Chapter 7: Cursed blonde

The atmosphere was horrible, a person who wasn't supposed to be invited was sitting right in front of us, it was the blonde-haired girl, Mami Nanami. My friend Kazuya's ex-girlfriend.

Ruka secretly pulled me closer and whispered in my ear. - "Who is this girl? Does she know you?" - I couldn't tell if she was jealous or not.

"I ended up bumping into her earlier today when I got to college... That's all I know, no need to be jealous." - I whispered back.

I saw Ruka pouting angrily because of my direct answer, but I ignored it, I was worried about Kazuya.

Mami turned her gaze to her ex, who was standing in front of her. - "So, Kazu..." - her expression was kind of enigmatic, hard to read.

"She's here... Mami-chan..." - I heard Kazuya speaking softly with a tone of despair.

Kibe, equally desperate, whispered softly to him as well. - "I'm sorry, Kazuya. I didn't know she would come here..." - we got into a stalemate.

One of the guys from college called us to sit down and so we did. I sat next to Ruka who, in the meantime, felt some sharp looks from Mami. I sat across from Mami, while Kazuya sat next to me.

With the tense atmosphere, we took the menu and ordered what we wanted to eat and drink. As a good cocktail lover, I only ordered a Kiwi Sour, Ruka ordered a Shirley Temple.

I tried not to focus on anyone, but my mind told me to just get out of there as fast as possible, something like: "I want to go home."

The girls who were probably Mami's friends started talking to each other so as not to make the atmosphere any more awkward than it already was. It was a shitty situation, could this atmosphere get any worse?

I looked at Ruka, who seemed to be rambling about something. She had her own world, at least I didn't need to worry about her now. As for Mami, she was just fiddling with her cell phone, until she finally decided to speak.

"What's up, guys? Who served this awkward pie, let's just enjoy the drink!" - that empty look turned into a fake, happy smile. I felt Kazuya tremble beside me.

I felt the need to go to the bathroom, so I approached Ruka and said: "I'm going to the bathroom, I'll be right back."

Ruka looked into my eyes and smiled. - "Do you want me to help you?" - A question that caught me off guard.

I let out a light laugh. - "No, no, no need, Ruka. I'm not a little kid anymore." - I said as I got up. I opened the living room door and went to the bathroom.

In the bathroom, my nervousness calmed down a bit, but I was still worried about something. After washing my hands, I returned to the bar room, and came across Mami who was talking to Ruka.

"Ah, Ryo, come here!" - Mami said, calling me to talk to her, that was what I was worried about. Mami continued to observe the group with that sharp smile, clearly enjoying Kazuya's discomfort and the tension she herself was causing.

As the drink orders were being taken, she leaned closer to me, as if she was about to start a casual conversation, but the look in her eyes suggested something quite different.

"So, Ryo..." - she began, her voice soft, but full of ulterior motives - "is this your girlfriend?" - She indicated Ruka with a slight nod, her smile not matching the mischievous glint in her eyes. - "You two seem... pretty close."

I immediately felt the pressure of her question. I couldn't help but notice Mami's provocative tone, which was clearly trying to test something, maybe my patience, maybe my feelings for Ruka. At the same time, I could feel Ruka's gaze on me, anxiously waiting for the answer, almost as if that question carried more weight than it should.

Ruka, who was holding my arm more firmly, straightened up when she heard Mami's question. Her face was calm, but it was clear that she was a little insecure about the situation, especially with the way Mami was approaching me.

I, on the other hand, felt the tension increase. I knew that Mami wasn't just curious. The way she leaned slightly towards me, the almost seductive tone of her voice, challenging him to answer in a way that would create even more problems.

"Yes, she is..." - I answered, trying to remain calm, but the hesitation was noticeable. I still didn't know how to define my relationship with Ruka, and that question, coming from Mami, made everything even more complicated.

Mami raised an eyebrow, clearly satisfied with my vague answer. - "Something like that, huh?" - She repeated, her voice even more provocative. - "Well, you seem like an interesting guy... and you know, I've always admired guys who are honest about what they want." - She glanced briefly at Kazuya, before turning her attention completely to me.

Ruka, who had been trying to maintain a calm demeanor until then, tightened her grip on her arm as if she were trying to reassure herself. - "Yes, we are very close." - she said in a firm tone, looking directly at Mami. It was clear that she did not like the way Mami was flirting with me in front of her.

