Al came to a halt as he arrived at Anabelle’s place. He panted and leaned over with his hands on his knees. The bitter air stung his lungs, but it felt refreshing. It had been a while since he ran like that. He could feel it in his calves. Yui caught up a few seconds later.

“Man, you beat me!” He whined. “I thought for sure I was gonna win!”

“I try to stay fit,” Al shrugged. He opened the door and was embraced with the warmth of the house. “Ah, that’s better,” he sighed in relief. His cheeks were slightly flushed from running in the cold. He looked over at Yui and noticed he was looking at him as well. Al’s eyes quickly darted away. He walked into the living room and collapsed onto the couch. He looked almost as relaxed as Yui generally was. He laid down and nestled into the couch in a way that made him look like an oversized cat.

“You look like you’re ready for bed,” Yui giggled as he took off Al’s coat. “Where should I put this?”

“Eh, just lay it here for now,” he patted the top of the couch.

Yui draped the trench coat over the back of the sofa. “I’m gonna make that call in the kitchen,” he informed Al, as he took out his smartphone.

“Sounds good,” Al yawned. He felt like he was ready for bed. As he laid there, he heard Yui call his client.

“Hi,” Yui waved, as his client’s face appeared on the screen of his smartphone. She was a young woman of Yui’s age, with a small, round face and a brown bob-cut.

“Hi, Yui!” She addressed him cheerfully.

Al tried to feel her from the other room. All he could feel was the same soft serenity that he felt from Anabelle.

“How’ve you been, Mia?” Yui asked.

“I’m great!” She said. She was so peppy that her hair bounced as she spoke.

“No relapse or anything?” He asked.

“Nope, I’ve been fit as a fiddle!” She exclaimed. “I just wanted to let you know, since, y’know, I kinda doubted that I’d be cured.”

“Did you think I’d lie to you?” Yui asked. He held a hand on his chest, as though he was offended. 

“I didn’t think you were lying,” she said. She tilted her brown eyes to the side in thought. “I just thought I was too far gone for help.”

“But you agreed to it,” Yui noted, “Actually, you’re the one who suggested it.”

“Oh, pssh,” she waved a hand as if she was shooing him away. “That was just ‘cause I liked ya! I would’ve wanted to do it with you even if you didn’t have miraculous healing powers. I’d buy you again, if I could.” She winked at the camera.

Yui’s smooth cheeks turned a delicate pink. 

Al felt like he shouldn’t be listening in on this.

“So you’re really feeling better?” Yui asked, after a moment.

“Absolutely!” Mia smiled brightly. “I’ve felt better in the past few months than I can remember feeling in my entire life! You know how much I suffered from depression.”

“Yeah, but I just want to make sure it doesn’t come back.”

“Aww, you’re worried about me, sweety?” She gave him a sultry look. “Well, we could always have another go, just to be safe.”

Yui giggled. “You know I only take customers who really need my help. Hey, Al!” He turned and yelled into the living room.

Al sat up. He had been trying to zone them out, but it was rather difficult. “Yeah?”

“Can you c’mere?” Yui asked. “I want you to tell me if she’s really cured or not.”

Al started walking into the kitchen.

“Who’s Al?” Mia asked.

“A new friend,” Yui said. He made a motion to beckon Al toward him.

“She’s cured,” Al said, from a safe distance. “I could tell from the couch. She’s just like Anabelle.”

“Well, come say hi to her, anyway!” Yui pouted.

Al rolled his eyes and wandered over to Yui’s chair. “Hey,” he said, with a subtle smile, as he waved to the girl on the screen.

“Al, this is Mia,” Yui introduced them. “She’s a friend from my hometown.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Al,” she said, pleasantly. 

“A friend, huh?” Al raised his eyebrows, skeptically.

“Yup!” Yui didn’t quite catch the sarcasm. “We’ve known each other since our school days!”

Mia seemed to understand what Al was thinking better than Yui did. “We weren’t a couple,” she informed him. “Not really. I wanted to be his girlfriend, but he wouldn’t settle down with me. Or anyone, for that matter. Once he discovered his powers, he figured he should share them with the world. A serious, monogamous relationship would’ve hindered his quest for world peace.”

Yui laughed. “World peace?”

“Well, it would certainly make everyone tranquil, wouldn’t it?”

“Yikes, you make it sound like I put you to sleep!” Yui frowned.

“Oh, you know that’s not what I mean!” Mia waved him away. “You were wonderful! But it definitely left me with a nice, calm feeling ever since.”

Yui looked at Al for confirmation. Al nodded. Mia looked curious.

“Al here has a special ability too,” Yui went to put an arm around his shoulder.

Al glared. Yui thought it was in response to his action, so he quickly pulled his arm back. He didn’t realize the problem was what he was saying.

“He can sense people’s emotions.” Yui continued, callously.

“Can’t everyone?” Mia tilted her head, and her brown hair bobbed to the side. “Like right now, I can tell he’s annoyed, because you’re prying about his personal business.” She raised her eyebrows and looked fiercely at Yui.

The boy turned red and then turned to Al. “I’m sorry!”

“Whatever,” the older man sighed and stroked his black hair. “It’s no big deal.” He liked this Mia girl.

Yui laid his phone on the table and got up to stretch his svelte legs.

“You’ve never been good at sitting still for long periods of time, have you?” The girl observed.

“Nah, you know me,” He replied, stretching his arms as well, before jogging in place.

“How do you get so much energy?” Al squinted at Yui, as though he were burning his retinas.

Mia gasped. “Maybe he extracts it from his clients!” She held a hand to her mouth in feigned shock.

“That would be something,” Al gave Yui a sidelong glance.

Yui stopped jogging. “You think I get my energy from women’s suffering?!” He whined. “That makes me sound like such a villain!”

“Well, can you prove that’s not the case?” Mia asked, inquisitively.

“N-no, but,” Yui stuttered, since he was getting flustered. “You know I don’t control this power! It just happens on its own! It’s not like I consciously summon up some magic to zap a chick’s sadness away! It’s just a happy accident!” His face was rather red.

Mia snickered. “Yes, I know,” her soft round fingers curled up in front of her mouth. She glanced up at Yui coyly. “I just like the idea of you being a bad boy. For a player, you’re a real goodie-two-shoes.”

“I’m not a player,” Yui argued, as he sat back down at the small, round kitchen table. “I’m not sleepin’ around. I mean, I am, but… I’m not cheating on anyone!”

“Of course not,” Mia agreed. “And I know that if you were in a real relationship, you’d be completely loyal. But you care so much about the greater good that you’d rather help many people with your powers than have a happy, long-lasting relationship with someone. Don’t you think you’d be happier if you could actually build a connection?”

“But then so many people would be sad,” Yui whimpered and looked like a sad puppy.

“How about being selfish once in a while?” Mia suggested. “I think it would do you some good.”

“Nah, I think I’m good like this,” Yui replied with a smile. “Helping people makes me happy.”

“Ah, our heroic slut,” Mia said.

“Hey!” Yui pouted again.

“Oh, you know I love you, Yui,” Mia said, with ease. Al was surprised by how casual it sounded.

“I know,” Yui replied with an apologetic smile.

“No hard feelings,” she said. There was a sound behind her, and she turned her head. “Ah, my mom is home. Gotta help her unpack groceries. See you around!”

“Bye, Mia,” he waved, and then he hung up and stretched his limbs.