Archive of Our Own ^beta

Hanako is bored. Yes, the wish-granting spirit and the most powerful of the Seven Mysteries, was bored to death.

He couldn't be blamed for being locked away in that high school for half a century. The poor guy couldn't go any further, nor explore space as he had always dreamed of during his lifetime.

Sitting by the window like a lazy cat, the ghost boy gazed at the outside landscape from his sanctuary, the girls' restroom on the third floor of the old school building. Of all the boundaries between the Near Shore and the Far Shore, it had to be the restroom. At least the joke of this urban legend, Hanako-san, remained legitimate.

He found himself letting out a rueful sigh, and a Mokke cuddled up to his leg. The boy suppressed a small laugh.

"Don't worry... I just miss her... and ball is fast approaching."

The small creature twitched its ears and two other Mokke hopped around the Seventh Mystery. The latter looked at them in turn.

"Go see her."

"You want a candy?"

"Why wait?"

"That I have to go see her?" Hanako repeated stupidly, politely refusing the sweet offering.

The pink bunnies chirped in response.

He made a thoughtful face, holding his chin. He was tempted to come see her, but the last time he did, he'd ended up wearing a sign around his neck as punishment just because he'd pulled the iconic hairstyle trick on a very angry radish.

Then he thought back to the famous ball his dear assistant had been raving about for the past week, and a smile blossomed on his lips. It was then that the Seventh Mystery left its sanctuary in search of his precious radish girl.

-•-

Our favorite heroine, Nene Yashiro, was currently sitting in her usual seat in English Literature class. That was, on the far left side of the room, near the window, toward the back. She was trying to concentrate on reading while keeping her book open, but her mind wasn't in a serious mood.

No, clearly not.

Placing a hand under her chin to support her head, she glanced outside, bathed in sublime summer-like weather. Nothing to focus on.

It was boring. She wished she were somewhere other than stuck between these four walls reading something she wasn't interested in. Like getting ready for the ball! Finding a date! Maybe she could ask Ha-

What the hell is wrong? Rather be in class than with that perverted ghost who amused himself by making her skirt lift in "drafts." She didn't miss him! It wasn't true!

...

Who told her she missed him?

With flushed cheeks, she shook her head to hide in her book.

Dang it. She had to pull herself together.

Even though her lecture was boring, and the professor's incomprehensible speech, it was about to be interrupted by an unwanted guest. Nene would have to learn not to wish for things at random, or she would get herself into trouble. And with a certain jerk capable of granting any wish.

As the girl with the beautiful snow-white hair looked away from the window in an attempt to concentrate on the lesson, an upside-down face with a very recognizable, cute smile entered her field of vision. Hanako faced it, his expression pure innocence, his cheeks cupped in his hands.

He was there. 

Right in the middle of lesson.

In class.

And not only that, the spirit had the nerve to sit on top of her head, feet propped up on the desk and head tilted towards her with that goddamn gaping Cheshire Cat grin.

It had to be a joke. A fucking bad joke. Yes... She must have been dreaming, it's not possible.

Nene held back a shriek of fear and startle at his sudden appearance, but also the mad urge to hit him with the book she was holding. He dared come to her class?! And with that smile?! She knew he was anything but innocent.

As she moved as quietly as possible, she lowered him from her head so that he landed on his buttocks on her desk, cursing the fact that he almost fell with the weight of the spirit. Then, under his surprised and teasing gaze, she murmured as calmly as she could despite the urge to yell at him.

"Can I ask what you're doing here, Hanako-kun?!"

He laughed at her annoyed expression. His translucent form glittered in the sunlight. He dangled his feet in the air like a happy child and leaned back, making the desk creak under his weight. Damn the bond between them.

"I'm not allowed to see if my assistant is okay?" he whispered in her ear.

Then he smiled slyly at the poor girl's attempts to push him away while he was literally sitting on her notebook. Even though she could read through it, it still bothered her. And this ghost wasn't going to make it any easier.

She noticed Aoi giving her a worried look, wondering why her friend was upset. Not that it surprised her, unfortunately. It had become a habit.

So it was with cheeks red with shame and shyness in spite of herself that she smiled to reassure her indigo-haired best friend. Then she returned her dark gaze to the happy child who was giggling sadistically.

"I'm fine so now you can go away and let me study."

She tried to grab her book. Fuck the bond that made it physical and added real weight to her belongings, she tried to push it away by lightly pressing her hands on his back.

"Move, go... if I'm questioned, I have to be able to read..."

How embarrassing it was to be forced to be discreet like this; she couldn't fully disengage him. She would have loved to push him roughly.

The spirit didn't move from his spot, his smile still gaping. Hanako loved teasing her, and Nene knew it. Despite the hands on his back, he turned toward her, nearly crumpling the page, and placed his hands on hers. His face was close to hers, and he purred at the sight of her blushing so easily. The peak of his cap pressed against her forehead, slightly exposing a few strands of hair. His eyes, as golden as the glow of twilight, were so absorbing. 

My god... what the hell was this situation all about? The brown-haired boy had just done such ambiguous things to her again. And why did she feel herself blushing so much when... come on, this boy wasn't her type at all! He had no princely features! And she hated him! Even though his eyes were rather beautiful, she refused to think about them anymore. He was nothing but a sadistic ghost having fun driving her crazy!

"Yashiro-san! Please read the next one," the teacher raised his voice.

His tone made her panic, and she stood up violently, shoving Hanako out of her notebook without warning. She was able to resume reading with a shaky voice, out of breath.

She shouldn't have let him near her again. Damn it.

The ghost boy fell off the desk with a startled cry and finally got up with a mocking laugh, Hakujoudai fluttering around him.

"My dear assistant~ You should be more discreet than that and it's rude to dislodge a powerful spirit like me."

Her murderous glare was enough to make him shut up and sneer. He shrugged to himself before floating into the air and scanning the classroom with his curious eyes.

"...So Death entrusts him with a mantle in the hope that the child will continue to fight against this fallen world. Unfortunately, the next day, the child wishes he could observe the stars with someone by his side. Death can only grant his wish: humans and emotions are a great mystery of life. The child then keeps the cape close to him while observing the night sky. He then wishes to become a spirit. He wants to join the stars, become one of them and never be alone again. So Death brings him peace, just to see him smile again."

Hanako listened intently to the soft voice of his assistant as she continued the story, and his eyes clouded with an unknown emotion. He withdrew from a first-year student he was about to harass when the teacher congratulated the girl on her excellent work before questioning another student.

Nene sighed in relief after her calm reading despite her heart pounding in her ribcage. She sat back heavily in her chair.

Good God, all that stress had made her feel exhausted all at once, but that text had calmed her down nonetheless. She straightened her skirt and top before glancing back at the spirit that was coming back that way.

"I just want to say that I don't care if I'm rude to you. Whether you're a Mystery or not, you almost got me caught with your nonsense. Again."

