IMPORTANT: Don't forget to vote for My Assassin Boyfriend for the 2018 Summer Hunter X Hunter Watty Awards. This chapter is dedicated to @PurrfectNeko2005. Thank you for reading! Stay awesome, trouble out.

I buttoned up my coat and wrapped my scarf securely around my neck. Taking one last look at my dresser mirror, my reflection smiled back at me with shy confidence. "Okay, Yuki. You got this. Today is the day. It's now or never." I picked up my school bag and headed down stairs.

Mom was sweeping the last scraps of wood and cotton. The couch was covered with a white sheet, and Rin was sitting at the kitchen on the only chair that survived the wreckage, eating a cream cheese bagel. "I'm going to school now, mom," I announced on my way to the door.

"Be careful, Yuki," she said.

I locked the door behind me and turned to my friend who has been waiting for me. "It's about time, Yuki," Shiki teased.

"I'm on time. You're just early," I retorted as we started walking to the train station together.

"How are your folks?" Shiki asked, pulling her turtle neck slightly higher to cover her face from the cold.

"They're okay. Mom is almost done cleaning up the mess and will start ordering new furniture today."

"I still can't believe your home got vandalized, and for what? Nobody stole anything, so they weren't robbers. Do you think they were just looking for trouble?"

I shook my head unsure. "I don't know. It was a good thing nobody else was home at the time. It's scary to think that I was in my room the whole time listening to music. Who knows what could've happened?"

"I don't want to think about that. What matters is that nobody got hurt."

The whole thing did seem strange though. The cops investigating the crime scene, the reporters, the questioning. Although I should still be scared, it felt like it happened so fast that it's all behind me now, not feeling the slightest bit worried.

"Talk about the timing too. Tonight's also the dance." Shiki quickly changed the mood as she smiled at me, skipping backwards. "So... have you asked him yet?"

I pulled my scarf over my face to cover my blush, pretending I was cold. "Asked who?"

"Don't play dumb! Kaito! Today's your last chance to ask him to the dance. If you don't, he's never gonna remember you after high school."

"Ugh! I know. I'm just... afraid."

"Of what? You're smart, pretty and funny. He would be crazy not to go to the dance with you."

"And what if he says no?"

"Well, I'm not planning on asking anybody. We can go together," she winked.

"Thanks, Shiki. You're a good friend."

We continued walking and talking to the train station and got on the train in silence. While holding on to the rails, I looked at Shiki who was staring out the window. For some reason, I felt like something was out of the ordinary. Doesn't she usually wear a hat?

When we got off the train, the snow around the city got a lot thicker, less cars traveling on the road and more festive lights on every store for the holiday. When we arrived at the school, I scanned campus looking for a certain boy.

"Potential date at ten o'clock," Shiki discreetly whispered. I looked to my left and there he was. Kaito was laughing with his friends before they went inside the building ahead of him. "Now's your chance," Shiki nudged with a wink.

I took a deep breath and straightened my back. This could be my only chance for the two of us to be alone so that I can ask him to the dance.

I took a few paces toward him, then stopped. I turned around to Shiki for support. She motioned her hands forward and gave me a thumbs up. I walked faster toward him. Just when I was several feet away from him, about to call his name, a cold bundle of snow slugged my face. I cleaned the melting snow out of my eyes to see Kaito catching up with his friends. I was disappointed that I lost my chance, but it was a good thing he didn't see me as an abominable snow mess. Who was the wise guy that initiated a snowball war with me?

I wiped the rest of the snow off and looked around. Tracing back to where the snowball came from, the only possible source was a girl wearing a hat, peeking her head from behind a tree, watching me.

"Hey!" I yelled, bending over to scoop a ball of snow and threw it at her. The girl flinched as the snow smashed to bits from the collision with the tree.

"What are you doing?!" The girl hissed. The school bell rang, indicating classes would be starting soon. I ignored the girl and started heading to the entrance. "Yuki." I stopped in my tracks and turned around. Did I know her? I squint and took a closer look. She was wearing our school uniform, but I didn't recognize her face. I looked around to see if she was calling someone else, but nobody was around.

I looked back at the girl and pointed at myself. She nodded. She did a double take before leaving the safety of her tree. She got so close to me that before I knew it, she gave me a hug. "I am so sorry, Yuki," the stranger apologized. This was getting too awkward for me. "I'm so glad you're all right. When I tried calling you, your number didn't exist! I was so worried something might've... Well I'm here now, and we're gonna fix this." She seemed so sincere that I felt bad that I had no idea what she was talking about.

