Thanks for the patience on waiting!
I have 2 chapters on the editing process so it might be coming up soon!
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Naturally,
Eli stood from her seat, moving swiftly to reach the person who showed a lot of interest towards a specific girl. Immediately, she shoved her away from the window, facing her directly to her and frowns deeply,
"Keep your eyes away off her or I'll tear them apart…" she said loudly,
Niko and Maki turns their eyes to the event, realizing that something has turned serious. The manly woman seemed to be dumbfounded by the sight of Eli, she stares into her from toe, up to her angered face.
"Such a violent beauty… might you be my true love as well?"
Eli was so surprised to hear it. Has she not listened to what she said before?
"You're disgusting…" Eli said directly.
"Those words are always said by those who are in denial about my masculine feature…"
"Who cares about your masculine body or whatever, you're not getting laid just by looks..."
"Maybe you just need to take a swing to the other side of the world…"
"I've swung myself enough and the one you were looking at before is mine…don't you dare of check her out with those eyes of yours…" the blonde replied furiously.
"Goodness…I've never seen anything like this in my own swing… a rivalry from first sight?" the woman lifted her eyebrows.
"It's not my first sight, thank you… she is my best friend and you should not get your hands on her…besides, if you've never felt any sort of rivalry in your life, then you're probably a beginner against me…"
"Now that you mention it, you sound like a professional lover…but you should know, I do not take a challenge as a game…I'm a faithful soul and worthy of every dreaming girl…"
"You're the only dreamer here…retard… get out of my sight and her sight or I'll drive you to hell…"
"Ms. Beautiful yet rude ass, I own this place… you're the guest, so you should be the one to do that for me…" the manly woman said.
Maki raises her eyebrows in her surprise, she swears she heard her mother say that the owner of this place is a man—not a woman…
"Hah, sure… If you're the owner, then I'll be the King in my own territory. You might own this place, but I own everywhere around her and will do anything to protect… so you better watch out…!" Eli replied as she shoves the manly woman before she starts to walk away from the lobby.
"O-Oi! Eli! Where are you going?!" Niko said before she quickly tries to catch up.
Maki remained in place, she kept looking at the owner who seemed to not care about what Eli just said to her. She wondered though, if she could possibly drop a name on her and get something to help out the situation…
She approached her and she was quickly noticed and known…
"Ah, from the Nishikino Family…?"
"Yes…" Maki replied.
"Sorry for the inconvenient sight, but really, some women tend to be that rude to me…"
"She is easily pissed off…especially when you're trying to involve socializing attempts to her girl…"
"True Love is a miracle, it just happens and no one being will be able to change the fate and future…"
"Huh…? Ok…Whatever…but…really, I'm just here to suggest you to really keep yourself away…plus, didn't you get the wine I gave?"
"Oh, right, I did… hmm…it's strange that lately, a woman was also sending me the very same wine…did your mother tell this to anyone?"
"Huh? No idea…probably not…maybe just me?"
"I see… so maybe… the future girl I always dreamed of is you…"
"Shut the hell up, that's creepy. But how could you just take that out of nowhere…?" Maki asked.
"Hmm…how to put it…."the manly woman began to think.
"I saw this girl in my dream… well…I've never really seen her face or hair color… but she was tall and she was beautiful…."
"Doesn't make sense…how could you say she is beautiful if you've never seen her face…"
"I just feel like she is beautiful…"
"Still doesn't make sense to me…. ah well…" Maki sighed.
"Either way, I've always dreamt of her, every time I stayed here…. Then by the time I woke up, I'm already sleeping on the dry pool….it's so strange that I never dry the pool yet the pool was dried by the time I woke up…
"Obviously because the pool is supposed to be dry at night and refilled in the morning… isn't that how the pool cleaning works here?" Maki replied.
"Really? I don't remember of putting such rules here…" she replied.
"Now I wonder about your contribution to this place…." Maki said.
"I'm not a hard worker, you see… I'm just a clever worker…"
"…and I'm pretty sure you're just telling me that you contribute to almost nothing…"
"G..gh….you and your mother are so similar… how could you raise a sharp tongue on me…can't it just be a the gentle and soft one on my lips?"
"Maybe I should just agree that you're disgusting…"
"S-Stop…Nishikino Junior…you're too rough for my little heart…"
"Really, I think it was that attitude of yours that granted you zero lovers until now…"
"I had plenty in my high school days… ask your mother…she witnessed it by her own eyes that I was the hottie of the school…"
"She never told me anything other than that funny story of a person who thinks he was hot while the student council had a hundred times more fans than him."
"….did she actually still refer to me as man….i thought she knew…."
"…is that even important to you now…? You're not getting a girl either way…"
"That hurts….Nishikino junior…"
Meanwhile…
"Oi! Eli! Hold on!" Niko shouted as she tried to catch up with the blonde who headed to the room where she kept her stuff.
"Where are you going, damn it…" the little girl kept her fast pace.
Eli didn't respond as she kept moving to the door and then stopped once she realized that the door is locked and she isn't the one who brought the key with her.
"I have the key here, but really, what are you going to do…? Are you actually going to leave just because of that woman?"
Eli remained still in silent.
"How much do you value that crap and how much do you value your soulmate? We're all here because of her, right…?"
The blonde sighed…and she decided to sit on the bench in front of the very room, then looks at the pool, where the very girl continued running around with her teammates.
"Are we even doing anything here? I see nothing we should be concerned of…not even a threatening presence…" Eli said.
"I have no idea what a threatening presence is… I just know we are hunting for souls and that's about it…" Niko replied.
Eli smirks and speaks no more to her.
"But I know something about you two… seeking for troubled souls and setting up justice for them…I have to say that you're merciless…and she was merciless… I may not be able to see all the time, but I know… and I understand… so please just tell me what exactly we're doing here…"
"Why don't you just go away from me and ask her…? I have no idea of why we are here to waste our time with all this crap?!"
"Well... do you mind if we all have fun? Is your life always this dull?"
"Just leave me alone!"
"Fine! But you're not getting your keys before you return to the post we are supposed to be in…"
"Useless… just look at the time…we're not even in the right time anymore…"
Niko raises her eyebrow, and then looks down to her watch—it's already 5:00 PM
"…and remember, we're supposed to see this happening at 4:44 PM...but nothing happened…or maybe—no one paid attention!"
"We still have until midnight…so just stay until then if you're really going to do what I think you're going to do!"
"I'm not going anywhere!"
At the pool,
Nozomi noticed that everyone in the lobby was gone and Maki was left with a manly woman...who somewhat kept staring at her and caused her to shiver in disgust. She certainly looks refined, but there is this thing that makes her feel like that woman is just as creepy as the lowly stalkers.
She stopped running, giving Umi the chance to catch her….
"W-whoa?!" Nozomi exclaimed,
Rin looked back in surprise…
"N-Nya?! Nozomi-senpai?!"
Then with all of her power, Umi throws Nozomi into the pool…
During the mid-air flight, Nozomi noticed a girl—glowing and transparent, hiding behind a pillar as she peeks into a specific blonde who was somehow already away from her post. Is this another someone who is interested in Eli?
