Kibishi's POV

  Four Days Later...

  Kibishi's Room

  "Phew!"

  Pulp!

  I fell face pnted first on my soft bed. My whole body ached as I did my punishment without any compints.

  I couldn't afford to do that either since I was the one who was at fault.

  It had been four days since I started my new routine.

  It might have been tough, but I was slowly getting used to it. And as for Tao, she had been doing different things, like selling items for different shops around the city. She also helped promote different things like shoes, clothing, and many more.

  Honestly, it was a bit easier than doing everything in this building.

  And frankly, I was kinda gd it was that way.

  We did sometimes talk to one another, but it wasn't as often as I wanted it to be.

  To my disappointment, it seemed like none of us could join the other Supernaturals on their missions by exploring the first yer some more. The second half was pretty much easy since the monster was gone.

  They also tried to find a path to go underground, but to no avail; the trail ended up cold.

  It seemed like the monster was the only thing that knew the yer like the back of its hand.

  And even if that was the case, the monster didn't seem interested in helping us learn about this underground world.

  The results would've been the same regardless...

  More importantly, Mato hasn't been coming out like that, huh.

  Every time I tried to approach, Mato seemed to be focused on something. It wasn't that he was avoiding me.

  He was just busy and couldn't make time for me to speak with him.

  But I couldn't lie. Whenever we spoke, it was really awkward. A simple 'Hi!' or 'Hello!' was all I could muster.

  I didn't have the courage to confront him right then.

  "It's fine. We still have tomorrow to worry about it, so I can talk to him then!" I tried to convince myself.

  But it was always 'tomorrow' for me.

  It was never the 'now'.

  I could sense that I was trying to avoid it as much as possible.

  No. That couldn't be it, right?

  Right! That could not be.

  I just needed more time to apologize. Yeah... that was it!

  I slowly lifted up my head in disappointment. "Yeah, right. You're a coward, Kibishi..."

  Rolling to my back, I looked at the ceiling in a daze.

  No matter how I looked at it, it was my roof. Pin and simple. But I didn't feel like getting up and walking around.

  Besides, it was almost curfew.

  This was created after our mission in case one of the Supernaturals wanted to sneak away from their duties or punishments.

  But I didn't really see the point of it since it was mostly for Tao and me.

  They should've just told us and been done with it.

  I exhaled and sighed deeply.

  Things seemed to feel slow.

  Instead of gaining answers, we got more questions. Talk about irony here.

  "... Not to mention, I haven't even gotten a chance to see any of the girls either..."

  Indeed.

  The girls had their work piled up since tomorrow would be a big day.

  So, of course, the work had increased during the week.

  I wished I could talk to one of them—

  Knock! Knock!

  "Huh?" I widened my eyes in shock when I heard my door knock.

  Who could it be at this time of night?

  Hop!

  With a light hop, I pnted my feet on the floor and started to walk towards the door.

  Click!

  It wasn't a long walk as I unlocked the door and turned the knob.

  The person who was standing in front of me was no one other than Yosei.

  With her bck long-sleeve turtleneck and her tight blue jeans and brown shoes, Yosei slowly pced her arms behind her back.

  "Good night, Kibishi. How have you been?" Yosei asked sweetly as she gave a concerned look.

  "Oh, Yosei! Good night. How have you been yourself?" I pced my hands in my same old white jacket.

  "Hey! I asked the question first!" Yosei pouted and pointed at my chest.

  "That's fair. But I have been okay for the most part. I'm just cleaning and doing my punishment as of te," I answered.

  "Good, good." Yosei nodded to me.

  "..."

  "..."

  .... And then, there was silence.

  The light atmosphere from a little while ago had vanished into the air. It got repced with the weird awkwardness that honestly made me a little uncomfortable.

  But instead of listening to my dark thoughts and smming the door out of panic for some reason, I opened it instead and got to the side.

  "You wanna... hang out for a bit then?" I gestured with my hand to show Yosei that it was okay to come into my room.

  "O-oh! Really?! I-I don't want to intrude and ruin your night!" Yosei waved her hands in protest.

