Douma has gotten worse.

He would said he isn't but ever since last night, he couldn't sleep.

He wished he haven't gone too far on testing himself.

Placing his hand on Kotoha and being too close to her have made him tense up in ways he doesn't understand. It made him feel dizzy and puzzlement.

It gotten worse when he placed a kiss on her cheek.

Like it instantly explodes inside of him.

He kept thinking her more and have the urge to play with her again but he knows he has 12 hours left which is such a long time for him to wait. It is a real pain he has to go through all his meetings full of morons and not one of them is Kotoha or even close to be her.

And he still feels nothing for them.

Just her.

But why?

Is it really her or girls like her?

He doesn't know since there aren't girls their age in the temple.

In fact he haven't seen anyone in his age here.

He remembers what Hisashi have explained to him about feelings and liking more than a friend but he is still deciding if what he had witness are in fact the truth. He is not still completely sure if what he is experience are feelings.

But why it happens when he's with her? He feels nothing around anybody even his own parents.

Or maybe he has but not noticing them.

Right?

Or maybe...

Is it only works on kids his age especially with girls?

I haven't seen girls my age here so maybe I feel more when I'm with them? Right? Maybe I'm a boy, that's why I feel such things when a girl is near me. Like if I touched their hand, kissed them or play with them, it will be the same thing with Kotoha.

To test his theory he has to meet another girl his age. However, there is no girls in this entrant paradise cult, and he of course can't go out unless he is supervised by his servant so he cant-

"Douma-sama?" Hisashi have popped his head of the shoji door.

Douma postured himself to look like he is fully awake and alert, "Hello Hisashi! Has something occurred?"

Hisashi gave him a smile with a nod. "Yes. We have got new more members joining the Eternal Paradise Cult."

"That's amazing! Bring them all here." Douma clapped both his hands with a smile.

"There are three families be joining us so it is remarkable how the whole families are willing to devote their life for you!" Hisashi said excitedly as he stepped out the door to bring them all in.

Family instead of one individual? And three families? Man more people are getting dumber even together as a family.

Hisashi slide open the doors revealing three sets of nuclear families with a huge excited look on their faces the moment they saw their new leader.

As they are coming inside his chamber, each parents motioning someone behind them.

They stepped in.

And each of one them from each family are all girls.

And it look like they are same age as him.

This have Douma caught off guard.

This is the very first time kids his age joining his cult.

This is shocking news for the little prodigy.

He took a moment to observe them.

The girl with a brunette braid style who is wearing her red floral kimono. Her eyes are clear blue and wide as the other girl with a raven haired pig-tail hairstyle wearing a orange kimono and the last have also raven but a short haired girl with perfectly trimmed clean nails. Her kimono is much more style than the other two since it contains bight cherry blossoms spread across the upper kimono with black hakama wrapped around her.

Overall all three of them look very pretty and neatly dressed even for their age. The way they brightly smile at him are so lovely to look at.

Full of curiosity and wonder.

However, he tried comparing their appearances to Kotoha and...

They don't meet his expectations.

Douma stood up from his bean bag with a big smile, "Welcome to the Eternal Paradise Cult my new fellow followers! You will be safe on my hands as our cult provides nothing but freedom, peace and happiness. No matter what background you came from, I am willing to guide you into eternal paradise because I accept you all!"

All three families have bowed down to him while showing their gratitude for his kind warm welcome along with some of them weeping.

Those poor fools.

——————

After going over the cult's purpose and the qualities and quantities they will be provided while living here, Douma thanked them and told them they can be dismissed.

"Hisashi, please showed them around the temple and where they will be staying! Take your time as you're touring them, I don't want our new members get lost or confused as they are staying." Douma closed eye smiles while Hisashi nodded and slide open the shoji door.

"Right this way." He stepped out the chamber.

The families bowed again for his guidance and stood up then followed the bald servant. Before they leave, Douma asked them one favor.

"If you don't mind, but may I speak to your daughters? Since they are the first children my age entered the cult, I want to discuss about their preferences and know more about themselves in order for them to be provided the necessities they nee here." Douma said standing up.

