Empty Smile

She’s there, but yet she isn’t. Baby Doll may act normal. Maybe, too normal. It didn’t take long for everyone else to notice.

“Are you feeling okay?” Taro asked.

“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” Baby Doll asked.

“Uh… no reason,” he lied. The boy made himself walk away as fast as could. Baby Doll tilted her head.

They don’t know how to come out and say it. Not like Baby Doll was doing anything wrong. They are just waiting for this storm to pass. (How long had this storm been going on anyway?) Still, the angels had the feeling that something was about to go wrong.

This morning, they saw the first hints.

At first, Baby Doll would be talking and acting normally. But then, she would just stare off into space at random. The first couple of times that it happened did raise eyebrows.

“Baby, are you okay?” Himeko asked. “Hello? Hello?” She waved her hand in front of the angel’s face. Nothing. No response. These pauses varied on how long they would take. Sometimes they were only for a few seconds and other times it would last up to ten minutes. When Baby Doll came back, she would resume what she was saying like nothing happened. They weren’t even sure if she was aware of it or not.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Masayuki asked. She wrinkled her nose.

“Of course I am,” she said. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?” The angel snorted and rolled her eyes. That answer was all that Masayuki needed to know.

“I was just asking,” he said. “You’re acting weird.” Baby Doll tilted her head.

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

“Well, you keep pausing and staring off into space when you are talking,” he said.

“No, I don’t,” Baby Doll said. Masayuki raised his eyebrow. It was just as he and everyone else expected.

“Right…” he said. Then, the boy turned and walked out of her room.

“Where are you going?” Baby Doll asked.

--------

Masayuki found Natalia and Izumi in the living room. When they looked up at him, he could tell that they had the same thought as he did.

“Tell me what I need to do,” he said.