Surely… it's not something rare for her, but it's still something that she will consider as a threat.
Will her best friend stumbled into trouble—because of that spirit…?
Leaving that aside for now, Nozomi is about to fall into the water.
Can she do anything about that?
Nope.
She thought to herself before she fell into the water.
Rin who has been astonished by the power of the angry blue haired girl—expected herself to be targeted right away, she could've just escape but ….
"N-Nozomi-senpai! I'm joining you-nyaaa!" Rin quickly ran and jumps into the pool before Umi was able to catch her.
Umi huffed at them, feeling that she has already completed what she wanted to do.
"Umi-senpai is so scary-nya!" Rin said.
"I agree, Rin-chan!" Nozomi replied playfully.
"Ah! No! We already passed the hour aimed for!" Umi said.
"Don't worry, Umi-chan, we can try to look around at midnight…!"
"S-Sheesh! Part of it is your fault! Feel bad, will you?!" Umi complained.
"I wonder how the other teams are doing-nya! Like…the one in the lobby or the longue?" Rin said.
"Why don't we get up and ask them away then?"
"Good idea, maybe we should take a break and work hard at midnight...we wouldn't want to return with nothing done…" Umi said.
The girls are called to gather,
They all took a seat where Eli sat before—it was Nozomi's idea since Eli refused to talk or move from her spot, so they were the ones who ended up there for her. They know that they shouldn't mention as to how annoying Eli is for them, so they decided to just leave everything to Nozomi on how to deal with her.
Niko has tried her best and she also already told everything to Nozomi, about what she said or what Eli said. Nozomi feels grateful for that, but…
There's a part of her that says… it could've been her to tell her all that, not Niko.
"…and then…and then…" Kotori continues her story about what snacks she tried in the lounge, Umi has been listening to them, even though their eyes are sparkling from all the happiness, the bluenette doesn't seem to be happy to hear it, but then again, she wasn't really paying attention either, during their previous mission.
While the ash brunette was supported by her teammates, Rin seems to be energized as she listens to Nozomi's lecture about how to enhance their spiritual power….
"….and you have to focus your heart to your own beliefs—you cannot see if you don't believe in what you want to believe— but also, you have to differentiate between seeing and imagining…"
"To see and to imagine….? What's the difference between them-nya?" Rin tilts her head confusedly.
"To see is to become aware of a vision that exists, but to imagine is to create your own vision …"
"Hnngg…so…if we put it into context, uhm….i still wouldn't know how to believe what I cannot see-nya…I think I'll need to do some imagining…" Rin said.
"Hmm…everyone has their own way to make themselves believe in something…if that works for you, then why not…" Nozomi replied.
"Ok-nya! I'll try to do that!" Rin said.
"Sounds good! Hmm… where was Reiko before…." Nozomi tried to look around.
Instead of Reiko, she caught a glimpse of another soul—might be the same soul who has been peeking on Eli before, but this time, she seemed to be extremely scared looking at them. Does she think them as a threat? Or perhaps it was all just in her imagination?
She doesn't know what she might be, but if she has to be honest to her own thoughts, she needs to somehow confront that soul without scaring her and cause her to escape. It could be troublesome if she doesn't know where she might go off to, if she ever escapes from her… maybe she will sneak up on her said-to-be-soulmate without her knowing…
Who knows what might happen next?
Certainly, that's dangerous...and must be prevented…
Fortunately, as she is still trying thinking of a way to approach the very soul, a specific soul acted faster than she did…
Reiko sneaked up to the girl, surprised her but didn't scare her enough to make her run.
"Why are you here?! Come and introduce yourself already!" Reiko said as she shoves the girl to the crowd,
"W-wh-whawawa…. Reiko-chan! Stop surprising me like this!" the girl said.
Nozomi noticed it—how could Reiko and her know each other?
Either way….
"Ah…well, why don't you try it out, Rin-chan? Just try to focus your eyes and mind to…" Nozomi pointed to where Reiko and the girl stood. Honoka, Umi, Kotori, Hanayo and Eli seemed to already notice their presence, Niko still flustered while Maki, she heard them but she doesn't know where they were before Nozomi pointed it.
"there…!" Nozomi said cheerfully.
Rin tried to do what she was told, but it was a lot harder than she imagined…she couldn't see anything other than the room's window…
"Good luck, Rin-chan!" Hanayo whispered,
Kotori, Umi, and Honoka seems to be very enthusiastic to know how it will go, while Eli remained uninterested in the idea…
Expanding the team is what Nozomi always dreamed of, but not really what she wanted since it could mean that her place could be replaced….
Though when she decided to just take a little glance—she could see long chains, created between the short orange cat-like girl and the girl that seems to be not that new to Eli. Is anyone else seeing that? Or is it just her….?
Why didn't Reiko mention it?
Did she not see that?
Or she's just pretending to not see that?
Eli could've always been anxious about the souls they met and be 'friends' with them… but that thought was brushed off as she noticed that Reiko finally noticed the very same effect created between the two…
"W-Wait! Please stop focusing! She is doing it wrong!" Reiko shouted.
Nozomi tilts her head,
"Huh…why?"
Honoka, Kotori, Umi, and Hanayo seemed to be flustered as well while Maki immediately steps in front of Rin.
"Hey,S —…" and before Maki was able to finish, a different force was created between the two…
Maki got shoved away—but she just doesn't know where that came from, or what may happen next….
"R-Rin-chan!" Everyone except for Eli, Niko and Maki shouted in panic.
This became an unexpected turn of events— Rin suddenly pulled the girl soul inside her body…
"What's happening here?!" Niko said as she finally sees that something is indeed wrong with the cat-like girl...
She acted like she was being shocked by electricity—just for a moment before she suddenly turned calm.
"Ha—she pulled me in!" Rin suddenly said—even though her voice is slightly different, but the way she talks is completely different…
"W-whoa…. Aiko-chan…." Reiko said.
"A-Aiko….?" They asked,
"D-Don't tell me…Rin is possessed?!" Maki raises her eyebrows.
"More like…she made herself possessed!" Nozomi corrected.
"How did she even do that?!" Maki asked in her surprise.
"U..Usually…that kind of ability is learned by a high-tier priest…on a medium…not by themselves…." Reiko said.
"W-wait…this is a high tier ability?!" Nozomi exclaimed.
"Yes…. Not many are able to pull one soul to enter one medium with a soul inside it…well…she just did that by mistake…so…. I don't know anymore… how you all could do these things!?" Reiko said.
"O-Oi! Rin! Can you hear me?!" Maki shakes the orange haired girl.
"W-waaahh! You're so rough!" the orange haired girl—which is no longer Rin said as she cowers.
"She certainly can hear you, just can't talk except—…." Before Reiko finished her sentence, Maki already heard her talking…
"M-Maki-chan! Please help-nya!"
Eli was able to hear that as well, though the others doesn't seem to hear her.
"—…you have a very-very-high tier listening ability…like a princess!" Reiko continued.
"Uuhh..someone please take me out of here! I don't know how!" Aiko said with Rin's face and voice.
