Heski is currently cooking the bread and the Ballo Bait buns for lunch. In the meantime, I should be able to find some more Ballo Bait flowers from these sellers. And maybe some sheet music, too. Kario sauntered through the Oceanuris Market once again, without his friend this time. He glanced around and observed the bubbles of everyone's lives within the ocean of a market. Some people were arguing over the price of Graphie stems and only offered a few Pesing Pebbles. Kario could hear them among the crowd. They're just rocks, they complained.

But perhaps, with the value that the people gave, it was indispensable.

Kario turned his head to another stand, selling yellow-white paper with words and stories that could only be heard in music.

There it is! Kario jogged through the slightly clustered crowd, with many pockets of space between each person. He ran, his feet pattering on the cobblestone path painted in beige. He made sure not to bump into anyone. But he felt his shoulder bump into something breathing, and barely so. Blam. He turned around and his shoulders pivoted with the rest of his body.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" He started. His cheeks–like rich chocolate–became a raspberry blush. He shook his hands as if he was waving–only, more embarrassed and frantically so. He looked at the woman he'd just bump into. Or, she was more of a young adult. Around his age, the early twenties?

Her bubblegum-pink hair sat around her shoulders, wild and tangled and some sticking out like glochids, spikes on a cactus. Her skin was a light hazelnut brown and her face was sprayed with small amounts of freckles near her cheeks, with a basket in those same hands. With a worn-down, very short dark burgundy dress, she gave a small chuckle that rang like a small child.

"It's alright," she replied. Under her eyes was a smeared faded taupe, brown as her dotted freckles. Kario noted this with a worried look, despite the almost-unseeable detail. She swayed her body towards the other direction, towards the buildings. And she swayed again. She took a few steps away, small but plentiful. "I really have to get going now, though, so I'll be hea—"

"Wait!" Kario reached out his hand towards the girl. His fingers were curved as he reached. He walked closer to the girl and examined her exhausted face, though she really tried to hide it with a wide smile. Kario couldn't shake the tired look and let her walk away. "Miss, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, really." She laughed again, pushed from her chest. Well... she glanced down, holding the basket still in her hand. "Actually, I might need a bit of help." She took a silent gulp and bit her lip. "I've been looking after my..." She cleared her throat, taking a big breath as well. "...children. On my own. For as long as they can remember. But it's been hard to balance that out with my job at the Bakery. And I'm worried that one of them isn't doing as well. Well, one of them being her sessions." The girl's hands fiddled on the handle of her basket, which was particularly light.

Kario asked, "Do you want me to come and tutor her?"

"That would be amazing," she gave a sigh. "I'll bring her over tomorrow." she shook Kario's hand. "Thank you so much, um..."

"Kario."

"Kario. And I'm Leiyun. Thank you so much. I'll see you later." She let go of Kario's hand and waved as she quickly trotted away. Kario waved back and smiled, before turning around and observing the Market once again.

Well. Now to get those sheet music. And the Ballo Bait flowers.

#

Laminia sat in the Schoolhouse once again, with her other classmates. Yeserno was fuming silently, at the fact that this teacher was far more strict than the last Step. Yes, Laminia, Yeserno, and Uwala all have climbed a Step up, closer to becoming a grown-up. Laminia and Yeserno were now Step 3, while Uwala was now Step 2–the second highest floor. They surely felt closer to that "grown-up". They'd have it all; confidence, bravery, kindness, and honestly so much more.

They surely did.

They'd all become grown-ups, and all their "childish" and "immature" problems would instantly vanish like Nai Leiyun's problems had.

And so Laminia slammed the door as soon as she stormed into the bathroom.

#

After the Schoolhouse bell rang, Laminia strolled out of the classroom, Yeserno crossing his arms and glancing at her. He didn't say anything–only a distant face–but Laminia's mind only rang with all the words that she'd heard for the last...well. She wasn't even sure.

"Laminia! I didn't see you there; I must've confused you for a dog or a dust bunny! Haha!"

"Laminia! I know I'm not the best artist, but I hoped I managed to capture your bush essence well. And those weird dots on your cheek."

"Laminia! Oh how I wish I had Valencia Qa here right now! Say, after Schoolhouse hours, why don't we visit her at the Throne House and she'll give tips on how to look like an actual being! Not...that." (She declined, by the way. It was sort of a blessing that she had a Schoolhouse project in the way.)

