CHAPTER 3 - My Only Friend is Strange.

(Pov - Yuki.)

A family...

Saik went up the stairs and entered his room.

Saik... He's a kind guy, even if he doesn't seem like it. He might have cheated on the entrance exam and come off as cold and almost expressionless with his words, but he's a kind person. If he wasn't kind, he wouldn't worry about someone like me.

A guy who's been left alone in life, without any living relatives to turn to. Almost like me. My mother is all I have left in this life, but her... I don't know how to feel about her.

My mother is a murderer. I never saw her consuming alcohol or any drugs, which means she wasn't in that business to get drugs for personal use. Why was she doing it? Was she really forced? Or... did she enjoy doing it?

I don't know, and I'd rather not think about it for now.

I can't change my mother's actions. What happened, happened, but I'm scared that it will affect the way I see her.

If I see her again, how will I feel about it? Will I still see her as a loving mother, or will I feel fear, even disgust?

I'd rather hold onto memories of the loving mother I had, the one who held my lifeless body, crying.

She loved me, but now that I know she got a life sentence and the evidence against her is strong, I don't know what I feel for her.

I love her! But I don't know if that will change when I see her again.

"The best thing would be not to think about that."

Step by step, Yuki. Step by step. Saik needs you, don't get depressed.

I still have my mother, but Saik lost everything. Now, I'm all he has left in life, so it's my duty to make him happy! Saik, you'll stop being a cold guy, and I'll make you happy! I'll repay you for what you do for me.

Saik, a mysterious guy.

He's not extremely handsome, but he's not ugly either. I'd give him a 9 out of 10. He never bothers to comb his hair, and most of the time, his hair covers his eyes. If he styled his hair better, he'd look very cute. After all, Saik has a quite toned body. He'd definitely be popular if he just styled his hair a bit. With his helmet-like hair, he'll only scare away women, and no one will pay attention to him.

I'm starting to realize what kind of person Saik is. He's not a bad guy, but he's not good either. He's a guy who doesn't care about what other people say. He only cares about himself.

I was a bit surprised that he considers me part of his family... To be honest, I feel really happy.

My first impression of Saik was that he was insensitive, as he was willing to go get holy water to get me out of the house, but now that I know him a little better, I'm realizing that, yes, he's somewhat insensitive and cold, but he's a good person, at least with me, his friend. A guy who treats well the people important to him. Could it be because he considers me part of his family?

If that's the case, he must really miss having a family... Just like me.

... I have a family again... I'm happy again.

I thought I would always be alone and wouldn't have anyone to talk to. But thanks to Saik, my lonely life is over. I have a friend... I have friends again...! Well, it's not like I had any when I was alive. Fufu. My beauty was the envy of the girls and made boys shy, keeping everyone away from me! Hahahahahaha!

Or was it because their families forbade them from getting close to me due to the bad rumors about my mother? I didn't hear anything about that, but now that I know my mother is a criminal, that theory is quite possible.

But personally, I think the first theory is better. After all, I'm beautiful! Fufu. Yes, yes, I know, I know, I'm perfect... Well, almost perfect, I just need one thing to be 100% perfect. Oh, are you wondering what I'm missing? You're making me blush. I know, I know, it seems unbelievable that I'm not perfect, but there's something missing. Something insignificant, a little and adorable thing... I'm missing a heartbeat!

Ahhhhhhhh! I'm doomed to have the appearance of a 10-year-old for eternity! I'll never know what it feels like to be an adult, a mother, or at least know what it feels like to have real breasts!

Ah... Yuki, you might look like a little girl for the rest of eternity, but at least we have Saik, our best friend (because he's the only friend I have)! Thanks to him, I feel like I'm alive again, even though I won't be able to grow up.

Although it's a bit sad that my only friend is a weird guy. He never smiles and he's a loner. That makes me his only friend too!

Fufu. Don't worry, Saik, I'll help you make friends... And if a miracle happens, you might even get a girlfriend.

Leave it to me, your dependable friend. After you finish high school, you'll have friends and a nice girlfriend!

I would offer to be your girlfriend, but I'm a ghost and you're not my type. I prefer guys with glasses... But I highly doubt you'd accept me as your girlfriend, I died when I was 10 years old, I have the appearance of a little girl, even though I'm 15 years old... But ghosts can't age.

But don't worry, I'll help you get a beautiful girlfriend! You can count on my help!

And well, if no girl pays attention to you, I'll feel sorry for you and be your girlfriend. Fufu... Although you might reject me because of my appearance. I highly doubt that someone like Saik would be attracted to someone with my appearance, and since he can see ghosts, that means he can have a ghost girlfriend! If I can't get a living girl to fall for him, I'll find ghost girls to win him over. They'll get the benefits of being controlled by Saik, and Saik will have a girlfriend. It's a win-win situation!

