And so, after having a shock remembering about the upcoming midterms, we decided to do something about it.

  The break starts. We instantly gather up at my desk. Kaguya, the most frightened, speaks up first.

  “W-w-what are we doing?! I haven’t been able to study that much lately due to my free time activities. I completely forgot about midterms!”

  So much for an honor student. But, I knew that she had the ability to cram everything up to this point in just 2 days.

  “Help us Kaito! Please!”

  “Yes, we want to stay in the same class together!” said Akane flustered.

  “I don’t have a problem. I can focus on my voice acting for now. I already studied everything for the exam so that’s a YOU problem.” said Mizuki smug.

  “Well…how about a group study session? Hikaru, want to join us?”

  “Sure. Sounds useful. I played tons of video games, so…it could be of great help if one of you guys can tutor the rest of us.”

  “Then it’s set. Let’s go at my place after school in the next week to study together. Let’s all pass the exams with flying colors!”

  “Yeees!” said everyone cheerfully.

  I didn’t need any extra studying whatsoever. I can just remember what we were taught in class, and I also work on my own at home. But Akane, who studied so much to join the same high school as us, and Mai, who didn’t want to be left behind….I couldn’t leave them for dead. I wanted all of us to continue our happy high school days.

  After school we head straight to my home. I set up a Kotatsu, we take our books out and start studying. Well, I was mainly teaching them what they didn’t understand.

  Mai asked about Maths.

  “Kaito! How do you solve (x-1) multiplied by (x-3) = 0?”

  “Not hard. Essentially, one of those parentheses need to be equal to 0. Everything multiplied by 0, gives 0 as a result.”

  “Wow…thank you! It makes lots of sense now!”

  Akane had a bit of trouble with chemistry.

  “Kaito…can you help me out here? What’s the density of Gold?”

  She’s acting normal now. I kind of like this side of her.

  “Well, you just need to remember the values of the periodic table. 19.32g/cm^3.”

  “Thank you…I guess.”

  “No problem!”

  Kaguya managed herself. She just needed a bit of exercise. I, along with her, helped everyone. We responded to their questions in no time, and they easily understood what we were telling them.

  “Hey Kaito…I’m done with my part. Want to go play some games on your console?”

  “Sure man. We didn’t get to do it in quite a while.”

  “W-wait…” said Akane a bit flustered.

  "No. He already helped me, as always. I promised to be nicer to him, to some extent. He needs his free time too, after all." said Akane in her head.

  “It’s nothing…nevermind!”

  Mai and Kaguya look a bit confused but they also finish their work. The girls proceed to have a movie night, watching a sob-story romance from a recently aired anime.

  Everyone’s enjoying themselves and about 7 hours pass. It’s 10 PM. Mizuki knew not to come until Kaito texts her, not to make Hikaru suspicious of anything. Not that he’d be bothered considering how cool he is.

  Hikaru and Kaguya take their leave.

  “Kaito…can you take me home? I don’t feel safe walking alone at night…”

  “Sure. Mai, Akane, leave when you’re done. You live next-door anyways.”

  But we live here…”Okay!”

  Hikaru parts ways with the other two at the train station near Kaguya’s house. They wave goodbye and continue on their way.

  “Kaito, can we stop by the local convenience store? I want to stock up on some cup noodles, sushi rice, vegetables and some snacks.”

  “Sure.”

  The two of them enter the convenience store and buy all the things Kaguya mentioned.

  “You can go outside, Kaguya. I’m paying for them.”

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  “Huh? But why…they’re mine.”

  “I need to pay you back for holding on to our secret.”

  “Oh…thank you! I’m going to wait outside.”

  2 teen adults aged around 19 years old approach Kaguya. She was looking at some cat videos on her phone.

  “Hey girl…what are you doing here at this hour?”

  “Want to go in the center and have some drinks with us?”

  Annoyed and disgusted, she doesn't lose her composure.

  “Uh…no thanks. I am waiting for someone-”

  “How old are you anyways? You must be in school tomorrow I guess…”

  “Leave school for another day! Come on, have some fun with us!”

  “Leave me alone.”

  “Come on, what’s the big deal? Just come, we’ll make it worth your time.”

  “W-wait…”

  They grab her hand and start dragging her along.

  “Kaito…please, help me. I’m scared.” she starts sobbing.

  And there I come. Flying out of the store with the bags, grabbing Kaguya’s hand in the moment she needed me the most.

  “Sorry boys, she’s my girlfriend. She’s going home. Try out with some girls around your age.”

  Kaguya, with tears in her eyes look at Kaito while they were running away.

  “Man…I guess? That was cool of him. Let’s go hit up those classmates from our college.”

  They run until they reach her house. Kaguya was looking at Kaito with such passion, as if she had just been recovered from the hands of death by a brave knight. Her eyes, wide open, still holding tears, her hair fluttering through the cold night air, her mouth slightly open, showing her being in a complete state of shock, and the way her cheeks turned rose showed only one thing. Kaguya, for an instant, saw Kaito as her boyfriend.

  I look concerned while running, without any chance to look back and see how she's doing. My heart was beating just as fast as hers, and while hurrying through the streets we look like a couple under the moonlight.

