Thea was working on a pile of paperwork in her room. Trying to handle it at school was basically impossible, since other students and club representatives kept trying to add to her workload. Here she could get some peace and quiet.
"Tea?" Daniel's voice came from downstairs.
"I'm in my room! Come up! Can you close the door, please?! My hands were full, and I forgot!" She shouted down to him.
A minute later, he knocked on her door as her entered, "Hey."
"Good to see you again. It's been too long." She joked.
"Far too long." He looked around. "But what's all this?"
He was looking at her room filled with paper stacks, books and file boxes.
"Most are last minute requisitions from various groups for the dance this weekend. Some of them are previously approved guidelines from former councils about the dance that need to be distributed." She pointed to one side. "Those are budget reviews and test prep books." She then pointed to the other side. "Those are rules and regulations for the practical exams, to be divided by grade." She looked around once more, then pointed to a smaller stuffed box, by her trash can. "Oh, and those are all the date requests I've gotten for the dance."
"Popular as ever, I see. You're not accepting applications for the position of 'Date', at this time?" He teased.
"I've been busy with all the work for this dance, and a date can be stressful, so I've decided against it. Well, I'd have an exception. Someone I already have in mind, but I have a lot of trust to earn back before I try again." She looked at him, a pang of guilt struck her. Quickly, she looked towards the wall.
"Look, Tea, about that night…"
"Daniel." She softly interrupted, "Both of those nights… I messed up, and I'm sorry. I don't want you to apologize for me taking advantage of you, or me getting drunk and doing who knows what."
"You don't remember?"
"I remember finding my clothing in the dryer, waking up tucked in bed, and my head throbbing."
"To be honest, that was probably the worst of it." A small smile cracked the side of his face.
"Stop it." She smiled back. "Just… just let me make it up to you. I give you permission to hate me. Oh and… well, a second year approached me before school."
"Charlotte?"
"Oh, so you have met."
"She says we did a few years back, but I really don't remember her. She asked you if we were dating, right?"
"Sort of." She returned to her work. "Evidently, she's seen us working out in the morning, and thought we were already together. Then after I said we were friends, she asked if I had feeling for you."
"So?"
"So?! So, I lied and said 'no'." She sighed. "After what I've done to you, I don't deserve to get between you and anyone else, and until I earn your trust back, that will be my answer to anyone else who asks."
Daniel sat down and started organizing some of the boxes of paperwork. They worked in silence for a few minutes. Thea finally exhaled in frustration and spoke up.
"I'll admit though, I kind of regret doing that now. Lying to her. Though, not for the reason you're thinking."
"Why then?"
"That's not my secret to tell."
"Cryptic as always." He smiled.
Things went quiet for a while longer.
"Regardless," This time Daniel broke the silence, "I need to tell you what happened with Charlotte."
"Well, I'm going to hazard a guess, and assume she asked you to the dance?"
"That was part of it."
"And you rejected the poor girl?" Thea unwittingly had a spike of mockery in her voice.
"No."
The room went silent, only interrupted by the sound of Thea's pen dropping to her desk. Her mind went blank. What? There was a small crackling noise, and soon the smell of burning paper hit the room. Daniel saw the paper Thea was holding in her hand was aflame. He rushed over and smothered the paper along with part of Thea's sleeve. He rolled up her sleeves to check for any burns but didn't find any fresh ones and noticed the faded burn up her arm had been healed, and faded so much he almost missed the scarring.
"Hey? Are you okay? Did you burn your hand?" Daniel looked up at her face. Tears were streaming down from her eyes.
"You do hate me then?" She said quietly.
"No. I care for you. You're… you're my closest friend." He assured her.
A terrible series of thoughts crossed her mind in an instant.
"Then Charlotte's just some 'test dummy' for you? If it works out, you can ditch her and move on?" She looked him in the eyes with a stern expression and could feel herself heating up. Daniel looked taken aback.
"Don't you DARE do that. After everything you told me you've been through, don't you even think of using someone else's emotions to make yourself feel better."
