Hiyori came across a mess of beer cans littering her fridge during her morning routine. She had just finished getting dressed and preparing her bag when she entered the kitchen to grab a snack. There must have been twenty cans scattered throughout.

She sighed to herself and closed the fridge after retrieving some packaged fruit.

It seemed Yato was gradually moving into her apartment. Everyday, she would notice something else new he had either left behind, or placed accordingly.

Of course, she would chastise him for leaving things around, but he would pick up after himself by hanging his clothes alongside hers, or aligning his bathroom products with her others. His excuse would be a shameless, "I'll just be back tomorrow again anyway."

Hiyori was already aware of how painfully intrusive and oblivious the god was. But truthfully, she was somewhat grateful for his strong presence. Everytime she found something of his, the brunette felt less lonely in the small, isolated apartment.

It reminded her that someone was waiting for her when she returned home after her classes everyday.

And while feeding the greedy deity was proving to be expensive, she was also pleased to realize how comfortable he was to even pluck from her fridge and cupboards to begin with.

Hiyori wouldn't be surprised if, one day, she discovered the god unconscious on her sofa from the night before.

Suddenly, her cell phone started ranging, the caller ID displayed as it vibrated against the table. Hiyori didn't need to check to know who was calling when she answered.

"Hi, I'm about to head to campus right now-"

"Ah, perfect. You haven't left yet then."

Hiyori jumped.

That voice wasn't coming from her phone.

She immediately spun around, coming face-to-face with sunny eyes and a slick grin. He lowered his phone from his ear and flipped it shut, slipping it into his pocket.

"Yato!" The brunette hissed in a warning tone. "What are you doing here?"

He waved his hand in her direction and turned away, dismissing her. "Nothing, nothing!" He answered. "I just remembered I left something here last night."

Yato tapped his chin and thought and Hiyori watched as he made his way down the hall. He opened one of the doors and headed inside.

Hiyori felt her face turn pink. There was definitely nothing of his in her bedroom. He was just messing with her.

"That's my room, Yato!"

Within a minute or two, the god exited the bedroom, only to walk past the girl again in the other direction. He mumbled to himself as he approached the washing machine and dryer.

"Whatever it is you're looking for, could you hurry up? I'm going to be late," Hiyori groaned.

"Yeah, yeah! One sec!" Yato's voice echoed from within the dryer where he had stuck his head in to reach around inside.

Hiyori sighed impatiently.

No longer than thirty seconds later, the god made a victorious sound and retrieved an article of clothing from the machine. "Got it!"

The girl noticed the thin, tattered white rag he clutched in his hand before continuing to tie it around his neck. Her eyebrow twitched.

That damn "fluffy-fluff scarf."

"S-... seriously? That's what was so important?"

"It completes the outfit!" He defended.

Hiyori groaned and rolled her eyes at his antics. She turned and headed for the front door.

"Whatever, I'm leaving now," she told him as she slipped on her shoes at the steps. "I'll be back soon."

She gave him a half bow, meaning to be nothing more than a polite goodbye. She scanned herself to make sure she had everything before leaving. Hiyori turned to face the door again, barely stepping outside when she heard a low chuckle from behind her.

"You should bow to me more often."

"Huh?"

Hiyori came to a complete halt and whirled around in surprise.

The god was no longer there. However, his words clung to her. It took her a moment to process as she stood still, staring at the spot he had just been in. Her face suddenly felt warm.

. . . .

What did he mean by that? He was teasing her, but had there been some seriousness in there somewhere? Was he only saying that to reinforce their god and human relationship? Or was he hoping to use her to his own advantage?

Hiyori came to a screeching halt. A pleasant chill shot down her spine. She bit her lip.

Did he expect her to take it any other way? Would he have said that to anyone else, or had it only been directed towards her specifically?

"Earth to Hiyori!"

"W-what?" Hiyori blinked and looked up, finding Yama waving her hands in front of her face.

"Wow!" The blonde exclaimed brightly, pointing her thumb behind them. "I was trying to get your attention all the way back there!"

