January 3. Before Class.

I came in class early. Well that's a bit weird, usually AC and Lana are earlier than me so why are they not here yet? Carol and I also come to school usually so why do I feel like I'm alone today? I heard the news that I'm going to school today so why do I feel like I'm the only one going?

Plus, Kanae is still asleep, claiming he'll go to school much later so I can go ahead.

I dropped my things on my chair next to the window and sat down, sighing exasperatedly. Now, since I have the chance, I might as well reminisce about what happened in my break, after that chaotic wedding. When I think about it, it sounds like I'm insulting the said wedding but really, I compliment it when I say that. I like chaos. I'm a demon after all~

On the 26th of December, the day after everything, I received a letter from the Audens. I thought that they're finally disowning me (which is kind of an unusual statement and mindset from an orphan) but I guess I was wrong. What a disappointment.

"Dear Celeste,
We haven't talked in a huge while, haven't we? I know you rejected the Evans-Auden wedding for the sake of the Audens' financial business but you seem to be ignoring us afterwards. You live with that Baade guy, right? You can come home now, our arms are open to welcome you. We can talk about your day like the family we're supposed to be.
Sincerely Yours,
Johnny Auden"

It says. When was the last time I saw a letter from Johnny? Ah... Never. That time when I saw from the "sold" Auden Residence is very different from this one. The handwriting, the format, the signature, is all different. That is the first time he ever directly sent me a letter.

I decided that I should get my stuffs. I can't let Kanae take care of me forever. But...I prefer to stay with him more than the Audens.

So I walked to the Auden Residence. Lately, I memorised the path to the Auden Residence. That's the only path I memorised so far.

I managed to talk to Patricia and Johnny and cleared all misunderstandings. They then said that it's not Carol's fault but his father and brother. It's hard for Carol to accept things, knowing that both his brother and father haven't moved on since Zara, Carol and Jasper's mother, died. I wonder how old were they when they were aware of this. Carol is really young so I don't blame him if he moved on so fast.

In the end, we both decided that we can call each other if we need something. This is such a turn-around from every thing we experienced. I didn't even think for a second that we're going to have a conversation like this. But, it's a bit relieving that even though we mutually hate each other, we still have room for...unhate.

I could've remembered Kanae's shocked face as I returned the next day. He opened the door casually like I was some kind of a stranger. He really was unwilling to open the door for somebody who properly knocks on it. I know he's holding back to hug me as he gulps, sweats and stands still as a statue. I don't know if I would like that idea or not.

...and now we're here, at school in the morning. After rewinding, I realised that the time when I came was 30 minutes early. Well now, I guess I have company. Those three early guys-- AC, Lana, Carol... Carol, huh... Maybe Emily will come sooner too.

"Hey Auden, you BIIIIITTTCCCHHHH!!!!!" I heard the door slam open. No, more likely it was kicked open. The noise returned...how relieving.

"What is with that greeting?" I looked at her dryly with a brow raised and sighed hopelessly

"I heard it from Carol himself!!!" She shook me so much. Ah, geez. I'm glad I'm used to people shaking me so much.

"What? What?" I keep asking her but this is really useless now since she couldn't hear me over all her frustration and screams as she shakes me up so frantically.

Carol skips around then hugged me, ultimately snatching me from AC, resulting us tumbling away. He saved me from AC, that's ok enough.

"Carol!" I shouted in fake surprise.

"I missed you Celeste!!! Are you ok now?!" He hugged me tighter as his voice trembled in worry.

"I-I'm fine. Don't worry, the bullet didn't pass through so far..." I touched my chest as it begins to ache. I'm really glad I'm a demon right now. If I'm a human, I might not be able to withstand this... I guess it's my time to finally be happy that I'm a demon for...such reasons other than devilish ones....

"Carol said that you got shot!" AC panicked. I'm surprised that he only said that part and not the part where he's...

As I think about that, I glanced at Carol. He was holding up a shh sign while winking at me, meaning he knows what I have in mind and he purposely didn't say that to her to save me from embarrassment. I doubt that he will be embarrassed but there's no doubt that I will.

"She isn't worried about it that much though." Lana commented. How long has it been since she last talked?!