"You've got the wrong idea, Tea." He defended himself.
"Do I?"
"We're only going as friends, I swear."
"And she knows that?"
"She does. She asked me to be her boyfriend, and I said 'No', but said we could be friends, and she accepted."
"Just don't play with her emotions."
"I won't."
"If you do, I won't forgive you."
"U-understood..."
Thea sniffled and chuckled a bit. "Andras is gonna hate you."
"Yeah..." Daniel chuckled back.
After Daniel had 'cut ties' with the girls socially, Thea asked him to make a friend so he wasn't alone at school. A bit into their freshman year, Daniel became friends with another student named Andras Doyle. Only slightly stronger than Daniel, Andras was close enough socially to Daniel that he was willing to talk and hang out with him. Although, while Daniel was soft spoken and pretty meek at school, Andras only acted that way around bullies. Thea had even seen him use Daniel as a shield from them more than a few times. However, when Andras was in front of girls, his ego was multiplied, but because he was weak, he was rejected every time. Daniel getting a date with a second year might actually throw a wrench into their friendship.
Thea wiped her eyes and went back to work, brushing the ashes from the burnt paper away. Daniel looked around.
"Have you spoken to Masuyo?" He asked
She jumped a bit at the unprovoked question. "Not since lunch. Why?"
"She just seemed angry with you after class, and I worry about you two sometimes."
"Have you spoken to her since lunch?" She fired back at him.
"She texted me right after you did, after school, saying she needs to talk to me."
"Then maybe you should talk to her. I'm definitely not mad at her, and I don't think she's actually mad at me." She shared, softly. Hopefully today could set things right.
"I'm sorry. You're right. Anyway, I shouldn't pry into your stuff. I mean, unless you ask, that is."
"If there is one thing, I'll always expect from you, Daniel, it's that you'll pry." She chuckled, though feeling a bit hollow at it. "But you always do it to help. Well, if Masuyo wants to talk to you, it's best that you go home and do so."
He finished organizing the box he'd been working on. After that, he stood up to leave but stopped at the door for a moment.
"Tea?"
"What's up, Daniel?"
"You know, you can tell me anything. I won't judge you, and I swear I'll stand by you. So, are you keeping a big secret from me?"
"No. Nothing, I can think of." She turned to him and had a quizzical look on her face. "What do you think I'm hiding?"
"I just had this… worrying thought, that maybe the job you were having problems with was more… 'heroic', then you've mentioned."
For a fraction of a second, when he said 'heroic', Thea almost lost her composure, but she caught herself almost immediately and began laughing. "Haha, you think my job is 'heroic'? That's sweet of you." She threw herself into her laughing. 'If you think me juggling these workloads, school and my part time job are worth calling 'heroic', you're funny."
"Well, regardless," He looked with a wistful smile, "you know if you ever need help, I'm here." He then left, as she heard the front door shut behind him, her laughing died down.
How did he figure it out! She internally panicked as she threw herself back into her work. I'll tell the others he's on to us later, and we can figure out what to do together.
+++
Masuyo was walking home from the store, with a plethora of food in the bags hanging from her arms. She wanted to make something special for Daniel, but everything looked good, so she decided to mix various things together and make a great dinner for both of them. After all, he's made some amazing meals in the time they'd been living under the same roof, so it was her turn to show him what she could do. He said he'd be home 'late', but not exactly when. Maybe she should message him to get an exact time. Actually, she'd spent so much time at the store, it'd be surprising if he wasn't at the house already. She was so distracted that she almost ran into the streetlamp, only catching herself at the last second.
"Woah. Heheh, my bad." She laughed aloud to no one.
As she moved around the pole, she heard a loud 'THUNK!" Right in her path, the pole suddenly had a knife sticking in it. Immediately on alert, she looked around. The streets were empty, but she spotted a hooded figure in a grey cloak on the roof of a nearby two-story building. He was brandishing more knives, menacingly. Masuyo ran in the opposite direction, keeping eye behind her to prepare for any more attacks.
