"Clover, do you... Know anything about what happened with Kanako?"

"Mmm? Well, she told me that she fell down... But that's about it. I did read about falling down though, I heard that's not really something that monsters... Come back from. Like, ever."

"Well... She didn't exactly lie to you. Tell me Clover, how much do you remember about your time in the Underground...?"

"Just about everything. There's still a few blank spots in there for me, kind of feels like I'm forgetting about a face or two... But I remember my journey from The Ruins to The Wild East... And then, you know."

"...My apologies."

"S'fine, I'm over it. Not like I died, did I?"

Ceroba breathed in, then nodded. "I suppose I don't need to tiptoe around anything with you then. Clover... You're the reason that Kanako is alive right now."

"...Wait, how?"

"Clover, while you were unconscious I drew some of your blood... And from there I made some breakthroughs. Initially I'd..." Ceroba's breath caught, she couldn't bring herself to tell Clover what she had truly planned to do with him. "I... Nevermind, it's not important. What is important is that from your blood, I was able to create a serum which could be used to empower monsters... Albeit temporarily."

"And... Where is this going?" Clover tilted his head at Ceroba. He could tell she wasn't giving him the whole truth, it was pretty easy to see, but for now he was at least willing to hear her out.

"That empowerment... Is able to rouse monsters from having fallen down. However... We aren't sure if... They'll stay awake without more of the serum due to its temporary nature."

"So..."

"Clover, the lives of dozens of monsters rest solely on your well-being."

"...Well ain't that one heck of a reason to settle down." Clover turned and rubbed at the back of his head. He most certainly hadn't given up on that burning passion he'd felt that had driven him to the Underground to begin with Something despicable was still out there, in need of justice, waiting... Some horrid monster out there in the Underground that he needed to punish. But... He'd be damned if exacting revenge took precedence over the needs of dozens of other individuals.

"Therefore, I must ask... Clover, would you be comfortable donating blood every other week or so? We don't need much to produce what is needed, one syringe of blood should be able to create enough for every monster to be able to survive for a week. The serum isn't difficult to produce..."

"...O'course, how could I not do it if it meant saving innocent lives?"

Ceroba sighed in relief. She'd figured Clover would've said yes, they had a pure SOUL for a reason... But, she still felt she should ask.

"Thank you, truly. You're a wonderful person, Clover."

With every word Ceroba couldn't help but imagine her having ripped out Clover's SOUL herself, dooming every other monster in the lab to the horrid fate that had awaited them without any outside intervention. What Martlet would've done... How Starlo would've reacted... If Kanako knew another had died for her to be alive?

Despite none of this having come to pass, Ceroba couldn't help but feel an immeasurable wave of guilt wash over herself at the mere thought of it.

"So... Is that everything?" Clover tugged at his hat as he asked the question.

"...Yes, but I will need to draw your blood before you leave."

"Alright, thank you Mrs. Ketsukane."

Ceroba sighed, she figured she at least owed this basic courtesy to the human. She forced a smile...

"Just call me Ceroba."

...

"So when did you say your mom is gonna come pick you up?"

"She said she'd be here by around seven, so in about an hour and a half?"

Both Kanako and Clover were once again on the bed, Kanako was currently leaning half way off of it and drawing, while Clover merely sat at their side wondering how blood wasn't flooding their cranium right about now. Then it hit him. Monster, duh, no blood to flow.

Though... She did push herself up a moment later and rubbed at her temples.

"Owwww... Just got a really sudden headache, does that ever happen to you Clover? It happens for me, it sucks!"

"Maybe try drawing while sitting up? I get a headache when blood goes ta' my head like that. Monsters don't have blood though, so like... I dunno, maybe it's just a coincidence?"

"Oh, yeah, about that, were you serious when you said you were a human?" Kanako pushed herself all the way up and bounced to turn in Clover's direction.

"Yeah? I mean, I... Used to be a human? I'm like, a half human half monster hybrid... Thing, sort of?"

"...???"

She didn't even need to say anything for Clover to understand that he had in fact, given her a terrible explanation.

"Okay, look, look." Clover scoffed and waved Kanako away, whom had been gradually inching closer by the second. He closed his eyes and focused for a moment, holding out his hand just in front of Kanako.

"Uh... Do you want me to take your hand, or like?"

"No, just-hush."

"...Okay Mr. Sentinel of Silence." She also had to wonder, where exactly had she coined that term from? What even were they? Actually, the name was self explanatory, she didn't need an explanation.

"For your information, I actually am one of those thank you very much." Clover opened his eyes, just to roll them. "Now seriously, pipe down for a moment will ya?"

Kanako made a motion of zipping her lips, which elicited a slight chuckle from Clover. Though he closed his eyes immediately afterwards.

When he next opened them, a small yellow heart with a white outline bobbed up and down in the palm of his hand. "This, is my SOUL."

"...You know I haven't seen any other SOUL's, right?"

"Bah! Just take my word for it, it's different. Monster SOUL's are all white, human SOUL's are all colored, with the only exception being a monster or a human that's absorbed another's SOUL. And I haven't done that, so, clearly I'm a different case."