"D-Don't panic! Aiko-chan! Uh…I'll have to call Yuki-chan for this! She knows better!" Reiko said before she quickly flies away.
"W-Wait! Reiko!" Umi tried to hold her, but Reiko already left…
"W-what should we do now?!" Kotori said in panic.
"Uh…don't panic…we can wait for Yuki-chan to come…" Nozomi said.
"Y-you can't do anything about that?!" Maki complained.
"N-Not really…I've never knew this kind of thing was even possible…"
"R-Rin-chaaan! Please come back!" Hanayo begged as she jumps onto the orange haired girl's body and begins to shake her shoulder.
"Oohh! Maybe we should just spend some time!" Honoka said.
"But it's so tight here-nya! I feel like I'm getting squished-nyaaa!" Rin said—which was only heard by Maki and Eli.
"We can't! Rin is being squished!" Maki said.
"W-what?! Am I heavy?!" Aiko exclaimed in panic.
As the team started to become even more panicked, Eli rolled her eyes. Though when her eyes set on the purplenette—who seemed to somewhat enjoy her time panicking with the team….
She knows well that her heart gripped tightly from the jealousy…she wished that there never was anyone, who can make her intrigued with the scene other than her…
Remembering the speech from Niko before…
She thought…
Perhaps, Niko was right that she is being demanding and selfish…
…and perhaps she was also right that she just wants her right to exist…
But now that she really-really thinks about it…after all the thought that she had during her lone time before….
Is it worth it for Nozomi to have someone as selfish and demanding as her? Someone who wants to have her all for herself...or better to be said as someone who wants to imprison her for herself…
To see how happy she looks…to see how much she enjoys the freedom…
Is it really going to be too much for her…?
With all the lies she made just to make Nozomi feel comfortable around her—by giving her enough space to breath and share her cheerful and goofy act with another person, other than her…
She knows that it will take a lot of changes—because she is selfish and she doesn't know how to change those wishes in her heart…
How many times did people call her mean?
How many times did people tell her that she is cold hearted?
And how many times did people call her a selfish jerk?
Surely, those weren't counted by her since she never cared about herself…
But when she tries to imagine how Nozomi—the one that she took so much interest in, calling her with all that…
Well... she can care nothing…of course… she has heard that before…
But why…?
Why does she feel scared to be insulted again?
It doesn't have to come out from her lips, knowing that Nozomi thinks that way about her, making her feel uncomfortable…
Maybe she shouldn't have met her…
Maybe she shouldn't have known her…
It's better that she never knew her….
So that she can stay true to herself…
So that she doesn't have to try scarring herself with an attempt to change…
She never liked the life granted to her…
She never wanted it…
What made her worthy of having such a beautiful and caring person like Nozomi?
Even though she knows that Nozomi likes her as well…
She knows that she is not the best for her…
…and a best friend… will always give the best for her best friend…
All these thoughts were breaking her heart, Eli stood before she quickly walks to the door of her room. She was about to open it, but then remembers that she doesn't have the keys…
…and knowing that if she makes a sound, she will take the attention of the panicking group…
Eli shook her head, deciding to enter with the ability that she remembers to have used before…
When she enters, the girl who was stuck in Rin's body saw that…
"Ah…that kyuubi…" she pointed,
Everyone immediately turns their eyes to where Eli was.
"Ericchi….?" Nozomi raises her eyebrow—surprised that she couldn't find Eli anywhere…
She feels like something was stabbing her deeply with that founding… she could've been panicking about that too but…something else made her feel wrong…
Has she neglected her for too long?
Is she angry at her?
Again…?
It doesn't make sense that she was so quick at making decisions about leaving her here…
Nozomi gloomed to the event, smiling bitterly as she realizes that…
Maybe this is why they shouldn't date…just like what Eli said to Niko….
"Eli-senpai left…." Umi said sadly,
"Uhm….she must've had a rough day… we could've cared more about her…" Kotori said.
"Where did she leave though?" Honoka asked.
"She went into the room…" Aiko said.
"Heh…she must be feeling left out again… I have to say I've never seen anyone as demanding as her…" Maki said.
"You're the one to say, Spoiled Princess!" Niko said.
"S-Shut up… anyhow… you should go look for her, Nozomi-senpai…" Maki said.
"Yes…I think you're the only one who can talk some sense into her…." Niko said.
"Wait…does anybody not question as to how she entered a locked room?" Hanayo asked.
"Huh? Well...you're certainly right… I have the keys here with me…" Niko said.
"You're right…I didn't hear her opening the door…" Maki said.
"Through the windows?" Honoka asked,
"We didn't hear the window opening—and it's not even open right now!" Umi said.
"Maybe she entered the wrong room?" Kotori asked.
"Let's check…." Niko said as she quickly stands up, followed by everyone else.
"Wait!" Nozomi said, holding the group from moving any further…
Nozomi fakes a smile at them,
"It's fine… let's just leave her alone…" she said.
"What are you saying… we need to justify that we are not neglecting her… and it's not even midnight yet…" Niko said.
"Y..yeah…if it's midnight, that creepy woman will look for me!" Aiko said.
"Creepy…woman….?" Everyone turns their gaze to the girl.
"Y-yep! She is so creepy! She always talks about me being her true love!" Aiko said.
"Oh…I think I know who…." Maki smirked.
"Why don't you…. make yourself transparent or something…?" Nozomi asked.
"I don't know how…and…during midnight and at 4:44 PM or 4:44 AM…. I'm somehow visible to the living!" Aiko said.
"Oh…." the group nods to the information that solved the whole mystery, told by the rumors…
"Putting that aside… we really need to check if she truly entered the room…" Niko said.
Nozomi was about to deny, but… maybe it's not that bad trying to figure that out.
She waited for Niko to head to the room and opened the door with the key that she has in her hand.
When the room opened—the light is still off and there is no sign of anyone inside.
"No one seems to be here…." Umi said as she peeks in along with Honoka and Kotori.
"Heh—turn the lights on…" Maki said.
They agreed to do it and Niko was the first to act. As the light goes on, they still find nobody inside…
"Hmm… looks like she really didn't come in here…" Niko said.
"But I swear I saw her entering this place…." Aiko said—still with Rin's voice and body.
"Well, why don't we just look around? Maybe she is hiding?" Honoka said.
It sounded silly in Nozomi's ears…she knows that Eli probably won't do that…or at least, she won't be doing it here…
"It can't be… she must have gone for some fresh air…I believe it's just a little cramped for her, nothing so serious…" Nozomi said.
"Really…? You two didn't look well with each other before…so…I'm afraid if she went home because of that…" Kotori said.
"That can't be…. she can't go home without her belongings…. It should still be here…right?" Nozomi said as she looks around the place.
She remembers well all the details of Eli's belonging and when she tried to look for the same objects…
She couldn't find it….
"Well…all I see here is my stuff and Niko's…." Maki said.
"Address me as your senior, will you?!" Niko protested.
"Not that it's any important now…but really… where did she keep her stuff?"
"I believe it should be inside the wardrobe…I saw her putting her stuff there…" Niko said as she headed to the wardrobe, and opens it just to find nothing but the stuff that was put on sale by the Inn.
