The demon started to press numbers. I'm merely standing if ever she needs me. She looks so happy, I don't want to bother her.

"Kanae, what are you looking at?" Cervi peeked.

With a sharp turn, I clicked my tongue and faced away in embarrassment. "None of your business." I said.

"Hmm..." Cervi thought for a moment and was able to conclude that I was looking at Celeste, no doubt. "You're looking at Celeste, aren't you? Hahaha." Instead of making fun of me like I expected him to do, he laughed like he understands-- like he also does it. "It's relaxing to see her happy, right?" He smiles widely. "It's ironic how a demon like her can cause happiness to us humans." He whispered, knowing that the others don't know about her secret.

I raised my head, staring at the ceiling. "She's full of irony." I responded, still not moving my head from the ceiling. "That's why she's interesting."

"Huh? You said something?" Cervi tiptoed, trying to hear what I'm saying.

"I said 'it's none of your business'." I turned and completely walked away, leaving him in confusion.

As soon as the demon is finished with her call, I approached her and held her shoulder. "Hey Missy, what are you gonna do now? It's not like these two will be stuck like this forever."

"That's right." She puts her hand in her chin and started examining the bodies. After a short moment, she snapped her fingers and stared at me dead in the eyes. "Let's dispose of the bodies."

"I didn't mean like that." I smacked her head in annoyance while maintaining my cool and composed expression. She let out a cute moan-- wait what?! What am I thinking?!

I heaved a heavy sigh to shake my mind off what I just thought. Still, I can't believe I can think of that.

"Then what do you want me to do?" Celeste held her head in a defensive manner, glaring at me softly. Can glaring even be soft?

"Be cautious once they wake up. You said that the bullets were made by Kunai to destroy their aura, right? That can only destroy their aura but not their conceited personality."

"It will slowly break them once they realise that their whole existence comes from the aura." She quickly explained with such a serious face. "I don't care either way. I'm confident that whatever Adam is thinking right now, I'm able to fight it." She stopped to stare at an emptiness, like what I just did at the ceiling.

She turned unexpectedly, which ended up with her looking at me, smiling. "I can foil every plan that Adam has because of you..."

I feel like time has stopped, but I didn't make it obvious so she wouldn't be suspicious of me. Giving me such credit even when she mostly did the work...

"....guys." What? "I can't foil his plans myself. I'm thankful for you guys." She continued.

I don't know why but this makes her insensitive.

Sigh. Expecting really isn't a good idea, is it?

"Hey, you're being inconsiderate! I took my time to smile at you while trying to appreciate you yet you sighed like it's nothing." She complained. I feel like she has no right to complain.

"It is nothing. Try saying that to the people that helped you, not just me." With that to be imprinted in her mind, I approached the bodies.

I stared at AC's agonising face. She never once anticipated loss. Stupid little girl. Not everything in life ends with a win.

I then turned to see Lana's peaceful face. She wanted to end this all, she wanted to get out of AC's tyranny. I don't blame her though.

As I was still trying to silently reprimand the two bodies, Lana's arm started to violently move then suddenly grabbed my arm. She slowly opened her eyes. Once she regained her consciousness, she stared at me for a while. Afterwards, she freaked out a little and kept on apologising.

"It's--"

"What are you two doing?" The beast stealthily entered with a threatening look on her face. It looks like she's gonna kill her or me any time soon.

"N-n-nothing...." Lana stuttered her way. She knows nothing of what Celeste listens to.

"Why do you care anyway?" I smirked, feeling superiority over her.

"She's an enemy. If ever she tries to lay a hand on you, she's dead." She turned her body to face me and stared at me dead in the eyes.

"I-I see..." I turned away to avoid her piercing glare. I hope she can't see through my soul with that glare. Now it feels like I'm being dominated over.

"Anyway, we have an early waker here." She stepped on Lana's back as the latter's laying on her stomach. "Tie her up." She demanded.

I don't know when it started but when I seemingly regained my consciousness, I found myself with Lana in front of me, already tied up with a rope that I have been holding on. This may be a power from a demon, or a princess-- or a demon princess.

"Sorry. It seems that she took control over me." I apologised as I untie her.

"It's ok. I can understand." She brightly smiled like she's having fun with this.

"How idiotic. You're in a state where you can't smile." I clicked my tongue. I'm almost finished untying her.

