Akemi went to take a shower and dinner before going back to her room. Unlike other girls her age, it was rather plain. No posters of top idols, cute plushies, or others stuffs that usually owned by high school girls. It wasn’t that Akito not giving her permission to have those kind of things, it just that Akemi didn’t know. She heard of them, but not interested in buying them or take a look. Which was why her conversation with Shouko always cut short.

She was wiping her sword from the previous mission. She felt a bit sorry for involving innocent lives when her target was only one person. If she use her normal sword skill, she would probably knocked the others unconscious then killed Kotaro only. However, this butterfly hairpin made it impossible. She recalled back to the day that person gave her this particular hairpin, named ‘Relic’ and the also the time she met her 'hero'.

A month ago

Akemi had just finished her kendo club practice and was cleaning the dojo before going home. Shouko helped her as well.

“You don’t have to help me senpai. This is the job of 1st years right?” Akemi asked while wiping sweat on her forehead. Shouko sighed and stopped sweeping.

“That doesn’t mean I can’t help right? Besides, you’re the only 1st year here. It will took you until sunset to finish it.”

Akemi realized she made a good point and she knew how kind Shouko was. She approached her when other clubs rejected her. At first, the other felt disappointed with only Akemi joining. Not helping since she didn’t talk to others very much. But Shouko tried her best to befriend Akemi. Akemi wasn’t annoyed by her way of reaching her and she wanted to make friends too. So she believed that Shouko might helped her make friends on her own.

“Okay that’s all. Go ahead and change first, I will lock the door.”

“Thank you senpai.”

Akemi got changed and waited until she finished changing. All of a sudden, a man came over to her. Akemi was confused at first, but the man let out a strange scream. It was inhuman. The man attacked her by kicking her, but she dodged before the hit landed. His eyes was empty, and his body moved unstably. Trying to analyze what was happening, she dodged every single move he did. Realizing she was at a disadvantage, she was thinking of using her sword. But it was risky since she could injure the man badly or Shouko came out.

“Darn it!” She snapped back when she saw the man fist almost landed on her face. She closed her eyes on instinct. But the hit the never land. She slowly opened her eyes to see a boy in a school uniform blocking the attack.

“What’s this? A man attacking a girl? What a wuss.” Infuriated by him, the man released a combination of punching and kicking, but either was blocked or dodged by the boy. The boy took a deep breath and clenched his right hand into a fist. It glowed a bright green then with all of his might, he punched the man. The man was sent flying for about 100 meters before stopping. He went to check on the man.

“Don’t worry, he is only KO. Better call someone to treat him. Hm?” he checked on the man’s eyes and pulled a cellphone.

“Maika, I found another one. Yes. Just like the other day. I see. I’ll be there soon.” She closed his phone than walked back to Akemi. Akemi was awestrucked by his prowess. He called for her but she was silent.

“Hey ... hey ... HEY!!”

“Y-yes!”

“What now? You blanked out? Don’t do that. Don’t want you to get posessed or a fly went inside your mouth and you choked out.”

“What was that?”

“Nevermind.”

She never expected to see that kind of speed and power. And she tried to scan his appearance. He had a short black hair. A darkened skin. He wore a confident smile that it’s bright match the sun.

“Anyway, can you help me take care of that guy? I already called an ambulance, but I really have to go now.”

“Eh?” before she could protest, he was already gone. Shouko came not long after that and Akemi explained what had happened. On their way home, Akemi couldn’t stopped thinking of the person and decided to ask about him to Shouko.

“Oh? I didn’t expect you to be interested in a guy.”

“I never had the chance to thank him. He just ran away after saving me.”

“I would love to have that kind of situation happening to me. A cliché story of a hero saving a damsel in distress. Aah.”

Akemi was a bit surprised to know that her upperclassmen was romance fanatic. But she decided to not comment on that.

“What was he look like Marufuji?” curious, Shouko asked Akemi about the boy. She told her about and she squealed.

“Wow! Is he handsome? You saw his face didn’t you?” Akemi tried to remember his face. Not sure about how to measure the handsomeness of a boy, she simply nodded. Shouko chuckled and nudged Akemi’s side.

“He is a student of our school. He must be one of those populars. Shouldn’t be difficult to find him again.”

‘How about yourself then?’, Akemi tried to hold herself from asking that question. But deep inside, she wanted to see him again. To properly thanked him and befriend him.