She said in relation to what he had told her earlier before the reading.

She grumbled, her head buried in her arms as she sighed again. This boy was so playful, sure she wasn't bored anymore, but it was hard to manage all that sometimes.

Hanako just giggled, resting his elbows on the desk.

"Well, well~ I thought our current heroine would be able to face the stress of finding a handsome guy like... your darling Minamoto-senpai~"

His tone was mocking, but his eyes said otherwise. It was no secret that this boy hated the eldest of the exorcist family. Was he jealous? He denied it. He was thoughtful for a moment as poor Nene hissed at him to shut up in embarrassment. A lightbulb went off in his head.

"I know how you can seduce him! Trust me on this one!"

The girl narrowed her eyes skeptically. What could he possibly have in mind? She had long known that putting Hanako and trust in the same sentence when it came to relationships always turned out to be the worst idea ever.

The vegetable gift, which had spread around the school, still mortified her. And she feared the worst

-•-

"No."

"Stop being such a spoilsport! You look great!"

"That's out of the question."

"Why are you so complicated!?"

"Why are you interfering in my love life!?"

"You made that wish, not me!"

Hanako pouted, arms crossed and cheeks puffed out like a child who'd been denied candy. Nene didn't care if she'd offended him or anyone else; there was no way she was going to see her senpai with that... abomination.

Having heard about a school dance being held this weekend, the ghost boy set out to make his assistant wear the best dress possible to impress his longtime crush. And he'd definitely accept her proposal.

The only downside was... that the boy would have to reconsider his taste in clothing, which was still stuck in the sixties.

A full-length corseted gown hugged the shape of the bleached-haired girl. The panels of fabric were adorned with intricate patterns and frills. Like. A lot.

Seeing this in the mirror, she couldn't accept wearing such a thing. It was too much. The straps scratched her bare shoulders. The bust squeezed her chest. She felt uncomfortable in her high heels.

Frowning and flushed, she continued to criticize her reflection. The school spirit let out a sigh and slowly appeared behind her. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, resting his cheek against hers. Their gaze met in the mirror as Nene suppressed a pleasant shiver at the coolness his ghostly body gave her.

“I don't understand why you go to so much trouble for others…” he whispered in her ear. “You're perfect just the way you are, Yashiro.”

His deep amber eyes shimmered with a breathtaking emotion. For once, Hanako wasn't joking. He had truly told her what he thought, something he was trying to hide behind a trickster's facade. A hint of blush colored the ghost's cheekbones, a proof to his vulnerability.

Nene felt a gentle warmth spread through her chest. A hand rested on his arm, and her back gently nestled against his cold chest as the boy lowered his floating body to accommodate the hug. The painful reminder of his death seemed so distant since Hanako... no, Amane was holding her in his arms.

Her free hand, hesitant, slowly moved up to his cheek marked by the seal.

With a glance at the reflection, the boy closed his eyes under her touch and gave his permission. Nene continued her path to his hair and slipped under his headdress.

It was so fresh and fluffy. Who knew ghosts had nice hair? She made a mental note to ask Kou if Mitsuba's hair also had the same texture.

No matter his answer, she preferred to run her fingers through Hanako's locks.

Her heart was pounding. Her stomach knotted pleasantly. Her breath was coming in shorter bursts. She felt a pair of cold lips brush against the side of her jaw.

"If this guy refuses your invitation..." the brown-haired boy whispered, his mouth pressed against her skin. "Would you mind if I ask you to dance...?"

A shiver ran down her spine at his words alone. The girl swallowed.

"I... I would love to... dance with you, Hanako-kun... if only it would be simple..."

She hated to admit that she wanted to dance with the Seventh Mystery of the school more than with the great exorcist. But she wouldn't see herself breaking into dance steps alone because, unfortunately, no one would be able to see her boy.

Her boy? Nene Yashiro's confused feelings are definitely growing.

His grip tightened around her shoulders, a low growl rumbling through his chest. The spirit slid its mouth along her jaw to her ear. The grip on his dark hair tightened suddenly, as if taken by surprise, but Hanako paid no attention.

"Yashiro. If there's even the slightest possibility... that I could be visible to everyone... would you be willing to give up your precious Minamoto-senpai just for me?"

 Nene opened her eyes and met his, his pupils darkened with a possessive gleam. Her hand fell from his head, coming to grip the front of his gakuran when she felt her legs weaken. Hanako repositioned himself to face her and cupped her cheeks. Their faces were close, too close for our heroine's comfort.

"Yashiro."

The ghost boy spoke quietly, their breaths becoming one.

"What do you really expect from me?"

Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of that voice. Heat burned her cheeks and ran down her neck to her lower abdomen.

And the bell rang, breaking the tension in the room. Panicked, Nene pushed the boy away and tried to smother the burning on her face. Hanako floated out of her reach, his visor lowered to hide his flushed cheekbones. He cleared his throat.

"Well... let's try something else. What do you think of this one?"

-•-

The music was in full swing on the evening of D-Day. Nene and Kou had stayed after school for their cleaning duties, a perfect opportunity to prepare until the opening of the ball at six o'clock. Except that for once, their supernatural friend was absent, so they took their time. The young Third Mystery had joined them with his usual criticism.

“It’s already starting!” exclaimed the girl with garnet eyes.

"They're pulling their weight, you can actually hear the music from here," Mitsuba grumbled before addressing the golden-haired boy. "Is this done?"

Kou urged him to be quiet while he fixed the bow tie on his two-piece suit. Nene had specially styled his pink hair into a braided bun. While it wasn't necessary since no one could see it, they didn't bother to spoil the pink-haired boy's quiet enthusiasm. Despite his haughty and indifferent air, his friends knew he was excited to be a part of it.

"There you go! You're beautiful like that!"

The young exorcist beamed with pride. The other boy turned his head away, his cheeks burning, and Nene hid a smile. Kou batted his eyelashes, not understanding their reaction. Mitsuba mumbled something under his breath, one cheek covered by his hand in a feeble attempt to hide his embarrassment.

"What did I say again?" the golden-haired boy asked.

Nene giggled and invited the boys to leave the bathroom. She still had to finish the final preparations for her dress, which she and Hanako had spent hours choosing.

Without further ado, the two middle schoolers hurried down the stairs and out of the old building to reach the large gymnasium. The atmosphere was lively, with lights and music pouring out of the open gymnasium doors. Small food and drink stalls were set up outside the building. Students were yelling and dancing on the lawn, while others chatted over their glasses of punch.

"Woah! It's so lively!" Mitsuba marveled.

"He he! Not bad, huh? The middle school helped with the outdoor setup," Kou boasted. Then he took his hand. "Come on! I have to find my little sister. I don't want to keep Aoi-senpai waiting."

The pink-haired boy let himself be led, a shy expression painting his features as he lacked the strength to protest. They pushed through the scattered crowd to reach the gates but were stopped by two boys Kou recognized immediately.

