I spent the rest of the day with Klint and Sylvia, catching up of everything we missed from each other.
It was mainly what happened in the hospital for the two of them and the happenings in Okinawa on my side. I also introduced Nicco to the both of them which seemed to not have a good impression on Klint.
"Why do they need to appoint a babysitter for you?" he exclaimed after the introduction which was after breakfast. "It's not like you're really thirteen!"
I feel you brother, but some things are unstoppable as of the moment.
I wanted to say that but I stopped myself.
Anyhow, I spent the rest if the day with my two oldest friends, whom I cherish like siblings, with Nicco tailing us at a distance.
Inconvenient?
Yes.
Embarrassing?
Definitely.
It's now night time. Sylvia, Klint and I are lying on the grass in the garden, watching the stars in the night sky. Sylvia is using one of my arms as a pillow, something she usually does when she wants to be sweet, while Klint is using my stomach as his pillow, as usual. Meanwhile, my observer is at a distance sitting on the grass by himself, probably keeping an eye on me.
"Klint."
"Hmm?"
I decided sometime during dinner. Nicco is someone who will be part of our lives, and whether we like it or not, he will be sticking with me. I can't have Klint or Sylvia hating him for that.
Of course, I understand the apprehension, especially on Klint's side. It has always been the three of us together. Sure, we have new friends, family, but everyone in Plum Blossom Mansion knows how to give us space and gives just enough attention to us. Nicco's presence no longer makes us a trio, which I believe to be the cause of Klint's hateful impression on the Italian.
Sylvia… well, Sylvia has always been open-minded and mature. She's probably the person who can adjust to any situation at an amazing speed.
"Do you not like Nicco?"
"No."
Well at least he's being honest. And straightforward too.
"Can you not like him for my sake?"
He sits up and looks at me.
Why does he look angry? And is that a pout he's making?
"No."
Ah. He's always been a very stubborn kid.
"Then… you don't have to like him. Instead, act civil around him or something."
"Why should I? He's the one who suddenly popped up in our lives! And besides, he was sent over by people you don't like right? He's a stalker!"
Seriously this kid.
"True, but he's here now and we can't just chase him away. He's part of our lives now. If he's not here, the Church will destroy me."
Because of my convenient ability to make demons obey using my blood.
But it's better to leave that sentence unsaid.
"You didn't have a problem with Noir, right? Why is Nicco's presence a big deal for you?" I ask him.
As if on cue, Noir lands on Sylvia's knees and watches us.
"Noir is like… he's like a pet, since he's an animal. But Nicco… he's a person! And I don't like it when he sticks too close to you, watching you. And don't think I won't know that he's also the first person who will try to kill you in the future!"
He's not wrong about that…
"If you like Nicco that much, then be friends with him instead of me!"
And he's running away. He's angry.
"A sixteen years old who has the mentality of a kid." I hear Sylvia mutter beside me. She sits up, with Noir on her shoulder. "Do you really think it will be fine, April?"
"It will be. He just needs to get used to it."
The next few days takes a turn for the worst. Klint has totally ignored me and he's not even being subtle about his dislike towards Nicco.
It's stressing me out to be honest.
"What are you even doing here?"
Sakura-nee? How did she find me?
I mean, I deliberately headed to the roof so I don't have to deal with anyone. Even Nicco.
Who's probably looking for me now…
"You came looking for me because Nicco's panicking?"
"On the contrary, Nicco's in the living room, watching anime looking like he has nothing to bother him."
Seriously? And here I thought he's supposed to stick with me.
"He probably has his means on knowing your location."
Did she read me mind?
"Stop doing your mind-reading thing on me."
"I don't have such ability April. Your expression just sort of gives is away." she sighs and sits next to me. "But it's not your fault. You've learned a lot of things lately and it's stressing you out. Not to mention you're thirteen."
"I'm already technically twenty."
With the mentality of a twenty-two year old man.
