"The tower I built up is crumbling.
After all, that's the extent of a toy made for learning."

— Paper Flowers,
Kenshi Yonezu

ー・ー

"You know she's not really in the wrong, Akabane-kun," Nagisa mused, being the angel he is as he caught up to me.

It was late in the afternoon when mom decided to kick us out of her recovery room, claiming that she had a sleeping schedule to keep track of if she really wanted to recover faster.

Somehow, the thought of herself going through job hunts and me going back to school seems to motivate her. That doesn't mean I'm going to stop being skeptical towards her though.

"I mean, you're both thinking of your future in the long term. Although, you're just on the opposite sides of the same coin." He continued, tucking a stray lock of hair behind his ear as he spoke. "Sensui-san is a mother. It is their instinct to find a way to provide even if all odds are against them."

'He's trying to guilt-trip me into agreeing.' I rolled my eyes at the thought. So now that he confirmed that my mother was his benefactor, they decided to gang up on me?

"You simpleton," I said, shaking my head at his distraught. "The fact that there's only the two of us in this family, and that I am the only one able to earn a living makes it more important for me to keep on working. Besides, it doesn't make sense if I decided to stop now."

"You do know I could always find a way to subdue that miasma for her, right?"

I sighed, stopping my pace and threw a stern look at the bluenet. "You wish it would be that easy to just make an ill-intent disappear in a blink of an eye."

Nagisa matched my stare with confusion, tilted his head sideways with an expression asking 'What do you mean?'.

"Listen here," I started. "If you place it on spiritual terms, one can't just dispel a curse made from generations of possible hatred. Especially if the root is unknown. In scientific terms, Narcolepsy is still an incurable disorder, and is most probably on the psychological side.

As long as my mother keeps on drifting off to an unprecedented sleep, no amount of prayer and magical dust could satisfy me. You got that?"

Sensible enough, Nagisa raised his hands in defeat, and then we continued to head back to our destinations.

"You really care about her, huh Akabane-kun?" he muttered, more likely to himself.

"What type of question is that?" I asked incredulously, which was replied with a slight shrug of his shoulders.

"If I had been better, would I have grown up like you too?"

"What was that?"

He sealed his mouth with a tight-lipped smile, while I eyed him suspiciously.

Come to think of it, at this point of time, he probably now knew a few personal information about my life. Was it a given, being his mission and all? How am I even supposed to react to this?

With those train of thoughts, our journey became tranquil, opposite to our first encounter. Although I still don't trust him now, the truce must have reduced the awkwardness between us. And probably due to the atmosphere, I started viewing things around me at a clearer perspective.

"Regarding the dea—"

"Ah, shit!" I cursed in surprise due to him suddenly standing still in front of me nimbly. I threw him an annoyed look before I spoke. "Why the hell would you switch just like that?!"

The midget glared back at me with animosity, then scolded with a pointed finger. "See that? That's the first thing we should fix among your complicated personality! Who in the right mind would curse people they just met?"

"Well sorry," I spat back, mocking offense. "Not everyone's born a fucking angel like you, midget."

He rolled his eyes, but held his stance in crossed arms. "For the first order of business, you must not say a single curse word for a whole week."

"What the fuck?"

"That," I backed away when he suddenly threatened to throw a miraculous ball of light or something towards me. "Will reduce your tendency to get into unnecessary fights."

I gaped at him in disbelief. Heck, most of them aren't even my fault! And now he's taking away things that relieve me from stress?

"You made a deal with me, Akabane-kun."

"I know, and you're clearly holding it against me," I said ssardonically before sighing. Well, I brought this upon myself. "Fine."

With this, Nagisa's whole demeanor changed into a light, joyful one. "It won't be that bad, Akabane-kun." He smiled reassuringly, and I almost believed it if not for the following words. "Just nine other things left for you to endure."

I stared at him ominously. "Fuck you."

"Starting, now!"

