The Girl in the Corner

A/N: Thank you once again for all the reviews! I hope that this chapter meets your expectations. This chapter was hard to write seeing as while I had the beginning and end planned out already, I had to find a well-to-do way to tie them together.

Pairings to be expected are Kid/Chrona, Soul/Maka, and a few surprise ones.

Disclaimer: This is merely a fanfic meant for entertainment and none of the characters, or real things, present belong to me unless I say otherwise.

Note: The chapter will switch between points of views. You will know when the point of view changes whenever the character's name appears BOLD and there is a line.

Chrona

You've been a bad girl

You deserve to be punished

You're a curse onto everyone

No one will really love you

You never have been loved

You don't deserve to be loved

You will always be alone

"Chrona!"

My eyes shot open at the sound of Ragnarok's voice yelling at me through the door of my room. I pulled my pillow closer to my body, enjoying its softness for a few more seconds before I decided to finally get up, knowing that if I wasn't out on time I would get in trouble. Mother always said that 'good girls' knew when to do what they have to do. But I'm always late, which makes me a 'bad girl'.

"Chrona, it's time to get up you idiot! You'll be late for school, and we don't want that now do we?"

I could tell how much he didn't care when he said those last words by just his rough tone. The mattress squeaked as I sat up, still holding onto my pillow, my itchy blanket falling off my body. The mornings were always the same routine, and with Mother not around this time it was a bit calming.

It was what may come for me after school that frightens me….

"I-I'm up," I softly announced, hoping he heard me. I heard him let out an irritated sigh followed by his footsteps walking away from the door. "Just get ready- I'm tired of waiting for you." He said from down the hall.

"Y-yes-" I quickly obliged. I looked at the clock up on my wall that read "6:25". Classes don't' start until seven, but I live a long way from the building so I have to leave as soon as possible. I hated walking all that way, but knowing that Maka and Tsubaki will be going down the same path made me happy.

Happiness is a fleeting thing my dear….

I fixed my small bed to the best of my ability, making sure that there were no wrinkles in the blanket and that the pillow was properly placed. Mother always said that that 'good girls' always knew how to fix things nicely. I always messed up when doing this, though, I could never be neat. I am a 'bad girl'.

After that task was done, I scurried over to my dresser and took out my school uniform, hoping that it looked clean enough. Slipping out of the clothes I slept in, I slipped into my long sleeved top and ankle-length skirt as fast as I could. I didn't want to irritate Ragnarok any more than he already was.

The weather was slightly warm, but I didn't mind. Mother said that my 'punishments' needed to be hidden- only the family could know about them. Those outside the family who found out must be 'disposed off', because 'that person would ruin everything'.

"I can't let those wounds be ignored now Chrona,"

Shinigami-kun knows about her 'punishments'. He saw them on my legs. He saw them on my arms. He knows about them all. If I told Mother would she 'dispose' of him?

"If anyone should be giving something back, it should be me."

I felt the pocket of my skirt, making sure that my photograph was still there, where it should stay. Shinigami-kun said that he didn't look at it. That was really nice of him…Maka said he 'didn't like me' though, which makes me wonder why he is so kind to me now.

Often kindness is just a mask to hide how much they are disgusted by you…

Yesterday he asked me questions about my 'punishments'. Would he ask me about them today too? I don't think I'll know how to deal with that….

"Chrona, get down here or you'll be late!" Ragnarok yelled once again, frustration clear. "I-I'm ready!" I called back as loud as I could, grabbing my book bag from the dress and running out my room. I was slightly thankful that Mother worked early in the morning for if she saw me right now she would yell at me again.

Bad things always happen to trash like you

Maka

"Can you believe, him, Tsubaki?" I huffed, tapping my foot on the city streets as the two of us waited for Chrona. I was telling Tsubaki about the suspicious position I caught Kid and Chrona in yesterday.

From the unsure look on her face, it was clear she didn't know how to respond. I guess I was a bit too harsh.

"Maybe he's telling the truth," She nervously answered, hoping that I wouldn't burst out in anger at her. I tried to calm myself down by taking deep breaths. "I mean, you'll never know, what if Kid-kun may actually like Chrona-"

"He made her cryTsubaki," I frowned, "Guys don't make the girls they like cry."

"Well have you talked to Liz and Patty about it?"