Niko remain quiet as she smirks, surprised that there's nothing inside—and to the fact that she has always been holding onto the keys….
"How….could this have happened…." Niko said.
"Everyone remained silent, worried of what might happen next…"
Nozomi is still speechless as well..
She truly left the place…
Not that she can't…it just that everything feels so unsettling…
She wanted Eli to enjoy the adventure with them…. but Eli decided not to—and taking it as a chance to tell Nozomi how much she is unworthy to be committed with someone like Eli…
Maybe it really is over…
The next student council vice president will really not be her….
She has neglected her job…
She has neglected her as well….
The only thing she wanted to happen is….
To never meet with the blonde again….
And maybe to try to make things good again for everyone here…
"Maybe we're just not looking hard enough, but putting that aside, why don't we try to visit the room next to this…? Maybe she really entered a wrong room and stuck there with the strangers!" Kotori said.
"Y-yeah… let's go look!" Umi and Kotori quickly opened the door—everyone started to leave the room except for Nozomi who seemed to be still in shock from the occurrence…
She wanted to cry…but she couldn't…
Not in front of her new friends…
She wanted to call her name…
But she doesn't think that she is worthy enough to call her name again…
Someone as irresponsible as her…
Someone as unfaithful as her…
She is not the best for someone as great as Eli…
Someone as popular as her and someone who could charm any soul with just a glance...
Nozomi nodded to her own thoughts…she smiled bitterly and took a deep breath.
It's time to move on…
And it's really the time to enjoy her time with her new friends…
Forget about the old one…
Forget about the one she wanted to be intimate with…
There will never be a best friend… just friends and that is all she will ever have…
It's enough for her lifetime…
She is used to it….
…it's fine…
It really is fine for her….
Nozomi finally steps out of the room to find the rest of the girls waiting in front of the neighboring door, which was opened gently by a woman—dark purple long hair and with thick gothic make up. She doesn't look familiar to her… but….
She looked somewhat charming…
Did she fall in love again?
She doubts that…
It's nothing like what she felt for her first encounter with Eli…
"Aha—look at these cuties knocking the door in the middle of the night…" said the woman with a mature voice.
"Sorry for that… but, did you see anyone with light skin, tall, blonde hair and cold blue eyes?" Umi asked politely.
"Hmm...I certainly know someone like that, sweetie… but what do I know about this person? I'm a time traveler!" the woman said with a somewhat calm and happy voice.
"Time…traveler….?" Umi and everyone else tilts their head.
"Or more like… Universe traveler…?" the woman said again before a rough kick suddenly landed on her face—slamming her to the door next to her.
Someone with a familiar face as the first woman appeared, except she has short hair.
"I'm sorry…about my sister… her damned goofy head needs some breaking sometime…" she said.
"Oh…" the group responded to the lively scene…
"Eve…how could you be so cruel to me…." the woman said as she touches her cheek that got kicked.
"S-Shut your stupid mouth! Idiot! Let me do this!" the short haired woman said.
The group still flustered of what just happened, they wonder if everything is alright for the long haired woman…
"So…you all were looking for someone…?" the short haired woman asked.
"Yeah…blonde hair, tall, light skinned, and cold blue eyes…." They said.
"You need to be more specific, there are plenty of people we know to have such characteristics..…"
"Oh..ok! So…her name is Ayase Eli!" Honoka said.
Both of the woman raises their eyebrows…
"Honoka…they wouldn't know about her name!" Umi said.
"Oh…then..uhm…she has a gentle voice!" Honoka said.
"She barely talks with strangers…" Maki sighed.
"Then..uh…uhm…what else…?" Honoka seemed to be confused.
"She walks fast and she barely gives out her smile to others…high pony tails with a pair of untied hair on each side, long fingers, and she was sitting here since this afternoon…" Nozomi said as she approaches them.
The two woman turn their eyes to Nozomi, the long haired one was about to say something, but…
"No…we have not seen anyone like that…." the short haired one said.
"I see…then we should go…" Nozomi replied—still with a bitter smile coloring her lips.
"What are you saying, Eve…we saw her here before…!" the long haired one said.
"You idiot! We did not!"
"We did! Sheesh! You're getting old…"
"You are older than me…goofball! Besides, they probably are looking for her…and we don't know where she might have gone to by now!"
"Well, we've seen her so we know her…we should go help them looking for her…"
"Ah—it's fine…actually…we're not going to look for her…" Nozomi said.
The group seemed to be surprised to the statement.
"So…where should we start?!" the long haired woman said excitedly, completely ignoring the polite rejection.
"Aren't you listening…goof head?! They're not looking for her!"
"Oh—Oh! Let me introduce myself… my name, is Lilith Faith…and this is…Eve Faith, my lovely twins! We came from another world!"
"Idiot!" Eve kicked her sister again.
The group once again flustered. Eve took a deep breath, then she began to explain..
"….we didn't came from another world… we are just… always traveling…so we don't have any specific house…."
"Ah…I see…" Nozomi replied to her.
"Yep! It's a coincidence that we meet here, Nozomi-chan!" Lilith said.
"Ehh…? You know each other?" Maki asked.
Nozomi started to wonder as well…how could she know her name? She didn't introduce herself yet!
"No…I don't know her…" Nozomi said.
Eve already placed her palm on her face.
Those two seemed to be very suspicious…but…
Maybe Nozomi is already well known in the spirit world…?
Knowing from experience that she was always targeted for an attack because of her famous…or infamous name…
"Ohoho—then you all should call me the magical oracles! Ohohohohoho!" Lilith laughed proudly.
"Don't trust her…. She was just looking at the guest book from the lobby and guessing names…" Eve said.
"But—hey now, let's start looking! I believe she must be still somewhere around here!" Lilith said.
The group started to look at each other…wondering if they should agree to that…
"I mean—Let's just goooo!" Lilith said before she grabs Nozomi's wrist and starts running.
"W-wait there you idiot! Don't just hog someone you just met like that!"
Meanwhile…
Eli—has walked off to a big road, waiting for a public transportation to pass by. When she stood there, she already knew that she was being followed by one specific soul. A soul that she always knew to be around her—and always been bothering her in every way possible.
But Eli has never made an attempt to oppose her, not that she was interested of doing so….
Will it be dangerous to finally face her and make her realize that she was acknowledged?
Will that be a problem for her and will that be a mistake?
She will never know until she tries…
That's why— knowing that no one else is around right now…maybe it's a good time for her to turn herself around and let her know that she has noticed her….
"Explain yourself or stop following me…" she said coldly...
The black dressed woman remained silent.
Eli waited her for a while, though because she has not made a response, Eli sighed and turns her sight away from her.
When Eli looks into a different way— the black dressed woman flashed and appear right in front of her. Eli was slightly surprised but she was quick on gaining her composure…
"I'll explain myself…" the woman in black dress said.
Eli frowned slightly, but since she was at least answered her demand anyway….
