I skipped one year at this chapter,
Thanks for reviews/comment/follows!
Thanks to Crimson for edits!
About a year passed,
After the constant bickering and teasing that they did to each other, they eventually became comfortable with each other and perhaps… a little too comfortable….
"Ericchi-Ericchi! What about this one…?" Nozomi shoved a magazine with a horror story in it,
"Didn't we agree to not do anything that's related to supernatural events until we are finished with our mid semester exam?" Eli replied,
"Ahhh—but, I like to have a little thrill before the exam!"
"We've been doing a lot of exorcising on our own—plus, look at what you've done… ever since you told that girl we helped about how to contact us, I've been getting emails from random people—and with ridiculous stories too! You should've known that kids tend to believe anything to be a doing of supernatural being because they imagine it so!"
"Nothing wrong with that… it gives us popularity, don't you think?"
"No!"
"Just imagine it, if we got enough market, we will be able to open a ghost buster agency too! Just like how it is in the cartoon!"
"A cartoon?! Are you serious!?"
"I'm very serious! They even had lots of epic gadgets too!"
"I'm not going to waste money on that! I'd rather use it to marry someone!"
"You're such a spoilsport, Ericchi… why can't you imagine all the fun we could have when we actually open the agency?"
"It's just too ridiculous… I mean, to begin with, does every single person in this world believe their existence? I doubt that!"
"That's because they have never seen it, we've seen it and we believe… right-right?"
"We do but still no! Anyway! Lets just focus on studying science now!" Eli said as she shoves science books—including her notes at Nozomi. At first, the purplenette puffed her cheeks, but after she opens the notes
"So our topic right now is human reproduction, can we just do a practice?" Nozomi said teasingly.
"We're not even with the right gender… but either way, we are not going to do anything other than studying…" The blonde said surely,
"Well, Ericchi, you can study me if you like…" Nozomi said teasingly again,
"Nozomi…." Eli sighed heavily,
"…listen….this is for your own sake, ok?"
"I just need to pass right? I don't even like the study so I'm fine with a so-so score…"
Eli sighed again,
"Why you don't like science…? Even though you're not going to be a scientist or anything, you still have to study it because it may be necessary in your daily life. Not to mention all study is important because they always have information that may affect you and your surroundings…"
"Because science always talks about a limitation of one being…just like what you just said before…" Nozomi replied.
"What did I say before…?" Eli tilts her head.
"You said… we're not even the right gender…" Nozomi replied in a somewhat gloomy manner.
"That's the truth though, humans are born that way…" Eli replied,
"Why can't we just be like snails?!"
"What?! You're being ridiculous!" Eli replied.
"That's it! We're going to adopt kids, Ericchi!"
"Huh…what?! You're not even my girlfriend!" Eli replied,
"Of course we are not girlfriends! We're a married couple from now on, you're the dad, I'm the mom!"
"W-wait-wait….what?!"
"So…Papa-Ericchi, what kind of kids are we going to have today?"
"That doesn't even sound right! Plus, why are we in this topic?! You have to study!"
"I don't want to studyyyy! Aaaaaaaa—…!" Nozomi started to act like a kid,
Eli frowned at her, but knowing from her experience that being persistent will do nothing… this time she will try to play along….
"But...Mama, there are lots of things we need to study! Like…for example, what you have inside that belly of yours…." The blonde said,
Nozomi was surprised as she heard it, she can't believe that Eli played along, either way though…this is probably a chance for her to make things happen…
"You mean… our baby?" Nozomi replied,
Eli placed her palm on her face, didn't expect it to turn out like this…
"No…not quite, I'm still talking about…. Uterus….Ovary…and the others… do you remember each of the details?"
"Why are we remembering the details? It's too complicated…"
"Because we're playing this so that you can start studying!" Eli said loudly.
"Aaaaa—too boring and complicated…." Nozomi replied as she rested herself on the table.
Eli swears she is already running out of ideas, and the only thing she can shout is…
"N….Nozomiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!"
About two weeks passed,
The mid semester exam is about to start. It's so much different than their first year. They are no longer the new students who're still working hard to obey the rules, everyone confidently enters the classroom, maybe some still seemed to be somewhat nervous but either way, they've done their best.
This time, Nozomi and Eli are magically put in the same classroom. Maybe the teachers believe that they've been inseparable and did some great work on motivating each other. With Nozomi's score improvement, Eli has always been praised by the teachers while Nozomi always gets praised by almost everyone around her.
Ever since they have been together, they've gained some confidence in themselves, maybe not so much but still…it makes them feel that they will never be alone and it will be fine to socialize with people around them—perhaps being awkward is also fine too as long as they are not being offensive…..or…not too offensive for Eli's case.
Because the blonde tends to be too honest about her opinions, she often, accidentally, hurts other's feeling. Though whenever Nozomi is about to confront her about it, she knows that Eli is just being honest and all she can do is straighten up her image with her golden tongue—an ability to speak that she has learned through days.