The half-Phantom turned to look over her shoulder where her friend had come from. It was a long hallway.

"Ah - sorry!" She laughed weakly, a nervous sweat running down her forehead.

She reached into her pocket for her phone. No new messages.

He was definitely teasing her.

Should she text him first? Or should she wait for him? What would she say? Should she invite him over again tonight?

"Someone's quite distracted today."

The brunette laughed weakly.

Yama was right.

How had she been so taken aback by that god's strange comment?

Hiyori had no simple answer to offer for her odd behavior. There was no easy way to explain the way it was making her feel - the way he was making her feel.

"R-right…"

Luckily, Hiyori didn't need to strain her brain for an excuse before her friend came up with one.

"Don't tell me your professor is already stressing you out? We're only a few weeks into the first semester!"

"I-I suppose that must be it…" Hiyori replied, going along with it.

The two began walking together, the courtyard coming into view ahead of them. They took seats at the picnic table, sitting across from each other. Yama began conversation while Hiyori retrieved her lunch, the paper bag crinkling as she opened it.

"Remember that boy I told you Ami was friends with?"

The brunette thought back to when she received that information just the other day from the group messages her and her friends had been sending. She nodded between bites of the fruit she packed.

"Well apparently she's been seeing him for a few weeks now. And they're officially official!" Yama announced excitedly.

Hiyori blinked in surprise. She clasped her hands together in awe. "Ah, Ami-chan found someone? That's wonderful!"

"Yep! I guess that just leaves us by ourselves, huh!" Yama chuckled.

The image of a crooked smile and blue eyes popped into the half-Phantom's mind.

Her cheeks tinted pink, and she laughed with uncertainty. "R-right…"

Why were her thoughts always so plagued by him?

A sense of surprise suddenly swept into Yama's expression.

"Oh no - don't tell me! You've met someone too?" She said, leaning in closer to probe her best friend.

Hiyori's face felt hot. How was she supposed to explain her situation to someone who had no idea of the Far Shore?

Hiyori smoothed down the part of brown locks framing her face, shying away. "A-actually… I've known him for a few years now…"

Yama's eyes widened, her interest peaking. "Someone from high school?" She gasped. "Is it Fujisaki-senpai?!"

Hiyori nearly choked on her water. "N-no! Anyone but him!"

That was a name she hadn't heard since high school, almost two years ago. He had graduated her junior year, leaving her and her remaining friends behind. She had not heard of him - or from him - since then.

It also helped that he fled town for college. And Hiyori was able to head steer clear of whatever-college and whatever-town he now belonged to.

It was completely bizarre to consider that an immortal maniac was living casually among the Near Shore.

No. It was actually terrifying.

Wherever he was, Hiyori was entirely grateful for his absence and silence. She could tell Yato was able to feel the relief from his father's sudden disappearance as well.

However, even without Fujisaki Kouto and all his chaos, there was just no simple way to expose everything without her good friend reacting negatively or claiming insanity.

"What?!" The blonde one blinked in surprise. "But you two seemed to be so close that time we went to the amusement park."

Capyper Land. How could she forget? The night of the parade and fireworks where her first kiss was stolen from her.

It almost seemed like such a distant memory now. It was too faint to grasp anymore. And yet, the feelings were still so strict - so raw.

However, looking back on it, she was painfully reminded of the fact that the one who had taken that kiss was not just any random schoolmate. It had been Yato's--

Her face drained of color. Hiyori shook her head, ridding herself of the disgusting thought.

"I-it was never like that! There was - is - someone else!"

Yama slumped back down into her seat on the bench. Hiyori thought she was disappointed by that news, but maybe it was just confusion.

"I still don't get it. Why did you never at least want to be friends with him?" The blonde asked, her eyebrows furrowing with confusion. "He seemed nice enough."

"B-because he…-!"

Hiyori quickly stopped herself. Her lips locked and her head swiveled around to make sure no one was within earshot.

