As Billy hesitated, waiting for the girls to finish their chatter, the room seemed to hum with a mix of excitement and curiosity. The girls were so caught up in teasing Golden Frenni that they didn't immediately notice Billy's shift in focus. But when he slowly turned his gaze toward Marie, his pupils glowing brighter and brighter in a pure, vivid green, the atmosphere shifted.
The girls fell silent, their attention drawn to Billy as he began to walk toward Marie. His movements were deliberate, his heavy metallic footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor. The glow of his green pupils cast a faint light on his golden features, making him seem almost ethereal in the dimly lit room.
Bonfie was the first to react, her ears twitching excitedly as she tilted her head.
Bonfie: "Ooooh~! What's he doing now?~"
She bounced slightly on her heels, her tail flicking behind her as she watched Billy with wide-eyed curiosity.
Frenni, ever the playful one, smirked as she crossed her arms under her chest.
Frenni: "Looks like shiny's found a new target~. Better watch out, Marie~."
Her tone was teasing, but there was a hint of intrigue in her voice as she watched Billy approach Marie.
Chiku, standing slightly apart from the group, raised an eyebrow as she observed the scene. Her expression was as neutral as ever, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her golden eyes.
Chiku: "Hmph. Guess he's not done asking questions."
She crossed her arms, her tone matter-of-fact but not unkind.
Fexa, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, let out a short laugh. Her sharp eyes gleamed with amusement as she watched Billy.
Fexa: "Hah. This guy just doesn't stop, does he?"
She smirked, her tail flicking lazily behind her.
Golden Frenni, still slightly flustered from Billy's earlier attention, watched him with a mix of curiosity and something she couldn't quite place. Her golden eyes followed his movements, but she remained silent, her arms crossed tightly.
Internally, she couldn't help but wonder why Billy was now focusing on Marie. Was it something she had said? Or was it just another one of his… quirks?
Marie, standing slightly apart from the group, watched Billy approach with her usual calm demeanor. Her golden eyes sparkled with quiet curiosity, but there was no hint of surprise in her expression. She had been observing Billy closely since his arrival, and his sudden focus on her didn't seem to faze her.
As Billy stopped in front of her, his green pupils glowing brightly, Marie tilted her head slightly, her small, knowing smile never fading.
Billy hesitated for a moment, his glowing green eyes fixed on Marie. Then, in his calm, measured tone, he spoke.
Billy: "It was... Marie, right?..."
The girls exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued. What was Billy about to say?
Billy: "You... remind me of someone very important... So... Can you... Tell me about this location? And all that they meant? I barely understand when they talk, as I don't know what they mean."
The room fell into a brief silence as the girls waited to see how Marie would respond. Her calm, composed demeanor made her the perfect person to answer Billy's questions, but the girls couldn't help but wonder what kind of conversation would unfold.
Marie regarded Billy with her usual serene expression, her golden eyes glinting with quiet curiosity. She tilted her head slightly, her small, knowing smile never fading as she considered his question. Her voice was soft but carried a sense of authority, as if she were used to being the one who provided clarity in moments of confusion.
Marie: "This location… is a place of many purposes. It's not just a stage or a restaurant—it's a space where people come to escape, to forget their troubles, even if just for a little while. As for the others…"
She glanced briefly at the other girls, her smile warming slightly.
Marie: "They each have their own way of expressing themselves. Frenni thrives on attention, Bonfie is pure energy, Chiku is practical, Fexa is… well, Fexa. And Golden Frenni… she's unique in her own way, just as you said."
Her gaze returned to Billy, her tone gentle but firm.
Marie: "But you… you're different. You don't fit into the mold they're used to. That's why they're so curious about you. And perhaps… that's why you're curious about us."
The girls exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of surprise and intrigue. Marie rarely spoke at length, and when she did, her words always carried weight.
Bonfie was the first to react, her ears twitching excitedly as she clasped her hands together.
Bonfie: "Ooooh~! Marie's being all wise and mysterious again!~"
Frenni smirked, placing a hand on her hip.