"Satou-kun! Yokoo-kun! You guys are already here!"

"Oh hey, Minamoto-kun."

"Minamoto-kun!"

Satou and Yakoo, like their dear golden-haired friend, were neatly dressed in two-piece suits with ties. In fact, everyone was dressed to the nines for the school dance (and for once, the Minamoto family had left their exorcist weapons in their lockers). The two young people looked at the new face that accompanied their lifelong friend.

"And who is it?" the smaller one asked, raising an eyebrow.

Yokoo's eyes shone with excitement and his ashen curls fluttered as he shook his friend's shoulder.

"Minamoto-kun brought back a new friend! It's unbelievable!"

The exorcist looked lost as Mitsuba waved, flashing his most charming smile.

"Ah... uh..." the golden-haired boy stammered and then cleared his throat. He gave him a sideways glance. "Yeah, that's my friend So—"

"Soso Millar! Nice to meet you!"

Kou blinked, stunned. His friends ignored his confusion and came to greet the newcomer properly.

"I'm Shun Yokoo!" one of them introduced himself.

"Yogomi Satou. Nice to meet you," the other said with a nod.

However, they hadn't been able to linger to get to know the pink-haired boy any further, as they were reminded by their classmates. Yokoo and Satou wished them a good evening before slipping away. The young exorcist and his dear ghost friend walked through the doors.

Once inside, the gymnasium was a sight to behold: decorations hung here and there, a vulgar disco ball dangled (and the students had to try very hard to hang it, so Tsuchigomori did the rest of the work), people milling around the dance floor and around the buffet tables. The lights flashed every color of the rainbow, and the speakers were blasting.

"Why Soso Millar?" Kou asked his friend, still lost.

"Did your traffic safety earring make you stupid? I'm dead, you idiot. They can't know it's me."

Kou had the audacity to blush with embarrassment. Except he narrowed his eyes afterward.

"Wait, how come they see you?"

"Let's just say it's a generous gesture from Number Seven. Ah! Here we are!"

Further away, near a buffet table, four people were chatting happily. Well, to be precise: A little girl who was demanding a slice of an appetizer pizza, negotiating with a red-haired high school student. His childhood friend didn't take part in the negotiations, just watched him get upset while another boy remained glued to his phone while drinking a shot. Each wore magnificent outfits, Aoi equaled the goddess of beauty in her navy blue one-shoulder dress with silver sparkles, the bottom of the fabric draped so that one thigh remained exposed, equipped with high heels. Akane had a costume that reminded him of the one he used in his supernatural form. Tiara looked like a little princess in a simple white dress, Fairy accompanied her with his little bow tie. As for Lemon, he had swapped his jersey for... another jersey. At least he made the effort to wear a casual cardigan.

Kou and Mitsuba approached the happy little group.

"Number One! Nice to see you!"

“It’s Aoi-senpai for you,” the vice president hissed.

Kou noticed that Akane didn't seem surprised to see his young supernatural colleague despite wearing glasses. His attention quickly shifted when he saw his little sister lunge at him.

"Kou-nii!!" Tiara cried.

Her brother lifted her into his arms. Little Minamoto clutched her precious companion Mokke, who twitched an ear in greeting.

"Aoi-oneesan is so beautiful and kind! She shared some great slices of pizza with me!"

"Glad you like it, Tiara-chan!" the girl giggled, placing a hand against her cheek. "Would you like another slice?"

Akane just grunted. Kou raised an eyebrow as he put his little sister down, who went straight to begging the indigo-haired high school girl. Mitsuba loitered over the phone-addicted guy's shoulder.

"A problem, Aoi-senpai?"

"Nothing. Your brother asked me to watch her. I have other things to do, no offense of course, Minamoto-kouhai."

The redhead kept his arms crossed, scowling. His head tilted toward the younger man so no one else could hear their conversation, even though the music drowned out the voices.

"I'm not comfortable letting Mirai attend this party."

"The Clock Keeper who Governs the Future? Why?" Kou wondered. "She'd cause trouble, wouldn't she?"

"What do you want me to tell you? Number Seven decides that, as long as she wears the gloves and respects the conditions, she is allowed to participate in the ball."

"Hanako? But why would he—"

"Shall we talk about dirty things?" Mitsuba invited between them.

Kou jumped. The student council vice-president pushed away the intrusive face of his young supernatural colleague without sparing a single glance. The Third Mystery snickered and took the opportunity to get a cold drink. The golden-haired boy turned his attention back to the elder.

"What's going on? Is this about everyone being able to see Mitsuba?"

"Somehow..."

Akane whispered something in his ear. His sky-blue eyes widened as his mouth formed a stunned 'o'.

Ah.

That explains everything.

This is so typical of the toilet ghost.

And our poor Kou wasn't even surprised.

"And Teru-nii knows that?"

The First Mystery's smirk didn't bode well.

"This is the fun part of all this. The President doesn't know anything, and Number Seven wants to make sure it stays a surprise."

The golden-haired boy gave him a suspicious look. Despite his annoyance, it seemed like Akane greatly enjoyed the idea of ​​pissing off the student council president. A sort of sweet revenge for all the times Teru had “mistreated” him.

He sighed, glancing back at his sister, who was chatting happily with the amethyst-eyed elder. Akane had turned around to stop his friend, Lemon, from starting his eleventh shot, so absorbed in his phone that he hadn't noticed.

The Third Mystery had to fight its way back, grumbling and apologizing through the crowd even as some jumped at his cold hands.

"Hey, Traffic-Safety-Earring Boy! Look what I found!"

He displayed his find, which turned out to be a bad brand of carbonated soda. Kou judged the can. What the hell have the beverage management people done now!? What kind of annoying brand is this!? And the drink is salty!

He snatched it from the young ghost's hands, saying, "No, it's not good for spirits," and the pink-haired boy protested. His friend silenced him by giving him another can nearby, which he happily accepted.

Akane rolled his eyes at the scene. Ah, young love.

Of course, no one would dare point out to him that he was as desperate as they were.

"I allowed a bowl to be left for Tiara-chan. Nothing's missing here," Aoi explained, ruffling the little girl's wild hair.

The latter grumbled and nibbled at the chips she happily shared with her companion Mokke. A few crumbs found their way into his fluffy fur, but the duo was too happy to care.

Unsurprisingly, the redhead fell under the spell of the high school queen.

"Ao-chan is such a generous and gentle woman! She brings happiness to every child on Earth. I would be the happiest man in the world if you agreed to marry me and start a family!"

"Hee hee, thanks! Four points ♥︎."

An imaginary anvil fell on the poor Keeper of the Present's head. Kou wasn't impressed, while Tiara ignored the couple, and Mitsuba judged them harshly. This last one twitched at one detail.

"Am I dreaming or do you share the same last name?"

Aoi and Akane exchanged a half-amused, half-annoyed look.

