"Zan... You see... I loved you too." Joan confessed after Zan. She was being shy and girly, as expected from an angel.

"Yeah. I know. I still remember that time you were being possessive as shit. You even scared Palatino!" Zan stared at Joan dryly. He looked annoyed and angry, obviously still not getting over that.

"Sorry about that..." Joan turned away in embarrassment. She felt guilty about what she did. She still remembers the time where she brainwashed him. It caused a lot of problems, but afterwards, they became friends again.

"Joan." Zan called out. Joan swiftly turned her attention back to him. "Wait for my answer, ok?" He softly pats Joan's head and gently smiled. Joan had a hard time knowing if it was true or not. If Celeste was there, she could've known it. Only Celeste has that kind of ability.

Zan left the cafeteria afterwards. In truth, Zan was so embarrassed after giving that statement that he couldn't afford to look at anyone. He covered himself with his hoodie as he was trying to make his way towards his classroom.

Carol gave Joan a smug look, knowing what Zan could have meant. Joan jolted at sensing his presence, quickly turning away from his gaze. "Wh-what's your problem?" She meekly asks, still avoiding any possible eye contact as much as possible.

"The little sweetie pie is starting to bloom?" Carol teases, nudging Joan on the shoulder.

"Hmph. Yeah, right." Joan sarcastically responded. "I bloomed years ago!"

Carol just laughed. No, Carol. She really did bloom years ago, even before you were born. The problems of being the clueless one in the group, eh?

Joan, a bit annoyed by Carol, walked out of the cafeteria to escape from his presence.

Carol then glanced at Cervi because he was being silent for a while. He caught him catching a glimpse of a girl in his line of sight.

Knowing this, Carol's eyes glinted as they saw another to tease about romance.

"You're blooming too?" He recklessly asked, patting Cervi on the back.

Cervi jolted in surprise. "Stop doing that, Carol." He scolded, which sent shivers down Carol's spine.

Ignoring Cervi's lecture, Carol looked at what Cervi was looking at-- Veronica Star.

Carol raised a brow. Even though he vowed to always be kind to all women, there's something about Veronica he can't simply ignore.

"You sure about this?" He asked, just to make sure. It's his responsibility as a friend to save him from that bitch.

"She's so arrogant." Cervi carelessly blurted out. Carol was surprised to see Cervi being so blunt to someone he's not even facing with. "She acts like she's special, but really, she's not." That ended his gaze, standing up from his seat.

"Ah, ah, Cervi." Carol called out. "Do you hate her?"

Cervi looked straight into Carol's eyes. His eyes are cold and dead, like someone died. He died. Looking through his eyes is like looking through death itself.

"I still haven't gotten over how badly she treated Celeste just because of a simple jealousy. Since we're both singles, it's best if we keep an eye out for those couples." Cervi then went straight out of the cafeteria, not giving Carol any seconds to react.

Carol then realized something.

Even though Cervi is like the one who's the most normal one in the group, in truth, it was Carol all along.

He felt like the group is hiding an awful lot of things from him. Even Cervi, the one that everyone thought is just so special and cute, is hiding such a strange motive. He's just so mysterious and secretive that no one knows about his motives at all.

Plus, Carol felt that he's not needed since he wasn't being so active in the group.

It is depressing to think that about Carol. He only wished he could still belong in the group even if his family destroyed the main couple's families.

He knew...

He also knew who was targeting Kanae's mother, but somehow ended up shooting Celeste. Of course, the same person who wanted the marriage-- Jasper Evans, his own older brother.

He wanted to say it, but he was afraid that Kanae will hate him because of it...

In the end, he was left all alone...

•

Dismissal.

"Celeste was pretty quick, leaving the classroom like that." Joan commented.

"Well, she's excited to see her boyfriend. What do you expect?" Zan butted in.

"Hoho. I wonder what the two can do. Kanae's... still drunk, right?" Carol joined.

"Yeah. Most likely." Zan answered, picking up his bags. "I'll leave early too, just following after that little miss's footsteps."

"Ah, hey Zan!" Joan followed him. "I want to apologize to Palatino. I was just reminded that. I don't want him to hate me forever..."