THE GREY KNIGHT?!
The second blade flew past her shoulder, and barely able to dodge in time, it grazed her. She yelped in pain. There was no one near so she just kept running. She was able to use a healing spell to seal the cut, but if things got more complex it might require transforming.
The attacker kept following, jumping from roof to roof and were closing in on her.
"GRAH!" She screamed as the third knife sank into her calf. She tumbled to the ground at the face of an alley dropping her bags.
Dropping from the rooftop, the mysterious cloaked figure closed in and pulled out another knife. They held the blade over their head, ready to strike. Masuyo readied herself to transform and defend herself.
"Get away from her!" A familiar voice rang out as someone tackled the cloaked figure to the ground. Masuyo pulled the blade out and sealed the wound the best she could. For a split second the cloaked figure's hood lifted, revealing a face. It happened so quickly Masuyo couldn't register who it was. The hooded figure pried the other person off and ran, escaping to the roof. Now that they weren't moving around, Masuyo could see the same kind of school uniform she wore, along with a familiar hairdo. The student coughed, and Masuyo could see splatters of blood land across the sidewalk. Still a bit dazed from the sudden attack, she grabbed the shoulders of her rescuer to check on them. Daniel collapsed back into her.
"Are you okay?" He asked looking up to see her.
"ME?!" She said dumbfounded, "You're… you got stabbed!" She noticed the blade in his chest.
Finding no help, Masuyo dragged Daniel into the alley, put her hands around the blade sticking in his chest, and began '{minor healing}' as she pulled the blade out. Daniel turned his head and coughed, covering the ground and his mouth with more blood. Her healing wasn't doing enough, and now, with the blade removed, he was bleeding out. Why isn't my healing enough for this? I'm able to focus on it so it should be.If I can't heal him like this… She looked around, and seeing an empty alley she touched her necklace and transformed into Unicorn. Her healing instantly increased, and the wound closed. Eventually, she could feel the internal injuries healing. Her own injuries had all healed almost as soon as she'd transformed so she released a big sigh of relief as the situation seemed stable. She looked at Daniel's face, and while he said nothing, he was staring right at her face with a pale face and giant eyes.
"M-Masuyo?"
"I-um… I have no idea what you're talking about citizen. I was simply in the area and … and saw you in need."
"I literally watched you transform, Masuyo. You may look…completely different, but it's you." He sat up.
"Hey! Don't move too much. You may rip something opened that I just closed."
Standing up, he wiped the blood from his mouth. "I'm fine, thanks to you. You saved me Mas-um... is it Unicorn?"
"You saved me first." She responded a bit flustered. This was definitely going to be a huge problem later, but for the moment, Unicorn wasn't thinking about that.
"So, you're a hero?" Daniel said, sounding a bit like he was convincing himself. He looked her up and down, seeming to try to register this revelation. It was understandable that it might be hard to believe this woman standing in front of him now, and the Masuyo he'd known for years, were the same person. Unicorn was standing at about his height, which is about half a foot taller than Masuyo. The transformation also made her face completely different, her hair was longer, even sparkling in the light. Right before his eyes however, she started glowing and returned to Masuyo. After taking a breath and collecting herself, she grabbed Daniel's shoulder and pinned him to the wall of the alley. She could see him tense up as she whispered into his ear.
"You will NOT tell anybody."
Noticing the closeness, her face turned bright red and she backed off slightly. She still held his shoulder, but at an arm's length. Daniel gently moved around her, taking the hand pinning him to the wall.
"Tell anybody what?" Daniel shrugged his shoulders, playing dumb. He was acting like he'd regained his composure, but Masuyo could feel his hand trembling a bit in hers. He then more quietly continued. "If there was something for me to not tell, maybe we should talk in private."
She lightly pulled her hand back and could tell her face was beet red. A smile cracked on his face as he noticed. He walked over to her dropped bags and picked them up. She quickly followed him as he opened the bags to look in.
