Nami

Demon Boy’s intense gaze bores into mine, sending shivers down my spine—a reaction my body has never experienced before. Unable to look away, I find myself intrigued by the figure whose beauty must hypnotize anyone who crosses his path, giving me even more reason to avoid him as much as possible.

“Huh, this is interesting. Is it possible that it’s love at first sight?” Shiokawa-san smirks, one eyebrow shooting up as a sly smile spreads across her face.

As if freed from a spell, I finally blink and avert my eyes, my cheeks blushing for some reason. I put a hand over my chest, the erratic rhythm of my heartbeat leaving me even more confused.

Why do I feel like disappearing? Why do I feel embarrassed?

The girl with long blonde hair and blue eyes seated next to Demon Boy glares daggers at me, pointing a well-manicured finger. She scoffs, “As if. Yuu-kun would never fall in love with a dull nobody like her.”

“Hey, you shouldn’t say that, Emica,” Watanabe-san scolds.

The pressure of being the center of attention is too much for me to bear, so I push my chair back and abruptly rise to my feet, tray of food in hand.

“Nami-chan?” Shiokawa-san looks confused.

“Excuse me.” I walk away from the table without sparing the group of friends a single glance, eager to be alone. I dispose of my lunch leftovers and leave the cafeteria.

To my relief, I find refuge in the small yet charming garden located at the back of the main building, which I assume also belongs to Mori Senior High School. I flop down onto a bench and exhale deeply, my shoulders relaxing and my heartbeat slowing back to normal.

“Who is that boy? Is he really a demon? Did he see my angel form? Does he know who I am? Is he a spy sent from the demon realm to kill me? Is he going to hurt me? Am I in danger?” I ask myself, fear of being discovered and caught lingering within me.

My stomach growls loudly, making me regret not finishing my lunch before I left the cafeteria.

“I would kill for a chocolate bar right now,” I grumble, closing my eyes. “I want to go home.”

* * * 

“Nami-chan, are you okay? You disappeared after you left the cafeteria,” Watanabe-san says the second I reach my desk in the classroom, the concern in his voice prompting me to at least give him a small smile in return. As I do not utter a word, he continues, “I’m sorry that Emica was so rude to you. The truth is that she has been in an on-and-off thing with Yuu-kun for a year now, and she is extremely jealous of other girls because she’s scared of losing him.”

I frown, unsure what he means. “On-and-off thing? What does that mean?”

His expression mirrors mine as he responds with a question of his own. “You don’t know what an on-and-off thing means? Have you never been in one?”

I shake my head.

“It’s like a friends-with-benefits relationship.” He smiles.

“What is a friends-with-benefits relationship?”

Why are humans so complicated? Why do they use so many difficult terms?

Watanabe-san opens his mouth in surprise. “You don’t know what a friends-with-benefits relationship is?”

I shake my head again.

He sighs. “Are you the type of girl who spends her time studying, studying, and studying?”

“Not really.”

He squeezes his eyes, suspicious. “Who are you exactly?”

I am an angel struggling to get used to living in Tokyo as a human, but I cannot tell him that.

“My name is Nami Fukuyama,” I state, emotionless.

Watanabe-san bursts out laughing. “You’re weird, Nami-chan, but I like you.”

“Is… being weird a bad thing?” I hesitate, tensing a little.

“Not at all.” He winks.

Demon Boy’s face pops into my head, his hazel eyes taking over all of my thoughts.

“Do you mind if I ask you a question about your friend?” I take the chance to keep the conversation going for more than a minute and learn more about the person I feel will most likely give me headaches in the future.

Watanabe-san perks up, visibly interested. “What friend?”

“The one the rude girl has an… What do you call it again? An on-and-off thing? Is that it?”

His lips curl into a mischievous smile as he mumbles, “So it really was love at first sight on both sides. That’s a first.”

The teacher enters the classroom, therefore ending our conversation before I can pry for information about Demon Boy.

Thankfully—or perhaps not—I am forced to spend the next hour immersed in activities with my classmates as a form of bonding or something like that, which keeps me busy enough not to think about those hazel eyes that take my breath away.

* * *

I arrive at my apartment at six-thirty in the evening, socially drained, physically exhausted, and emotionally scarred—the latter thanks to Demon Boy’s face, which keeps haunting me every five minutes.

“It is only the first day of school, and I already hate my life as a teenage human,” I murmur, dragging my feet to my bedroom, longing for my sweet, oh-so-sweet bed.

“You have finally arrived, little sis.” Souma waltzes in nonchalantly, his human form featuring a handsome young man with long black hair, black eyes, and dimples in his cheeks whenever he smiles. He is also wearing a suit.

I gasp. “Souma? What are you doing here?”

The last time I saw him was when I left the Kingdom of Angels, and to say that I am surprised to see my dear brother in the human realm is an understatement.

“It is your fault, you know. Why have you not visited me at the castle? I have been waiting to hear news from you since you came here.” He pouts, crossing his arms over his chest.

I sit on the edge of my bed. “To be honest, I have been having a hard time adjusting to life as a human because no one told me that they have so many complex emotions,” I complain, part of me wishing my brother would come back another day so I could take a bath and sleep.