Ever since she stuck herself around Eli, she got to know to her best friend and learned about herself as well, she started to realize that she has to be the great support and that will be by learning how to socialize. She bought lots of books and studies it hard, it was difficult at first but with her interest on the topic, she managed to learn it and persuaded a lot of people with her new skills. But, now she is way too interested in socializing with others, because she always interested on listening to stories and histories.
Though, there is still something that she hasn't yet learned…
It's about how to give mercy towards those who are persistent on disturbing against her principal and appear to be not a living being…
She has never seen such as an arrogance human being, but she always seen it as her way of protecting the living and to balance the world. Like a police….or an army without colony.
Together with Eli, she had banished plenty of ghost that reported to be haunting specific sites. She continues to do so but perhaps it needs a break at times, and it will be when she is taking these school exams.
It's not that she is always having a hard time with science, she is fine with memorizing things, but she is just not ok when she has to look at pictures and write what's the name of each part. She tends to be distracted with that kind of question. That's why, Eli told her to do the other and left all pictures for the last..
When she finally finished with the other numbers and reached the part where she has to work on the pictured question…
Hmm…This is a picture of….a female reproduction organs….
She said in her mind,
I remember… in the magazine I used to read, this is the spot that needs to be reached to get maximum pleasure—that will require a toy for people like me, then needs specific length for hetero couples….
She thought as she draws a circle on the picture…
What was it called… the G-Spot?
Hmm…isn't this cervix…? I think Ericchi said that before….
She continued to work on each names of the part—for some reason, she was able to name every one of them perfectly—and was very confident about it. She must've been lucky that the pictured questions are pretty much about female organs, which is a topic that she is interested to know about.
After a few minute passes, Nozomi put her pen down and stretched. Watching the specific blonde, who seemed to have already finished a while before her. The best thing about mid exam is that she could watch the blonde's back the entire hour if she wants to, and there will be nobody to complain about it—not even the teachers.
Hmmm….when I keep looking at her, I feel like… my life is so peaceful and….well…protected…. maybe this is why many souls are trying to get her…
But we've always been dealing with them….even though Ericchi constantly gets into trouble because of her charm, I'll always be there to solve it… I'm such a hero for her, right? Maybe that's the reason why she is fine with me sticking around her?
She said in her mind as she happily stares into the blonde hair.
Ahhh….despite that though, I feel like I'm still so far away from being intimate with her….
Like…there's still sooo much I need to know about her…
Perhaps about her favorite food? Her favorite color…?
Or….maybe…her favorite position…..?
Hmmm! This is going to be great!
Maybe I should just bait her into all these topics…
After exam should be a good timing…
But….
What should I say….?
Hmmm….
Ericchi-Ericchi…should we go to a concert…?!
Uhm..no-no…. if we go to do that, I won't be able to ask her to do something else….
I mean…I just believe she is going to be super stingy with her time….
Then…Dining out will be the best choice…
A fine dinner…..
Ahhh….so romantic!
Nozomi screamed in her heart…
Then…Then…we will drink something nice… going to the hotel….then sleep together….and-and….
She started to imagine something that was ridiculously too much for herself to handle…
Aaaaaaaaaaaahh! Reach my spot! Reach my spot!
Her nose started to bleed.
This is so good…a great plot!
Nozomi shouted in her mind…
As she eyes the blonde's fingers that was currently playing with a pen…
Those fingers….
Nozomi keep looking at it.
Long and slim…
She can imagine those fingers digging inside….
Just need two of those…but more than enough for sure…
She placed both of her hands on her cheeks as blood rushed all over her face. Her legs tensed and…
A loud knock was heard along with someone's voice…
"N-Nozomi…. What—…?" Eli turned around as she could feel her chair being kicked roughly. But she stopped at the sight of Nozomi and her nose bleed—dripping on her exam paper…
"Nozomi!"
After the exam,
And after Nozomi was taken care of, in the school's clinic…
"People just suspected that you've been over-studied the night before…. You should be glad!" Eli said as the two walks through the hallway…
"Huh…why? You're supposed to be worried since you're the one who made me over-study…."
"Who cares about that, I didn't. But I believe that this time, you were just having the very same imagination the time you were studying it, right?"
"Eh…? No… well…that time, I was imagining about fingers…."
"Fingers now? I swear it was tongue last night… Either way, you are such a pervert…"
"It's not like you're not…I was able to remember the entire details about how you taught me about memorizing last night…the only way for a person to be able to create such a perverted story is that the person is a big pervert as well…"
"You're kidding me… I was just making that so that you could remember it… I'm adjusting to your favor!" Eli defended herself,
"…..I tentatively touch deep into your cervix….with my long and slim fingers…" Nozomi said, somewhat mimicking Eli's accent—with a little dramatic addition in her voice.
"I said, I made that so you could remember!" Eli said.
Nozomi chuckled,
"Seriously though, I totally love it… science can't be more exciting than that!" she said.