I wasn't sure how she would react, but there was no better way for me to break it to her easier. "Um... do I know you?"

She pulled away and looked into my eyes. "Come on, Yuki. This isn't the time to be playing jokes. If you're trying to make me feel bad, I'm really sorry, now we got to go." She grabbed my hand and started walking, but I kept my feet rooted and tugged my hand back.

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

"What...?" She let go as her gaze became more focused. She took a step closer as I took a step back. "Are... are you serious?"

I looked around the area. "Is this a prank? You're messing with me, right?"

The girl covered her mouth from some sort of shocking realization. Could we have known each other as kids?

"Hey, I found a possible address," a boy with black hair wearing a green snow jacket came jogging to us while looking down at his phone. "If we head there now, we might have more time to cover some... ground..." He looked up and noticed the atmosphere. "Is everything okay?"

"Is she your friend?" I asked him, pointing at the girl who seemed like she was about to cry. A part of me hoped that if she had some sort of mental problem, he was a friend or relative here to take her back to the care she needed.

"We're too late," the girl said. The boy looked back and forth between us and soon had that same stark expression.

I was starting to feel annoyed. "Okay, Who are you people?"

"We're your friends!" The girl persisted.

"I don't even know you! I've never seen you before," I snapped without thinking. These guys don't know when to drop a bad joke.

"Lizz, hold on," the boy reasoned. He seemed very friendly. "If what she said was true, then she doesn't remember us." The boy faced me and held out his hand. "Sorry to confuse you this way. My name is Gon, and that's Lizz." The girl now identified as Lizz was looking down with a disheartened face. I didn't feel like being associated with these strangers any further, but at least he finally brought forth some formality. I should at least give them the chance and hear out what they have to say.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Yuki," I said when I shook his hand. I then noticed the red bruises on his face. What happened to him? Poor guy. He looked like he didn't deserve it.

"Yeah, we already know that," he smiled from cheek to cheek, scratching his head nervously. "We've met before. In fact, we're friends."

I let out a tired sigh. "You guys act like we're friends and I'm sure you're both wonderful, but I have to be honest. You might be mistaking me for someone else because I don't know either of you two."

"That's because you don't remember us," Lizz said with crossed arms.

I snorted and decided to humor them. "Oh, what. Did I get amnesia or something?"

"Well, it's a bit more complicated than that..." Gon began. "Lizz here is your childhood friend. You two have been inseparable for years, and always so close."

I couldn't help but laugh in reaction. What were these people trying to get out of this? "Pfft! That's ridiculous. Shiki and I have been best friends for as long as I can remember."

"Say WHAT?!" Lizz exclaimed. "You and that psycho as best friends?!"

"Hey, watch it!"

She began growling like an animal, which frightened me. "When I find that nerd, I'm gonna knock the daylight out of him..." she gritted as she held an iron fist, as if ready to punch someone.

Gon placed his hand on her shoulder to calm her down. "If you two have been best friend, then how long have you known her?"

"Oh, you know-" I paused, trying to remember the right numbers. How old were we when we met again? What grade? I couldn't recall what she looked like for that past five years. "We... we've known each other for a long time, okay?" The final bell rang. "Great, now I'm late. I don't know about you two, but I have class to attend."

"Yuki, listen," Lizz started, speaking more calmly but assertive. "I don't know what kind of Shiki you know, but the real Shiki is a cold-blooded ninja assassin who's been trying to steal your boyfriend from you."

I snapped my head back. "Shiki would never do that. And I wouldn't exactly call Kaito my boyfriend..."

"Kaito?! Oh, God no! I'm talking about Killua! Killua's the one you love."

I crossed my arms, getting tired of everything that came out of Lizz's mouth. "For someone who claims to be my best friend, you sure got a lot of facts wrong."

"All right then, Miss Smartypants. If Shiki's your best friend, then would she know that your favorite color's green?"

"That is the easiest thing to guess! That doesn't prove anything."

"Your favorite kid TV show series is Endless Tale. You have a birthmark on your left ankle."

"What are you, some sort of stalker? Get away from me!" I tried to get to the building doors as fast as I could.

"When your dad died, you had to take care of your brother." I stopped before I could push my way in. My hands left the doors as I slowly turned around. "After your dad passed, your mom had to work extra hard. Rin was too young to understand loss, but you didn't want him to feel that lonely void of missing a father, so you made sure that he got the care and attention that he deserved."

I approached closer to her one slow step at a time. She knows about my family.