"What did you get?"
"Dinner." She snatched the bags as soon as she caught up. "Since no one else is going to be home this evening, I thought I could make us dinner."
"Us?" He teased.
"Is that a problem?" Any smile she still had disappeared. After everything going on, his teasing hit an already irritated nerve.
"N-no. Just, thank you." He dropped the joking, clearly sensing she wasn't in the mood for it.
"Anyway, the more pressing matter is, that."
She stopped and pointed at Daniel's clothing. While he was mobile, if not still looking quite a bit paler than usual, his shirt was not only soaked in his own blood, but had a huge slice in the front. Masuyo sealed her cuts quickly enough that she simply looked like she ran through a bush or something. Daniel, appropriately enough, looked like he'd just been stabbed in the chest and almost died.
"Also," she continued, "While I'm confident that I healed you from that, it may be best to see a doctor or something."
Daniel dug through his bag and pulled out his gym clothing. He went to lift the bloodied shirt he was wearing, but as he started, he looked at Masuyo.
"Umm… Could you look away please?"
Masuyo realized she'd been starring him down intensely and instantly turned around.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to…ummm…" she trailed off.
A moment passed and she heard a step behind her, but before she could react a pair of fingers poked her in her side.
"Eeep!" She turned around to Daniel, now wearing his gym shirt. He was smiling widely.
"Gotcha."
"Why would you do that?"
"Come on, we used to do silly crap like that to each other all the time."
"Ya, when we were kids."
"Sorry."
"It's fine. Are you good heading home now?"
"Sure, but," He fidgeted a bit, "If you can, would it be okay if I held your hand. F-for support of course." It was the first time Masuyo had heard Daniel sound nervous in a very long time.
"If you say so."
They were quiet the rest of the walk home. Masuyo kept looking over at Daniel as they walked hand in hand. He was pale, and his hand was pretty cold. Whenever he saw her looking at him, he smiled at her, as if he was trying to reassure her. Soon enough they made it home. As they walked into the house, no sooner had they let each other's hand go when a noise came from the living room rushing right to them. Then, Noriko came rushed into view.
"Finally!" She smiles at us. "No one else was home to make dinner. I was afraid I might have to try it again."
Noriko was a menace in the kitchen. She was allowed to help with prep, but that's as far as it ever goes. Her last attempt of cooking at home ended with a visit from the fire department and the kitchen needing to be replaced. Yes, the whole kitchen. Masuyo's mom had sent her to a cooking class, but that ended with the entire class in the hospital. So, since then, it had been a decree in the house that she isn't even allowed to touch something that's actively cooking. Masuyo slapped her head.
"Right. Noriko. I forgot." She said aloud.
"Well, good news. I think you got enough food for everyone." Daniel gave a kind chuckled.
"Ya…" Masuyo reached into her school bag and pulled out her wallet. Grabbing a bill, she looked at her sister. "Noriko, here's fifty dollars. Go have dinner, and then go to the movies or arcade, or something… Just don't come home for a few hours."
She snatched the bill and started putting on her shoes.
"Can I bring Big Bro with me?"
"No." she very flatly answered.
"Why?"
"We have school things to discuss, and you'll just be a distraction."
"Fine…" She pouted.
I hate that pouting face so much.
Noriko then peaked around Masuyo, right at Daniel. "But you'd better not be doing any 'dirty stuff' with Sis." Sounding very stern. Right after, however, her face turned to a mischievous grin. "Not yet anyway."
"Where the hell did THAT come from?!" Daniel exclaimed, wobbling a bit as he did.
Wait, what did she say?
"I was reading some manga, and that seems to be the general idea of what step siblings secretly spending time together leads to."
"I really don't think you're old enough to read, um, stuff like that. And that specific genre is… is a bit awkward to discuss." Daniel was trying to act mature but was way out of his depth. "S-Stepsiblings only act like that in Light novels, anime, and online videos that you definitely shouldn't be looking at."
