Tuesday.

"Are you sure it's ok?" Zan asks with a very huge doubt in mind. I don't know why he will be in doubt though.

"Yeah, it's fine. My parents aren't here anyway. Also, Angelo and Sebastian didn't return for some unknown reason." I replied, packing my things up for school. "But I suggest you go to my parents' room. They're soundproof. I contacted some construction workers last night and they said that they're coming here in the morning."

"I see. Thanks for letting me stay." He weakly smiled. I didn't expect anything else from a sick-looking guy.

"Also, there's some medicines and Strawberry Milk in the fridge if you want so--"

"Wait a minute. Why do you have medicines?" He interrupted.

I jolted at his question and quickly dismissed it by running away, taking my school bag. I honestly don't know how to answer that.

Once I went outside.... I just realised that I have no idea on how to go to school. Argh! This is so stupid! I'm so stupid! I should contact Sebastian right now.

"The number you have dialled is unavailable. Please try again later."

"SHIT! What is that stupid piece of shit doing at this time?!" I subconsciously cursed loudly. Fortunately, nobody heard that and I didn't catch a lot of attention.

"Don't tell me they're in a motel and they're fucking their asses off! What useless pieces of shit!" I thought, furrowing my eyebrows in anger. How can a person who has 0 sense of direction know how to get to school without a chauffeur that she usually has?

"Is something bothering you again, Auden?" A red rose is shoved on my face. This time, it's like a normal thing for me now. Every time he passes by, he will see me in a weird state and so, he will shove a red rose on my freaking face. I, nevertheless, keep stupidly accepting it. It just feels so relaxing and secured to ignore it. Besides, it's blood red. It can be a cool decoration for my bedroom.

"What do you want?" I glared at the gentleman as I forcibly took the rose from his hand.

"Oh, nothing. I was just passing by." He carelessly smiled brightly.

"On your way to school?" I unconsciously placed the rose on my ear.

"Yep." He replied immediately. "That's a cute new look for you."

"Ah, thank you." I quickly replied. "Anyway, can we head together to school?"

"Yeah. Sure." He was going to escort me again like last time. Why does he pop up when I need him the most? What a stupid coincidence. Why did I even meet this guy?

"Sorry. I don't feel like being escorted right now." I gently put down his offer and walked beside him. "This is enough." I said.

"Whatever you say, Auden." He chuckled, lowering his arm.

•

"Hey, what's your relationship with Carol~~?" Emily asks, nudging me as soon as Carol and I entered school side by side. She entered around the same time. When she saw us, she's having a smug look on her face and she obviously has no intentions of getting rid of it.

"Don't act like you already know it before I even answer." I slammed the locker door open to get my things, annoyed.

"Come on, don't be shy~~~" she hummed, leaning closer to me.

"Why do you want to know anyway?!" I shoved her away, taking all of the stuffs that I need.

"Aha! So you do have a relationship with him!" She quickly jolted back at her feet, still with the same optimism and annoyance that she always have.

I slammed the locker door and stared at her blankly, not understanding why she reached that conclusion. It seems like she took it negatively.

"But if you don't have one, why did the two of you entered school at the same time?" She normally asks this time, removing the smug look and overall attitude that makes her annoying.

"He just bumped into me this morning." I honestly answered while walking in the hallways.

The moment I turned to her again, Emily's back with her smug look. I don't like this girl's annoying attitude.

"Then what is that red rose doing on your hair? Is that from Carol~~~?" She nudges me. How many times did she nudged me already?!

"Of course it is. Name another person who's I'm familiar with that gives red roses as a daily routine."

"Maybe it's from your gardener or something, you know." She tries to give possibilities.

"Negative. The gardener's not going to return until Sunday."

"Huh? Why? And wait, you do have a gardener?!" She looks shocked about this. How does she not know? Oh wait, does this girl even know my name?

I sighed, knowing just now what is possibly happening. "My name is Celeste Auden."