"I plan to today, especially Patty since she was with Kid after school the day I left him with Chrona to clean the classroom. I knew I should have said 'no' to Papa…"

"You're so overprotective…" Tsubaki sighed, moving one of her black bangs out of her face only for it to move back into place. I know I could be a bit overbearing sometimes, but I couldn't help but feel like Chrona needs protection. When we first meet, something about her made me feel that she was scared of the world. And she still seemed like that.

We stood there for a few minutes in complete silence, really not knowing what to say since I pretty much started the morning conversation with a furious rant.

"S-sorry I'm late-" We both turned to our side and saw Chrona running in our direction, looking a bit distressed as always, though I kind of got the feeling that she was feeling more down than usual.

"Good morning!"

"Morning Chrona."

Tsubaki and I greeted her, before the three of us made our way to the school building. I knew that Kid was going to try something again today, but I swear if he tries to get close to her this time I will Maka-Chop his head in half. And I'm going to make sure the dent isn't symmetrical either.

Kid

"You're still not going to say anything?"

I groaned, wanting so badly to continue reading my book than to listen to Soul and Black*Star, who had been standing by my desk since I entered homeroom, constantly pester me with the same questions. "For the last time," I glared at the two of them, "Nothing- Happened-Period."

"Denial," Soul smirked. I swear to god that he has been using that word more than he uses the word 'cool', and that's saying something. "Come on, tell us, tell us- what did you do to Chrona!" Black*Star grinned at me evilly.

"You're both conspiring against me, aren't you?" I bluntly asked, sending them one more glare before returning to my book. "We'll keep on bugging you until you say something," Black*Star threatened.

"You wouldn't last," I answered back, only to remember a second later that they were the type of guys who could.

"….Alright than," I came up with a small little ploy of mine that would hopefully shut them up and yet provide me with some answers. "I'll answer your question if you answer mine completely, deal?"

"…Okay, what's the question?" Soul raised a brow.

"What do you know about Chrona's family?"

For the first time since I stepped into the classroom, Black*Star and Soul's mouths were shut. I enjoyed the silence.

"…."

"…."

"Chrona has a family?" Black*Star blinked a few times as if he was registering the information into his pint-sized brain, looking more confused than ever "I always thought she was one of those students who lived alone."

"Maka told me she has a mom," Soul shrugged, giving me an answer that I already knew, "but that's it. She never even met the mom either, Chrona just told her about her."

"Is that so…" I mumbled, not satisfied with their answers. I already knew she had a mom (I'm trying to find out what she's like). What I was mainly looking for was whether or not they knew if Chrona had a brother and/or a sister.

As I would have assumed these two knew nothing, not that I'm really surprised seeing as they don't talk to Chrona as much as the girls do. Today I plan to ask every one of them about what they knew about Chrona's family, though Patty and Liz are excused because I already asked them and Maka will be the last person to turn to, seeing as she's still angry at me.

I would go up and ask Chrona myself, but I've already disrupted her privacy enough. If anything, asking her would be the last resort.

"Why are you asking, anyway?" Soul's sharp, dirty grin spread across to his face, "Don't tell me you-"

"It's really doesn't concern you why I care so much," I clearly stated, knowing well enough that these two wouldn't be able to understand the seriousness of what I have discovered. Hell, I highly doubt they'll even believe me.

"Now I suggest that you two take your seats before Sid comes in,"

"Hey wait," Soul pointed an accusing finger, "You said that if we answer your question you'll finally answer ours!"

"I said that if you answer my question completely I would. Neither of you gave me a clear one," I smirked, waiting for Soul to lash out at me. "Don't be such a smartass, you little-"

"Fighting already you guys?" Maka stepped into the classroom with an annoyed expression, staring intently at the three of us. "Oh please, if this was an actual fight I would have won already, and you know why?" Black*Star pointed to himself as he obnoxiously yelled, "Because I'm the great Black*Star-"

"We get it," Soul, Maka, and I dryly said, interrupting him before he could continue with his loud rant about his 'godliness'.

"You really can't go one morning without causing something, can you boys?" Maka shook her head as if she was a disappointed mother. Soul merely rolled his eyes, "It's not like we can be 'miss charisma' like you Maka." Sarcasm was as clear as day in his tone.

"What are you trying to say, Soul-?"

I turned my attention away from the bickering pair, preferring to focus more on the pinkette who stood timidly behind Maka. Patty was trying so hard to apologize for what happened with the snake, even though for nearly the entire school day yesterday she had been spewing nothing but "I'm sorry". Unlike Black*Star, Patty knew when she went too far. It's nice to know my sister had at least some common sense.