"But, you're here...aren't you? Whenever I'm with you, whether it's tying me up or not, I always feel happy. It makes me think that such a person cares for me this much." She smiled widely again. This time, I didn't reprimand her. I couldn't. Such a person gone through hardships that simple care for her means a lot.

Once I finished untying her, I held her shoulder and solemnly told her "run." She immediately obliges and ran away like I told her to. She just skipped class, didn't she? What time is it, I wonder?

"Why did you let her go?" Finally, she showed up. I don't need to call her out in her hiding spot.

"Because I want to." I answered.

"Don't you know what's going to happen if you just let her go like that?" She hung her head in anger. I can see her tightly clutching her hands. "She's going to wreak havoc in this place again, YOU TWIT!!" Expected, she dashed to me. It was too fast for my eyes to follow.

I thought that I was a goner.

Suddenly, when I thought that she was going to kill me for sure, she stopped with merely a centimetre away from me. I stopped all of my movements and flopped down in fear, my eyes glued to her.

I'm taller than her, older than her, more powerful than her, yet she can make me feel worthless-- more worthless than a piece of garbage. How can I not sense the feeling of superiority whenever I'm with her yet I easily let myself enter her life whenever she's not in this state? Do I really want to revert her back into the demon she originally is?

She stopped at her tracks. Knowing her, I don't think it's because she was going to kill me with that long red spear that she's holding. She calmly puts her spear down and sharply turned her head to the window.

In a glance, I saw Lana pass by. Without a moment wasted, Celeste recklessly dashed to the window, shattering it, as she followed Lana behind.

As soon as I realised that I can still stop her, I stood up, slightly staggering, then dashed outside, taking the door instead of the shattered window. I opened the door and faced the scenery before me...

Celeste is being held by students. Ah, that's right... This is the time where students come, isn't it? We've already wasted enough time on the debate that we forgot that we still have classes. The school is still alive.

Even if Lana doesn't have that hypnotising aura, she can still make people do what she wants by acting like a victim. She knew that this would happen. I trusted her.

Celeste is being hit by baseball bats from the jocks in the school. She screams in pain while blood comes out of her. Her previous wounds from the shattered window aren't that healed yet and now she has new ones.

With fear and paranoia in their eyes, did they forget that the girl that they're beating right now is a student in this school? The jocks stopped beating her with bats but now, girls who harbour a strange bloodlust instead of fear, started beating her up too with their bags. Celeste does nothing but scream in pain and helplessness.

While Lana.....Lana just stands silently in the corner, watching her plan unfold itself with the outcome she wants.

I don't want that to happen. I don't want to see the outcome she wants. I won't let her!

I dashed to the hallway, blocking the girls' bags from hitting the helpless demon. "As a gentleman, I won't hit any of the girls. But leave her alone or I'll be forced to hit you all like you hit her." I glared. They immediately ran away, screaming.

The jocks looked at me like I'm the bad guy. "Why are you rooting for this devil?" One guy asked, holding the bat to his back.

"Who is the real devil? The one who's already bloody and helpless or the one who has a bat with no wounds whatsoever?" I tilted my head. Without answering my question, three jocks dashed to me with bats as their weapons. I coolly dodged their attacks and sometimes when I have the feeling, let them hit themselves while wearing a smirk.

The others are too frightened to even move so they softened their grips on Celeste as they glare at me. I know so well that those glares are nothing more than a mask to hide their own fear.

I paid no attention to them as I stand in front of the students who are holding Celeste down. She's still alive, she's still conscious. If she's not, she wouldn't be glaring at me this hard.

"Move."

They moved away, away from the hallway and into their classrooms still in fear.

The two of us stared at each other for a while as students started running back to their classrooms.

I crouched down, making her jolt back. "Hey Missy, no need to be cautious." I told her as reassuring as I can. "You know that I was trying to save you from them."

"This happens when you let her go." She still glares at me like there's no tomorrow.

"But look, I caught her~~" I hummed as I slide to the right to present Lana tied with shackles on her limbs. "I set a trap earlier. I thought I'd catch a nerd who is being cornered but instead, I caught a bully acting like the nerd!" I happily explained with a wide smile. "Can you stand up, Missy?" I reached out my hand, hoping that she will finally accept it. Haha, who am I kidding? There's no way in hell would she do that.

"Well whatever. It was your fault so you took responsibility. I guess there's no need for reprimanding." She scratched her head as she stood up by herself and dusted her clothes. I knew it. She left my hand on standby.

