"10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups......" it all rings in Hino's head as he woke up early again for a jog. How long has it been since he seen Princi? Three? Four? It doesn't matter, she would come looking for him when its necessary, he just needs to be prepared before that happens.

Jogging out from his apartment apartment building, remembering to saying hello to the old neighbor that worked closed by on his usual route to school. Recently he heard that there is a memorial being held at his school while its still being refurbish after recent events, maybe while on his jog he should go ahead and visit there, Hino thinks-wondering how everyone else would be doing.

A short cut through the park, hearing the quacks of duckling at the pond with so few people at the park at this time. Passing by the fountain, needing a quick break before running once again. Taking a sip of the water he recalls a plan Princi had discussed with him awhile then, "You need a lot of stamina as I with the power, I would need you to be able to run". "How strong could she be?" Hino wonders taking another sip before leaving "What could she draw towards her?". For a few days now, his arms and legs had been aching with all his muscle all pressing in him.

Still after so long, not a single chainsaw managed to reach for him but mostly they seem to be frequently appearing around him, if he knows where to look for. Stucked inside rivers, hanging near alleyways or even noticing them moving by through human means like cars and even just people carelessly dropping them near Hino's vicinity. Even still, he couldn't fathom how to even call an object over to him within a second-now he wonders what Princi could even summon? Maybe she's lying?

Oddly enough through out the constant thinking, he made it to school. Not much people were around but a few familiar faces were there. Plenty of flowers were laid across the ground with rows of many of his classmates and school faculty being on the frames. Weirdly he didn't felt anything, all around him atleast a few had crying faces the rest like him just stood there looking at it. One of the builder on the roof seem to be sawing his way at some wood, the tool he's using and the height he's makes Hino uneasy.

What if I done better? Hino wonders. What if I was actually trying? Just the rolls of confirm death all looking back at him was enough to unsettle him but it really didn't bother him that much, the idea of more faces added to the roster made it seem like this amount was inevitable to begin with.

There he noticed a rowdy crowd gather not t far from the main memorial. He prays before walking towards them.

All students. They don't seem to be sad. They look more angry somehow. Some were throwing rock and stones at it and other were kicking up dust and yelling insults to who? Someone who has passed?

Hino head peeking through the rowdy crowd all their faces frustrated and others crying through their anger, all at one singular person, one who was already dead a long while, Emily.

A faint crack crossed across her smiling look with a layer of dust and dirt sitting on its surface with students some even her own classmate kicking away at it. What was he supposed to do here, their just grieving people too-Hino had grief over people too this is normal of a reaction. Yet why is this so so wrong to watch?, he remembered Emily during class-not really he has to admit he barely knew her before all this.

"I can't kill ok.....what a relief" he recalled that conversation at the worst moments possible but he understood her, even if it isn't the full picture, atleast he understands enough to cry for her. Wiping away the tears, fist clenching with images of her final moment playing in his head he charged forward. "She's only people" he yells throwing a punch to one of the guys before being dragged away. "She nearly killed you too Hino!" one of them yell, "Why you hit him!!!" another called out, "She let those things in the school!! You of all should know that!!" a girl cried out with a hammer in hand.

Spitting on the floor Hino got up with the guy he punch earlier coming at him. "My girlfriend died because of her friends. Why are you defending her?" he cried punching Hino in the stomach. "Can't you understand we are all grieving here!! How could you be so selfish!!" another called out.

"Fuck your... Fuck that...I am gonna defend her cause she saved me" Hino muttered his lips bleeding "And screw your girlfriend!!" he shouted towards the guy.

"Wait? saved her?" one muttered, "Don't you think that means?" another join in.

"Your selfish" a girl muttered "You left her to die didn't you!!" she pointed accusing Hino. "This guy here abandon a hero to die!!" she shouts to the others. "What?" Hino could only answer, flabbergasted at the sudden switch but if it keeps Emily's name from being tarnished so be it. "Fuck yeah. You know I did and you would too" he yells trying to force a smile even if its wrong.