"He… kissed me…" she saw Yama's eyes fill with shock, and continued before she could react any further, "but it was my first kiss... I didn't want it - not from him!"

Her friend calmed down, her shoulders slumping to her sides. She shared a sympathetic look.

"I'm sure he didn't know. If he did, he wouldn't have done it…"

But Fujisaki did know. And that was exactly why he did it. Which was why Hiyori loathed him so much.

Yet, she understood her best friend was only trying to offer her some consolation.

Hiyori sighed heavily, her body sinking downward. Why was she suddenly so fatigued?

Once again, the brunette found herself stuck. She couldn't go into detail about the real story. So, she gave her best friend the benefit of the doubt.

"I… suppose you're right," Hiyori answered softly, lying.

She began picking at her sliced strawberries in their container, suddenly losing her appetite.

There was a brief silence between the women. Hiyori could practically hear the gears of Yama's brain grinding as she reached for a change of topic. Finally, she spoke.

"Looks like I'll have to meet someone on campus now!" Yama joked, attempting to lighten the atmosphere. "What do you say, Hiyori? Wanna help me spot some cuties around here?"

The blonde companion was already scanning the courtyard around them in search of a perfect male partner.

Nervous sweat ran down Hiyori's temple. She packed up her lunch and reached for her bag.

"A-actually…" she began, slowly retreating from the picnic table, "I have to get to my next class before I'm late."

"Aww, seriously?" Her friend whined in disappointment. "I wanted to hear all about that guy you've got now!"

"Maybe later!" Hiyori called back, already fleeing back inside.

As soon as the brunette's back was to her friend, her shoulders fell and her smile immediately faded. Hiyori's thoughts were free to consume her without distraction again.

How did she ever get so caught up in this twisted plot of all-powerful gods and deranged father figures?

. . . .

Hiyori bit the nail on her thumb, staring at the text message on her cell phone.

'Wanna meet at Kofuku's tonight? We've got plenty of chicken and rice to feed the whole country!'

Her heart skipped, but it was not with the usual gentle fluttering she had lately been feeling. It was anxiety blooming.

Hiyori didn't know what had suddenly come over her. Just this morning, she was overjoyed to see him again this afternoon - and she would have even agreed to visiting the shrine where her Far Shore friends resided. But after her earlier conversation with Yama, some sort of fear stirred her thoughts.

She continued grinding that nail between her teeth nervously. She wracked her brain for a plausible excuse.

Hiyori could practically see the excited smile across his face. Which only hurt her more.

'I'm not feeling so well. Just go on without me. I'll come by another time.'

She immediately locked her phone and turned it over, laying it flat against her nightstand. She could almost sense the sudden string of messages the god would send after that. And yet, the brunette didn't want to see or hear those constant notifications.

She turned towards her bathroom and closed the door behind her. Turning the hot water on, Hiyori continued to test the water with her hand under the faucet. Deciding it was a perfect temperature, she pulled off her clothes and step into the bath.

. . . .

'You're sick? Are you in pain?''

'Why didn't you tell me earlier?'

'Hiyoriiiii!'

'Answer meee! Are you okay?'

The young boy sitting across the table watched his master as he viciously typed away on his phone, immersed in whatever world he was in.

"Jeez, I pity the person on the other end of that."

Yato lifted his head, his gaze torn from his phone screen. He raised an eyebrow in offense at the remark.

"It's just Hiyori," the god defended.

Yukine sucked in his breath through his teeth, making an audible noise of discomfort.

"Yikes…" he cringed in response.

Yato rolled his eyes and turned away. However, in doing so, he ended up giving the boy an opening to view the screen of his phone.

Yukine glanced over and craned his neck to see over his master's shoulder.

There was one message from Hiyori's end, and the rest were all from Yato. For every one text she sent, he was sending at least four more.

"I think you're the clingy girlfriend in that conversation."

Yato's eyebrow twitched. He turned back to his Regalia beside him and used his free arm to shove Yukine away. He resisted, shoving back.

"Don't you have something better to do with your time?" The god ground his teeth together aggressively.