I also stood up and was ready to go but I heard a flop behind me. I turned around and saw her kneeling down. "What's wrong? Let's go."

"M....my body.....h-hurts..." She said in an exhausted voice.

I walked towards her and crouched down, presenting my back to her. She isn't doing anything so I'd figured that she doesn't know anything about this kind of gesture. I expect this kind of thing as she isn't used with chivalry despite hanging out with a real flirt.

I turned my head to her and said, "put your hands around my shoulders. I'll piggyback you."

She tilted her head and thought about it deeply before doing what I just told her to. "You take so long." I complained as she's finally on my back.

"Hmph." She silently clicked her tongue. It's a mystery how I was able to hear it...oh wait-- it's not because my ears are just right beside her mouth!

Leaving Lana in the corner, I brought Celeste to the clinic. There wasn't a school nurse this time. Why, at the most important time, did she leave?

"Wait here, I'll go tell our adviser." I said as I jog my way to the classroom.

I saw our adviser, starting the class already. "Please come with me, Ms. Sabin." I huffed. "Celeste....is in the clinic."

"Well, where's the school nurse?" She dryly asked. What an inconsiderate adviser!

"She's away at this time."

"That missy can take care of herself. She's smart enough to be put here so she can heal herself. Hurry up and go to your seat, Mr. Baade. I'm already starting the class."

My ears twitched. "'Missy', you say?" I paused for a short moment. I'm glad no one interrupted me. "I'm the only one who can call her Missy! You don't have the right to call her that too, especially if you don't care about your dear students, you BITCH!" I turned to the doorway.

"Hey, where are you going, Mr. Baade? Class is starting and this inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated!" Ms. Sabin-- or should I even call her that? Kira panicked as she reaches out to me.

"I'm going to take care of your student that you failed to take care yourself." I explained as I exit the door. I don't want to admit it but I was staying near the doorway to listen to their conversations.

"Veronica."

"Yes ma'am!"

"Follow Baade."

I guess this is the scene where I panic and run. I walked the way to my destination.

I opened the door to the clinic room. There was a girl standing alone in the middle, with blood flowing out of her. That sounds like it was straight from a horror movie.

I approached the small frail little girl--

"Did you just seriously think that I'm frail?" She dryly stared at me.

"Haha. You never change, Missy."

"What are you talking about? It seems like several years had passed. Wait, did it?! I only tried sleeping for a moment and now I'm like 20 years to the future?!" She panicked as she walked around the whole clinic, deep in thought.

"Hey hey, what are you so worked out about?" I asked as I grabbed her arm so she won't move around too much. "You're just injured and staying in the clinic. I'm going to take care of you. Unfortunately, the nurse is unavailable right now."

"What happened to her?"

"Beats me." I shrugged.

I looked at the clinic door, hoping to see Veronica either acting like an innocent human being or letting it all out.

"Are you expecting someone?" Celeste asks while trying to get out of my grip. I almost forgot that I'm still holding her arm.

"Ah.... Kind of." I replied, letting go.

"Is it Kunai?"

"What? No, it's not. Why do you think it's her?!" I denied. I know this girl is actually smart so why did she ask if it's the one girl who's school is far away from this?

"Because you were looking at the door with such hope." She calmly explained. She did not have any other reasons.

Looking at the door with such hope, huh. I'll do that if you're going to enter that door, I wanted to say but my mouth just doesn't want to. I sighed in hopelessness and my mouth started moving. "It's no one in particular, ok?" I reassured her. I don't know why I decided to reassure her but I think this is enough to at least erase her thought about it. If she knows, she'll panic more.

She hesitantly nodded.

As soon as she did, the door was slammed, showing the grand entrance of Veronica Star.

"Kanae Baade.... The principal wants to see you." She huffed.

"I don't want to hear that from a student who desperately needs the principal from all of her crimes." I retorted. I ignored her statement and proceeded to approach Celeste.

Suddenly, a dagger was thrown in the middle. That narrow space was enough to let a dagger slide through. It left us both unharmed but I know it's on purpose. She wanted to leave a warning.

I sharply turned my head to her and found her with daggers in her hands. She was ready from the start yet.... Man, this school's security sucks!

I dodged another dagger, and another and another until I was far from Celeste. She started to walk towards Celeste while still trying to throw daggers at me from the side.

