I can't believe it's been an entire month since I first started Yokai Academy. Only a month and I think I'm really happy with how things are going for me. Well, almost really happy. There have been a few minor hiccups down the road, but overall, I don't think I'd change a thing. Except for the fact that Tsukune now has two girls fighting over him all the time. Ever since Kurumu declared Tsukune to be her 'destined one,' she's been like a dog on a leash trying to get Tsukune's love and attention. Moka is still the same around Tsukune, but she gets really jealous when Kurumu tries to hog him. It can be annoying and a little tedious at times, but it could be worse. Kurumu's taken a liking to me as well, though she clearly prefers Tsukune over me. At least I'm her friend, and that makes me happy. There was one thing that truly concerned me during that whole mess. Why is it that Moka...well, the Inner Moka referred to me as a 'sparring partner?' Does she...want to fight me? Why? She'd obviously win! So why would she care about losing that? Lucky for me, Inner Moka nor the Outer Moka hasn't said anything on the subject, so I don't think It's something to worry about...yet.
Classes are going well for me as well. I'm no genius but I'm no dummy either. My Mom always said that if I really wanted to, I didn't need to go to school and just start working on my dream. My dad was opposed to the idea since he thought I should experience school like a normal kid, but he let me have the choice regardless. Most of my lessons during my time in human schools were often easy, and here at Yokai Academy is no exception. Speaking of...
"Tsukune!" Moka. Chipper as always. "Let's study together!" Today's arithmetic class was a little different. Not only did our teacher assign us an exam, but they allowed students to pair up, hoping to get some initiative from the higher-ups.
"You get better grades than him! You don't need him! Tsukune, I need your help to do well!" Kurumu protested, trying to shove her rival away, but Moka stood her ground. The boy toy in question just looked on hopelessly.
"If I may interject..." The trio swivel to me. "Moka and I are more or less equal on this subject. Kurumu, how about you work with me on this one? Next time this happens, we switch. Sound fair?" The two girls stare at each other before Kurumu relents, lest she provoke another fight. She shifts her desk to be next to mine. "Okay, let's get-" Kurumu suddenly shifts so she would be in physical contact while she sits next to me. This brings a multitude of responses that offered themselves in my head. What is she doing? Should I say something? Should I...take it further? No! Maybe just enjoy the attention? Or just get back to work? I opted for a whisper. "Uh, Kurumu, what are you-"
"Shh! Just play along."
"What do you...oh." I figured it out. Kurumu is just trying to get Tsukune jealous or simply making herself look more appealing compared to a more polite and focused Moka. I don't mind when she uses me for her stupid love triangle schemes, hell, last week she held onto my arm for an entire lunchtime while I was eating with Tsukune and Moka. It was...nice, but at the same time, I felt like a fancy purse being lugged around. "You know, doing this won't get the guy's attention."
The succubus quietly scoffs "And what makes you say that?"
"Maybe instead of flaunting...this," I gesture to...all of her. "maybe you should start working on this." I tap my temple with my pencil.
"Are you calling me dumb?!" Kurumu shouts in a whisper.
"Do I need to talk about your quiz scores...again?"
She simply just looks away. "Point taken." The girl then tugs on my arm. "Will you...help me?"
I smile. "I offered, didn't I?"
She laughs softly, which I found...nice to hear. "Fair point."
The two of us began our quiz. I find myself looking over at Kurumu as she does the same but toward Tsukune. It's strange, just like at lunch, this feels...nice. Even if her attention is on the human boy to our left.
One Week Later
"Yep. That's exactly what I expected."
I look to Tsukune to my left, looking a little disappointed with his results from our previous exam. "Aw come on, dude. you could've done a lot worse."
He shrugs. "I guess. At least I didn't fail."
I punch him in the shoulder. "Atta boy."
"Heeeyyy!"
