One morning Sayuri woke up all of a sudden. Still in her pajamas and barefoot she sprinted through the school's hallways, up the stairs and pushed open the heavy door to the rooftop. A cool breeze whirled up her hair and made her throat hurt while breathing in. It was still dark outside. 

Why was she here? Ah, yes, another nightmare. But this time no one came to help her, no one ended it for her. She hated herself for wishing Toki had come. But why should he do it again after she behaved so hostile last time? Instead she fled outside into the cold dusky morning to calm down.

But frazzles of her nightmare still resonated in her head. Why did Sayuri dream about something like that? Vincent drenched in blood, with his weird black arm, sharp fangs and red eyes. Then this younger version of him again, like that time when they fixed her baton. Such an innocent version with a pure smile, but then turning into that creepy monster-like Vincent again. Blood dripped from the ceiling, devouring Sayuri and there were her parents as well, drowning in a sea of blood. Vincent grabbing her by the neck with an evil laugh … What did this all mean? Or has everything here just been too much for the girl?

She was so busy with overthinking about this dream, she didn't even realize someone was approaching her.

???: "Sayu? What are you doing here?" //Especially in your PJs?// A gentle voice broke through her thoughts.

Sayuri turned her head around – someone with hands in his pockets, his hood over his fluffy hair and tired eyes was looking at her.

Sayuri: "Toki …! I could ask you the same … Wait, is this a dream again?"

Toki: "You really don't trust me, do you?" Despite this hurting him, a slight smile appeared on his face.

Sayuri: "Ah, no, that's not what I meant … I just …" 

Toki: "You just what?"

Sayuri: "I … you know …" She fought with herself. Why was it so damn hard to tell someone about your own struggles? But on the other hand, he came again. Just like she had wished. This had to be a sign, right? "It's just … everything is so damn complicated. At the beginning, I thought, I won't last a week. Then I thought, maybe it's not too bad after all, since I … got to know you all and you did not exclude me and were so kind to me. But currently I just want to leave everything behind as fast as possible and live my mundane life again …" she looked to the ground.

Toki: "Sayu …" he paused before speaking ahead. "If I'd say I understand you, it would be a lie. I – we all here grew up like that. It's totally normal for us that crazy things determine our daily life. Trials of strength with friends, probably having a more dangerous life than the average human … I can only guess what you must be thinking of our bunch of chaos people, our world, our way of living … not even talking about all the crass things that already happened to you …"

Sayuri: "And you don't even know everything yet …"

Toki: "Huh? What do you mean?" He looked at her with worried eyes.

Sayuri: //Oh, shit, did I say that out loud?// She also looked at him, but when their eyes met, she immediately looked away. "Uh, nothing. Forget about it, I'm just mumbling, ahahahahaaa …"

Toki didn't say anything and Sayuri thought she ruined it again. But then something warm and soft was over her blocking her view.

Toki: "It's pretty fresh out here …" He had thrown his hoodie over the pajama girl.

Sayuri didn't really know what to say, but he was right, she already had goosebumps all over her skin. And instead of asking her any further, Toki just showed kindness to the bothered girl again. So she put his jacket on, with the hood covering her head and the zipper closed right under her chin. It was so cozy and had his scent.

Sayuri: "Thank you …" She said softly.

Toki: "Ah, sorry, wait!" He quickly reached into his hoodie pocket to fetch some small earphones. "With these we can listen to music together." He held one ear plug out to the girl.

She was a bit confused at first, but then took it. Toki used the other one. Usually the boy had his huge blue headphones and even if he wore them right now, they couldn't share those. Sayuri found it interesting that he had some extra pair with him. Then the newest album from the Black Sky Foxes started playing.

Sayuri: "Wow, you already have this? It just came out today!" 

Toki: "Of course! Pre-order!" He grinned.

Sayuri: "I never thought I would find a bigger fan than me, haha." 

They listened to the whole album while sitting on the school roof. And while all the songs were playing, both just sat next to each other, Sayuri facing the ground and Toki looking into the darkness. But that was enough to ease the girl's mind. Even if she heard the lyrics and melodies for the first time, the band always wrote songs she could relate to and this made her feel better. And thus her mind started relaxing for the first time that night. Sayuri peeked at Toki. His hair softly waved in the slight breeze. Wasn't he cold without his hoodie? She didn't want him to get sick because of her.

Sayuri: "We shouldn't wait till dawn again! The girls will freak out when they won't find me in our room …"

Toki: "Really? Even if I bring you back?" He stuck out his tongue.

Sayuri: "Hm, maybe not … but I know a lot of other people who would find that even more concerning." //The teachers, Vincent … not that he would be anywhere near to complain, right?//

Toki: "Okay, okay, I understand. But let me just start another song. The last one. Then you go ahead."

Sayuri: "Alright." 