Without hesitation, all three sets of families have said yes since they already put their full trust on their new leader. They told their daughters to stay with their leader and show them respect when he's talking to them. The little girls nodded as their parents stepped out the shoji door and closed by Hisashi as he's leading them around the temple.

The three little girls kneel down and bowing for their new leader but Douma shook his head.

"You don't have to be all formal with me. We are all kids, perhaps the same age, so please sit up!" Douma cheerfully said as he waved his one hand.

The girls bring their heads up with a nod and sitting on their knees.

"What do you want to talk about Douma-Sama?" The braided brunette asked with a smile.

Douma took a moment of thinking and smiles. He jumped off the platform and walked up to the brunette which have the girl to be in a bit surprise how close he is to her. He held her hand and raised it while looking at her.

Nothing but this is the first touch so he can't make assumptions yet. There are still other girls besides her.

"Tell me about yourselves. I will like to know more about you all girls! I want to be more diverse so it is important for me to learn about everything about y'all." Douma leaned his face closer to her resulting her to blush. He looks at the other two girls and give him his signature smile which also have them to be blushed.

"Don't be shy girls. Even I'm a boy, I want to know about other girls. I'm still your leader and I want to help all of you in need." He gently poked the short-haired girl to his left, making her giddy.

"You girls are the only kids in my age living in this temple." He said with an easy-going grin that might've been charming to them, but they didn't know that he actually didn't care. He turned his head to his right then "lovely" looks at the pigtail raven girl, making her have butterflies inside her chest. "So please tell me in order to understand more." He rubs the brunette's knuckle with his thumb.

"O-of course! Where should I start?..." the flustering braided brunette started to think.

"Hey who said you can go first!?" The little raven pig-tailed haired girl gritted with her wide eyes furrowed.

"I should go because he looks at me more than you guys!" The raven pigtail girl smiles as she stepped forward to the leader

"No I do because he touches my cheek!" The raven shorted hair confronted as she steps in the between the two.

All three began to argue causing a big petty drama just to get what they want like dumb children they are. Even though Douma is their age, he sure doesn't act their age.

Seeing them going all catfight to each other is pretty entertaining to him.

Using empty threats, cliche insults, and other pointless argue attempts, creating messier drama makes them so stupid just to talk to him.

However.

Jealousy is quite amusing on them.

Being a center of attention and being wanted from them is thrilling.

He takes a moment more before decides the drama has already gotten old.

"Now please no any form of dispute here. This is Eternal Paradise after all, no negative energies or lack of respect should be occur here." The yellow-oak haired boy said with a frown pretending to be upset.

The three of them close their mouth immediately and bowed their head in a apology.

"Forgive us!"

Douma stepped back as he placed one hand on his other ear from how loud they were.

He waved his other free hand, "No worries. Let's get along and keep our volume to ourselves please."

They nodded quickly.

"Now you guys can take turns. I will chose, don't worry." Douma sits across from them with his leg cross. He took his pointer on his chin to decide then his eyes landed on the the raven pigtail girl.

He points at her, "You! Tell us about yourself! Once she's done, than is the brunette girl and after her is the short hair!"

After they introduced themselves, they stated their names; the braided brunette is Miya, the raven pigtail is Emiyo and lastly the raven short-haired is Aimi. He won't lie, their names sounded so majestic on them. It suits well with their appearance and their bubbly annoying personalities. Their names have great meaning behind it; Aimi is love beauty, Miyo beautiful generation and Emiyo is beautiful connection or beautiful kindness. He found their names to be flawless. However, not enough for him to keep pay attention on them. Douma try his best to stay awake of their boring stories about their interests, hobbies, what they like or don't like, what they do and blah blah blah.

He was hoping they will brighten his day since they were children his age and girls.

He honestly thought they will be something like Kotoha.

He placed his hand on his mouth to hold down his yawn and keeping his eyes open on them as they keep on talking to themselves.

He kinda regret his decision.

They lack of trait qualities that he thought would make them unique.

They aren't even interested like Kotoha. He thought they are gonna be something like more amusing or even close to have similarities as her.

But it ended up to his disappointment.

Although this is kinda shocking.

He doesn't feel anything with them or on their babbling.

This eliminates one of his theory.

Maybe he has to go even further to test.