"Well, be prepared because next topic will be about animals…you won't be having that much fun…"
"Says someone who kept a giant fox…." Nozomi chuckled,
"It doesn't even relate to me anymore! Besides, it's just inside and we're still planning to take it out, right?" Eli asked.
"I wouldn't know… we still don't know how to exactly get rid of the fox off you…but according to every priest we met, we can't get rid of it until there's an appropriate host to take it…"
Eli sighed heavily,
"I can't believe that I'm just stuck with this now…"
"Another strange thing is that, despite you having that beast inside, you're still the first attraction to every ghost around us…like…"
Before Nozomi finished….
"Aaaaayaaaaaseeeee-saaaaaaaann!" said a hauntingly creepy female voice,
Eli rolled her eyes and smirked,
"You again!" Nozomi shouted as she quickly turns her sight to the ghost's direction.
"I—I'm just a messenger now!" Reiko, the halved woman soul said.
"What do you have now, huh?" Nozomi asked—somewhat rudely,
"Well, I'm just going to talk to Ayase-san since you are a rude ass…"
"Huh?!" Nozomi lifted her eyebrows,
"Ayase-san!" Reiko ignored her,
"What?" Eli replied coldly,
"Aaaahh! So cold! Ayase-san is so cool!" Reiko screamed cheerfully.
This is discrimination!
Nozomi smirked wryly,
"Listen-listen, Ayase-san… there's a call for help from someone who came to the shrine. She was a little girl, a third grader of a junior high-school, a daughter of a rich couple… she just placed a lot of offering this early morning…her wish said… she wanted to stop hearing things…"
"Do you think I'm….what….? A wish maker?" Eli asked sarcastically.
"No-no! Not quite! It just that maybe you two can reach her and teach her how to make use of her ability…"
"Hah, if my mother was the strongest witch in the entire galaxy, or maybe owns some big space pirate colony… then maybe I'll do that…"
"Oh, come on, Ayase-san… Pleaseeeeeeee….? If she is glad, then the shrine will surely get more offerings! Which means…more facility to build for us!"
The Blonde sighed heavily,
"Nozomi…what do you think…?" she asked,
"Let's do that… but...maybe not today or end of this week…we have plans…" Nozomi said.
"True, we have to do more studying for the last day of mid-exam next week…"
"Actually, I think we can do it this weekend…" Nozomi said quickly.
"No…we're going to do it—next week!" Eli said.
"The faster it is, the better! There's no deadline, just make her wish come true somehow!" Reiko said.
"See? Told you, Ericchi! We will go find her this weekend!" Nozomi said.
Eli sighed again,
"Can you even catch up with the English and History exam…?"
"Oooh—yes! My English is too perfect already, Ericchi!" Nozomi said in a goofy foreign manner,
Eli rolled her eyes,
"Fine then, this weekend, we will look for her…."
"Great! Then, the most apparent thing about her is... she has red hair and purple eyes, goes to the Nishikino Clinic from time to time—probably needs someone to reach out to her because… she is….uhm…looks a little complicated inside…" Reiko said.
"Huh? Complicated…?" Eli tilts her head slightly, wondering about what exactly she means by complicated.
"Yup, either way, I take it that you are doing this job…."
"And…what if we decided to do something else?" Nozomi asked.
"Simple!" Reiko said as she smiled,
"I'll make you look like me!" she continued with a creepy voice.
Nozomi smirked at her,
"Oh..but…for Ayase-san…since you are such a cool person, I'll just punish you by… sticking with you forever!" Reiko said.
"Wait a minute! Did you forget who saved you that time?!" Nozomi protested.
"What are you talking about…?" Reiko said with a made up voice.
"I saved you! From the beast inside her!" Nozomi pointed at Eli,
"But I was also the one who saved you by telling you to seal her back!"
"If I never came to save you—that would've never happened!"
Eli sighed and she gently chopped Nozomi's forehead,
"Shut up and let's just go back home to talk about this again…."
"See?!" Reiko said in a manner of a victorious one.
"You too!" Eli glanced at her sharply—which was enough to make the halved woman smirk awkwardly in guilt.
"Well then, off we go!" Nozomi said energetically,
The two left and Reiko stays around the area for a while as she watches the two moving. But then notices someone has been hiding behind a wall….
Well..she isn't a stranger to them...
A small girl with black hair, peeking behind the wall as she mumbled,
"What are those two talking about? Why do I feel like there is a third person that they're talking to….?"
Reiko just smiled and then dives into the floor.
"Sheesh… no matter how many times I look at them, they are always appear to talk with more than one person whenever there are only just two of them around…who exactly are they talking to, huh?"
Then suddenly,
The halved woman makes an appearance—right in front of the little girl,
"I CURRSSEEEEE YOOUUUUUUUU!" She said with her hauntingly creepy voice and made her face somewhat appear bloody and gruesome, as gore as the cut on her body.
"WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The black haired girl ran without a single second to spare.
