Probably… I don't know twenty thousand" answers another. "So, we're taking it?" asks the third man. "Yeah but we gotta be-" says the first man until he is cut off. "Excuse me. What are you doing with my vehicle?" protests Makano as she faces one of the men head on. "Uh, nothing. Just checking it out" says the man who is confronted. "We're just interested in your ride. It's pretty nice" says the first man. "Thank you, but I'm leaving now," says Makano. The men back off. As she climbs on to SÄU one of the men bash her on the back of her head. She falls down on top of SÄU. "Why'd you do that!?" yells the first man. "It's only one cop and I don't see any others-". "No! I mean why'd you hit a girl". "Really, that's what you freaking out about…" says the second man as he grabs Makano from her back to pick her up. Suddenly, Makano throws her right elbow into the center of the man's forehead. "OW!" Shouts the man as he lets go of Makano. The second man tries to punch Makano with a left jab but she dodges it going to the left of it. As the man begins to face her on his left, Makano kicks the man in the side of his head with her right foot. It knocks him to the ground and he groans in pain. Makano then faces the first man. "I'm sorry officer" quickly says the man as he raises his hands.
A few ground police vehicles arrive to take away the men. They were called in by bystanders who saw the encounter. "Are you alright, Makano?" asks Mr.Torgue. "I'm fine, just a small bruise on my head" Makano answers. "Ah, good… YOU MADE ME VERY WORRIED!" yells Mr.Torgue. Makano hops in surprise to Torgue's shout. "BUT I'M GLAD YOU'RE OKAY!". "Thanks Torgue. You know you're shouting, right?" says Makano. "OH, SORRY. I did it again". "It's okay," replies Makano with a slight smile and laugh.
Makano arrives home and goes straight to the stairs down into the house. When she enters, she begins to walk to her room but sees a glimpse of her grandfather in his room. "Grandpa?" says Makano as she enters his room. He doesn't answer. Makano walks over to him. He's staring out of his window, teary eyed. "Are you okay, Grandpa?" asks Makano. "… Makano… When I'm gone, you'll be staying with my friend, Mr. Foggen and his family" says Grandfather. "What? Grandpa the payment isn't due for another week… we can still pay it" insists Makano. "Makano, it's just not possible. I'm sorry but there's nothing I or you could do… ". Makano quickly walks out of his room with her head down to her room. "… If only I could do more for that poor child" says Grandfather after he stares back at his window