"I though you were a decent guy" someone else spoked throwing a rock at him. "Yeah me too" another agree and now all the rocks and dust were coming at him, even the guy earlier has came to give him a few rounds to the face, including other guys. Hino fought back, trying to hold back as them came-one after another, finally faltering after the girl earlier came at him with a hammer, leaving him free to trample all over.

"So this its how it feels. So humiliating" he imagine laying there, eye up towards the sky at dust and dirt get caught all over him with continuous kicks to his stomach and all that stepping over him. "This is worth it" he told himself smirking as the rain falls all over him, like ants they dispersed away-leaving him cover in rain and all that wet dirt. He could hear their footsteps trotting away in the rain before rising up. An umbrella was held over him, an old woman stood in front of him with the same look of grief like everyone else. Laying in her other arm, Emily's cracked but still smiling photo laid there-looking at him.

"I am not sure who to believe" she whispered trying to hold her feelings back, "but would you tell me how she was at her last?" . This must be her mom, Hino realize, this is too hard for him-partly he knows its true that her daughter did let the monsters in but remembering the first and last conversation with her, it feels arduous to hurt her own mother too.

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Silent he left the shade of the umbrella leaving a grieving mother behind. "If it weren't for your daughter I wouldn't be walking right now" he turned before running away-heart hurt, knowing that, that was a lie also.

The rain had gotten heavier then before, covering across nearly the whole place. Water were rushing out from gutters even roads were beginning to fill themselves up with all this water. Soaked and tired, Hino could only walk back even after all bruised and battered up- collapsing on the side walk with water washing over him and passer by walking just by him even the store owner from a few blocks down was kind enough to raise a piece of cardboard over him.

His stomach growls. What time is it even?

splat.. splat.. splat.. Hino could here someone walking towards him, it sounded fast and in a hurry. "Are you alright there?" a voice called out to Hino, in such a dark unfulfilling today her voice sounded out of place. Quickly he fumbles about, unintentionally splashing water over her. Looking at her, she seem nice even cute to him what can't his intention the most were her eyes-faintly green. "Are you alright?" she asked her finger perched gently against her lips as she looks at him. "Its nothing" he muttered looking to the side before getting up and walking off-waving his hand to ask her to leave.

Suddenly she grabbed him by the sleeve, holding tightly before turning him facing her. "Your sick and that's bothering your mind" she confidently proclaim-her eyes intently looking at his palm as her fingers wraps around his. Pulling back, shoulders raised, "Whats up with this chick" he questioned "why is she kinda nice...to me? ".

Stumbling on to the ground looking at her reaching forward with her hand, he couldn't help look at her in awe. Awkwardly his stomach growls, "Oh your hungry? Well I am cooking today, why don't you head back with me" she smiles pointing towards the corner of the road "My house is quite near". "Ok" Hino could only answer trying to adjust his wet hair.

"Hey wanna run home?" she asked eyes wide in excitement. "Say what now?" being to late to ask as she grabbed him by the arm as they ran, fast.

Throttling pass people and making sharp turns as the surroundings from shops and office buildings transition to houses at they zip around alley ways with the rain all over them and this wave of sudden excitement in both of their eyes. Finally entering an apartment complex no similar to Hino's own one they make it, finally shielded from the rain as thunder erupt.

Apartment 8-7 the door to her room seem make Hino nervous not that he dislike the idea of someone making food for him, its not that she's a girl its he never been in someone else house before. Somehow he now feels dirty.

"Your nervous" she teased-whispering in his ear. "The name is Mariko by the way" she whispered once more as she unlocks the door.

What was I supposed to say? I am in a girls home, this looks like a normal house. Stepping in to faintly size home with not much to be hold- looking over to the other end of the wall from the entrance the curtains flow as the sound of weather could be heard outside. "Let me get that" she spooked tip toed over to shut it "Dude relax I am not gonna kill you" she spoked noticing Hino's look. "Are you gonna too?" he asked not wanting to fighting her. She burst laughing, leaving Hino lost. "Dude seriously. Are you gonna too? Damn" she impish spoke "Do you wanna want me to?" -laughing again needing to lay against the wall to not fall.