Kazuya, realizing the situation, seemed even more uncomfortable, looking from Mami, and then at Ruka. He knew that Mami was playing a dangerous game and was clearly taking advantage of it to poke fun at both him and my new relationship.

Mami let out a light laugh, as if she was enjoying the tension she was causing. - "Ah, I see... you two make an interesting couple." - She shrugged casually, but her eyes still shone with mischief. - "I hope things work out... the way you want."

Trying to get out of the uncomfortable situation, I just nodded, preferring not to answer directly. I knew that anything I said would only give Mami more ammunition.

Ruka, on the other hand, could no longer hide her irritation. She knew that Mami was playing with us and the fact that I hesitated to answer clearly bothered her. Even so, she tried to maintain her composure, holding my hand more firmly and getting even closer to me, as if to make it clear that she was by my side.

"Let's enjoy the night, Ryo..." - Ruka said softly, looking at me and ignoring Mami as much as she could.

I sighed internally, feeling that, somehow, things were getting out of control. I just wanted a quiet night with my friends, but Mami's presence and her teasing were making everything more complicated.

"Oh, of course... Kazuya. Always finding a way to show up in the same places as me, aren't you?" - Mami continued, now leaning slightly towards Kazuya. - "You're here with your friends, how lovely."

I could feel Kazuya's discomfort, but before he could say anything, Mami turned her attention to him, with that cold and calculated look he had noticed earlier.

"Did you know that Kazuya was the worst boyfriend I've ever had? Seriously, he has no idea how to treat a girl. It was almost like dealing with a child." Kazuya visibly flinched at the comment, his eyes darting away from Mami's as he was speechless.

On the other hand, felt the pressure increase. I didn't know exactly what to say in this situation, but I also couldn't leave Kazuya there without support.

"Mami..." Kazuya started to speak, but his voice was low, almost drowned out by the noise of the place.

"Oh, you don't need to worry, Kazuya..." Mami said, her voice still full of venomous sweetness. - "I've gotten over it. You know, sometimes we just need to learn from our mistakes... and you were the biggest mistake I've ever made." - She let out a small laugh, as if the situation was just an inside joke.

I exchanged an incredulous look with Kibe, who had clearly also noticed the tense atmosphere. Kibe, always trying to lighten the mood, gave a small nervous laugh and said: "Well, I guess we all make mistakes, right? But how about we focus on the food and drinks, okay?"

Ruka, who until then had been quiet, observing everything with an expression of distrust, decided to intervene, holding Ryo's arm protectively.

Mami gave Ruka an appraising look, as if she were sizing her up. - "Oh, sure... I'm just kidding." - She smiled sharply. Her tone was clearly fake, and Kazuya's discomfort seemed to increase with each word.

He could feel that the night was becoming a complete disaster, and he didn't exactly know how to fix it. The mood between Mami and Kazuya was far from improving, and now she seemed willing to provoke not only Kazuya, but anyone who was nearby.

My patience was running out with every word that came out of Mami's mouth. I tried to remain calm, but the growing tension, coupled with her insistent provocations, began to get on my nerves. Every time Mami let out a sarcastic comment, a spark of irritation lit up inside me.

"You really don't get tired, do you?" he said suddenly, his voice coming out louder and sharper than he intended. The noise around him seemed to die down, as if the air between him and Mami was heavy. All the eyes at the table turned to me, including Ruka's, who was watching me with a mixture of surprise and concern.

"Oh? What's wrong, Ryo? Did I say something that bothered you?" Mami said.

I felt the blood rush to my face, and before I could stop myself, the words simply came out. "You don't know how to measure your words, don't you?... You're the worst kind of person possible! Talking about him in front of our friends... Actually, I have to thank you for breaking up with him so we wouldn't have to see your face again!"

The bar fell silent for a moment, the shock of the explosion evident on the faces around. Kazuya seemed to want to shrink back into his chair, while Kibe looked at me with a mixture of approval and surprise. Mami, however, kept her sharp smile, although her eyes shone with something darker. Kazuya, who was still curled up in his chair, trying to calm the mood. - "Yeah, what a thing... What a thing, what can you do..."

"Okay, right guys..." - Kibe saw that the situation hadn't changed at all, and started to get ready to leave.

