Chapter 33: Reminders of the Past

Sanaka, Mizumi and Sumire were busy taking pictures of the landscape garden thru their phones. While Sanaka was swiveling around to take as much pictures as possible, she happened to get in frame Angelie and Akuma arguing. She clicked the button on her phone to capture the picture.

"They really like fighting, huh…"

Sanaka stared at the picture for a while.

"What are you looking at, Sanaka-san?"

Angelie was standing in front of Sanaka. She had no view of Sanaka's phone screen.

"Oh, nothing."

Sanaka giggled as she hid her phone behind her back.

"Can I just wait in the bus? I think we've seen enough of this place already."

Akuma had his hands inside his pockets while he looked away.

"What are you talking about, Jizen-kun?"

Mizumi approached him and stood on his left side.

"Yeah, let's enjoy the trip while we're here! Come on, let's take a group pic!"

Sumire then stood on his right side. Both she and Mizumi grabbed Akuma's arms on each side and dragged him to the front of the large pond. They posed to take a picture while Akuma struggled to get out of their arm lock.

"If they only knew that guy's true nature. I feel sorry for them."

Angelie shook her head while she put her hands on her hips.

"Oh? What is this I hear? Are you sad they took him away from you?"

Sanaka leaned over at Angelie and whispered to her ear.

"No! And I'd be happy if they take him forever, for all I care!"

Angelie stomped her foot while she glared at Sanaka.

"Fine, fine. Look, I took a picture of you two. I'll send it to you so you won't be sad anymore."

Sanaka briefly showed the picture to Angelie and then sent the picture to Angelie's phone.

"I don't want that! Why would you send me that?"

Angelie took out her phone and checked her notifications. She clicked on it and saw the picture. Angelie stared at it for a moment. She then realized she was going to delete it and was about to press the delete button. But her thumb just stopped short of pressing delete.

"Angelie-san, Sanaka-san! Come over here and let's take a picture of our whole group!"

Sumire called out to Angelie and Sanaka while still having Akuma in her arms.

Angelie looked up towards Sumire. She turned off the screen of her phone and put it inside her shoulder bag. Angelie and Sanaka ran towards Akuma and the two girls.

---

The teachers called the students to start getting back inside their respective buses. It was about two hours that they stayed and toured Nijo Castle. Their next destination for the day was Kyoto National Museum. It's one of Japan's only four top-level national museums. There was a choice of viewing the permanent collection or the special collection.

The permanent collection and special collection had two separate fees but it was already paid by the school so the students could view both if they so wish. The difference between the two was that the permanent collection was a rotating exhibit of a wide variety of cultural properties, while the special collection was a temporary exhibit.

The students were given an hour and a half to tour inside the museum. Once they arrived at the museum, Akuma's group went inside. Like it was earlier, Sanaka continued to chat with Mizumi and Sumire. Akuma and Angelie were walking behind them.

They were now at the part of the exhibit showing the relics from a war that happened centuries ago. In one glass encasing, it showcased the ceramics used by people in the past and their damaged state after the war happened. It caught Angelie's eye and she stopped walking to look at it. Akuma noticed it and he stopped as well.

"Hey, what's the big deal? We can't be separated from them, remember?"

Akuma turned around to look at Angelie, who was staring into the display.

"These were from a time of war, right? I was just wondering if this is what also happened to the people that I failed to protect… From you."

Angelie continued to stare into the broken pieces of ceramic plates and cups. Akuma remained silent for a while as he closed his eyes.

"No use thinking about that now."

Akuma started to walk away towards Sanaka and the others. Angelie bit her lip and clenched her fists as she stood there motionless.

---

The Kendo club captain's group were once again nearby, standing behind Angelie. The captain looked over his shoulder and saw that Angelie was finally by herself, standing in front of a display. He started to walk over to her direction.

"Hey, Kenji-kun! Where are you going? Spacing out again?"

One of his groupmates called out to him.

"Oh, just looking around. I won't go too far."

Kenji finally was able to distance himself from his group. He slowly walked towards Angelie. He gradually raised his arm to reach out to Angelie's shoulder. Just as he was about near enough to touch her, someone came and talked to Angelie. He then turned around quickly.

"Hi, Angelie-san. How have you been? Where is your group?"

Mimi touched Angelie's arm to get her attention.

"Oh, Mimi-san. I didn't see you there."

Angelie blinked quickly and then faced Mimi.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah. I was just… thinking for a bit. About the past. These displays reminded me of those times."

"I see."

Mimi let go of Angelie's arm.

"The Demon Lord said there's no use thinking about it now. I think he's right… But…"

Angelie grabbed her elbow and looked down.

"He may be right, but he does not have any right to tell you when it is useless to think of others. Even if we can't do anything about what has already transpired. That's why you two are different. And you will always be better than him. In our past lives and much more so now. That is what I truly believe."

Mimi grabbed Angelie's shivering hand.

"Thank you, Mimi-san. I'm really grateful I still have you in my life right now."

Angelie's hand stopped trembling. She smiled at Mimi.

After a few moments of silence, Mimi opened up the conversation again.

"So, Angelie-san. Do you know that guy who was behind you earlier?"

"Guy behind me? Where?"

Angelie looked behind her to where Mimi pointed the guy was. There were a lot of students in that direction.

"I'm sorry, there are too many people to know who it was. I didn’t see his face clearly, too."

Mimi shook her head.

"He must have been just looking around here as well. Anyway, I should get back to my group. They don’t know I stayed behind here and they're probably worried."

"Okay. Maybe we'll see each other later at the hotel, then. My group is just around here. See you, Angelie-san."

Mimi waved goodbye to her as Angelie briskly walked towards the way Sanaka and the others went to.

---

Angelie was able to catch up to Mizumi and the others. They asked her if she was feeling okay.

"What do you mean? I was just—"

"Well, Jizen-kun said you had to go to the restroom because your stomach was acting up. It would probably be best if you avoid eating too much next time, Angelie-san."

Mizumi sincerely smiled at Angelie.

"Uh, I'll heed your advice Mizumi-san."

Angelie smiled awkwardly at Mizumi. She then faced towards Akuma who was standing nearby. He smirked and then walked away. Angelie raised her trembling, closed fist up to her chest.

(I'll get you for this, you crazy Demon Lord!)

The teachers then called out to the students inside the museum. They would be heading to their last destination for the day which was the Ginkakuji. Most of the students boarded their respective buses. Angelie's group was near the museum exit when she realized something.

"By the way, where is Sanaka-san?"

Angelie looked around her.

"You're right… We didn't see her leave our side. Let's search before going back to the bus, shall we?"

Sumire led the search as she went back towards inside the museum. Mizumi promptly followed her. Before Angelie moved, she looked at Akuma. She didn't say anything and just sighed. Then, she went on her way to look for Sanaka.

"What a pain that Sanaka is."

Akuma casually walked back towards inside the museum.

Their group went separately into different directions to look for Sanaka. Mizumi and Sumire went back to the permanent collection area. The floor area was big so the two searched in different locations. When they didn't find her, they decided to return and wait at the exit. They thought that she might be waiting there now.

Akuma strolled around the special collection area and barely looked around for Sanaka. He did ask some of the attendants if they saw her. No one saw her around that area. He decided to go back and wait at the exit.

Angelie was also around the special collection area. She looked around but didn't see Sanaka. People were already dwindling since most of the students went back to their buses. She started to experience shortness of breath as she has moved around quite a bit.

"Where are you, Sanaka-san?"