28 Apologies

"I saw you run away from the restaurant and found it quite odd" Korekiyo stood a few steps away from Himiko's head. Looking at her while speaking. "My curiosity sparked, however, I had other matters to discuss with you"

"What is it…?" Himiko asked while still laying on the floor exhausted. She was anxious about him watching her run away, but maybe those questions are for another occasion.

"Yesterday Koizumi-sensei asked me to think about my murderous intents back in the simulator. To be honest I didn't want to think about the topic." Korekiyo said while slowly sitting down in the white sand. "I fret over it all day; my mind could not process how was I able to kill another human being. Ironic right? I love humans, I love exploring their minds, their customs, their day to day lives." Korekiyo hand started to tremble, the sand around it moved slightly.

"Did you talk to Angie and Tenko?" Himiko interrupted, trying to get straight to the point. She definitely didn't feel comfortable around the guy who took the lives of her two friends back in the simulator.

"Yes, I did. Of course, they vented some of their hatred towards me that's only natural, but even though after hearing Yonaga's gruesome words and some punches from Chabashira I felt relief." Korekiyo held his sleeve tightly with one hand as he spoke. "But it wasn't enough, something was missing. I knew what it was but was even more scared of it."

"Me…?" Himiko sat up from and turned in Korekiyo's direction. Himiko looked confused. As far as she recalled he never laid a finger on her.

"I am certain that you were the one who grieved them the most, I'm sorry for all the suffering I put you through. Maybe there's no way to make it up to you, but if there's anything I can do. Please do let me know." Korekiyo's were quite a sight, Himiko had never seen them in that state.

She felt hatred towards him. She wanted him dead.

But those words made her mind change slightly.

Maybe she couldn't change her attitude right away, but it was something that could possibly happen in the long run.

"You know I still hate you for putting me through all of that" Himiko said, "I didn't even consider talking to you or even look at your direction ever again" Korekiyo tried to evade Himiko's gaze with shyness. "But I know what you just said came from your heart, no need to be a magician to figure that out" Korekiyo's eyes were full of amaze and relief.

"Thank you, Yumeno-san, I feel like I just turned a new page in my book" Korekiyo looked at the sky, "Humans are truly beautiful"

"Just try to not anger the girls again okay?" Himiko gave Korekiyo a small piece of obvious advice.

"I will, but now with that out of the way, would you care to explain why were you in such a rush this morning?" Korekiyo's curiosity was still there picking his brain.

"Nyeh!" Himiko thought she was already off the hook. "I don't know what you are talking about…" She clearly wanted to evade the topic, but Korekiyo's curiosity was much stronger than just that.

"I'll understand if you were screaming to some boat adrift on the sea, but that didn't seem to be the case, did it?" Korekiyo started to push the right buttons in Himiko. Knowing which actions to unveil one by one.

"Amm… That was just…" Himiko's brain couldn't found a single excuse for that, "I was just… letting off some mana! Yes! It was that!" She thought she found a perfect answer to beat around the bush a bit longer.

"Is that so? Maybe your apprentice knows the answers" Korekiyo gave her his final rebuttal, which had a great effect on the little mage.

"HEY, THAT'S CALLED INVASION OF PRIVACY!!" Himiko was clearly flustered about having her secret out in the open.

"We are on a public beach you know, you should scream those things in your room alone" Korekiyo suggested a better location for the next time.

"I don't think is a great idea" Korekiyo looked at her in puzzle, "Here I feel that the whole world could hear me, I bottled that up for far too long, letting the world hear me relieved me somewhat" Himiko looked at the sea, with a small smile on her face, "That was until you appeared" She glanced at Korekiyo with a hostile look.

"You know since ancient times humans had the necessity to share their personal thoughts and feelings with third parties. These third parties would provide feedback on it and try to guide what they thought is the right path. Even kings in the middle age had counselors, to help them manage their kingdom, but also their personal lives. Now in the modern age, people share their feelings with others as longs as they promise to keep everything in secrecy." Korekiyo couldn't stop sharing his knowledge of anthropology and history, something that made Himiko bored.

"I could never share something that deep with you!" Himiko argued trying to escape from the conversation.

"However always thought that these affairs should have both parties trusting each other, so I will let you in a little secret of mine" Korekiyo slowly and methodically took off his precious mask. "It's certainly weird feeling the ocean breeze on my lips"

Himiko was perplexed by the sight of Korekiyo's face. She couldn't believe what she just saw.

"Why?" Himiko asked with bewilderment.

"Because I want you to trust me. Maybe, for now, will be as a classmate, but I hope eventually we can be considered friends." Korekiyo said.

"Nyeeeh…How am I supposed to say no now?"