Kazuya stretched his arms and legs. Sitting for a long time, a little bit he feels numb all over. He closed the books after a while. A book about his grandfather's ryokan. Turns out his grandfather's house was already a ryokan a long time ago. They closed the business when his parents moved to Tokyo and open it back not a while ago. To see his grandfather's ryokan has historical history written in the book, pride and freedom feelings swirling in himself. There's not much to talk about with Luka. He lay down on the bench reading the books and Luka's questions and answers, he answers them in short sentences. It's early for lunch but he excused himself to take care of it. Hairen? Taking care of his other students somewhere? The person who's passionate about his job doesn't care about what it means to have a holiday and rest day?
Kazuya took a few books in his hands. He flips over the pages quickly. Never about that, the ryokan history was written in that's in an almost tattered, torn, and broken book. Impressed. He didn't see yet the guidebooks written in such a manner. Going everywhere following his parents' works, staying over at hotels, inns, onsen, or such, the pamphlets or brochures were always in prints newly, attractive styled, colored, and neat. Now he sees could be why one of the main reasons ryokan had no other visitors since he come here. The order to take care of ryokan from his grandfather is none of it, he does it. The first change of ryokan should start with a book.
The ointment has been applied to his shoulders. Luka's no lie about the ointment. He wonder to ask about other things he couldn't find his way with. Reading the books doesn't feel tiring for his shoulder.
The clock on the wristwatch is at 10:42 a.m.
It's about time for brunch. He didn't get to eat breakfast much because of the postponed homework in his mind. Come along with the teacher's face he sees every day doesn't give an advantage to him. Brunch or lunch, he'll have it in a satisfying manner.
His ears heard the footsteps. Looking like the stomach doesn't have to wait long for the gleam of happiness. He's grateful for the delivery person but not the unnecessary thing coming together with him. Reasoning in the head why another person comes with him?
The tray on the table and Kazuya's manners to have a drink without being invited. Both of them only have a look and say nothing.
"Have a drink, Kazehaya." Luka's words are always after Kazuya's done emptying the glass. The glass of cold icy apple juice! Delicious!
"Thanks."
"How was your homework, Kazehaya?"
"Finally, it works out."
"What's it that works out?" Kira doubts Kazuya's sentences of 'works out.' It'll be another dumbness from his side to avoid it. The mind of a teenager is always in control of DEMON.
"I decided to have a long rest from it till the next year."
"FAILURE," a congratulation in advance.
"Thank you," said Kazuya. About his grandparents, it's the time to ask them since it crossed his mind.
Kazuya put the glass down on the tray. The hand is slightly cold due to the ice. "I have something to ask both of you."
Luka and Kira look at each other. As per usual it's always Luka who responds to him first. "What's it? Your grandparents?"
Kazuya's brief moment of surprise. "You're quick." He leaned back, a hand resting on the bench arm, head tilted to the left, and resting the face on his hand.
"Yes, who else you would ask not it's about them?"
"Yes. While you at that, tell me about who you are?"
"We're not humans," Luka said in a carefree manner.
"I get it. I knew that. Thank you for your joke and for making yourself a fool in the morning."
"You don't believe it?"
"Tell it to the kid who are you trying to kid. Give me the sense to expect me to believe the spouting nonsense just now?" He takes another glass from the tray. "I will be glad to this juice on your handsome face to wake you up."
Luka take it real quick to move away from Kazuya. "Well, calm down, Kazehaya." He exhaled the breath. The kids are always impatient nowadays. "You may not believe it now, but it's the truth."
"Am I living in the fantasy world right now? A world where tv, rented CDs, or cinema provided it?"
Kazuya looks at him with disbelief mixed with an annoyed face.
"Well, let's skip the part about Kira and me. Let's talk about your grandparents. Your grandparents entrust you and this house to us, the Spirit Beasts to take care of it. They have been taking care of the Spirit Beasts since their ancestor time. They are known as Spirit Beasts Protector. They protect Spirit Beasts from any malicious or cult organization who wants to use Spirit Beasts for their own benefit and make sure the Spirit Beast is safe. Other than that, they also look out and take care of the places that worshipped Spirit Beasts as their God. The reason why your grandparents are not here right now is that…"
"I did listening to your fiction story. Like a anime. Tell me the truth or you'll have to take the bath soon I really douse this juice on you."
"They're retired. It's your turn, little kid." Kira's never gentle with words.
"It's half the truth and the fake," Luka never timid with threats.
Kazuya clenched his hand. "Fine, you won't have to take the bath because you want to want to but let's do your best to avoid this juice."
The sudden grab from behind is a sign an attempt is a failure. Kazuya didn't have to see behind him. He knows the last person of the three. He exhaled the breath. "Let me go… great demon." The glass in his hand falls to the floor.
Astound expressions on Kira and Luka's faces. As well as Kazuya. They get up instantly and call his name together with extremely worried. "Hairen‼"
"You're calling the wrong name, idiots." Shouldn't the one they worry about is him? The attention back to Kira, Luka, and trash on the floor. "Why aren't both of you picking up shards of glass while waiting when I'll do dealing with the guy behind me?"
