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>Is there really no other way?
Clover thinks. Then she thinks some more. The scarfed girl continues staring at the ceiling. Clover looks at the ring on her finger. “…Is there really no other way? Can we do something with these gem thingies?”
“Gem thingies?” The girl looks back down at Clover, then at her ring. “Oh, our soul gems.” She shrugs, glancing down at her own gloved hand. “Not that I can think of. Granted, I’m not a genius or anything, so perhaps there could be something in theory, but it’d be difficult. The person with the most experience with these things would be the Coordinator, but…” The girl retreats into her scarf. “She’s not around anymore.”
“Oh.” Clover looks down, ears drooping. “…You’ve thought a lot about this whole thing, haven’t you.” Clover looks up at her curiously. “Who even are you, anyway…?”
The girl doesn’t respond for a while, simply staring into her cup at what little coffee remained. Eventually, she sighs. “Fine, I suppose you deserve to know.” She looks up with tired eyes. “My name is Melissa Holmstead. I’m the girl who wished to be like Sherlock Holmes.”
“That’s cool! I’m Clover.” The wolf-girl stares at her, the dots slowly connecting in her head. A few dots connect faster than others. “Holmstead?”
The scarfed girl winces. “Yeah, I know, it’s lame. I liked reading mysteries, and with my last name, I thought it was fate or something. I was pretty excited to make that wish.” The girl looks out the café window, staring off at nothing. “My past self was pretty dumb. In a lot of ways.”
“I think it’s cool.” As Clover leans back in her chair, the final dots connect. She immediately sits up straight. “Wait, are you the detective?!”
The girl nods. “Yeah.” She’s still staring out the window. “I was, at one point.”
Clover puts a hand to her chin. There were so many questions to ask! But, she glances up at the clock on the wall. She might have to start running home soon, or risk the time hitting angry big brother o’clock.
>What to ask? And, wait, maybe you still have to give her an answer? Should you stay out late?