"Of course! Since I've always send her roses to make her feel better! Man, I'm so lucky to see her everyday, sitting up on her big comfy bed and warmly smiling to me as she welcomed me... It's the best feeling in the world!!!" He cheered with his hands held super high. I'm glad he's back to his enthusiastic "gentlemanly" side to him that I liked on the second time we met.

I opened my mouth as to say something but I got interrupted by a "normal" person walking in our classroom. Oh, I knew it. She is going to come sooner!

"Hello? Is there anybody he--" As she drowsily entered, she saw a scene that looked like there's a misunderstanding that will be born. It looks like she's still in a daze but it's worth to remember that she has this "gossip girl" side that I hate to see right now, knowing what she will think about this current situation.

I'm lying down the floor with Carol looking like he's pinning me down, and AC just calmly stands above (with a reasonable distance) and Lana is just standing by the corner, farther than both of us.

I get what she's thinking right now. I bet it's about how Carol is pinning me down while AC wanted to see a better view up close and Lana is like the "calm servant" girl that AC always has with her, and has no right to say what she wants.

Emily dropped her bag and stared at us dead serious. I think we're meeting some bad news right off the bat? I mean, we just started the spring term and it's pretty early...

"C-Carol... I know you're a gentleman, but I... But I..... It was only a joke when I said you are a playboy! Please don't make it a reality!!" She cried and kneeled down with her head spinning around in utter sadness. I don't get what she said though.

Carol, in a panic, hurried towards her. She didn't faint though. Should I be relieve with that?

"Emily? Emily, wake up!" Carol desperately tries to wake her up even though it's pretty clear that she already is. How hopeless.

"Carol? Is that you? This is just too much to handle. Please don't worry about me..." Emily said in a very low and soft voice. Is she being all gentle now? No one's going to believe that. Heh.

"Look, I have nothing else with me to cheer you up. I only have these red roses. It might not mean much but please do remember me when you look at them." Even at this time, this guy knows no bounds when giving girls red roses! Hahaha!!--

Wait, red roses? Red roses? Oh yeah, I remember that he once gave me red roses before. But now, after the day he gave me a white rose... He continued giving me white ones instead. I thought he'll start giving white roses even to other people but why am I the only one?

Hmm... Maybe it has some meaning to it? Well, it's still relaxing to look at. If it's not, then I wouldn't have to go to the trouble to pile them in vases as decorations for my room-- ahem, Kanae's room. I sometimes visit my own bedroom in the Auden Residence if I'm in the mood for it.

"I'm back now, thanks for your red rose, Carol!" Emily immediately bought that and just went on with life? Just like that?! Everyone here is hopeless.

"No problem. I'm always happy to help if someone is in need." Carol's smile brightly shined. It feels like the whole school lightened up as he did.

"You seem to be in a very good mood today. When's that going to end?" AC giggled like she's some kind of a normal person herself. What nerve!

Carol first looked dumbfounded as usual. He even looked at the ceiling as if that's something that can help answer AC's question. A thought immediately snapped at him though, also snapping his fingers in unison. "Ah!" He says. He looked at me and warmly smiled as he continued, "if I get to see Celeste everyday, then I don't think it's ever going to end."

"Oohhh~~~ (*A*)" the other girls' eyes sparkled in awe. It just took them a line like that to get them off-guard?! Really now, they are really getting in my nerves.

"Were those your real feelings, Carol?" Emily asked like she's some kind of interviewer that fell in love with a charming actor. Her eyes aren't even sparkling anymore, it's just forming hearts now!

"Carol, in his 'gentleman/playboy' form, wouldn't say one girl's name specifically except if it's the one who asked, and he will be more lively if he answer. That response was a bit too serious, don't you think? So those were definitely his true feelings." Lana concluded in such a proud manner. I praise her for being the only hopeful one out of every girl I meet aside from me.

"Then... Then... You--...." Emily stutters, pausing in each word to huff in between. I guess she couldn't contain her happiness anymore. "YOU ACTUALLY LIKE HER?!!!"

"I felt like I was insulted." I stared at her dryly.