Celeste knew exactly what she was planning so she decided to walk all over the room, calmly dodging the daggers while doing so.

"What do you think you're doing? It's dangerous!"

"She's not going to throw daggers at us. She's not going to harm us." She said in a solemn quiet voice.

"Why do you think that?" I stopped dodging the daggers but she still kept on throwing them despite knowing this already.

"Since she's not even trying. Maybe she is actually just a weakling when confronted?"

That snapped my memory. Of course. "What a good guess, Missy!" I pat her head as a way to appreciate her doing.

She covered her head cautiously as if I'm going to harm her. "I'm done. I just pat your head." I dryly stated as she's still covering her head.

She said nothing in reply. She keeps glaring at me like I'm some kind of bad guy.

"Well whatever." I sighed and shrugged. I approach Veronica with no caution since I already know that she won't actually throw daggers at me.

That's when she realised I realised her plan so she stopped and backed away.

"Are you really just a weakling when you're all alone?" I switched to the person who has an overwhelming bloodlust.

"S-s-stay back!!" Veronica hissed as she stands there defencelessly. "I'm not doing anything wrong so--"

"Oh? But you actually tried to kill her twice now." I tilted my head to the side as my bloodlust started to rise.

"I... I..."

"You know I had to save her from you." I tilted my head to the other side like my neck's going to break.

"I..... Ah, look! Celeste is--"

Without letting her finish, I quickly turned around and saw Celeste safely being at the window, watching the scenery outside.

I turned back but didn't see Veronica. I was so foolish to be played by that oldest trick in the book! Veronica found her way to sneak up to Celeste. Before I can even have time to answer, I saw Veronica letting Celeste breathe in her handkerchief. After a few moments of struggle, she fell asleep. I was running.

She then continued by opening the window and pushed her body outside!

I ran there faster than I should have, letting Veronica not see me in her way. I jumped out the window and tried to grab her while holding on the windowsill but our bodies couldn't reach that anymore so I have no choice but to-- she's unconscious anyway so she wouldn't realise...

I hugged her tightly in hopes of trying to make myself as her cushion when she falls.

[I'll stop the fall (Ahh~~)
I won't let you wait
Ahh~~~
I'll stop the fall (Ahh~~)
The surface can wait
Ahh~~~ Ahh~~~~]
(The music on the background)

I landed on something soft. Hm, that was unexpected.

I stood up, still holding Celeste's bloody body carefully. I looked below me and saw a body wearing a dirty trench coat and a fedora with the same color.

"Doesn't he change his clothes?" I thought as soon as I saw his appearance.

"Ow ow ow..." He groaned trying to stand by his feet. "Hm? Delinquent?"

"What are you doing here?" I asked, looking down on him. He's sitting on the ground with his outstretched legs so I have no problems looking directly below him.

"I got a call from Lana. She said that she's trapped in shackles. Do you know the person who's behind this?" He asked innocently. I guess he really has no idea.

"Yeah, that would be me." I openly admitted.

"Why?"

"She was attacking Celeste."

"Why?-- wait, what?" He tilted his head to the side and stared at me carrying Celeste. "I thought I told them to abort the mission once Celeste wins the debate."

"You knew about the debate?!" I asked in surprise, almost dropping Celeste's body.

"Yeah. They told me. Did they not stop there?"

"AC's still unconscious. The only one who attacked her [out of the two] was Lana."

"Is that so?" He sighed, holding his head. "Well I have no choice but to scold her. As soon as she wakes up, tell her we're sorry. That mystery was the biggest plan so if she solved it, that means we have no other plans. I give up. She can live..." He stood up and dusted his clothes. No matter how much he dust it, I know that trench coat will never be clean. "...she's precious to my son anyway." He whispered, thinking that I wouldn't hear it.

He proceeded to walk away without any more threats. I can't sense any hidden bloodlust. I guess he really does want to come clean.

Now what am I going to do? The clinic is dangerous... Should I mark her absent?

I walked towards the front gate and the guard changed. What? Why?

"Um excuse me, where is the previous guard?" I tried to ask.

"He said he has some work to do so he left this school for good." He politely answered.

"What was his name?"

"Hmm... Now that I think about it, he never revealed it." Suspicious. Never revealed his name, huh...

"Is that so? Well anyway, tell the teacher that Celeste Auden will not come back to school. She's badly injured and the school nurse is nowhere to be seen. I'm going to return at lunch break."

