-I do not own anything-

I am dearly sorry for the late update. I have no excuse. Good news is that my school starts two weeks from now which means more frequent chapters. School gives me a lot of stress with all those yapping girls gossiping about my lil sis. Stress to me means an outlet which is writing stories.

-After School at the Tree-

"Everyone is not to tell her that we are the Guardians or that we know about her, understand?" Takumi ordered, looking at the three and earning nods from them. "I and Naomi will try to persuade her to join us without her knowing it is us, objections?"

"No," Naomi and Masahiro answered in unison.

"Am I still allowed to be friends with her?" Rika asked indifferently.

"Yes, you are allowed. Actually, it would be better that way. We can get more info about her progress," Masahiro answered.

"Listen here. I am not her friend for some silly thing like that. I am Ai's friend out of my own free will," She glared at her brother.

"We understand, Rika-chan. I apologize if we said something that offended your feelings," Naomi's reassuring words brought her to ease.

-Meanwhile with Ai (Ai's POV)-

I was in my mansion, cooking something for Reaper-san to have when he came home. Reaper-san was the one who told me about the murderers of my brother. He is very king and caring. He lives with me now since he's my guardian.

He told me about Guardian Characters, your would-be-selves. The facts I know about them are that everyone has one. First stage is Chara-Change. Next is Character Transformation. After that, the transformation gets stronger. They disappear after you have fulfilled that would-be-self's dream. Even if your Heart's Egg hatches, it doesn't guarantee that they will be with you till that fulfillment. If you stop believing in that guardian character, they will disappear; however, if you have doubts and worries, they will become X-eggs. Also, normal people can't see them. Only those who have hatched heart's eggs can see.

There are a few things that mystify me. My guardian character always wears a black cloak with the hood covering her face. That guardian character won't even tell me anything about it except its name is Koroko. It won't tell me if it's an X-egg or not.

Putting this subject aside, I have finished preparing the table and the food. I am just waiting for him to come home. Reaper-san is always home at 6:45 P.M. sharp. It is 6:30. I usually wait a few steps in front of the door rather than the stairs because… it reminds me of memories I would rather not remember.

Reaper-san is always with me from dinner to when I leave for school. Sometimes he would drop me off. I adore him. On Weekend when he's not busy, he would take me somewhere.

I really do love the attention he's given me, but he can't replace my brother.

I checked the time; four seconds left.

Three… Two… One…

"I'm home, Ai-chan~!" Reaper-san grinned, entering the house. Without his top hat, black suit, and other clothing, he looked very young for a middle aged man. He had silky black hair and gray eyes. He was still wearing a suit without the suit coat, but he was more casual.

"Welcome home, Reaper-san," I gave him a small smile as I hugged him. He petted my head, assuring me there was someone here for me. "Dinner's ready."

"I just have to put my stuff up in my room, and I'll be there. Could you be a dear and wait for me?" He asked me.

"Okay," I nodded my head, looking up at him. He patted my head and let go of me, heading upstairs.

I rushed to the dinner table. I was glad that he treated me as his own and there was no wall between us. Would it have been like this with my real father?

I waited patiently, sitting at my seat. It wasn't too long before he came back.

"You know you could have eaten while you were waiting, right?" He asked, chuckling a bit.

"No! It wouldn't be the same! Food tastes better if you're with your friends and family," I pouted, whining.

"I got it, alright. No need to be so hostile," He sat down at the table. The table had only two seats because I preferred it that way. It was less lonely that way

"Itadakimasu," I and Reaper-san said before eating.

"Have you always been this great of a cook?" He exclaimed, stuffing food in his mouth.

"Geez, you're so messy. You have some food on your face," I bent over the table, wiping it off with my napkin.

Reaper-san froze for some reason.

"Is something wrong?" I asked concered.

"No, it's just that- Doesn't it seem like what you did is what a daughter would do to her father?" He laughed strangely.

"Why do you ask?" I asked another question out of curiosity.

"Well, my daughter used to say and do exactly what you would do," Even though he had a smile on his face, there was something off.

"Used to?" I might have been prying in someone else's business, but I couldn't help myself.

"Well, she died because…" I noticed he couldn't speak anymore.

"It's okay. You don't have to tell me," I decided to leave it at that, ignoring my craving to know.

"Thank you for understanding," He smiled at me.

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