I might not upload chapters that quickly as I have major examinations around the corner. Hope you enjoy this chapter and this isn't the end of the story!
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"We are back in Maki's attic!" Nico cheered in jubilation. Happiness burst forth like a bubble, sending me into a whirl of joy. We were back! Almost immediately, confusion and curiosity replaced it. How did we get the bright light to appear?

"When we sang Yume no Tobira and held hands, the bright light appeared so that might be the 'magic words' to 'time-travel' back here," Umi said. Her words made sense. "To 'time-travel' to the past, we have to press the play button on the CD player and one of Maki's mother's CDs must be inside,"Kotori said. We knew what was going on! Had Mother and Father come back? I checked the time on my phone.

6.16 p.m.

Time had not passed. Shock jolted through my entire body and my mouth hung open.

"Time...had not...passed when we...were in that place..." I stuttered.

"WHAT?!" they yelled in complete disbelief. I showed them my phone. "Before that bright light came, it was 6.16 p.m. Now, it is still 6.16 p.m," I explained. "This is freaking me out!" Honoka cried out. I had the same thoughts as Honoka. We were not in some kind of science fiction or fantasy anime.

"Man, I'm hungry! Do you have anything to eat?" Honoka asked. We heard a stomsch growl and stared at Honoka. I led them to the kitchen. "Wow! Let the cute cooking idol, Nico, cook mouth-watering dishes for you!" Nico offered proudly. "I'll cook delicous rice," Hanayo offered. "Let's all cook together nyan~!" Rin chirped. We rolled up our sleeves and got to work. We chopped vegetables, washed rice and chatted while cooking. An aroma wafted from the food. It smelt delicious! My mouth watered.

Soon, the food was ready. We sat down at the dining table and chorused, "Itadakimas!"(with Rin adding 'nyan' behind)

"It's delicious!" Honoka cried out with a blissful smile on her face. It was delicious! Maybe it was because of the fact that we cooked it together which made it so delicious. I finished my bowl of rice and walked to the kitchen for a second helping.

"Maki-chan, I didn't know you can eat so much, this is the first time I see you getting a second helping of rice. Harasho," Eli said. A slow blush crept up my cheeks. "No! It is just that the food was scrumptious..."I trailed off and my face flushed. "It's because the food is cooked by widely-known cooking idol, Nico!" Nico boasted while doing the Nico-Nico-Nii action. I rolled my eyes at her, biting my tongue to hold back a sarcastic comment.

-Time Skip to after dinner-

"I'm stuffed!" Honoka said, patting her tummy and a wide smile plastered on her face. Hanayo and I appreared from the kitchen. We had been washing the dishes."Erm...what are we going to do about the time-travelling device?" Kotori questioned everyone. That question put everyone deep in thought. It was weird and I still cannot get used to the time-travelling situation. I could find out why Mother quitted and hated music. If I found out what happened, I could convince Mother not to make me give up music!

"I think we should let Maki-chan choose since it is in her house and it affects her the most," Nozomi voiced out her thoughts. Everyone looked at me expectantly. What choice was I supposed to make? On one hand, we could return and find out what had happened to Mother. On the other, we could forget about it and just let it be. Both choices tugged at my chest. Which choice should I make? Which choice was the best for μ's?

I was in a dilemma.

Giving each choice great consideration, I knew which choice to make.

"I think we should forget about it and let it be..." I said and stared at the floor. Would they be disappointed in me? I braced myself for disappointment. Instead, everyone nodded. I checked the time on the clock on the living room wall.

10.00 p.m.

"After all that time travelling, I'm tired," Nozomi said as she stifled a yawn. As soon as she said those words, I felt dog-tired. "I'm not tired at all nya!" Rin said energetically. "How about we set up the sleeping area first?" I asked. They nodded and followed me to my room. We lifted mattresses and placed them onto the floor with a thump. Fatigue took its toll on me and I yawned. Everyone except Honoka and Rin looked beat. When we were done setting up the sleeping area, Nico collasped onto the bed. "It is so soft,"she whispered. We heard snoring. Nico was the "culprit". Something about that was funny and I burst into peals of laughter. The laughter was contagious and soon, all of us were laughing. It felt nice to laugh. The laughing died away and we lay down on the mattresses. I chose to lie on the matress with them as it felt weird to sleep on a bed when the others were on mattresses.

