Her mind and legs heavy, June had made it home. A tall, old, red brick building with white trimming. Ivy grew across the side, and the steps to that old, wooden door were chipped. She opened the door and entered quietly. Checking the mail, there was nothing as always. Just a few coupons and a confirmation that her dad had indeed paid rent for her.

Up a couple flights of stairs, on the second floor, there was her apartment. The front door creaked open as always, but the sight before her wasn’t expected.

The kitchen seemed to be entirely cleaned up, sparkling like new. And on the coffee table, there sat a new copy of her record. Sitting in front of the table was Ciel, who had looked up when June entered. He seemed... apprehensive?

“You cleaned everything up? And got me a new record...” She still felt a bit shocked.

Ciel nodded. “Sorry, I didn’t really... I didn’t really take that stuff as seriously as I should have.”

“Thanks...” June looked around, hanging up her messenger bag and setting the mail down on the table before sitting.

“And... I also wanted to say something, about the god-mentor-stuff...” Ciel fidgeted relentlessly with his beaded necklace. “Well um... you aren’t actually the ‘chosen one’ or whatever. Whoever is my mentor has to choose to be... So you don’t have to do anything. Sorry. I lied.”

June felt some of the pressure in her heart release. “Ah... I see. Thanks for telling me then...”

“I realize I’m a bit of a mess, and it’s hard to um... but anyway, I can leave now if you’d like.”

“No, no it’s... wait, what’s that?”

“Huh?”

One of the beads on Ciel’s necklace started to glow! He let go of it instantly, yet the necklace seemed to drift up still. The bead, once black, began to glow, before exploding with golden light. Then, the necklace relaxed, the bead now colored gold. A symbol had also appeared on the bead; a hand holding up a heart. The symbol of the first Heavenly Virtue...

“Consideration,” June said automatically. “That’s the first Heavenly Virtue...”

“Huh!? Huh? Huh... well, would you look at that! Looks like I can learn something, haha!” Ciel smiled, though it seemed a bit forced. June couldn’t help but wonder why he seemed so strangely... upset.

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“Yeah...” She said, trailing off. Ciel looked at her nervously. He was still waiting for her answer.

“... Okay,” she finally said.

“!!! Okay?”

“Yes, okay. I think I will try to help you out... You’re a little dense sometimes and you’re spoiled but... I do think you’re a good person.” Somehow, despite the added stress, she couldn’t bring herself to reject him or kick him out.

Ciel looked genuinely delighted, even with the backhanded compliments, which made June feel a little guilty. “So, so, so I get to stay then? You accept me as your mentee?”

“Yeah... yeah! Yeah, I do.”

“Ok ok ok! Hold up your hand!”

“Okay?” June held up her hand. Ciel held his up, and pressed their palms together. His skin was so pale compared to hers, and his fingers were much longer. Warmth spread where their skin met.

“Ok, close your eyes...”

They both closed their eyes. Electricity danced between their palms, static seemed to be building, and June wanted to pull away but felt unable to. Something hot began flowing through her veins, starting from her hand down to her arm, all throughout the rest of her body. And then, suddenly, something exploded!

As if the building static between their palms burst, their hands both instantly retracted.

June was shaking out her hand as it tingled and sparked with pain. “What was that?”

Ciel was shaking out his hand too. “I set up a soul bind! That way, you won’t be hurt by my powers, and you have a bit more control over this whole... mentoring process in a way. It’s sort of like a contract between souls, so if either of us illegally breaks it then uh... well that’d suck, but it’s fine!”

“Ah, I see...” Though June really didn’t see. She stared at the record for a moment, and realized something. She picked it up. Her hand was still a little red. “Hey, Ciel?”

“Yeah?”

“How’d you buy this? It’s not like you have a job...”

“Oh, it’s simple! I saw this fountain and there was a bunch of coins on the bottom, so I grabbed enough for a used record!”

“...”

“What’s wrong? It was free money!”

“...” June rubbed her forehead, already feeling drained by the future work ahead of her.