"Sure you are. But you're stuck as thirteen both mentally and physically. You know yourself you're older but how your mind and body works is that of a thirteen year old. I don't blame you if you think the current situation is too much for you to handle."
I can't even think of anything to say as a retort, because she's telling the truth. It's the consequence of having the [Heart of the Primordial] in my body. But that's not what I want to hear from her though.
"Sakura-nee, did you know about me already?"
"What are you talking about?"
Sakura-nee is a powerful person. And I won't be surprised if she has information on her hands and does things behind the scenes. So maybe…
"You're my guardian. And you're also the person who saved me seven years ago during the Kawayan Village Massacre. I won't be surprised if you already know things. Like my origin for example."
She's scoffing? And now she's laughing? What the hell is her problem?
"So even though you're stuck as thirteen for eternity, your ability to analyze information is still high-level. What a fearsome kid."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"April… you're not supposed to figure that one out yet. You're supposed to face things head on. And even if you already figured it out, I can't have you interrogating me to get information."
"Sakura-nee? You're… you're scaring me."
"Forgive me for this April. But when you wake up, you won't remember any of this or even remember you ever came up with such a conclusion."
What is she-
I can't move! Damn it! What's going on?!
Slayer! Do something!
"Code HOPX065. Execute."
Eh?
[Code received.]
[Executing.]
[Admin Override Protocol accepted.]
[System now offline.]
Huh? How is she doing that?
But Slayer is supposed to be my system! Now it's acting like a real computer? For Sakura-nee?
Sakura Tuschimikado suddenly looks bigger in front of me and her hand is getting nearer by the second.
Am I going to die?
Again?
"When you wake up, everything is going to be fine."
I can feel my body go lax and my eyes droopy. I have to fight it! I can't-
I can't-
I-
***
Waking up in the roof when the sun is already sitting does not feel good. It's like a repeat of this last time; my limbs are sore and stiff!
Ugh! Crap. Did I accidentally take a nap or something? On the roof?
It's a surprise I didn't fall!
No, that's not the case!
"You're awake."
Sakura-nee? When did she get here?
"Look down." she points to the ground.
Oh my gods! Are those Nicco and Klint? Why are they fighting?
"Sakura-nee! Why aren't you stopping them?!"
"It's concerning a problem between the two of them, so they have to be the ones to settle it."
"In a fistfight?"
"They're teenage boys April. I heard boys their age communicate through fighting."
No. That's a total lie.
EEEEEHHH? The two of them fell at the same time! Did they pass out?
I must- Sakura-nee! She's holding me back and puts a finger between her lips, signaling me to shut up.
"Shut up and extend your sense of hearing. You can hear their conversation if you do."
EEEEHHH? Isn't that invasion of privacy?
But I am also curious as to what Klint and Nicco are talking about.
Hmm… Now that I think about it, aren't he two the same age?
"I don't like you Nicco."
So straightforward. Klint, was that really how I raised you?
"You don't have to like me. You just have to tolerate me."
"You job of sticking to my big brother and be the first one to kill him if he is deemed dangerous makes me hate you even more."
"Big brother? Not little brother?
Ah. Nobody really knows about that part.
"But… if it makes April not worried and goes on with his normal life, then I guess I can accept that."
Ooh.
He's sitting up!
Klint! You've actually matured!
"But if you hurt him, I'll be the first one to deal with you, got that?"
I take that back. He's not mature at all.
"Then I suppose I look forward to that."
Now Nicco is really a mature kid."
I suddenly feel Sakura-nee's arms around my shoulder. "You've gathered people with good heart April. That's nice."
"Ha? What are you even talking about?"
"I'm proud of you. You have the heart. Don't ever lose that."
And there she goes.
Why does she have to act all mysterious and stuff? Being cryptic just makes her annoying!
Oh well. Putting Sakura-nee aside, at least Nicco and Klint's conflict is over. Now I have less problems to deal with.
I hope.