"So do you guys want to play? Here in my chamber?" Douma asked cheerfully.

"Okay! But what do you want to play?" Miya asked.

Douma thought of doing Predator and the Prey but there's not enough hiding spots or anything to blend in and he doesn't think the girls like to participate in a aggressive again. So he decides to play a game that is kinda similar.

"Tag."

Running and running around his chamber as laughter increases, mostly from the girls meanwhile almost everyone are enhancing to the game more anyone thought they will be as they enjoying tagging another or being it. It's very thrilling.

However, Douma didn't enjoy the physical running game he usually does.

They played the game right, of course since it is tag after all. Taking each other's turn of who's it and engaging with enjoyment and recreation in the the game.

Well for them at least.

To him it isn't the same how he usually plays tag with Kotoha.

They weren't even fun to play with on the first round.

He didn't tried hard on all the rounds and continued pretending he had fun.

He ends the game after the 7th round.

They are catching up with their breaths as they formed a small circle.

"Let's play again!" Aimi said with glee on her eyes.

Douma shook his head, not wanting to play another minute with them.

"We can't. I have my meetings with my other followers soon." That ain't a lie. He have to prepare for his upcoming meetings before Hisashi comes back.

The girls pouted but quickly changed it with understanding nods.

Before the girls could stand up, Douma motioned then to stop.

"If you guys have any concern or anything that is going on, come to me and I will gladly be in your aid. It is my purpose as the leader of the Eternal Paradise to have my followers to be happy and pain-free." Douma reaches to hold on Miyu's hand to his right then use the same hand to hold on Aimi's hand in the middle. And he uses his free hand to hold onto Emiyo on his left side. He brought all three of their hands together into one, holding them tightly as he smiles.

All three of them blush immediately and hold his hand back.

Their touches isn't close to be comforting.

Their touch are like strangers to his hands.

He doesn't like it.

Their hands may be warm and soft, but to him it's cold and weird.

This disproven his another theory.

He hold back his frowning as he keeps smiling to the flustering girls.

"Yes, Douma-Sama!" They all said.

One more theory he has left.

He lets go all of their hands and took a small breath.

He leans his face towards to Emiyo who's in the middle of the two, he hesitated but keep leaning forward and placed his lips on her cheek. She blushed instantly. He turned his head and kissed Miyu on the cheeks as well another on Aimi. Of course their reaction was how Kotoha reacted when he first pecked. They are in complete fawn of his gesture trying to not let their face to get any redder.

"It is very flattering and an honor to have a our leader to give such a kindest gesture." Aimi bowed her head.

"Yes please let us know if you want us to come back!" Emiyo chimes in a hopeful tone.

"Thank you for spending your time getting to know us and introduced us about the cult! We will be looking forward being here and seeing you in the future." Aimi said with both her manicured hands clapped.

Douma couldn't care less of their excitement being in this cult honestly. He didn't paid attention to any words the three of them had exchanged with nonchalantly look on his eyes. He looks calm and happy on the outside, but inside he felt nothing.

He isn't affected. He felt nothing when he pecked their cheeks. No sparks. Not a tingle. Unlike Kotoha, he feels yet again empty with them.

"You guys are now dismissed. Thank you for taking part of your time with me! I will be glad to see you all again!" Douma gave a false smile.

They all nodded and giggling as they walked out from the shoji door.

All his theories were disproven.

Still in confusion as he compares them with Kotoha.

If he has to be honest, he glad they are gone. He had wished he didn't asked their families to let the girls stay here a little longer. They were too noisy and irritating.

He hopes they don't take his gestures in a wrong way.

—————

Kotoha gently brushed the growing tree sprout across her finger tip. Feeling the softness texture on the tip, bringing a smile on her face.

"You're growing so well my baby tree!" She whispered quietly.

She kneels up and fixes her green kimono and steps back to take a look of the work she did.

"You gone a bit taller than you were last week! It's incredible how fast you're growing." Kotoha said in impressive tone.

"It seems like the tree sprout is more lively than ever."

Kotoha turned her head around and immediately smiles.

"Douma!"

The little prodigy waves, "hey you didn't jumped this time!"

The indigo haired nodded.