"...Okay, neat!"

"You're uh... Not gonna ask anything else?"

"No, do I need to?" She asked innocently.

"...Nah, just surprised. I guess I expected a bit more of a reaction...?"

"...Why?"

"...I dunno, humans are rare n'stuff?"

"Well, I don't really care about that. We're friends aren't we? Other humans might not be very nice... But, like, you're cool."

"Huh... Yeah, I guess you're right."

"I mean, it's not like you were trying to hide it or anything, not that it would matter if you were? You just forgot to mention it."

"Well, if you don't care I don't care." Clover shrugged and laid down. He proceeded to lay eyes on what exactly it was Kanako was drawing.

"So, what exactly is that supposed to be?"

"Isn't it obvious? We literally saw it earlier today!"

"No, it's not." He deadpanned.

"Oh come on! It's obviously Waterfall!"

"...What?"

"All the twinkling gems up on the roof, and the lakes beneath us!"

"That's just a giant blue scrawl with a bunch of white dots at the top of the page."

"Is not!"

Clover almost fell off the bed when he started laughing.

...

"Kanako! Clover! Dinner's ready!"

Clover's callous disregard for Kanako's clear... Artistic... Mastery... Had led the two into a fight. Truly a clash of epic proportions, what not with it culminating in Kanako pulling at some of Clover's feathers and him stretching out her cheeks.

"...Truce?" Clover cautiously proposed.

"Throoth." She agreed.

She let go, and he let go. Both of them rubbed at their respective battle scars... And then they stood.

"Why did we even do that?" Clover reached for his hat, which was currently under Kanako's hat.

"Cause you laughed at my drawing!"

"Okay, okay, I apologize." Clover settled it into place, and then offered Kanako her hat.

She hesitated for a moment, but took it and put it back on.

"So... You do like the hat?"

"...Yeah, it kind of grew on me." She shrugged. "You were right, it is a pretty nice aesthetic."

In tandem, the two descended the stairs, with Clover leading and Kanako following shortly after.

"Hey mom, what's for dinner?" Kanako called out as she slipped past Clover at the bottom of the stairs. He made no concerted effort to retake his position.

"Corn chowder!"

"Ooo, mom makes really good corn chowder!" Kanako turned and backpedaled towards the kitchen as she spoke to Clover, whom merely shrugged.

"Well, I'm not picky, I'll try it out."

Stolen story; please report.

...

"I should really get your mom to teach me her recipes." Clover mused as he sat satisfied in his chair. So far, Ceroba had certainly not missed.

"I'm sure she'd be happy to spread them." Kanako finished off her bowl and stretched. Though she frowned when she looked at the clock. "Well, I guess you'll be leaving soon. When do you think you'll visit again...?"

"...I mean, it's not like I have much to do myself. I could probably come over any day really."

"Well... Isn't there school tomorrow?"

"I don't... Uh... Go to school." Clover frowned as she asked the question.

"Wait, why not? School's great!"

"...Meh." Clover didn't feel particularly fond of school. He didn't outright despise it or anything, he actually quite liked the concept of a school. But, for some reason, the memories he did have of that environment... They were mostly negative. Negative as in, not in the classroom, but instead that he distinctly recalled getting in trouble for fighting... But why exactly did he have that problem?

Actually, now that Clover thought about it, his general response to being attacked in the Underground had sort of been to beat monsters into submission... But... That wasn't right... He'd barely even attacked any monsters during his stay down here. Only when they were particularly mean did he even start to fight back... But he... Had fought back hadn't he? Readily, at that. He supposed that same response translated over to anybody who might've upset him at school somehow... Though he got the general sense that he was never really angry for himself.

Clover was starting to get a headache.

"What do you mean meh? Seriously school's awesome! I... Uh... I can't really, tell you why! But just take my word for it? Please?"

"...Alright."

"Wait-actually no, I CAN tell you why!" Kanako snapped as she had a realization. "You get to meet other kids your age, the teachers are always helpful, and uh... Uh... That's about it, that's all I've got on the mind right now." She frowned.

"I'll just take your word for it."

"Heh... Thanks."

And at last, Clover finally heard a knock on the door.

...

"Hi Clover!" Martlet kneeled down to eye level with Clover and held her arms out, which he immediately reciprocated and went in for the hug.

"I missed you Clover, are you doing alright?"

"Mhm, missed you too mom."

"Bleck!" Kanako jokingly stuck her tongue out, though that caught Martlet's attention.

"Oh, Kanako! It's good to see you up and about. You look much better than when I last saw you and-is that a new hat?"

"...Oh uh, thanks, yeah, it is." She avoided eye contact, immediately feeling bad about her mockery.

"Martlet, I see Clover's already let you in." Ceroba came in from the hallway smirking slightly.

"Oh, uh, sorry Ceroba." Clover mumbled as Martlet set him back down.

"Yup! And don't give my kid grief, you'd have let me in anyway." Martlet waved a wing in Ceroba's direction, and she shrugged in neither confirmation nor denial.