The woman in the black dress guided the blonde to a place,
Somewhere far but quick to be reached with the level of spiritual power that Eli possesses currently. It was a temple—an abandoned temple with no living but plenty of spirit world creatures. Some has attempted to attack them and whenever they did, the blonde and the black dressed woman countered quickly and devoured them whole. Some started to cower from their presence…
They fear them…in fact… they all do.
"….and you know that you've always been a nine-tailed fox?" the woman in black asked.
"…not until that day… I think I was awakened from the extreme fear I felt as I was abducted by Hanako…"
"You knew from that day?" the woman in black dress asked.
"Not really…I was still…thinking and doubting myself about that… but then you told me about myself…and it cleared everything up for me…. so… thank you…" Eli replied.
"You're welcome… I'm surprised that Toujou Nozomi didn't tell you anything…."
"Can we please not talk about her? I don't want anyone to talk badly about her…"
"I didn't mean to make her sound bad…in fact, I was trying to tell you that she really cares about you.. I believe she was just scared to hurt you—or make you feel down…."
"What could possibly make me feel down from telling me about who I truly am…" Eli replied.
"Perhaps she knew how much your life would change, if you knew…"
"So…basically, you're saying that she is trying to make me not fulfill what I was born for?"
"Some people believe in freedom of living to be more important than living for a reason…she has a good intention… you shouldn't blame her…" the woman in black dress said.
"You're certainly right… she is…too kind….for someone like me…" Eli turns her sight down.
"Now-now, you've made a decision to leave her with her life… I bet she will move on… she is a mature girl and everyone knows that…" the woman in black dress replied.
"I know…." Eli smiled bitterly.
The woman in black giggled,
"It's time for you to move on too… forget everything in your life and get on serious business. Maybe your fate to meet her is not to fall in love, but to realize and learn about everything you need… You're a nine-tailed fox… a guardian…a holy beast…. You're born to understand what humans need…also to be born to keep the world's balance… you're not the only one, but plenty of others are as well born like you…and most of the time, they refuse to neglect their duty and become a priest that guard each of the open door between worlds.…"
"It's a little too complex for me… can you explain it in a better detail?"
"Ah—well… between this world and the spirit world… we have a lot of doors to pass through…those who live, will stay here and those who die, have to move to the spirit world… that rule is fixed and can't be changed… that's why we need guardians to stay in each door…so that the ones who enter the spirit world will never leave and the ones who are living, are getting a lower risk of getting abducted inside…"
"Why would any dead abduct the living?"
"Simple, so that they could eat their soul and be stronger…. everyone wants to be stronger in the spirit world… eating each other will be too hard and challenging, that's why the living is a better target for them…"
"I see…." Eli replied. She seems to be intrigued with the idea…
"...so…here are two deals you can make from that…." the black dressed woman said, taking all the attention from the blonde...
"You can be a guardian here…. Since…well…as you can see…there are no guardians here…. Or…" the woman pauses, she smiles lightly,
"…you can be my loyal pet… I promise I'll treat you nicely…and feed you well…"
"….a pet….?" Eli frowned slightly,
"Don't be offended, but that's what you can be… you're a fox soul after all…"
"Well, what's so different between those choices…?"
"A guardian will stay here and wait for souls to come…and judge if they are worthy to pass through the door or to be swallowed to fulfill your hunger… a pet… well…you can stay with your life…but you will have to come with me at night, have a nice stroll and hunt for unnecessary souls… there will be much more fun involved…of course… I didn't call my pet for nothing…"
"Sounds a little fishy to me…can I be introduced to these things first….?" Eli replied.
"Of course you can! If that will help you to decide…."
"Thank you…." Eli replied again.
Meanwhile, back to the Inn…
"A-aah! Yuki-chaaan! You're finally here!" Aiko said as she noticed the Snow Girl come by with Reiko…
"Y-yeah! Rin-chan has been waiting for you!" Hanayo said.
"I'm sorry! The distance is ridiculously far!" the snow girl said.
"Now-now, just how can we get Aiko to leave Rin's body…?" Maki asked.
"Hhmmm…" the snow girl tried to get closer to the orange haired girl…—who is not herself right now…
"We just need to do this…." Yuki said as she grabs Aiko's hand—which was quickly pulled out from Rin's body… and the rest of the parts didn't delay right after…
"Oh…." Maki and Hanayo raises their eyebrows—surprised that it's such an anti-climatic scene, compared to the panic caused by everyone earlier…
"aahhh! I'm free again!" Aiko said.
"W-whoa…I finally can breath again-nya!" Rin said.
"Hehe… by the way, where are the others?" Yuki asked.
"uhm… Niko-senpai, Honoka-senpai, Umi-senpai, and Kotori-senpai are with someone who said herself to be… Eve Faith… they're looking for Eli-senpai! Then Nozomi-senpai went with Eve Faith's twin, Lilith! Also to look for Eli-senpai…."
"Where did she go?" Yuki asked.
"We don't know…but it seems serious…" Hanayo replied.
"hey, don't tell them I said this…but…Eli is just jealous of us…"
"Jealous….of us…?" Hanayo flustered.
"Yeah…. She is… well…she is interested in Nozomi….if I can describe her, I'll say she is a clingy person… I can't blame her though since…she doesn't know about us and we seem to be busy with our own business with Nozomi while she is around…"
"Oh—She feels left out… and feels like her existence doesn't matter to us…?"
"Yeah…something like that…."
"It's rude of her to do that…I mean… it's not like we meant to do that to her…" Hanayo said sadly.
"Yeah-nya…we just don't know how to reach her and scared to offend her-nya…." Rin added.
"I know… a complex person…. Not many people are able to reach someone like her, maybe Nozomi is like the only one who can…."
The Snow girl and Reiko sighed—they know that sort of thing always seem to happen….
Aiko though, she seems to be very intrigued by the story…or perhaps, she seems to have something to say….
"Mmm-mmm….I think we should help them to come back!" Aiko said.
"Eh….why? It's their personal problem…we shouldn't really interfere…" Maki said.
"But you said it yourself that she was jealous of us, right? We should tell her straight away that we didn't mean to take Nozomi-san away like that!"
"I don't think it can be that simple…" Maki sighed.
"Then, let's at least help them to make up with each other! I feel like they both are about to give up on being friends!"
"In my opinion though, I think we should leave it be… the only one who can help are they themselves…" Maki replied.
"Fine, then we should just encourage them to not give up! There must still be hope!" Aiko said innocently.
"Aiko-chan…why are you so persistent…? It's so rare to see you like that." Reiko said.
"Well—uh…when I see that girl…uhm…Ayase Eli? She keeps staring at Toujou Nozomi, her eyes are sad and it's like she is about to break… I always had the urge to tell her that she shouldn't give up!"
Yuki giggled,
"There…Aiko…you're still into that, remember the time you did that to someone?"
"A-aah…well….i believe Ayase Eli isn't going to do it like that creepy woman!" Aiko said.
"Did anything happened between you and that creepy woman before…?" Maki asked
"Well…there's one night, she chased me all the way around the building…I was so scared and the only thing I could think of was to float above the pool! But then that creepy woman chased me there too! So I had to change the rule that was written on the board about the cleaning duty system….but she is still trying to jump into the pool when it's dry anyway!"