"I'm already used of your surprise visits! I'm no longer scared." She proudly said.

"That's a big improvement since you're always a scaredy cat." He teased with a giggle.

Kotoha playfully hits him, "Hey!"

Still giggling as Douma walk up to the tree sprout and squat down, "Well What do you know? The tree is growing inch by inch recently. May as well this future tree will grow less than 10 years."

"I know right! I made sure our tree is good taken care of! I raise it like it is our child." Kotoha said, kinda flustered when she said the last part.

"It's a plant. Not a human. But still needs to be care of like children do." He said as he slightly touched the pedal and retrieve his finger back. "Great Job Kotoha Chan!"

Hearing his kind praise made Kotoha touched both of her cheeks and shaking her head in fluster.

They both sat by the tree sprout and looking up the bright moon that shines the entire forest. Seeing nature in the night time in a blessing to view.

"We have new more followers joining in paradise cult." Douma mentioned still looking up.

The girl turned her head to him, "Oh really? How many?"

"3 nuclear families. What's even more interesting there are now kids our age joined. My cult never had one until the families arrived. That's new." Douma said.

Kotoha hums in response, "Ooh that means you finally have someone to play with in the daytime!"

But the prodigy shrugged.

I doubt that.

"What are their names?" Kotoha said scooting a bit closer to his side.

"Their names are Miyu, Emiyo and Aimi! They all are very kind girls to talk with since the three of them have sweet personalities which's what the cult is looking forward especially when they all have positive energies surrounding them." Douma said as he leaned backward with both of his arms supporting him from behind.

Kotoha froze the moment he mentioned their names and their genders. She wasn't expected that the kids their age he was talking about are all girls. It isn't bad though but to Kotoha she kinda feels threaten when there are more girls her age joined the cult.

"O-oh..I see that's...g-great!" Kotoha stutter.

Douma raised an eyebrow at her weird response.

"Is something the matter?"

Kotoha shook her head, "I'm fine! But I have a question...are they pretty?"

The little yellow-oak haired found her question to be quite strange to ask about their appearance. He's guessing she wants to know what they look like by asking a weird question.

"Yeah they are. Their kimonos are very stylish on them that it suits them beautifully! It's very nice how lovely and lively they all look." Douma cheerfully said.

Now Kotoha is now insecure about this. Making her concern.

She is trying to stay calm and steady her breathing to not give a way her sudden change of expression. Although it's not helping when she's developing unnecessary thoughts in her head, as well thinking the future outcomes of what they will do to Douma since he already seems so fawn on them.

Douma noticed and leans forward and crossing legs while observing her movement.

He inclined his head to his side.

Is she feeling threaten by the girls?

He's gonna find out.

"Yeah they told me so much things about themselves that have caught my attention right away. They sound like really cool girls to be with! We played tag in my chamber and we had so much fun because they are very playful." Douma lied as he's looking at her.

No response from her. He sees that she doesn't make eye contact with him but keeps looking on the grass. His eyes slides to her left hand, he sees her fingers are clutching in the grass while the other hand is twirling one strand of her indigo hair.

His lips went upward.

"I sure had a lot of fun playing with them. Maybe tomorrow afternoon I will ask my servant to sent the three girls back to my chamber and we can play again! They know how to make the game seem very fun and engaging. Maybe they should play with us in the night time!" Douma hold back his snickered.

Kotoha closes her eyes and says quietly, "I don't know. What if they want to sleep?"

"Nah they told me they will play with me any time they want and it won't be a bother to them because they prefer going out than sleeping on their futons. Besides, they really want to play with their leader." He pointed his two thumbs to himself. "Me"

"But what if they tell their parents about our play night? What if their parents tell your parents?" Kotoha realized she almost raises her voice from the beginning. She clear her throat, making herself not to sound agitated.

"No no they trust me completely. They are fantastic at keeping secrets so our outside play night will be safe." Douma said confidently, knowing his answer will make her feel more unease.

"Are you guys friends already?" Kotoha said with a worried in her tone, not looking at him.

Douma cover his grin, "No. They are my new best friends!"

This time Kotoha turned her head to him with widen light green eyes.

"W-What? I am your only best friend...you can't have more than one..."