ー・ー

Later that afternoon, while awaiting my shift at Melancholia in the midst of slow business, I found myself sitting at a table with him and another familiar pink haired brat, Sakura, the adopted daughter of the hostel's owner which Nagisa conveniently tutors. She still held that same hostile attitude towards me, while trying so hard to get the bluenet to kick me out of the area.

"I thought you were going to make it up to me, Nagisa-san? What is period head doing here?" She stared at me accusingly.

"Excuse you," I scoffed in mock arrogance. "It's not like I'm here with you at my own will."

"Then leave," she whined. "We don't need you."

"Sakura-chan!" Nagisa called out, making her back out in shame. "That's not how you greet and treat people with respect."

Sakura pouted. "But Nagisa-san, he doesn't deserve my respect!"

"And yet, he is my guest." The latter patted her head gently, clearly coaxing her. "You must not talk to Akabane-kun that way."

Listening to the conversation, I unconsciously yawned out of boredom which earned me an intense stare. Though, I shrugged it off.

"Besides, this café makes the best atmosphere to study. We're not at home so behave, alright?"

The poor kid could only nod in defeat against Nagisa's pursuit. Damn, nobody could resist an angel and its charms, huh?

Soon enough, they started going through their due subjects. If I had known better, Nagisa would've made a pretty decent practice teacher. I mean, he has the patience, that soothing voice everyone finds bearable, and academic knowledge. He actually has that certain aura that a person couldn't resist — not that I would ever admit it.

And oh, he sucks at math.

"Sakura, pray tell why your mom hired me again as your tutor?" tenshi-kun asked, nibbling at his pen's cap once in a while in frustration.

"Maybe because you're good at everything except logical thinking?"

Nagisa groaned at her response, burying his face on the table, to which I found amusing. Just then, he lifted his head and glanced at my direction, as if being enlightened.

"Akabane-kun."

I raised my brow. "What?"

"A little birdie told me you're a bonafide genius." He flashed a toothy grin. "Please help us solve this problem!"

"Flattery won't work on me."

"But apparently, owing favors do." He clasped his hands together then faced me with a ridiculous expression. "Come on, Akabane-kun. I'll grant you one favor."

Damn it, mom!

"Hey, don't curse at your mother!"

In the end, I complied with gritted teeth. Eitherway, it doesn't seem too bad for an angel owing you something, right?

I looked at their written solutions, then pointed out what they had done wrong, and what should be done instead. Not to brag, but due to being a free spirit with nothing to do but work on part-time jobs and earn money, I learned to study independently during free time. Plus a few muscle memory from past tutors, I'm already at college-level. If everything goes as planned, I was planning to take a GED course to complete my education.

"Lastly, substitute the values of each variable and perform the designated operations." Surprisingly, this Sakura brat isn't that hard to teach and follows instructions rather well. That surely made the whole experience better. "There's actually an easier method, but kids like you learn better this way."

Both her and Nagisa stared intently at the paper, then at me simultaneously, before their faces broke into an impressed smile.

"Woah, you're surprisingly good at this, redhead."

Her brisk attitude made me click my tongue in annoyance, but decided to let it go. "You're not half bad yourself, brat."

"It's Sakura, snarky bastard."

Nagisa sighed, lowering himself to a corner while the little girl and I battled with wits. Heh, if this kid was my age, I would gladly likely hang out with her. She's not that bad of a companion I could burn every passing minute.

In the midst of our bickering, I felt a slight chill run down through my spine as a haughty, condescending tone loudly announced, garnering most attention.

"Well, well, well. Look who's here."

I'd know that aggravating voice anywhere.

"It's the notorious Akabane Karma."

I mentally rolled my eyes, then changed back into my usual demeanor, a smirk residing on my lips as I glanced at the instigator, unimpressed.

"I'm not aware you're one of my long list of admirers," I stared at his lilac eyes mockingly, clearly challenging him.

"Asano Gakushuu."

ー・ー

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