The blonde boy brought his socked foot up to his master's ribcage, attempting to gain leverage to escape his grasp.

"Not really - I have all eternity."

Yato glared down at him. "That's saying you don't die in the next few seconds."

"I'm already dead!"

"You can die again, you brat!"

They had come to a full wrestling match; each tugging the other's hair, their limbs tangled in the risky brawl.

"Hey!" Another, much more booming voice joined.

The two froze and turned to discover Daikoku standing in the doorway, carrying dishes with him.

"Why don't you two compose yourselves and help me set the table?"

Almost immediately, they both collected themselves and pulled away from each other. Yukine dusted himself off before retrieving the plates and utensils from the tall man. He handed some to Yato to take. The two set the table together.

Yato handed the fifth plate back to Daikoku.

Daikoku raised an eyebrow in confusion, slowly taking the dish. "Isn't Hiyori-chan visiting?"

The god shook his head. "Not tonight. She… said she wasn't feeling good."

Yukine stopped and lifted his head. "What?!" He exclaimed in disbelief. "Did she catch a cold or something?"

Yato seemed just as taken aback as his Regalia. "I dunno! She seemed fine this morning…"

Remembering his phone, the god reached into his pocket and flipped it open. Expecting to see at least one new message, he was only met with a low battery warning. He groaned to himself.

"She's not even answering my texts…" he muttered aloud.

"I wouldn't either if some idiot was blowing up my phone," Yukine commented.

Yato shot him a dirty glare.

"I hope she's alright," Daikoku said with slight worry. "We haven't seen her in a while."

"Yeah, all of us except Yato."

And suddenly, both pairs of eyes were on the sweaty god.

He seemed alarmed at first, like a deer caught in headlights. For a moment, Yato stumbled over his words in an attempt to find a valid excuse. Then, one came to him.

"Someone's gotta make sure she doesn't forget about us!" He loudly defended.

There was a sense of truth to those words, as he had been keeping in close contact to protect her memories of him and the Far Shore. However, that wasn't necessarily his main purpose of sticking by her side.

He didn't think of it as overbearing or clingy. She'd even given him the code to get into her apartment. So he couldn't ever be overstepping. Right?

They just weren't aware of how close he and Hiyori had grown over the past year. They were treading on new territory together, and it really stirred something inside him.

Having something that no one else did was thrilling. And he had Hiyori.

And damn, did he love her recent, newfound playfulness. Finally, his efforts were paying off.

A whole new side of Hiyori revealed itself, and he was prepared to test those boundaries.

Or rather, he would if Hiyori would only answer his texts.

Yukine glared back in suspicion. A second too long for Yato's liking. But then the young boy sighed in defeat.

"I guess you're right."

Yato attempted to conceal his relief from his Regalia.

The sound of his goddess' voice alluded Daikoku back to his station in the kitchen. He continued finishing the meal he had already begun while Yato and Yukine remained in the other room by the kotatsu.

The blonde boy sat and returned to his magazine. His master found a spot beside him. The two found themselves in silence yet again.

However, the absence of sound was unusual for the god. At that realization, Yukine lifted his head to investigate. He was entranced by his cell phone in his hand.

His eyes never left that damn phone.

The boy sighed, audibly annoyed. "Staring at your phone won't make her answer you faster."

Yato instantly sputtered out, trying to find words to respond. His dramatic, bewildered response caused the corner of Yukine's mouth to twitch upward briefly.

He loved pushing his master's buttons.

"I-I'm just checking the weather!" Yato practically shouted, clearly lying.

Yukine gave him a deadpan expression. "For twenty whole minutes?"

The young boy's comment didn't seem to strike the nerve he'd thought it would. Yato only gave his Regalia a mild glare before sighing and flipping his phone shut. He stuffed it into his pocket and stood up.

"I'm gonna go check on her," the god said, already slipping on his boots by the door.

"But-" Yukine's objection was swallowed by another.

"You should let her rest."

Yato turned over his shoulder to see Daikoku and Kofuku standing in the kitchen doorway.

