This time of year again huh? I mean, period is definitely my favorite. Spring, the season of forgiveness and second chance. It's the beginning of everything. Even Sakura also cheers for it.

"Welcome!" The cafe employers welcome people as the door bell chimes.

Don't you like this feeling? Watching people excited, scared, or even confused by new steps that they have to take? Behind this glass wall alone, accompanied by a glass of warm drink. It feels like I have the world to myself.

Unfortunately though, I have this anxious feeling in my heart. Something that does not let me enjoy my lemon tea.

"Where is that guy? I told him to come as soon as the ceremony ends." I talk to myself in order to make this anxiety fade. It certainly does not take effect.

"Welcome!" A bell rings, following a customer that slowly open the door.

The boy with brownish hair appeares. His signature white hat sits nicely over his head. I took a while for him to order a drink but it's okay. I can wait.

"Yo, Toshiyuki!" I let him know where I am.

"Yanagi, sorry for the wait." After a small jog, Toshiyuki sits beside me.

"It's fine. It's not like I'm in a rush or anything."

It is a lie. Big one. I want to lift this feeling from my heart as soon as possible.

"If you want to be my girlfriend you should give up. I only interested in human."

"Speak for yourself you hat wearing demon! Who wants to be your girl!"

It seems that I took a lot ot time thinking or maybe look fidgety for Toshiyuki to realize something is wrong. He doesn't look like a sensitive guy after all. However, I cannot help to be nervous. What I will ask him might open a big scar.

"So, what do we have here?" Toshiyuki fixes his hat, requests a purpose.

"Today it's not about me. It's about the Archdemon."

"Ow, now we're talking." Toshiyuki stares to the street as if he does not care about her.

"You know, I know Habara for years. I registered as her guardian for this region when I was a little girl. She was a beast that I had to control."

Toshiyuki sips his coffee, lets me proceed my story.

"Well, I hope she stays a beast." I can't help to sigh a little. "I don't have many people that I can call as a friend and in years, Habara transformed from a beast to my sister, my mother, and importantly, my dearest friend."

"I don't interested in your yuri fanfiction so I have to take my leave." Toshiyuki swiftly gets up.

A surge of power suddenly blows into me as I feel disrespected. I hit the table with all my might. A bang echoed inside the room. Everybody is looking at us but I don't care even a little. I can clearly witness shock in Toshiyuki's face through my glasses.

"I'm serious." I finally manage to mutter a few words despite of my anger.

"You know Yanagi, it's only a joke." Toshiyuki sits back to where he was.

"You may laugh at me following my words just now but it is the truth. I want to know things. I don't think you're that thick headed as you might but this Archdemon. This Archdemon is my bestfriend. Do you think I enjoy it when Habara cannot even speak when you are around? Do you think her tears when she saw your scar are fake?"

Toshiyuki freezes for a few seconds. God knows what this guy is thinking. His eyes covered by shades of his hat. He seems expressionless.

"I never think that I will engage a conversation like this especially with you." Toshiyuki put his left arm in front of his face. "So, what is the question?"

Adrenaline still occupies my body, letting my courage take control of my words. "What actually happens between Habara and you?"

"Well aren't we straightforward?" Toshiyuki chuckles a bit.

Before I protest, he starts his story.

"You told me before about the grand battle between Archdemon and fighters from many regions. Do you remember about that moment?"

"Yeah, how can I forget about that, it was Habara's turning point."

"Well, I actually disagree." Toshiyuki continues.

To be frank, his statement confuses me a lot. As a competitive person I am, my mind suggests me to argue with him. Well, who saved Habara from her Archdemon state other than us? However, I let my bloodlust aside and hold it for my friend.

"Do you mind? It's a little bit hot here." Toshiyuki points at his hat. I nod awkwardly.

Just after he lifts his hat, I realized something. The scar in his forehead is not bad. It's TERRIBLE. Is it that big and scary the last time I saw it?

"It's fine. You will get used to it after a few sights. It's okay to be surprised." Toshiyuki seems used to the stare people gave him everytime he removes his hat.

"Shall we continue?" Swallow my mixed feelings, I try to make the conversation stays alive.

