Volume One | Chapter - Thank You Part Two

It had been at least over a day for Aiko, when she was involved in that situation along with the anonymous group of older Familiars and when the girl with silver hair came to her rescue.

She made it a point to personally thank that girl whenever she could, but whenever she asked classmates in class or older students during breaks. None of them seemed to have the slightest idea where the girl could be, they didn't even know if she had any friends.

Aiko let out a breath of air in irritation as she slouched against the wall, sliding until she was in a seated position on the floor with her legs out in front to avoid further embarrassment, the last thing she needed was her fellow students getting a glimpse up her short skirt.

At least I don't need to worry about boys doing such things, she smirked at the thought of such things.

As Aiko just sat there thinking to herself her train of thought was interrupted by the girl that she met on the Humvee.

The girls' black short hair was the same as the day she saw it not even an inch was out of place in its recognizable messy state.

The girl just stood there staring at her Aiko looked like a girl that was homeless, she scoffed once she realized whom it was.

Stuttering she spoke up, "L-Look I haven't..." she glances at Aiko then sighs calming her heart rate "...I haven't come here to say sorry if that's what you think!" with new found aggression she pointed at Aiko whom in return just stared at her blankly.

Rubbing the back of her head, Aiko asked, "Then...why did you come here?"

The black haired girl flustered at the thought, she clears her throat, "I heard you were looking for that girl, I may know of a way to find her so come with me"

Aiko was about to blindly follow the girl anywhere before she remembered what happened with those other girls, how do I know that I can trust her, she chastised herself.

"How do I know that I can trust you?" Aiko bluntly asks the girl, at first the girl was confused why she asked but quickly figured it out, to be honest, she felt rather insulted that Aiko would suspect such a thing from her.

The girl gasped, "I may not be friendly to everyone!..." she turns her head slightly away from Aiko "...that doesn't mean I'm a sadistic bitch" she said muttering the last part to herself.

"What was that last part you said?" Aiko asked she got an idea of what this girl said, however, she just wanted concrete evidence of what she actually said.

The black haired girl stormed off in the distance, "Just hurry up and I don't have all day to wait for you of all people!" she called out.

So with that Aiko chased after this mysterious black haired girl, coming to the conclusion that regardless of the fact that she was hostile and unwilling to make friends like many students of their year that had mentioned her.

Aiko had no doubt that this girl would go out of her way to physically or mentally traumatize another student, well how could she with that cute and innocent demeanour she tries to hide!, Aiko gleefully smiled to herself.

***

The girl stopped before Aiko, pointing to something in the distance, "If you want to find that girl, it's best to talk to her..." she pointing at a girl with short spiky crimson red hair "...I've seen her talking to the girl you've been looking for" the blacked haired girl started walking away before she was stopped by Aiko grabbing her hand.

Aiko nervously says, "Um, thank you for doing this".

Once again the girl flustered, what is with this girl making me feel like this, she thought to herself. "W-Well...don't expect any more help from me!" she stuttered.

Aiko stood there for a moment until remembering something from earlier, "Oh, I almost forgot what's your name?..." noticing the black haired girl hesitating for a moment she waved her hands frantically "...b-but you don't have to say if you don't want to!" Aiko trying to reassure the girl.

At first, the girl was hesitant before deciding to do so, "Emike" she muttered quietly.

Aiko couldn't quite hear her, "Sorry, what was that?" she asked. Emike was getting irritated at this point, "My name is Emike...okay..." she scoffed turning away from Aiko her arms tightly crossed over her chest "...now if you don't mind I have things to attend to" she glanced at Aiko, blushing when she realized just how cute she looked, Emike hastily walked away leaving Aiko alone in the middle of one of Essentia Japan Academy's gardens.

Aiko took in a quick breathe of air, she started walking towards the bench where the girl was sat that Emike spoke off, she sat there with her eyes closed as if she were dreaming.

Standing before her, "Um, hey you mind if I ask you something?" Aiko nervously asked.

The girl with crimson red hair opened her eyes looking at Aiko, who was about to open her mouth to ask another question when the girl interrupted her.

"Before you ask no..." she bluntly put. Jesus, I didn't say what it was and she's already saying no, Aiko thought to herself "...do you know how tough it is just to keep one Coordinator happy, let alone two!"

"Uh, no I'm not here for that" Aiko hastily replied.

The girl sat there her cheeks turning red from embarrassment, "Oh damn..." she starts to groan "...I've been so used to girls your age constantly asking me about forming a Blood Contract that it has become second nature for me" she explains.

Aiko just giggles in response. "Although I got to say, you most certainly look cute when you act like that" she mentions with a cheery smile, Aiko blushes from the comment not knowing how to respond to such a comment.