"Should I pick them up for you?" Hairen's voice.
Finally the voice of the one to his hearing. The voice he used to listen to a long time ago. A sexy seductive voice calling up the spirit rounded up around for the honey. "Mr. Foxy Fox, when will you let go of my hand?"
Hairen puts his face closer to Kazuya's ear from behind. "How about I'll not let you go even after until the night come?"
Kazuya could feel ticklish ears and his face reddened. The icy frozen voice seeping piercing deep into prolonged endless time.
He turns to left side without warning. Their faces are closer to each other. "Hai…ren…" Kazuya's a shrinking violet to call the name properly until he stammered.
"Say he say what wasn't the truth? All of it? Of it, it's a lie to you?" Hairen let go of his grasp on Kazuya's wrist.
Kazuya holds his wrist. It feels warm.
"So you're today? Are you doing cosplay somewhere today, dear sensei? Your clothes and hair and color of the eyes, what have you done with them?"
"I'm. For a little bit of duty and fun. Taking part in it because of you, Sabien."
"Whose name are you calling?" asked Kazuya. "I'm not whatever you called me as it."
Hairen crossed his arms. "Well, maybe as I've done the job, I'll have will rest for a few days." Hairen noticed the history books on the table. He takes and flips it over. "I'm under the impression you can read something like it."
"What's it that's like it?" The bratty brat won't have a loser point in his life. After all, it's the game he has set since a long time ago. And it's in motion to back off from it.
"Because I see it cuts no ice on you to read books like it." A never ending teasing.
"It's the history of the ryokan and my grandparents. Why it's not my cup of tea to not care about it?"
Hairen's eyes to Kira and Luka. So as they. Understanding for him to continue, "You get the way your grandparents weren't a human so are you?"
Kira and Luka didn't notice it. When did the books be there? Kazuya read it as reading his textbooks? When no human can read it?
"Ha!" Kazuya pissing off. Why today there're so many related to non-human things? "Reading much historical fictional book, you get the head where a human no longer a human to you? Let me believe you're not the one."
"That's aside. Hairen, come and sit beside Kazuya. Let's have the tea," He realized the mistake. "No, it's the juice. I'm lazy to go back and make the special tea for you."
Luka smiles at Kazuya's dissatisfaction sniggers. He's happy to see it.
"I don't reject it but I don't need it." Hairen looks up to the skies. It's a sunny day. It's still early to call it the night.
Kira's green as grass daily about no acts but talks. "Kazuya, don't drop again the glass. Otherwise, its shards will cut you back."
Kazuya silent. "Never mind, I don't understand you."
"I believe you already done yours?"
A question from Hairen. The teacher at home checking the bratty student. "What?"
Hairen silent. He's waiting for the answer.
Now, he understands it.
"Let's say, sensei. The compensation today is I'm reading history something you called 'like it.' Where to find sensei who would condemn what his student read?"
The book is back in Kazuya's hand. "It's about the ryokan history you're lodging, sensei." Let's have some principles knocked into you, dear.
"You're safe. I will take leave from school for some time."
"Leave from school? Doesn't that means I won't see you for days?" Kazuya turn time to take part in having fun in Hairen's break from school.
"Even so, the person you'll only see at home is me not the school. So, have your fun in few hours. As long as I don't fulfill my duty as sensei complete, you'll see me only in your whole life ."
"Yeah, that's right." Kazuya snickered at it. See you in my three years of high school life, that won't be. Kazuya's eyes to Luka and Kira. Either devil or demon, he's always greedy. He gets up. "Luka, it's time."
"What time?" asked Luka.
"Help me with my homework."
"I thought you were done with them."
"I'm not yet." He looks at history subject sensei. Glancing at Luka. "I'm not done with the music sheet. Teach me."
"Kazuya..."
Kazuya's quick to cut him off. "I see school girls swarming you at guard post whenever I see you starting humming a song or playing instruments."
Next, he's waiting. Who are you trying to throw dust in the eyes? I see you and you only.
Luka's eyes are deep into Kazuya's. He sees the boy seeing him far from the classroom. That's an exception for Hairen's class. Because he'll be sleeping. Additionally, Hairen didn't care about it. Luka's out of words. "I see. Are you jealous?"
"I don't have time for it. I use you for one purpose, advantaging ladder to climb up."
KIRA, LUKA, HAIREN's synchronize eyes to him and exact words in their head. A DULCET ENCROACH. It suits Kazehaya Kazuya they know. An arrogant brat who never compliant.
"Fine, it's as you wish. Let's leave now." Luka gets up walking out followed by Kazuya behind him. He glances back. The smile on Kazuya's lips over one winning game.
Kira up for questions. "Your apparel looks very appelling today. So much remind me of years ago.
"Stop looking at me. An answer will come to you after I had my nap."
Hairen out of their resting place.
Rio in his soul sphere feels dumbfounded. Look at yourself and your clothes.
Oh, right. I appear in this state. I should clean up myself before coming here. Sigh.