Just like what they planned,
Eli and Nozomi returned to Nozomi's apartment to start brainstorming. Once again, they made a mind-map to help them analyze the case…or at least, that's what Eli intended to do…
"Hnn…why do we have to make this again…? I still don't get it…." Nozomi asked,
"Why are you asking again…?" Eli replied as she carefully sticks some description said by Reiko.
"Well, in the end, you'll always be the one who needs to be saved…and I'm the hero…." Nozomi said teasingly.
Eli smirked, though she remained quiet to it… knowing that it might've hurt her feelings, she started to look for a smooth recovery—for her terrible joke,
"…why do you still bother to make this?" Nozomi said—and after she said that, she just realized that it doesn't make things any better. Luckily, Eli still remained silent instead of reacting to it.
"I mean…. is there anything you're trying to achieve…?" and that still didn't make it any better.
"No offense…" ….the best words she could say in the end.
Eli sighed at her,
"It's to be kept, also, if there will be anything in the future, we can look back by looking at the mind-map we created… let's just say…it's a journal…with pictures and interesting arrangement…" the blonde replied again with a surprisingly calm voice.
"You spend a lot of time for it…. I mean, why not just make it a simple book or…something?"
"Other than it giving a lot of space for addition in the future, it also can be used for presentation… if there will be anyone that's going to join you doing this…."
"Me…? You're doing this for me…?" Nozomi asked again.
"Pretty much… you can tell me it's ineffective… but maybe I'm just going to say that I'm having fun doing this as well…"
"I'm not saying that it's ineffective, I just may not use that, but, it could have its own use in the future….either way though, Ericchi… Thanks for the effort…" Nozomi replied.
Eli nods, and then suddenly stops writing as she drops her pen and crumples the paper she wrote on and instantly throws it into the trash-can.
"You're not going to use it…so…." Eli gloomed,
"N…No-no….please…I mean…" Nozomi was lost for words…
"It's fine, you're just being honest…"
Ah—No…crap, what am I saying, genius?!
I just hurt her feelings!
I shouldn't have said that!
I really shouldn't have said that!
I mean…she could've been thinking a lot about this and….
Put her feelings into it while doing it…
And I just offended her idea…!
Nozomi said in her mind as she watched Eli look like a hurt puppy. Either way though, ignoring all the pride of being 'true', she could've thought of better words to state her mind…or…perhaps… she should've let her do it because she had fun doing it!
"So… we're going to go now? To the clinic?" Eli asked, with an awkwardly forced smile as she stood up from her seat.
Nozomi, who is still in her worry of how to come up with a proper recovery toward her friend, was surprised by the statement,
"W-wait…shouldn't we plan it first….?" She asked.
"We don't need it… you will do it fine without…right…?" Eli replied, her smile is sincere, but she is certainly dishonest about her true feelings. Nozomi knew that she hurts her.
"Ericchi! I…I'm fine with you doing this… I mean… you are having fun with it…right? It's ok to do it! I'm just….saying….and I'm not pretending!" Nozomi replied again,
"No point, it's a big waste of time, so… let's just do it your way…" Eli said.
"Ericchi! Please…listen…. I'm sorry, ok? You can do it… I mean…it's like a journal, right? We can use it later….or…uh…the plan? What about the plan…?" Nozomi asked again, trying hard to make Eli finish what she started.
"Let's just go to the clinic…" Eli said as she left the room.
"Ericchi!" Nozomi quickly ran after her,
Seeing the blonde wear her shoes—with less than a minute, Nozomi knew that nothing will be able to stop her from trying to do what she is doing...
What is it that Eli is actually trying to achieve…?
Why did she just stop from Nozomi saying that she will not use it…?
Either way, now that they are both outside,
They walked to the clinic with an awkward atmosphere…even though Eli seemed to be fine—on the surface, Nozomi felt that she really needs to make another apology somehow and make Eli continue doing what she did.
Now that they're so close to the clinic….there's just no way for them to return to make a planning…or maybe, that's only what Eli says…
"….let's just go back and come up with some plan!" Nozomi begged, still feeling guilty about before.
"We're already here… just do things like usual… right?" Eli replied.
The usual— the usual is with Eli making the command according to the plan from their analysis
"Ericchi, please… I didn't mean that we don't need the plan, we're still doing things according to plan from the beginning, but we just don't always follow it… besides, I was just trying to tease you… it was a joke! Don't take it seriously!"
"Excuse me!" Eli ignored her as she headed to the information desk.
"Yes…? May I help you?" the staff asked
"Yes, can we meet someone who comes here from time to time, red hair and purple eyes?"
"Uhm… you need to be more specific, but…. personally, I only know someone and this person is Nishikino Maki, the daughter of the owner…." She said,
"Where is she now?"
"Should be somewhere around the clinic, she tends to move around at her will, so I don't really know…" the staff informed.
"Thank you, we will go ahead and find her…" Eli replied as she left with the information. Nozomi, on the other hand, could only sigh and hurry after her.