The only other sounds we hear are the footsteps we create while we're still walking towards our classroom. There was a brief deadly silence.

"So what?" She stared at me blankly, tilting her head to the right.

"Seriously? You don't know the Audens?" I raised a brow.

She shook her head, quite unsure. I slapped my forehead in disappointment. "The Auden family is a wealthy and famous family, thanks to their successful businesses." I explained briefly.

She tilted her head to the side, thinking about it deeply. She then snapped her fingers when she remembered about it at last.

"Yes! The Auden family, of course! I remember now!" She pounded a fist on her palm before she continues, "Johnny and Patricia Auden are out to go to Leeds for another business proposal, right? They don't ever stop expanding their business." She daydreams.

"Hey." I snapped her back.

"Ah, right. So you're saying that you're their daughter?"

"Uhh... Y-yeah..." I hesitantly answered.

"That's cool." She responded. "Oh, we reached the classroom already." She abruptly stopped. I did too. She opened the door while I'm following behind.

The moment Emily came in, AC, Lana and Cervi suddenly popped up and said hard-to-understand dialogues. Even I couldn't keep up with it.

"Woah woah woah, slow down guys." Emily said.

"Two guys have been reported dead!"

I immediately thought of the guys that I bet my million euros on and so, I took Cervi by the arm and talked with him privately outside the classroom. I was in such a hurry that I forgot that he....he's the son of that guy who wants to murder my arse more than anything!

"Uh... Umm... I-I..." I stuttered. I couldn't utter a single a word because of my overthinking.

Geez, his silent unresponsive staring doesn't help!

"Celeste? Are you ok?" He took a step towards me. I panicked so I hastily backed away.

Confused, Cervi tilted his head to the side, still not leaving me. He was expecting a conversation even with this distance difference.

The silence was enough to kill me inside. I gulped, and ready myself for what I want to say. "P-please talk to me if you have settled the complicated relationship your dad and I have..." I indirectly begged, not looking at him in the eye because of embarrassment and shyness. I have been with this dork for how many months now yet I'm still occasionally being shy around him. Is that supposed to be a rare thing or not?

"I understand." He solemnly replied, passing through me like I'm air, which surprises me. He doesn't usually do this and now he's doing it like he's used to it?

I dismissed that thought. It only looks like that I'm expecting something from him. I don't want to expect something, I know it will only hurt me more. But, I guess I just felt that pain because I expected something from him.

I turned to him, taking a chance to glance at him, even if it's just his straight and focused back.

After that, all the things that I wanted to tell him popped like bubbles of thoughts in my mind. I can't help it. I want to bring the group back together! How am I even supposed to do that?

"Hey."

I raised my head to face the person who owns that voice.

"What are you looking down there for?" It was none other than that piece of shit.

"Impossible. Why the hell are you early?" I mumbled my words. I still hope he heard it though.

He turned away, scratching the back of his head. He seems unsure about what his answer would be. But I'm sure he has an answer.

"A-as soon as I heard about two guys' deaths, I came over to see how interesting it will be." He managed to say it in a convincing tone. But there's still a spark of something that says the opposite of it.

I remembered about what he told me yesterday, when I was sleeping in the library...if I wasn't dreaming. I could've just apologised, huh... Then, should I experiment on him?

"So, that's it." He finished. He was about to walk in the classroom.

I tugged his sleeve. He isn't wearing his blazer. Of course. He stopped his steps and turned to face me. I, without uttering a single word, shoved the clean blazer at his face while still turning away in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry." I stubbornly apologised, mumbling and turning away, trying not to catch his attention. He first looked at the blazer strangely then snorted. "If you don't want it, you could've just said so, you jerk!" I stomped my feet. I could've felt my fangs and eyes too.

"Hahahaha! No, it's nothing." He took the blazer without me having any time to react and placed it on my face, covering it.

"Hey, what the--"

"Cool your head off a bit. Your devil side is showing." He coolly stated before walking inside the classroom. At this point, I now understand why I was rudely interrupted. That quote is too cool to be said as rude.

