TSUKISHIMA KEI

"kei, dear, are you sure you're okay? you've been staring at that pen for a while now." i hear my mother say from behind, making me look at her and form my hand that was holding the pen into a fist.

"it's nothing, kaa-san. i'm just thinking about some stuff." i reply, looking towards my older brother who was munching on the snacks on his hands.

"what?" he asks with his mouth full, making me stare at him in annoyance.

"don't talk while your mouth is full. it's gross." i click my tounge, standing up before i made my way towards my room.

locking the door, i heaved out a deep sigh and sat on the chair of my study table, analyzing the feature of the pen that i am currently holding.

"this pen's all gray. like her style a while ago." i mumble under my breath, yet i only shook it off, not wanting to tire my head over my thoughts.

instead, i opened the pen and a notebook, writing some scenarios occurring inside my mind, until i heard a feminine voice behind me.

"ugh, what now?" it asks, making me look from behind.

what shocked me that the voice came from the girl yamaguchu and i saw a while back.

"w-what are you doing here!?" i yell out loud towards her, only earning a panicked reaction from her before she closed my mouth with her own hands.

"kei? something wrong?" nii-san asks from the other side of my door, making me panic as well, removing her hands off of my mouth.

"u-uh, nothing, nii-san!" i yell, sighing as i gave the girl a glare.

"okay, then. good night, kei!" he yells back with a yawn.

i calmed down as i heard his footsteps walking away from my room, but my confusion rose up to my head.

"i-i'm so sorry for the trouble." she says in a low tone, bowing down towards my direction.

"how did you get here?" i ask, my left eyebrow raised and my arms crossed on my chest.

"it's the pen." she sighs, sitting on the floor.

"the pen?" i ask in confusion, tilting my head to the side.

"y-yeah. i'm part of the pen."

with her response, my eyes widened. how is this even possible in a world like this?

"mind filling me in?" i ask, lending her both of my ears.

"w-well, you see, the pen you got there was made with a bit of fantasy in it. you open its cap and i appear, like those genie things. i'm born with incredible knowledge. i help people study, especially the one who has the pen." she explains, hands intertwined with one another.

"how did you end up in my hands, then?"

"with this knowledge, i often get taken for granted. they seek help from me and once they're satisfied, they'll throw the pen away. i never had a loyal owner." she smiles, tears streaming down her face, making me sigh.

"i believe we have the same amount of knowledge, so, i won't be needing you." i say, holding the pen tightly.

"but I'll hold onto you. just behave and we can get along." i continue, making her stare towards my direction with a surprised expression.

"i appreciate your kindness, but why?" she asks.

"using other people to satisfy themselves makes me sick. it's wrong. for me, at least." i answer.

"you have such a big heart. say, i haven't catched your name. mine's aiko."

"it's kei. tsukishima kei."