"But I got it from Mas-"
"Bye Noriko!" Masuyo interrupted and practically tossed her sister out the door, locking it behind her.
"I swear it isn't mine. I mean it is but I didn't pick it. It was a gift from uh… Lailah, and she told me to read it for the story. I then forgot about it, Noriko borrowed it without asking, and I guess that was what it was about. Ha ha ha" As she forced her laughter at the end, Masuyo had her back to the door, she was scarlet from ear to ear. Her eyes were locked on the floor because she couldn't even look him in the eye.
Outside the door they could hear Noriko as she stomped away. "You can try to hide me away, but you can't hide your SHAME!" As she walked further down the street she continued. "My sister reads smut! Take that Masuyo Yuno!"
Listening to her sister's shouts Masuyo went from red to a pale white, as her shoulders slumped. "It's amazing that I haven't killed her yet…" exasperated, she sighed as she finally looked at Daniel again. "Hungry?"
"Sure, I am, but shouldn't we talk?"
"We can, once we're eating. I'm starving." She started towards the kitchen "And I don't really want to talk about what just happened."
"Good point," Daniel conceded. "Me neither."
Daniel changed and showered as Masuyo prepared dinner. Though the food had survived their attack, a small cake meant for dessert ended up rather smushed. "I'm sure it'll taste fine." She assured herself. Soon enough, Daniel came downstairs, freshly cleaned, in causal clothing.
"Dinner's almost finished. Has your wound stayed shut?"
"Ya." He lifted most of his shirt, showing his chest. While there was still a red line, the cut looked completely sealed. "It looks good. Thanks again." He then pulled his shirt back down quickly, seeming embarrassed.
"N-no problem." She stuttered, caught off guard by him flashing his chest. It certainly does look good, she thought as she set the table. She plated out the food and gave it to Daniel.
"This looks amazing."
"Thanks"
They started eating, but after about a minute of it, the questions began.
"So, you're Unicorn, from the Magical Ranger Girls?"
"Yes. My friends call me 'UC'."
"Your friends, huh? Well, there are six on your team. So, should I assume Tea, Eda, Nephele, Alessia, and Lailah are the other five?
He'd hit the nail on the head. He's too damn smart for his own good sometimes. She looked at him, irritated. "Article 4, Section 3, of the Heroes Code of Conduct states: 'A-"
Daniel interrupted. "'A heroes Identity is the personal property of the individual, and as such, is not to be given in full or part to any other party without the expressed consent of the hero in question. Any violation of this will be met with punishment, unto and including reeducation'. I know, I know, but given the circumstances and evidence… well, it's kind of obvious."
"Wait," Masuyo was thrown off, "how do you know the H.C.C. so well?"
"My… I guess now, 'our' dad, made me study it when we moved here. Part of me wants to think he wanted me to become a hero and join, but…" he sighed heavily, "never mind."
"Huh. Well, um yeah. I can't tell you."
"I guess I'll have to accept that answer. Does Hana know?"
"NO!" Masuyo stopped eating and glared right at him, "And you're not going to tell her."
"Woah! I… I had no intention to do so, but… Well, she kinda used to be a professional hero, right? Her and… your dad." Daniel was much quieter. Masuyo's dad had died a few years ago in the line of duty as a hero. Daniel had learned from her previously that bringing him up, tended to put Masuyo on the defensive.
"All the more reason she doesn't need to know. She'd be worried all the time or try to stop me. I don't need that."
"Then who all knows?"
"Just me, the members of the group and our PR agent."
"And now me." Daniel added.
"Yeah, 'and now' you." The fact sitting bitterly in her mouth.
"This is really good." Daniel expressed, pointing to the feast she'd set out. "You're a really fantastic cook."
"Thanks" Masuyo responded, a bit blankly. Something wasn't sitting right with her about this.
"Okay," she began, "now I have some questions for you."
"Really? Go ahead."