Frenni: "Leave it to Marie to sum us all up in one go~. But hey, she's not wrong~."
Chiku crossed her arms, her expression neutral but her tone laced with subtle amusement.
Chiku: "Hmph. Practical, huh? I'll take that as a compliment."
Fexa, leaning against the wall, rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small grin.
Fexa: "Yeah, yeah. 'Fexa is Fexa.' Real insightful, Marie."
Golden Frenni, still slightly flustered from Billy's earlier attention, averted her gaze but didn't argue. Internally, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of warmth at Marie's words. Being called unique by someone as composed as Marie felt… different.
Marie turned her attention back to Billy, her golden eyes locking onto his glowing green pupils. Her voice remained calm but carried a hint of curiosity.
Marie: "You said I remind you of someone important. Who is that person?"
The room fell silent again, the girls' curiosity piqued. They leaned in slightly, eager to hear Billy's response. Marie's question had shifted the focus back to him, and the girls were more than happy to let her take the lead.
Billy hesitated, his glowing green pupils flickering slightly as he processed his thoughts. He gave a slow nod, his movements deliberate and measured. Then, he began to move his head slowly, as if scanning Marie from top to bottom. However, Marie could easily tell that Billy wasn't actually looking at her in a scrutinizing way—his gaze seemed distant, as if he were lost in a memory.
Billy: "... In my location, there used to be three... Fred, Charlie, and me... You look exactly like her, but... With a different model, like if you are a real mother, while she used to look more like a figurine toy, like one of the toys I saw children used to play with..."
The room fell silent, the girls exchanging curious glances. Billy's words were soft but carried a weight that seemed to hang in the air. His comparison of Marie to someone from his past—someone named Charlie—piqued their interest.
Then, Billy quickly looked up, his glowing green pupils locking directly onto Marie's golden eyes.
Billy: "And... I thought... Maybe are you the one with more planning sense? Maybe more in some sort of leadership?..."
Bonfie practically vibrated with excitement, her ears twitching as she clasped her hands together.
Bonfie: "Ooooh~! He thinks Marie's a leader!~ That's so cool!~"
She bounced slightly on her heels, her tail flicking behind her as she grinned at Marie.
Bonfie: "Marie, you're like the mom of the group!~"
Frenni, leaning casually against the stage with a hand on her hip, smirked as she watched the interaction unfold.
Frenni: "Well, well~. Looks like shiny's got a good eye~. Marie is the one who keeps us all in line~."
Her tone was teasing, but there was a hint of respect in her voice as she glanced at Marie.
Chiku, standing slightly apart from the group, raised an eyebrow as she observed the scene. Her expression was as neutral as ever, but there was a flicker of amusement in her golden eyes.
Chiku: "Hmph. He's not wrong. Marie's the one who actually thinks before acting."
She crossed her arms, her tone matter-of-fact but not unkind.
Fexa, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, let out a short laugh. Her sharp eyes gleamed with amusement as she watched Billy.
Fexa: "Hah. Guess even the weirdo can figure out who's in charge around here."
She smirked, her tail flicking lazily behind her.
Golden Frenni, still slightly flustered from Billy's earlier attention, watched him with a mix of curiosity and something she couldn't quite place. Her golden eyes followed his movements, but she remained silent, her arms crossed tightly.
Internally, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of respect for Billy's observation. Marie was the one who kept things running smoothly, even if the others didn't always acknowledge it.
Marie regarded Billy with her usual calm demeanor, her golden eyes glinting with quiet curiosity. She tilted her head slightly, her small, knowing smile never fading as she considered his words.
Marie: "You're quite observant, Billy. Yes, I do tend to handle the planning and organization around here. It's not so much leadership as it is… keeping things in order."
Her voice was soft but carried a sense of authority, as if she were used to being the one who provided clarity in moments of confusion.
Marie: "As for this 'Charlie' you mentioned… she sounds like someone important to you. Would you like to tell us more about her?"
The room fell silent again, the girls' curiosity piqued. They leaned in slightly, eager to hear Billy's response. Marie's question had shifted the focus back to him, and the girls were more than happy to let her take the lead.