"Eh…this is kind of rare-nya!" Rin said.
"Uhm…Rin-chan…did you hear what she said?" Hanayo asked.
"Yup…I can see her too now-nya! Also, the two others! Uhm…Reiko-chan and… Yuki-san?"
"Amazing! You were still learning before!" Reiko said.
"Maybe the shock accidentally opened her sixth sense….do you at least remember what you did to Aiko-chan before?" Yuki said.
"Sort of-nya!" Rin replied.
"Good…! Then… hmm…I wonder if you can try to focus your mind in another way…" Yuki said as she tried to think…
"Yup! I think I can try-nya!" Rin said before she started…
Maki and Hanayo watched her, though they both have different thoughts of her attempt, while Hanayo is very interested to know how successful it will be, Maki feels like it's somewhat silly to do what Rin is trying to do right now.
By all means, to focus to get herself possessed is stupid…
Or so she thinks…
Maki wasn't expecting anything to happen to her—but Rin apparently, focused her power and linked a chain to Maki—which she couldn't see.
Aiko once again got pulled in—and this time, to Maki.
"Gg-hhgh?!" Maki protested… no one seems to hear her but the snow girl…
"W-waah! I'm inside!" Aiko said with Maki's voice.
"U-Uwaah! It's so strange to hear her voice in such a cheerful tone!" Hanayo said.
"R-really?" Aiko asked.
"H-Hey! Get out! It's so cramped in here! Maki complained again.
Yuki giggled before she pulls Aiko out of Maki's body.
"There-there… now we all know that you're capable of using your ability!" she said.
"Hehe! Yep-nya!"
"I wonder if you can do it on an object as well…?" Hanayo said.
"I think so-nya!" Rin said.
"Quit playing with this already! We probably should worry about the rest of the team—or perhaps, we can just go ahead to our own search team!" Maki said.
"You're right, Maki-chan… we should go look for the stubborn head…!" Reiko said.
"By the way…." Yuki paused for a moment, trying to make sure everyone is paying attention to her…
"…I wonder if you're all aware of the danger of being around Eli…."
"We've heard…but why should we care…? It's not like we're not challenging the danger itself right now…" Maki replied.
The snow girl smiled faintly to the response.
"I see… now that you told me that…." she pauses again, taking a little look at her surrounding before she decided to continue…
"…..she has attracted the most dangerous soul ever existed…"
"The most dangerous soul….?" Hanayo tried to confirm about what she just heard.
"Yes… It's not the first time or anything, in fact, it's been three years since that soul decided to hang around her… she watches her from afar…paying attention to the growth of her spiritual power that keeps growing with unknown forces… I know who she is…and I know why she is there…."
"Care to tell us…?" Maki asked.
The snow girl remain silent, Reiko's face seems to change in despair, while Aiko seems to be still innocent about the topic.
They waited for a moment, until Maki was about to speak—but the Snow Girl beat her to it.
"I'll be in trouble if I say all this…but…." she pauses again…
"It's fine… if I'm lucky, I'll survive…" she continued.
"What is this all about…?" Maki asked.
"Being a legend is actually just our way to say that… we're all just a mere pet of this one specific soul…" The Snow girl said.
"One soul…?" Maki tilts her head.
"Yes… we're just… a pet… to collect souls….we could feed ourselves, but we are also meant to deliver some offerings as well… in return, we're protected by the union…and also be shared with other's haul when needed…"
"Sounds like a good thing somehow…" Maki said.
"It was… until we realized…that the bigger the union, the stronger she becomes… and now it's already too late for us to realize that she was actually a tyrant who planned to conquer both worlds…"
"How? Aren't spirits and this world, meant to be different?" Maki asked.
"Through Religion and Beliefs… when a religion is used by the living, it is a guide to live their life as a human being and as their way to express their gratefulness to God… it's good…but when a religion is used by the living to cause fear of the afterlife and to create a wall between each other…will cause a destruction…"
"Devide et Impera…." Maki said.
"Oh!" Hanayo quickly grasped the meaning.
"What is…Devide et Impera-nya?" Rin asked.
"To Divide and Conquer, a politic strategy… one will divide a large group into smaller, then they will conquer the smaller part one by one… they will also try to prevent the small group from uniting with the bigger one…" Hanayo explained.
"So you're saying…." Maki pauses.
"Yes… Nozomi and Eli… they could be a strong forces… and everyone here as well—will become one big group that will never be defeated…she knows about this—and scared if her place as the strongest will be replaced…that's why…she lurks in the dark, waiting for a chance to strike…and when she finds a way, she won't be easy to counter…"
"I see…so it is indeed our business to make them come back to each other…" Maki said.
"Exactly…"
"Let's go find one of them then-nya…!" Rin said cheerfully.
"Yeah! Let's go!"
Outside the Inn…
"Oh…so that's what you're all doing here…." A short haired woman said after Honoka explained her about what they were all up to…
"Yeah…are you familiar to that kind of spiritual experience, Eve-san…?" Honoka asked.
"Honoka… I think it's kind of embarrassing to tell her all that…" Umi sighed.
"Not really…I believe in all of your stories…" Eve replied.
Umi sighed, assuming that Eve is just being kind…
"Hehe! That's good!" Honoka said cheerfully.
"And about your previous question, I have plenty of stories with spiritual beings…"
"W-whoa?! Really?!" Honoka replied.
"Yep…hmm…my sister and I had a job, as a nurse in one specific clinic… one day, she told me, someone is about to die…and I was like, alright, that's like what happens everyday in the clinic…" Eve started, Niko, Honoka, Umi, and Kotori listens to her carefully and pays attention to the gestures.
"…and then she said again, someone else is going to die…. then I told her to stop guessing since she cannot know what God has in his plans… but then just right after she acted to be sad—and faking her damned cry, two person actually died…"
"W-whoa…is she really some sort of an oracle or something?!" Honoka asked.
"More like, I suspect her for doing something to those two! But then she has been with me all the time…But she still probably has done something to them the days before!"
"Like what…?" Honoka asked.
"Fucking them of course! Literally!" Eve exclaimed.
"W-whoa-whoa! Hey! They're under-aged to listen to that kind of story!" Niko complained.
"Huh? Really? I thought they were asking about spiritual experience…that's the only thing that came up on my mind…"
"It's spiritual experience! Not an adult joke!"
"It wasn't a joke! Besides! I remember that as a spiritual experience because after the two dead person were carried away from their room, she said 'just like what she had always said… How Spiritual! I can hear the dead screaming their soul out!'…. it doesn't even make any sense and it's not even the right sentence!" Eve complained again.
"Uh…your sister…sounds fun…" Umi smirked—trying to be as polite possible.
"She is certainly not! Not after all the trouble she get me into!"
And Eve continued to rant.
In the other side of the Inn outskirt,
For some reason, Nozomi and Lilith are standing in the very place of where Eli stood before she went off with that one specific soul…
"Nozomi-chan…are you, like…very sure she was standing here before….?"
"Well…you asked me what I would do if I were in her shoes…so here is where I will stand—since… it's much easier to find a public transportation and it's not too far from the Inn…"
"Hmm…I see… so you think, she will take a public transportation…?"