"How are you so calm about all of this? I mean, you got stabbed, you found out I'm a hero, and you just walked it all off. This isn't normal."
"To be fair, I didn't walk off the stabbing thing, but would you prefer me freaking out?"
"I just… I've seen you have more of a reaction when someone punched you, then when you got stabbed. How!?"
Daniel pondered the question as he continued to eat. "Hmm… I guess I just knew I'd be fine, as long as you were there. The transforming thing really did surprise me, but I think, maybe, it just isn't real to me yet. It's like I may wake up tomorrow and find out it was all just a dream or something."
"That doesn't really make sense though."
"I'm sorry, but that's all I've got right now."
It got awkwardly quiet after that, and they ate in silence for a bit. Masuyo still had more questions for Daniel on her mind, but the tension made it difficult to ask. Finally, she broke the silence.
"So, how did you know my parents were heroes? Did my mom tell you or something?"
"Oh, no. I mean, she knows I know, but my dad was a hero a long time ago too. Evidently that how they first met. They all used to be pals until my dad moved up north."
"I didn't know Kevin was a hero." She was surprised, given his aloof demeanor at times. "I didn't know he lived in New Philip before either. So, wait, did your mom live here too?"
"No." he answered quickly and coldly.
His reaction actually sent a shiver down Masuyo's spine. Even before their parents were married, she and Daniel were great friends, she never learned much about his past. She found out his parents were divorced, and he almost refused to talk about even that with her. She learned he was from some village or town to the north but moved to the city when he was about thirteen. That was all she really knew about him prior. Since they'd become friends, she'd discovered he is an overly kindhearted person, a true friend, though quite stubborn. In all honestly, the MRG had a serious discussion about letting him know who they were a few years back, but ultimately, they agreed not to. He was a bit mysterious when it came to his past, and that was part of why they chose against it. Masuyo thought he would have been a great person to have behind them, even though he acted aloof at times, he was hard working and very smart. Eda had made a particular fuss about his power, but his strength was irrelevant to Masuyo, especially after having lived with him. In truth, as weak as he acted, she was not sure if he was as weak as he seemed, but even after Clare had told them it's social suicide, she'd still fallen for him. Who he was before and where he'd come from, had never really mattered, so she backed off about his mom.
"Are you mad at me?" She looked into his eyes. "I mean, about lying to you about who I really am?"
"Should I be?" His answer shocked her a bit. "If I had the same secret and kept it from you, do you think you would be mad at me? Frankly, I have no say in what you do with your life. Our parents married less than a year ago, and for the years before that, you were an amazing friend. So, no, I'm not mad at all. To tell the truth, I'm barely surprised."
"Why is that?"
"Because in the time I've known you, I've seen that you are an outstanding, amazing and caring person. All of those are qualities a hero should have."
Masuyo blushed.
"Besides, your question was phrased wrong."
"What do you mean?"
"You never lied about 'who' you really are. I know Masuyo Yuno. She's amazing. 'UC' may be a different story, but if she lets me, I'd like to know her too." He complimented her as they continued eating. "But," Daniel stopped a moment later to add on, "knowing you are heroes, I'm definitely going to be worried about you, Tea, and the others."
"Thea?" Masuyo's face was still red, but for a different reason now. "Why would you bring her up?"
"I mean, you're both people I care about, and knowing…"
"All you 'know' is what you saw, and you saw ME. Now you're talking about Thea?!
"I'm…I'm sorry." He apologized.
Tears were welling up in her eyes, and she knew why, but couldn't admit it. "Whatever, just promise me you'll keep everything a secret. Especially from my mom."
"I do." He set down his utensils and placed his hand on hers. Her heart skipped a beat. This was the third time today he'd held her hand so gently. "Until told otherwise, I, Daniel Clifton, promise to not utter a word of this to anyone not involved directly."
She let his hand rest on her's for a minute, then pulled away slowly. The tears had started to fall down her cheek. Was she scared, angry, or just frustrated?
"I'm going to go shower." She said as she stood and left.