Our heads turn to the sound of Succubi's call. Running straight towards us, I expect she's gonna leap onto Tsukune and hug him like she always does. Wait...why is she...running towards me? "Kuru- MMFMMF-"
Like with Tsukune, Kurumu leaps onto me, hugging me tightly. One thing I forgot to mention, Kurumu doesn't really pay attention to the fact that she smothers Tsukune's face in...well, the main reason all the other stupid guys pay attention to her. and yes...she's doing the same thing to me. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Elijah! You helped me get better scores on my exam! I knew you were smart but I didn't think you were that smart!"
I hastily pat her shoulder, praying to any gods out there that she'll release me from this hug. Kurumu abides by my patting, finally releasing me from her suffocating hug, laughing as she lets me breathe. I can feel my cheeks burning. "Kurumu...never do that again. Tsukune?"
"Yes?"
"Is that what it's like for you every time?"
The boy chuckles nervously as he scratches the back of his head. "Yeah...pretty much."
"Speaking of..." Kurumu giggles as she prepares for another pounce.
"No no no!"
"Have fun you two!" I hear Tsukune's muffled yells as I walk down the board, looking for my exam results. I get to the fifties, forties, thirties, twenties... Ah, there you are. "Oh, shit. Seventeen. Damn."
"Oh, wow, you did really well, Elijah."
"Huh?" I turn to my right, seeing the bubbly vampire. "Oh, hey, Moka. I guess I did. But, honestly, I could've done better. I mean, look at you." I say as I point to Moka's name on the board. 'Moka Akashiya: 13.' "You did a hell of a lot better than me."
"Oh come on," We turn to a now approaching Tsukune. "How are you both so smart?"
"I see that the suffocating succubus finally released you."
"Yeah..."
"It was just a fluke, Tsukune. Besides...next time...maybe you and I can study together..." Moka offered.
"Well...that sounds great."
"Tsukune..."
"Moka..."
Oh boy, there they go again. I better let them have their moment. Besides, I'm interested to see who's at the top of our scores. Let's see...ah. 'Yukari Sendo,' huh? So, we have a genius girl in our school? Let's hope she's pretty.
"Don't push your luck or you're gonna pay the price, little girlie?"
Huh? Looking to my right, I see a trio of boys, all sporting glasses and attire marking them as student council. Wait...is that a kid? Said kid had what appears to be a witch's hat and a cape. And is that...a wand behind her back? No way...another magic person?
"Press my luck...?"
"For example, that stupid witch costume outfit of yours!" One of the three boys shouts and gestures obnoxiously.
Hold on...are they picking on this kid? What the hell?! Student council? picking on a kid? I slowly approach them, patiently listening and waiting for an opening.
"Hmmm... It's against school rules, no matter how you slice it."
"B-But... This is my..."
"Spare me. As your class president, the mere fact that you're even here...is enough to give me a headache."
Oh, great. A witch hater, too. Now only a few steps away, wait... Before I could step in, the witch girl waved her wand behind her back, summoning wash tubs right above the trio's heads, knocking them all to the ground.
The girl laughs at their misfortune. "Serves you jerks right!"
"Damn! Okay, that was cool!"
"Huh?" the girl spins around, facing me with a curious look. "Who are-"
"Why you little...!" Who the hell do you think you are?!" The supposed 'class president' gets to his feet, stomping his way up to the witch girl. "I'll teach you, you prepubescent little pissant brat!"
"Hey!" I get in between them just before he can lay a finger on the girl.
"Huh?! Who the hell-"
"Who am I? Who the hell are you?! Picking on some kid, fucking disgraceful. And you call yourself a class president?"
"Why you!" The guy lunges at me, but before he can do anything to me...
"Stop it!" Moka stands in front of me, putting herself between President fuck-face and me.
"Huh?! Who are you?!"
"You shouldn't be picking on little girls!"
"You people are supposed to be setting an example. So you justify bullying? You better back off before I give you a quick transition out of office." I glare at the trio. "If you catch my drift?"
The three boys looked around at the now-gathered crowd before giving the kid a sharp glare. "What do you say we leave it at this for the time being, eh? C'mon guys, we're outta here. But I swear...just being in the same class with one of your filthy kind makes me wanna puke."