"I'm certain that will be what she will do… unless, she changed her mind and decided to return back to the Inn… but…hmm…why would she return to the Inn anyway? I don't think Ericchi would do something like that since—that's really not in her character to return to where she has trouble with…"
"You think she gives up easily…?"
"More like, she will always try to be effective…I don't think she will ever think this case as something serious…so…. I'm sure she will go home and start to do something more productive…."
"She will go home? Then…what about her feelings towards you…?" Lilith asked,
For a moment, Nozomi was so surprised to hear what she asked….it's like she knows what was up between them… but then, maybe this stranger is just teasing…
"Sheesh—that's not even funny…you know, but to be not a spoilsport, I think she will take that home with her!" Nozomi replied as she gives out a playful smile.
"I was really asking… what about her feelings to you…? Is she going to keep that to herself because you don't seem to need it…?"
Nozomi remained quiet again. Wondering who or what this person truly is….
"If you keep that up, you two will have to carry home your own feelings, which might be built in such a long time… are you going to let it go waste?"
"Now-now…that's a little too personal, don't you think…?" Nozomi replied.
"Is that your way to tell me that you're giving up too? If you do, who will strive for it? Are you going to let it end that way?"
Nozomi kept quiet about it…
"…when you're faced in such a trouble you can't get out from, all you have to do is to remind yourself that you're a creature who is granted with a lot of senses… add more creativity to it and you will somehow find your way through…" Lilith said with a smile on her face.
"It's easier said than done…" Nozomi replied with a slight bitter smile.
"…did you know, meeting someone who has already died, will always be impossible… yet here you are—granted with senses to see and communicate with a dead person…"
"…This and that are different…I don't think it's possible for me to be…creative on solving this problem…. I mean… we are not meant to solve every single problem in this world, right…?"
"…creativity comes from and to them that are brave to be different, despite any difference they have, it's always going to be impossible when we never even try. And it's going to be difficult if we never want to understand…" Lilith replied again.
"I…I know…but…" Nozomi turns her eyes away…
"….Toujou Nozomi! Listen to me… Do you want to understand yourself…? About what you truly desire and about what she truly desires…?"
"How did you even know my full name?! I haven't—"
"…Do you want to love yourself and her?! Do you want to believe in yourself and her? Do you want to make what you believe to be impossible to be possible?"
"…I do…but…" Nozomi once again tried to reason,
"While you're here sulking, someone else has passed through one limitation—to recover a memory into reality, scavenging the past to build the future, even though it's not yet a perfection… it will surely be in the further future… "
"I don't have much of that future you're talking about! By all means! Ericchi and I aren't meant to be together! I have always pissed her off in the end…and she has admitted that as well! Plus! Why are you so nosy about me?! You're just a stranger!"
"Shouldn't that make you ashamed of yourself? I'm a stranger and I understand your feelings more than yourself!"
"How did you even have that much confidence…!?"
"Do you want me to share some to you?"
"It's not a joke! I think you're too nosy about me! You're no one for me!"
"Yet you cared much about what I said… Look at you… you're starting to cry…"
Nozomi was so surprised as mentioned it, and decided to lightly touch her face to check. All the doubts were shoved away when she truly feels the tears drip. Something she didn't even realize … It's been a long time for her to not cry…
"See…? You do, because deep inside, you know what I said is true… do you want to hide from all this…? Do you want to always deny what people see you as…? You're breaking inside, and yet you act tough so no one sees your broken heart…"
"Then what should I do…? She ran from me because I'm such a irresponsible person…."
"Do you think she is truly running away from you because you're such a bad person for her? Maybe it's the opposite… maybe she ran from you because you're such an adorable person who has so much happiness in your current state of life…maybe she doesn't want to ruin that because she loves you that much…"
"It's too much like a dream to have that sort of thing…. I'm very sure Ericchi is just tired of me…"
"Are you really not going to count the times she spent with you? All the happiness she had with you… are you going to let it come to an end just because she left without even giving you any clear reason…? Are you merciless about that?"
"It's not like that! I mean… why would I try so hard to achieve someone who is not even interested in me… I always believed that she can have all—…."
"—she wouldn't stick around you if you were the one she chose… I thought you have realized that…"
Nozomi pauses to her statement—which made her realize that she could just think that way…
"But….the truth now…she ran from me…."
"Let me ask you this again… did she tell you why? Did you hear that from her own lips? Do you truly believe what she says to others is what she will say to you?"
"Maybe the truth is what she says to others…. And the lie is on me… I'm such a problem for her…"
"Do you not think of a reason why she lied to you? Do you still think that she is there with you for another reason than to be with you…?"
"What's so good about me…?"
"Yes–what's so good about you that makes her stay with you? Are you not going to appreciate that and judge her as what you've judged her as…? You're not a saint, you're not a Billionaire… you're not the hottest girl in the country… yet she stayed and she was there around you…"
"Maybe that was what happened…but—…." Nozomi tried to form another reason,
"….even if you're going to say that you've screwed up something, you still have to go and make sure that she comes back to you—explain everything and make up with each other… don't let all the effort go to waste… Don't be broken! But go for broke!" Lilith cuts in.
Nozomi swears she can't be more confused with what she said, but… at least she understands that she was trying to tell her to keep going.
"Love is not a straight line… love… has a lot of curves… it could be smooth, it could be not… you can draw a heart with numbers….but you can only draw an erecting dick with a straight line…a very thin and ugly erecting dick"
With that Nozomi nearly snorted at the last sentence, she didn't expect that coming.
"You're such a goofball…" she said as she smiled sincerely.
"Not that you're any different, you have your own way to be a goofball—but that's what you truly are, right? Stop thinking about anything serious, keep smiling, strive for what you want, and get it with your wit… after all, that's why she likes you, right?"
"Not really…. I…I don't know…" Nozomi tried to calm herself.
"You're so out of character! Come back to your senses, believe in yourself… be confident! Take your witty ass to the next level and stop yourself from being an angsty character! Even if you're a good candidate for an angst drama, I just believe that you fit better in a comedy drama… more fun, more laugh, and more smiles…" Lilith said.
"Alright… I'm sorry…about before…" Nozomi said.
"Yup, all good, I understand that love can make people get out of character… now, close your eyes…" Lilith said,
Nozomi decided to close her eyes,
"….and tell yourself… you will certainly find her and make up with her…"
Nozomi nodded again and she started to think of it…
"….you're going to be more stubborn on being her friend… you're also going to advance for real…and…. You will also—tell her what you truly want from her and for yourself…"
Nozomi nodded again to the sentence…
"Great! Good luck on that!" Lilith said cheerfully.
"Got it!" the purplenette opened her eyes…
She thought she will find the mysterious woman in front of her eyes—but…
"Lilith-san…?" she called as she looks around—finding no one around her…
Meanwhile…
Niko, Honoka, Umi, and Kotori seems to be really flustered while listening to Eve rant about her sister… she even started to stomp on the ground…
"Hey…is this just my feeling, or ….she actually likes her sister…?" Niko said.