“No. But you're not the first person, nor the last, to make that kind of remark,” Aoi replied with a smile. “I'm Aoi Akane.”

“And me, Akane Aoi,” the redhead clarified with a brief shrug of his shoulders.

Mitsuba stared at them, bored.

"I pity your parents' lack of originality."

"Hey! Show some respect, Number Three!" Akane growled, while Aoi burst out laughing. "Kids these days, I swear."

"You're only fifteen."

"Shut up."

The indigo-haired girl brightened.

"Oh! How rude of me! You must be Nene-chan's friend, Kou Minamoto?"

The latter scratched his cheek shyly. He mumbled a confirmation. Sure, they'd crossed paths many times since the Misaki Stairs incident, but they'd never had the opportunity to formally introduce themselves. Until today. Aoi turned to the other boys, specifically the one with the beautiful, bright pink eyes.

"And you?" she interrupted their bickering. "What's your name?"

"Oh! I'm glad you asked. I'm Minamoto's cutest, most adorable, and most handsome friend; Soso Millar."

He swept his bangs back for effect. There was a sharp snort from nearby, and Mitsuba stomped on Akane's foot. Kou rolled his eyes as Aoi clapped her hands in delight, royally ignoring the tension between them.

"That's my foot, Number Three."

"Be more discreet next time, Number One."

And their barbs continued in the background. Tiara tugged at her older brother's sleeve, demanding that Teru-oniichan be fetched. Kou offered Aoi an apologetic smile and grabbed Mitsuba's collar. Despite Mitsuba's protests, the small group moved away from the buffet and mingled with the surrounding crowd. You could almost hear Aoi asking in the background:

"Number One and Number Three, huh? What's the deal with those nicknames?"

"Ah... uh... It's a long story haha."

Serves him right, thought the Third Mystery with a small smile as he was dragged away by the young exorcist and his little sister.

Somewhere in the gymnasium, Nene finally arrived at the party. The lights reflected off her beautiful evening gown, patterned like mermaid scales. Her headdress featured intricate braids, tied in a floral bun. She'd struggled to get this hairstyle ready, hence her lateness. And she had to admit, Hanako actually had good taste. She looked like a princess in this outfit and the glitter carefully incorporated into her silver hair.

The effect was immediate; a few amazed glances fell upon her as she passed by. A blush powdered her cheeks at this attention. Her magenta eyes scanned the area in search of her friends and she thought she saw a horned head among the crowd. Familiar and unfamiliar faces faced her.

It sometimes happened that the kids invited their friends who weren't part of Kamome Academy. It was the spring ball, one of the biggest events the school had ever held since its founding. At least, that was what their homeroom teacher, Nagisa-sensei, had explained.

So, it was no surprise to see the fields and gymnasium crowded. Sometimes, students wandered around the school before being quickly called back by the teachers who were making their rounds.

Hanako had expressed concern about this. Having so many humans in one place might attract evil spirits, but he had promised himself he would tighten security at the school. So all the Mysteries had been deployed just for this special occasion.

Nene smiled at the thought of the school's seven great protectors watching over the students' safety. They who saw them as rumors or ghost stories. And god, she loved that boy. He didn't realize how much effort he put into fulfilling his role perfectly. As far as she was concerned, his purge had already been lifted long ago. She felt so lucky to have met him.

Just a minute.

She just said it, right?

She ran her hands over her burning cheeks and shook her head. Focus, Nene Yashiro! This is your moment to shine! She looked left, then right. She decided to check at the buffet tables to see if her friends were there.

Her heart sank a little. No matter how hard she looked, she didn't see the presence of her ghost. She hadn't had it all day, either. A pious wish formed deep inside her; she eagerly wished for him to be there.

That this once, he's actually invited her over. Not like he did in the painting world Shijima created. (Even if she'll never admit that warm memory made her heart race.)

The white-haired girl recognized a figure slumped near the punch glasses.

“Yashiro-san, good evening,” Tsuchigomori greeted with a brief glance.

"Oh, good evening, Tsuchigomori-sensei!"

Unsurprisingly, the professor kept his scathing lab coat on and didn't intend to make an effort for the evening. When she saw him, a question burned on her tongue, but she held it back, her cheekbones burning. Nene tucked a few stray strands behind her ear, a nervous gesture that didn't escape the spider-man's sharp eyes.

"If you're looking for Number Seven..." he began, smiling discreetly. "You'll have to wait a little longer. Why not see your friends? I thought I saw them around here."

Our poor heroine blushed with embarrassment at being so predictable. She thanked her teacher and headed off in the direction indicated. With a brief glance back, she swore she saw a well-dressed Yako clinking glasses with the Kamome High School Division's Class 1-A homeroom teacher, Nagisa. Her thoughts were soon interrupted when she noticed a group of students she recognized from the art department.

She stopped dead in her tracks. She must be hallucinating. Why were high school students conversing and interacting with a painfully familiar girl, the one who wasn't supposed to be seen?

Mei Shijima, known as the Ghost of Art Room and the Fourth Mystery of the Kamome School, shared her opinion on the ball's decorations. With a polite smile and sparkling azure eyes, she answered technical questions regarding art advice. Nene Yashiro remained stunned.

Okay. When Hanako briefly mentioned the other Mysteries' presence at the party, Nene logically assumed they'd be nearby.

Not literally.

A small fear crept into the back of her head at the thought of meeting the last of the Seven Mysteries she hadn't yet had the chance to meet.

It helped that no one had recognized the Fourth Mystery; she would feel like a guest from another school sharing her knowledge with Kamome's students.

"Mei-san? What are you doing here?" Nene asked in surprise.

"Nene-chan. Nice to see you!"

She excused herself from her classmates for a moment and approached her leader's assistant. The brunette remained true to herself in her old school outfit, which she had simply enhanced with a brushstroke. The young girl jumped at the cold touch of her hand on hers. Shijima led her through the crowd.

"Come on. You have to enjoy this ball!"

"What's going on? Is there a problem with the rumors? How come everyone sees you?"

A flurry of questions poured out of her mouth. What the hell is going on! Has the Broadcasting Club interfered again to ruin the school dance? No. She doubted it. After all, she had seen Sakura and Natsuhiko at the party, and knowing them, Tsukasa must be with them to prevent the kid from getting into trouble while they were gone.

The Fourth Mystery waved her worries away with a chuckle.

"None of that, don't worry! It's one of the requests I was specifically asked to make."

Nene blinked a few times. They weaved between the people, the heat oppressing them. Her pulse pounded in her ears over the loud music and chatter. Colors and lights flashed in her eyes as she stared at the back of number four of The Mysteries of Kamome. Her silhouette stood out among the vibrant shapes and warm tones. She tended to notice that supernaturals possessed cool colors, unlike the living.

The icy grip on her skin kept her anchored to this reality that she threatened to lose all contact with.

Shijima let out a triumphant cry as she reached her destination. They had simply headed towards the edge of the gymnasium where various snacks and more drink tables were located. The poor girl felt lost.