"Yeah I felt like you were insulted too." AC commented from the sidelines, also having the same expression as me.

"It's not like that! This is a new scoop, you know. The whole school is going to know about it! 'Carol and Celeste, The New School Couple!!!' Kyaa this is great, this great, this greaaaatt!!!" She shouted and cheered all around. I feel like she's throwing baskets of flowers at us as she circles around the classroom, completely having delusions and out of her mind.

"Carol, let's get out of here before she becomes completely insane." I whispered as I took Carol by the arm, clinging onto it loosely.

"What--?" Before that tone becomes longer, I dragged him outside while Emily is still having delusions, just like I planned.

We ran downstairs and looked at the school bulletin board. As expected, the only thing there was that time when Kanae recklessly shouted "I missed you" and the person who he shouted at is still a mystery. After the break, I wonder how those girls will react. They didn't know that their previous love letters are shoved in the shredder by the person they admire... That's harsh.

I wonder if there are still other girls fawning over him. As I thought about this, I slowly moved my head to the side. I was surprised by the fact that a large group of girls are waiting by the school gate. Who are they waiting for, I wonder.

"How many girls are in this school?" Carol eagerly and curiously asked. He isn't excited nor he was down by the fact that there are many.

"Can't say for sure." I answered. "Come on, let's go somewhere else." I suggested, grabbing him by the wrist. I easily got bored observing the huge group of girls waiting for somebody. Guessing it's Kanae.

Carol just blindly followed along but his eyes are still set on the gate. I don't want to get into trouble, that's why I'm leaving. But still, I do want to see Kanae...

We haven't reached the stairs yet and all the girls screamed. The scream of those girls are the same as meeting a famous celebrity. Now I really don't want to get involved. The screams are getting louder and louder. I began to walk faster and faster.

Suddenly, the screams stopped. I want to look back but I prioritise my and Carol's safety but I felt his hand slipped. That forced me to go look for him and look back. Once I did, Kanae is already in front of me and Carol stands beside him, making like a wall from the screaming girls.

"Good morning, Missy~~" he greeted casually like there's no chaos behind him.

I blinked twice then attempted to peer in because the girls were silenced. Carol closed my eyes and only removed his hand when I moved my head back to its original place. Are they hiding something from me?

"Good morning." I replied.

"Aren't you usually in the classroom?" He commented, looking around me.

"There's something going there..." My gaze turned away from him.

"Hey, New Couple!!! Why did you leave me?!!" Emily ran towards us. "Ah, Kanae!"

"She's the one involved why you can't go to the classroom, isn't she?" Kanae whispered. I merely nodded in reply.

"Oh yeah, that's right. You still haven't chosen your partner." Emily snapped her fingers. Her enthusiastic and carefree personality pisses me off. "So, who is it?" She clasped her hands together and looked at Kanae with sparkling eyes, eager to hear the answer.

"Hey wait a minute! Who's the new couple you're talking about?" Kanae, in a state of panic, asked. Even though this girl looks so girly and fragile, she's really unbeatable in topics like this. Even the delinquent is giving up!

"Ah, that would be..." She glanced at me then at Carol. "Celeste and the playboy." She smiled as the three of us have the opposite reaction.

"He's not a playboy." I calmly corrected.

Emily's eyes sparkled brighter as she leans closer to me. I was paralysed by her gaze that I couldn't even leave my place. Kanae pulled me away and steps forward to avert Emily's attention away from me.

"But still, these girls are going to follow me around?" Kanae pointed his thumb behind him. I used this chance to finally look at his plan. I see the girls holding a red rose in their hands and blushing. I guess that's how he plans to distract them. I wonder why Carol tried to hide it though.

"If you prove that you finally chose your partner, they will leave you." Emily smiles. "Ah, but Celeste is unavailable, ok?" She then waved goodbye as she approaches the distracted girls.

"Man, this is troublesome." Kanae groaned while scratching the back of his head.

"Tell me about it." I sighed.

"Girls aren't troublesome!" Carol tried to justify. Just leave it be, Carol. You can't win against the expert delinquent at his own game.

"Girls who are chasing after me are." Kanae talked back. He can't just sit there and agree to what he's saying.

