~Time skip: 2 weeks~

Yuma pushed his meal around as the cafeteria was lively. It was as if he was no longer was the talk of the school.

"Funny how rumors die down quickly these days huh? At most they last two weeks." said Touji.

"Rumor? I don't think it was a rumor. Maki did drop out and run away." said Takaomi in between chewing.

"Could you both shut up?" Senri seethed, motioning towards the dejected Yuma.

"Yuma actually cares for that asshole? Wasn't Maki the one hell bent on bullying him?" Takaomi spat.

Senri punched Takaomi on the arm and proceeded to try to make Yuma feel better.

"It's my fault. I wasn't trying hard enough to understand him. Every time, he thought I was trying to make him look bad..." Yuma muttered, dropping his chopsticks. "He'd never let me explain..."

"Yumapi..." Senri whispered softly. "Maki is probably hiding. That's what it is."

"Senri, how can I contact Jin?" Yuma asked, a serious look on his face.

"I think Issei knows..." he replied then watched Yuma pack up his lunch and leave.

⋆‪♡⋆‪♡⋆

"Wait wait. What is it that only Jin is allowed to hear? Are you planning something dangerous?" Issei pressed, wanting answers.

"Please, Issei. I know this will bring Maki back to us." said Yuma.

Issei sighed then took out a hand mirror. Yuma watched as he tapped on it like a phone. It expanded and soon they were in a video call with Jin.

"Oh? Is that Yuma? Hello~" said Jin happily. "Why are you contacting me using Issei's mirror?"

Yuma looked as Issei handed the mirror over before leaving the room.

"I have something important I want to discuss. It's about bringing Maki back." said Yuma.

"All right, tell away." said Jin with a smile.

"Maki will certainly come back when I leave the community." Yuma said, each word sounding sad in his ears. "Ever since I first arrived, Maki never took a liking to me, even now he still doesn't. If I were to leave, he'd be able to live comfortably again and you won't have to worry about a fight breaking out for who knows how long."

Jin closed his eyes and folded his arms. He hummed before opening his eyes, looking directly into his.

"You sound like you've given this thought, but I can't just let you go. You are an irreplaceable person in our community. I know I'm not around much as Issei, but whenever he gives me updates about you all, it fills me to the brim with happiness, knowing that we're doing something right, but also sad that I miss out." said Jin with a happy smile before it faded. "But I'm also not one able to stop someone from leaving us. If you truly think leaving is best, I'll grant you permission. However, if you do, you will forget everything. Us, our home, your own powers."

"You all make Maki happy. For me to continuously ruin the harmony between you all, that's the worst. Like he said, my powers aren't cool, they're useless. It's for pansies." said Yuma, his body trembling slightly.

He didn't want to leave. He didn't want to forget anyone nor who he was. But he didn't like Chizuru and his oldest friends being at odds just because of him.

"I guess there's no changing your mind." said Jin who snapped and a form appeared in front of Yuma. "Just place your index on the box and-"

"Yuma, don't!" Issei shouted, pulled him away from the form. "I can't believe you're doing something so stupid! How do you think the others would feel? You've become a part of our family..."

"Torasawa..." Yuma whispered, surprised to see him cry.

"Would you really be happy this way? Constantly getting the feeling you know us but never remembering? Leaving behind the animals and bees you cared for so dearly?" Issei rambled, unable to steady his breathing and tears.

"But Maki-" Yuma started then heard Jin clear his throat.

"Forget Chizuru, Yuma. Forget everything. Right here, right now, would you, yourself, be okay leaving?" asked Jin quietly. "Give us your honest answer."

They both waited as Yuma remained silent. Memories flashed through his mind, from day one all the way up to this current moment. Did he really want to leave? Could he truly be okay never remembering?

"No..." he finally answered, a tear rolling down his cheek. "No, I don't want this... but Maki..."

The form disappeared and Issei's hug tightened.

"We're glad you chose to stay. I'm sure life would be dull without a little magic, hm?" said Jin, his anxious heart settling down.

Yuma smiled softly as he snuggled closer to Issei. As much as he wanted to bring Chizuru back, he couldn't bring himself to leave in the end. The bonds he had forged with five of them and Chizuru were irreplaceable to him.

⋆‪♡⋆‪♡⋆

Chizuru sat in a park, waiting for someone to arrive. He knew he should've told someone he was going to leave for a while, but he couldn't quite bring himself to after what transpired that day. The person sat down beside him in silence.

"The whole school thinks you've dropped out." they said in a sweet voice.

"Someone sure has time on their hands." Chizuru mocked. "So, do you have it?"

"Let me ask you something first." they said, a small glint in their eye.

"What do you want to know...?" Chizuru asked cautiously.

"Are you really going to run all because of a mishap? Though, I did warn you about it yet you didn't listen." they said with a sigh.

"It's only for a little." said Chizuru with crosses arms.

"Yuma is such a sweetheart. I heard he personally asked Jin to allow him to leave our small community all just for you. Doesn't that make you feel touched?" they said, eyes narrowing. "Doesn't it make you feel... guilty?"

"Kasuka, stop it. Just give me the stupid charm." Chizuru fussed, not falling for his tricks.

"I can assure you, it happened." said Kasuka, making the shape of a photo frame and expanding it slightly.

Footage of Yuma and Jin's conversation played out, showing bits and pieces. Kasuka looked at Chizuru who appeared stunned. Why was Yuma going through such lengths to bring him back?

"Chizuru, out of all my years of reading hearts, souls and auras, Yuma's is the purest I've ever seen." said Kasuka, making the video disappear. "Your past bias is harshly clouding your judgement of him. I honestly wouldn't have forgiven you if you successfully made him drink that magic."

