It was after school and Floyd still stuck himself in his dorm room as he ran out of mood for the entire day, till the door of his and his trim were knocked.
Floyd: Who's there?
Jade: ( behind the door) It is me, Floyd. Who else is going to enter this room resided by a pair of twins?
Floyd: Dunno, I thought Blue Shark's gonna enter and nag at me like this morning?
Hearing his twin still sulked with Tokaku, Jade blew a short sigh while his smile stayed on his face. Turning the doorknob, opening the door, and walking into the room, Jade entered with his backpack slung on his shoulders. He watched his twin pouting on his bed while placing his backpack on his study desk. Then, he settled on Floyd's bed to convince him.
Jade: Still no mood for today?
Floyd: Not yet.
Jade: Are you still not over yet with your conflict with Tokaku?
Floyd: How come can I be over with that when she refused to entertain me for now?
Jade: She did not refuse but she thinks you made it hard for her to understand your mood swing.
Floyd: I ain't given her a hard time.
Jade: But you know Tokaku was not exposed entirely to the entertainment of communication with people.
Floyd: How can she not know to joke around and accept the humor to laugh?
Jade: Entertainment is odd to her. You and I recognized her excellently in that she took humor as a serious matter or just ignore it.
Floyd: But she is too serious, Jade. She did not want to understand people other than herself. She even learned how to nag at me. She knows that I hate people nagging at me.
Jade: She did not understand you as well as I do. I know that one too. Besides, she has a trust issue. She is distant, sometimes stubborn and cold even heartless but she can put aside her bad side when it comes to us, though that would take her a long time to load.
Floyd: How do you know that about her?
Jade: Well, it is just my feeling. But if she were to be heartless to us, why did she protect me when I almost got punched in my face by the bullies at the cafeteria that other day?
Floyd: Maybe because you don't ever tease her till she got irritated.
Jade: I am not that kind of man. But you got the answer there about why Tokaku exploded to you.
Floyd: I've been thinking about why she argued with me this morning the half day I was here, trapping myself with guilt and regret.
Jade: So you planned to be good with her?
Floyd: I have to or I won't gain any mood because of these sad feelings.
Jade: Very well. Should I call her in?
Floyd: Call her in? What're you talking about?
Jade: Tokaku is right in front of our room this entire time.
Floyd: What?!
Suddenly, the door creaked open and Tokaku stepped into the room.
Tokaku: Don't what him, Floyd. And excuse me.
Floyd: Hey, you. Since when are you in front of our door?
Tokaku: Since the time you held your conversation about me as Jade told me to. I believe it is my turn to speak with you in this room.
Floyd turned to Jade with a disbelieving face, his brother returned with a smile and rolled his eyes telling his brother to talk with their blue-haired girl. Floyd grew a pout but he gave up and faced again with the girl.
Floyd: Okay. If you say so.
Tokaku: Good.
Jade: Then perhaps I should better leave you two alone. (rise from his bed and walked away)
Tokaku moved aside to give the male way to exit. Before he left the room, Jade looked at Tokaku from sideways, the girl noticed and answered those eyes with a blink and a nodded head. After the male left and closed the door, Tokaku turned to Floyd who was frowning at her.
Tokaku: Okay. I have been too emotional with you back then. And I am sorry if what I did kinda pissed you off.
Floyd: You sure are.
Tokaku:(stared then sighed) But Floyd, you being too annoying with me back then for a reason I find was not rational.
Floyd: I know that. That is why I am also apologizing to you.
Tokaku: So we're good?
Floyd: Not quite. I still need you to do something.
Tokaku: Another round of apology?
Floyd: (titled his head) Nope!
Tokaku: So what is it?
Floyd: You need to hug me.
Tokaku: What?
Floyd: When Jade and I settled down from a fight, we will always hug each other after we apologize. You need to do it as a sign you apologize to me sincerely.
Tokaku: (sighed) Okay, fine!
Floyd immediately opened his arms after the girl agreed to hug him. Still hesitating, Tokaku kept on her steps approached the male, climbed onto his bed to sit in front of him, and unhurriedly hugged him. The male instantly wrapped his arms around the blue-haired girl as he embraced her.
Floyd: You sure are skinny, Blue Shark. It's easy for me to strangle you.
Tokaku: If you strangle me, I will strangle your neck till you lost your breath.
Floyd:(smiled) Whatever you want.
While hugging the male, Tokaku was silenced as she felt the male's body and his heartbeat.
Tokaku:(POV) His body feels chilly. Not so surprising that he is merfolk.
Floyd:(POV) Blue Shark feels so warm. Her hair is so soft and smells nice. (brushed his face on Tokaku's hair)
When the male brushed his face on her hair, Tokaku became flustered.
Tokaku: What are you doing with my hair, Floyd?
Floyd: Your hair is soft and smells nice. You wear a pretty good shampoo. (kissing her hair)
Tokaku: Okay, that's enough. We're good now. (pushing the male)
Floyd: Awww... What a shame.
