Fourteen

We spent about an hour at the stationery and gift shop. During that time though, I realised that I had no need for things like bookmarks or keychains anymore. I didn't draw anymore. It had been years since I maintained a diary. I didn't quite feel like reading books anymore either. I didn't have a cell phone to need a cell phone strap. What did that really leave me to choose from?

"You really didn't like anything?" He asked after we'd gone through nearly everything in the shop. "Nothing at all?"

"I did like things but... I don't want you to buy me anything that I wouldn't even use." I replied. "Sorry."

He regarded me seriously. "Then, can I buy you something I want you to use?"

"Hm?" I gave him a quizzical look.

"Come with me." He said and made his way to the small jewellery area in the shop. I wasn't really one to buy these little trinkets even if I did like something. Since I wasn't going to buy stationery anyway and Shibata-kun seemed so eager, I thought that I could make an exception in this case alone.

I felt vulnerable.

"I saw this earlier and thought that it might suit you so..." He picked up a bracelet from the display. It was thin, dull gold in colour and had a rather pretty engraving on its jade green stone. On closer inspection, it turned out to be tiny fairies and stars.

"Oh my." I breathed.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" He smiled, turning it over in his hands.

I nodded. "It is."

"Will this do then?"

"It will but... fairies? How did you think that this would suit me?" I was curious to know.

"To me, you're just as mysterious." He shrugged, then laughed. "I couldn't help that. It was set up perfectly for me to say that."

Damn. Okay. "I shall have you purchase this for me then." I motioned to the bracelet.

"Alright, Milady." He said, playing long with my sophisticated way of speaking just then. We shared a small laugh and he proceeded to buy it. Once he'd paid for it, he handed it to me. "I want you to wear it at all times."

"I will." I slipped it onto my left hand. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Terasaki-san was waiting for us outside. He had come into the shop initially but then stepped out a little later. I decided to call it a day with that.

Shibata-kun seemed happy just doing so much for me. There was still too much to deal with and too much he did not know though. I too had to just satisfy myself with just this.

"I'll see you tomorrow." I said, standing beside Terasaki-san.

"Yup. See you." He said and took a step away, then halted. A moment passed before he leaned towards me and pulled me into a half-hug. He planted a soft kiss discretely on the side of my head. "Tomorrow."

With that, he was gone.

I touched my head, the bracelet on my hand catching the light.

He kissed me.

Terasaki-san tapped my shoulder. "Let's go."

"O-Oh. Right." I nodded and we began walking home.

"Did he buy you that?"

"Yeah." I said, regarding the bracelet fondly. I loved it. But I also felt overwhelmed by an incredible emptiness. I couldn't help but wonder about the birthday celebration we had missed out on. "Terasaki-san?"

"What?"

"Is it really okay to... let it happen?"

"Let what happen?" He frowned.

"These... mutual feelings. Our relationship." I didn't want to lose him again. I wanted him by my side.

"I don't know." He said.

That surprised me. It was unexpected of him to not have an opinion. "What do you mean?"

"I don't want to see you suffer anymore. Miyazono makes you happy." That was all he said.

"So... it's okay?" I asked, not really understanding why he was being so... reserved about this.

"It ought to be."

What the hell?

I frowned and opened my mouth to speak again but Terasaki-san's expression changed, making me hold my tongue.

"Go straight home."

"Huh?" I recoiled. "Why?"

"I need you to walk on home and not turn back at all. Can you do that for me?" He said in a low voice, his face every bit as serious as the words he spoke. "Tell Chiyo to put up a barrier."

"But, Terasaki-san-"

"Go." He interjected.

It scared me. For him to just send me home like that... It really scared me.

"I'll be fine." He looked at me and pat my back. "Go home."

"Please be careful." I said and reluctantly walked ahead as Terasaki-san slowed down. My steps were as fast as my pounding heart. While going on my own just made me an easy target for anything else, I decided to just trust Terasaki-san on this.

Without incident, I made it home. Chiyo greeted me at the door with a bright smile, then frowned, "Akane-chan, where's Kou-chan?"

"He'll be coming home soon." I replied and crouched before her after shutting the door. "He's asked you to set up a barrier."

"Me?" She pointed at herself in utter surprise. "B-But I'm not so good at... Kou-chan really said that?"

"He did." I nodded. What exactly were we up against?!