"Anyway, I'm Hibiki what can I do for you?" she stood up brushing down her short skirt and corset. Aiko never really took in the beauty of this girl before, it seemed almost alien for her to look this beautiful.

"Well, I'm Aiko ni-" before she could finish Hibiki grabbed her left hand with both of hers squeezing it tightly in her grip, her face looked like she'd found a celebrity.

"So you're the girl that Sachika saved..." she shyly giggled at the thought "...it's so romantic!". She's making this out to be crazier than it should be, Aiko couldn't help but feel a bit happy about the thought of such things.

Getting back to the subject at hand, "Is Sachika the girl that saved me the other day?" Aiko asked.

Hibiki who was still in her gleeful dream world paused for a moment before turning to Aiko, "Yeah that's her alright, and I'm her best friend" her persona gave the impression that she was proud of such a thing or the statement.

"Why do you ask, you need her for something?" Hibiki asked, her interest was piqued.

Aiko stands there nervously for a moment, "I just wanted to thank her personally for the other day"

Hibiki stood there for a moment grinning, "Oh is that all..." Aiko stood there looking at Hibiki perplexed "...forget what I said, the only place I can think of Sachika being at right now is the Tower of Es, she usually goes there to spend a little alone time with herself..." she pauses for a moment pointing at the single huge standing tower not far from the central courtyard, blue energy currents ran up the edges of the old stone meeting at the top forming a light blue hue of an orb "...if she's not there then I'll have no idea where she could be"

Aiko bowed slightly surprising Hibiki, " Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it" she started heading towards the tower before she was stopped by Hibiki calling out her name. "Aiko, be careful when speaking to Sachika..." she rubs the back of her head nervously as she thought for a moment "...she's not dangerous, but she can be quite sensitive if you say the wrong thing"

Aiko smiled and bowed once again, "Thank you again, Hibiki-san" she waved before continuing towards the Tower of Es, once again Hibiki was pleasantly surprised by the remark the girl referred her too, she too waved at Aiko as she left.

"She's nice, I wish Sachika would try having another partner again it'd do her some good..." placing a hand on her chin for a moment as she thought "...now that I think about it here and that girl Aiko would be a good match".

***

After entering the Tower of Es, Aiko suddenly realized just how much she relied on technology when she was younger.

Walking up the old stone stairs of this tower made her wish that there was, in fact, an elevator built into the tower. How can she walk up these stairs without tiring herself, Aiko thought as she wondered how Sachika could walk up these stairs.

She looked out of the small holes in the side walls that were made to let light in, she could see the sun setting in the distance meaning it was almost time for the students return to their dorm blocks for curfew.

As Aiko ignored that fact, she continued up the stone stairs panting and breathing heavily, next time I have physical education for my class timetable I swear I'll never slack off, this was one of those moments Aiko wished she put in the extra effect in physical fitness at high school, she made a point in her mind that from here on out she'll put in one hundred and ten percent into staying fit.

Mostly due to the fact that, if she had to climb these stairs again she won't be half dead after reaching a few floors.

At the top of the tower, Sachika sat on the edge of the stone railing looking out at the sunset while listening to her music on her headphones.

Her collar and tie were clenched in her hands making the sleeves lose on her slender arms.

The absence of the collar and tie made her cleavage more noticeable, sweat slowly ran down her face and neck then eventually over the exposed area of her breasts, the breeze of the wind threatening to unravel her hairstyle.

Panting slowly at first, she suddenly felt this tingly pleasurable feeling going through her composed fibril letting out a soft moan. It's reacting to the presence of someone, Sachika wondered whom it could be.

When she heard the loud thump against the stone floor behind her, she turned around, surprised by who it was. Aiko on her knees was breathing heavily trying to catch her breath after walking the entirety of the Tower of Es.

Sachika felt her composed fibril respond stronger than before this time in the presence of this girl, her cheeks started to turn red, biting her lower lip trembling slightly.

The composed fibril is located on the spine of Familiars it's the build-up of crystallized particles from Essence particles and it's where the main source of the particles emanate from a Familiars body.

Aiko got her breath back to a bearable state, she looked up seeing Sachika seated on the railing, her cleavage exposed as sweat dripped downward.

Upon seeing the latter Aiko blushed feeling embarrassed after seeing her like that, as for Sachika she continued to look at Aiko with keen interest for mouth slightly agape as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

Trying to get the image of Sachika's cleavage out of her mind, Aiko spurted out, "I-I just wanted t-to say thank you for the other day..." still breathing heavily from walking the stairs the rest of what she wanted to say didn't come out.

Sachika shocked at first didn't know what to say, the two of them stared into one another's eyes as the amber coloured sunset embraced the surrounding scenery within its clutches.