One of Us

Eirin's mind overflowed with thoughts about 'that day' and could not hear anything else. Her teacher's voice started sounding like a lullaby to Eirin's ears, and the soft breeze getting inside the window slowly made her feel drowsy.

'What is going on?' Eirin thought as she tried to suppress her sleepiness and stopped her eyelids from closing. Despite that, no matter how much she tried, as if something was knocking her unconscious, she gradually fell asleep.

"That was hard."

Eirin looked around after realizing that she was no longer inside the comfort of her classroom. Instead, it became bleak and completely dark. There was nothing for her to see except for the darkness. As if stuck in nowhere, there was no difference if she closed her eyes.

"It was tough pulling you out of those people's watch."

Eirin flinched after hearing a shrill voice of a woman. "Who is it this time?" She gulped, thinking that this might be another kind of nightmare.

"You forgot? It appears that I did not make an enormous impact on you because of Nick, that creep."

Eirin turned around and saw a figure wearing that familiar long black cloak that covers their whole body, and the hoodie that covers even their face. Despite the darkness they were in, Eirin could see that clearly.

"Are you… that person?"

The figure took its hoodie off, letting Eirin see its appearance. A tall woman with vicious red eyes and a face full of old scars. However, that was not the reason Eirin backed away in fear.

"Are you afraid of me? Because of these eyes? Or maybe because I look hideous with these scars."

Eirin gulped. "What do you want? It wasn't me who killed your friend." 'And your friend was the one who tried to kill me.' She thought but was too afraid to say it aloud.

"Do not worry, child. I have not come to take revenge for that scum." The woman said as she sauntered towards Eirin. Her footsteps sounded like they were walking above water, and the sound resonated in Eirin's ears. "In fact, I am grateful for the man who slayed that scum. I only want to meet him."

"Then why are you talking to me?"

The woman's eyes stared directly into Eirin's. "You know him, don't you?"

"No! I don't have a single clue about who that guy is, believe me."

"Then why is he here?"

"Tsk."

Eirin heard someone clicking their tongue and soon noticed Shade, who was standing behind her. "You are bothersome." Shade said while fixing his black gloves. "Could you behave and stop sending me troubles?"

The young girl was astonished. "Am I the one doing this!? Do I look like I love being in this type of situation?" She could not help but lash out as she felt wronged.

"I only want a favor." The woman in the black cloak said, ignoring how Eirin shouted.

"I do not listen to the words of demons."

"But you are one of us."

Eirin saw Shade's grip on his glove tightening and his right eye twitched. "I am not a monster." The tension in the air made Eirin's heart race as she backed away.

The woman laughed. It echoed throughout the space and brought shivers down Eirin's spine. "You are still nothing but a child." She said, her eyes filled with sorrow. "That is right. In this world, we are the monsters, but claimed by who? The humans? Those who eradicated us and continue to make us suffer?"

"Don't lump me in with guys like you. I am not like you."

The teenage girl flinched after hearing the crackling sound of flames forming around Shade. 'H-He's creating fire out of nothing.' She thought.

"And that is why I am asking you this favor."

'What is going on?' Eirin's forehead creased as she continued backing away while holding onto her skirt. 'Are they going to fight? If so, why do they need to involve me?'

"Relieve me of this sin."

Shade suddenly appeared beside Eirin and grabbed the teenage girl's arm. "I do not listen to the words of demons." He flicked his finger.

"Miss Luxfield!"

Eirin stood up, creating a screeching sound with her chair and making everyone look at her. Silence enveloped the room with her classmates' confused and judgemental eyes on her.

"Are you feeling sick?" The teacher asked with a worried expression. "It is rare for you to fall asleep in class. Do you want to go to the infirmary?" Eirin could hear her classmates whispering about her, but she couldn't care less about them.

"I'm sorry, sir." She said and sat back down. 'Was that an illusion? Or a dream? How did they even do that?' Her gaze went to the tree outside, but Shade was nowhere to be found.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Dismissal came and there were no traces of Shade anymore. "I should be the one asking you that." Eirin pinched Ava's cheek as she dismissed the thoughts regarding the mysterious guy. "You look pale again."

Ava pouted. "I told you, I always look pale. This is by default." She said, "Anyway, someone's birthday is getting near." Just then, Eirin remembered her birthday. 'I forgot.' The teenage girl thought.

Ava then realized that it was supposed to be a surprise and panicked. "A-Anyway! Bright texted me that he wants to hang out with you today after school."

Eirin's forehead creased while putting her things in her bag. "When did he text you that?"

"Just now. He said you're probably not looking at your phone again." Ava showed her phone and her conversation with Bright. "Of course, you weren't looking. Because our white swan and diligent student, Eirin Luxfield, got caught sleeping in the middle of the class."

Eirin sighed. "It's because I couldn't sleep well last night."

"Was it because of the thunder and lightning? See, I should have accompanied you yesterday."

Eirin laughed. "I'm not a child anymore." 'And that's not what I want to talk about right now.' She sighed after seeing the cute smile on Ava's face. "Do you want to go with me and Bright?"