The ghost artist picked out a glass from the selection and handed it to her human friend. She looked at the dark red liquid inside.

"What is it?" she asked as the other girl popped a cheese appetizer into her mouth. "Alcohol?"

"Mmh~ that one's pretty delicious... ah, no. It's not alcohol, but it's close. And if I remember correctly, it's strawberry flavored. Your favorite, right?"

She alternated her gaze between the drink and the brown-haired girl, who took another slice of cheese. They had to move aside when another student came to get energy supplies for the dance. Nene hesitated for a moment before taking a sip.

It burned her throat. In a pleasant way. It wasn't alcohol, it was something fizzy. And indeed, it tasted like strawberries.

"So... Who's your date?" Shijima wondered, tilting her head.

Her azure eyes analyzed the girl's embarrassed face, the lights dancing on the reflection of her glasses. Nene shifted from one foot to the other, hiding in her glass as she carefully avoided her gaze.

Shijima's eyebrows reached her hairline at her silence.

"Nobody invited you? Seriously? Ugh. What a waste."

Her brow furrowed and her smile tightened into something threatening as she clasped her hands together to talk business.

"What should I start with? A bomb? Number Two's giant scissors? Oh, why not spiders? No, I know! A chainsaw!"

Nene gave her the look of whiting. One or two middle schoolers gave them curious but no more than that. Could this girl be upset with the insolent people who turned down the garnet-eyed girl's invitation?

This special attention touched her heart. A part of her, selfish as it was, particularly loved the close relationships she had with the school's powerful spirits and exorcists. Shit. She realized she felt loved and fulfilled in a way entirely different from her romantic fantasies.

Exactly what Hanako had been wishing for since the day they met.

Oh.

Oh, goodness.

How could she be so blind?

Our heroine immediately pulls herself together:

"M-Mei-san! We don't... we can't allow this kind of act at school!"

A disappointed pout played on the ghost artist's features.

"What a waste. Anyone would commit murder just for the chance to talk to a living model like you."

Her cheeks burned brightly at the compliment. She squeaked in embarrassment and tried to mask the heat by drowning herself in her drink. Shijima chuckled at her reaction. They took advantage of a quiet moment to listen to some new music playing over the speakers. Colors flickered and reflected off the disco ball.

"...Hey, hey, hey, hey,

I heard a secret from somewhere

It will be just between the two of us

Distracted by foolish drivel

Even the terribly fragile truth

Will probably, one day,

Turn into something like rumors

Merely one fleeting span of time

Turning a blind eye, twice fooled

Tricked and caught up in threes and fours.

One, two, three, death.

The future ahead, the unreflecting mirror, silence, the price of reputation

Balancing on tightropes, one or eight.

…Wait, there’s no Number 8, right?

The four-leaf clover, regretting even happiness,

Popularity attracts all kinds of suffering

At sixes and sevens, incurring divine punishment

Hear ye hear ye, apparitions and mysteries,

Everyone has their eight vices,

Fighting against fate precisely because we are incomplete..."

Well? This song. It expressed the very nature of the Kamome school. A slight smile blossomed on her lips at this realization. Her heart immediately raced at the thought of the boy with moon-like eyes.

However, she remembered the situation she was in.

"I... I don't understand. Why exactly? Were you forced to summon the spirits?"

 This now explains why Mitsuba was excited to participate. She surely guessed that Kou must be just as shocked as she was by this discovery.

Shijima appreciated her genuine concern. She leaned down to whisper in her ear:

"Let's just say it's a special night for everyone. You should thank your boyfriend."

She gave her a playful wink as the girl protested weakly.

"But I don't have any—"

"Come on. No secrets between us! Looks don't lie, you know."

And Nene made a sound like a dying rabbit. The Fourth Mystery laughed at this and patted her back in encouragement as she went to join the group from earlier. The white-haired girl could only watch as she disappeared into the crowd like a ghost.

Well. Nene Yashiro could only conclude that this whole evening was definitely weird. Hanako hadn't shown up all day, and now this?

She prayed to any god that what happened next wouldn't be even more weird.

Her prayer was not heard.

When she managed to find her friends, she came across a most strange sight: the handsome prince of the high school, the longtime crush who still makes her teenage heart race, Teru Minamoto, towering over a nervous Akane. His prestigious white shirt and tight-fitting black slime could hardly mitigate the murderous aura emanating from the tall blond. Nene would be more than happy to lose herself in his princely charm if the student council president wasn't the center of the more than weird scene.

Besides the two boys, Aoi and Mitsuba were exchanging opinions, critiques, and fashion advice. Kou was lost in Lemon's monotonous explanations as he showed him things on his phone.

And Tiara? The Minamoto brothers' beloved little princess was having a wonderful time with another child. The one who was none other than Mirai, the Clock Keeper who Governs the Future (who, as agreed, was wearing gloves). They were cooing over Tiara's fluffy little Mokke.

Once again, Nene Yashiro seriously wondered if Shijima had given her alcohol because she felt like she was swimming in delirium.

What the hell is this?

Aoi recognized the dumped girl and skipped towards her, her signature rings dancing with every step.

"Nene-chan! Oh my god, you're gorgeous!"

She was beaming. Her eyes sparkled with happiness and admiration at the beauty of her best friend.

Was it her or did she swear she saw a subtle blush on the indigo-haired girl's cheeks?

Nene blushed shyly in spite of herself. She wanted to protest, but Aoi silenced her by taking her hands.

In the background, Mitsuba made a scathing remark to Tiara, and she tased him with a simple touch. Mirai was amused by Number Three's shouts before Kou intervened.

"Ah, Yashiro-san. You look so lovely tonight!" Teru complimented, noticing her presence.

He released the poor redhead, if only for a few seconds, and gave the high school girl his most charming smile.

"Radish-senpai! Here you are at last!"

Mitsuba joined them after railing against the Minamoto family's violence.

"How splendid you look! Number Seven didn't lie that this dress will suit you perfectly! Right, Minamoto? Minamoto...?"

His pinkish glance swept over to his human friend. The poor guy opened and closed his mouth, his face as hot as a tomato worthy of the gardening club's harvest. The ghost bumped his elbow against his sides to make him react. Kou babbled into a gibberish of apologies, curses, and compliments. And it made everyone laugh. One by one, the rest of the group marveled at the clothing choice imposed by the seventh of the Seven Mysteries of the school. Even Akane shared his opinion under the watchful eye of his childhood friend.

Then the music began its final chorus before cutting out.

“Ah, this must be the second part starting,” Teru commented, shrugging his head.

"LADIES AND G-Whoops, a little too loud."

Laughter greeted the announcer's words. The curly red hair didn't go unnoticed from the announcer's words. The curly red hair didn't go unnoticed from the stage reserved for the evening's DJ. Nene gasped.

This is the broadcasting club!

Meh. Why should she be surprised?