Was losing all those bits of kindness part of becoming a "grown-up"? The more she spent time existing in this world and Oceanuris, the less she knew the answer to that question.

"Oh, Laminia," one of the Stepmates casually walked over to her. He was nothing different–just another one of those Stepmates who'd tease her constantly. "I've told you before–and I think everyone else has, too–hair doesn't suit you. In fact, I'll help you out."

He walked over and pulled a small clump from Laminia's hair.

Shoilmp!

It was quick and dashing. And he held the cotton-candy like bit in his hands. "There. And I'll help you out again." Shoilmp! Laminia felt a throb pounding in her head and she let out a cry. The pounding was still there, and it thumped like a second heartbeat–unbeknownst to both of them, it was a bit red there from the grab.

Yeserno stood in the hallways, not paying any heed and glaring with a distant look. Meanwhile, Uwala ambled and his eyebrows jumped. He hastened over, glancing left and right at the Stepmate and Laminia. The Stepmate glared him down with narrowed and blade-sharp eyes and Uwala felt a heavy lump go down his throat and into his twisted stomach.

"What do you want?" He asked and snapped.

Uwala cleared his throat and stared right back up at him, eyes ready to scurry away at any moment. However, he couldn't do that. His legs shook. Not if he's picking on Laminia.

"Stop p-picking on my sister!" He shouted.

"I'm not picking on her," The Stepmate stared down and crossed his arms nonchalantly, which made Uwala's stomach twist even more. "I'm helping her out." He pulled another clump of Laminia's hair, to which her eyebrows furrowed into a stiff expression of fear. And anger, of course, because he was pulling out her hair. And maybe a mix of insecurity and shame. Her mouth trembled, closed in those same feelings the rest of her face was.

The Stepmate shoved the clumps in Uwala's chest. Uwala stumbled backwards and his body quivered from the movement, too. Of course, fear as well. And Yeserno was still there.

"Laminia. We don't like your hair. You don't suit it and it makes you look bad. We've said that a million times because it's true. You already know that, right? But, if you were to ask me," he turned around and gave a chuckle, taking steps and walking away from Laminia and her brothers. "I think you're better off bald." He added another chuckle. "And boy," He stared at Uwala, whose legs shook. "If you want to really make it to Step 4, at least pretend to be brave."

Uwala held the items in their hands tight. And his small–a little bigger now–hands still clung onto Laminia's clumps of hair, and he placed his other hand on her shoulder...

Laminia balled her fists as some small streams of tears fell down her hot cheeks.

But that feeling was not at the Stepmate. It was for how disgusted she felt by her own skin and hair.

#

"Where's the scissors?!" She grunted as she scurried through the base cabinets under the bathroom counter. This should've been fairly easy, as most of the items that were in there were either sold or never there at all. Inside, there were only some homemade bar soap, a jar of the supplies used for the soap, and towels. Laminia, agitated, buried through everything like a dog, pulling on any items with a fwoom and force.

"Laminia?" Nai Leiyun knocked on the door. "What's going on in there?"

"I'm looking for the scissors!" Laminia wiped some falling tears at her response as her hands continued to dig the bathroom.

On the other side, Leiyun bit her lip and fiddled with her fingers. She sighed. She knew where the scissors were (they were in the kitchen). She just didn't know if she had the heart to give it to her sister. But Nai Leiyun took a big breath and replied, "Open the door!"

"Nai, I don't want another one of these conversations again!" Laminia's head spun and her stomach felt sick just thinking about it.

"Laminia, please," Nai Leiyun knocked on the door twice, hoping to change Laminia's mind. "Just open the door."

Laminia shoved all the scattered towels and extra handmade soap into the cabinets. Then, she took a few steps towards the door and opened to see Leiyun there.

Laminia balled her fists and her lip quivered.

"What is it Nai?" she managed to say–without yelling.

"Laminia, you don't need to cut your hair," Nai Leiyun stroked her hair—

"I knew it. Nai, I'm going to close this door if you have nothing else to say." Laminia rested her hand on the door, ready to swing it shut on her.