Saik, don't worry, you won't be a loner for long! You have the help of the beautiful Yuki! Leave it to me!

•

•

During dinner, I told Saik my plan for him to make friends, but I received a very "unexpected" response.

"No, thanks. I don't want friends. And they're not necessary for me either. But thanks for caring."

I'm more than sure his words are sincere. Does he really think friends aren't necessary for him?! Oh, poor lonely soul, he's gotten so used to solitude that being a loner doesn't hurt him anymore. But don't worry, my good helmet-haired friend, I, the perfect and alluring Yuki, will make you want friends!

"Ah... I knew you'd say something like that. Saik, having friends is important! Do you really like being alone that much? Don't you want to have a friend, or at least a girlfriend?"

"I guess I'm more comfortable without friends. I feel calm and relaxed. Having friends will only take away valuable time from me. I'd rather use that time to sleep or play video games. And I'm not interested in romance either, I'd rather stay single. Besides, if I'm single, I won't have to spend money on someone else. A girlfriend would just be an unnecessary expense. And for what? Just to get kisses or have sex. It's not worth it. I'd rather spend that money on myself, and on you, of course, Yuki."

"Wow... That's a pretty depressing way of thinking. What kind of life did you have?"

"I suppose a lonely life. I was always alone, and that's when I feel most comfortable."

"Do you really have no interest in experiencing romance or having friends?"

"Yuki, look into my eyes."

"Eyes?"

Saik lifted the hair that covered his eyes and... I think I blushed a little. Wow. I knew he was handsome if he styled his hair, but this is... exaggerated. His eyes are so beautiful! Saik showed me a photo of his mother. His mother was a beauty, and her amber eyes were simply mesmerizing to look at, they were so beautiful. And Saik inherited his mother's eyes!

Ahhhhhhhh! It's not fair! Any woman on Earth would wish for your beautiful eyes, and you're wasting them by hiding your face with your hair! You're an idiot, Saik!! Give me back the pity I felt for you! You'd definitely have so many friends and even the luxury of having a different girlfriend every week if you used your physical attractiveness, but you waste it because you want to be a loner! I can't understand you at all!

"Hey, Yuki, are you listening?"

"Eh? What?"

I was lost in staring at his eyes. They really are mesmerizing. What a terrifying power of attraction.

"I was telling you that no, I'm not interested in having friends or a girlfriend. Look into my eyes, and you'll see that I'm telling the truth."

"I-uh... You're even more handsome than I expected."

"Huh?"

Uwaaaah! The words just slipped out of my mouth, but I couldn't help it! Why does he waste so much potential?!

"I mean... I've never seen your eyes so clearly... They're nice."

"Wow... Thanks? I got used to covering my eyes with my hair so that ghosts wouldn't realize I could see them. Although it has its disadvantages too. Styling my hair like this makes me look weirder, and I can't wear glasses. I have to use contact lenses. It's more uncomfortable and annoying, but whatever."

Huh? D-did I hear right?

"Saik... You wear glasses?"

"I used to. My eyesight is terrible. I can only make out things that are a meter away from me. I guess seeing ghosts messed up my vision. And the surgeries they did just made my vision worse. I wonder if my eyes are special or something."

Saik wears glasses... No, Yuki, he doesn't wear glasses anymore, so you can't feel attracted.

Yuki, you look like a 10-year-old, you don't stand a chance with him! Be a good friend, but just that, you'll never get anywhere with Saik. That's why our duty, as the good friend we are, is to get a living girlfriend for Saik! Or a ghost girl with the appearance of an adult.

Saik is our best friend, Yuki, don't forget it!

Yes, ma'am, yes, ma'am!

"Why are you doing a military salute?"

"Out of respect for Commander Yuki, Private Saik."

"Okay? I guess," he said with a military salute.

Our mission: get Saik a girlfriend, or at least a friend!

"By the way, did you like the soup? I'm not a great cook, but I at least tried."

"Y-yes, it's delicious..."

It's true, she can't cook very well. The taste is a bit odd, but he's a novice at this, so I can't complain. Besides, he cooked for me, so I have no right to complain when he bought the ingredients and cooked while I watched TV.

"Thanks for being kind. I know the taste is a bit strange, but at least it's edible... I think."

You think?! Uwaaaah! I hope I don't get a stomachache!

"I'll learn to cook better, I promise."

I was about to complain about that, but I kept quiet instead. I can't complain to a Saik who's genuinely determined to improve.

... He's too kind, but also selfish... Who is this guy called "Saik" really? Is he a guy who's only kind to me, or is he kind to everyone? I want to get to know him better.