They spend about half an hour,
Looking around the hallway and searching through rooms. They couldn't find anyone that matched the description. They decided to take a short break in the garden. The big clinic surely makes a lot of trouble for them…but…what else they can do?
"See Ericchi? This is why you should've just finished what you were doing… having a plan isn't bad at all…"
Eli didn't respond, she just leans her back on the bench.
"We should make a plan, we can write it or… just…you know…go back and continue that mind-map…"
"Are you tired, Nozomi?" Eli asked instead.
"Huh…No? I'm still fine to go…this is a weekend after all…"
"If you're tired, you can go back on your own anytime. I'm fine doing this myself… there won't be anything related to spiritual power for now, right?"
Hearing that, Nozomi realizes that it's just a polite way of telling her to leave her alone.
"Are you mad at me?" Nozomi asked.
"Hmm…No? Why would I?" Eli asked back.
"You look like you're angry with me… by ignoring me and all…"
"No, I'm not mad at you… I just see no point of responding to that…" Eli replied as she averts her eyes.
Nozomi sighed heavily at her and then places both of her hands on the blonde's cheek, turning Eli's face to herself.
"Ericchi! Don't be stubborn now! I know you're mad at me!" she said.
"What did you do wrong…? You're just being honest…" Eli replied.
"You could've blamed me that we're lost now…I mean, it's not that I'm always right… if we organize things like how you want to do it, it could've been better! We may figure out something before we're forced to be stuck in this kind of situation…."
Eli smiled faintly at her then pushes her away gently,
"Maybe I should've done that, huh?" she replied softly.
Knowing that the blonde did nothing else after, it tickles Nozomi to make something else happen, just anything that could make the blonde do anything to tell her that she is already cheered up. The purplenette grabs both of the blonde's breasts and squeezes it really hard.
"W-What are y—Nozomi!"
"Ericchiiii!" Nozomi shouted back at her.
"Why are you suddenly squeezing me!?" Eli yelled as she also grab Nozomi's breast.
"Just be honest to me! Admiittt ittt that you are angry at meeee….!" Nozomi yelled.
"Why do I have to do that while I'm really not?!
"Because—because you're so stupiddddd! Acting gloomy like that in front of me! It makes me so saaaadd!"
"N-Nozomi! Why are you sad when I'm just deep in my own thoughts, huh? I'm not acting gloomy!"
"Really?" Nozomi stopped squeezing her breasts,
"It's true! I was just thinking of how to fulfill the thing you were saying…"
"Just stick with the big mind-map! I don't mind because you're having fun with it! It's not like I won't use it and you're not making it for yourself…and I'm not trying to tell you that I don't appreciate it—I didn't even try to be polite when saying that either!" Nozomi squeezes her again
"Aaarghh! Nozomi! Stop that already!" Eli squeezes harder as well.
While the two are busy squeezing each other, Nishikino Maki sat just a few meters behind them on a bench as she listened to some loud music.
"What are those two idiots doing there….?" She smirked as she mumbled to herself.
At close to night time,
Eli and Nozomi gave up looking for her and decided to do something else for the day,
"Maybe she didn't come to the clinic today…" Nozomi said sadly.
"Maybe…." Eli replied.
"Hmm...Ericchi, are we just going home now…?" Nozomi asked,
"If you're tired, go on…but if you have something else in mind, just tell me…"
As she heard that, Nozomi figured out that there's still something that she wanted to do—something that she has planned before…
But….
Will it be fair if she does things according to her plan while she just ruined Eli's planning attempt a while ago?
She doesn't think so…
"I don't know… I don't really want to go home… because that means you will do the same…right?" Nozomi replied.
"I think so…" She replied.
"Hmm…? You think so? Is there something else you want to do…?"
Eli remain quiet for a moment, and then she smiled,
"Not really…" she said gently.
"You are still angry about before…?"
"No… I told you I'm not angry…"
"Then, what do you think…?"
"I just think you are right about it…"
"That's it?"
"Yes…"
"You're still hiding something…" Nozomi replied.
"No, I'm not…" Eli replied again,
"Tell me what you truly think!" Nozomi asked again,
Eli sighed again,
"Fine… I'm just embarrassed because I've done that for so long and you just tell me about that now…I feel so stupid… I could've thought of something smaller than that… because, the fact that there's only two of us right now, we won't need such a big thing."
"Shouldn't you blame me because I never told you in the beginning?"
"Maybe you're just being polite…"
"Me and being polite… are you sure, Ericchi…?"
"Aren't you always doing that so that you're not hurting me…?
"It's only sometimes...but now I know something… do you not like it when I'm trying to not hurt your feelings…?"
"It makes me feel uncomfortable… when someone lies or fakes a reaction just to make me happy… I'm always expecting them to stab me in the back later…or…hurt me in the future by telling me the truth that they never liked what they pretend to like in the past…." Eli replied,
Nozomi raises her eyebrows, realizing that what she just said is exactly what she felt about such things too. Maybe her case was only because a lot of her friends told her that she will be missed… but the truth is that they have never contacted her again…or act like they still care about her existence…
But for another case now,
Is that what she did towards her? She has always known that Eli is somewhat similar to her. The way they think might be a little different, but they are similar and she should've understood her more than anyone else.