But, nevertheless, I can still smell his scent even if I have washed this a hundred times last night. I was working hard to get a lot of things out of my mind and I'm surprised that this blazer is still staying strong. Well, it actually calmed me down so I guess there's no problem with it.

I wore the blazer by my shoulders and advanced my way to the classroom, following him. As soon as I reentered the classroom, as soon as I opened the door, the class looks...calm.

"Oh? So it's those guys, huh? Serves them right." Kanae commented, leaning on his chair like a total couch potato. He's not actually sitting on his seat. He's sitting on a different seat, the seat across AC and Lana's, joining in to their conversation. Emily seems like she's getting in too.

"Who died?" I decided to join in too. I'm not used to being shoved away from the crowd.

"Oh, I don't know what their names are, but do you know the two guys that keep on abusing Cervi for his money even though he's not that rich?" AC replied. It's at this point that I realised that school news are topics that make us forget that we're enemies.

"Ah, those two. The last time I interacted with them is when I recklessly made a bet with them." I commented, sitting on the seat next to Kanae.

"Recklessly, huh." Kanae stared at me blankly, slightly smirking. "You openly admit it, huh." He continued.

"Like I can do something else when I see them bullying my precious childhood friend." I justified my actions.

"Yeah, your precious childhood friend who left you for his long lost biological father." He teases. He just doesn't stop, does he?

"Haha, hear this, hear this. I just thought of a joke!" AC volunteered. "It would be hilarious if Cervi's real name is Luke and his father was all like, 'Luke, I am your [biological] father.'" She and Kanae were the only ones who laughed. AC's laugh feels like there's a tornado happening around us. "Wait a minute, what do you mean long lost biological father?" She just realised.

Kanae and I looked at each other then quickly turned away, ignoring to answer her question for a brief silence.

"So anyway, how did those two die?" Emily took the chance to bring back the conversation after the silence. I silently thanked her in my mind. If it wasn't by her nosy personality, we could've stayed in that quiet eerie atmosphere.

"Ah!" It looks like AC's brain has been snapped back to reality and it looks like that the previous conversation never happened. "That's right! About the murder..." She trailed off. Lana took out a torch and shone the light on AC's face from below, creating a rather threatening look from AC. Probably to create suspense though. "It's a mystery." She said in a demonic tone. I already know that she's not a demon and it's not because I can't sense her presence! I can fully sense her presence and there's absolutely no sign of demonic presence in her.

There was a brief silence. If I could freely insert a tumbleweed, I could've easily done so by now just so there will be a little decoration to fill out the void from the noise.

"Ok." I responded. The imaginary tumbleweed is not enough to fill it.

"Wha-? Aren't you interested about the mystery?" AC jolted, shining the torch directly on my face.

"Not really." I honestly answered, leaning back on my chair. Great, now I'm the one that looks like a damn couch potato.

"You're no fun!" She pouted.

"I'm out too." Kanae suggested. I don't know if this was to be expected or not.

"Wha-? You too? Why?" Now she looks like she's begging for someone to play with her. It can't be helped. Good effort, though.

"It sounds boring." He brutally puts in. It left AC in despair. She's speechless of what we did.

"Wh-why...." She sobs. "Why are the two smartest people in the whole school rejected my offer to test their knowledge?"

Kanae and I raised a brow in unison. I wonder what she meant. Test our knowledge?

"That's right. AC wanted to see how smart you are so--"

"She killed them." We both interrupted. We were able to piece out the murder quickly. If AC wanted to test us, of course she's going to use those two guys, who obviously couldn't speak since I told them so. What other reasons could she be telling this story to us?

"Lana, I will tear that bloody mouth off of you!" She threatened. "But sadly, I wasn't the killer. Do you know why?"

"Then, let's start this murder from the very start." I suggested. She, along with Lana, agreed. Kanae is there as my back-up but we all know that I'm the one who knows it all. "Tell me what you saw that time. Oh, and no lying. You know so well how I know when you're lying." My lips curled into a wide smirk. Now this is interesting.