"Ok, just fill in these papers and it will be fine." He handed me two pieces of paper. I guess the other one is for me. I thought that only Celeste will have one.

Once I filled in the papers, I dashed outside and rushed to the path where her house is. I still know it like it's the back of my hand!

I finally reached it...well of course, I don't mind entering by the front door now since there are no other people here.

I opened the grand entrance and entered it and then closed it afterwards. I ran upstairs, where I think her room is. I opened a lot of rooms before I finally entered hers. When I saw her room, I laid her down on her bed and put the blanket over her.

I don't think she'll be asleep for long. I know that when she wakes up, she's going to be hungry.

I walked downstairs. I don't know where the kitchen is but I know that it's just here downstairs. I wandered around until I saw a dining room. I walked in and heard some sizzling noises coming from the kitchen. That's weird. Is the chef supposed to be here? Crap, if he finds out about my presence he'll--

"Oh, Kanae. What are you doing here?" He already knows my name and-- wait what? What's with that voice? Is he who I think it is?

"Never mind me, but what are you doing here?" I returned the question with uneasiness clouding my head.

"Cooking, obviously." I can hear the echo coming from the kitchen.

"Not that you idiot. Why are you here with Celeste? In her house...all alone..." I stopped at my tracks. I'm beginning to feel sick in my stomach. I wonder why. Is it because of the indecency that this guy is doing? But this isn't like me. I should be proud of him. Why am I acting like this right now?

"Is it bothering you?" He casually asks like it has no meaning to him.

"Damn it, of course it is!" I angrily shouted.

"Jealousy, maybe?" He playfully hummed.

"I'm not jealous!" I strongly denied. Although, I have a small unused space just for jealousy. I don't know if it's being used or not.

"Really? 'Cause your voice says so."

I don't know if I'm supposed to be mad or satisfied. I can't understand my own feelings yet he pushes me towards it. Is he giving a hint or is he just annoying me?

"Why did you suddenly become quiet? Did I hit the bullseye?" He snickered. Worse thing is, his voice echoes around the whole kitchen, reaching the dining room with a louder voice.

"Ggh... Ggh... Don't act like you don't get jealous too!" I jolted as the sharp knife cut through whatever he's cutting and reaching the hard wooden cutting board. The sound pierced my ears so I jolted.

"Well yeah....but I'm sick. I don't want to trouble Celeste anymore."

I rushed to the kitchen and slammed the door open. I saw him huffing and sweating while staggering.

"Are you insane?! Get out of the kitchen, NOW!" I kicked him out of the kitchen and wore the apron myself. "Are you planning to make her eat this crap?!"

"Of course not! I'm cooking food for myself!" He strongly denied in a loud voice.

"Then are you planning to infect the food here?!" I shouted as I tied the apron. "Geez, what are you, an elementary schooler? Instead of making her feel easy, you're troubling her more!"

He stayed silent...but I expected that. He wouldn't have anything to say after what I just did.

"But my food--"

"I'm throwing them out." I quickly interrupted. I mercilessly threw the food out in their bin.

"But that's wasting food!" He protested.

"Argh geez, did you seriously forget that she's rich? I know it's a risk she's willing to take instead of letting you or anyone eating it." I calmly explained. Besides, this is what I'll do if this is my house.

It was silent again. The only noise that I'm hearing is the clanking of the tools and the knife cutting on the cutting board. It was too silent that I'm slowly forgetting that he still exists.

"What....are you doing here? You didn't answer my question." He suddenly mentioned.

"Ah, that's right. Celeste was badly injured. I thought she's safe in the clinic even though there's no school nurse but then Veronica followed me and attacked Celeste, pushing her out the window whilst sedated--"

"Veronica sedated her?!" He asked in surprise. I heard the chairs move as soon as he said that. He stood up?

"Oh, don't act like it's a big deal." I put the ingredients on a big bowl and started mixing it. "So anyway, since I finally realised that she's not safe in school, I brought her home, in her bedroom." As I said that, I heard footsteps slowly fading away. "Don't visit her. You're sick."

"Ggh...." He jolted, returning to the table. "So what now?"

"Knowing her, I guess she's about to wake up soon..." I hoped.

I'm 80% sure that she's going to wake up. There remains 20% because of badly her wounds are. No human can live after those beatings. Even if she's a demon, I doubt that she will survive...