"There is no way he's here... I'm just imagining things" I shook my head in disbelief.
Just go back to bed! That's not him! Don't seek out trouble, Amber... you don't need to actively put more things in your plate just because of curiosity.
I pulled up my blanket and covered my face with the pillow.
"I've had my adventure... I definitely don't need more. There's too much to lose," I mumbled quietly.
Silence... leaving me alone with my own thoughts. I kept thinking of that black-haired guy... there's no way it's not Hiroto. What the hell is he doing here? Why is he here? Does he know that I'm here?
Ugh! Curiosity got me captured and tortured last time! No way! Never again! Nope nope nope.... b-but... it's only Hiroto... that idiot's harmless...
"Dang it... Damn it!" I shouted into the pillow.
I-I... I'm caving... I need to know! I quietly sneaked out of the house, trying not to make the wooden floors creak.
Why am I doing this? I closed the door as silently as I could and booked it to where that idiot look-alike was. A corner leading towards a dark ally only illuminated by the light of the moon.
As I turned the corner to see that black-haired guy again at the dead-end of the ally. Quietly, I stepped carefully not to make a single sounds yet before I knew it, the man disappeared.
"How did h-"
Suddenly, I felt a sense of warmth from my back and around my waist. Glancing behind I saw those damn ocean eyes. So warm... feel so safe... I want to let it stay this way. I don't want this moment to end... but it will. Nothing last forever...
"Hiro... miss me that much?" I stuttered, surprised and paralysed at the same time.
"Hiro? I haven't heard that name is so long. Usually, it's idiot, or jerk and occasionally Hiroto. Where did this old nickname come from?" That jerk hugged me even tighter, suffocating me... making my head fell dizzy and my legs a little weak.
"Rebooting, wait a sec" I slapped myself to get me out of that... weird... thought process.
"Ok... WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! What's wrong? Did you get a fever? Did you get hit in the head? Who did it? I'm gonna find that bastard and make him pay, but also are you stupid? Letting someone hit your head like that. Come on dude," I broke myself free from his hug, but all he did was smile innocently.
That kinda smile does NOT belong on that face.
"Who are you?" I pointed at him knowing that from what he just said, it's definitely that idiot, but still! It's weird and I'm extremely uncomfortable with this... touchy version.
"Glad you're still Amber and glad I made you smile, haven't seen that in a while,"
"Who else am I supposed to be? The hug was unexpected though..." It's been like... I don't know... when he was first assigned as the power 9s... I miss those quiet nights...
***
"Hiro? You used to say it all the time we were little~." That jerk is teasing me while we were exploring the forest near the demon king's castle.
"Shut up! That was a long time ago and over your dead body will I ever say that nickname again," I turned away in embarrassment.
Nicknames are for people who are close to me... people who can hurt me... but you can't hurt me... because you'll never leave me. I realized a slight smile appeared on my face, but all I could do is cover it. I couldn't force myself to frown at all... what a pain.
"So... I have a question" I couldn't see his expression, but I'm sure he's genuinely curious...
"What's up?"
"What if I just disappear one day? Like that time... I was stuck in that cave for 6 months, but what if I never return."
That question... struck me like a lightning bolt. Millions of scenarios played in my head at the exact same time yet my expression remained calm and unwavering.
"I don't... I don't know." I sighed pressed my back against the tree as I slid down to a sitting position. I didn't smile. I didn't frown. I didn't feel like I had a single emotion but lost on my face.
"Just tell me what you'd do. I won't make fun of you, not this time," He said with a slight smirk on his face.
Frick you too.
"I think... more than anything... I'd feel like I lost. I mean how dare you disappear when it's not by my hands?" I placed a knife right next to his neck while smiling innocently. "Cause if you didn't... what was it all for right? All those.... things I've done... it was for you to only disappear from my hands,"
It was to keep the pillar of my world safe. I c-can't let it crumble...
...
Damn, that felt yandere... not gonna lie, I'm scared of myself...
I don't... I don't need you... that's why that day... when you fell... I just watched on. Of course... I couldn't move my legs... I still couldn't figure out which mob gave me paralysis, but after Hiroto fell, I got pretty annoyed of the paralysis and killed every monster on sight.
You weren't dead. There's no way you were. It's impossible. That's not an option I'm willing to accept. It's not an option I can accept.
"Don't... ever put yourself in danger in front of me again... got it? I'm the only one allowed to kill you and not anyone else," I pressed the knife a little closer.
"Being all sentimental?" The jerk smirked
"What? You better promise me... you stupid raven. I can't lose you to some stupid antagonists alright?"
"New nickname eh? Yes, ma'am! I promise." Hiroto patted my head and kept me close to the orange flame, keeping me warm from the cold night breeze of the realm.
As I watched the blades of grass flew, I yawned, "Haven't felt this sleepy in... a while," I rested my head back on the tree behind me.
"You sure that's gonna be comfortable?"
"Doesn't bother me," I slowly drifted off next to him.
That was... the only time I slept peacefully as a demon.
"I can't lose you too," He whispered.
***