Knock knock.

"Coming!"

Damion nodded to Setsu, who smiled sadly, and walked towards the door. Excited, he undid the lock and pulled the door open, smiling when Michael greeted him.

"Hey, Michael!" Damion said, grinning.

"Mm," the red-haired teenager responded, stepping inside the house. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail today, and his gaze was unnaturally hard. Damion paused at the doorway, noticing a cut on his face.

"Did you get hurt?"

"This?" Michael asked, pointing at the wound. When Damion nodded, he simply said, "Just a fight. It's not all that uncommon, really."

"Oh..." Damion blinked, but decided not to ask. "Okay."

They walked into the living room together, and Damion motioned for Michael to sit down on the armchair. Damion sat next to Setsu on the couch.

"It's very nice to make your acquaintance, Michael-san," Setsu greeted.

"Sure, sure." The teenager rested his crossed his arms, his lips in a frown. "I'm here to pick you up and get you home, if that's all right with you."

Setsu nodded. "It's for the best."

"I suppose it is." Michael glanced at Damion. "You look a bit agitated."

"Agit—?"

"Sorry. Sad," the teenager corrected. "Is something the matter?"

"No, nothing at all." Damion smiled sadly and turned to the girl sitting next to him. "It's just a bit sad to see Setsu go, since she's a good friend."

The girl blushed a faint pink and looked away.

Michael simply nodded his head, absentmindedly wiping away blood that trickled from his wound. Before Damion could even ask, Michael raised a hand and said, "I don't need a band-aid, Damion. It's fine."

"But—"

The teenager stood up, took the little bag that had Setsu's clothes in it, and shook his head. "I know it's a bit rude, but we have to get Setsu here back to her parents."

Something about the way he said Setsu's name worried Damion. Had something happened to Setsu's parents or something? Or maybe she really was a princess?

Said girl slowly stood up as well and turned her head to Damion. "I'm sorry, Damion. It's a shame to have to part like this, but..."

"I-it's okay," Damion said as he stood up, forcing a smile. It felt wrong, and he was worried that he might be frowning instead. "See? I told you your parents would be fine! I was right, wasn't I?"

Setsu nodded, her eyes a sad blue. "Mmhmm. You were definitely right." She bowed her head, her hair shadowing her eyes. "Thank you for everything."

"Don't thank me," Damion said, looking down at the ground. He felt his eyes tear up, but he forced himself to not cry. He patted Setsu on the shoulder awkwardly. "We'll meet again. Just visit me sometimes, okay?"

Her eyes widened for a second, and, suddenly, they looked like glass: a direct window to her fragile heart. Damion could feel the pain she did at having no way to show how thankful she was, the pain at being unable to help her leaving. The moment passed, and her heart was blocked off again; invisible to all but herself.

Damion saw her lips twitch, as if in an attempt to smile. Instead, though, she only turned away slowly and began walking, following Michael to the doorway. Damion couldn't find the strength to follow her, for some reason.

The door opened, and Michael disappeared from view. Damion watched as Setsu stepped outside, her fingers touching the wooden door so as to close it.

Just before she did, she turned her head to him and smiled one last time. It was a genuine one, a happy one. "I will visit you. See you, Damion."

And with that, the door closed and forever shut off Damion's first friend.