"Still, it doesn't mean that you should insult them!" Carol slowly starts to stagger in this verbal argument.

"Why? It's not like I'm hurting them, am I?" He glared at him, ending him with his finishing blow. I warned you, Carol. I warned you...

Carol was unable to say anything and just ended up standing in all fours with his head hung down.

"You broke his pride, Kanae..." I commented, looking at Carol with pity.

"What do you mean I broke his pride? He doesn't even have one to begin with." He continuously pierces swords from his words towards Carol even if he isn't talking to him now.

I simply shook my head. He understood it and looked at Carol. He's just lying on his stomach now. Is he dead?

"You killed him." I said as I poked Carol with a stick.

"Wha-- I did not! Don't accuse people wrongly like that!" Kanae denied, having enough with jokes.

"There he is!" A girl shouted. It was one of Kanae's admirer. We immediately spotted her. As the other girls ran towards him, Kanae took me and Carol by the waist and began running like a bull. It was like we're running away from a stampede.

We lost the stampede by moving to a cramped corner. It always works!

"I'm surprised you even took Carol." I smirked.

"Shut up!" He shouted in embarrassment.

Although this corner is cramped and dark, I was able to be comfortable with it. It feels like one of those torture devices. Can't remember the name though.

"What happened?" Carol finally snapped out of his own emotional world and went back to the real world.

"You were saved by Kanae." I non-hesitantly answered with a huge smile.

"Really? I'm surprised." Carol widened his eyes in surprise and disbelief.

"I know right." I commented. The two of us laughed to further embarrass Kanae.

"You guys--" speaking of embarrassing him, we might have stumbled across a mistake we could never undo. His eyebrows twitched in anger, the filthy sponge that has never been cleaned by the janitor since day one is in his hand, ready to be inserted into someone's mouth. I'll go ahead and assume that I will be that someone.

"Kanae?" We all heard the sweet gentle voice of a girl roaming around the hallways so we turned to that direction.

It was Kunai...

Kanae, in a panic, ran towards her for help.

"Kanae, have you--" before Kunai has finished, he hugged her out of desperation. Do you really miss your childhood friend that much? As I thought, they're more than just childhood friends.

The stampede saw the scene and everyone left, heart-broken. Emily stayed, standing still in the middle, frozen in shock. After a while, she also walked away with her back hunched forward, arms flailing about, and head hung deep down in the ground. She was also heart-broken?

"Whew." Kanae sighed, putting his hands on his hips in a feeling of triumph.

In the meantime, Carol and I attempt to leave the cramped corner without breaking any bones-- any Carol's bones at least.

"So Kunai, what were you--"

Kanae was interrupted by the blushing girl before him. She blushed so hard that her face looks more red than a tomato. Her other facial features are indistinguishable because of all the huge amounts of red in her face.

"H-h-h-here is a movie. I-I-I'm sorry I didn't make it to your birthday. So accept this anyway!" Kunai shoved him a neatly wrapped gift and promptly ran away, leaving with a very red face.

I was too distracted with Kunai that I fell down as Carol squiggled around. It resulted from the two of us falling...in a...position...

Kanae was startled. He stared at us with a disgusted expression.

We stayed at that position for a while. I don't know the actual reason but I'm guessing Carol does. Even if he is rather a playboy, he still has some respect for girls. Gentleman and a playboy in one! So I wonder why...

"Hey, how long are you planning to stay there?" Kanae emits a menacing aura, looking at Carol like he wants to murder him, glaring and crossing his arms. His eyes are looking down on Carol, his eyes are narrow. Those narrow eyes that I like so much~~!

"I-I can't... I'm stuck." Carol didn't turn his head to Kanae. He just looks at me while looking all depressed.

"Hm? What's that sticky white thing underneath you?" Kanae noticed. He crouched down to examine it properly. "Wood glue." He answered his own question.

"What?! Wood glue?!!" Carol panicked, shouting impulsively in shock.

"What about it?" I asked, obviously confused. I can't understand what they're talking about.

"Wood glue is hard to remove." Kanae calmly explained.

"So he's stuck?" I raised a brow, still oblivious.