"I see. Okay. Leave it to me! I'll do my best!" She said strongly. "I'll protect you, Akane-chan!"

Chiyo...

She proceeded to chant something and make signs with her hands in fluid motion. Soon, she sighed. "I don't know how powerful this is but... I'm done. Kou-chan could have done it in a second though."

"Really?" Well, he was supposed to be that powerful.

"Mhm!" She chimed. "He's awesome!"

"He is." I smiled too, feeling a little better at that. Terasaki-san was awesome. We'll be fine.

I sat with Chiyo in the bedroom and waited for Terasaki-san while playing with her in the meantime. A long hour passed before we heard the click of the door opening.

"Kou-chan!" Chiyo jumped off the bed and rushed to the door. I made my way out after her. The door shut and Terasaki-san stumbled in.

"Terasaki-san!" I hurried over to him instantly. He wasn't looking so good. He was unsteady on his feet and breathing heavily. He was sweating profusely too. Wha- "Are you okay?"

"Akane..." He called softly. The next thing I knew, he had collapsed onto me.

"Oh!" I struggled to support his weight. "T-Terasaki-san!"

"Akane-chan." Chiyo touched his arm and the weight on me lightened a bit. Was she doing that?

"Thanks." I said and she nodded. "Let's get him to the bedroom."

It wasn't an easy task to lug the man but we managed to get him to the bed somehow. He had a few visible cuts and bruises but nothing that could've gotten him so weak.

"It's his spirit." Chiyo said. "He's exhausted."

"C-Could it be from a battle?" I sked, trying to figure out what to do. How come he's so drained though? What had happened?!

"I can... I can heal him a little but..." Chiyo looked unsure and a little shaken. "I've... I've never seen Kou-chan like this."

If only Agari-san was here...

"Do what you can. Uh... I'll attend to his external wounds." I went around the place looking for whatever I could use to clean his wounds. While Chiyo did her work, I did mine. Initially, he seemed to have been in a lot of discomfort. Eventually, he began looking a lot better.

Chiyo stepped away after a while. She just climbed onto bed and lay down next to him, tired herself. I felt helpless. I could do nothing more than just watch.

I sat down on the bed next to him and placed a hand on his forehead. He was warmer than usual. A fever? I fetched a wet cloth. By the time I'd attended to that too, Chiyo had also fallen asleep. I returned to sitting beside him again. All I was capable of doing was wait.

"Akane." Terasaki-san's soft call brought my eyes back to him from the darkening sky outside.

"Terasaki-san." I perked up and turned to him fully. "How are you feeling?" I moved the cloth from his forehead and pressed my palm to it. No fever. "The fever's been broken."

He took my hand off his forehead and propped himself up on one elbow, wincing a bit. "I'm fine."

"No. You should rest more." I tried to stop him from getting up but I couldn't move. He had stopped me, without eve so much as touching me. "Hey! No fair!"

"I said I'm fine." He insisted and looked at Chiyo. "Did she try to heal me?"

"She did."

He sighed and pet her head, gazing at her fondly, then spoke. "I'm sorry for making you worry."

"You were protecting me." I frowned. "That's not something to apologise for. And I have every right to be worried. What exactly happened? You barely made it home."

He was silent for a bit, then turned to me. "I engaged with one of those entities that dwell on negativity. Depending on their host, they can become quite powerful. The host is almost always human too. I don't have the power to purify them but I can suppress them. This one put up quite the fight though and it was rather powerful so dealing with it was not easy. Moreover, it managed to nullify many of my attempts to overpower it." He locked eyes with me. "I miscalculated. Don't worry."

'Don't worry'? 'Miscalculated'?! Terasaki-san definitely was not the type to miscalculate and I definitely had reason to worry. "Terasaki-san..." I furrowed my brows. "Isn't this just getting worse?"

He watched me seriously, then reached out and messed up my hair. "Then you'll just have to prepare yourself for training faster."

I see. So he won't deny that things are getting worse.

"Ah." I nodded. If he'd said that, it meant that he trusted me enough to be willing to train me as soon as I was ready.

"For now though," He massaged the bridge of his nose. "Could I trouble you for some coffee?"

"O-Of course!" I stood up immediately. "I'll make something to eat too while I'm at it. Chiyo too should eat. It'll help."

He gave me a small smile. "Thank you."

I shook my head as I left them. "Thank you, Terasaki-san."