Ava giggled and poked Eirin's sides. "What's with that? You want me to be a third wheel to you and Bright Goodwin's date?"

"It's not a date."

Ava could not stop laughing, and her laugh echoed through the empty classroom. "It is. That's why he didn't ask me to come." Her tone expressed sadness, but she was still smiling from ear to ear.

"Then let's go together."

Silence followed that as Ava stared out the window. "I actually need to visit the hospital today."

"Then let me go with you." The desperation in Eirin's voice caused Ava to giggle. "That's a lot more important than hanging out with Bright. We could hang out next time, anyway."

"You can't. I already told Bright that you'll go with him."

"Why would you do that?" Eirin balled her fists and took a deep breath. "You know I will keep choosing you over other people."

"Bright is not other people." Ava still had her smile even after bidding Eirin goodbye, leaving Eirin in the classroom dumbfounded. She knew what was going through Ava's head but couldn't do anything about it.

'She doesn't have to do that.' The teenage girl thought as she sighed. Her footsteps were heavy and so was her heart as she walked into the hallway alone.

"Eirin! I thought you'd never come."

Amid students passing by, Eirin saw Bright standing near the gate while waving his hand. The sun setting behind him made an illusion in Eirin's eyes as if Bright was glowing. "I'm sorry if it was sudden." He said with a sheepish smile, not knowing that the girl in front of him branded him as 'others'.

Eirin didn't want to involve Bright in the chaos she felt. "It's fine. Where are we going anyway?" Bright reached out his hand with a smile. "We're not children anymore."

"Ah, you're right." Bright scratched his cheek and awkwardly pulled his hand back. "I still like holding your hand, though." He said.

Eirin felt her heart skip a beat, but what soon followed was the feeling of guilt. Despite saying that Ava will always be the number 1 in her heart, she still felt happy being with Bright. 'What a hypocrite.' She thought as she brushed the feeling off. "Let's go." 'And get it over with.' The teenage girl thought.

"What do you want to drink?" They entered the said famous café packed with people. "My classmates said the strawberry milkshake here tastes good."

Out of focus, Eirin couldn't hear anything else but her thoughts. Different thoughts regarding Ava and her grandmother's secrets filled her head and she could not focus on what was in front of her. Regrets and guilt stuffed her heart for not being able to accompany her best friend. 'I wanted to go with her.' The teenage girl started biting her fingernails.

"Eirin?"

Eirin quickly halted as she placed her hands on her sides and smiled. "Sorry, what?"

"Do you feel nervous about something?" Eirin tilted her head after hearing that. "You've been biting your fingernails again." Bright reached for Eirin's hands, but she quickly pulled them away.

"There's an empty seat there." Eirin pointed, trying to change their conversation. The two took a seat near the glass window and Eirin looked at the menu on the table. "I'm sorry for worrying you, but I'm fine. The heat's just making me sleepy." The teenage girl said, despite not making sense after seeing the look on Bright's face. 'What a worrywart.' She thought.

"Anyway, why don't we get that strawberry milkshake? It looks good."

"Y-Yeah, let's do that." Eirin stared at Bright after he stuttered. He seems to be panicking due to unknown reasons. "Do you also want to eat dinner with me after this?"

Eirin felt a surge of happiness hearing that Bright wanted to spend more time with her. "I'm sorry, but I need to go home after this."

Bright's smile got smaller as he stood. "Sure. I'll order our drinks now." He said and went to the counter.

'It's saddening to see him getting sad,' Eirin thought as she sighed and cupped her chin. 'I feel bad for rejecting him, but…'

The three children holding hands outside the café that she saw hindered her thoughts. They were two girls and a little boy in the middle. She could not help but smile as it reminded her of her childhood. 'Good old times.' The teenage girl thought as she remembered how often the three of them, Ava, Bright, and Eirin, spent time with each other.

'I can still remember how Ava used to see Bright as someone she wanted to marry.' Eirin thought while following the children with her eyes. 'She must have forgotten about it, but I didn't.'

Bright arrived holding the strawberry milk for the two. "Here. They'll bring the cheesecake later." He said while looking at Eirin with those eyes filled with care and love.

"Thanks." Eirin knows of it, and it makes her heartbeat go fast, but she knows it will ruin the friendship the three of them built. "Do you want to talk about something?"

Bright let out an awkward chuckle. "I would like to say that I wanted to hang out like old times, but I know I wouldn't be able to lie to you." He said as he brought a small pink box out of his bag. "I brought you a gift."

"A gift? What for? It's still not my birthday."

"I know since I have a separate gift for your birthday." Bright cleared his throat. "This is to commemorate your successful ballet recital."

"What is this?"

"Open it."

Bright waits in anticipation while Eirin feels nervous and excited at the same time. The café was getting packed with people, but Eirin could only hear her heartbeat as she dragged the red ribbon on top of the box and lifted its lid.

Eirin blinked three times and stared at the thing inside the box. 'Why would he give me something like this?'