It may seem superstitious, but I believe people possess different auras. And, no—(although also noteworthy) I’m not talking about those “What color is your aura?” type of superstition, I’m talking about presence.

I believe each and everyone of us harbor a certain level of presence; some, more than others. What are the causes of these differences? Maybe intelligence? Extraversion? A fine combination of both? Maybe one could even call it a voice of the soul.

Well, I’m not sure, and I’m not sure what I would do with this belief, either. After all, some beliefs are domestic and innate, and simply, they hold little value in our judgements.

“If you were to meet your doppelgänger, would you be the nice one or the evil one?”

“Dude, if she’s the evil doppelgänger, the nice one must be a saint!”

“Aren’t you quick to compliment, lover boy.”

Covering my lips, I tried to conceal my amusement.

With a smile behind my palm, “Then, being the evil doppelgänger wouldn’t be so bad,” I supposed.

“What?”

“See?! A saint!”

“Wait—I’m slow—explain-”

Another voice, “She’s saying—”

“-Wait, I got it!”

Sitting in the middle of that chaos, I couldn’t help but hold my head in delighted anguish. A sweet aroma of vanilla hovered in the air, coaxing those around them to stay just a little longer, and with a huff, I lifted my arm and sipped my latte, pursing my lips in thought.

Cutting through their banter, “Jayden, don’t you have class soon?” I asked.

His eyes widened and he looked down at his watch; “Oh, shit—class ‘s about to start!”

Swiping his backpack and flying out of his seat, the boy disappeared before the count of one.

The jock beside him sat in silence for some time before abruptly jumping up as well. “Fuck—I’m also in that class!”

And with that, two of the four boys departed like flies.

The girl beside me peeked up from her sundae, seeming like she was watching some sort of show.

“That was wild,” opined the boy beside her, sipping his tea. Then, he turned to me. “They may call you a saint, but that was the whisper of the Devil.”

The girl nearly spat out her sundae, forcing it down along with her laughter.

I opened my mouth then closed it, then wheezed in my own enlightenment.

Finally regaining my composure, “Okay,” I retorted, “but that means you’re also the evil doppelgänger!”

He raised his eyebrows and chimed, “Naturally,” causing another eruption of laughter.

Slowly, after the banter had died down, the other male began tidying up his area.

“Whelp,” he voiced, “I also have a class later today. Think I’m gonna head back and mentally prepare for that.”

In collective harmony, “Okay~!” we caroled.

Once he had left and it was just us three who remained, I promptly realized the two beside me were a couple. Squinting my eyes, I stood up and grabbed my bag.

“I’m gonna head home, too,” I said.

Unable to come up with any reasonable excuse, I left the two sitting there dumbfounded.

“Okay…?” I could mentally imagine one of them say. Actually, maybe they did say that. I didn’t bother to listen.

As I strolled across the street, the morning sun seemed to sway across the sky. Flicking my steps, I sighed to myself, remembering the coffee I just had. There was a lingering aftertaste.

Rounding towards a different route, I hummed as I entered one of my favorite cafés and beelined towards the register.

“Which milk are we having today, little lady?”

Seeing my pout, the barista snorted at her own teasing.

“Blueberry,” I grumbled, aware that, to her, I probably seemed like an angry bunny, unable to really do anything about my annoyance.

Her smile widened, and I cocked my head, knowing exactly what she was thinking. Her eyes were simply screaming: “I knew it! I knew it! I knew you wanted blueberry!”

Out of my control, a smile inevitably escaped and revealed itself.

“Okay, mind reader.” I giggled. “My drink?”

She snapped out of her daze and promptly nodded, though it seemed more like a choppy tilt of the head.

Once my drink had been paid for, the barista began her concoction. During this time, I stood near the walls, glancing around with a hint of curiosity.

This café, in particular, gains less attraction than the one previously. However, one still cannot deny this place of their reputation and popularity. Knowing such, it was strange that on this singular day, the place seemed barren and empty.

A light bell chimed, signaling an entry of a customer.

“Welcome!” voiced the mischievous barista, bringing me my ordered drink.

Absentmindedly grabbing the cup, I peeked at the approaching customer.

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With their dark hair tied in a half-up half-down style, they sauntered towards the register with a bunny in their arms.

Even with their intricacies, the girl had looked somewhat familiar.

“Good morning,” she greeted, her voice flat and nearly monotone. However, there was an underlying coolness to it, and I sipped my blueberry milk, comparing the person to the drink in my hand.

Skimming at the menu above, the person licked their lips before speaking.

“Number seven, please.”

Professionally, “Size?” asked the barista.

“Small.”

“Anything else?”

A short ponder.

“No, thank you.”

A quick and uniformed transaction, experienced and witnessed by many.

After having paid, the girl went and settled down at a faraway table, playing with her bunny as she waited on her order.

I narrowed my eyes, trying to remember where I’ve seen her before. I recognized that I’ve seen her around the campus, but there was nothing else about her that I’ve truly memorized.