Natsuhiko mumbled and fiddled with his audio mixing console. Sakura came to the rescue by stepping onto the stage. She adjusted the sound with two or three knobs on a laptop connected to the cable complex, then gave him a thumbs-up. The young man nodded and blew a kiss, which she, of course, ignored.

“Is the microphone okay? The microphone is okay. Ahem, I'll start again,” the tall redhead tested, tapping the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen! The spring ball at our prestigious Kamome Academy has only just begun!”

The crowd roared. Natsuhiko enjoyed imitating a famous DJ, so he strained his ears.

"What do I hear? The audience wishes to continue the evening? Well, rest assured, the ghosts have heard your wish! The opening of phase two begins!"

At his signal, Sakura launched into the opening notes of Jason Mraz's I Won't Give Up.

"Dancing partners on the dance floor! Let's have fun!"

The music launched into its first chorus to a burst of applause and whistles. The room reorganized. Natsuhiko offered his help to the emerald-eyed young woman in organizing a waltz player so they could return to enjoying the party and let the music play unsupervised.

Here we are! It's the long-awaited moment! The waltz! But...

The only problem: she doesn't have a date.

Her garnet eyes turned nervously toward the handsome prince of her dreams. She caught him staring in her direction and turned her head, her cheeks burning. However, her treacherous gaze wandered the gymnasium in search of an amber pair. Still nothing. 

Disappointment clawed at her throat and she swallowed hard. Stop it. Minamoto-senpai is looking at you! Take a chance! Don't let Hanako's efforts go to waste!

Their eyes met again. Teru encouraged her with a thin smile, but he didn't dare move a step.

She lost all composure, completely oblivious to Mitsuba dragging Kou onto the dance floor. She looked around; Aoi declined Akane's invitation, Lemon stayed off to the side, emptying glasses and keeping an eye on the two little girls.

She gasped for breath, she had to pull herself together and seize the opportunity.

As soon as she made the first move, groupies rushed towards the tall boy with sky-blue eyes. He blinked, surprised by their presence, and was besieged with invitations. And that was enough. It was enough to dampen all the young girl's courage.

No. It was too good to be true.

She stepped back and turned her back on him. Only to be intercepted by her best friend. Aoi's furrowed brow worried the other girl until she realized her disappointed gaze was fixed on Teru.

"He's missing his chance... stupid Minamoto-senpai," the indigo-haired girl muttered, annoyance marking her tone.

Her smile quickly returned to her lips, carefully applied with raspberry-flavored balm. She slipped her hands into hers. A gesture that reassured the white-haired girl.

"Come on, Nene-chan. Let's dance! I don't have a date either."

Nene arched an eyebrow. Admittedly, it wasn't surprising since she turned down every boy who approached her (or her infallible childhood friend beat the shit out of them, whatever).

"And Akane-kun?"

"Him? Oh, thirteen rejections in one week. No need to insist further," Aoi chuckled innocently.

Nene swore she heard a heart breaking somewhere. Poor him.

Seeing no other option and not wanting to ruin her evening for romantic whims, she gladly accepted the invitation. Dancing with her best friend was worth it than being ignored or pointed at by the boys.

So the girls joined the dance floor. Nene let herself be carried away by the atmosphere and the contagious joy, forgetting all doubts and worries. They had fun, twirled, and laughed. At one point, our heroine felt like she was being watched, but unfortunately, she didn't pay attention.

They took a break between two songs to go for a drink. They chatted happily, and Nene couldn't be more happy to see her friend Kou dancing with Mitsuba. The two boys enjoyed the evening, all smiles despite the disapproving glances from the eldest Minamoto.

Aoi was sipping her shot when a boy approached the duo.

"Yashiro-san?"

Their attention fell on an adorable gentleman with almond eyes who turned out to be their classmate, Suzuto Fuji. Nene's eyes widened. The most handsome guy in her class was talking to her again!

She did, however, remember Hanako's scolding when she told him about the so-called after-school dates.

You're a girl, Yashiro. You should take more care of yourself, he once said.

Her face heated up at this remark. She refocused on the boy in front of her who asked her to dance. Of course, she accepted, encouraged by her best friend. She shyly took Fuji's hand and followed him to the dance floor.

“You look beautiful,” he admitted once he arrived. “Did you choose this dress?”

"Let's say someone helped me a lot."

Fuji was a handsome, helpful, and popular boy in her class. But... She couldn't focus on him. Her ruby-red gaze wandered over the other dancing couples. Nervousness? Surely.

She found herself scrutinizing his hands. Too solid. Too warm. She could feel his skin getting clammy.

She didn't like the feeling. Coming from a boy like him. She wasn't sure why. Kou's hands were always soft and firm. The hands of a trusted friend. Except this was different.

The footsteps swayed to the sweet melody. Nene tried to keep smiling the whole time. Her partner spoke of things she was half-listening to, thoughts centered on thin, icy fingers. Her laughter was as false as her lies about her feelings for a certain ghost. Her reverie abruptly ended. Fuji apologized profusely; his foot had slipped and stepped on hers.

It's okay, Nene tried to convince herself, the corner of her mouth curling into a tight grin. It's just a clumsy mistake.

“Yashiro-san... I apologize for the abrupt question,” Fuji began, his gaze shifty. “Do you have a boyfriend...?”

The girl missed a beat. Is he...? No, calm down. It's just a question. OH MY GOD. The romantic brain quickly went into overdrive.

"O-oh... uh... no... No, I don't have a b-boyfriend...."

She stumbled over the word "boyfriend," her cheeks flushing.

"Oh..."

He swallowed. His face paled more and more as the music continued. Heavy beads of sweat dripped down his forehead. She worried for a moment that Fuji was going to lose consciousness. The poor guy kept glancing over her shoulder. After a moment, he stopped.

"Excuse me... this guy makes me feel too uncomfortable..."

What ?

He stopped looking away and rubbed the back of his neck. Wow, this is awkward.

Aoi raised an eyebrow as she saw them return. It was pretty fast, she thought.

"That was a... uh, a nice dance..." Fuji muttered. "See you later!"

With one last glance, he escaped as fast as he could. The indigo-haired girl swayed her head, lost.

"What's going on? Did he see a ghost?"

Her friend didn't hear her. She swore she recognized a furious look among the dancing bodies on the other side of the room. Nothing. Yet another trick of her overactive, desperate imagination. Aoi sighed and brought over a drink, once again ignoring Akane, who was whining dramatically nearby.

Kou and Mitsuba finally returned. One of them had even more disheveled hair and red cheeks, the other had a satisfied grin. Lemon teased them as they approached, earning them some embarrassment.

Nene's gaze wandered over every person in the room, the familiar faces of their friends, classmates, and Mysteries from the school. All of it blended together under the colorful light of the party and the waltzes (she smiled when she saw Yako and Nagisa dancing together).

