Over the next few days, J was nowhere to be found. Mikuni had already announced J's departure from the Student Council and from school. It was obvious he was unhappy, but his fury was hidden under a façade of sadness.

The Student Council, Newspaper Club, and Dracula were all shocked though. And once Hayakawa and Tachibana heard the news… Hayakawa felt complicated about it. He was the last person to see J, after all.

Hayakawa thought about it…about what J said before he left. After apologizing but not exactly forgiving him, J said that he was tired…and needed time to think…but his goodbye…it felt like he was leaving and never coming back.

'He ran away…' Hayakawa realized, 'He cut off all ties to this city and ran away…' He sighs, 'But the Bloodline is the only thing that'll get him back here. I just know he'll be back…'

Meanwhile…

J was in another city, wandering at night, the moon and city lights bright. Only…the black cat jumped out from his bag and ran off, J chasing after it.

Then… an orange cat wearing a scarf for a collar meowed. The black cat meowed back and followed it with J close behind.

They went through a gate with a grand walkway, bamboo on both sides. Panting, J stopped in front of a building. On the sign was "Rokuhoudou," and next to the building was a plum blossom tree.

It was there that he met a man sweeping the grounds. He was wearing glasses and a blue yukata.

"Kinako…you made a new friend?" the man smiles at the orange cat.

"Ah…sorry," J mutters as he bows. That black cat came up to him, jumping on his shoulders.

"Don't run off again," J scolds the cat as the cat purrs, rubbing its head against J's cheek.

The man laughs, "Well…it's quite alright."

"Do you want something to eat?" he asks.

J shakes his head, "No, it's alri-" and his stomach growls.

Blushing, J looks at the ground, embarrassed as the man laughs again.

"C'mon. We'll get you something to eat," he says, inviting J inside.

Silently, J follows him.

When inside, J is amazed. It's a spacious tea house that feels nostalgic…like he was back in the past, a hundred years ago.

"You like the place?"

The man's voice snaps J out of it, "Eh? Yeah…"

"Sui! It's time for din-" another man, one with long black hair tied in a ponytail enters, "-ner…" and sees J with his cat. "You invited someone?"

"We just met out front," Sui smiles, "I hope you don't mind, Tokitaka?"

"Not at all," Tokitaka smiles.

Then two other people appear, arguing about something. One was an older man with short black hair and scuff. The other was a redhead guy about J's age.

"Ahem!"

The two stop arguing, and stare at J, who nervously looked away.

"We have a guest tonight?" The older man asks sparkles in his eyes.

"Yes…please treat him well," Sui says as he guides J to a seat.

Sui pets and takes pictures of Kinako and the black cat, cooing. "Ne, what's your cat's name?"

"… Midori…his name's Midori," J amusedly says as he watched Sui enthusiastically take pictures of the two cats.

"What's your name then? I'm Tsubaki," the redhead smiles, then points to the older man, "And that's Gure." Gure waves.

"I'm J," he shyly says as he takes off his cap.

'He looks like a cat!' they think as Sui sneakily takes a picture of J.

"Well…J. Here's dinner," Tokitaka smiles as he brings in the meal.

They "Itadakimasu!" and dig in.

J's eyes brighten at the taste, "Delicious!"

The others smile, proud of themselves.

Once dinner was finished, Tokitaka asks, "Don't you have to go home?"

"Actually…I just arrived in this city today…so I don't have a place to stay yet," J sheepishly admits.

They stare at each other before nodding.

"Well, you can stay here tonight," Sui says.

"Really?"

"Really," he nods.

J smiles, "Thank you."

J stays in the guest room upstairs for the night.

In the morning…

Everyone was up early, prepping for the day.

Gure insisted on making J coffee.

"OK."

As he watches Gure work, J's reminded of Hayakawa a bit. How he'd miss Hayakawa-san's coffee… He shakes his head at the thought.

Gure placed a cup of coffee in front of J. The latte art though…

"It's a bunny," Gure smiles proudly.

J sweat-drops at the so-called "bunny," but sips the coffee anyway.

"Can I be honest with you?"

"Sure," Gure nods.

"The coffee itself is delicious," Gure smiles proudly, "…but your latte art suc-" J coughs as he tries to put it delicately, "is terrible."

Gure is thereby shocked then depressed. The others, who were eavesdropping, were shocked as well, 'He said it!'

"Even I could do latte art better than you," J finishes him off.

"Oh really? Prove it!" Tsubaki jumps in as the others also come out from hiding in the kitchen.

They see J work, and he did it. A latte art of a bunny, much better than Gure's, and as soon as Gure tasted it, he said, "Delicious…"

They all were impressed, especially Tsubaki.

"Where did you learn how to do that?" Gure asks.

"…" J hesitates as he thought about Hayakawa before forcing a smile, giving a vague answer, "I had a strict teacher…"

"Ne, can you help out around here? As our part-timer?" Sui asks with bright eyes.

"Eh? Uh…" J was surprised at the offer.

"You can be a live-in part-timer! We do need the help!" Tsubaki chimes in.

After thinking about it, plus with all the bright-eyed stares, J agrees, "Sure."

"Then, can you help prep these vegetables?" Tokitaka smiles.

"And help me prep the sweets!" Tsubaki smiles.

"And making coffee!" Gure smiles a bit depressingly.

"Oi! Don't pressure him all at once!" Sui laughs.

"Actually…I'm good with a knife and sweets, so I can help you both prep. As for the coffee…I can obviously help out too," J smiles.

Their eyes all sparkled, "Welcome, part-timer!"

Sui gets J a blue yukata to put on, one of Tsubaki's since they're similar in size, and they begin work, opening up Rokuhoudou.

Their day was busy. All the hustle and bustle was something J wasn't used to, but… 'It's enjoyable…'

Tired, J decides to rest after a full day of work.

When Sui checks on him, he sees J asleep with Midori and Kinako napping on top of him. He takes a picture to commemorate their new part-timer.