President Fuck-face and his puny subordinate turn heel and leave, his venomous tone leaving a bad taste in my mouth. "Asshole." The crowd now dissipated, minus me, the witch girl, Moka, and Tsukune. With the threat now gone, the three of us turn to face the girl in question. "Hey, you okay?"
"Y-Yeah..."
Later, in the cafeteria
"Th-Thank you so much! You really saved my neck back there. My name is Yukari Sendo."
Wait...she's the one at the top of everyone's grades? ...Previous statement withdrawn. Well, at least she looks like a good kid. Plus, It's nice to finally meet another magic user in this school.
"I've heard about you," Moka speaks up. "Supposedly you're in the same year as us, only four years younger."
"For years younger...?" Tsukune questions surprisingly. "So wait, did you skip a few grades or something?"
"No, Tsukune. Yukari just used a reverse aging potion on herself and can't figure out how to reverse it."
Tsukune rolls his eyes at my sarcasm but smiles a little anyway. "Shut up."
"Wow... I guess that means you're really smart, huh, Yukari? And your outfit is really pretty too!" Moka complimented the young witch who blushed in response.
"Oh...that's very nice of you to say, but I'm not the impressive one. You are by far the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, Moka."
I raised an eyebrow, and Tsukune did the same. Say what now?
"And you're kind-hearted, smart, and cool. You see...I uhh... You should know...I love you more than life itself, Moka!" The witch child tackles the vampire onto the ground in a hug.
And a glance around showed Tsukune and me her...getting a little too comfortable with Moka's...
"What the fuck?!"
I was too confused and busy trying to shield Tsukune's eyes from seeing what's considered sexual harassment anywhere to hear what Yukari was saying up until she said. "I want you to be my girlfriend!"
"Girlfriend?!" Tsukune shouts in outrage.
"I'm pretty sure this is illegal might I add!"
"Ummm...well, I guess I can be a girl and your friend." Moka tries to counteroffer.
"Yippee! Oh, I'm so excited about this!" Evidently, Yukari was not the negotiating type.
Ever since after lunch, Yukari has gone out of her way to literally cling to Moka at every opportunity. She had even gone so far as to...cling to a certain part of Moka in front of everyone.
"Umm...Yukari? Could you please let go? I'm starting to feel weak." Moka quietly protests.
And I'm feeling like I should be arrested just for seeing this! I mean, seriously! What is up with this girl?!
"Aggh! Stop it!" Tsukune yells at Yukari as he comes around the corner. "What are you doing? You're both girls!"
"It wouldn't be any better if you switched the genders, Tsukune."
"I knew you would show up at some point," Yukari said dismissively, still clinging to Moka's... I just can't say it. "Tsukune Aono. Your grades are average. Your athletic ability is well below par. You have no skills at all. I couldn't imagine a more half-baked guy."
Tsukune winced.
"That's a little uncalled for, Yukari."
"Don't get me started on you, Elijah Everett. You may excel when it comes to academics, but at least Tsukune can attract a woman with an average body type like his. I wouldn't be surprised if you were a slug underneath your human form!"
My jaw drops to the floor. What the fuck is her problem?! "What did-"
"Now listen here. I do not want my darling Moka sullied by the likes of creeps like you two. So I'm declaring war on you!"
Tsukune and I look at each other completely flabbergasted.
Yukari begins twirling around, wand in hand beginning to glow with Magic. "Magic wand, brooms and buckets. Magic wand brooms and buckets. Abracadabra!"
"Uhh...what was that suppo-"
BANG!
A series of now animate brooms, wash buckets, and other cleaning supplies burst out of a nearby supply closet and begin to pester me and Tsukune. Well, to the best of their ability. It doesn't really hurt me, but Tsukune is on his knees clutching his head in pain as the cleaning supplies wail on him.
"OW! AHH! STOP THAT! AHH!"
"Dude, this doesn't even hu- OW! Okay! That was my fucking eye!" I clutch my eye in pain as the cleaning supplies revert back to normal, falling to the floor.