"Well not only him, it looks like you're stuck too." He looked under me. I then turned to my side and I noticed the sticky white substance underneath me.

"I'm not feeling anything on my skin so I just have to get--" I was trying to undress, starting by my ribbon on my collar. I'm glad it doesn't choke me anymore. I sighed in relief but Kanae grabbed my arm to stop me.

"You have no spare clothes. This is not like that wedding where you can just steal one from a church room, alright?" He looked at me with cold eyes, staring at me like a father reprimanding his daughter.

"Aww come on, it's better than being in this position! Besides, where the hell did the wood glue come from?" I looked around to get a better look but I can't really move in this position because of all the unbelievable amount of wood glue spread across the floor. "Who needs a lot of fucking wood glue?!"

"Well seems to me that this very cramped corner is cramped because of all the janitor's supplies that are camouflaging. It's very dark too. Probably the janitor thought no one would be able to notice this corner." Kanae puts his hand on his chin like he's thinking deeply.

"So would you mind helping us?" I glanced at Carol for a short moment. I doubt that he saw me. "I'm ok with this position but Carol will get stiff soon."

Kanae just stared at us with that disgusted face again. "You have weird desires, Missy." Oh wait no, he just stares at me with a disgusted face.

"Just go and help us." I stared at him blankly.

"Wouldn't you want to stay in that position?" Kanae teased. I'm not buying this at all.

"Kanae, I swear to Hell--"

"I mean, even if you didn't get married, you can still have a honeymoon, right?" Kanae teases even further. I can see Carol's hopeless blushing face right now.

"KANAE!!"

"Alright, alright. But you owe me one, Missy." He winked and proceeded to leave the scene, leaving the two of us.

Carol stares at me, his face flushing red. "So...what do we do now?" He asked to avert my attention away from his embarrassed face.

"We wait. If it gets longer than 20 minutes, I have no choice but to go and get help myself." I explained. I looked at his arms and noticed that they are starting to wobble. "How much longer can you hold?"

"I don't think I can hold for 20 minutes." Carol trembled.

I sighed. I don't want him to suffer anymore. If he falls here and now, it would be harder for me to get up.

As a last resort, I quickly undressed, quicker than the human eyes could follow. Carol looked surprised as there were only clothes laid out neatly in front of him.

"C-Celeste?" He trembled even more.

"I'm behind you." For some reason, he blushed even more. "If you're worrying about my body, I still have my pan--"

"That's not the point!!!" He quickly denied.

The bell rang. Is that the start or end of classes? Either way, it means I can't recklessly walk around the school with just my pants.

I have nothing else to do but to try and dissolve the glue before it hardens and sticks to my clothes and Carol's hands. I made myself invisible then I started to simply move my hand in a motion and so, the glue is magically removed! Magic, even from a demon. I doubt humans can believe that though.

"H-huh? It went away? Just like that? Celeste." As he turned around to look for me, I just stand there, with no shame. "A-a-aaa-aaaaaa-aa-aahhh..." He blushed again, reaching the peak of being red. He turned away and buried his head. "PUT ON SOME GODDAMN CLOTHES ON!!!" He shouted. He has no other ways to say it. That's how properly as he can get.

"But you're stepping on--"

"Here, TAKE IT!!!" He handed me my clothes, quite impatiently and insistently. I have no choice but to accept it. Literally. I can't just deny it.

I dressed up. Still clean even if in human standards, I should be dirtied ages ago.

"I have clothes now. Stop emitting such a powerful heat." I stared dryly at him.

"I'm traumatised." He said while still keeping his head buried in his arms.

"Don't be such a baby. A playboy like you should've seen bodies like these so many times." I try to drag him towards our classroom, grabbing him by the chest.

"Well I'm sorry that I haven't!!" He still keeps on talking while being dragged by a lady.

As he realised this, he instantly got back up to his feet and fixed himself. It's like nothing happened to him, and then went on walking towards our classroom like the usual Carol I know.

"Glad you're back to normal." I commented, smiling.

"Just don't do that again. NEVER." He emphasised even more.