  After about two minutes, we arrive. Kaguya was still affected by the terror she witnessed, her hands still trembling. After all she almost fell prey to some creepy college students. I turn back towards her and let out a small, calm reply, with a facial expression as calm as the sea.

  “We’re clear. Are you alright?”

  Kaguya was still crying, even harder than before.

  “Kaito….I was so scared!", she continued, while going in for a heartfelt hug, "don’t leave me all alone next time!”

  A hug...haven't felt a sensation like this for a while now. She needed consolation now, after all, this may be her way of reassurance.

  “I won’t. I just wanted to do a good deed for you. Sorry. Now, go inside and sleep. We have school tomorrow.”

  As I start to wander off in the streets, Kaguya won’t leave my hand. She grips it even tighter than before.

  “Please…stay with me tonight. I’m scared, very scared.”

  I couldn’t leave her like that. Maybe it was some kind of trauma she experienced at a point in her life...

  She was a precious friend after all.

  “Uh…okay. Are your parents home?”

  “My mother is away in Okinawa due to some business trip. My dad…I don’t know anything about him. My mother raised me alone.”

  So she had a male-figure absence trauma. No one was ever there to protect her in that way.

  “I see. I’m sorry to hear that. Let’s go inside, it's the least i can do now.”

  We enter Kaguya’s house. It was a cozy yet modern house. We drop the food in the fridge, and I go sit with her on the couch.

  She starts clinging to my arm, getting very close to me, while being wrapped up in a blanket. A more relaxed sight was now visible on her face.

  Conscious of the situation, Kaguya, still shaking a little from the earlier scene, while rubbing her neck, lets out a shy reply.

  “Kaito…I hope this doesn’t bother you. I want you to hold close to me…I’m still scared.”

  “It’s alright, Kaguya. I will spend the night with you. I can’t leave you like this tonight. Do you have any futon I can sleep in? Perhaps in the living room.”

  “Come sleep with me. Please.”

  I hesitate for a bit. Sleeping at Kaguya's house was one thing, but sleeping next to her...

  “Ehh? What are you saying…even in these circumstances..”

  She almost pleads with puppy-like eyes.

  “Please, Kaito. I beg you. Stay by my side tonight.”

  “Okay, I guess…”

  I already have Mai that sleeps with me every now and then. Even if it’s Kaguya…nah, it’s okay. It’s not normal to do this, but given the things that happened earlier…she needs some comfort. She still needs to do her night routine, so I let her know, in a nice way:

  “Go brush your teeth and remove your makeup, Kaguya, and let’s go to sleep. I’ll sort it out with Mai and Akane tomorrow. You have a charger I can use for my phone?”

  “Sure…it’s on the side of the bed.”

  Kaguya goes to the bathroom, springing from one foot to the other.

  Man…this will be a pain to explain tomorrow. I’m going to get scolded big time. But I hope they will understand me.

  Kaguya returns. She’s bright red, aware of the situation that is about to unfold.

  “Well…I’m going to close the lights.” said her, stuttering a little.

  It’s going to be fine. I experienced this already. She’s gonna turn her back to me and sleep nice-.

  *She hugged Kaito*

  She wanted to go to sleep hugging me. What was this?! i get the comfort she needs and all, but...

  I look at her and she was smiling. She was relaxed again. I smile too and let it pass for tonight. She needed some reassurance after all.

  “I’m so glad I’m friends with you…Kaito.”

  And she fell asleep. Kaguya was smiling like a kid. Maybe she didn’t think of him as anything, but a friend. A close one.

  After 5 minutes of silence, tension breaks with an asleep-reply. Kaguya was talking, while dreaming of Kaito to always be there and protect her.

  “You told those guys you’re my boyfriend…that was so…cool. I was so happy…I hope we get to be that for real…”

  W-WHAT?! She was sleep-talking.

  Since when did Kaguya think about me like this?! I get the hero part and all but…maybe I’m just overthinking it. I don't think that's plausible, right now she may be dreaming of me saving her again or something like that. Let’s go to sleep.

  As both of them fall asleep, Kaguya keeps muttering words every now and then. "Kaito...", she stopped, "Thank you...".

  But Kaito didn’t get that much sleep last night. He kept thinking about what Kaguya said while asleep.

  “Oh..you’re awake, Kaito?”

  “Yes. Feel better now?”

  “Much better! Let’s go to school now. Would you like some breakfast?”

  “I’m good. Thanks.”

  So she really didn’t get flustered after sleeping in the same bed as me. Well, I guess she’s not a shy character out of a rom-com, after all.

  She dressed up in her school uniform, and we both left the house.

  We walk together towards the school, the crisp morning air feeling reinvigorating. A huge change from last night. She turns her head to me, her hair still smelling of shampoo, and with a warm tone, she lets out a quick reply: “Thank you for last night. I was very happy to have you over at my place. It was the first time I had someone stay over since I was a little kid.”

  Not having parties at home either, huh?

  “No problem. I couldn’t call myself a man if I left you in that terrified state all alone last night.”

  With her eyes half-closed, she continues her speech:

  “I was actually…really happy. Thank you again.”

  She blushed a little, but Kaito couldn’t yet confirm if she actually liked me. What she said yesterday might’ve been just because he saved her.