“It’s been a month since that day. Is he part of a club that always busy? Or perhaps a go-home club student? Hmmph ....” She decided to think about that later and studied instead. She went to sleep after she finished and tried to get a good rest before tomorrow morning.

After school, Shouko came to Akemi’s classroom to ask about something?

“Birthday?” Akemi asked.

“Yes, my elder sister birthday is coming up soon and I want to make a party to welcome her return as well.”

“Oh right, your sister lives overseas.” Shouko responded with a nod.

“She decided to spend her vacation here in Japan since her husband has a work in other country. It’s been a while since I saw her. I can’t wait.” Shouko looked so happy thinking about everything she wanted for the party. Akemi thought to herself, when was the last time there was a birthday party in her home. She was interrupted by Shouko.

“Marufuji, are you busy after school? Can’t you help me buy gifts for her?” Akemi blinked. She didn’t expect Shouko to ask her.

“Ah, you are busy I suppose...”

“No. I’m not. I would love to go with you.”

“Seriously?” Akemi nodded and smiled. Shouko hugged her in delight. “Thank you! I knew Marufuji is a good friend! Come, let’s go.” Akemi couldn’t help but smile wider when she heard that word. Friend. Yes, a friend.

The two went to order for a cake, bought some decorations and finally to the mall to buy a gift.

“What does your sister like senpai?”

“Hmm, the last time she was here, she was a fan of pop singer. And I bought her a CD that time. Now I don’t know.” Seeing her friend spirit dropped after she asked, Akemi thought quickly of something else when her gaze stopped at a accessories store.

“Senpai, how about going there?” She pointed at the store. Shouko face lit up again.

“Right!” They looked around the store until Shouko stopped at a pair of panda plushies. One of them wore a mage outfit while the other dressed in a dancer outfit.

“So cute! I want to buy it. What do you think Marufuji?”

“I think it’s good. You both can have each one of them.”

“You think so too? Sis definitely like this.”

She decided to buy the plushies and wrapped it up as well. Shouko was happy and it made Akemi happy too to see that she can help her friend and enjoy a normal life for a bit. They parted ways once they left the mall as Shouko had to run an errand. Akemi was just about to walk but hit someone and almost fell.

“Oops! Sorry about that. Eh?” It was the boy that rescued her back then.

“It’s you again. Haha, long time no see?” asked the boy casually. Akemi didn’t expect to meet him there and what a coincidence as well.

“It’s been a while indeed. Are you meeting with someone here?”

“Yes, but she was a bit late so I was bored and walked around. Perhaps it was fate for us to meet here again?” he winked at her, which made Akemi rolled her eyes. She sighed and straightened up.

“Um, there was something that I would like to tell you.” He gasped all of sudden. Making Akemi confused.

“A confession? Out of nowhere?” She felt a vein might popped on her forehead as he kept joking. Realizing his mistake, he faked a cough and told her to go on.

“Thank you for helping me last time. You saved me from a danger, and I wished to thank you sooner. Unfortunately, you ran off before mentioning your name.” He laughed sheepishly while rubbing the back of his head. He eventually offered a handshake and smiled at Akemi.

“My name is Wataru Koyama. Class 1-B. Nice to meet you, miss....” “Marufuji. Akemi Marufuji from class 1-D. Nice to meet you too, Koyama.” She shook his hand in return.

“So glad that I meet you again Marufuji. To be honest, I want to meet you too.”

“Why?”

“Because ... I just want to know you more, you know? And you’re the only one that ever see me use that.” Akemi thought about the incident.

“So, like keeping an eye on me so I didn’t tell your secrets.”

“Ehehe, that sounds kinda...”

“Alright.”

“What?”

“I will keep quiet about it, with a condition.” Wataru crossed his arms and looked like he was thinking something.

“I ... want you ... to be my friend.” Akemi turned her gaze to her feet, anxious for his answer.

“That is ... unexpected. But sure, why not? I want to have a female friend too.”

“You do? Thank you.” Akemi bowed at him and he simply smiled at her respond. Not long after that someone called Wataru from afar. He noticed it as his friend.

“Oh, that’s her. Took her a while.”

“Well then. I guess I will take my leave. Have a good day Koyama.”

“Mm, you too. Take care Marufuji. See you at school!”

Wataru waved her farewell and she left the mall. Wataru’s friend came and the two went inside the mall. Not far from there, a person in a tuxedo and a stetson was looking at Akemi. He grinned before following her not realizing that he wasn’t the only one stalking her.