  "Oh. So I'm guessing you're uncomfortable around me as well?" I frowned.

  "What?! No! No, no, no! No!" Yosei waved her hands faster. "I could NEVER be uncomfortable around you, Kibishi!"

  "You don't have to lie to me. I know what I did back in the first yer was reckless and stupid..." I looked at the ground in shame.

  "N-no! I'm not saying that either!" Yosei protested, sounding a bit panicky yet concerned for my well-being.

  I couldn't say 'how' I would know that. Just a feeling.

  "It's fine. Really. I deserve the distance..."

  "No! That's not true!" Yosei protested once again. Only this time, she sounded more offensive than worried.

  What for? I had no idea.

  "No, it's—"

  Grab!

  Yosei grabbed each of my shoulders and made me look her in the eyes.

  "No! You got it all wrong! You got it all wrong!" Yosei showed guilt and a bit of hurt.

  "Yosei?" I whispered.

  "The person who should take the bme... It's me!" Yosei shouted at the top of her lungs.

  Soon, I could hear muttering.

  Uh-oh! Sounds like the adults were waking up!

  Yosei realized this and slowly backed up in a panic.

  "C-crap—!"

  Before she could finish her sentence, I dragged her inside and pulled her by her right arm. Once inside, I closed the door quickly and put my ear to the door.

  The mutters quieted down, but based on the noise, it seemed like the adults were roaming around the hallway.

  I didn't think Yosei could escape here anytime soon.

  I deeply sighed and backed away from my door. I then turned around and saw Yosei looking more shameful for some reason.

  With the sight of a young woman who was trying to take the bme for something I had clearly done wrong, I couldn't help but wonder why she had regret and sadness in her eyes.

  Before I could say anything, Yosei slowly sat on the floor, holding her head.

  "I'm sorry. Sorry..."

  "A-ah!"

  I reacted to this by leaning forward with a small smile and raising my hands a bit.

  "N-no! There's nothing to be sorry about, Yosei! As the leader, you had your own mission so—!"

  "This isn't about being a leader—ah!" Yosei realized what she was saying and looked away from me.

  "I-I mean, it's not about my mission. W-well.... argh. Damn it..."

  Yosei brought up her knees and hugged them and then hid her face.

  "... I told myself that I wouldn't panic like this..." Yosei, who was usually cheerful when she was ready and serious when it came to saving the whole human race, was now being a normal girl instead of a leader.

  Wow.

  I had never seen her like this. Was the mission too much for her?

  "Hey? Are you okay, Yosei?"

  "..." Yosei slowly looked up at me. She then hid her face again. "... No, I'm not," Yosei answered honestly.

  "... I see," I whispered and pced my hands in my jacket once more.

  I couldn't focus on my punishment if the leader of the Supernaturals acted like this in front of me.

  Something must have been really bothering her.

  I couldn't talk about my problems until I helped with hers first.

  Also...

  For some reason, seeing Yosei like this was breaking my heart. I couldn't stand looking at this any longer.

  "Yosei..."

  I slowly sat down in front of her and crossed my legs.

  "Hey, Yosei?" I slowly raised my hand and stopped midway. I was trying to head-pat Yosei, but hesitated.

  Why was I trying to head-pat Yosei? Was it because she reminded me of Tao? Or... was it something else?

  The way she panicked made me panic.

  The way she tried to protest and tried to protect my feelings. It was almost the same as Tao.

  Perhaps since Yosei was showing me this side of her, I felt a bit safer and tried to comfort her mind.

  After a few more thoughts, I decided to simply tap her shoulder to show that I was there for her.

  A head-pat would've been a bit much, anyway.

  Yosei looked up at me.

  I then saw a hint of blush from her. Confused, I tilted my head.

  I pondered about it for a moment, but then decided to brush it off since it might cause discomfort and awkwardness.

  "Why don't we sit on my bed and chat? I don't want you to catch a cold because of it," I suggested with a bright smile.

  Yosei looked away and slowly nodded, the blush appearing more.

  "A-alright..." Yosei simply nodded in agreement.

  "Good!" I nodded back.