"I'll clean up. Thank you for a wonderful dinner."
Masuyo went upstairs and messaged her group about the afternoon's events including Daniel's discovery, then overly aware of her appearance, went and showered. What even was today?! She pondered freaking out in the shower. Since school had let out, so much had happened, the incident with Thea at lunch was almost a distant memory. "Crap!" She shouted aloud to herself in frustration. After everything that happened, she'd forgotten to ask him out. With how she left things down there, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to bring that up today. Letting the water pour, she fumed. I swear, if I find that ass who attacked me, I'll break both his arms for what he's put me through. As she was thinking about it, a chilling realization crept down her spine. 'I' was attacked. Not 'Unicorn', 'Masuyo'. Someone attacked me… was it random, or did they know who I was. No. No one else knows… right?
Eventually she got out of the shower. Drying off, she made her way to her room, a lot more paranoid than she'd been before. Investigating her room, as she entered, the only differences she noticed was a sliced bit of rather smushed cake on her desk, and a note with Daniel's handwriting below it. As she picked up the cake, she saw the words 'I Promise' on the front of the note. Daniel was in his room and through her door, all she could hear was books being flipped through and pen on paper. He was studying. It was crazy to her that after everything today, he was still studying. He definitely had a much stronger constitution and a more rigorous study routine than she did, and their grades always showed that last part. Not worried about school at the moment, she dove into the cake. As she was eating, she picked up the note and noticed it had more written inside:
"A Free Pass to ANYTHING- I, Daniel Clifton, in leu of accidentally stealing your deepest secret, will give any one thing I can provide. I will fulfill anything you ask (a secret, chores, homework assignments) as long as I am able.
-I'm sorry for what I said,
Daniel Clifton"
Smiling, she put the letter in her dresser drawer and continued on her cake. Looking at her phone, she almost choked as she saw forty-three replies from her friends. Almost everyone's first reply was asking if she was okay, except Thea's, which was all caps obscenities, followed by asking if she was okay. All of them offered to come to her place, or if she needed something. She told them she was fine at the moment, if not a bit shaken. Nephele was the one to finally ask for more details.
[So, who exactly attacked you?]
[I don't know. The attacker threw knives and wore a grey cloak.]
[The GK?!] Lailah responded.
[It didn't seem like it, but I don't know.]
[I live close to everyone, so please come over to my place tonight. For protection.] Thea pleaded.
In the back of her mind, Masuyo was still irritated about Thea's declaration at lunch, and even more so from Daniel naming her during their conversation. However, she knew her friend was actually trying to protect her.
[I'll pack up and head over. I'm gonna need a reason though.] she began to pack an overnight bag.
[Study group? Tests ARE coming up.]
[The rest of us can provide surveillance on your way over.] Lailah offered.
[Any maybe some of us could actually study?] Eda seemed to pointedly ask.
[I'll have to pass for right now. I'm doing dinner with Quil tonight. I can come over after.] Nephele wrote.
[Bragger] Alessia threw back.
[Ignore her and have fun. Please be safe though (In multiple ways). If Masuyo was attacked, we should all be on guard.] Eda responded.
[Especially if the GK may be involved.] Lailah added. [Also, gross Eda.]
During the exchange of messages, Masuyo heard her mom return home with her brother. Noriko noisily returned soon after. Hana came up stares to find her older daughter packing.
"Going somewhere?" She asked from the door frame, arms crossed.
"Hi Mom." She answered happily. "I hope your day was fine. As for this, well, I was hoping to get your permission to spend the night at Thea's for a study group."
"Will there be any boys in this group?' She skeptically asked.
"No, mom. It's just me and my friends."
"Too bad." She smirked. "You're at that age you should be spending time with more than just your friends, like… any 'boys' you like. Though, if this is a serious study group, you should make sure Alessia goes."
"I'll make sure to tell her that." Masuyo ignored her 'boys' comment.
"Need a ride? It's getting kinda late."
