Chapter 38 - 35: Steps Forward
Ellen slowly stirred awake, the warmth of Miyabi and Mira still nestled against her. The peaceful rise and fall of their breathing filled the quiet room, grounding her in the moment. However, a knock at the door pulled her out of her drowsy haze. Instinctively, she carefully uncurled herself from around them, ensuring not to wake either of them. Mira shifted slightly, clutching Sharkboo tighter, but remained asleep, while Miyabi barely stirred, her face still buried against Ellen's pillow.
With a quiet sigh, Ellen stood, adjusting her clothes before making her way toward the door. She wasn't expecting anyone so early, but she had a feeling she knew who it might be. When she opened the door, she was met with the wide, shocked gazes of her friends—Ruby, Monna, and Lynn.
They stood frozen, looking like they had a million things to say but no words to voice them. Ellen could see it in their eyes—the disbelief, the concern, and the hesitation. She knew she looked different. Taller, stronger, and with clear signs of her transformation evident in every part of her being.
The silence dragged for a moment before Ellen finally raised a brow. "Are you just going to stand there, or are you coming in?"
That seemed to snap them out of their trance. They exchanged glances before stepping inside, following Ellen as she led them to the kitchen. She gestured for them to sit at the small table while she leaned against the counter, crossing her arms.
Another round of silence filled the space, the weight of the unspoken thoughts almost suffocating. Ellen, deciding to take the first step, exhaled and broke the tension. "Alright, I know you guys have a lot of questions, and I'm going to do my best to answer them. But let me start from the beginning—after my rescue from Hollow Zero."
She didn't hold back. Ellen recounted everything, detailing how she had lost her arm, how she had barely survived, and the physical and emotional toll it had taken on her. She left out certain parts—her encounter with Nihility, as well as Miyabi and Mira—for now. That was a different conversation for another time, one she wanted to approach carefully.
Her friends listened, eyes filled with a mixture of shock and sympathy. Every now and then, they asked questions, mostly about her appearance and how she felt now. Ellen answered as best as she could, her voice steady despite the emotions stirring inside her.
When she finally finished, an uneasy silence settled between them. She let out a breath and ran a hand through her hair. "I know I've been a terrible friend. I should've reached out sooner. I should've let you guys know I was okay. I—"
"Ellen, shut up," Ruby cut in, shaking her head. "We don't care about that. We just wanted to know you were okay."
Monna nodded firmly. "You've been through hell, and none of that was your fault. You survived, and that's what matters."