"It was needed. I won't do that again in normal situations." I heaved a heavy sigh. I think he's scarred for life now. It was just a female body, and I was wearing at least something to cover my genitals. It wasn't that bad. I mean, come on, I've seen a lot of penises in my life more than what others think.

"I see. That's a relief." He sighed in relief. It was also a sigh but I'm glad he's relieved. I think I don't need to worry about him...for now.

•

Dismissal.

"You didn't come, you arse!!!" I smacked Kanae's hard head with my bag. This covers a lot of escape plans in a point blank range. Picking a big and heavy bag is the right choice Patricia made!

"You managed to get out anyway!" He tried to fight back. "Besides, you seem like you like that position anyway." He whispered while turning away. I guess he still just doesn't understand that we demons have higher standards than humans!

"I didn't!!" I hit him again with my bag. Why the hell didn't he try to dodge or counter it at least?!

Carol blushed again. Kanae quickly noticed this. His eyes narrowed, sharply looking at the blushing playboy. "You saw something, didn't you?" He asked in a dry and coarse voice. As expected, he sees through everyone.

Carol gulped and shivered, not facing our way. "Oh my, dirty." Joan commented, putting her hand on her mouth.

"I-i-i-it's not like that..." Carol walked to a corner and sat in a foetal position.

Everyone in the room kept quiet. I kept quiet. He did say that I should not remind him. I intend the situation to stay as innocent as it can.

"Well???" All eyes stared at me with eyes that emits various auras. Joan looks at me with excitement. Zan looks at me like he's proud. Cervi looks at me dumbfounded (he's not updated). Kanae...he's not looking good. It's either he will kill me or Carol. Either way, it's scary.

"Uhh..." I stuttered. "I'll go now, bye~~" This is my last resort to escaping their various eyes so I have no other choice but to escape that way even if it's so old-fashioned and has no thrill at all.

"Hey!" They all reacted. Because they're not normal humans, they followed me even if I was running away. If they're normal, I can outrun them by now. They work in a graceful manner even if they have no leader. I feel like they can reach me if I slow down for even a millisecond.

Glancing at the windows, I had an idea. But it all ended so quickly when even before I tried to move there, Kanae tackled me, pinning me down on the ground in the process. His mates stopped for a rest. He's also sweating and panting so heavily. I guess trapping me down is a way to also let himself rest after such a chase.

We exchanged huffs and puffs, his sweat dripping down disgustingly, sizzling some parts of my body but not actually melting it.

"I need to go! We can talk about this later, ok? Geez, you're too protective. You all are!" I managed to slip away from his grasp and continued heading towards the gate. They stopped following me.

•

Baade Residence. 7 pm.

"Hey, it's so unfair how Carol is the only one who experienced that kind of thing." Kanae suddenly commented as he's trying to dry his hair with his towel.

"Don't tell me you want to do that too." I commented monotonously, fixing myself to lie down on the bed properly.

"Not really. It's just weird to know that even if Carol is the person that you interact with the least, you managed to get intimate with him." He looked through his window with the same old cold distant look in his eyes.

"It's not something like that. He just saw me wearing just pants. Not something serious." I calmly commented, finally finding a comfortable position on the bed.

"That's the problem, Missy. It is something serious. You just can't understand humans, can you? You can't just go around showing off your fake human disguise. You're limited to doing those kinds of things if you're trying to eat human souls by seduction. That's all. Showing it to others is strictly prohibited, got it?" He strictly reprimanded as he sat down on his bed, covering my view of the relaxing night light shining from the window.

"Nnghh... Whatever." I groaned but could not say any complaints regarding the restriction. I guess all I have to do is to do my best to remember that.

"I'm tired. I'm going to sleep now, ok?" He heaved a heavy sigh before turning off the lights and lying down on his bed in a comfortable-looking position. He's turning my way now, this is weird. He always sleeps turning away from me. "Goodnight." He whispered and began to sleep.

As he's sleeping soundly, I also whispered... "Goodnight" but I doubt that he heard it.

As I did utter that word, I was surprised that he moved to face the other side. I thought he was awake for that second there! I wonder if the time comes where we can exchange "goodnights" openly...

Isn't that what married couples do...Carol?