"Heya Martlet!" An all too cheery voice rounded the corner with Ceroba. It would seem Starlo had forgotten that he was apparently on very thin ice.

"...Hello, Starlo." She set Clover down and glared in his direction.

"Right, right, sorry." Starlo smiled nervously. "Would you mind comin with me for a moment? Ceroba wanted to talk ta' Clover about somethin, and I figure there's also somethin you should know yourself."

"Ceroba?" Martlet turned back to face her friend. She nodded readily.

"Alright, just make it quick."

"Yes ma'am!"

"Kanako, sweetie?" Ceroba smiled evenly at her daughter and drew her attention.

"Yes mom?"

"Would you mind giving Clover and I a moment to speak? You can say your goodbyes in a moment."

"...Okay." Kanako looked down somewhat sadly, which tugged at Ceroba's heartstrings but she did not relent. A moment later, Kanako practically waddled out of the room.

Ceroba took in a breath, before reaching behind her back and pulling a pair of syringes from... Somewhere.

"How did you do that?" Clover tilted his head curiously.

"...Do what?"

"You didn't have those syringes a moment ago, where did it come from?"

"...Ah, my family's kimonos were custom made, they have a connection with storage boxes."

"Like my bag?" Clover lifted that aforementioned bag up and pulled a now lukewarm coffee out of it.

"...I suppose so, but regardless of that, Clover, you are aware of what is required, yes?"

"Mhm, you just need m'blood don'tcha?"

Ceroba nodded, Clover nodded back. He had no qualms to bare. Without any hesitation, he held his arm out to Ceroba. No need to roll up his sleeves, given he was wearing a tank top.

"You may feel a little light headed, monsters suffer from similar side effects from having large amounts of their magic drawn, though I am not sure if humans are the same." Ceroba noted as she lined up one of the two syringes.

"They do, but it'll be fine. It's only two syringes." Clover gritted his teeth and braced himself for the puncture. It came as expected, a small pain, but entirely bearable for the ends he knew it would serve.

"That's one."

Clover sighed out as he felt the needle leave his arm, he wouldn't quite say blood got under his skin, (figuratively) but drawing it had a particular way of iggling him unfortunately enough.

"You are ready for the next, yes?"

"Mhm, just... Make it quick would ya?"

"Certainly." Ceroba nodded, and once again she took aim, puncturing the exact same spot. It hurt less that time, but the following procedure was still just as uncomfortable.

Ceroba sighed as she pulled the second needle out. "Thank you for your cooperation, sincerely. If it weren't for you Clover..." Ceroba paused, before shaking her head. "Nevermind, it doesn't really matter does it? But, if you ever happened to need anything from me... I'm in your debt. You're welcome in my home any time."

"...Anythin, huh?"

"Yes." She said with complete seriousness.

"So, think Kanako could come with us and spend the night?" Clover innocently asked.

"...That may not be wise." Ceroba frowned as she pocketed the two syringes.

"How so?" Clover rummaged through his bag, and pulled out a monster candy. Within short order, he unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth.

"The DTJ serum is still rather... Untested, I'm not sure if Kanako is entirely alright quite yet, she may still face further complications..."

"Ah, I see... So it just... Wouldn't be safe?"

"...Yes." Ceroba nodded

Clover himself nodded thoughtfully in response, he didn't even bother rubbing at the point the needle had impacted as it healed from the monster food. "Then just promise the next best thing. I'm welcome any time right?"

"Of course you are." Ceroba smiled warmly. A real smile.

"Then I'll make good on that, and I'll keep Kanako company as often as I can."

"I'm sure she'll appreciate it." Ceroba, on a mix of impulse and maternal appreciation, gave Clover a few pats on the head.

...

"So, did you have fun?" Martlet was currently piggybacking Clover through Waterfall. Contrary to his expectations, he actually did feel a little lightheaded now.

"Mhm... I even made a new friend."

"Oh really? And who's that?"

"Kanako, she's pretty cool."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that! ...I guess it makes a little bit more sense why you just went ahead and told her you're a human." Martlet's grip tightened... Not by much, it was barely noticeable really, but it was enough for Clover to know he'd messed up.

"Uh... Mom...?"

"Oh, don't worry about it Clover! We'll just talk about that when we get home, no big deal."

It sounded like a really big deal.

"Mom, please don't talk like that, just give it to me straight."

Martlet sagged a bit, but she straightened up again pretty quickly. "Sorry, sorry... Just... When Starlo told me that you just... Blurted it out, that had me really worried you know?"

"Well... I figured it wouldn't be a problem, it isn't, is it?"

"Maybe not with Kanako but... That's REALLY not something you should just tell anybody, at all."

Clover sighed and looked out to the starry ceiling he had seen hours earlier. "...Alright, I won't tell anybody else in the future."

"Thank you." Martlet sighed in relief.

When another few seconds passed in awkward silence, Martlet took her best shot at cracking it.

"Clover, just remember, no matter what you do, I still love you."

"...Thanks mom, love you too."