"Are you guys okay?" Moka asks, concerned.
"Oww... I'm fine, but I'm gonna take Tsukune to the nurse to get some ice and bandages." I help Tsukune to his feet as he groans in pain and I begin guiding him to the nurse.
"Hold still..."
"I know...ow!" My left eye stings as Kurumu applies the ice pack. I don't even know why or how she got here before Tsukune and I did, but I guess I should be grateful she's helping. The Succubus now attends to her 'destined one,' wiping the blood away from his bruised face.
"So, you said her name was Yukari Sendo?"
"Ow...yeah, I swear, I really don't know what to do..."
"It sounds like you've had a really rough experience, Tsukune."
"And me? Hello? Black eye over here." I point to said injury. I can't believe I got this by some possessed broomstick.
"Oh, right..." Kurumu acknowledges me, but her attention goes right back to Tsukune.
"She won't let me even talk to Moka. I mean, just look at the state I'm in."
I can see right on Kurumu's smug little face as she silently cheers to herself, most likely loving the fact that she can be alone with Tsukune now. Well, better give her what she wants or I'll just get more annoyed than I already am. I need some air anyway.
I wait outside the nurse's room, mostly thinking about my injury. I don't really want to waste one of my healing cards on a small injury like this, but I also don't want people asking how I got it. I mean, getting poked in the eye by a magic broom caused by a twelve-year-old witch sounds pathetic if you ask me. But then again, I don't give a shit about people's opinions of me...well, what Yukari said about me, I know it's true. I'm not exactly what people call 'attractive,' but...I'm not... Am I?
"Hey, Elijah?"
"Huh?" My inner doubt is interrupted by Moka...with no Yukari in sight. I guess she finally lost her. "Oh, hey."
"Phew! I thought I'd never lose her...wait... Oh, my gosh, your eye!"
I raise my hand. "I'm fine. Drop it." I say more harshly than I intended.
"Oh...well, what about Tsukune?"
"He's inside...with Kurumu."
"Kurumu?"
I nod. "Better get in there before the Succubus wins him over."
Moka nods, heading into the nurse's office, giving me my peace once mo- "Moka! It's not what you think! I can't control myself!"
"...Never mind." I groan as I head inside to see...Tsukune practically going to town with Kurumu's chest. What is it with boobs in this school?! "What the fuck, you guys?! I can't even leave you alone for..." I look at my watch. "Literally two minutes!"
Wait...something's off about this...I'm sensing...
"What do you two think you're doing?!" Moka turns her back to them, not willing to face what she sees. "You did it again! You used your love charm on him didn't you?!"
"Wait!" Kurumu gets out of the medical bed...Tsukune still holding on. "You know I wouldn't do that!"
"She's right, Moka. Something...or someone is doing this."
"What do you mean?"
I don't answer as I begin to sense...a magic presence here, no, it's nearby. My intuition is leading me toward the large window of the room. Once I reach it, there she was. Yukari giggling to herself as she fiddles with...is that a voodoo doll? Well that explains the whole thing. I open the window, snatching the doll away from the little witch girl. "Yoink!"
"Hey!"
I fiddle with the doll in my hand. "You know, I never did like the concept of voodoo." I throw the doll behind me, hearing a yelp from Tsukune. When I turn around, he, like the doll is slammed into the wall. "Oh, shit...sorry dude. Wait...what the hell is that on the floor?"
Kurumu snatches up said object before I could get a good look, her face completely flushed. "N-Nothing!"
"..." Maybe it's better if I don't ask.
"You guys really need to do something about this girl! I've had it up to here with her!"
"Well, she's not really bothering me any." Kurumu smiles sweetly.
"Come on, Tsukune. Yukari's still just a little kid." Moka protests as Yukari hides behind her, sticking her tongue out at Tsukune and me mockingly.
"That's not the point, Moka. Yukari can't just go around treating people like this."
"Exactly," Tsukune agrees. "And we're not doing any favors by not teaching her that!"