"I'm pretty sure she does… with that much detail in the story—and the way she responds to her sister…." Umi replied.
"Such a complicated person…." Kotori said.
Honoka remain silent as she looked like she is intrigued with the story Eve was telling…
"….and then, she—…!" Eve suddenly paused.
"Eh…? What's wrong…?" Honoka asked. The others also started to pay attention to what may be happening…
"…Hmm…time is up for her… Looks like I'll have to return as well…" she said.
"E-Eh? What time?" Honoka asked.
"Oh…uhm..never mind that… is there anything I can do to help other than look for this….troublesome asshole?"
"Oi-Oi! Watch your mouth!" Niko said.
"Uhm…I hope you're not taking this as something that makes us hate her… I mean…we don't hate her… we just…hardly understand her…."
"Well, do you have to hate an asshole?" Eve said.
"uhm…that's…." Umi remain silent.
"Nobody is perfect, not you, not anyone else… if you hate someone because they're such an ass, then everyone will hate everyone at one point…"
"What does that even mean…?" Niko asked.
"It means—you're an ass! You are an ass too! Everyone are assholes!" Eve said as she points to everyone's face.
The younger girls once again flustered with what she said…
"…but I'll accept all of you just the way you are…I'm just that kind…" Eve said proudly.
"….such confidence…where does that come from…" Niko smirked.
"I got it from my sister of course…" Eve replied proudly again.
"It's a weird way to see the world… but…I suppose… it's good in a way…" Umi commented.
"Y…yeah…" Kotori agreed
Eve sighed with a hint of pride on her face,
"Hmm…I should try again on my experiment… she is living in a short time…" she said before she just suddenly disappeared.
The four of them widen their eyes in surprise— did that person just do something abnormal to common sense? Or perhaps she just forgot to pretend to become an ordinary person?
Either way…
Maybe somethings have to remain a mystery. All the rants sounded unreal anyway—not with a common sense… but at least they can continue searching for Eli.
At the Inn…
Hanayo, Maki, Rin, Aiko, Reiko and the Snow girl ran around the hallways as a manly woman chased them …
"W-Why are we running again?!" Maki asked.
"Huff-huff-Because of that woman-huff-huff!" Hanayo replied.
"D-Don't you just wish that she couldn't see us?!" Reiko said.
"W-wait…what? She can see you all?" Maki replied.
"I can sense it! She can see us! This is why not everyone are meant to be able to see us!" Yuki said.
"Oohhh—ladies! Aiko-chan! please come back and let's go on a date!" the manly woman said as she stretches her arm forward.
"N-No wonder you're always scared! It wasn't just because you somehow become visible around specific hours—but because she is able to see you!" Maki said.
"U-uuhh…Someone please heeelllpp!" Hanayo shouted loudly.
The staffs around the hotel were not able to do anything as their owner is involved in the scene…
"W-We need to split up!" Yuki said.
"Y-yeah-nya! I'm going here!" Rin who have been running in front said before she quickly takes a turn…
"W-wait! Rin-chan!" Hanayo followed her.
"W-wait for me!" Aiko said as she also runs after them.
"A-Aiko-chaan!" Reiko shouted as she followed her friend.
Yuki and Maki decided to go to another way…but then— the manly woman wasn't even chasing them, so they decided to stop and take a nice break.
"Sh-sheesh…. Why is she so desperate…" Maki said.
"I don't know…but that's really scary… we shouldn't have left from our safe spot…" Yuki said.
"Yeah…in the end, we couldn't even look for Eli…." Maki said.
The snow girl and Maki sighed,
"She is so troublesome… why does Nozomi even like her…" Yuki said.
Maki remain silent.
"….love works in a weird way, don't you think?" she continued as she set her eyes on the red haired girl.
"I have no idea…. But perhaps it's just complex because they decided to make it that way…" Maki replied.
"I don't think they intentionally do that though… maybe they are just…afraid to hurt each other or losing each other, when they know they don't fit for each other..…"
"Quite exactly what I'm saying… I believe they're actually a good couple. They are meant for each other… they might be different, but they were able to fulfill each other's needs because of that…yet they didn't remember that and instead became scared of the future where they might not be able to please each other…. "
"You believe that too? Well…me too!" The Snow girl said with a big smile.
"Every time I see them looking at each other— I always feel like they are always looking at each other with a passionate gaze… it's so easy to tell that they both are in love…but then, there is also always this thing— where they just think that they're not meant for each other…and that just made it worse as they saw that their crushes are getting better each day… in fact, they are actually always growing together… physically and mentally!" she continued to blabber again, Maki can't believe that she will have to hear that sort of thing from someone like Yuki. She can't see her, but at least she heard her and can imagine how she will act energetic when speaking about it.…
"…Ahhh! Romance drama is the best! Especially when I get to act as the third person who just exists to motivate the main female character!"
"Huh…the heck is that? I don't get it…" Maki smirked.
"It's always been my childhood dream, to act in a romance drama… I don't mind angsty ones… as long as the main couple end up together!"
Maki remain silent with her smirk.
"Then-then, don't tell her this, other than observing Eli, I also have been observing her everyday! I know that she touches herself at night while—…." The snow girl continued, Maki doesn't even want to hear what's next…
Luckily, before the story went too far i, the other group ran into them…
"W-whaaa! Maki-chan!" Rin and the others shouted at the same time.
"E-eeeh?! D-Don't you dare run to me!" Maki is about to run again, but…
"Uh…why are they running now? No one is chasing…" Yuki said.
"Huh?"
Maki tried to look again carefully—truly, no one is chasing them anymore!
The place itself is dark and dusty,
A sound of someone walking up to the wooden stairs—and a sound of someone's soul, begging to be released…
"H-hey! S-Stop this! I'm sorry about before…ok!?" a manly woman said to the blonde, who coldly dragged her soul up— heading to a black dressed woman who waited for her arrival…
"I beg you!" the manly woman said to her again, which was ignored completely.
"….Stop!"
There was no response until they finally stop at the ruined temple…
"I didn't expect you to come back with a fresh soul…"
"You told me to take a worthless soul…that's what you're getting…" the blonde replied as she shoved down the manly woman soul down to the ground mercilessly.
"You're right… I didn't specify if it should be a living soul or a long dead one…." the black dressed woman chuckled,
"…and the fact that you did it in just a few seconds impressed me…"
"It's just a few miles from here… and I've learned something else from you as well…let's just say that as my way to thank you some more.…" Eli replied.
"Excellent…! That's the way!"
"Are you going to teach me some more if I'm to be your right hand…?" Eli asked.
"Yes…of course…"
"Then…that will be what I choose…" Eli replied surely as she averts her eyes. Trying to ignore everything that might be coming up to her ear once this path she chose was revealed to the purplenette…
Alright, that's it for now.
By the way! A request just came by and its TsubaHono Main Pairing. I actually didn't plan to do any more fiction, but i can't resist it because the AU i planned for them is actually...Digimon AU.
This fiction will comes to an End soon too so , yeah! Incoming FF is TsubaHono with Digimon AU! it won't be rated M though...i think...