His expression-lustful. Black and red eyes; manic.

Her heart skipped a beat and fear flared in her chest.

"Takatsuki!" She called to her friend, quickly catching up to her.

"They're ghouls," she said flatly before Isa could.

Isa kept on looking back, quickening her pace as she clutched onto Takatsuki's arm. "How...did you know?"

"I saw blood in the washroom. I figured they were ghouls," she paused. "They won't chase us," she said.

"Why wouldn't they?" Isa asked, surprised.

"I have a pretty good relationship with them-I just never knew they were ghouls."

"That doesn't mean they won't kill us," Isa replied, scared of her own words.

"You're right. Hmm," Takatsuki said, putting a finger on her chin. She looked at Isa. "May-beee-it's just an eye tattoo," she smiled cheerfully.

"Takatsuki!" Isa almost yelled too loudly, smacking her in the arm. "It's no time to joke around like that!"

Her friend just went into a burst of laughter. Isa was starting to panic. What if the ghouls heard them? She nudged Takatsuki and pulled her as she quickened her pace.

They continued walking. Takatsuki put a hand on Isa's shoulder, indicating it was alright to let go. "We're far enough now," she told her.

Isa sighed. "Alright…" Her fear and anger slowly loosened up. They continued walking in silence. Every now and then, Isa would look back, then side to side, just in case. She looked back ahead at Takatsuki, who, watched her in silence. "I don't think anything was funny about earlier," Isa told her. "We could have been killed."

"Yeah… You're right. I apologize," her tone was careless.

"Well… As long as we're alright. However," Isa said, emphasizing the last word, "Don't take things like that too lightly. We were just lucky this time, who knows will happen next time," she tried to make herself sound stern, hoping Takatsuki would get the point.

"Mhm…"

Sighing internally, they walked continued walking. Night was coming into full bloom, and Isa knew they had to get home soon. She then just remembered her meeting with Tatara and hoped it wasn't too late. Deciding to check the time, she reached her hand to the bag hanging on her side.

But it wasn't there.

"My bag," she gasped.

"What?"

"I must have forgotten it back at that shop…"

"Oh…"

"How bout yours? Can you check what time it is?"

Takatsuki rummaged through her small bag and took out her phone. "It's almost nine-oh-my battery just died," she said. The screen went black. Fear started creeping up in Isa again. She hoped they were going to be okay for the rest of the way.

Takatsuki suggested that they stayed at her house for the night since she said hers wasn't too far away. "It might take another twenty-five minutes or so," she told Isa. It was completely dark now, and the only source of light came from the street lights.

"Huh?" Isa was surprised that she'd finally noticed something that she should have noticed from the start. "There's no one here, and there wasn't anyone back there, too."

"You're right…"

Isa could hear her own heartbeats in her ears. Her limbs tensed up and it made it obvious to her friend that she was afraid. "Calm down, we'll be fine," Takatsuki comforted, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"How were you not ever scared at all?" Isa asked, wondering how in the world she was so calm the whole entire time.

Takatsuki answered after a long pause. "You can't let them know you're scared."

Isa realized it was true in a way, but she was a bit unsatisfied with the answer. Isa was afraid to death-she'd never been so afraid in the life, other than the time where she encountered the two ghouls.

Heck-she didn't even know why she was walking instead of running. In the back of her head, she thought it was because Takatsuki was there with her, who, was too calm. Maybe that was subconsciously reassuring her.

Maybe I'm just overthinking it… We're far enough already. We're safe. I need to believe that we're safe, Isa told herself.

Her spirit lifted just a little, but it was enough for Isa to start a conversation. "So…" She began. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Mhm."

"What's your family like?"

"My family…" Takatsuki paused.

"Sorry," Isa apologized. "You don't have to say." From the corner of her eye, she saw her friend shaking her head.

"No, no. I was just thinking of what to say," she snorted, and her big smile could be seen. "My family...where do I start?"

"Huh?" Isa asked, confused by what she meant.

"Well. I used to have a mother, but I never met her before. And my father-he's alive," Takatsuki replied in a way that made Isa a bit shocked how apathetic she sounded. Isa wanted to ask further, but she didn't know if Takatsuki liked talking about it. Isa stole a glance, trying to read Takatsuki's facial expression from the side.

"I'm sorry," Isa said.

"No need."

After several seconds of silence, Isa forced herself to ask further. "How...is your father doing?"

At that, Takatsuki stopped in walking-making Isa's heart skip a beat since she'd knew she crossed the line.

But her friend turned her head to face her, the lack of light made the grin on her face look creepy. "He's alive, probably doing something useful," she said amusedly. Then she started walking again.

"Ah…" The words just escaped out of Isa's mouth. She was utterly astonished, looking absentmindedly at the spot her friend stood just seconds ago. Why did she talk like that? It seemed she had contempt for him. Forcing herself to push it out of her mind, she started walking again, but then stopped.

"Takatsuki?" She called out. She were no where to be seen.

That's impossible, it was only a couple of seconds! Was she playing a joke on her?

"Takatsuki!" She yelled, she heart rate shot up again, pounding heavily in her chest. "It's not funny!"

There was no response. It was impossible. How!? She just disappeared without a single trace.

Isa took a step forwards, then another. Her emotions were a mixture of confusion, anger, fear, and sadness. Her mind was empty-she didn't even know what to think.

Then, a sudden burst of sound caught Isa's attention immediately. From far ahead, red and orange blinded her eyes.

Explosion, her mind told her.

Guest: It was just a random person with black hair. no one special, hehe. Sorry if that disappoints you~