"How interesting, Missy. I guess I'll join too." Kanae commented. I thought he's already automatically joined in.

"Very well." AC started. She crossed her arms and legs, raising his chin high. "You know so well that Lana and I have always been early since the first day we went here. That's why, as always, we explore the school a bit. When we were about to mess around the Year 11 room, there was crash upstairs. We followed the noise. What we saw is a dead body in the Year 10 room. The window looks crashed and that looks like where the body was managed to get in. The body is blindfolded, sacked, bloody and smelly. Terrified, we ran for our lives. The next body was hanging on the ceiling. We found out because of the blood dripping from it. There are no clues about how the body get there and there's absolutely no clues on who the murderer is. And of course, we left the two dead rotting bodies there. Like we can do anything about it anyway." AC stated in a laid-back manner.

I saw Emily shivered through that thought. "I-I-I witnessed...the two bodies..." She stuttered. "She's not lying."

"Hm? Oh, that time when we were walking towards the classroom!" I pound my fist on my palm. I remember that I was talking to Emily that time so I guess the unknown murder scene is just behind me.

"Y-yes." She stutters.

"That settles it. I need to examine the bodies. Want to go with me, Kanae?" I stood up from my seat and headed outside.

"Sure, Missy~~~~" he hummed.

We walked casually to the crime scene. The three of them followed. Smart. They know that if they didn't follow, they will be suspicious. And Emily being left alone is not a good idea too.

I proceeded inside the Year 10 classroom. The curtains are drawn back, tying the dead body in the middle. As AC said, the body's blindfolded. I'm not sure if it's sacked since the curtains are covering it. The dead body hangs in the middle-- blindfolded, sacked, bloody and smelly, just like she said. All the informations about the crime scene is accurate enough to convince me.

I proceeded to examine the body, gulping. Once I removed the curtains in one swift motion, I saw a skeleton. I wonder why I was stupid enough to not notice. I wonder why I was convinced at the obvious question she has yet to answer. I smiled, knowing who the killer is right now. It's AC but not AC at the same time! She's like a poor apprentice of the mastermind who became a victim herself!

That's right. She's an accomplice but also a victim. That's right. I already know who the main mastermind is! Go on, make the countdown tick faster! It's not enough to stop me from exposing the true murderer! Hahahahaha!!!!

•

I slowly recover myself from the explosion, opening my heavy eyelids. I sat up and fixed my ears. The explosion was too loud for my ears to survive. All I hear now is static. For a short moment, the static is gone and my vision became clear. I saw how the classroom is still staying strong even after a huge explosion. It looks like the inside is the only one affected and not the outside. Where are the Year 10 students anyway? Aren't they supposed to be here by now? I turned behind. The light came from above. It's lunchtime now.

I remembered that I still have to talk to Eskar and Kunai. I need to interview Kunai about auras and such so I know how to remove AC and Lana's aura. I can't let them continue breaking my group apart!

I slowly stand up, still a bit staggering, and rushed to the door. I hastily twisted and jerked it yet it didn't opened. I pushed it, pulled it, yet I can't seem to open it. It's locked from outside. So that's why. I guess the Year 10 is having their classes in another room.

I jumped from the conveniently crashed window and levitated safely when I'm a centimetre away from the ground, like usual. I levitated lying down my back so I don't need to worry about when someone sees me just suddenly falling from above. Great. No witnesses.

I stealthily traveled my way to the Year 11 room and walked all casually without taking too much attention. I slowly opened the door. For some reason, that slow opening of the door caught the attention of all who's in there. I quickly spotted Carol's brother. He looks a lot like him, huh. As expected from a brother.

The moment I stepped in, I wasn't quick enough to react. A snare trap was there. It took my by the ankle. As a result, I am now hanging down. Not that I mind anyway.