Similarly, in unison: “Oh. I forgot to ask for her name.”

I spun back towards the barista, raising an eyebrow.

She feigned glaring at me and seethed, “It’s ‘cause you make me feel too relaxed whenever you’re here.”

You’re blaming me for that?!

I blinked at her, my lips still housing the straw in my mouth. With that, I narrowed my eyes, refusing to say anything.

She simpered again, enjoying my little reactions.

Then, swiveling towards the female at the faraway table, “Hey, bunny girl! What’s your name again?”

Rude, much?!

The customer raised her head, her mouth slightly ajared. She mechanically stood up and cuddled her fur-ball as she approached us.

“My name is Avis…” she murmured, somewhat disheartened.

Although I’ve taken note of her saddened tone, at this moment, what mainly caught my attention was her name. It was Avis! I knew she looked familiar! She’s in two of my classes!

Once she had picked up her drink and left the area, I swung back and interrogated the barista.

“You acted like you know her.”

Taken-aback, “You noticed?”

I nodded.

The barista smirked and crossed her arms. “Yeah, I think I’ve seen her during some of my shifts.” After a short hum, “Her name always leaves my mind, though,” she mused.

Again, you were blaming me for that?!

“Do you remember what she usually orders?”

Tuning with pride, “Number five and number seven~!” she sang. “And sometimes just water.”

“You remember her orders but not her name?”

“…”

I snorted, tapping her on the shoulder.

“You’ll find it in your heart. Someday.” Such were my words of comfort.

Once I’ve left as well, I mentally struck myself in the temple, chastising myself for forgetting a classmate. Had the class been large, I would have felt just fine. But our class size was a mere twenty! Both of them! How could I have forgotten?!

I belittled Jane for forgetting, but I never mentioned my own inability to remember.

Avis, I thought to myself. In one class, she sat near the front, and in the other, she sat near the back corner. However, in both departments, she sat alone. Her presence was at such an extreme low it had caused me to forget her existence!

Now that I think back on my memories, I’d see her in multiple snapshots. Her aura is faint but her image is astoundingly acute?!

As I pondered this, my stride halted in its tracks, and my blueberry milk threatened to fall from my hands.

The reason? The girl I’ve been thinking about is a mere few blocks in front of me! She hadn’t left the vicinity!

As I etched closer and pretended to mind my own business, I snuck glances at her. Once again, the girl was playing with her little cottontail.

I swallowed some saliva, questioning why I was even nervous, and approached her with the intent of a greeting.

“Hi,” I blurted.

Standing beside her, I randomly slipped the straw into my mouth, waiting for her to respond.

Noticing my appearance, Avis raised her head and pulled closer into her bunny's embrace. Her lips arched upwards, exuding a charming and frosty smile.

“!!!” My sudden inhale made me slurp on my blueberry milk, and the cold drink threatened to reduce my internal temperature by several degrees.

However, even as more time passed, she hadn’t spoken a word, only presenting me with a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Deciding that she wasn’t going to say anything, I returned her nod and waved her goodbye.

As I took one step away, I finally heard her speak.

“See you tomorrow, Charlotte."

I swiveled back and stared at her, quickly concealing my shock.

Happiness threatened to spill onto my features, and it was I who hadn’t spoken anything this time. I merely grinned and waved her goodbye twice as fervently.

After our parting, I discarded my empty cup and made my way back home. As I skipped along and arrived at my apartment, I pulled out my keys and barged into my dainty abode.

Slamming onto the couch, I released the pent up air within my body, feeling the tension melt away as I sighed in delight.

Grappling towards the shelf, I pulled out a manga and skimmed through the beautiful drawings, reminiscing each and every enchanting dialogue.

No one knows of this, but I find yuri to be extremely adorable! Rather, no one even knows that I like to read manga, much less read at all.

Reaching a side character arc, the girl within this novel reminded me of a certain being. Quiet and down-to-earth, particularly fond of animals… and haunted by an unassuming demeanor.

Remembering my short interaction with this peculiar girl, I flopped around again and hopped back into my monument of self-reflection.

Indeed, I believe each and everyone of us harbor a certain level of presence. Certainly, Avis is on the lower spectrum. She has barely any aura, is a hardcore loner, and is slow at picking up social cues.

However, the more I sorted through my recollection of her image, the more I realized just how much charm she’s concealed under that nonexistent presence.

She is dressed to perfection, her features can be that of a model’s, and from my interaction with her so far, her personality isn’t bad.

Thus, what is it about her that makes people forget?

But how can they? Why should they? Shouldn’t someone so charming be noticed? It seems so unfair!

In my bouts of fury, memories of her farewell resurfaced. And, with it, her voice.

“See you tomorrow, Charlotte.”

Although still somewhat monotone, there was a mellow softness to it that could make heads turn. And I, too, want to share with others this wonderful person.

En, I’ve decided… With all things accounted for…

Avis, I will build you a harem!