"Hey, calm down there Ryo." - said some of the bar's colleagues.

Mami, with her empty gaze, just kept staring at me. - "Ah.... Sorry..."

"But you still said it! It's so clueless to tell a guy you don't even know about your relationship. Kazuya can be a bit of a moron sometimes, but even I feel bad for him!" - I continued to criticize Mami's thoughtless actions.

"Sorry if I made you angry..." - Mami tried to apologize.

"But that doesn't give you the right to say all those things! If these jokes are frequent here, excuse me, but I'm going to abstain from this establishment... Kazuya, Kibe, let's go to my bar." - I stood up while holding Ruka's hand.

We all left the parking lot and went down the stairs in silence. Ruka seemed too quiet for someone so energetic. She looked at me and saw my irritation slowly disappearing. -"I've never seen you this angry..." - Ruka said.

My discomfort faded. -"Did I scare you?... Sorry." - I said without looking at her.

"No, actually, you showed me a very interesting side of yourself... I liked it." - she said very happily as she entwined herself with my arm.

We all arrived at the bar and, to my surprise, Hiroshi was already there, sitting at a table in the corner with two bottles of beer in his hand. Upon seeing the group, he waved with a smile. - "Hey, you're finally here! And it looks like you've invited more people."

Ruka and me approached, followed by Kazuya and Kibe, who still seemed a little shaken by what happened at the other bar. I sat down next to Hiroshi, sighing, and began to tell him about the incident.

"It was a complete disaster. My friend's ex showed up and started teasing him, and I ended up losing my temper..." I said, shaking my head. - "She's too weird..."

Hiroshi frowned, listening attentively as Ryo recounted the details. - "Oh, that bar... I've heard troubled stories about it. It's not the first time someone tells me about troubles involving ex-girlfriends and fights. That kind of place has a heavy energy."

He handed Kazuya and Kibe a beer, which they accepted gratefully. Kazuya, still clearly shaken, took a long drink and sighed deeply. - "Man, you have no idea how much she can get on my nerves."

Hiroshi looked at Ruka, who was sitting next to me, and raised an eyebrow, observing her for a few seconds. "You look familiar. I have the feeling I've seen you somewhere before... but it must be just an impression. Are you Ryo's girlfriend?"

Ruka smiled shyly and shook her head. "Ah... Yes, I am his girlfriend."

He laughed, and the conversation flowed more lightly as the night progressed. Hiroshi's presence brought a more relaxed air to the group, and soon the incident with Mami was behind us. The music in the bar was low, and the cozy atmosphere made everyone relax, enjoying the company and the laughter that followed.

As the night drew to a close, I decided it was time to take Ruka and Kazuya home. "Come on, guys. It's getting late. Are you going to stay there, Kibe?"

We stood up, saying goodbye to Hiroshi and Kibe. - "I'll stay here a little longer..." - They left the bar and walked through the silent streets of the city. I looked up at the sky, now dark, and felt the cool night air cool my thoughts. As we approached Kazuya's house, something unexpected happened.

Suddenly, a girl with long, brown hair appeared, hurrying, as if she were looking for someone. When her eyes found Kazuya, she stopped and, without hesitation, said: "Kazuya! What are you doing walking around so late?... Come, I'll take you home."

Ruka and me exchanged surprised looks while Kazuya tried to process what had just happened. The girl introduced herself as Chizuru Mizuhara, but what caught my attention the most was the determination in her voice. She didn't give much time for explanations, simply grabbed Kazuya by the arm and began dragging him with her. - "Sorry for the inconvenience, everyone..."

I crossed my arms, watching the scene with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. - "Looks like you're in good company, huh, Kazuya?"

Kazuya, confused and speechless, looked at me as if asking for help, but he didn't have a chance to answer. Chizuru, firmly, waved to the group and said: "See you later!" - And with that, she took him home.

We both watched the two move away until they disappeared around the corner. I covered my head, still surprised by what I had just witnessed. - "Well, that was ... a turnaround."

Ruka laughed. - "This Kazuya has a complicated life, huh?"

"Definitely ..." I agreed, starting to walk back with Ruka. - "Come on. I think it's time to go too."

After leaving Ruka at home, I headed toward the bar where he works with Hiroshi. The atmosphere was already busy when I arrived, and the soft sound of conversations and background music filled the space. Hiroshi was behind the counter, serving some drinks, and gave me a quick nod when he saw me enter.