I watch Chrona nervously squirm as she ensured the blonde that everything was okay now and that she had nothing against her. Once again she was rubbing one of her arms nervously. Her arms…

Chrona's gaze suddenly shifted over and her blues eyes met mine. She stared at me for a second before instantly looking down in fear, I could tell she was scared by the way her eyes widened and the way her body became tenser.

"Are you okay Chrona?" I heard Patty ask. "Y-yeah, I-I'm fine…" She's lying. It's so easy to tell now.

Since what happened yesterday, Chrona has been trying to avoid me in any way possible, to the best of her ability- she's been trying not to look me in the eye, she's been trying not to walk near me, and she's even making sure I'm a good couple feet away from her whenever we're in the same room.

I really screwed up now, didn't I? I really shouldn't have pushed the issue, but really if I didn't than those cuts on Chrona's legs and arms would have gone unnoticed for who knows how long. I really feel like telling someone would be the best solution, but if I do than whatever trust Chrona has left for me will disappear.

So really my best bet is to continue what I've been doing for a while now. I have to keep on being the "private analyst" I've always considered myself. I will figure out what the hell is going on through mere observation and interrogation, it has never failed me before.

Liz

"What did Kid ask you?" Tsubaki looked at me wide eyes as we sat in our adjacent desks, waiting for our homeroom teacher to get here.

As I played with a strand of my dirty blonde hair, I repeated what I said a second ago. "He asked me if I knew anything about Chrona's family."

"And what did you say?"

"I said I didn't know much. Chrona only confides in Maka, remember? She rarely approaches any of us when it comes to personal matters." It kind of pitiful how Chrona was so clingy with Maka, but at the same time I found it strange. I liked Chrona, she's cute in the nervous oddball kind of way, but something about her didn't rub me the right way.

"Do you know anything about Chrona's family?" I asked her. She shook her head, "Nothing at all. Maka said she had a mom, but that's it…"

"See, she only confides in Maka!"

"She's just shy," Tsubaki defended, laughing nervously.

I shook my head, "No, Tsubaki. 'Shy' is like only being able to approach your crush by writing him a love letter because you didn't want to look at his 'cute face'-"

"D-don't say that-that-that was years ago-!" Tsubaki immediately interrupted, blushing due to embarrassment at the reminder. I giggled at her reaction, mainly because I found that old dilemma to be hilarious, but I quickly shifted back to being serious.

"Chrona's not really…Shy…Well she is in a way, but not like you Tsubaki…." I thought over it a bit more.

Yeah, that sounds about right. Chrona's not entirely shy. She seems more- what's a good word? - Terrified. She's terrified of something (or someone). Chrona does seem like the type who's scared of everything, so I guess her behavior shouldn't be surprising…

"She's a real puzzle…" I mumbled. For some reason Tsubaki had a knowing smile forming on her face, "Maybe that's why Kid's so interested. You did say he liked 'puzzles' right?" She pointed out.

I thought over this too. I may be blonde, but that didn't mean I didn't think as much as Kid did. I chuckled, shaking my head.

"…Yeah, he does like 'puzzles'…" Especially the kind that is hard to solve.

Hours Later….

Kid

"WOO-HOO!"

There he goes again. Every lunch break Black*Star feels like he has to jump out of his seat and announce it to the world that it is time to eat. When is he going to realize that the bell already does that for us?

"So, do you guys want to stay here and eat, or go to the cafeteria?" Maka asked. All six of us came together in our classroom to discuss where we should eat. We like to switch around at times; it keeps things interesting to say the least.

"Let's try here for today," Soul suggested, "they're serving curry for lunch today, and I bet the cafeteria is freaking hell right now."

"I see nothing wrong with that," I casually agreed. "Yay- lunch time- lunch time~" Patty sang, holding her pink lunch box and swinging it around.

"S-sorry-but-" I heard Chrona begin. We all turned to face her and she immediately flinched. Twiddling her fingers, she nervously continued "-b-but-I-I have to do something, so I-I can't stay."

"Oh," Maka's expression was a mix of concern and curiosity. I could only imagine that mine was the same in a way.

"Y-yeah…" Chrona mumbled, still twiddling her fingers. "I can go with you-" Maka was cut off by one of Chrona's strange outbursts."

"N-no, it's okay!" Chrona assured loudly, catching us all by surprise. There was a few seconds of awkward silence before she decided to take her leave. "I-I'll see you later!" She cried, walking as quickly as she could out of the classroom.