"I see…then… I'm sorry…Ericchi…. I should've tried to understand you more…." She replied.
Eli nodded slightly,
"It's fine. At least you tried…"
"You prefer honesty…even though it might hurt you?" Nozomi asked.
"What's the point of lies if it was just to make one feeling better? I prefer to be hurt and improve in the future than be told lies and move forward blindly… I know I might over-react to it at times, but I appreciate it… after all, that was the first reason why you were interesting to me…"
"…I was…interesting…to you?"
"Yes… you hurt, but I like it. I want to be always be around you because of that…and the time you told me all that back then… it wasn't the concept that I was thinking about… it was…about your honesty to me...or perhaps, the change of you…"
"The change of…. me?" Nozomi tilts her head in question.
"You've been nice to everyone lately, and everyone also seems to appreciate you. We both are nothing like we were in the past…we both are now capable of talking with others…but…. I feel like… our value to each other—…." Eli pauses, there's a slight hint of blush on her face, though it was light and the color of the night makes it less apparent.
Nozomi patiently waited for her to continue, though after a few minutes, Eli didn't seem to continue which made her curious,
Hmm…what is she trying to say?
She thought.
Is she worried that I'll be having other friends?"
Or perhaps…
She wanted me to be more than a friend?
A Girfriend!?
No-no...that can't be…she isn't interested in me...she told me that before!
I should not be too over confident about this… all the teasing was enough…
This is a serious moment, I might piss her off if I made a joke out of it...
Or…seem to make a joke out of it…
Sheesh…I'd like to be her girlfriend if I could!
"….we're still good friends if that's what you're worried about… they're not going to replace you…" Nozomi said.
Eli smiled wryly,
"You're right…we will stay as good friends…and there will be nothing that could change it, right?"
"Yup!" Nozomi replied confidently—despite knowing that there's a small hint of sadness in Eli's voice. But either way, she can't actually guess on it… maybe she was just scared that it may not be something true?
"I'm being honest, Ericchi! Even though you're also a pain in the ass at times, I still like you because you make me who I am…maybe I should've called you as a great friend?" Nozomi said somewhat teasingly...
Eli smiled, a little forced because it wasn't actually the thing she is trying to hint, but either way….
"I'm glad to hear that… sorry I was overthinking about it…"
"Let's promise that we will always be true to each other! Now, instead of thinking about that, what should we do next?" Nozomi asked.
Eli was quiet for a moment, wondering if she should have answered the first statement…she knows she isn't being herself at the moment, but what else can she do about it…? Is it worth anything to tell her true feelings?
"Why don't we find some food? I'm hungry…" Eli replied.
"Ohhh! Sure! That was what I was thinking too!"
"What you were thinking? Then, you were planning to do that before?" Eli asked.
"Hehe, I just forgot because I wasn't that hungry yet!" Nozomi replied with an awkward smile,
"Alright then, let's find a restaurant or a café…"
The time when the two walks around the city,
Nozomi still kept on thinking of what she should do after. She swears, she already knows everything she wants to do if they're going to dine out, but is it really fair to leave it like this…?
It was her plan after all and it just somehow went smoothly, while Eli's plan…
It wasn't even talked about again…
This is so unfair…
Nozomi thought.
Why does she somehow make my plans come true while I can't even manage to reciprocate?
She thought again,
I can't let myself take an advantage from her like this…
I have to somehow make her plan come true again!
She kept walking alongside with the blonde as she moves towards a café which seemed to have recently opened…
Eli stopped right in front of it then her eyes seemed to notice something inside…or perhaps, it was her nose that brought her there….
"Do you sense it… Nozomi?" Eli asked.
"Eh…? Sense what?"
"I feel like there's something inside this place…" Eli replied again.
"Hmm…" Nozomi took a moment to active her senses,
She could feel something hostile… but it wasn't cold like usual… it was in fact—feel like a fire…a fiery anger that just exploded inside the very place…
But for whatever sake, a living being won't be able to make such an aura... even when they are extremely angry…
"Is this a call that you wanted to do, Ericchi? I thought we were supposed to take a break from this kind of thing?"
"You are right, but are you going to regret it if t something bad happens inside this place?" Eli asked.
"Like….what…?" Nozomi asked,
"The anger…Nozomi…. Do you think an angry spirit will be able to hold itself…? Especially with this kind of heat spreading…?"
Nozomi remain quiet to think,
"Hmm…does Ericchi think that she can relate to such feeling?"
"I can't deny, it was hard to hold back anger when you don't know reason for being so…"
Nozomi smiled faintly,
Does that mean…she knows the reason as to why someone should hold back their anger…?
But she herself… can't do such…?