It was a beautiful sight to see, the people our dear heroine cared about interacting wholeheartedly. Like a dream painted by the school's Fourth Mystery. However... One key element was missing: that boy who kept messing with her mind.

Her ruby ​​gaze was lost in the empty bottom of her glass. She poured herself another, hoping to clear her head. And luckily, someone decided to help her. It was when she noticed Aoi's annoyed expression that Nene realized that everything had come down to that precise moment.

Teru approached them with his usual charming smile. His sky-blue eyes fell specifically on the young high school girl with the beautiful creamy hair.

“I want to apologize for earlier,” he began with a slight, embarrassed laugh. “It’s hard not to turn down pretty girls who want to dance with you.” He cleared his throat. "Yashiro-san. Will you allow me to make it up to you by granting you a dance?"

The elder Minamoto offered his hand, which he knew the girl could hardly refuse. Before she could take it, a familiar voice interrupted them:

"Haven't you learned from your mistakes, Yashiro? Always falling for hot guys and supernaturals, huh."

Teru blanched and Aoi gave a small squeal of excitement.

That voice. That low, teasing timbre. That unique way of saying her name. Nene would know it from anywhere. Hoping with all her being that she wasn't dreaming, she risked a glance back.

And she gasped in surprise. Hanako graced his presence, his gaze murderous and his sneer on the corner. His signature hat was gone, revealing his wild hair. A beautiful white shirt hugged his figure, part of it elegantly tucked into his dark pants with polished shoes. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbow where Nene swore she could see kanji embedded under the wrist. No, it wasn't his appearance that caught her attention, but the curious glances cast in his direction. As if they could see it . No one paid attention to the two small white will-o'-the-wisps that accompanied their master.

All the Mysteries are here. Participating in the spring ball. Of course, he had to be there. Her heart was threatening to burst out of her ribcage, it was pounding against her ribs.

The Seventh Mystery stepped forward and stood beside his assistant, draping an arm over her shoulders. Chin held high, he glared at Teru, who looked as if he'd swallowed a toad that his face was contorted so tightly that it threatened to leave permanent wrinkles. The younger man purred mischievously. He clearly enjoyed tormenting his nemesis, who could do nothing but remain polite in front of a room full of witnesses.

Meeting Aoi's eager gaze, the poor girl knew she was in for an intense interrogation the next day. Hanako led his beloved assistant away from the group.

“Sorry for the wait…” the ghost boy whispered in her ear. “I came as fast as I could with all this hassle. I have to make sure this ball is the best night of your life.”

Her ear twitched in the cold air. His grip tightened on her shoulder before releasing her as he faced her. His eyes shone so brightly that the amber melted into pure gold. With one hand over his heart in a theatrical gesture, he held out the other palm, a shy smile on his lips.

"So... Allow me to make my request: Would you like to be my date for one night, Yashiro?"

The blush on his cheeks and his words were enough to win over Nene Yashiro's romantic mind. Her foolish ghost had bent over backward to match her ridiculous achievements. And damn it, she was definitely in love with him.

...

She can't deny it anymore, can she?

"I... it's my pleasure, Hanako-kun."

She placed her palm on his. The gesture reminded her a lot of the star festival they'd spent in the Boundary. As if reading her thoughts, his embrace tightened. This time, no crowds or supernatural cows would separate them until they reached their destination. They mingled among the other couples. Nene hesitated for a second, then placed her hands on his shoulders. She could feel the firmness of youth beneath the fabric. The brown-haired boy held her hips gently, and together, they formed a special duo.

From an outside perspective, they simply look like young teenagers experiencing the joy of dancing in each other's company. Not a powerful supernatural and a young mortal inevitably bound by fate and the mermaid's curse.

The melody softened. One, two, three. Their steps found a rhythm and coordinated naturally. Nene moved closer to him, her gaze caressing the seal mark on his cheek. The patch that held the boy's soul locked within the school grounds.

One day, she hoped to find the courage and the means to free him.

She placed a kiss on it, earning a soft sigh from him. She moved her head back so that ruby ​​met amber. They stared at each other wordlessly, the world around them fading away. Nene shivered deliciously as he readjusted his grip on her waist. His cold breath cradled her lips.

“He’s watching us,” Hanako whispered, glancing briefly over her shoulder.

The girl snapped out of her trance and blinked in a daze. Continuing the dance, she caught sight of Teru's icy stare, staring at them from afar. An inexplicable blush crept over her face, and she nuzzled the ghost's shoulder. The ghost returned the elder exorcist's murderous stare.

"Hanako-kun..."

He broke off the pointless struggle and looked down at the girl in his arms. He hummed to let her know he was listening as they danced gently to the music. Her magenta eyes met his of lunar amber; she couldn't get enough of gazing at them.

"Be honest with me."

Hanako blinked, surprised by her request. 

"Uh... yes?"

And that boosted the white-haired girl's confidence.

“Is that the truth? What you told me the other day…” Nene asked, her cheekbones burning and her voice trembling. “I don’t want to kid myself… not like that story with the confession tree.”

She was ashamed to admit it. Alas, this incident had deeply affected her, and she feared that this stupid ghost was playing with her feelings again.

The spirit softened, a blush stained his cheekbones. A hand moved from her hip to rest on the back of her neck.

 "Yashiro... I would never hurt you. You know as well as I do how... complicated it is."

He massaged her skin with his thumb, their foreheads pressing together. Nene squeaked weakly and wrapped her arms around his neck. He wouldn't escape her, not again. They both knew the conversation could hardly be avoided.

 The lights dim and new music begins. She recognizes the opening notes of Christina Perri's A Thousand Years. She draws her attention to Hanako, who avoids her gaze, his cheekbones burning. She can't help but smile. For now, she wants to enjoy the moment with him.

Their hands found each other, intertwined, and never let go. They began their steps. Their bodies swayed to the rhythm, they spun so beautifully. The louder the music grew, the closer the invisible bonds between them became. The dance became natural and harmonious, no matter that they didn't know how to waltz according to tradition. They were having fun; it showed on their faces. The Seventh Mystery laughed heartily. The sound vibrated to her very soul, and Nene had to suppress a fleeting urge to kiss him. Her cheeks burning, she tried to forget the idea of ​​having his lips on hers.

Her head was spinning, her ears were ringing. She was happy. So happy. The boy she loved had come.

The euphoria was soaring, and she felt like she was losing her footing, like she could no longer feel the ground. No. It wasn't an impression. Hanako let himself be carried away by the rhythm and the emotion that he didn't realize they were floating. She worried for a moment that they would be toast, but with all the dim lighting and festive atmosphere, no one would notice their feet lifting off the ground, even a few inches. 

Her heart was pounding. Indescribable shivers ran through her veins. His laughter gave her warmth and happiness. Oh, how she wanted to hear him again. Having fun like an ordinary boy. Just a boy if he hadn't lost his life too soon.

It was magical. Like something out of a fairy tale. Cinderella would be terribly jealous.