"I... I guess you're right."
"Look, Yukari," The witch girl looks up to me "I know what you're probably feeling, but you can't keep on doing this sort of thing."
"And if you do, no one's gonna like you anymore and you're gonna be all alone with no friends," Tsukune adds.
Yukari scoffs. "I...I don't care! I'm a genius! If people aren't at my level, I'd rather not be friends with them anyway. And...besides..." She looks back at us with a tear in her eye. "I've been alone from the very beginning..."
"..."
"Oh, Yukari- OW!" Just as soon as Tsukune was about to warm up to the witch girl, she summons a wash tub that lands on the boy's head. One was summoned above my head too, but I managed to get out of the way of it. But...
"HAHAHAHA! You two totally fell for that!" Yukari runs out of the classroom cackling with Tsukune running after her angrily.
"You little brat!"
Before the boy can continue his pursuit, he's stopped by Moka. "Calm down, Tsukune! You can't just lose your temper on a kid like that!"
"Yeah? well, what about you? You need to stop hanging around with that brat!"
"Yeah, but...Tsukune... Can't you see she's hurting?"
"What?"
"She's right," I add. "I've seen that facade before. Tsukune, do you remember what I told you on the first day we met, about how I was hated by other monsters...even by my own kind?"
"...Yeah?"
"Well let me give you a good history lesson. In the old days, we were called 'beings of the borderline.' Halfway between humans and monsters. No one trusted a 'halfway.' We are excluded and discriminated against. We're hated even more in the human world. Humans killed many of our people in yo- their so-called 'witch hunts.' So Yukari wasn't lying when she said she was alone. I know exactly what that feeling is like and I'm not gonna stand here and let someone else feel that pain!" I let my anger get the best of me as I storm off from the trio to look for the young witch.
"Elijah, wait!" Moka yells, but her plea falls on deaf ears as I leave the academy building.
My search leads me to the nearby forest, I'd use another tarot card to find her, but I'd rather her not think I'm more of a creep than she already thinks. I think back to my previous talk with Tsukune and the others. I sigh. "Damn, maybe I was a little harsh. I should apologize when I see him again. I mean it's not-" I internally slap myself as a realization hits me. "Shit! I nearly let his secret slip out when I got angry! I need to get a grip." I breathe in and out slowly, calming my frustrations. It's alright, Elijah. Just breath. In...and out. There, that's better.
"Oh, there you are."
"Huh?!" I nearly jump out of my shoes at the sudden voice from behind, only to quickly realize that it belonged to a familiar succubus. "Oh, it's only you."
"Sorry... But, are you alright, Elijah? You looked a little...upset back there."
"I'm fine. I'm sorry I got mad. That topic...I just hate it, you know?"
"It's okay... How's your search going?"
"Well," I gesture to the empty, eerie forest around us. "As you can see, nothing."
The girl looks down to the ground. "Yeah, sorry, bad question."
"What about the others? Are they okay?"
"Moka ran off to look for Yukari after you stormed off."
I raise an eyebrow. "And you didn't stick with your 'destined one'?"
She shrugs. "Yeah. I guess that is strange. I just...wanted to see if you were okay... Is that weird?"
"..." She...wanted to look for me? "Uh...no. We're friends. So it's natural."
"Yeah...we are friends after all." The girl chuckles. As I pull my headphones out of my pocket, she looks to me curious. "What are those?"
"Oh, these? They're my earbuds. I use them to listen to my music on my phone."
Even more curious, Kurumu looks at my phone with sparkling eyes. "I've heard about these in the human world! They let you do all sorts of things, right? Wait, you listen to music with this? Can you show me?" Kurumu asks like a kid in a toy store.
I chuckle. "Sure." I hand her my left earbud since I hear better in my right. "Put this in your left ear, and I'll pick a song for you to hear." She follows my direction as I begin to scroll through my playlist. I don't have many options since the academy still hasn't gotten any internet yet, so she'll be listening to some songs I have downloaded onto my phone. "Let's see...no, no, aha! Here's a good one."