"Am I funny?" he wonders "Why is this girl laughing?". Now actually looking at her, with the flow of her slightly wet hair as she moves so freely across her home, too the way she walks and even the way her fingers reached out towards the cabinet for a towel. She looks so put together just by being herself, Hino concluded before noticing the little space between them as she step towards him, snapping her fingers at his blank expression.

"Wah what?" Hino answers still stuck selfishly looking at her. Her figure looks regular but that normal, he thinks. He doesn't have any preference at all plus he wasn't interested in the first place. He's cold and hungry, it just so happen she offered him food, if someone else were to come by he would have done the same and follow them home.

Its not that I like her. I have to admit for feeling the slightest desire for human touch for just this moment, with the added moment of getting my ass beaten by my school mates. It was sure to happen. Right now I am only feeling this feelings because I am in an unfamiliar place away from the public's perception with a member of the opposite sex accompanying me for this period of time. Its just the hormones kicking in, its expected around my age. I've even learn this in class, this is not surprising this would all go away after I eat and leave. Yeah that's right. Its only the Hormones!!

"Hormones?" she questioned wondering why did he yells Hormones so loud for, "Are you sure your okay there?" she asked, eyes attentively staring into him. "Can we just eat. Please?" Hino asked, unable to handle with all that staring he's getting.

"Oh that well we have an issue" she chuckles nervously looking at him still with a smile on her face, "We are short on ingredients but don't worry I have some home made fruit juice you can have while I figure something with what I had" she said looking through her pantry after serving Hino a smoothies. Without noticing she heard Hino leaving not before yelling out he would get what she needs. She smirks at that....liking the idea.

--

An hour later Hino returned as Mariko invites him for a second time, not more wetter then she first met him. "I got groceries" he yelled out exhausted, "Cute but your a bit of a rude guest" she spoked. Eyes shocked thinking he had unintentionally committed a crime, "What did I-I do?" he nervously muttered. She laughs once more louder then earlier, "Now I really think you actually did commit a crime" she wipe her tears away "No its rude to leave empty cups on the table" she said, pointing towards the glass where she serve him a smoothie. "Oh I'll get it" Hino blushes, "And I'll cooked" she smiles pushing against his shoulder.

Dinner was great atleast Hino seems to think so on the other end Minako couldn't understand the enjoyment her food is giving. "You look healthy" she said "a little more joyous" she added. "I do?" Hino answered between chewing his food, "Well I just like your food that's it" he answered "Dinner always makes me happy".

"Oh" blushing at his words "At least your a little more positive".

"Thats thanks to you" he corrected. "Oh I see" she answered as fall of the rain consumed the eerie noise around them.

"Sorry I have go soon" Hino spoked breaking the silence. "Oh its cool" she answered "You can come here again if you wish too". "Don't you live with others?" Hino asked, "Not much just my brother that's it. But you don't have to worry much, he's busy at work".

"Oh" Hino answered, "Thanks for the food" Hino tells, moving the plates and cup towards the sink. "Oh its still raining" she noticed leaving the table to search for something, leaving Hino alone for a moment-unsure on what to do. "Boo" she popped out from the hallway smiling. "Here have this" she said handing him her umbrella as they walked out the entrance. "Wait I don't need an umbrella" Hino answered "I'll be alright in the rain".

"You can return it to me next time" she smiles. "Oh....I guess I'll be coming back" he smiles.

.....

"Took you long enough" Princi said laying against the door 12-13, her umbrella on one side and her school bag on the other. "What you need?" Hino asked just coming back home after getting through the rain for so long. "Nice umbrella" Princi complimented. "I've got great news" she whispered "We are so in!!! So in!!!" she yelled, jumping and shaking as she goes.

"What?" Hino asked through all the excitement. "Starting midnight, I got us a job to go" she pointed at him, "I am gonna be the greatest." she admitted pressing her fist against her chest in pride. "There goes my sleep" Hino whispered below his breath-sighing.