"Finally, you arrived!" - Hiroshi said with a smile. - "Are you ready for the night?"

I just waved, tying the apron as I positioned myself next to Hiroshi, ready to start the work. The hours at the bar always seemed slower, but the intense rhythm of the clientele used to keep us busy.

However, when I least expected, something happened: Mami appeared. She entered the bar, her eyes scouring the atmosphere until she found. The smile she gave seemed hesitant, but she went straight to the counter where she was.

"... Hi, Ryo ..." - she started, with a slightly softer tone than usual. - "I ... I wanted to apologize for what happened earlier. I think I exaggerated a little in the other bar."

I was surprised to see her there, and even more for the apparent behavior change. I knew Mami had a manipulative way, so I was suspicious, but I tried to stay calm and avoid prolonging it. - "Okay, okay ..." - Said directly, without showing much emotion. - "No need to worry about it."

She sat on one of the counter seats, staring at me as she continued to serve customers. Even with the attempt to keep the surface conversation, Mami seemed determined to pull some chat with me - "Do you always work here with him?" She asked casually, trying to break the ice.

I shrugged, not wanting to deepen much. - "Yes, we have worked here for a while."

She watched me as I worked, clearly trying to find ways to continue the conversation. - "And how are things with Ruka? You look very close."

I felt another twinge of irritation to hear this, but I managed to control myself. I didn't want the conversation to become an uncomfortable situation like the previous bar. "Things are doing well ..." - I said dryly.

Despite his attempts to avoid deeper dialogue, Mami seemed willing to continue pulling the subject. "Well, I just wanted to apologize. Maybe we can see each other more often ..." She said, with a smile that made me even more suspicious.

I just nodded, not wanting to prolong the moment. Although he was trying to be educated, Mami's presence made me uncomfortable, and he would rather maintain the distance.

Hiroshi, who watched from afar, just raised an eyebrow, curious about the situation, but said nothing. I knew that night at the bar would be long, especially with Mami around, but I did my best to stay focused on work and not fall into her teasing.

While I was cleaning the counter trying to ignore Mami, she continued with her conversation attempts, when something strange happened. The sound of the bar decreased until it was completely disappeared, and the voices around, the music and even the customers' footsteps ceased. I raised my eyes and realized that everything around me was still. Time had stopped again.

Mami was still sitting in front of me, but unlike the other times she didn't seem to be aware of what was happening. His eyes were fixed at an indefinite point ahead, as if frozen in time. Already aware that this could only mean one thing: something paranormal was about to happen.

Suddenly a strange figure emerged from the shadows of the bar. He was tall and hooded, his presence drained any heat from the environment. His eyes shone in a deep red, and his air around him seemed to weigh as lead. The creature approached slowly, each step making the floor seem to vibrate.

I backed away, my senses sharpening. I was about to act when a family light appeared beside me. PRELESS, in its mystical form, intertwined around my right arm as a bright serpent, ready to help.

"Ah, finally something interesting ..." - Preletast commented with a sarcastic tone, looking at the frightening figure. - "Looks like we won't have a quiet night today ..."

I squeezed my fists, feeling the energy of Pregnaste flowing through him. - "What is this now?" - I asked trying to keep calm.

"That ..." - said Prelest, leaning his head toward the figure. - "It's an entity that feeds on fear and regret. And guesses? The bar is full of it, especially that girl there." Prelest indicated Mami with a head gesture. - "It looks like she attracted that."

I looked at mami, still frozen in time, and then to the creature. - "So is that what is happening?"

"Exactly. And you have to get rid of it before time goes back to normal. Or ... things can get ugly." - said Prelest.

The creature continued to approach, her fixed red eyes on me. I knew I didn't have much time to act. With pressing in my arm, I felt the energy flowing again, my mind running with the possibilities. But this time, it was more prepared.

"So what do we do now?" - I asked ready for anything.

"First, we pushed it away from here ..." - Prelest answered with a wry smile, the energy around me starting to pulse. - "And then ... we find a way to make sure she doesn't come back."

I stared at the creature, the fixed red eyes in me as if they wanted to devour my soul. I tried to move, but my body looked stuck. Each time he tried to gather strength to attack, it was as if that entity's very presence drained his energy, leaving me motionless.

