"You don't have to worry about getting a boyfriend! After all, anybody who gets a look at that ugly mug of yours—"
"Ugly mug? You're one to talk, you mutt! If I didn't know any better, I'd have thought we were in a fairy tale!"
Sunny stared at her, confused.
"I would be a prince?"
Nephis smirked, locking eyes with him.
"No, you would be the frog the princess has to kiss to turn back human!"
"Didn't the princess also turn into a frog? Huh! Huh! That means you're a frog also! You damn princess!"
Effie exploded in laughter, pointing at the two of them, her flushed olive skin highlighted by the flames kindling nearby.
"Then kiss! Frogs gotta turn into humans after all! BAHAHA!"
Cassie spit out her drink, coughing, and somehow found her eyes on Sunny and Nephis.
"You think I'll lower myself to kiss that toad? Hey, I may eat anything, but even I have limits, dude!"
Nephis glared at him before chugging down the rest of her cup.
"Toad…? You think you're superior, huh, Changing Star?"
Her haughty voice came out for the first time in a while as she strode over to Sunny. Looking up at her, the feral grin of an outskirt rat appeared on him for the first time in a while.
"Changing Star? More like… uh… Changing and Aging! You old woman!"
Cassie let out a small whisper.
"Isn't she only one year older than you…?"
Nephis finally reached Sunny, pulling him up by his collar and glaring down at him.
"Are those two gonna fight? She's grabbing him right now…"
Cassie shot up, carefully putting her cup down before speaking.
"G-Guys! Calm dow—"
Before she could finish, it was already too late. Nephis lifted her head and slammed it down—her lips meeting his.
"Huh!"
"Huh?"
Cassie, mortified, turned to Effie.
"They're fighting, right…?"
Effie, for the first time, stayed quiet.
"Oh shit… they're getting into it, alright…"
At the sound of someone falling to the floor, Effie rushed at them, and Cassie instinctively followed.
"WOAH WOAH WOAH! LET'S SETTLE DOWN NOW!"
Pulling the two apart, both of their already-red faces were even redder—whether from what had just happened or the lack of oxygen, Effie didn't know.
Cassie sighed, rubbing her temple, before going back to her cup and chugging it down.
"Those two are gonna kill each other by tomorrow morning…"
---
The fire had burned out, and the only light was moonlight raining down on the area. Sunny somehow found his way to a nearby hill, lying down and letting the moonlight wash over his still-shirtless body. Eventually, he heard approaching steps before someone plopped down next to him. Looking over, it was Nephis, stretching her limbs until it seemed as if she was attempting a snow angel.
Once again, another pair of steps approached, and plopping down on the other side was Cassie. Perhaps it was due to the fact that they had gotten so used to sleeping together—it was hard not to sleep without one of the others. He realized this as he felt himself starting to drift off.
"You two awake?"
Nephis groaned, rolling over to face him before sitting up. Cassie simply sat up without any fuss.
"Why are you getting up? I was just asking if you were awake… stupid."
Sunny felt an elbow land in his stomach, knocking the wind out of him and causing him to jump up. Surprisingly, it was from Nephis—but rather, it was from Cassie.
"Just shut up and say what you need to already."
His head fell slightly before he propped himself up with his arms and leaned back, looking at the moon.
"I'm comfortable."
Nephis tossed him a confused glance.
"Well, I'm not. This grass is itching my skin."
Sunny smiled, his eyes never leaving the sky.
"Dumbass, I mean I'm comfortable with days like this."
He paused a little before falling back onto the ground once more, spreading his limbs just like Nephis had.
"If days like these went on forever, I wouldn't mind… even though I know they can't. I enjoy the thought, you know?"
Nephis and Cassie eventually fell too, all their limbs entangled so they couldn't get up unless all three did.
"So after we get out of here, I have one request."
Sunny tried to raise his hands to cover his face but couldn't, due to their overlapping arms. Showing his flushed face to the whole world, he finished what he'd been meaning to say.
"Can we… uh… just… well… don't make me say it!"
The moonlight hit the three of them on that hill. If a picture were taken, it would look more like a painting than a photo.
"Yeah, we can."
Cassie smiled before closing her unseeing eyes.
"Fine then, I'll indulge in your request and assure that it happens."
Cassie's voice echoed in the surroundings, as if the sounds of nature allowed her words to take priority.
"Then I also have a request."
Cassie spoke, causing Nephis's eyes to shoot open. She glanced at Sunny before realizing…
"He's asleep…"
Even from the opposite side, she could feel Cassie trembling.
"Pfft… hahaha! Yeah… let's keep living like this."
Eventually, Cassie fell asleep too, leaving only Nephis awake. She repositioned the three of them, leaving herself in the middle, with Sunny and Cassie resting on her. The gleam of the moonlight did not dim the dark look in her eyes—the conviction she had obtained in those moments.