-What do you mean I can’t buy tickets?

Seiko was on the front desk of the train station, talking to a young woman who sells train tickets.

-I’m sorry, but our rules say we can’t sell train tickets to children- explained the young woman with a smile.

-That’s not true! I’ve seen children traveling alone in trains!- exclaimed Seiko a bit frustrated.

-Children over 10 can travel alone in train, but they can’t buy tickets. It’s usually their parents who buy them- added the young woman.

-Well, my parents… my parents… look, those are them!- exclaimed Seiko pointing at a random couple a few steps away. -You have to let me get in the train, please!

-If those are your parents, they can come here and buy the ticket for you- explained the young woman.

Seiko remained silent for a moment. Then, she said:

-Forget it.

Seiko walked towards the exit while the woman looked at her confused. Once outside, the girl scratched her head.

-What do I do now? Maybe if I rush to the bus station, I will be luckier...- muttered Seiko to herself.

-I suspected I would found you here.

Seiko froze in fear at hearing that voice. She looked up and found Ms. Seki in front of her, wearing her motorbike suit. The girl was shocked and trembled a bit.

-What… what are you doing here?- asked Seiko nervously.

-That’s what I should be asking you. What were you thinking, leaving like that? I’m taking you home- said Ms. Seki with a stern voice.

-N… No- refused Seiko. -I’m… I’m leaving…

-Really? I hope you are not planning on going back there...- said Ms. Seki.

-I’m not crazy- said Seiko. -I’m just going… far… far away from everything… and everybody…

-And how do you plan to survive once you get… wherever you go?- asked Ms. Seki.

-I don’t know… I don’t care… It’s for the better...- muttered Seiko sadly.

Ms. Seki sighed at hearing the young girl’s intentions.

-Look, I know what happened yesterday. I talked to the girls- said Ms. Seki, making Seiko open her eyes in shock. -They feel really bad. They never intended to be mean to you, they didn’t know anything… If you go back with me, I’m sure you can fix this…

-It doesn’t change anything!- shouted Seiko. -Even if things are fixed now, who knows when I will screw up again? I just thought we were having fun, but it’s obvious they got tired of me. And it will happen again and again and again. I will always be a bother for everybody!

-How many times do I have to tell you?- exclaimed Ms. Seki raising her voice. -You are not that!

-Then what are you doing here?- shouted Seiko. -You should be in class right now, with the other kids! Instead, you are wasting time looking for me! How can you say I’m not bothering you?

-That’s not being a “bother”, that’s caring!- exclaimed Ms. Seki. -When there are people in your life that are important, you want to help them! And when they are in trouble or lost, you want to find them and show them that they are not alone. If I’m here, if those girls skipped classes today… It’s because we care about you.

-Why would anybody care about me?- shouted Seiko. -They said… they said I should’ve never…

-Don’t say that!- shouted Ms. Seki grabbing Seiko’s hand. -Your parents were not right! Every kid deserves to exist, no matter what! You deserve to exist! And I want you to have the life you deserve!

-No! I will only cause trouble again to you!- shouted Seiko struggling to get free from the teacher’s hand.

-Really? I would like to see you do that!- exclaimed Ms. Seki.

-Leave me!- shouted Seiko.

Then, Seiko raised her leg and kicked Ms. Seki’s right knee. It wasn’t much, but the pain made the teacher knelt down and release Seiko. Seeing her teacher in pain, Seiko was horrified. Ms. Seki looked at the girl and got worried.

-No, Seiko! This was an accident! Don’t worry!- exclaimed Ms. Seki.

-I’m sorry… I’m sorry...- said Seiko.

The girl quickly turned around and began running as fast as she could. The teacher was still in pain and couldn’t run after her, so she grabbed her phone to call the police again.

In the skies, above midtown, Momoko was the last one to meet at the rendevouz point with the other girls, above Seiko’s apartment. Hazuki was still gone.

-Any luck?- asked Aiko, but all she got was Momoko’s negative answer.

-Girls!- exclaimed Hazuki while rushing to gather with the others. -I flew over the train station! Ms. Seki was talking to the police. It seems Seiko was there, but ran away again.

-This is not working- said Onpu. -We need another plan.

-I know what to do: Magical Stage- said Doremi with conviction. -It’s the only way we can find her!

-Then we should go by the river. It’s empty at this time- said Hazuki.

After that, the group left flying towards the river area. Although it’s a bit crowded on weekends or some afternoons, there’s usually nobody in the mornings. The girls landed on the ground, took out their Porons and formed a circle. Doremi nodded to the other girls, who returned her nod.

“Pirika pirilala, so carefree!”

“Paipai ponpoi, so elegant!”

“Pameruku raruku, so ringing!”

“Pururun purun, so elegantly!”

“Peruton peton, so delightful!”

Thousands of colors and lights gathered around them and flew to the center, from several light balls floating around with grace.

-Magical Stage!- recited all the girls out loud. -Let us find Seiko now!

The balls burst, releasing all their light and blinding the girls. When the light was gone, something fell from the sky. The girls got close to it and inspected it.

-This is… a packet of seeds?- asked Doremi confused.

What Doremi was holding with her hands was a small packets of seeds. There were no letters on the front, just a big picture of some pink, blue and white flowers together.

-The flowers are cute, but I don’t remember them from the time we had the flower shop- added Hazuki.

-Yeah, but how is this gonna help us find Seiko?- asked Aiko confused.

Still confused, Doremi turned the packet over.

-Look, there’s something here!- exclaimed Doremi. -”Instructions: 1- Plant. 2- Wait. 3- Follow”. What does that even mean?

-I don’t think we have much of a choice- said Onpu. -Try planting them on the ground and see what happens.

Following the instructions, Doremi opened a small hole in the ground and emptied the packet inside it. There were around five or six seeds, all of them with the same colors as the flowers. She then covered the seeds with dirt and waited. But nothing happened for a while.

-Are you sure this is going to work?- asked Momoko.

-It should!- exclaimed Hazuki. -I mean, Magical Stage always works, but always in a weird way.

-I know we hafta wait, but I feel we’re just losin’ time looking at the ground- commented Aiko. -I mean, plants don’t grow instan…

But her words were interrupted when a bump appeared on the ground. The girls got really close as more bumps appeared. Suddenly, stems grew out, buds appeared and they bloom, revealing beautiful flowers in pink, blue and white.

-Wow, they really grew out… instantly- commented Aiko surprised.

-They are pretty- said Onpu.

-Yeah, but… now it says to “follow” them… If they start walking, that would be a big surprise!- exclaimed Doremi.

The girls kept looking at the flowers, but nothing happened. Then, they looked around, until Momoko noticed something.

-Hey, look over there!- exclaimed Momoko while pointing out at their side.

A few meters away, there was a similar bunch of flowers with the same colors. The girls got closer and confirmed they were the same.

-But we didn’t plant anything here. How did they appeared?- asked Hazuki.

-Hey, there’s more over there!- exclaimed Aiko this time.

Aiko was right: another bunch of flower appeared a few meters away. As they approached them, they noticed a new bunch blurted out of the ground, followed by other flowers that grew at similar distances.

-Flowers keep growing in that direction...- commented Momoko confused.

-Direction… That’s it! That’s what it means with “follow”: the flowers are growing to lead us to Seiko and we have to follow them!- exclaimed Doremi happily.

The girls nodded, changed to their casual outfits and run after the flowers.