No way Toki chose that song coincidentally. He had remembered when they had talked about their favorite songs! That made her even more happy. It was the band's very first single.

Sayuri: "»If I was your Lonely Knight« …" She whispered. "Ah, I'm glad you –"

Toki: "Shhh. Don't ruin the song." His finger closed off her lips. Of course that made Sayuri immediately silent. And blushing. When Toki saw that he turned away very fast. It would be way too embarrassing if she had seen his red face as well. 

After the song had ended both got up and headed inside without saying a thing. Sayuri handed back his hoodie in awkward silence. The girl couldn't stand it.

Sayuri: "Uhm … thank you very much! See you!" //Ah, my PJs! He saw me in them!! Why am I only realizing that now?!?!// 

Toki: "No problem!" He was scratching his head. "See you!" He waited until Sayuri was out of sight, so nobody would see them together and then he headed back to his own room. //What am I even doing?// He sighed.

🔹

Weeks went by, but Vincent stayed absent. Did the headmistress lie to her? What the hell occurred back then? Where was he? Sayuri sometimes asked herself if any of this had actually ever happened in the first place. Maybe it was all just in her head. At least the girl could train with Hana and Emily for the time being. Too bad her necromancing powers couldn't be improved this way.

But before she knew it, Christmas break was right around the corner. All students would be able to go home for three whole weeks. A strange thought for Sayuri. Would she even feel home again after all that has happened to her so far? For the last time this year the power squirrels and some other familiar faces sat together for lunch.

Chino: "The year's gone by so fast! And nothing exciting came off!"

Akira: "Yeah, so boring! We need to plan some nice things for the new year, hehe." 

Ryota: "I'm in! Just let me know when I should head over."

Akira: "Sure thing! It's gonna be great! Toki-chan, can we count on you as well?"

Toki: "I don't know, but I'm visiting you and Hana all the time anyways." He smiled.

Hana: "Yesss, but we should rather start learning for the midterms instead of practicing for stupid pranks…" she rolled her eyes.

Yuki: "I wish I had your problems!" The green haired girl sighed dramatically. "I can't wait for the holidays to be over as soon as possible!"

Hiroshi: "Do you want to do the exams so badly?" He laughed.

Yuki: "No, but exams are still better than having to spend time with my family. Especially with my stupid brother!"

Hiroshi: "Wow, that sounds … bad." 

Yuki: "It is bad."

Ryota: "Well, you can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends, right?" Ah, there. His toothpaste commercial grin.

Hana: "Talking of friends – Sayu-chan, where are you even from? I think we never talked about our home towns! Maybe we live close to each other, that would be even more awesome!"

Sayuri: "I don't know … I'm from a small town called Dawn Creek." 

Hana: "Huh … Never heard of that?!"

Hiroshi: "My navigator says it's about 3 hours away from here."

Hana: "Let me see!" She went over to the fire boy and looked at his smartphone. Her expression changed from curious to sad. "Nooo! This is way too far away from me!" Hana's voice sounded almost suffering. "This way I clearly cannot visit you on your birthday! Maybe I sent you a present via mail?"

Sayuri: "Ah, don't worry. It's fine. Everyone is surely busy on New Year's Eve anyway." //And inviting so many people over? I think my dad would freak out. And me probably, too.//

Chino: "Ha, I bet she throws a secret party without us!"

Toki: "I don't think that …" //Oh, so her birthday is soon!//

Akira: "How can you know? Or are you the only guest invited?" He smirked.

Ryota: "Oooh, I see, you're cheating on Hana!"

Toki: "What? I'm not cheating on anyone, you stupid moron!"

Hana: "Hello?! Sayu-chan and I are right here? We can hear you?!? Baka! Everyone of you!"

Ryota: "Ah, yeah, cause you're still single and a virgin. My bad, I forgot that!" He just ignored Hana and preferred provoking his friend.

Toki: "Says the single virgin!"

Ryota: "Couldn't be me!" He suspiciously looked at Yuki.

Hana: "Now this is enough!" She threw some used napkins right into Ryota's face.

Ryota: "Hey!"

Akira: "Now someone's mad!"

Hana: "I'm not mad, you're just jerks, that's all!" She walked towards the other side of the table, where her brothers, Ryota and Toki were sitting.

Chino: "If you're jealous, you know we support you and Illousy making out!"

Hana clenched her tiny fist and teeth … she was so fed up with these teenage guys. Those were the times she wished to have a Gaiteki tang or at least another attacking skill.

Hana: "I will kill you. Right. Now."

Toki: "Let me out of this! I didn't do anything!" He imploringly looked at Hana.

Hiroshi and Sayuri were only shruggingly looking at each other while the bunch of people were scuffling in a cloud of dust. Almost like on their first day of school.

Yuki: "My perfect time to leave into Christmas hell, bye!"