Zan stared at Joan's shy face, before patting her head again. "Alright. I don't see the problem with that."

The two left again, leaving the two singles behind once again.

"Cervi, are you leaving early too?" Carol asked, turning to Cervi after witnessing a whole segment of icky-yucky PDA, even if they aren't in a relationship yet.

"Hm? Yeah. I still have a tutor in English." Cervi answered in his usual manner. It was like the Cervi that just emitted such a powerful wrath in the cafeteria before didn't even exist.

"Can I borrow a bit of your time first?" Cervi nodded non-hesitantly. "Do you think I'm important in this group?"

Cervi stared at Carol, wide-eyed and jaw ajar. He was too shocked to even answer immediately. "Of course you are." He then said nonchalantly.

"Don't screw with me." Carol slammed Cervi's table, which made Cervi more surprised. "Explain it. Now." He continued.

Although Carol never exhibited this kind of emotion before, Cervi wasn't intimidated at all. He's just shocked that Carol is exhibiting these actions now.

"Alright. But that isn't the real answer you want, right? I'll give you our backgrounds so no matter how extreme or unbelievable this may seem, don't freak out." Cervi coolly tried to calm him down.

It worked.

•

After saying the truth, Carol slid down the ground. His eyes are wide open. It looks like he has been traumatised after hearing an unbelievable story.

"You are not normal..." He whispered. "Celeste was a demon all along, Joan is an angel, Zan already died, you are secretly 1/4 demon, and Kanae and I are the only 100% humans, but I still can't compete against him in everything!"

"Stop freaking out." Cervi blankly told him. "I'm telling you this because you're my friend."

"Friend?" Carol cocked his head to the side. Knowing that Cervi is actually capable of having friends is a shocking fact for Carol.

Cervi, instead of feeling insulted on how Carol implied in his expression, giggled. "If you're not my friend, then why would I bother showing you a side that I never showed to anyone else before? Including Celeste."

Carol's eyes beamed at Cervi, almost to the point of breaking down and crying tears of joy. He was about to dash and hug Cervi when he stepped to the side, ultimately dodging his approach.

"But I really need to go to my tutor soon. Hope you feel better. If you don't, you can call anyone in the group to explain the truths." Cervi ruffled Carol's hair as he leaves.

Carol clutched his phone tight and hesitantly dialed his friends one by one:

"Hello?" She formally answered.

"Celeste." Carol's palms sweat heavily as his voice trembled. Celeste is kind enough to be patient to whatever he wants to say. "I-is it true that you're actually a demon?" He finally mustered up all the courage to ask a simple question.

"Yeah, basically. Who told you?" She immediately and non-hesitantly answered.

"Th-that's enough information..." Carol gulped.

"Carol. Listen to my voice." Celeste demanded. Carol obediently followed. "The group was never normal. You are the most sane human in ths group after we discovered that Cervi is actually 1/4 demon. I thought you would still be the same after knowing the truth, but then again, Cervi did, and he's not normal as we thought he is." Celeste rambled on. "You are important to the group. You balance out our actions. You are also the one who I treat as a family, more than I treat my foster ones. You are Joan's partner in crime when it comes to romance, Zan's rival to being attractive, and Kanae's play thing." A distant "hey!" Was heard before Celeste continued again. "Even though you might think you aren't needed, and started doubting us, just remember: without you, I wouldn't understand love by myself, Joan wouldn't have other friends, Zan wouldn't be this happy, Cervi wouldn't have anyone to freely talk to, Kanae will probably be just fine without you, but other than him, we need you-- I need you."

Carol's hands settled down as he heard Celeste's explanation, the only thing he needed desperately now. "Ah, what's this..?" Carol hides his head with his hands, embarrassed and relieved at the same time. "I should be the one to make other's heart flutter... Why are you taking my place?" Carol indirectly says.

Celeste took a moment before finally getting it. She was left flushed and flattered. "O-oh... I-I'm glad to hear that..." She embarrassingly stated, causing the two blush.

Kanae, while watching Celeste go all flustered and such, snatched her phone away and talked to Carol. "Yeah, even if you are important to Missy and everything, don't forget that I'm reserved for her so if you try to do something funny, you know what to expect."

