I stepped closer, placed my hand on the table she was sitting at, and said, “Hello, Miho!”

— — — — —

As I said that, I saw on her table a piece of cake with a lighted candle in it. It seemed like it was her birthday.

Miho raised her head slowly and looked at me, “Huh? Ryuu? What are you doing here”

“I was heading back home from school and saw you here. It’s your birthday?”

“Yes, I just turned 21!”

“Happy birthday, Miho! But why are you here alone?”

After I asked this question, her face saddened up and quietly told me, “For a few years, I celebrated my birthday alone…Akagi is always busy and Aya always runned away when our birthday comes.”

“When…your birthday? Are you twins?”

“Yes, we are the same age. But when our birthday comes, she runs away because she remembers…” She clenched her lips and a tear slipped down her cheek, “The day she killed our creator.”

I saw Miho visibly affected by this subject but I was too curious to find out more, “I’m so sorry, Miho. But how…how did Aya kill him?”

Crying, she said, “When we turned ten, Aya had an argument with our creator. That day, she lost control…Ryuu, demons aren’t like humans. When they enter a rage, nothing can calm them down. They start killing.”

I stayed silent for a moment.

Miho wiped away her tears and said, “That’s why I don’t regret that I am not a demon anymore. Even though I am scared of death because I don’t have a soul and don’t go anywhere after death…at least, I escaped the hell of being a demon.”

I felt so bad for Miho, she looked so scared telling me this, “I am so sorry for everything that happened, Miho. I truly am.”

Trying to change the mood and make her feel better, I continued saying, “Mind if I join your birthday party?”

I watched her face light up, the sadness slowly fading away, “Sure! Please, take a seat.” she said, pointing to the seat in front of her. Miho seemed much happier now, she even called a waiter and ordered a piece of cake for me as well.

After a few minutes, my order arrived, “Happy birthday Miho, thanks for the cake!” I said, excited.

With a big smile on her face, she said, “Thank you Ryuu! It's been a while since I celebrated my birthday with someone.”

She looked so happy now, it was like one of her dreams had come true. I was really happy for her.

We finished eating and then Miho paid the bill. She didn’t let me contribute, saying it was on her since it was her birthday. Then, she looked at me satisfied and said, “It was so nice! Now Ryuu, do you want to go and search for Aya together?”

“Sure, let’s go!” I said as I stood up and started heading towards the exit door.

We left the restaurant together and then I realised, “Miho, how are we going to find Aya? She said she can travel very fast with the lightning, she can be anywhere!”

As I was saying that, a thunder could be heard to my left, as I turned my head towards the sound, I saw the sky was red there.

Miho looked me straight into my eyes and said, “I think I know where she is.” then, panicked, she started running towards the thunders, she looked behind and shouted, “Are you coming?” as her voice trembled.

I started running after her and once I caught up with her, I asked her, “What is going on?”

“It’s probably Aya, she must be upset because she remembered she killed our creator.” Said Miho seriously.

We kept running, and as we got closer, I realized the thunder was coming from the forest near my city. It was the same forest from my dream…I think. I hoped that dream wasn’t a sign. After about twenty minutes of running, we reached the source of the sound. I was exhausted, I couldn’t move at all. Right in front of me, a red lightning struck the ground…then another…and another…

There, at the center of the lightning, stood Aya, the grass around her began to burn.

Me and Miho started calling her, “Aya!” “Aya, calm down!” she couldn’t hear us because of the loud thunder. We started to slowly approach her, continuing to call her.

Aya was on her feet, unable to stay still. She held her head in her hands, screaming as she stumbled in circles, completely lost.

When the lightning stopped, Aya fell to her knees. The thunder vanished, leaving only the sound of her crying in agony echoing through the silence.

Miho ran over to Aya and placed her hand on her shoulder.

Aya turned her head, tears streaming down her face, her expression filled with pain. The moment she saw Miho, she broke down and hugged her tightly, pulling her down.

“I’m sorry I killed him.

I’m sorry, I know you loved him a lot.

I’m sorry I can’t go back in time.

I’m sorry I exist.”

Miho broke down crying as well and held Aya tightly in her arms, “Don’t ever say something like that! Your existence is the most important thing to me!”

After that, I stayed still, saying nothing. I watched Miho wipe away Aya’s tears and tell her that everything was going to be alright, and that it wasn’t her fault. When a demon enters a rage, there’s nothing they can do to stop it.

Aya lowered her head onto Miho’s shoulder, and Miho kept telling her that everything was going to be okay.

I thought that now that she was more relaxed, I could talk to her, so I asked, “Aya, are you okay?”

She slowly raised her head and said, “Yeah… I’m sorry you had to see me like that. Thinking about it, it’s kind of the same as when we first met, right?”

“Yeah..”

Aya and Miho slowly stood up. Aya wiped her tears, her hands shaking.

I just remembered, it was Aya’s birthday as well, “Happy birthday, Aya!”

She took her hands away from her eyes and said, “Oh…I forgot it’s my birthday. Thank you, Ryuu…and happy birthday, Miho! It’s your day too.” Then she pulled her into a hug.

Miho also wished Aya a happy birthday, and then, smiling, she said, “Let’s go celebrate our birthday together and forget about what happened. Ryuu, are you coming too?”

“Let’s go!” I said.