"You used to sleep with your bed light on so that you would feel like you're waiting for someone to come home at night to tuck you in. Eventually, someone did started turning off your lamp, but it wasn't your mom or dad. It was Rin. And you didn't want him to stay up late to turn off your light anymore, so you started sleeping with the light off from then on." When Lizz said that about my dad and my childhood nights, I was amazed. I have never told anyone about that. She knew me so well, more than anyone I knew. She didn't tell me information that she would find off the internet or ask from my friends or family. This was deep, personal stuff that only I would describe in my own words, and I've never written that in my diary either.

"Okay... so maybe you do know me. But if I really do know you, then how come I can't remember you?"

"You see," Gon began to explain, "Killua's older brother Illumi will stop at nothing to have control over Alluka's powers. He recently hired a pro Hunter who has the ability to manipulate people's memories. He did that to all of us. He must've changed your memories in order for you to forget about Killua and Alluka."

"Change my memories? What is he, a wizard?" I asked skeptically.

"No, he's a Nen user," Lizz corrected. "Ugh! We don't have time to explain Nen. Gon, just play the message."

Without a word, Gon swiftly pulled out his cell phone and played a voicemail.

"Gon, this is an emergency!"

I was shocked to hear that it was my voice.

"Killua and Alluka are in trouble. Illumi hired Ienzo who is really a pro Hunter who manipulated all of our memories... Killua's the most. That's why he's been acting strange. They're leaving tomorrow and we need to stop them! Where are you? Call me when you get this."

He put his phone away once the recording stopped.

"But if Killua and Alluka are real people, then how come my teacher didn't call her name for attendance? Wouldn't there be students wondering where they are?"

"Didn't you listen to message?" Lizz inquired. "This so-called Ienzo guy tricked us buy manipulating our memories. He's been going to our school for weeks. H must've erased any memories of Killua and Alluka from the entire student body and faculty!"

"I'm sorry. This is all just too much to believe at once." I turned around to massage my temples, trying to take it all in. Memory manipulation doesn't even sound possible.

"And take a look at these." Lizz walked around in front of me and opened her phone. On her screen were pictures of me with her and Gon, as well as a boy and girl I wasn't familiar with. "There's you, me, Gon, Killua, and Alluka." She scrolled through more pictures. "Look, this one even has Shiki in it."

"Please, just stop it!" I yelled. Lizz nearly dropped her phone from my outburst. The more they talked and the more evidence they showed me, the more it became hard to believe, or rather accept. What parts of my life were real? Which parts were lies? How could my best friend be my worst enemy, and how could I forget someone I've known for all my life? My head couldn't take much of this anymore. "I'm sorry. Look, you seem like you're telling the truth, but what do you want me to do? Confront Illumi the assassin? Me? What can I do?"

"You won't do it alone," Lizz said as she rested her hands on my shoulders. "You got us. We'll be there to get our friends back."

"But that's just it. I don't remember them. I don't feel like they're my friends. I'm sorry. I want to believe you, but this sounds like it's just your fight now. I don't think I can risk my life for people I don't know. Please, just... leave me out of this."

Lizz frowned and gave me a look of disappointment. "What happened to you? The Yuki I know would never turn away from anyone who needs help."

"Then I'm not the Yuki you know."

"Please, Yuki. It's not just our friends who need saving, but your boyfriend who needs you. You may be ordinary, but we can't do this without you."

"I wish I could remember Killua. He sounds very important, but even by hearing his name... I don't feel anything."

Gon's face scrunched in anger and tightened his fists. "Fine. If you won't come with us, we'll go after our friends ourselves. If we have to, we'll force Ienzo to bring your memories back. All of ours. You don't have to do anything. Come on, Lizz. We've wasted enough time." Gon turned around and started walking, but Lizz didn't move. He looked back and waited for her. Instead of following him, she carefully approached me and reached out for my hand. Looking at her sad face, I felt too sorry to pull my hand away when she held it.

"Please, Yuki... I need my best friend back." She lowered her head, tears trickling onto the snow. "You have always been there for me. Where was I when you needed me the most? Some friend I am..."

Not knowing what else I could do, I gave her hand a gentle squeeze and patted her on the head. "I'm sorry. I wish I could remember you. Good luck."

I let go and entered the building without looking back. Assassins? Memory erasers? Friends I never knew? It all seemed so surreal. My mind was lost in the ocean of thoughts until I found myself entering the classroom. Everyone's heads turned to me while Mr. Daichi stopped in mid sentence, his chalk in hand still in the board.

"Miss Sazuka, thank you for attending class today. Sadly, you are late for attendance. Please step outside into the hall. Thank you."

