Chapter 4: Having Great Feelings
Morning sunlight slipped through the curtains.
Arashio slowly opened his eyes.
"...Huh?"
His heart almost stopped.
Siya was sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at him with a gentle smile.
"W-Why are you so close?!" Arashio shouted.
Siya blinked.
"I was trying to wake you up."
Arashio's face turned bright red.
"D-Don't scare me like that!"
Siya laughed.
"Because your sleeping face is cute.."
Arashio suddenly sat up...
"...Wait."
He looked around.
His room was empty.
"It was... another dream?"
He covered his face.
"Why am I dreaming about her so much?"
A few minutes later...
Still half asleep, Arashio walked toward the bathroom.
Without thinking...
He opened the door.
Splash!
Siya was inside, washing her hair.
The two stared at each other.
Silence.
Then...
"AAAAAH!!"
BAM!
Siya's punch sent Arashio flying across the hallway.
"My bad!" Arashio shouted while closing the door.
Inside the bathroom, Siya covered her blushed-red face.
"Idiot..."
Later...
The smell of breakfast filled the house.
Arashio sat at the table while Siya placed several dishes in front of him.
"You cooked all this?"
She proudly smiled.
"Of course."
As they ate, Arashio became serious.
"Siya..."
"Who exactly is James?"
"And why is everyone shocked by my power?"
Siya slowly looked away.
"I can't tell you."
"Why?"
"Because... if you learn the truth too early..."
"...your life will never be normal again."
Arashio sighed.
"Then when will you tell me?"
"When James decides you're ready."
To lighten the mood, Siya smiled.
"Anyway... do you know what tomorrow is?"
Arashio scratched his head.
"No."
She laughed.
"I knew you'd forget."
As she leaned forward, Arashio accidentally noticed her loose sweater.
His face immediately turned red.
"W-What?"
Siya asked with a playful smile.
"N-Nothing!"
She laughed even harder.
"You really can't hide your expressions."
Later that day...
The two visited a shopping mall together.
Siya happily picked up different shirts.
"This blue one looks perfect."
Arashio looked confused.
"Why are you choosing men's clothes?"
She smiled without looking at him.
"Because they're for you."
"...For me?"
"You've been wearing the same clothes since we met."
Arashio smiled awkwardly.
"Thanks..."
His heart started beating a little faster.
Suddenly—
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Gunshots echoed throughout the mall.
Four masked robbers entered with rifles.
Everyone screamed.
Arashio immediately grabbed Siya's hand.
"This way!"
Without thinking, Siya held his hand tightly as they ran upstairs.
Her heartbeat was racing.
Not because of the robbers...
But because Arashio was holding her hand.
They hid behind a pillar.
One robber fired another shot.
The shopping bag beside Siya exploded.
The new blue shirt she had chosen for Arashio was destroyed.
Her smile disappeared.
"...That was your gift."
Golden light burst around her.
"I summon..."
"golden phoniex!"
The robbers summoned four giant monster dogs.
Within moments, the battle was over.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The phoniex defeated every monster.
Security quickly arrested the robbers.
Siya quietly picked up the torn blue shirt.
Tears gathered in her eyes.
"I really wanted to see you wearing it..."
Arashio looked at her silently.
Without saying anything...
He gently patted her head.
"It was only a shirt."
"We can buy another one."
Siya looked up at him.
A warm smile slowly appeared on her face.
"...Thank you."
That evening...
They returned home.
A small gift box was waiting outside the front door.
Arashio opened it.
Inside was a heart-shaped chocolate and a note.
Happy Valentine's Day.
At the same time, Siya found a cute teddy bear outside her room.
She smiled brightly.
"Did... Arashio leave this for me?"
Inside his room, Arashio wondered,
"Did Siya buy me the chocolate?"
Neither of them knew the truth.
That night, they exchanged messages until midnight, laughing over small jokes and funny stickers.
Both of them fell asleep with smiles on their faces.
On the rooftop of a nearby building...
A white-haired young man quietly watched them.
It was...
Satoru Jojo.
"So..."
"Their bond is growing faster than expected."
Suddenly, a shadow appeared behind him.
A cold voice echoed through the darkness.
"Then it's time..."
"...to separate them."
Jojo's smile disappeared.
"...Who are you?"
The mysterious figure slowly stepped forward.
His crimson eyes glowed beneath the moonlight.
"I've come..."
"...for James."
To Be Continued...