As 'perfect timing' would have it, Tsubaki and Liz just happened to enter the classroom the very moment that Chrona made her exit. Both of them looked at Chrona strangely, before turning to us to ask their own questions.

"Where's she going?"

"Is she okay?"

"I'll go and make sure," I volunteered. As always I didn't plan to stick around for even another second to listen to their protests (if they had any), but this time, just as I was about to walk off, someone grabbed my uniform jacket from behind. (Oh crap, the wrinkles.)

"Oh no, you'll let her be this time!" It was Maka, of course.

"Aren't you just as concerned as I am about what she may be doing?" I turned to face her. The two of us started having our own 'glaring contest', to see which one could cause the other to break down faster. Unfortunately neither of us faltered.

"Of course I'm concerned, but Chrona needs privacy too!"

"But what if she gets hurt and might need help?" Even though the painful truth was that she was already enduring hurt of her own.

"I-"

That caught Maka off guard for a good few seconds. I removed her hand from my jacket, not forgetting to straighten out any wrinkles she may have caused. I ran out of the classroom before she could catch me again, not wishing to deal with her anymore.

I heard Maka's loud voice yell "Where do you think you're going Kid-" before she was thankfully interrupted by Soul. "Just let him be, Maka."

Chrona

I didn't want to leave Maka and the others, but I really needed some time for myself. Things were making me a bit uncomfortable. Shinigami-kun was making me feel a bit uncomfortable.

Be alone. Stay alone. That is how you're going to spend life anyway.

I didn't like how crowded the halls were at this time of day, and the bathrooms weren't an option either because right now they were filled with the kind of girls who always wanted to poke fun at me.

So really my only option would be outside. It was okay to step out of the building, as long as I don't leave the school grounds. Hopefully Shinigami-kun doesn't follow me this time. No matter how nice he could be, I still couldn't deal with him knowing about my 'punishments'.

Quietly, not making eye contact with anything or anyone but the ground, I walked over to the outside drinking fountain that was located near the sports field which was behind the school. It was a place meant for the athletes to get a drink, but I was thankful that there was no P.E. at this time.

I rolled up my sleeve and pressed the button that would activate the water. I allowed the water to run all over my exposed arm, to run all over my 'punishments'. I don't know why I do this, but it makes me feel clean for some strange reason.

You feel clean? A person like YOU is clean? Don't make me laugh.

It's a nice feeling, almost like when I take a shower in the evening. The water feels really nice.

After a few more seconds, I stopped pressing the button causing the water to stop flowing. I shook some of the water from my arm, before reaching for and taking out the handkerchief in my pocket so I could dry it.

The handkerchief- it was Shinigami-kun's handkerchief.

"Here, go ahead, you can have it."

He gave this to me without even thinking twice. The way he looked at me, it makes me feel funny just remembering it.

"I have a lot of these, don't worry. Besides, you need something to wipe your eyes with when you cry."

Shinigami-kun- Maka says he doesn't like me, but yet he is so caring towards me….

"Tears make a cute face such as yours asymmetrical and I can't have that."

And he said I was cute. I've never had a boy say that to me before. Maka, Tsubaki, and especially Liz and Patty called me cute at times. But, I've never had a boy say that I was. I feel like smiling just at the memory, even though it's very embarrassing.

Don't be gullible enough to fall for such petty compliments.

"Chrona, there you are!"

Oh no. That voice.

As quickly as I could I yanked my sleeve down to cover my 'punishments'. I don't want Shinigami-kun to see them again. It would make things even more uncomfortable for me.

I stood there frozen, not bothering to turn around to face him. I hoped he was able to tell I didn't want to talk to him now.

When I felt a hand on my shoulder, automatically I knew he didn't get the message. Fear took over again as I refused to turn around. I rubbed the arm that I recently 'cleansed', finding the feeling of wet skin against the fabric of my sleeve quite itchy.

"I looked out the window and saw you here," he told me. 'But that doesn't mean you have to come after me!' was what I wanted to say, but I didn't want to shout at him. If I did than he wouldn't be nice to me anymore.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"…..Yeah…." I inaudibly mumbled. What I said didn't even sound like a 'yeah' even though that was my intended word.

"…"

There it goes again, the very awkward sensation I feel whenever he looks at me with those golden eyes, as if he's judging me or looking over every detail of me. Liz and Patty always said he likes analyzing things, but I couldn't understand why exactly he likes to analyze me. He's been doing that for a while now…

"I see now," I heard him say. I stood there as still as a statue, not knowing how to think about the feeling of his hand moving from my shoulder to the arm that I had just 'cleaned' minutes ago.

