Why wasn't Umji's curse broken yet?

  That was the main thing on Sowon's mind every day. The brown striped kitten seemed to like her more now but she still was a kitten. Was she missing something? All of the former kitten's transformations had been triggered differently but also in a similar way at the same time. But Sowon was stumped. Was she doing something wrong? Everything seemed to be playing out the same way as before like it had with the other girls but nothing had happened in the past few weeks.

She sighed, watching as Yerin played with Umji in the middle of the room, the kitten pawing at the toy that was in the shape of a mouse on the end of a colorful stick. It was adorable but also upsetting to Sowon. She loved the kitten dearly but she wanted to get to know and see Umji as her true self. 

"You're sighing again." SinB's voice broke Sowon's thoughts, the former black kitten standing next to the taller. 

"Again?" Sowon raised an eyebrow. "Do I really do it that much?"

"Recently you have." SinB looked down at her phone out of habit, pulling up a music video of Sunrise, the group that Sowon had fallen in love with, to watch.  

Sowon scoffed, elbowing SinB playfully. The younger girl didn't respond, still watching the video and listening to the melody. Sowon wanted to but she didn't feel completely in the mood for it, her mind still focusing on what she could do to get Umji to transform back. That silence got SinB's attention. She had been bracing for some sort of remark from Sowon but it never came.

"Alright. Spit it out."

"What?" Sowon blinked, giving SinB a confused look.

"You heard me. Something's bothering you, right?" SinB had pocketed her phone, saving the video for later. Now she was staring into Sowon's eyes without letting up. 

"It's nothing, SinB." Sowon tried to save the situation, looking away herself to focus on the other girls. Yerin had Umji on her lap now, letting the baby cat chew gently on her hand. Eunha was in the bedroom, most likely sleeping again or playing another one of her games on her phone and Yuju was trying to decide what to make for lunch. 

"Sowon." SinB snapped her fingers in front of Sowon's face, bringing her back to reality again. "Stop spacing out and tell me."

"You really aren't gonna stop bothering me until I do, are you?" Sowon pushed SinB's hand out of her face, her hand lingering against the girl's fingers for a few seconds before going back to her side. 

"I'm not. So get it over with already." SinB huffed, crossing her arms. She really was stubborn.

"Doesn't it...." Sowon took a breath, rubbing her neck. "....bother you how Umji's curse hasn't broken yet?" 

"Obviously." SinB's expression softened. "Is that why you've been acting so weird lately? You're worried about Umji?"

"Yeah." Sowon mumbled, moving her hand from her neck to run through her own hair. SinB watched silently. She reached out and wrapped an arm around Sowon's waist, surprising the blonde some. But it was a welcome touch. Something that she really needed right now.

"I keep having....nightmares." Sowon started, not looking at SinB but making no move to separate from her. Eunha had finally joined Yerin on the floor, showing Yerin the new high score on the game she was playing. Yerin congratulated Eunha while petting Umji and Eunha happily leaned against her, gently poking the kitten's soft forehead and earning a tiny meow in response. 

"Nightmares about you and everyone else." Sowon's voice shook briefly, taking a moment to steady it before continuing. "Nightmares about Umji never being freed and it being my fault."

"That's stupid." SinB stated bluntly. "You weren't the reason we were cursed. And its not your fault that Umji isn't human yet. That's stupid."

Sowon looked over at the former black kitten, staring quietly before letting out a laugh. SinB really did have a weird way of cheering her up. 

"You're right. That is stupid, isn't it?" 

"Yeah. Your nightmares are dumb and you should tell them that." SinB nodded and Sowon laughed again, causing SinB to smile.   

"What are you both talking about?" Eunha had appeared in front of the two, head tilting to the side. 

"You, obviously." SinB let go of Sowon and smirked at the now pouting short haired girl. "We're just trying to figure out why you're so tiny."

"I'm not small! You're so mean, SinB." Eunha whined. SinB only chuckled, putting her arm around Eunha's shoulders and ruffling her hair to mess it up. Eunha immediately got out of the girl's grip to try and punch her playfully in the side but SinB ran off. Eunha was quick to give chase, trying to tackle SinB to get her back for messing up her hair. The former black kitten ran around the living room a few times before finally letting Eunha catch her, laughing as they both fell back on the couch. Sowon watched the duo play, not able to help the smile on her face as Eunha decided to koala cling onto SinB so she couldn't get up. SinB was right. It was ridiculous that she was blaming herself for what Umji was going through. 

After lunch had been finished and Umji was napping on the couch, Sowon called the girls over into the bedroom she currently shared with Eunha. She was more determined than ever thank to SinB's 'pep talk'. 

"What's this about, Sowon?" Yerin asked, clinging to SinB as she usually tended to do. At least SinB didn't mind anymore. It even seemed like SinB enjoyed the affection. Sowon wasn't about to state that out loud though. 

"I need your help. Everyone's help actually," Sowon carefully closed the door behind the group, trying to make sure she didn't wake up the sleeping kitten in the living room. 

"I want to break Umji's curse. But I don't know how. She still doesn't trust me." Sowon bit the edge of her lip. "You all spent a lot of time with her when you were kittens. Maybe we could figure out how to help her together?"

"That's a great idea." Yuju smiled and looked down at Eunha for her response. 

"It is! We can all help her!" Eunha exclaimed. 

"You should have asked us to help sooner." SinB interjected, Yerin nodding in agreement. "You don't have to do this alone. Isn't that what you taught us?"

"That's right." Sowon felt her heart lighten, the stress on her shoulders easing up. "So, does anyone have any ideas?"

"We could give her lots of kisses." Yerin replied and SinB groaned.

"Wouldn't that just make her want to hide?" The former black kitten asked and Yerin pouted. SinB fought back the urge to laugh at the brown haired girl's expression. Yerin's punches were strong, unlike Eunha's, and she wasn't about to risk it. 

"How about we all try talking to her?" Yuju chimed in. "We could all spend time with her one on one. She wouldn't get overwhelmed that way."

"That could work." Sowon rubbed her chin, thinking it over. Every time one of the girls had transformed back, it had been when she had talked to them. Encouraged them. She had tried it a couple times with Umji but the kitten liked to run away before she could finish her sentence. If they all took turns, maybe she would finally understand how much everyone loved her. It was a good plan.

"Should we try it now?" Eunha asked. "Who would go first?" 

"I can." Yerin let go of SinB and stepped forward, a mature aura coming over her. Sowon could see the same determination in her eyes that she was feeling in herself. 

"I'll go last then." Sowon agreed. "I don't want to stress her out." 

"Are you sure, Yerin?" SinB seemed slightly worried, shoving her hands in her jacket pockets. Yerin only smiled warmly.

"I'm sure, SinB. Trust me. I took care of everyone when we were out on the streets so I should be the one to go first."

SinB hesitated but then let out a sigh, nodding in understanding. She did have a point. Umji had trusted Yerin the most during those long two years. 

The group watched as Yerin opened the door and left the bedroom. Sowon couldn't help but feel nervous again. What if this didn't work? A hand placing itself on Sowon's back broke through her doubting thoughts. It was Yuju, rubbing her hand soothingly up and down against Sowon's tense back. It was like she could read her mind.

The four of them sat down on the beds, Sowon and Yuju occupy