Eskar smirked like it's his victory. He's holding a knife. I think it's more of my victory. But I doubt that I can cut either my ankle or the wire that's been used as a trap. Either way, I'll have to cut them slowly.

Eskar looked at me with a smug face, approaching me with a knife on his hand. "I won't let you use my sister, no matter what!" So that's what he has a grudge about. How stupid.

"Eskar, stop! The more you're trying to get her, the more she's going to win over you!" One of his companions attempted to stop Eskar for his stupid scheme.

"Yeah, why don't you listen to that buddy of yours? He sure knows a lot more than you." I blatantly stated.

"Who's the person who's hanging around defencelessly that has been caught in a trap?" He pointed the knife at my throat, hoping to see me in despair or just outright admit defeat.

"What the hell, Eskar?!" Evans exclaimed. They're causing a scene here. How unfortunate. "What the hell is your problem with this little defenceless girl?!"

"What do you care anyway, punk?! Do you even know how this girl caused trouble for me?" He turned to him.

Using him as a distraction, I quickly took out my gun and shot the wire. I thumped on the ground, lying on my stomach.

I hear Eskar's heavy footsteps approaching me. Without letting him check me out or attack me, I quickly pointed my gun at his head. He then points the knife at my throat. Either way, I have the upper hand. I cocked the gun while wearing a condescending smirk.

The door slammed open and there entered a girl with braids and glasses. Oh, it's Kanae's girlfriend.

"Eskar! You left your lunch. I'm sorry I took so long!" She  carelessly stated, hopelessly smiling. As soon as she saw the scene in front of her, she was left speechless.

Eskar stood up and took his lunch from her hands. I did the same, keeping the gun. They shouldn't know that that gun is from Hell so I'll just hide the gun until I'm alone so I can vanish it without looking suspicious.

"Great timing, Kanae's girlfriend." I smiled.

"Don't make my precious little sister that piece of shit's girlfriend!" Eskar shouted from afar.

"Ah! Auden, right?" Evans shouted from afar.

"Yes?" I tilted my head. "Ah, how unfortunate. Don't tell me you forgot how I look like back then." I giggled. As expected, he gives off the same aura as Carol.

"Sorry, sorry." He apologises as he approaches me. "Can I join you two for some chit-chat?" He politely asks permission. They both have good manners too.

"Sure." I replied. I feel the Year 11's stares piercing us on the back as we exit.

As soon as we did, Carol's brother pinned me to the wall next to the lockers just outside their classroom.

He looked at me with dead serious eyes. I don't know how to respond.

"You know Baade?" He said with a threatening and menacing tone.

I gulped, a bit terrified. He even looks like Carol so I tried to imagine Carol also doing this to me. I knew it, I'm terrified.

"So what if she does, Jasper?" I heard a voice that talked for me. He kind of saved me.

Kanae approached Jasper. He merely held his shoulder and Jasper jolted aback, getting to a defensive position.

I was still frozen on the wall-- unable to do anything. I couldn't comprehend what is happening in front of me. I was comforted by the thought that Kunai is also feeling like this.

Kanae approached me and handed me a Starbucks frappuccino again. Where did this come from? It's still Strawberries and Cream, of course. Haha, I like it even though it's not actually my favourite. I immediately accepted the offer. I stirred the whipped cream like what he did, and started drinking it. I weakly smiled at him, which made him turn away in embarrassment. I was calmed down by this simple frappuccino drink.

"What's wrong?" I asked. I was able to move on my own now, thanks to this special frappuccino.

"Nothing. Just wanted to...apolo--don't take this wrong way, Missy! You owe me £6.9!" He demands. I don't mind. I don't pay him anyway.

"Uh-huh." I nodded, not caring about his demands.

In the distance, I heard Jasper click his tongue. He then entered the classroom, ignoring us.

As soon as he shuts the door, Kanae calmly faces Kunai and calls her out. "Hey Kunai." He says.

"Hi Kanae." She immediately replied.