"That's not necessary mom, I'll be fine. It's not that far away." Masuyo didn't want to risk her mom getting involved like Daniel did earlier.
"Just be safe then." She smiles. Masuyo continued packing as her mom stood at the door, thinking about something before adding, "Maybe you should bring your br- uh, Daniel. He's pretty smart and is at the top of your class. He could be a great tutor"
Masuyo could feel her face blushing. "No! No. Um… like I said, uh girls only. I mean, it's a sleepover anyway. Haha." She finished with a halfhearted laugh, which turned her mom's smile to a quizzical look, until the wheels seemed to turn to the right place.
"Oh..." Her face was one of realization
"W-what?"
"Nothing, nothing." Her smile returned, brighter than before. "Some things just make so much more sense now."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'll tell you when you tell me first." She winked, then left on that cryptic note.
What is on that woman's mind? Masuyo pondered as she finished readying her bag. Walking down the hall she saw her mom at Daniels door. She was leaning against the door frame, and Daniel was at his desk with a slew of books and papers spread across his desk.
"Anything interesting happen today?" Her mom asked him.
"Ya, something kinda crazy."
Masuyo had just passed the door and was now frozen in place. A terror took over her mind, as she was not sure how to respond if he told her about the attack earlier. Her breathing paused as her mom responded, "Ya?"
"Right after school, a girl asked me out."
Masuyo exhaled, thinking Whew, I guess he isn't going to blab, and she continued down the hallway and had made it to the stairway before she realized Wait…What?! In her relief, she'd completely missed the next part of their conversation after hearing he'd been asked out. She quietly walked back to listen.
"Well, that sounds so nice." Her mom told him.
"Ya, it is."
"Well, your dance is in a few days, so make sure you get ready for it. This is pretty big news."
"It's not so big Hana. But I will, thank you."
"And know I'm here if you have any questions on 'that stuff'."
"Thanks for your concern, but come on, I'm not that rusty." They both chuckled.
He…he's dating someone now? Her heart felt heavy as she had that realization. She loudly ran down the hallway, and stairs, tears coursing down her face.
"Masuyo?!" Her mom called to her, but she rushed out the front door, accidentally slamming the door behind her. She hugged the building, to remain unseen, and sat under her bedroom window, pulling her knees to her chest to steady herself. Why am I being such a crybaby?
"I wonder why she ignored me and ran off?" Masuyo could hear her mom from Daniels open window. "She confuses me at times Daniel. But she's a good girl none-the-less, please treat her well, and take care of her. Either way, congratulations again."
"Thanks again Hana. Don't worry, I will." Daniel said. Then Masuyo heard the door shut. She sat there for a minute to regain her composure and hopped the fence, leaving.
+++
After Hana left, Daniel went to his window and saw Masuyo jump the fence and disappear into the night. It was still crazy to think she was the same girl he'd known these last few years, and also the hero Unicorn. But the way she left so abruptly like that…
That's probably not how she wanted to find out that I am going to the dance with someone, but I clarified with Hana it was just as friends, so why was he so upset? Did… did she want me to ask her? N-no, were siblings now, right?
"Hana even said she'd help me if I needed any help on keeping a new friend." He muttered to himself. "Do I really come off as that lonely and inept to her? Oh well." He grabbed his phone as it buzzed.
[Masuyo said you found something out today…] Thea's message shown on his screen.
[I did]
[Before or after you were at my place?]
[Look, I promised Masuyo I wouldn't talk about it, but I'll still answer that one question. It was after, but I've had a strong feeling about it with you recently.]
[Then don't talk about Masuyo's part of that secret. I admit it's mine too. Thoughts?]
[Honestly? I don't know how I feel about it, or more specifically 'what' I think about it. I really think I need time to think. Can we discuss it later?]
[I'm sorry. Just tell me when and where. I'll make sure I'm there]
[I will] Daniel put down his phone. Suddenly, his body pulsed for a moment and his head throbbed.
Maybe I lost a bit more blood than I thought.