"You're just reserved, not taken. I will still try and worm in her life. Haha." Carol arrogantly laughed, pissing Kanae.

"Oh? Then go on and give me all you got, you norm!" With that, he hanged up and tossed Celeste her phone back.

"What was that all about? A challenge?" Celeste curiously asks.

"You can say that..." Kanae shyly turned away.

Celeste giggled upon seeing him worked up just because of that. "Well then, just don't try to do anything funny. You know what to expect." She echoed his dialogue, causing him to jolt in surprise. Celeste just laughs it all off like it's just a joke.

•

Carol, on the other hand, processed what Kanae just challenged him then suddenly it hit him! He didn't call Kanae, but he was surely on the other line at that time! He was using Celeste's phone!

Carol panicked as thoughts spiraled his mind. He was in a state of utter shock when he suddenly thought that Kanae is with Celeste, even after school ended!

He quickly dialed Celeste again. She picked it up calmly. She thought that someone else was calling, but when she saw the caller ID, it was Carol again, not that she minds it.

"Yes?"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT DELINQUENT GUY AT THIS TIME AROUND! YOUR HOUSE WAS JUST 20 MINUTES AGO! IT HAS BEEN 25 MINUTES AND YOU'RE STILL WITH THAT JERK!!!" Carol shouted at the top of his lungs. It wasn't in loudspeaker, but it was loud enough that it looked like it was.

Celeste and Kanae blankly looked at each other for a second before remembering that only Joan knows that they live together.

"I thought it was going to be important. That's not important so I will stop you right there. Call me if you need me. I'll be off." Celeste coolly hangs up, leaving Carol in even more shock.

"Damn it." He cursed under his breath.

------

Joan and Zan finally reached the Lino residence. Joan stayed there for the meantime to cook as an apology.

Palatino is still scared of her, but seeing how she acts today, he's starting to be nicer than before.

Zan is still happy and contented, knowing that two people he cares about is within his eyesight.

•

After dinner.

"I have to go now. My father might be worried sick." Joan excused herself.

"Take care. Cheers!" Zan waved to bid goodbye.

"B-bye... Big sister... Th-the dinner you cooked for us was delicious..." Palatino meekly whispered, but still within Joan's ears. "Although I still like big sister Celeste more, you... are also acceptable." Joan brightly smiled. Seeing this, Palatino was flustered. "D-don't take it the wrong way! At least be grateful that you can be friends with The Great Palatino!!" He proudly boasted.

Joan laughed, messing Palatino's hair. "You can be better." She advised, turning her back to him.

Palatino touched his hair and tried to reminisce Joan's touch. "She's like an angel..." He whispered.

Zan heard this. He looked at her in the distance and told Palatino, "well, she is an angel, Pal. A very precious angel."

Palatino looks at his brother's face and noticed how he was making a face that seemed sincere, affectionate, and happy. He never saw that face before. But he also grinned, being happy that his brother has felt emotions like never before. He was glad to see that side of his brother.

------

While in a red Lamborghini, Joan's phone began to ring. She immediately picks it up without even looking at the caller ID. It has been a habit of hers to be friendly with everyone, even if it's a wrong number, so she purposely ignores the ID.

"Hello?" She asked with her formal voice.

"Joan! Celeste is missing and my Contract Mark is disappearing! What does this mean?!" She heard his voice cracking. He was panicking, yet doesn't know what to do.

"The Contract Mark is fading away? I heard there are ways to get rid of a Contract Mark: 1. Kill the Master; 2. Hate the Master; 3. Kill the Familiar; 4. Make the Familiar human... But Celeste? Missing? Shouldn't you contact her cell instead?" Joan asked, a faint panic in her voice.

"I tried, Joan! Don't take me as an idiot! You know I would have. The reason why I called you is because SHE'S NOT FUCKING ASWERING!!! HELP ME!!" Kanae's voice continued to crack in extreme panic. Joan can hear his tears rolling down his cheeks. He's upset, he's desperate, he's scared.

"Alright. I'll meet you at London Bridge." Joan smirked after hanging up, knowing what Kanae is thinking right now:

"Celeste took a midnight stroll, got lost and ended up in London Bridge, is drowning, and etc."

But we don't know for sure, do we?