"It's wet, I'm guessing you splashed your arm with some water before I got here." was all he said. He probably thinks I'm strange now. He probably thinks I'm disgusting now.

"I-I'm sorry, Shinigami-kun," I quickly apologized, turning around to face him, which caused him to take a step back. I did the best apologetic bow I could. Tsubaki and Maka always said that it's the best way to show someone you're truly sorry.

"What are you apologizing for?" He asked, making me feel stupid. The tone of his voice wasn't angry though, it seemed more….What was the word….Amused.

"…Um…" I didn't know how to respond to him. I heard him let out a chuckle, though I had no idea what he found so funny, before he took my hand. This caused me to flinch and I wanted to pull back really badly. To touch or to be touched has always frightened me for some strange reason. But his hands were soft and warm…

"Come with me."

Maka

"They've sure been gone for a while," I heard Tsubaki point out as she poked at her meal.

The six of us arranged some of the desks side-by-side so that we could have our own little group in the classroom. Black*Star and Soul were too busy throwing their own food at each other in a mock food fight to really pay attention to anything around them.

"I've got this gut feeling that something is wrong," I frowned, before popping a piece of my chicken into my mouth. Patty just laughed at my words, as usual, while her older sister just sighed.

"Just calm down Maka, you've been Kid's friend longer than we have. You know he's not the kind of guy who would force himself onto a girl." Liz reassured me. Yes, I did knowthat. Kid's not a pervert, that's a given, but that's not what I'm worried about.

Kid may not be a pervert, but he can be real jackass, and with Chrona's sensitivity that's not a very good combination. In my eyes it wasn't anyway.

"Speaking of Kid," Liz began, though she paused a bit so she could bite into her loaf of bread. After she swallowed she continued on, "Has he asked you his 'special question' yet?"

"What 'special question'?" I raised a brow, immediately becoming interested. She shook her head disappointingly, "And I thought you would have been his first choice."

"Apparently Kid-kun's developed an interest in Chrona's family," Tsubaki smiled to the best of her ability, she probably assumed that bringing this information will cause me more agitation. She was right.

"He's been asking around if any one of us know about her folks~" Patty added in, even though her voice was slightly muffled due to all the food that was stuffed in her mouth, puffin out her cheeks.

"And what did you all say?" I asked.

"He didn't come to me yet, but if he did I would have said that I don't know anything," Tsubaki let out an unsure laugh. "I don't know anything either," Liz answered.

"Same here," I heard Soul agree. "I didn't even know Chrona had a family," Black*Star bluntly stated as he pulled out the rice that Soul threw at him out of his spiky hair.

"She has a mom, but the only reason I know that is because my papa met her before." I tried not to cringe at the idea of my own papa flirting with Chrona's mom as I continued talking, "She's a very well-trained doctor apparently. But really that's it. I think Chrona's her only child."

After she swallowed Patty let out another laugh, "He asked me if Chrona had a brother that one time~"

"And why's that?" We all turned to her out of mere interest in what she had to say, which for a few of us is a first.

"We both met this weird black haired guy after school," Patty looked up and stared at the ceiling as she kicked her legs, "He said he was looking for Chrona and Kid mentioned later that he came to pick her up~"

"What!"

"What did he look like exactly?" I shot up from my chair, ready to interrogate and to figure out who this guy was. "Um," Patty went into mock-thinking position as if she was actually trying, before her eyes became enlightened.

"He was older but really, really ripped. Um- he was dressed all punkish with those spiked bracelets, skin tight clothes and stuff. His hair was all messy…Ummm…Oh! And he had a big 'X' on his face!"

"…"

We all stood there in silence. I could bet you everything I had that we were all thinking the same thing: Who the hell looks like that?

"…Um, did he have a name Patty?" Tsubaki was the only one brave enough to ask. "Kid didn't tell me~"

I could hear Soul and Black*Star start discussing the situation. "So it was an older punk looking for Chrona after school?" Soul whispered to his friend. He was trying to whisper when he was next to me, what an idiot.

"You know it could be just some old friend of hers."

"Chrona doesn't look like the type who would hang out with punks. He could be a client-"

"You don't think that-"

CHOP!