"Okay. Just hear me out, alright? I have something else to tell you as well." Nai Leiyun's voice was (strongly) quite a head voice and girly, despite the Nai-grown-up. "Here's the thing; if you cut your hair, it'll just grow back the way it was before. So even if you can't change how your hair is, you can at least change how you see it." Nai Leiyun looked right at her, without a quiver or a shake or her eyes shooting away. "I know you don't feel the best about it, but please don't disregard it." Nai Leiyun coaxed Laminia's hair gently, as if it was some special artifact.

Laminia scoffed and stared down.

"It's unique and beautiful, Laminia. That's what it looks like to me." Nai Leiyun gave a smile. One, that was quite fulfilling and radiates a reliable, kind grown-up. One that had a contagious confidence. One that wasn't too flashy, but still so petite and concentrated. Laminia's mouth couldn't help but curve upwards. "Just keep that in mind, alright?"

Laminia nodded silently in response. Okay. Perhaps Laminia just wanted to hear the word come from somebody else. Oh. Those somebodies were part of the reason she was like this. Her soul hesitated from grasping that strong, unstoppable feeling. If confidence was an item on the top of the shelf (which she assumed all the grown-ups could reach), Laminia would be so close to reaching it before she either stumbled back down or the shelf raised even higher. Either one of these things could happen–but they wouldn't mean the same thing.

"But people don't like my hair." She blurted, raising the shelf from her stumbles before.

"Well, actually, I was going to talk about that," Nai Leiyun countered. "So your Schoolhouse teacher told me you've been struggling on your project lately, and she suggested finding a mentor. I'm usually busy with work, so I found someone else." Laminia tilted her head, her cotton-candy hair shuffling along. "His name is Kario, and he'd be very willing to help you. I bet he would love your hair, too."

Nai Leiyun took Laminia's hand as they sauntered out of the bathroom and to the front door of the house. Laminia picked up a basket that held her papers for the project.

"Yeserno, Uwala, we'll be out for a bit, alright?" Nai Leiyun called as Uwala waved at her–and Yeserno.

"Love you Nai! Bye, Laminia!" Uwala exclaimed.

And Laminia and Nai Leiyun headed out the door.

#

Leiyun knocked on Kario and Heski's door, with a younger girl beside her.

"Nai," she said, holding a basket full of papers in her hands. "Is this the person you were talking about?"

Nai Leiyun nodded her head. "Yes, it is." Her fingers fumbled on her dress before knocking again.

The door moved backwards, towards a figure. And another figure.

"Hello, Kario." Leiyun waved with a smile. "So this is Laminia—" she patted her shoulder lightly. "And she needs help on a project for the Schoolhouse."

Heski raised an eyebrow, with his arms folded. He glanced at Kario. "Is she the one you were talking about?" Kario simply nodded.

"Yea. I'm sorry I can't join you this time. And Bhun Uyi's also busy right now, so I guess you're on your own." Laminia stood there quietly, fiddling with her hair, and Kario took a glimpse at it. "Your hair is really unique. I've never seen anything as fluffy as that before."

Laminia couldn't help but fluster with a wide smile, though slightly contained. Leiyun tilted her head with an invisible question mark above her head.

"What do you mean by 'join'?" she asked.

"We're trying to protest Valencia Qa against her absent leadership," Heski responded, suddenly flaming again with that strong sense of justice. "The Oceanuris people have been suffering for as long as they can remember because of her."

"Oh, I've heard of some people going against her, but I didn't know it was you guys." Kario and Heski shared a grin before Heski shook his head.

"You must think that we're crazy."

"Well, I didn't think much of it, because I was so...busy," Leiyun picked out her words deliberately. The last thing she wanted was her child to worry because she was so unsure of herself. For Kario and Heski though, she looked more like her sister. "But, if you three need any help, just ask and I'll do my best to be there. Think of it as a way of repaying you." She patted Laminia's shoulder and pulled her into a hug. "Nai loves you, Laminia. I'll be back soon." Leiyun turned and waved as she walked off. "Oh! And thank you guys again!"

Laminia gazed up at Kario and Heski, with a child-like glow in her eyes. And Heski glanced at Kario.

"So, you're going to watch over her while I head to the Throne House?"

Kario nodded as he gestured the child to come closer with his motioning hand. "Yep. You're gonna be on your own, Heski. Good luck."