Kira

~

"Kira! Pay attention!" Haru whined, his voice as well as the ringing of the bell pulling me from my reverie of thoughts.

I smiled nervously, "Sorry, I spaced out again."

Haru sighed, eyes moving from me to the surface of the table as if he wasn't sure what to say, which given it was him, was nothing surprising.

"Just say what's on your mind Haru, I won't get mad," I said soothingly, everyone's been trying really hard to help him be a bit more outspoken and I think he was finally making some progress.

He returned my smile with a shy one of its own, "I just wish you'd focus more Kira, but you're making improvements nonetheless."

"Jeez, thanks."

He nodded excitedly, "Since we used the last free period today, we don't have to study after school...unless you want to! I don't mind!" He blurted out the last part anxiously.

The librarian whose name I'd forgotten shushed us with a stern glare as she walked by. Haru sunk into his wooden seat with a defeated look like he'd just made the whole world hate him.

I reached over to place a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Haru, breathe."

He did as I instructed, taking in deep breaths of air while I went to pack up our stuff. I should be considered a therapist already for how much I was doing for him.

"Thanks a lot, Kira." He said once he was calm again.

"It's what friends do," I replied easily, I loved seeing the people around me smile, it always made me feel as if I wasn't fighting for nothing, like one day, everything would make sense and I wouldn't have to struggle as hard to hold it together.

My thoughts had been straying off more as of late; there were times they'd be pleasant, but also times they'd be dark. What if Kuro couldn't figure out the message Yamagata-san left? What if we were too late regardless? What if I was still too weak to face off against Nightmare of the time should come earlier than expected?

What if I couldn't protect everyone?

"Kira, something wrong?" Haru stopped in his tracks, a few feet ahead, he'd been chattering to himself in a low voice until he probably realized I wasn't matching his pace.

I looked up, regaining my composure and racing off to his side, "It's fine, let's go, everyone's probably waiting for us."

"Oh yeah, and I'm excited to meet the new friend Kuro said he'd be bringing along."

That was also one of my worries.

Ever since Kuro started hanging out with this supposed 'new friend' of his, I'd been getting a weird feeling in my gut. I tried to put it off because Kuro was fine and nothing bad seemed to be going on but there was always the possibility of Nightmare pulling some sneaky shit without us knowing.

We were about to exit the building when we heard Momo's excited call of our names behind us. We turned back to see her skipping towards us while Troy and Jade trudged behind her, throwing not-so-subtle glares. I was still baffled at how two people who rarely talked could detest each other that easily.

"I thought you guys would be there by now," I said as Moriko crashed into me like personal space wasn't a thing.

She sighed, "We were but I forgot today was my day to clean up the class but I found someone to take my place eventually."

"She didn't want us to leave her behind," Jade said.

"And Troy stayed?" I asked disbelievingly.

"She asked nicely." He said simply, walking past us. I felt there was more to it but said nothing.

We all exited the building together, exchanging talks about our classes and what we might possibly do during the weekend. After volleyball practice in the morning, I was practically free, hitting the gym after didn't seem like a bad idea but I really wanted to do something relaxing that wouldn't really involve sitting down. Shopping sounded about right but I wasn't in the mood for new clothes I'd have to sort later.

I grabbed at my hair, why was relaxing so frustrating?

"Hey, guys!" Kuro called out, walking towards us, I could see another boy at his side, looking awestruck at the buildings in the school.

He looked pretty harmless to me, I couldn't even sense a bit of magic aura coming off of him.

Then what were my instincts screaming at?

"This is Ryu." Kuro gestured at the other younger boy.

Ryu, in question jolted to attention at the mention of his name, he turned to us and flashed a friendly smile, and gave a quick bow, "I'm Takahashi Ryuunosuke, your school looks really beautiful."

"What are you bowing for, they're only like two years above us," Kuro said in amusement.

"Disrespectful brat," Troy said smacking him right over the head.

I reached my hand out to Ryu, "Nice to meet you Takahashi-kun."

"So cute," Momo squealed, "No wonder Kuro's been ditching us to hang with you."

"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?!" Kuro sputtered, tearing his attention away from Troy's lecture on why respect is important. Momo paid him no mind and resorted to taking pictures with a very stunned-looking Ryu.

"Food or snacks?" Jade asked, paying no heed to the chaos around her as usual.

"I could go for some Katsudon right now," Haru replied meekly, eating out with us was also something new he was getting used to.

I felt my stomach eat itself at the thought. After I'd gained my powers, my metabolism seemed to have skyrocketed, I needed more food to keep myself from passing out, but at the same time, I couldn't stuff myself before practice. Everything had turned into hell so quickly.

"Let's go to Nanase-san's then," She said pulling Momo off our younger guest before she scared him off.

"Come along," Haru said to Ryu as we started towards the gate.

"Really?"

"Duh!" Kuro grinned putting an arm around his neck and pulling him after us.

They walked a few paces behind us high schoolers, I didn't stay too far in front because I still wanted to monitor this Ryu kid, turning back a bit, I took him in, he was roughly Kuro's height, maybe a bit taller, he had dark brown hair and hazel eyes that crinkled with laughter when Kuro said something funny. They seemed to be in their own world, and I was deeply delighted that Kuro had found someone his age to interact with.

He always seemed so burdened by things that should never have been his problem in the first place. He hid it well, with the jokes and poking fun at others, as well as the over-excited at-everything attitude. Nevertheless, I could tell. I wanted him to enjoy himself a bit more since we never knew what was going to happen next.

My eyes landed on Ryu once again, I just hoped this kid was who he claimed to be.

