Ryuki, Rena, and Ruby sat in the front yard, passing time until 5 AM. Ryuki felt sleepy, his eyes heavy, but he hid it from Ruby. Rena did the same, both pretending to be wide awake and ready for the day. They didn't want Ruby to worry.
"Big Bro, Big Sis, I love you!" Ruby said, bursting with energy. She hugged Ryuki, then Rena, her voice and movements full of life.
"I love you too," Rena replied, rubbing Ruby's cheeks gently.
Ruby had slept earlier and just woken up, so she was lively. Ryuki couldn't sleep in unsafe places, and neither could Rena. They decided one should rest while the other stayed awake to avoid oversleeping, but sleep wouldn't come for either of them.
"Ruby," Rena said, "what about your father? He still hasn't come back."
"Um… I think… something happened to him," Ruby mumbled, lowering her head.
Rena lifted Ruby's face, looking into her eyes. "Ruby, tell us the truth. Are you hiding something?"
Ryuki watched closely. He'd planned to ask about her family later, once they were better friends. He already knew the answer, but Ruby needed to say it herself. He'd thought spending the night together would strengthen their bond, making it easier for her to open up in the morning. But now, as Ruby avoided their gaze and stammered, he saw her hesitation.
"I'm… I'm not h-hiding anything," Ruby said, her voice shaky.
Rena stepped closer. "Every morning, your clothes are messy and unwashed. Your hair's a mess too. For a week, it's been like that. Either you don't have a mom, or she's not taking care of you."
Ruby backed away until she hit the wall. Rena moved in, their faces inches apart. Ruby couldn't retreat further.
"When I fixed your hair and clothes," Rena continued, her eyes intense, "I saw burn marks on your thighs—like someone used you as an ashtray. You've got bruises on your back too."
Ruby's breath hitched. She stared at Rena, frozen.
"You said you love us, right?" Rena pressed. "If this happened to me, wouldn't you worry? Wouldn't you ask who hurt me so you could help? I want to know who did this to you, why, and how to save you. Please, tell us."
Rena stepped back, giving Ruby space. Ruby's eyes dropped, her fingers fidgeting with her skirt.
"You can tell us," Rena said softly, taking her hand. "You love me, and I love you. Please."
Ruby's lip trembled. Tears welled up as she looked at Rena. She took a shaky breath, her shoulders quaking. "It's my father," she whispered, her voice breaking.
---
"Now what?" Rena asked, turning to Ryuki.
"As planned," Ryuki said. "We take her away from her house."
They'd wanted to do this from the start, but Ruby had to trust them first and confess about her father before they could act.
"Where?" Ruby asked, her voice small.
"Ruby, do you like me?" Rena asked.
"I love you, Big Sis," Ruby said, confused by the sudden question.
"Do you want to live with me forever?" Rena continued.
Ruby blinked, looking from Ryuki to Rena, not understanding.
Rena smiled. "I'll ask my father. He'll give your father some money, then take you in. He'll be your father, my mom will be your mom, and we'll be sisters. Want to come to my house?"
"Huh… is that… possible?" Ruby's eyes sparkled with hope.
Rena nodded. "Of course. My dad says we're like kids who fell from the sky—whoever catches us can keep us or pass us on. Someone gave me to my dad, so it's the same. He'll talk to your father. If your father hands you over, my dad will be your dad, my mom will be your mom, and we'll be sisters—together forever."
Ruby's face lit up. Convinced, she agreed to go with them. Rena needed to get home before her parents woke, and Ryuki had to do the same. His house wasn't far from Rena's, and the drop-off spot for Ruby was close too.
"Let's go," Ryuki said, smiling at Ruby. She grabbed his hand, and they walked toward an abandoned house nearby.
For now, Ryuki would leave Ruby there for a few hours until Rena could pick her up. Their plan was set: wait for Ruby's father to die, let Rena's father adopt her, then expose his affair. After the divorce, Rena's mother would take Rena and Ruby, giving Ruby a good family.
Everything was ready—except two steps had failed. They hadn't snapped a photo of Rena's father's affair today, and the plan to kill Ruby's father didn't work either.