Douma chuckled, "Of course I can! There's no law that said I can't so what do you mean, Kotoha-Chan? You have to share. They are good friends to be friends with! You will love them and just like I love them."

Kotoha furrowed her eyebrows, "What if I don't!?"

Douma pretended he was taken back, "Well, if you don't love my new best friends and don't want to be friends with them then maybe you and I can't be."

Kotoha gasped in shock as she leaned back with both of hands together in her lap.

"I gotta say Kotoha-Chan...when I was getting to know them, they sound better than you. I'm even more connected with them." Douma look away and look up to the moon.

He didn't realized how hurtful his words sound since he intended to her continue to see her jealousy side. He cant wait to hear her response about the girls she already can't stand.

But instead it resulted her sobbing.

"Huh?" He turned his head and see his weeping friend with both her hands cover her eyes.

"Why are you crying?"

She didn't respond as she keeps on crying.

Douma decided to scoot closer to her and stop when his shoulder is touching hers.

The familiar sensation is coming up to him again.

"Hey tell me why you are upset?" He asked calmly as he lightly grab the hold both her hands and bring them down on her lap.

"Because...I-I...don't want...t-to lose...you!" She cried between weeps, "I-I thought...I-I-I...wa-was your on-only best f-friend!" She cries louder.

He doesn't know why but something in him tells him that he wishes he could undo his teasing.

"I am sorry, Kotoha Chan..." he began wiping her tears with both of his thumbs in each side of her face.

"I was joking...I mean the girls are real but they aren't interesting like I thought...but I can tell you were getting jealousy about them so I wanted to continue teasing you..." Douma laughed nervously.

Kotoha steadily calm her cries and looking up to him with her eyes are puffy and wet.

"What?..." she pushed his hands away and gave him a stink look "that wasn't funny!"

The little leader scratches the back of his head, "Yeah I know I know I'm sorry..."

She scoots back away a little, turning her head away.

"That was mean of you."

"I said I was sorry, Kotoha-Chan." He said and crawl towards her but she turns her body away from him.

That stings.

He sits up when he is near her, "Kotoha-Chan~~~" he pokes her shoulder hoping to get her attention.

But she didn't budge in.

"You are mad at me?" He asked curiously. He look over her shoulder trying to look at her face but her hair is blocking the way.

"Kotoha-Chan?" He taps her shoulder but pulls back when she slaps his hand.

"Ouch." He rubs his fingers but still determine to talk to her.

"I'm not gonna stop until you talk to me." He said with persistence.

"Go away." Kotoha said bluntly.

"Yay! Now I need more than two words." He leans his head on her shoulder and wrap his hands around her torso. The indigo-haired girl flinched at his touch and tries to get out but the boy won't let her.

"I know something that will make you talk.." He playfully said began to tickling her.

"W-what! Hahaha a-are hahah y-you doing! Hahaha" Kotoha couldn't help but to laugh at her friends, trying to not respond at his tickles when she's still mad.

"I'm tickling of course! You couldn't handle being tickle even if you're mad or sad!" He laughs at her hilarious facial expression when he's doing the tickling.

"N-no I won't give in! I'm still mad you meanieee haha haha." She weakly tries to push his hands away but the tickling has got to her as her laugh increases and her face gets redder.

"Ehh really? Because it looks like you already been defeated!" He reaches to her neck area and began tickling her which is her number one weak spot.

"N-nooo hahaha not there ahahaha!! Stooop!!"

"Not unless you forgive meeeee!"

Kotoha still is laughing loudly, she's surprise she still has enough air to keep laughing.

But she gave up.

"Okay hahaha okay okay! Hahaha!" Kotoha stops laughing when Douma removes his hands away from her neck and sees her catching all her breathes and slowly sits up.

"Heheh okay Douma I'm not mad.." he said in between breathes and look at him.

"But that was mean of you.." she said looking down on the ground.

"And I'm very sorry. It won't happen again my Kotoha-Chan. Sure I don't mind having friends but they don't don't come be anywhere near great as you are. They are boring. You're the only one best friend and only girl I prefer." He gave her a smile.

He could tell his smile is much real than his other smiles.