I faced forward, rubbing at the sore muscles in my neck, 'I've become paranoid cause of you guys.' I cried out to Lucifer and Mammon.

'I really don't care.' Lucifer spat like he was tired of my complaining.

'If you gain more power, paranoia will be a thing of the past. Which is why we must train more.' Mammon yells in what I'd come to think of as his own form of encouragement.

Time passed quickly and soon we were all done with lunch. Leaving me to head to practice right after. Ryu held out his pay to the old man who served us but I pushed his fist down.

"Let your senpai handle this." I wink at him.

"Pay for me too Kira-senpai." Kuro pouts, playfully.

"And me too." Momo chirps in.

"Pay for yourself, blondie." Jade flicks her head.

I ignore them and only pay for myself and the two younger boys. When we exit the shop, Ryu bows to me in thanks.

"It's nothing, just continue to keep Kuro out of trouble." I say jokingly, I turn to the others, "So who's heading to practice with me?"

"We're heading to Momo's place to do homework." Jade gestured to herself and Momo.

"We'll definitely meet up tomorrow though!" The blond girl assured, starting to turn away when instead she did a full three-sixty and screamed, "We haven't discussed what we're meeting up for "

"Movies," Kuro suggested.

"There's nothing good coming out," Jade answered.

"Shopping." He asked again.

"No," I said blandly, knowing he and Momo will pressure me into buying more than needed.

"There's a concert of a new band coming up," Troy suggested, looking more irritated as a decision seemed to be nowhere in sight.

"Too many people," Haru whispered looking scared to death already.

"Looks like Saturday's gonna be boring." Kuro sighed.

Suddenly, like a lightning strike of inspiration from above, a thought popped into my head, but I knew they wouldn't agree on a normal basis.

I had to be mysterious.

"I got it!" I blurted out with a grin.

"I already do not like this," Troy stated with a suspicious glare. I paid him no mind.

"What do you have in mind Kira?" Haru asked.

"It's a surprise," I smirked, "Tomorrow afternoon, I'll ping everyone a location and you must all show up before 3 pm, wearing your comfiest clothes. Light, casual, and easy to move in."

I pointed at Troy, "I'm talking to you especially, don't show up looking like a supermodel or I'll kill you." He had an irritating habit of dressing better than all of us even if it was a casual outing.

He scoffed, pushing my index finger out of his face.

"Your friends are pretty intense, Kuro." I heard Ryu nervously laugh.

"You'll get used to it." He replied.

***

"Basketball? Really Kira?" Jade sighed as we stood in a court of my choosing. I bounced the basketball skillfully on the painted cement floor.

The court was in a park not far from the building I lived, Ares was cheering loudly from the bench where he was seated with Kat who he'd dragged along. Besides both of them were coolers of drinks and containers of food and snacks.

"It doesn't have to be just basketball, it could be like a picnic but with a very fun competitive activity." I grinned dribbling around and going for a dunk but I missed by a few inches.

"Nice try, honey!" Ares called making me blush slightly.

"I should have known better," Troy said with a noncommittal head shake.

"I'm into it!" Kuro grinned, "We can break into teams and have a match. I call captain and Troy's on my side."

"What about me?" Ryu nudged him playfully.

"No offense but you're short."

"Look who's talking." He grumbled.

I saw Haru quietly making his way to the bench to join my family but I caught him by the collar, "Not so fast, you're definitely playing, you'll be on my team."

"B-but I'll slow everyone down-I- I'm so bad at sports." He squeaked, squirming in my hold.

Jade walked over to his side and patted him on the back, it must have been harder than intended because he stumbled a bit. Either that or his stamina was just that bad.

"Calm down, Haru, jeez. Kira said fun didn't she?"

He looked up at her, eyes a lot less frightened at the notion, "I- I guess."

She grinned, "Great! Let's get this over with, I'm on any team opposing blondie over there," she pointed at Troy who narrowed his eyes at her.

"I don't intend to waste my time on this pointless activity," his gaze then landed on me, "If a specific someone has time to plan picnic sports outings maybe she should consider using that time for other things."

I run over and block his route, grabbing him by the front of the shirt, "Hey, we all deserve a break once in while. Tournaments are coming up for me and so will exams. Who knows when we'll be able to have a hang out like this again?" I challenged.

He turned back to the rest who were watching him expectantly.

"Come on, Zhao, don't tell me you're not all that good and you're afraid of losing?" Jade mocked.

He snatched the ball from where I held it by my side and made simple dribbles before tossing it into the net.

It went in.

I could feel a vein in my head twitch, 'Show off.' I chorused with Mammon and Lucifer in my head, I could tell the others were probably thinking the same thing with the way they stared as well.

"You were saying?" He turned to Jade.

"Oh, this is going to be fun." Momo clapped.

"We came for a game!" Ares called out with a wave, trying to sound like an angry crowd

Right, we had to get things started, "There'll be an extra player though," I said carefully.

"Your team can have Moriko and Haruno, I don't mind the short brats," Troy said.

"Hey!" Kuro and Ryu exclaimed.

"Confident are we?" Jade took off her jacket and tossed it over to the bench.

"Now it's all sorted out let's play!" I said before they could continue their glaring contest.

There was the sound of a loud whistle. We all turned to Ares.

"Too early?" He asked, a sheepish smile on his face.

I walked over to him putting the ball in his hand, I made a gesture with my free hand, "Just a bit, Why don't you start us off?"

He nodded cheerfully, following me to the center of the court. I went over to my side, staying some equal distance and looking around me. Everything was a complete mess and there was no formation but it's not like I needed it.

Ares threw the ball into the air and blew his whistle before stepping back. There were several screams and shouts of excitement as we all dove for the ball.