Chizuru remained silent as he processed everything. Was Yuma really looking out for him? Was he not trying to make him seem like pure evil? He didn't know what to believe anymore. Kasuka shook his head then unclipped his hairpin. He looked around before flicking it, sending him and Chizuru to back to their realm.

⋆‪♡⋆‪♡⋆

Yuma stood in front of the open door that sat in his shared room. He put his hand through the soft light and watched as his arm glowed slightly. His armlets formed while part of his uniform disappeared. He stepped through at the same time Shigure did.

"Oh, coming in to relax too?" Shigure asked.

"You look tired, Hakka..." commented Yuma.

"I had to run from Shinya... I felt like he was going to follow me here if I didn't run then." said Shigure.

Yuma nodded as they walked around the serene place.

"You know, I really want to tell him everything. I don't want to hide from him anymore... He trusts me like I trust him..." said Shigure, stepping through the grass with Yuma.

A few animals greeted Yuma and a bee which was a rare occasion as they walked around. Shigure smiled softly as he held a dog briefly in his arms.

"Why do you want to tell him everything? Aren't you afraid he'll freak out? Or use you?" Yuma asked, letting the bee rest in his hair.

"It used to actually... but as of late, I've wanted him to know more of me. It's strange..." said Shigure, pushing the door open. "I want to expose myself to him."

Yuma followed Shigure, wondering where he was taking him. Shigure sighed as they reached the congregation area where they held important meetings that couldn't be conducted elsewhere.

"Maybe Issei might be lenient and let you." Yuma suggested.

"I've thought about it, but it seems selfish. I would be putting you all in danger just because I want Shinya to know the real me. I can't do that." said Shigure, letting his head collide with the table. "Now you understand my plight?"

"If you've both gone this long without him knowing, I don't think another fifty years would matter." said Yuma with a thoughtful look.

Shigure moved to speak when a deafening sound rang loudly in their ears. Yuma didn't know what was going on, but Shigure did. He grabbed Yuma by his wrist and hurried out to Kasuka's door.

"Hakka, what's going on? My ears feel like they're going to burst." Yuma said weakly, wanting to rip his ears off.

Shigure opened multiple drawers then finally opened Kasuka's jewelry box. He looked around and found what he was looking for. He dragged Yuma out the room and hurried back in to their realm.

"Hakka, please tell me what's going on." Yuma whined, the deafening sound still ringing in his ears.

"Someone's entered the room." said Shigure, reaching up and placing Kasuka's necklace into a slot above.

A mirror appeared, giving them sight of what was going on in the room while the doorways' magic shut off.

"Shinya..." Shigure whispered, seeing Shinya search around the hidden room his door revealed to a non demi-god. "He followed me after all..."

Shinya stopped in front of a mirror. There was no way other way for Shigure to leave other than through the door. He didn't believe he jumped from the window as it was nearly impossible since there were screens in the window in addition to them being too small. He touched the mirror. Just where did Shigure go? He had been watching the door the entire time and he hadn't come out.

"Hakka, What are we going to do? Aren't the others still at school? How can we contact them and tell them about the situation?" Yuma asked worriedly.

"Stay here and make sure nothing changes. Send a bee if anything does." said Shigure, running back to Kasuka's room.

Yuma kept watch as Shinya looked behind the mirror. He was more worried about the others getting caught. He felt something nudge his ankle and saw one of the dogs looking up at him.

"I'm fine, just a bit worried." said Yuma, giving the dog a pat.

Shigure had come back, holding a blue hairpin. He wheezed heavily then traced the circle on the hairpin. He didn't know who it connected to, but it had to be someone. Of all times Kasuka had to be away, it would be during a dire time.

Chizuru had appeared on the scene, assessing the situation. He took the hairpin from Shigure then traced the circle twice in the opposite direction. Issei's face appeared on a small screen.

"You heard it didn't you? Shigure's close friend is going to end up like the curious cat if we don't do something." said Chizuru, not missing a beat.

"Maki, you're back..." Yuma whispered, finally recognizing him.

"Just when I was on my way to our door as well... I'll see what I can do. I'll let the others know." said Issei before hanging up.

A few minutes passed and Issei had entered the room. Shinya looked back and politely greeted him.

"What brings you in here?" asked Shinya curiously.

"I could ask you the same thing." Issei countered.

"I saw Shigure come up here and enter this room. He never came out, yet he's not in here. I swear I'm not making this up. He really did come in here." said Shinya, eyes darting everywhere.

"Really? I just saw him leaving the building. Maybe if you run you can catch up to him." said Issei, ready to make Shigure's illusion appear. "Why don't you call him and confirm?"

Shinya did just that. Issei smiled happily as he talked to Shigure. Shinya hung up then left the room. Did he just imagine it? He looked out the window in the hallway and saw Shigure rounding the corner and disappearing behind the school wall.

Shigure and Yuma let out a sigh of relief while Chizuru reached up and pulled out the necklace sealing off the entrances. Issei came through and Yuma jogged over and waited for him to give him a high five.

"I was so nervous! Have you experienced this before, Torasawa? You were so calm and collected." Yuma commented, his heart rate slowing down.

"Yeah... I was just like you when it happened for the first time for me." Issei said with a hearty laugh. He looked at Chizuru who handed over the hairpin. "Let's get the other three here quickly in case Shinya has a change of heart."

Yuma watched in awe as Issei easily used Kasuka's hairpin. He wondered how Kasuka remembered the functions of each and every magic item he owned. He could barely remember the names of the bees that lived in the hive since they all looked alike.