I nodded as I quietly went back into the hallway. As I leaned against the wall, I reflected back on what those two people said to me. Could what they have said be really true? I pulled out my cell phone and checked my photos. Most of them were selfies and of my family. I have recent pictures of Shiki, but no others before the past two months. Shouldn't I have more pictures with her? Something didn't feel right.

***

"Hellooooo~ Earth to Yuki."

"Huh?" I didn't realize that our teacher finished the lesson, or hear the final bell ring, or even noticed that half of the class has already left.

"You keep spacing out," Shiki said.

"O-oh, Sorry..." I apologized.

"Are you finally gonna tell me why you haven't asked out Kaito yet?" Shiki asked.

Throughout the whole day, I've kept silent about my encounter with Lizz and Gon. I wasn't even sure if they were actually students here since I haven't seen them all day. However, their story didn't seem too far fetched. I started questioning things that seemed... a bit off. For instance, I know that I went to the Firework Festival and the field strip, but I can't remember exactly what I did. How could I not have memories of what we're supposed to be recently fun experiences? It all seemed hazy.

"I just... chickened out. I was too ashamed to admit it."

"Hey, it's okay," Shiki cooed, gently rubbing my back.

"Hey, Shiki..."

"Yeah?"

"How long have we known each other?"

"For as long as we could remember, silly," she giggled.

My palms began to sweat. Could she not remember either? "Yeah, but for how many years?"

"Mmm... does it matter? Friendship isn't based on history. What matters is that you're my best friend. I don't care if you don't have a lot of confidence in yourself, because I'll always be there for you."

"That's strangely optimistic for you to say."

Shiki tilted her head. "Hm? Why would that be strange?"

"I... I don't know." That was weird. I had no idea why I said that. It just felt natural to say. Why do I get the feeling that... I don't know my best friend at all?

"By the way, I overheard that Kaito is going to meet his friends at the park. There still might be a chance for you to ask him."

"You think so?"

"Yeah! And I'm not gonna leave you hanging this time. This time, I'm gonna make sure you ask him."

I smiled, feeling much better and more motivated. "Thanks, Shiki, but I won't need it. If I'm going to do this, I have to do it on my own. Besides, you need time to pick out a dress for tonight." I winked.

"Okay, I believe in you." She winked back. "Call me as soon as you're ready to go."

"Got it."

We packed up our things and started heading out. We parted ways at an intersection, where I'll be going to the park. Suddenly, my strange meeting with those two strangers felt like a dream. I shouldn't worry too much thinking about them when I should be focusing on what really matters: making the most of my high school years by going to the dance tonight. Why should I believe what a couple of stranger say? For sure, I'll go to the dance with Killua tonight.

I paused at the front of the park entrance. Killua? I shook my head, my face blushing. I mean Kaito! They must've said Killua's name so much that I accidentally got it mixed up in my thoughts.

"Hey, Yuki!"

I jumped, startled by Kaito's voice.

"H-Hey! Kaito... what are you doing... here?" I propped my hands on my hips, trying to act cool. I don't think he noticed me pondering to myself.

"My friends and I are about to challenge a group from another school to a snowball fight. Battle for the title of the best. Bragging rights, basically," he shrugged.

His dark blue jacket and grey scarf looked so cool on him. Crap, I need to respond before I start drooling! "That's cool. Mind if I come watch?"

"Sure, but you might want to watch from a safe distance. We wouldn't want any civilian casualties."

I laughed as I started walking side by side with him in the park. So far so good. 

I remembered the last time I was here, the golden brown leaves were building piles along the path as ducks swam across the pond. Now the lake was entirely frozen and all of the trees looked dead. Despite the dropped temperatures, I still felt warm being next to Kaito, almost like we were on a date. A date... for some reason, I was getting this deja vu feeling.

I wasn't sure how much longer we could keep walking alone like this, so it was now or never. "Listen, Kaito? I came here to ask you something."

"Hm? What is it?"

"I was wondering..." my heart was racing like a jackrabbit. I forced myself to spit out the words. "... do you have a date to the dance tonight?"

Kaito sighed. "No. No girl has asked me."

"Oh, good," I sighed in relief, soon realizing how wrong that sounded. "I-I mean, that's terrible! I mean, not too terrible. It's not bad, but also good! I mean, not good for you, but good for-"

"Do you have a date to the dance tonight?" He politely asked with a trace of interest.

"Oh, I... I don't, really. I was thinking about going with my friends if not."

"Well... do you wanna go to the dance with me?"