"Oyasumi (good night)," I whispered. I felt myself drifting to a land of dreams.

I was sleeping peacefully when a pillow hit me on the back of my head. I heard muffled shouting. What were they doing? A pillow fight? How dare they wake me up in the middle of the night! Anger boiled in me and I was livid with rage. I wanted revenge. A dark aura enveloped me and I shot daggers at the people who were involved in the pillow fight-Honoka, Rin, Nico, Kotori, Nozomi and Hanayo. "WHO THREW THE PILLOW AT ME?!" I barked, holding up the pillow. Fear was written on their faces and they were silent. Nico raised her hand-slowly and uncertainly. I gripped the pillow, summoned all my strength and hurled it at her. It hit her straight in the face.

"Itai!!!" She yelled in pain as she collapsed onto Umi. My anger ebbed away once I had my revenge and I settled down on a mattress. I felt a body below me. I got up and realised that I was lying on Eli. Panic fizzed in me. What should I do? She was going to kill me! A dark aura enveloped Umi and Eli as they stood up. They glared at Nico and me. Fear bit into me and dread filled my heart. They grabbed a pillow and threw it at us. Pain seared through me and I groaned. After seeking revenge, Umi and Eli settled down in their own mattresses and fell asleep as soon as their head landed on the pillow. The noisy pillow fight continued. My parents would find out! I cannot let them find out about the sleepover! "STOP THE PILLOW FIGHT OR MY PARENTS WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE HERE!" I said through my teeth. The pillow fighting ceased. I wandered over to my mattress and fell asleep when my head came into contact with the pillow.

-Maki's/my dream(in italics)-
"Hello? Where am I?" I asked no one in particular. I was in a concert hall. No one was seated in the velvet red seats.

The purple curtain was lifted. I saw Mother.

Her hair was styled into a feminine hairstyle. Her impeccably-done make-up made her face radiant. She sauntered to the piano at the centre of the stage and sat on the piano bench. What was my mother doing here? Why was I here? Mother started playing the piano and sang with a loud, passionate voice. I was mesmerised by her singing. It was as if I was in the Garden of Eden.

Suddenly, Mother stopped playing. When I wanted to get up and leave, I ealised I was strapped to something. An operation table. Mother advanced to me, scapel in one hand and a scissors in the other. I scanned my surroundings-the operation room. Fear escaped from its cage and gripped me. What was happening? How did the concert hall morph into an operation room in my parents' hospital? An octopus of confusion squirted its ink on me, leaving me confused. Mother smirked at me as she advanced towards me. The steel operation instruments glinted in the light.

"NOOOOOO" I cried.

-Dream ends-

I shot up from bed. My nightgown had been dipped in sweat and it dawned on me.

It had been a dream.

I glanced around and realised that everyone except Honoka and Rin were up. They were putting away the mattresses. Nozomi, noticing I was awake, asked me, "Maki-chan, daishobu(are you ok)? You were screaming the word 'no' before waking up." I nodded and said, "I just had a bad dream." Nozomi nodded and did not ask about the nightmare. I put away my mattress and checked my phone. It was Saturday and I had received a text from my parents. Had they found out about my not-so-secret sleepover? I sent a silent prayer heavenwards.

We will be working overtime today. We are in the hospital now.

I heaved a sigh of relief. Honoka and Rin had woken up and they had put away the mattresses they were sleeping on. "Let's eat breakfast! "Honoka declared. "All you think about is food," Umi said as she rolled her eyes. We trooped down to the kitchen and prepared breakfast.

-Time skip to after breakfast-

"I better get going, I need to help my mom with the store! Mata-nee (see you later)!" Honoka cried out when she glanced at the clock. She slipped into her shoes and left my house hastily. "We all need to leave. Remember that there is practice at 3p.m! Mata-nee," Eli said. One by one, they left and I was alone in the giant house. The dream I had drifted into my mind. Curiosity bubbled in me and a question popped into my mind.

Did the dream had anything to do with the time-travelling device?