"What are you doing here with Missy?" He asks, his thumb pointing at me.

"Sh-sh-she called me out here to t-t-talk...." She stuttered again. Probably remembering how scary I was. How stupid. It's no fun picking on the weak.

Kanae turned to me. "I have a plan to destroy those bitches." I said out of the blue.

Despite that, he chuckled. Is he looking down on me? He walked past me and ruffled my hair. He leaned a bit to reach my ear. "I know who the mastermind is." He whispers.

"I know too." I whispered back.

The two of us looked at each other, exchanging glares. The glares are not for each other but the ones we know is the mastermind. I couldn't expect less from the person that has the similar mindset as me.

"Kunai." I called out. She jolted up, shuddering in fear and surprise. "I need to ask you how you can make a substance that can remove one's aura."

She tilted her head to the side, obviously not understanding what I've been saying. "You need to ask me how I can what?"

"Here, let me take you to them so you can understand." I grabbed her arm and dragged her to AC and Lana. I can see her being immediately infatuated with them despite this being their very first meeting. They aren't even looking at each other. We're watching from behind while trying to hide from them. Before she gets too indulged in the aura, I pulled her outside. "How do you feel?" I asked as I held her by the shoulders.

"Pretty pretty butterflies~~~" she says in a drunk or dizzy voice. I shook her up to bring her back to reality. "Ah... Kanae's friend. Hello." Great, she's back to normal.

"That's what I need you to know. That aura is like a back hole that sucks you up before you know it! Can you make a substance that counters it?" I'm still grabbing her shoulders tightly to ensure her back-to-normal state.

"A substance that counters a black hole..." She mumbles to herself. After a moment, she snapped her fingers, raising her head high. She looks happy about this. Why? "I got it!" She exclaimed. "I have an answer but you need to find a test subject first. Do you know anyone who has the same kind of aura as them?"

"I can use Lana." I bluntly answered.

"Good enough." She sighs. "I'll come here tomorrow." She bid goodbye, running outside.

•

Wednesday.

"Celeste..." Zan groaned. I was packing my things for school. I turned to him with an innocent face, waiting for his command.

"Hug me."

He spread his arms out, waiting for me. I gawk at him, stopping my other movements.

"What?" I dryly ask, tilting my head. I...did hear that right, did I?

"Hug me." He non-hesitantly repeated.

This time, because he's so sure about this, I ignored him and just continued packing up my things.

Before I exit my parents' bedroom, Zan asks. "Aren't you gonna wear your school shoes?"

I stopped my tracks at the doorway and turned to him with a huge grin. "Nope." I replied, continuing to dash out the room.

•

Going to school. Angelo and Sebastian aren't back yet and all I can do now is to ask Zan about the food and call Kanae for the directions to school.

"What? Turn left?"

•

Lunchtime.

"Missy." Kanae called.

I didn't stop. I know that I'm gonna meet Kunai again. I can't stop now. I'm almost done, finishing up my plan. Luckily, the case of the two guys' deaths isn't solved yet. Of course, not even the highest of officials can solve a simple case with little knowledge about the people involved.

"Celeste." He called me again, this time, more sternly.

Despite his almost threatening tone, I didn't stop rushing to the ground floor to meet Kunai.

"Listen to me when I speak!" He gave up, grabbing my arm to stop me from moving.

"What?" I glared, a bit annoyed that he's trying to interfere with my perfect plan.

"Why are you ignoring me?" He asked with the same annoyed voice. His grip gets tighter. "Not only me, but the others too. Carol, AC, Lana, Emily--"

"I have plans on my own." I interrupted. "Carol told me to try methods to solve my problem. I'm trying to do it now, so what's the problem about it?!"

"The problem is you, dumbass! You're distancing yourself just because of this?"

I hung my head in realisation. That's right. Every time I have a problem about something, I always distance myself because of it. I never wanted people trying to interfere with my perfect systematic plan, that's why I never considered them whenever I try to make a plan. "But really, what's the problem with it? I don't even know why you became friends with a demon in the first place." I raised my head, feeling my eyes changing colour but my fangs did not appear.