I slammed my hardbound book right on both Soul and Black*Star's heads before they could continue talking. I made sure to leave heavy indentations in their brainless skulls. Honestly, why would they think like that? There's no way Chrona would do something so…Demeaning.

But Soul had a point- Chrona wasn't one to hang out with rather scary looking people. The image I developed of an older male with black hair and an 'X' on his face wasn't appealing at all.

Chrona, are you hiding something from me?

Kid

"Wh-where are we going?"

"Just a part of the school that I find very relaxing," I assured her.

Still holding her hand (Which, despite its obvious roughness, was pretty pleasant I must add), I led her up a few flights of stairs before reaching my destination. Reaching over to unlock the door with my own key, I gave her hand a light, comforting squeeze since I could feel her shaking out of fear.

"Here we are," I pushed the door opened, allowing the large rooftop of the school to come into view. "T-the roof?" I heard her stutter in confusion.

"I come here from time to time whenever I feel stressed." I haven't been coming as often as I used to, but I still find it to be a very peaceful destination. It was empty a majority of the time so no one would be disrupting the peace. But really there was only one thing that kept me coming.

"Over here Chrona," I gently pulled her to one side and she obediently, and quietly, followed. I brought her to the railing, allowing the two of us to have a breathtaking view of Death City. The view of the symmetrical buildings was wondrous. I could stare at them all day and admire just how well arranged they were. The soft breeze helped a lot with easing nerves as well.

"…."

I turned to Chrona to see her reaction, only to find myself wanting to burst out in laughter at her cuteness. She had this astounded shine in her eyes and her cheeks were colored a pretty shade of pink. She stared at the view with fascination as the wind played with her hair. It's like she was a child who just discovered something amazing and was left speechless.

She finally started talking after a few seconds of silent admiration "…I-it's-" She nervously shook a bit before she proceeded talking, her face become distressed, "-it-it's too bright a-and we're up so hi-high-"

That did it. The way she said it made me let out the laughter I was trying so hard to hold back. "Wha-what's so funny!" Chrona nervously asked, looking at me with uneasy surprise, "Sh-Shinigami-kun, why are you laughing! W-was it something I said!"

"I-it's-" I tried to calm myself down so I could speak properly; taking deep breaths that were meant to put me at ease. I finally let out an "It's nothing," allowing me to regain my cool and calm composure.

"You just seemed a bit tense, Chrona, and I just thought it would be a good idea to bring you here." I explained to her, returning my gaze to the serene sight. "I'll give you the key to unlock the door so you could come here when you're depressed. It's better than the bathroom I can assure that. I could always ask for another key so it's nothing to fret over."

"B-but why, Shinigami-kun?"

"Simple, I just want to help you," I sincerely smiled, causing her to look at me strangely. Clearly she didn't understand. "Help me?" She repeated.

"I know something is bothering you Chrona. I know someone is hurting you. And I'm the only one who does. Clearly you're not going to say anything about it to the others and you want me to keep my mouth shut, and that's understandable."

"…" Chrona didn't respond to me, but instead she rubbed her free hand up and down her other lower arm. I remembered the cuts- the heinous evidence that she was a victim- and tightened my hold on her hand.

"I'll be here when you're ready to talk. For now you can keep quiet, and I'll do the same in your favor."

I will just continue my investigation in silence, and if I must I will have to avoid getting the others involved.

Though right now, I would just like to spend this nice quiet moment with Chrona. I want her to know that from now on I'll be here when she needs someone, and always will be. Because I want to help you Chrona. I will help you, even if you don't want me to.

A/N: So we have a small look into what Chrona's mornings are like and we also get a more in-depth look at her feelings. School is really the only highlight in Chrona's day; the rest is filled with worry and fear.

So Chapter Four's main purpose is to show how oblivious her friends are of her abuse. They feel like something's wrong, but they just blame it on Chrona's personality. Kid is the only one who knows and that is how it's going to stay for a while. It also sets up the moment where Kid reassures Chrona that he is going to be there if she needs someone to talk to about her 'problems'.

The rooftop of the school building is also significant, posing as a special place for the two. Expect it to be one of the main settings for upcoming chapters. And yes part of the scene was taken from episode 26, sue me for unoriginality.

Chapter Five will take place quite a few days after this chapter, and it will contain some more Kid/Chrona if that is what you guys are wanting. Remember, while Kid may like Chrona, Chrona only sees Kid as one of the boys, for now anyway. I believe in 'developed' relationships.

I'll be updating much faster this time because unlike this chapter I have the next one mostly planned out already.