Do you know what it's like when...you're scared to see yourself?
Do you know what it's like when...you wish you were someone else?
Who didn't need your help to get by?
Do you know what it's like...to wanna surrender?
I smile to myself as I watch Kurumu lightly bobbing her head to the music. Somehow I just knew she would like Skillet.
I don't wanna feel like this tomorrow.
I don't wanna live like this today.
Make me feel better, I wanna feel better.
Stay with me here now and never surrender.
With the song now over, she looks to me in awe. "That was really cool! What was that?!"
I smile again. "That, my succubus, is rock 'n' roll. I can gladly show you more."
The blue-haired succubus giggles. "I hope so. You know...we should do this more often."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah! Just take a break from everything, you show me more of your songs."
I smirk. "Don't you think your 'destined one' will get jealous?"
She smirks right back. "All the better reason to do it. He'll be all over me before I know it."
We both laugh, but for some reason, my mind goes back to what Yukari said about me... "Hey, Kurumu?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm not...ugly, right?"
"...Well-"
"Nasssty thing..."
I stop in my tracks, listening closely to that voice. I sense...something. "Someone's nearby."
"Huh? What do you-"
"Shh! Listen..."
"So nasssty is a witchhh."
"...Shit. This way!" I grab Kurumu's hand, leading her toward the voice. As we get close, I notice the foul stench in the air. Most likely from whoever is speaking. I also can't see a damn thing in this fog, why now of all times?! Wait...there! What I see next is a mix of relief, anger, and disgust. Yukari, now surrounded by what looks like...lizard people. These reptilian 'beastmen' are a lot smarter than they look. They are hunters with a pack mentality who are very hostile to anyone outside their group. Wait...are they wearing... Of course, It's president fuck-face and his subordinates.
"Lisssten you." The lead lizard who I can only imagine is president fuck-face himself. "We don't need your kind in our classs."
"Shit," I whisper to myself. "Kurumu, I need you to go find Moka and Tsukune. I can buy you some time, but I can't fight them all on my own. Well, I can, but I definitely won't win."
"O-Okay! Just don't do anything too stupid!" Her wings now sprouted out, she swiftly flies away leaving me to the reptilian pests.
"Alright..." I pull out a tarot card. "Time for a distraction."
"It's time for you to disappear!"
"Stop, or I'll-" Just when Yukari was about to use her magic wand, President fuck-face chomps down on the magic tool. Almost destroying it.
"Now..." President fuck-face spits out the now crushed magic wand. "What ssshould we do with her?"
"My... My wand..."
"No one can see us in this fog. Let's eat her!"
"Yesss..." President fuck-face starts creeping toward the young witch. "She's so young and tender!"
"Hey!" I call out, the three lizard-men turn to me as I roll up my sleeves. "How about you pick on someone your own size?"
"Oh? It'sss you. What? You think you're sssome tough guy?"
"And you rolling up your sssleevesss isss a clear violation!"
"looksss like we need to teach you a lesson!"
I smirk. "Go ahead." I taunt with my finger, gesturing for the guy to come closer. "Try me."
One of the subordinate lizards lunges at me first, chomping down on my left arm...only to pull back in sheer pain. "OW! What the hell?!"
"What?!" President fuck-face exclaims. "How the-"
"Never underestimate magic, asshole. 'Stoneskin' is a perfect defense against you pricks."
I can see Yukari behind the lowly lizards, sitting in awe. "You're...like me..."
The leading lizard looks at me in disgust. "Another one of you?! We'll rip your pathetic kind to shreds!"
I sidestep one of the lizard-men, smashing my fist onto his belly. The contact bruised the flesh underneath immediately as he cried out in agony, doubling over. Another comes from my left, uselessly trying to slash my shoulder. I catch his claw, spin around, and elbow him in the jaw. As the lizard screamed, I seized its lower jaw and threw him over to join his other kin. All that's left is president fuck-face as he charges at me, tackling me to the ground. He attempts to pierce my chest with his claws but my card is still in effe- "Ah!" I wince in pain as I feel the claw slowly inch down into my chest, blood trickling out. Damn! It's already worn off! I need to turn this around before-
"Stop! Leave him alone!" The young witch leaps onto the reptilian class president, biting his shoulder.