Kotoha's eye soften at his words, his honesty about her made her heart warm up along with her cheeks. She pulled a strand of hair behind her ear with a gentle smile on her face.

"You're the only one I need too." Kotoha says and wraps her arms around his torso which Douma was actually taken back. She placed her side of her face under his chin in a cuddling way. Something inside of his chest began to sparkle. However he ignores it and wraps his arms around her and began stroking her hair.

Wait why am I stroking her hair?

"It's okay if you want to be friends with those girls..I..don't mind." Kotoha hesitated but she knows she can't keep Douma all to herself. She has to get use of the idea of him being friends of another girl.

"Nah. Like I said they are really boring. They don't compare anything like you. I thought they were the moment I saw them and figured you guys are the same since you all are girls but...I guess I was wrong." Douma began twirling her soft strand of hair around his finger.

Her hair is like the softest silk he ever touches.

"Not everyone are the same but I'm flattered." Kotoha giggles.

They both stayed silent, enjoying each other's company. Douma on the other hand, his mind is much more comfortable and relax. Earlier he was helping many others from their pain and suffering that have almost drain his entire physical energy. However, when he is with her, he is able to obtain them back. His mind began to clear up but his chest still bothers him.

All of the sudden his mind started to clouded up when he remembered his failed theories of interaction with the girls. He still isn't sure if he sees Kotoha more than friends.

If he actually obtains feelings then why he doesn't actually feel them around his peers or in general? Why only with Kotoha? Shouldn't people feel everyday thing at anyone or anything?

Is it gonna be like this only with her?

Will he ever feel frequently? Is it supposed to help him?

Do they really exists or what?

"Douma?"

The little prodigy got out of his thoughts and looked down at his little friend which she's showing with a concern look on her face.

"You okay? You look...a little stress?" Kotoha raised her head up.

"I am?" He asked in confusion.

She nodded, "Yeah you're face look tense up...are you alright?" She placed her palm on his forehead, resulting him to developing drastically. He pushes her hand away, realizing it was unnecessary move to do.

"S-Sorry I...I am....I'm tired that's all." He gave her a smile but that smile to Kotoha isn't the smile she usually sees on him.

"You can tell me, Douma. I'm here. I wont judge, I am willing to listen-"

"I said I'm fine!" Douma raised his voice in a agitated tone. His teeth gritted as his hands clutching on both side of the ground.

His sudden burst made the little Kotoha flinched and scoots away from his behavior with a little look of fear formed on her face.

Douma took a deep breath and rubs the side of his temple.

"I'm sorry for my disruptive attitude, Kotoha-Chan. It was a long day for me...I shouldn't take it out on you." He wanted to placed his hand on her shoulder but he knows it only make it worse inside of him.

Kotoha still in shock but nodded her head, "We can leave now if you want..."

But Douma shook his head, "It just a small stress I'm fine!" For some reason his hands have started shaking up after seeing her in distraught.

"You're tired Douma."

"I am not."

However Kotoha still didn't listen to him but she knows he won't go home and go to sleep. So she came up with a small solution that may help.

She scoots closer to him, raise both her arms around his neck and brought him down to her lap. Douma widen his eyes, trying to get out of her hold but she held him down.

He stops his attempt when Kotoha wouldn't let him go so he decided to let his head lay on her lap, looking confused.

"What are you doing Kotoha-Chan?"

"Take a nap. I will wake you up in half an hour." She softly said as she looked down on him.

"I told you I'm okay-"

"Baka let me help you." She caress his short yellow-oak hair as she removed couple of his bangs out of his way gently. She then combed through his strands in between her fingers. She began humming in a melody with a soft tone to help him fall asleep. Her mother always do this when she couldn't fall asleep, so she figured it will help him too.

At first Douma resisted but eventually the beautiful tone and her slight touches is reducing his stress, inducing calmness, and enhancing sleep when his eyelids are getting heavy. He forgets what he was doing, he forgets about feelings, he forgets about the girls, he even forgets about his surroundings and only focus on Kotoha and her kindest touches and her soothing harmony. His eyelids were closed as slumber takes over when Kotoha increases her humming a bit higher but softer.

Half of hour of nap will be the most comfortable nap he will ever have.