I was internally screaming with joy. I didn't even have to ask him. What was even better was that he asked me. I could die happy right now. "Yes!" I answered cheerfully. My eyes shied away, embarrassed that I probably sounded too happy. I hope he didn't think I was desperate.

"Awesome! You were always such a bright and funny girl. I'm glad it's with you."

He confidently took my hand and continued walking. I was too shocked to say anything. He was holding my hand. This was everything I dreamed it would be, and yet... didn't feel complete. For a moment, I was overjoyed, like I was the luckiest girl in the world, but with my hand in his, it wasn't at all what I was hoping for. Perhaps I've set my expectations too high? It could be that we're wearing gloves, so that might be why I'm not feeling any spark. For some reason, it felt like I was holding a fake hand. A lie. I'm any case, how should I know what it feels like to hold the hand of your crush?

While walking, we came across the broken down carousel. The tent roof and floor was blanketed with snow, the rusty stallions coated with fresh white powder. "Man, would you look at that," Kaito commented. "I'm surprised it's still standing after all these years."

"Hang on," I said. Kaito stopped as he looked at me curiously.

"What's up?"

I couldn't take my eyes off of it. This was where my dad used to take me, but that wasn't the only reason that place was calling out to me. I remembered it's lights being on at night, and the horses were moving.

I let go of Kaito's hand and pushed open the gate, stepping aboard. "Hey, what are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm just checking something out." I brushed the snow dust off one horse and climbed one leg over its back, sitting on the saddle.

"Yuki, be careful! This ride might be unstable."

"It's not," I calmly contradicted. "It's still in good shape..." I held onto the pole like I've always done before. I remembered being here with someone here during the festival. The ride was kicking, thanks to that person who turned it on. I could almost remember the feeling of him sitting behind me. I was calling out his name. What was his name?

Something slipped down from under my sleeve, revealing a bracelet. I took a hard look at it while pin pointing my memories. I remember this bracelet. I got it from the field trip. It came with a matching pair... and I gave it to someone special... as an early Christmas gift. "Killua..." I whispered.

Suddenly, I could see his face, his hair color, his smile. I remember what he looked like and sounded like. Flashes of fragmented memories of him and another girl. His sister? He saved my life, more than once, but when? I began seeing flashes of Lizz too, with her collection of various hats. The familiarity felt so close, but in that instant, I lost it. There was still so much more it left, and I have to find out what was missing.

"Yuki, are you all right?" Kaito asked, stepping through the gate. I immediately got off my horse, nearly slipping on the wet snow, and got off.

"Kaito, I..." Ironically, this was painful for me to say. I finally got a chance to be with my crush, but after remembering this Killua, Kaito suddenly didn't seem that important to me anymore. "I'm sorry. I suddenly remembered something and I can't go to the dance tonight." I squeezed passed him through the gate and started walking back from where we came. I continued speaking fast, "We can talk some other time. I hope you win the snowball fight!" With that said, I started running.

I was running without knowing where to go. I remember Killua. Lizz and Gon were right. My memories were fake. If what they said were true, then I don't have much time left. I might never see my boyfriend again. I stopped and leaned my hand against a brick wall to catch my breath. Think, Yuki. Where did I say they would be at again? The docks? What time? What if I'm too late.

I took out my phone to see if I might have Lizz as a contact number. I scrolled through the entire list, but got nothing of Lizz, Gon, Killua, or what her name was. That Hunter... he was the one who wiped and forged my memories. He must've deleted any traces of my friends in my phone so that I wouldn't become suspicious about my history.

"Ragh! Think, Yuki! There must be something I could do." This feeling of dread and fear of losing someone has come over me. It hurt. I suddenly remember another feeling. That painful sadness I felt when I lost dad. Could Killua really be that important to me? I kept scrolling through my contact list for anyone who might help me. I stopped on Shiki's name. Lizz knew Shiki. Maybe Shiki's memories are trapped deep inside of her too. She could also be very useful to help Lizz and Gon fight Illumi. Actually, now that I think about it, how do two teenagers think they can stand against an assassin and Pro Hunter? No, I was losing focus. If part of my memories broke through, maybe I could jog out Shiki's memories as well, hopefully any useful ones.

I clicked on her name, but hesitated to call. If Shiki really is a cold-blooded assassin, and she gets her memories back... would that change our relationship. My memories may be a lie, but does that really mean Shiki and I can't be friends anymore? I still see her as my closest friend. But right now, the one thing I am most certain about is Killua, and I can't afford to waste any more time. Sorry Shiki, but it's a risk that I'm willing to take.

I pressed call.