"I'm not really sure about this but it will be a very safe guess if I assume that this happens after your battle with her. After the battle the Archdemon was not magically turned into a good girl. There was another event after the battle."

Pause. He pauses as if he considering to stop the story here.

"Do you know that me and Habara were in the same school?"

"You're joking." I cannot believe the detail this man spurts to me.

"Unfortunately, me and Habara were in the same elementary. Me, being a normal kid, did not stand too much because I liked it that way. Habara also, was a normal girl who almost invisible because she lack of involvement in pretty much everything."

"Huh? What was that? A normal girl?" The sudden info about that Habara's other image shocked me.

"Yes, you don't hear me wrong. She was a quiet and normal girl. At least in our thought." He continues.

"Long story short, I was running late home from school because of the culture festival preparation. I remember it like yesterday. There is a girl held by three guys that looked like high school students. The girl seemed really strong. You need two guys to hold her firm. The third guy was holding an iron pipe, walking before her while spewing nonsense."

Toshiyuki once again looks far at the street, seems to calm his soul before he continues to the grand part.

"You already know who the little girl was right?" Toshiyuki glances.

"It's Habara?" I answers doubtly.

"Well, of course it will be her right? Even if she was full of bruises all over her face and her long hair was a mess, I still recognized her as a classmate. It looks like she was beaten so bad for reasons that I didn't and don't know."

An electric shock seems lingering through my body as my mind opened.

"Is it because of us? Is it because we attack her together that she finally doubt her power and attack high school boys?"

I really want to throw up. I feel sick because for all the guilt that send a jab straight to my gut.

"You have to ask her yourself about that. There is no chance that I know and I want to know about that kind of thing." Toshiyuki continues to stare at me but it seems that his eyes soften for a little bit.

"Being a heroic child I was, I charged to the delinquents as I tried to free her. Habara was watching me in silence, kept on trying to release herself from the grip. The last moment that I saw from the fight was a metal pipe tried to kiss my forehead in a massive speed."

I put my hand infront of my mouth, flabbergasted.

"When I regain my sense, there were lots of blood. The metal pipe seems quite sharp, not perfectly round. My forehead felt like it cracked open." He touches his scar, as he depicts the painful memory.

"Then Habara carried you home just like that?" I ask in a quiet tone.

"Yes." Toshiyuki speaks slowly. "Or so I hope."

"Huh?"

"She never carry me or send any help. She just run. Silhouette of her back is the last thing that I saw before it was totally black out."

I cannot say even a single word at the moment. My lips disabled. My heart is pounding really hard and chills fall down my spine.

"She never visit me at the hospital too and when I recovered, she was gone. Transfered to another school."

"But you're his neighbour right?" I push my curiosity through.

"If you don't want to meet someone, you can even if he is your neighbour. I haven't seen her for years. It's just recently when we attend highschool, she shows up."

I hammered to my chair. I cannot argue with things like that. How can I?

"I guess that's all. I gotta run. Have things to do." Toshiyuki slowly stands, he turns his body as a jolt of strength that barely left inside kicks in.

"Wait." I shout.

Toshiyuki turned his face back at me again, still in that expressionless fashion.

"She looks different when she sees you. Is there a possibility that she..."

"Like me?" Toshiyuki cuts through my words faster than a bullet.

I look at him once again with a face that I cannot even imagine. Determination, hope, and despair, maybe all of those reflected in my face.

"She never likes me. Maybe I remind her of her days as the Archdemon. Maybe she feels satisfied when she sees me like this, scarred for life. I am her living work of art. Her last memento."

"But..." I try to find an excuse for my dear friend. I just can't.

"Do you think this is not enough as a reason to hate her?" Toshiyuki smiles a thin smile and leave.

"Thank you for the patronage!" The store clerk shouts as Toshiyuki passes through the door.

I stunned there for a long time. I try to find a distraction from the surprising fact that I just engaged but I can't. I mindlessly open my mailbox in my cellphone and I remember why I innitiate this meeting. It was a e-mail from Habara last night. An e-mail with "Don't laugh" as the subject.

"Yanagi, I don't know who I should I share this secret with other than you. I just don't know but I've been thinking about Toshiyuki recently. He is everywhere. Am I in love with him? Nee, Yanagin. Do you think there is a chance that he likes me too?"

To be continued...