Chapter 322 - Life is not cruel, Society is.

For her whole life loneliness always came, all she saw was whispers of mockery and insults. Where only herself was accompanying her friend. 

Their gaze was all disgust and hate even growing up only miserable bad luck came and unable to find a single friend.

From that solitude only stories of books that eased her loneliness that helped her hollow dead eyes to have small embers that barely burn.

She usually went to the mall alone inspecting books and expected her usual routine to be faced with ridicule of her appearances. 

From elementary to middle school nothing had changed and her wishes for it still shines, giving her hope for her high school. 

"Is that the loner girl, Saki?"

"You're right! How pathetic."

"She doesn't have a sense of fashion. Look at how messy her hair is."

"Jeez, now our day is our ruin."

These are the things she faces every day in her entire life. She did not shed any hate for them, only wanted to have friends, even just one would be enough. Her heart was kind and the world was cruel.

"I'm sorry if I offend you!"

Her eyes he'd a tear as she hid her face in the book. Saki wanted her life to change for the better even if that light is fake would be enough for her.

"Oh, she's going to cry."

"What did we hurt you feeling? Pathetic."

"That is why she doesn't have any friends."

Sali heard their ridicule and wanted to just bury herself to finally end everything. It was all the same until.

"Are these people bothering you, Saki-san?"

She then heard a voice and turned to see a handsome young man with a charming face and affect the body that made her blush. Her heart pounded once he got closer to beside him and silently in a daze looking at his face.

He had exotic shoulder-length red hair that made him even more alluring to her eyes. She was like those prince charming to the book that she had read and how he appeared to be a damsel in distress.

Caelum wrapped his hand around her shoulder letting the young girl feel the warmth he was exuding then saw him calmly smile. Unknowingly her tragic fate had been severed slowly connecting itself to the young man.

"Are they bothering you, Saki-san?"

"Uhm…"

She felt overwhelmed and unable to react properly as her innocent heart went haywire thinking if this man was the person who would save her from solitude.

Saki was only a 14-year-old young girl and her fate was much crueler than the solitude she was experiencing. An endless torment that now has been severe by the young man's interference.

[A/N: life is never cruel, only society is.]

"Hi I'm a friend of Saki, is there anything you need from her?"

Caelum released a fraction of his killing intent enough to scare them and instantly cause their legs to quiver seeing the primal urge to run away as far as possible.

"A-Ah no we were just going! Sorry to disturb you!"

They quickly ran from the store promising to never bother her anymore.  Meanwhile, Miku who saw everything couldn't help but find it charming how he helped her and how the young girl was similar to her. A person who has low esteem.

"Eto….ano, how long are you going to hug me?"

"Ah sorry, I didn't mean to."

"I-It's alright, t-thank you for helping me from those bullies, by the way, my name is Saki Yoshida."

"Caelum Mercer and I know it's hard to pronounce, just call me Masa."

"Did you just touch some random girl, Masa-san?"

Miku promised them while looking at Saki who was still not used to anyone trying her best to avoid looking at Miku. The latter felt compelled to befriend her as if a string was formed.

"Y-Yeah it was our impulse. To be honest, I'm someone who can't stay still when someone gets hurt or insulted. Sorry again for touching you."

"N-No, it's fine. I'm glad you stepped in."

"Do you have anyone with you, Saki-san? My name is Miku Nakano, by the way."

"I-Its nice to meet you, Nakano-san, and no I'm just by myself…"

Her last words held a lonely tone instantly recognized by Miku, who took her by the hand, surprising Saki. 

"How about you come with us around the mall?"

Saki was stunned to hear someone inviting her. It made her slightly tear up but finally had someone talk to her without being insulted. 

"A-Are you sure? I'm not a bother if I come?"

Miku shook her head having befriended Saki who took a look at Caelum and gave a charming smile. For the first time in her life, she felt happy and finally had a friend who did not have the mocking gaze she always sees. 

"I see that you like reading? What genre do you usually read?"

"I always read romances and a slice of life novel."

"Oh, do you have anything you want in the store? You don't need to worry, I'll pay for it."

"Y-You don't need to do that for me."

"Nah, take it. This is my way to at least apologize for touching you. Don't be concerned about how many you choose and just leave it to me."

Saki wanted to refute then realize it may cause him to hate her if she were to refuse and quickly browse the book store along with Miku who helped her. The two seem to get along as Caelum watches them to the side. 

"How old are you, Saki-san?"

"I'm 14 this year."

"Is that so? I'm 3 years older then."

"Then how should I address you, Nakano-san?"

"Miku-san is fine."

After they purchased the books, they quickly headed their way around where her other sister agreed to meet up.

Saki joined slightly anxious to be around people yet felt close and didn't want to ruin by running away.

She easily trusted them despite being a stranger and showed how lonely her whole life was. 

Caelum who observed her understood she lacked attention and desperately wanted to be liked by anyone. She was young enough to be his younger sister yet seeing the Ominous Qi enough to be crystallized and turn into pills if he had his old power.

It was slowly changing the more Caelum interacted due to his fateless statue and even more after realizing his fate had been under heaven despite his path to defy it. 

"Here, do calm yourself. I can see that you've lived quite a lonely life but now you can consider me as a friend."

"R-Really? You don't think my appearance is unpleasant or…"

"Stop saying that, Saki-san. I'll talk to my sister and help you change."

Miku somehow develops an impulse to be Saki's sister. Hearing her words, the latter meekly nodded before feeling a hand patting her head.

"Beauty is never in one's looks and it is within that matter. Though, I can't deny hot girls cause I'm a man."

"Do you always pat distressed people?"

"Of course, this is my secret technique! Everyone hit by this attack instantly fell for me."

Caelum jokingly said slowly realizing that the majority of his lover did experience his head pat and wondered if he had a fetish. Saki enjoys his caressed feeling depended on into those strong yet gentle hands of his.

'Am I….falling in love?'

The young innocent child that had been the prime reason for his unfortunate fate. However, this time it is different where only love and happiness shall come. 

"We're back. Sorry for making you guys wait."

Moments later, Nino and Ichika finished shopping for clothes, arriving where both saw an additional person at the table.

"Who is this? A friend of yours, Caelum-san?"

"Yup, introduce yourself."

"H-Hello, my name is Saki Yoshida, it's nice to meet you."

"You don't need to be nervous."

"Nino, Itsuka, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Miku dragged the two away leaving Caelum and Saki who were anxious around him. She still felt dazed finally having someone to consider as a friend.

Meanwhile, Miku told her sister everything that happened surprising them while Nino's reaction was the most noticeable, opting for curious looks from her two sisters.

"Did something happen between you and Masa-san?"

Nino recalled how his broad shoulder protected her from those thugs and how romantic he stepped in to save Saki.

"Come on, tell us!"

"W-Wait there's nothing I promise, Itsuka."

"No, you're going to tell us everything."

With the might of her two sisters spat out everything regarding the other day. Earning a variety of reactions from the two sisters.