"Ow!" he throws her off of him and she slams back into the tree she was previously cowering under. "No one bites the president!"
"Look out!" Just as Yukari is about to be slashed, Tsukune comes out of nowhere, protecting the witch with his body. Now he's the one that was slashed across his back.
"Tsukune!" I say as I struggle to sit up on the ground.
"Are you okay?" Kurmu asks as she flies down beside me. Thank God she went to get the others.
"I'm alright."
"Tsukune!" Moka, now holding a hurt Tsukune cries out.
"Moka...you know what to do..." Tsukune weakly says as he tears off her rosary."
"Huh?! What'sss the big idea?!" President fuck-face exclaims as the familiar red glow appears around the transformation. "What isss thisss...? The power..."
"You really fucked up now, asshole..." I cough. "Say hello to our good friend, Moka Akashiya. A vampire."
"Coward. Picking on little kids." Inner Moka says coldly right before she roundhouse kicks the president in the jaw, knocking him into his other brethren. "Hmm." The vampire looks to the other two knocked-out lizards underneath the president, then back over to me. "So, you took down these two?"
"Y-Yeah?"
She smirks. "Not bad, for...whatever you are."
"...Why?" Yukari says with tears in her eyes. We all look to her in worry. "After all I did... Why would...you even rescue me...let alone care about me?"
"Because..." I say as Kurumu helps me to my feet and I make my way over to the young witch. "I understand how hard it is to be alone. That's why I want to help you. We can all be your friends, Yukari. You can count on us."
"Yeah." Tsukune adds. "Like Elijah says...You're not alone anymore. No matter how you look at it, we're all friends now. And that's what friends do for each other."
Yukari eyes slowly start to fill with tears as she looks to each of us in disbelief. "I...I... BWAAAAHAAAA!" The poor girl starts crying her heart out. I'm not entirely sure why, but I think it's partly that she could be happy that she has people to rely on. To be honest, I'd probably cry about that too. To comfort the young witch, I offer her a hand on her shoulder.
Three days later
"Yukari has really changed in the past few days," Kurumu states as I along with Moka help carry a few boxes to a classroom. "She even got in front of the class and apologized for the pranks she's pulled. I think everybody felt kinda guilty, too."
Moka smiles. "I'm glad. She's growing up."
I smile too. "Here, here."
As we walk into the classroom, the three of us see Yukari on top of Tsukune, hugging him. Much to my and the other's confusion. "Yukari, what are you doing here?"
"My class is right next door to you guys so I decided to stop by. And...I still need to say something...to you, Elijah."
I raise an eyebrow. "Me?"
"I'm...really sorry for all those mean things I said about you. And I had no idea you were like me. I was really impressed by your magic. So...thank you...for saving me."
I smile. "It's no trouble, Yukari."
"Anyways, I'm just so happy to finally meet another magic person! And..." Yukari continues. "I should really come over to your guy's classroom and play more often."
"Play?" Kurumu and I say confused.
"Well, you see, since Tsukune helped save me from those freaky lizard guys, I've realized something... I'm in love with Moka and Tsukune!" The young witch squeezes the boy, making him uncomfortable...along with myself. "Just something about the way you tackled me out of the way made me not feel like a kid anymore!" Oh, dear God.
"What?!" Tsukune blurts out.
"LA! LA! LA! LA! LA! I don't wanna hear it!" I shout as I cover my ears.
Kurumu runs over to them. "No, Tsukune is mine!" She now tugs on the boy's arm.
They fight over Tsukune until Moka speaks up. "You both are just wasting your breath." This gets their attention. She leaps forward with her arms wide open. "Tsukune is mine and mine alone!"
"MAKE IT STOP!"