Kanae blushed, letting go of my arm in the process. That's weird. I just glared at him, didn't I? Why did he blush from a glare? Or is it because of the question?

"Don't worry. I'm doing this for the group." I reassured him as I continued running away. I didn't hear his footsteps following after me anymore. I can't even sense his any movement from him anymore. He was frozen?

"Let it goo~~"

"UWAH!" I jolted back. She literally came out of nowhere!

I looked left and right, looking for a possible entryway that she might have pass through. No matter how hard I look for it, I ironically know this school too well that a possible entryway in that particular spot doesn't exist.

"Sorry Celeste. I was just singing the overrated Frozen song, Let it Go." Emily tried excusing herself.

"Look, it's not a crime that you sing what you want to sing, but do not just suddenly appear on other people's faces!" I reprimanded her.

"Sorry. I was just in the mood to." She lightly giggled, smiling brightly at the end. I wish I can see someone smiling like that too. Most preferably someone I care about. "Oh, what are you doing here, by the way?" She cocked her head to the side, not getting any informations on what the reason is.

"I'm just meeting someone--"

"Is it Carol?" She interrupted. Back to her nosy annoying personality again, huh. I can't expect anything else from her.

"Of course not!" I quickly denied.

"Uh huh~~~" she hummed, nudging me again. Seriously, when will she stop?

"Kanae's friend, here is the substance that counters the black hole that you requested." Kunai politely hands me a pistol gun. I'm thinking that the bullets here are not the ordinary bullets in a gun, it's that substance that I requested her. Man, when I remember the times that I attempted to make this plan, it doesn't actually feel worth it when I succeeded in it.

"I have a name you know." I bluntly told her. I don't want her to keep calling me "Kanae's friend." How about I call her "Kanae's childhood friend" over and over? Won't she be as mad as I am?

"I'm s-so-sorry." She stuttered, bowing in apology. After that, she stared at me with a serious expression. It was merely a second before she rushed down again. But in that second, I feel she tried to say something. A warning, maybe?

"Who was that?" Emily asked, feeling out of place in the conversation.

I walked past her, flicking her forehead and dashed back upstairs in a semi-shadow form while also trying to hide myself from her.

•

Dismissal.

"Missy, are you going to the library today?" Kanae approaches me with a packed backpack, ready to go.

"I'm sorry, Kanae. Not today. I still have some business with those two." I excused myself, about to leave.

"How long will this distance last?"
He asks with a gentle and worried tone. He frowns at the idea.

His frown makes me want to reassure him that everything is going to be fine. Why am I being sympathetic? He's a demon, I'm a demon, why do I feel like I've done something bad? "It'll be over soon." In the end, I gave up and just reassured him normally.

------
Stupid Celeste. She doesn't know how other people feel, does she? I wonder if this is what Zan felt when I tried to create an invisible wall between them. If she says that it'll be over soon, then I should believe her.

I just noticed that I trust her so much to the extent that I trust her not killing me. And she trusts me so much to the extent that she believes that I will not do anything to her. Ah, that's right. How could I forget? She's still my familiar!

"Celeste!" I called out. She stopped and turned to me with the same innocent face. "I order you to let me be a part in your plan."

She wore a hesitant face the second I brought out my order. But then, by the next second, she suddenly rushed to me with joy.

"Ah, how could I forget? You're perfect for my plan." She whispered with utter delight. I'm not sure if that is exactly what she said as she is hanging her head, limiting my vision of her mouth as it moves.

I don't know if I should be happy or terrified. Her tone and expression is terrifying and I don't want to beat her up because of it. I'm happy that she wants me in her plan but I wonder what she will make me do. The answer for this question truly is terrifying just by the thought of it. I can't solve this with my fists nor wits. All I could do now is to wait for her command.
------

How could I forget the other person who has the same intel as me?

Let the battle begin.