The delivery god didn't have a chance to respond before the pink-haired goddess intervened.

"Let him go, Daiki," she vouged. "He's just worried - someone should make sure Hiyorin's alright!"

Kofuku glanced back to Yato, whose expression softened into an appreciative one. She smiled back.

"Right, Yatty?"

She always had his back. She knew Hiyori was always his first priority.

"Right," he nodded in confirmation. "Thanks, Kofuku."

With that, the tracksuit-wearing god stepped outside. He disappeared among the trees and building tops.

. . . .

"Hiyori?!" The god called out.

The only thing that called back was a still, empty apartment.

He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jersey, casually strolling through. He turned the corner, poking his head around.

"Hiyo-!"

A distant, startled gasp pointed Yato's head in the direction of the hallway. Sure enough, there she was.

Hiyori froze, and Yato paused. Their gazes both locked from ten feet away.

Yato hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary; she was alert, her face was fresh and fair, and she appeared comfortable in her pink pajamas. There was no visible sign of illness or pain.

"Ah! There you are!" The god exclaimed, his eyes brightening. "The others were worried about you, and you weren't answering your phone-"

He stepped forward, approaching her. She stepped back. He came to a halt again, sensing her tension.

An unusual reaction, Yato noted.

His eyes searched her with uncertainty. His mouth was agape with the questions he never asked.

"What's-?"

Suddenly, Hiyori retreated to her bedroom. She swiftly shut the door. Yato recognized the sound of the lock clicking.

Now he was nervous.

"H-hey, wait!"

The god rushed to the bedroom door. He attempted to turn the knob, to no avail. Slightly panicked and confused, he slapped his palm against the door to gain her attention.

"Hiyori?! What's wrong?" He attempted.

"You-..." Her voice stumbled, finally answering from the other side, "you shouldn't be here!"

Yato released the doorknob, but his hand still hovered over it. He hesitated and looked back at the direction he'd come from, debating his exit.

Did he do something wrong? Had he said something?

"W-what do you mean - why not?"

The silence that followed wasn't very reassuring.

Yato didn't know if she was trying to form a lie, or if she was choosing not to answer. He didn't wait much longer before speaking once more.

"What's going on? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she answered, a bit too quickly.

And that was it. She didn't offer anything other than that.

Why was she being so cryptic? Her words and tone were so ominous - something didn't sit well with him.

He didn't believe it for a second. He knew her better.

"Hiyori…" he began, his voice softer and quieter than before, "open the door."

"Please just go, Yato…"

No. He couldn't.

"Not until I see you first."

"Y-you need to go."

Why was she acting this way?

"Hiyori, c'mon…," Yato's voice softened to a near whisper, "it's just me. It's just us…"

His head and hand rested against the door - the closest he could reach her.

His words seemed to hush her. After the longest few seconds of his life, the god heard her unlock it. His eyes widened, and Yato stepped away to allow her room to provide her space.

Her slender, delicate finger reached around to hold the door. Hiyori stood in the narrow opening of the doorway. She wouldn't open it more than he could see half of her figure.

At first, she would only - could only - stare shamefully at his feet. And for a brief moment, the girl glanced up at him innocently through her dark bangs. Her eyes instantly plummeted to the floor - as if the mere sight of him was causing her torture.

Yato noticed it instantly.

She was physically well and healthy; the pain was in her eyes, the sickness in her soul.

There was no medicine for that.

The god reached out his hand in her direction, attempting to offer some security for her. As if he was holding a torch to her, Hiyori gasped and withdrew further into her bedroom.

Yato swallowed hard. A lump was forming in his throat, and his eyes stung with incoming tears.

So he was the problem. She was suffering because of him.

"Well…," he began awkwardly, his gaze dropping too, "I guess I'll leave you be then…"

As the god disappeared around the corner, he could feel the half-Phantom's eyes boring his back from afar.

The possibility of the two severing their ties had died long before then. But suddenly, Yato's mind was beginning to consider the idea again.