It was how she always was back then anyway…
Maybe she has changed…
But for what reason….?
She asked to herself.
Either way…
"Then, let's just go in and find out as we get our food!"
They walked into the café,
Which is awfully quiet—too quiet for a public place…
The two sit in the corner seat near a window. Looking at the menu….which…seems to be very interesting…
"The Menu looks alright…. I wonder what makes this place extremely quiet…?" Nozomi asked.
"Perhaps, it's something to do with the serving? Or...how things turn out…?"
"Well, we wouldn't know before we try, right?" Eli replied.
The way she said it,
Too gentle…
Nozomi said in her mind.
I don't like it! It feels like she is hiding something!
She said again in her mind.
"Ericchi! You're still mad at me, right?!" Nozomi pouts at her.
"Huh? Why are we bringing this up again? I'm not mad at you!" Eli replied.
"You changed so suddenly! It's soooo strange! I want the noisy and easily angry Ericchi back!" Nozomi said.
"W-What?" Eli raises one of her eyebrows,
Nozomi puffed her cheek and quickly grabs Eli's cheek.
"Come on! Be angry at me if you want to!"
"Nozomi… I'm really not angry at you…" Eli replied.
Nozomi remains quiet as she glares at her. A few second passes, which luckily for them, that the waiter hasn't yet approached them.
Until Eli sighed heavily and grabs both of Nozomi's hands—pushing it away gently and placing it on the table.
"Well then, Nozomi… what about you? Do you still feel guilty because of what happened earlier…?"
"Yes!" Nozomi replied immediately.
"Then, you are the one who needs to change that. I'm really not angry at you. I'm taking your opinion wholeheartedly. It's fine for me to be wrong…and… I already said that I really didn't mind it. The only thing that I mind is because you didn't tell me earlier…. But that's fine… I know you probably have tried to say something before…we are all humans after all…"
"Are you sure about that?!" Nozomi asked again.
"Of course I am… I've decided that I'll listen to you… because you have tried to listen to me as well…"
"Then, we are ok?!"
"Yes, we are…" Eli replied.
"But I still don't like it when you're acting so gentle to me! It feels so faked!" Nozomi protested again.
Eli was flustered, but then she chuckled after she stares into her for a few seconds. Nozomi who feels like she was being made fun of, pouts at her, though when she see Eli stand up from the seat opposite of her, she softens her expression to pay attention to what the blonde has for her.
She sat next to her, with the menu in her hand and a flirty gesture…she embraced the purplenette close to her, very up close and it makes both blushes red on their own cheeks.
"Well then… what about this…? Do you enjoy this kind of gentleness…?"
"Are you making fun of me now, Ericchi?!" Nozomi asked,
"What can I say…? I want you to just accept that I want to be gentle to you…"
"Either way, this looks fake too!" Nozomi said.
"Can you tell that this is probably a punishment because you don't believe me…?"
"That's ridiculous… you sound so fake and this is so unrealistic. I mean... how could you just do this to me out of nowhere? It's so staged! It feels like a porn movie…"
Eli smirked to the statement, she could have put her act down and do something 'normal' again but…
"It's not like this is your first time getting treated like this…" Eli said.
"You're awkward…" Nozomi said.
"…and it's not like you're not awkward either… just remember the time you suddenly grabbed my breasts…this is nothing compared to that…" Eli replied.
"Then, why don't we prove it?"
"Prove what?" Eli asked,
"Prove which of us is more awkward…"
"Huh!? How?" Eli asked.
At that second, Nozomi grabs both of Eli's breast.
"You just want to do this, right?!" Eli frowned at her,
"Now you flirt on me!"
"What?"
"Hurry up! We will know which of us is more awkward!"
Eli still smirked at her, but she seem to have no choice anyway. She grabs Nozomi's shoulder and pulls her close…
"Nozomi…" Eli called her gently and suggestively,
Nozomi swears…
That was the first time she heard it and she already feels something make her really tense and—perhaps, she would say… aroused.
It's too much already?!
She protested to herself.
No…this can't be…
I can't lose!
She said to herself,
But then Eli closes her gap with her, and…her breath…is right on Nozomi's neck…
"You can't take this…can you?"
"Well you can't take this either, can you?!" Nozomi twisted her grip on Eli's breast.
"Wh-Whoaa?!" Eli shouts.
"That hurt!" she continued as her hands moves down to Nozomi's breast.
"You lose!"
"W-wait what?!" Eli flustered,
"I will now declare you as—…!"
Before Nozomi finishes, Eli just rubbed Nozomi's breast.
"No, honey, you're not winning!"
Then Nozomi swiftly jumps up to her making sure to sit on her and press her breast on Eli's….
And the two started to glare at each other intensely…
For a third person wise… that's probably the most awkward view to see…but since there are only two of them right now… here in the quiet café…
They both struggled and that caused their breast to rub against each other…after almost a minute, Both of their nose started to bleed in the same time….
"You're bleeding… you lose…" Eli said.