Tokaku: Azul said we've got work to do at the Mostro Lounge after we finished settling our conflict.
Floyd: Yeah yeah yeah. It's like he's ain't gonna miss an eye on us. Now then, let's go to work together, Blue Shark. ( smiled at the girl)
Tokaku: ... Alright. Let's go.
The blue-haired girl climbed down the bed so as the messy teal-haired male after her. They left the room and headed straight to the Mostro Lounge. There, Azul and Jade were waiting for their arrival.
Azul: (folding his arms) There you two are after settling your misunderstanding quarrel. I feel less burdened now to finally have seen you both in peace and harmony now.
Tokaku: Oh, please, Azul. We all know that you only wanted us to work.
Azul: If you already know that, go to work directly from now on!
Floyd: Geez... You don't give us a second break, don't you?
Azul: Not a moment of your job around here. Now go to work!
Tokaku and Floyd:( drawled) Yes, sir!
Both the girl and the male went on their separate ways and began to do their job. As usual, the girl set at the bar counter, following Jade after her as he came beside her.
Jade: So it went well as I've seen right now?
Tokaku: Yep, as you've planned before, and the result does quite good than I expected.
Jade: (chuckled) What are you expecting actually? That you and Floyd won't ever be good?
Tokaku: As usual, you've read my mind. And I am not that easily forgiving someone who messed up with my feelings.
Jade: I recognized that well from you thanks to your cold demeanor.
Tokaku: You're welcome for having a heartless assassin as your bar assistant.
Jade: But I see this bar assistant of mine is not that heartless after all. If she is, it would take her forever to forgive my twin's tantrum.
Tokaku: Hahaha... Nice joke.
Jade laughed as the girl played along with his joke.
Tokaku: Say, is it true you and Floyd hug each other after you both apologized once you've finished fighting?
Jade: Yes, that is true. It is the way that our parents taught us as we are siblings who must not have grudges toward each other. How do you know about it?
Tokaku: Floyd told me in your room and he asked me to hug him as a term that I forgive him sincerely.
Jade:?! What? Did he ask you to hug him?
Tokaku: Yes.
Jade: And you both did hug each other?
Tokaku: (nodded) Yes.
Jade responded with silence because he was surprised to hear what the blue-haired girl just told him. Somehow, his heart suddenly felt uncomfortable, and rage he held inside it. Later, once the Mostro Lounge was closed and some cleaning chores have already been done, the Octavinelle residents returned to their dorm room for rest and sleep. Meanwhile, Jade entered his room with Floyd. As soon as he shut the door, he blew a deep exhale and then narrowed his eyes on Floyd who already jumped on his bed.
Jade: Floyd, may I ask you a question?
Floyd: Yeah, what's up?
Jade: Tokaku told me that you asked her to hug you so to show she forgave you sincerely and you and she did it together. Is that true?
Floyd: Yeah, you and I always do it when we are mad at each other so I made Blue Shark do it the same as we always pull out.
Jade: (sighed) Do you not realize Tokaku is a girl, for the record? (put a hand on his forehead)
Floyd: Yeah, so what?
Jade: Floyd, this is about the limited interaction between a male and a lady we are talking about. And you just hug Tokaku without thinking about the boundary.
Floyd: Well, Blue Shark seems to don't mind about it.
Jade: Yes because you asked her to.
Floyd: Why you're questioning us hugging each other like it is a serious matter?
Jade: Because it is my responsibility to retain you both from any problem.
Floyd: Why if we hugged is a problem?
Suddenly, Floyd snapped as he picked up a thought.
Floyd: Unless you are jealous that I hugged Blue Shark.
Jade: (flustered) What?! No, I'm not.
Floyd: Don't lie to me. I get it now why you started to question me about wrapping my arms around Blue Shark. Admit it, you like her, don't you?
Jade: Umm... (blushed)
Floyd: Ha! You do like her. (pointed a finger to Jade)
Jade: Alright alright. But just please lower your volume down, Floyd.
Floyd: (whispered) 'Kay. So since when did you find yourself liking her?
Jade: I... I'm not sure. ( left the door and sat on his bed)
Floyd: You're not sure?
Jade: Quite right. It all happened so soon if I am not erroneous. I don't know why but I started to have feelings for her these days.
Floyd: What makes you like her?
Jade: Well, you know me that I don't have any types of girl I want to choose as my mate. Although, when I see Tokaku, I noticed that she is different. Her way of staring, the wind sound of her voice, and the softness of her hair caused me to become interested in her. I do obsess over someone attractive from my viewpoint.
Floyd: I also thought the same as you. Blue Shark is way far different than the mermaids we've met before back home. Maybe I like her too.
Jade: My, you make that sound like a challenge for me to claim her as my belonging.
Floyd: (sneered) Wanna challenge who gets Blue Shark first?
Jade: I prefer to win than lose with you even though you are my brother.
Floyd: Then may the man who wins Blue/Shark's heart gets the victory.
Jade: (chuckled) Challenge accepted.
Jade and Floyd smirked at each other at the end of their conversation.