âHey Alluka, why the long face?â Killua asked.
Alluka was in front of an ice-cream and sad. That was an unusual combination. She sighed and played with her ice-cream from the tip of her spoon. âItâs the lady at the counter, when I ordered the ice-creamsâŠâ
Killua almost jumped from his seat : âWhat? She has been rude to you? Was she cold? Were you uncomfortable? I know youâre working to be less shy in front of strangers after all the years you spent locked in and Iâm so proud of you but if youâre not ready or if it was too much to order alone or if you need support you just ask me and IâllâŠâ
âOnii-chan!â laughed Alluka, waving her hands in a calming gesture. âItâs okay! Just breathe! Itâs just⊠what she said when she handed me the ice-creams. âHere for you and your friend!â she said. And⊠I know we look like friends. Weâre nothing alike. I just⊠wished we looked more like a family. Thatâs all,â she muttered, finally eating a spoonful of ice-cream.
âIf itâs only this, we can fix that! We could⊠you could cut your hair, as short as mine!â
Allukaâs hands flew to her head, in a protecting move :Â âNever!â
âOr I can wear headbands like yours!â
âOh yes, youâll look so cute!â
âOr we could dye our hair!â
âToo complicated,â said Alluka, wrinkling her nose.
âNot really,â said Killua, producing his phone. âI saw Bisky doing. Never tell her I told you she hides her white hairs, please,â he grimaced. âSheâll beat the sh⊠the hell out of me. Iâm sure there is a tuto somewhere explaining how to do.â He typed quickly. âActually, there are 734.â
âLetâs watch them all!â said Alluka, putting her seat next to Killuaâs.
They didnât watch them all, but they watched many, frowning at surpring results, and laughing at plain failures. Alluka wasnât sad anymore, and she ate her ice-cream with pleasure.
The day after, Killua had to run some errands in town. He didnât want Alluka to come with him, and she didnât insist. Killua understood why: she was still getting a bit nervous in crowded spaces.
When he came back home, the little house they rented was filled with a chemical smell. Alluka ran to him from the bathroom.
âOnii-chan!â said Alluka excitedly. âI dyed my hair to match yours! How do I look?â
Killua looked at his sister, his mouth gaping in surprise, slowly stretching into a smile. âLike a mermaid. Like the moon! You are magnificent!â
Alluka twirled, her silver hair floating around her. Then she put her arms around Killuaâs neck, and kissed him on the cheek :Â âYou look good with black hair, too!â