Souma laughs, entertained by my misery. “I get what you are saying, but humans are amazing, are they not? They know how to be genuinely happy.” He pauses, a shadow of sorrow crossing his eyes. “Unlike us angels, who pretend to be good and perfect for the sake of our kingdom.”

“Pretend to be?” I frown, confused by his choice of words.

“Anyway, you look good in that outfit.” He smiles and approaches me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “How was your first day at school? Did you make any friends?”

I roll my eyes and shrug. “Heh. It was okay, and no, I did not make any friends, obviously.”

“How come?” He sits beside me.

I shrug again.

“You need to be more friendly, little sis. A smile would not hurt anyone.”

“Why should I smile when I do not feel like doing it?”

“Why should you not smile when you are having an incredible experience that most angels will never have?”

“I am here against my wishes, and you know it.” I lie on the bed, my eyes fixed on the white ceiling above me.

“Judging by your words, I think it is safe to assume that you have not gotten used to the human realm yet and want to return to the Kingdom of Angels as soon as possible. Am I correct?”

I bite my lower lip to stop myself from cursing everything and everyone, as I get extremely ill-tempered when tired and hungry, which is the case right now.

I wish I could eat ice cream for dinner and chocolate cake for dessert.

I glance at my brother, who is busy typing on a smartphone.

“Since when have you had a smartphone?” I ask.

“I bought it when I came to Tokyo last year,” he responds without taking his eyes off the device.

“By the way, why are you wearing a suit? Is it not too fancy for a casual visit to your dear sister?” I tease, slightly amused by his choice of attire.

He arches an eyebrow. “And who said that visiting you is the only reason why I have come to Tokyo?”

I sit up immediately, my interest piqued. “Are you dating a human?” is the first thing that comes out of my mouth.

He bursts out laughing. “I wish, but no. I am here on business under Father’s order.”

“I was not aware that Father had business with the humans.”

Souma stops laughing and stares deeply into my eyes, his expression serious. “There are many things you are not aware of, and it is better that you stay in the dark for your own sake and protection,” he asserts ominously.

“Huh?”

“So, did any of your schoolmates catch your attention?” He changes the subject.

I gaze at him in silence for ten seconds before deciding not to press him to elaborate on the weird statement, as I am too tired to talk about whatever serious subject he has in mind. Instead, I go with the flow, replying, “Nope. Although, I think I met a dem—” I shut my mouth abruptly, unwilling to finish the sentence.

Demon Boy’s face pops into my mind for the fiftieth time, awakening butterflies in my stomach and making my heart beat faster. As I touch my chest, I wonder why my body reacts this way whenever I think about whoever or whatever that thing is, and by thing, I mean the boy.

“A dem?” Souma frowns. “What is a dem?”

I panic for reasons I do not understand and come up with something as outrageous as what I blurt out next—“a demanding teapot in the cafeteria.” I blink rapidly as my brain struggles to understand why, in the world, I cannot come up with a better lie—at least one that makes sense.

My brother just keeps looking at me, visibly… amused, perhaps? Or is it disappointment? Concern that I might have lost my sanity? I cannot quite tell.

He opens his mouth and slowly repeats my nonsensical response. “A demanding teapot in the cafeteria?”

“Well… uhm… yes… I mean…” I fidget with my fingers.

He enthusiastically pats me on the back, beaming. “Lucky you, sis. I have always wanted to meet a demanding teapot, whatever that means.” He chuckles.

I let out an awkward laugh before standing up and making my way to the door. “I am going to boil water for my instant noodles. Would you like to eat with me?”

He scowls. “Are you eating instant noodles every night?”

“Me? I would never,” I smirk, pretending to be offended. “Most nights, I cook healthier food, I swear.” I laugh.

Souma follows me to the kitchen. “You are different from when you left the Kingdom of Angels, Nami. That is a good thing.”

“Different, how?” I fill a small pot with water and place it on the electric stove.

“You are more carefree. Although I believe you have not noticed it yet.”

“You are imagining things,” I grumble, grabbing two packets of instant noodles from the cabinet.

“If you say so…”

“Do you want eggs in your instant noodles?” I open the refrigerator, only to find that I am out of eggs.

Oh, bother. I need to go to the grocery store tomorrow after school. Or perhaps I should order some online?

Souma chuckles. “Nah, I am good, thank you. I do not like eggs.”

I glance at him, surprised. “You do not?”

He shakes his head. “I never did. I thought you knew that.”

I focus on the kettle, silently scolding myself for not paying enough attention to my brother’s preferences. What kind of sister am I?

“How are things in the castle? Are Father, Mother, and Sora safe?” I remember to ask about my family—one more reason to scold myself for being so detached from life, since it should have been my first question when I met Souma.

“They are fine. In fact, let me tell you about…”

My brother’s voice fades away as I get lost in my thoughts.

Why did I not inform Souma about Demon Boy? What stopped me from talking about him? Why do I feel the need to hide this information for as long as I can?

As I close my eyes, I try to convince myself I am not mesmerized by Demon Boy’s gorgeous face, even though deep in my heart I know I am kidding myself, trying to bury my true feelings, as I always do.

* * *