  ---

  I poured some green tea for Yosei and myself with the kettle that was in my room.

  I had gotten it during the week alongside a mini stove and some dishes, since those days I was kinda busy and a bit tired.

  So, to unwind and rex, I bought some things to do my hobby, which was cooking, and messed with some things that could be used for the party, which was tomorrow.

  I pced the kettle back on the mini stove and race-walked back to the bed with my cup in hand.

  Yosei slowly took a sip, and then her face glowed, and her cheeks seemed to be turning red.

  "That's good!" Yosei lowered her cup and smiled at me. "You're good at making stuff, Kibishi!"

  "It's a hobby. Plus, I usually do this for my family whenever they're down." I slowly sat down as I expined that.

  "..." Yosei blinked and then looked forward.

  I took a sip of my tea and then waited for Yosei to talk.

  I could have just spoken until she was ready to tackle the topic, but I would rather have let things take their course.

  So, I waited until she was ready to talk to me.

  Five minutes ter

  In silence, we both continued to drink tea to calm our minds.

  I got up, poured Yosei's share, and did the same process.

  I didn't want to rush thing,s so I simply did what I did best and let things py out.

  Well, when I wasn't being reckless and didn't have tunnel vision when my friends were in danger....

  That aside, this was nice—

  "... Um." I heard Yosei's voice.

  I gnced to the side as I sipped my tea.

  I could see Yosei looking conflicted about something.

  "What is it?" I asked softly.

  "... Why are you being so nice to me? I mean, we're teammates, and sure, we have to look out for one another. But still..." Yosei gnced at me with curiosity. "We're just teammates and nothing more. Why go the extra mile for me?"

  "..."

  ... Good point.

  Being friends and teammates aside, I usually didn't go this far for someone I barely knew on a personal level. Sure, I trusted Yosei, but still.

  Maybe the way she moved and the way the Supernaturals treated my friends and me made me open up to them more than I originally intended...

  More than that, though?

  "I guessed... I wanted to help you out of my own selfish reasons," I honestly answered.

  "Which is?" Yosei tilted her head at me.

  "... You needed comfort. That's why I decided to bring you into my room despite everything."

  With that, I took another sip of my tea.

  Yosei blinked and stared at her cup. She then chuckled and slowly looked at me again.

  "So, about your family, Kibishi. What are they like?" Yosei slowly rubbed the top part of her cup with each of her index fingers.

  "Hmm? It's hard to say since my mind isn't the best right now..."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Well, how to say this? I got... issues." I looked at the ceiling.

  "Issues?"

  "My brain isn't like yours. I don't think like the rest of you. I think it's due to trauma as a child." I brought the cup closer to my mouth.

  "So, are you saying that you're not right in the head?" Yosei raised her left brow with a small chuckle.

  I lowered my cup and stared at her bnkly. "Yeah, you're right."

  "What?! I-I was just joking!"

  "But you're right, though. My mind isn't the most functional." I shrugged my shoulders and finished my cup.

  "... I-I'm sorry." Yosei apologized.

  "Hey, stop it! That's just how it is, Yosei. I'm like this until I die. There's nothing you can do about it, anyway."

  "... Right," Yosei nodded sadly.

  "Anyway, enough about me. Let's talk about why you're sad!" I tossed the subject aside for Yosei's sake.

  If we continued the conversation, then it would have made her feel bad for me, and I didn't want that. I was there to cheer her up, not the other way around.

  "Well, um..." Yosei looked away. "It's kinda a long story..."

  "I can handle it. Go! Shoot me!" I giggled.

  "..." Yosei blinked and then giggled back at me. "Haha! You're so funny! Are you sure you're single?"

  "Hey, I'm trying to be your shoulder to pour your stuff on!" I joked and ughed.

  "Hehe! Oh man! You're such a dork!"

  "Takes one to know one!"

  "Haha, fair enough!" Yosei smiled very brightly.

  Good.

  At least the jokes made her feel more like herself. Perhaps the story would make her feel better, too.

  I wanted Yosei to leave feeling like herself instead of feeling sorry for herself.