"No-no, you started bleeding first…"
"It's you! You are imagining perverted things, right!?" Eli said.
"What about you? Suddenly getting that nosebleed… you being a pervert as well, aren't you!?"
"No way…a-anyhow….what are we competing for again?" Eli asked.
"For who is the most awkward…?" Nozomi replied.
"That would be you…right?" Eli replied.
"No, that's you…" Nozomi replied.
"This is all your idea, you awkward person! I don't even have any idea what we are doing right now!"
"Supposedly, we need to make an order….and eat…."
"Ah...right…we're in a café after all…"
Then two stopped—and…their eyes started to move towards the window….
Now they just realized that…. a lot of people are staring at them…through the window….and basically, the two have been such a show to the public…
The two quickly releases each other and started to pretend that they are going to normally order something…
"So…Ericchi… can we just go with parfait…?" Nozomi asked formally.
"Sure… let's order a parfait…" Eli replied formally as well.
Then they knocked the table to call a waiter—who never came up…
In the end, the crowd went off to do their own business again while Eli and Nozomi were finally left alone.
"You're embarrassing…!" Eli grunted,
"You're embarrassing too, Ericchi!" Nozomi whispered,
"This is all your fault!"
"Not really, it was your fault too…!"
Then the two glares at each other again.
Though after a moment…
They started to smile at each other, then chuckled which continued with some playful laughter.
"Seriously though, it was fun… thanks, Nozomi…" Eli replied.
"Same with me… I kind of loved that…." Nozomi replied.
"Love…what exactly…?" Eli asked,
"Being embarrassing with you… it makes me feel like I'm really your friend…"
"Seriously…?"
"Let's just share everything from now on… for real… no more trying to look tough…"
"I can't fully agree with that…but I suppose…." Eli chuckled,
"Anyway… I wonder why this café doesn't have anyone to serve yet... you did knock the table pretty loudly, right?"
"I believe so…" Eli replied.
The two remain quiet, still waiting for the server to come out as they keep knocking and calling out. But no one seems to come out or answer them.
"Well, should we check?" Nozomi asked.
"We came up here because we felt something wrong… so I suppose, if that is what we should do…" Eli said as she stood up from her seat and walks to the counter that was supposed to be where they pay their bill.
But when they arrived there…they couldn't see anyone except the aura that they felt outside feel much stronger.
"This is strange…" Nozomi said.
"Excuse me!" Eli said loudly.
No one answers.
"Really strange…" Eli said before she swiftly moves closer to the door.
Nozomi frowned, knowing that something serious might happen inside…
The two walks in through the door of the kitchen, slowly opening the door that separates the rooms….
"Oh….." Eli and Nozomi's eyes shoot wide open.
They could see, a pool of blood scattered in the kitchen as two female bodies were laying down right above it, there's a man hung on the ceiling while another man seemed to be attacked as a deep cut wound marked his back.
A homicide and suicide in one place…
"God….this is…." Eli placed her palm on her face.
Nozomi swiftly looks around the room,
"Where are their souls though?" She asked.
"I don't know…. either way, we should call the police as soon as possible…"
Meanwhile, somewhere near the café,
A red haired girl—also known as Nishikino Maki, sat in an restaurant along with her parents.
"Maki-chan…" her mother called,
Maki remain quiet as she kept on listening to loud music with her headphones.
"Maki…." Her father called,
Maki didn't answer…
"Maki-chan…" Her mother took off her headphone.
"Oh…yes mama?" Maki replied in surprise,
Her mother and father started to give her a concerned look.
"Are you ok? Lately, you always look gloomy and keep listening music in such high volume…" her mother said in concern.
"Did you have any trouble you can't solve…?" her father asked.
"No….not really…" Maki replied as she averted her eyes.
…Before her parents could answer, Maki could hear someone shout.
"Help! Please! Help us!"
She quickly turns around…but there seems to be no one calling for help…"
"Help! Help us! Can anybody here, hear us?!" said another voice…
But again, nobody is actually shouting for help.
"Maki…?" her father called again.
"Y…yes… papa?" Maki replied again.
"Are you hearing things?" he asked.
"I….might be…" Maki replied.
Her mother gave her a worried looked.
"Have you tried praying in the shrine…?"
"Yes…I did…but…it seems like it doesn't work…"
"Or it just doesn't work immediately… you just need to wait…." Her mother replied.
"Maybe…" Maki replied in her despair.
"Be Strong, ok? If you've got enough, I'll try to find a medical solution for you…" her father said.
Maki smiled at her parents,
"Thank you…mama….papa!" she said cheerfully.
"You're welcome…now…let's ignore everything and eat our dinner!" her mother said which Maki respond with a nod…
But…is it really ok to leave it like that?
The voice that shouts and begs for help hasn't yet stopped and it gets louder and louder.
"Please…!" the voice cried,
"Anybody who can hear us… please!" the voice continued again.
"Save our family!"
There... see you next chapter!