"Prelest ... I-I can't ... fight it ... something is ... holding on me ..." - said with a frustration -laden voice.

Prelest, now wrapped in a brilliant aura, took the lead, analyzing the situation with his usual sarcasm. - "It's obvious that you can't, this thing is draining everything you have. Leave me." He began to throb with intense energy, ready to face the creature.

With an agile movement, Prelest threw itself toward the entity, waging a direct battle. I watched as the energies collided, Prelest diverting from the creature's attacks and counterattacking with light bundles. But even while Prelett struggled, I knew it wasn't enough. We would need to make time back to normal, or it would never end.

I looked around desperately. Mami was still frozen at the counter, just like everyone else at the bar. I needed to find a way to restore the flow of time. My mind was running, trying to remember what had happened the other times the time stopped. There was always a point of origin, something that triggered the return to normality.

So I had an idea. "The heart ... "I muttered to myself, remembering when time stopped around Ruka. - "If all this has to do with fear and regret, maybe I can use mine to reverse it."

I concentrated for a moment, closing my eyes and breathing deep. I tried to access your own emotions, the whirlwind of feelings that came to light whenever I thought of Aiko, Ruka, Kyouka ... Everything I kept me stuck. I needed to confront this in some way.

"PRELEST!" I shouted as my ally continued to fight the creature. - "Keep holding this ... I think I know how to bring time back!"

Prallest, without taking his eyes off the creature, answered quickly. - "You better be right about it, because this thing is stronger than it seems!"

I closed my eyes again, trying to connect with what was holding me. I knew I was afraid ... Fear of failing, hurting others, not being able to protect those I loved. But I also knew these fears needed to be faced.

As my mind worked, I started to feel something change. A weak blue light began to shine in my chest, the same brightness I had seen in Ruka before. Perhaps it was a symbol of something deeper, something related to love or regret. I opened my eyes, focused on the light, waiting for it to be enough to break the barrier of time.

As soon as the blue light on my chest shone intensely, I felt something form in my hands. It was as if the concentrated energy of my feelings and regrets were materializing in a gun. When I looked down, I saw an arc and arrow made of pure light, sparkling with an ethereal aura.

Without hesitation, I lifted the bow and arrow ready in hand. The creature, who was still fighting against Prelest, began to realize the danger. His red eyes shone with a mix of anger and fear, but it was too late. I pulled the rope, feeling the tension in the air, and released the arrow into a fluid motion.

The light arrow cut the space between them as lightning, and when it reached the creature, there was an explosion of energy. The entity released a shrill scream, her body writhing before she began to fade. In the blink of an eye, the creature disappeared, disintegrated by light, and the surrounding environment began to readjust.

The bar came back to normal suddenly. The voices of customers, the noise of the cups and the conversation sounds mingled again in the air, as if nothing had happened. Preletast disappeared from the sight, his now more subtle presence, as if watching from afar.

Still panting and with a rapid heart, I lowered the bow, which quickly dissipated in light particles, leaving me only with the weight of the last events in mind. When I looked around, checking if everyone was fine. Mami was still sitting in front of me, as if time had not stopped for her, and seemed ready to say goodbye.

"Well, Ryo, I think it's time for me to go ..." - Mami said with a light smile, but there was something behind his words, a touch of discomfort maybe. - "Again, I'm sorry for what happened before ... in the other bar."

I watched her suspiciously, not yet fully convinced of her sincerity. - "Don't worry, mami ..." - I replied with a cold tone, trying to keep calm, even with all the confusion inside me.

She got up slowly, adjusting the bag on her shoulder, and looked at him with an expression that mixed regret and curiosity. - "You know, you are an interesting guy. I hope we see each other again ..."

I didn't answer immediately, I just watched as she took a few steps toward the door. For a brief moment, I wondered what really went through her head, but I discarded the thought. I had much greater problems to deal with, and that interaction didn't seem to be my biggest concern at the moment.

Mami turned one last time before leaving, waving slightly. - "See you soon, Ryo."

Now alone, I took a deep breath, running my hand over the face. I knew the calm would not last long, but for now I was pleased to know that I had overcome another challenge.

A void began to wander in my mind:

"Hm ... Tomorrow will be a new year, right?..."

End of Chapter 7