His forehead pressed against hers, Hanako's eyes twinkled warmly. His hand moved up to her cheek and cradled it. The melody captivated them, making them spin around as if they were alone in the world.

Her heart threatened to burst. Nene Yashiro couldn't have asked for anything better. And it made her realize something important: tonight might be their only moment of calm.

Between the corrupted rumors, the hunt for the Yorishiro of the Seven Mysteries, and the quest to solve the problem of the young girl's lifespan, they had very little opportunity to enjoy a moment of peace. Nene had a school life outside of her duties as an assistant. Who knows when her life could end from one day to the next, just like that, with the snap of a finger.

And that terrified her.

The clock is ticking no matter how hard we try to look elsewhere and hope for more time to sit back and think.

And knowing Hanako, he'd still try to avoid the conversation, make light of everything, or make jokes to divert attention. So, the spring ball was, perhaps, the one and only opportunity for our dear heroine to corner her idiot crush and confront him about his feelings.

She dove into the ocean of lunar gold that was the ghost boy's eyes. She could see the stars he loved so much reflected in them. Her mind filled with determination.

It's now or never.

"Hanako-kun... is that..."

She swallowed hard. Her cheeks burned so hot she could barely speak. Come on, you can do it!

"Can... can I be selfish tonight and make a wish...?"

Hanako inhaled sharply through his nose. He knew where she was going with this, but he couldn't find the courage to push her away, or refuse her wish. He was far too weak for her. It was too much. Too much for him. To feel her hot breath on his dead lips. To feel that lifelike body getting dangerously close to the spectral form.

Her grip on his neck encouraged him to narrow the space between them, and the girl lifted her chin. Her beautiful garnet eyes shone with anticipation.

“Kiss me,” she whispered pleadingly.

It's official. The seventh of the Seven Mysteries of Kamome is ruined. Faced with an adorable mortal at the end of her life.

With a reluctant yet envious groan, he filled the gap and their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. You could have sworn you heard a glass shatter over the ambiant noise, but Nene didn't care. The romance books she loved to read never prepared her for the exhilarating feeling of his cold mouth against hers. Her stomach filled with butterflies and her heart raced like crazy.

And god, she was shivering. No, not from the cold. From that budding, euphoric warmth germinating in her chest. It felt so good that she let out a low moan of protest when the Seventh Mystery was the first to break the kiss.

His eyes were filled with emotion and desire, turning them dark with an ominous glow. However, it was clear that he was holding back with all his might from throwing himself on her luscious lips now that he had finally received what he had desired for so long. 

Oh. Oh.

He was jealous. All this time. Jealous and in love. He hid his feelings so well when she told him about her ridiculous crushes or gossiped about the eldest Minamoto. He hadn't hesitated to help her despite his deep love for her. He hadn't flinched when she confided in him the wish to live to be ninety, not as a wish-granting spirit but as a young boy who would do anything for the person he loved. He was ready to do anything to give her a life she deserved, a life he himself could hardly give since he was already dead.

Oh my goodness. She was such an idiot.

"Yashiro..."

His voice was hoarse and shaky. He resisted kissing her again. The girl he was talking to slid her hand down to his sealed cheek and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. As if she were an apology for causing him so much pain with her teenage hormones. For taking her so long to accept her feelings for him.

"Come with me...," she whispered against his mouth.

And the brown-haired boy didn't protest. On the contrary, he was delighted to follow her as they left the dance floor. Holding hands and intertwining fingers, they made their way through the crowd. They knew their friends saw them leave, and honestly? They don't care, not tonight.

The two lovers slipped out of the gymnasium and off the fields to reach the high school. Instead of going to the old building, Hanako suggested finding an empty classroom so they could continue listening to the music there. They quickly climbed to the top floor and found an empty classroom. And not just any empty room.

The 1-A's classroom. Yashiro's class.

Where it all began. It was in this room that Aoi had shared the rumor of the Seventh Mystery with her. In this room where Nene, Hanako, and Kou had gone in search of the First Mystery. In this room where Amane Yugi attended classes with her in the painting world.

The full moon lit the room. It was already pitch black outside. The spirit led his assistant to a seat by the window. The night star blazed the sky, so round and imposing. But it wasn't the moon Hanako was gazing at tonight; it was the girl with bleached hair and beautiful magenta eyes at his side. The moonbeams highlighted her silver dress with mermaid scales. Nene gently pulled him against her, and the ghost's hands gripped her hips, nuzzling his nose into the hollow of her collarbone. She ran her fingers through his unruly hair, scratching her nails against his scalp. His sighs were a delight to her eardrums. He purred like a kitten. His cold mouth traveled down her neck, her jaw, then found her lips again in slow kisses. Nene moaned happily against his mouth, and Hanako purred even more. They couldn't stop now, not after discovering the delights of their first kiss. Despite their inexperience, they enjoyed spreading these new sensations. It didn't matter if their teeth clashed here and there. Hakujoudai couldn't stay still anymore, stamping their feet impatiently, one clinging to her shoulder while the other pressed against her ankle. Nene desperately clenched the fabric of his shirt in her fists, her legs trembling and threatening to give out.

She yelped as the Seventh Mystery lifted her up. She tended to forget his supernatural strength when she felt the desk beneath her buttocks.

She batted her eyelashes, dazed. The brown-haired boy didn't give her time to adjust to her new position before he took her lips again. She didn't complain. The kisses, soft and tentative at first, grew deeper, until they became voracious. The coolness pricked her lower lip and she gasped. His tongue slipped inside, cautiously. Hanako moaned shyly.

Oh, fuck. That sound excited her. He was no longer the powerful leader of the Seven Mysteries desperately kissing her; he was reduced to a little boy discovering his first kiss.

A strong sense of protection enveloped her heart. She would never let anyone hurt him again, nor take him away from her.

She wrapped her legs around his waist, ignoring the icy sensation of the small white being tightly wrapped around her ankle, and pressed the ghost boy against her. His hands let go of her hips, barely catching themselves on the table. Yet he wasn't fazed and deepened the kiss enthusiastically. Their tongues battled for dominance. The small will-o'-the-wisps vibrated deliciously against her skin, expressing all of their master's intense emotion. Reluctantly, the girl had to pull away to catch her breath; a trickle of drool connected them. As intoxicating as it was, one of them still had functioning lungs and the need to breathe. She gently rested her forehead against his. Her garnet eyes took in the disaster before her: Hanako was flushed, panting, his dark hair a mess, and his amber eyes clouded with a delicious blackness. The moonlight scorched the side of his face, the seal prominent. And she couldn't help but find him so handsome.

Maybe in the end, he's her real type.

It reminded her that they needed to talk about it. Talk about the two of them. About their feelings and how they'd handle the consequences of their relationship. The dead and the living weren't meant to be together. A supernatural and a mortal who would die in less than a year; fate couldn't be crueler than that.

Tonight? Tonight, they want to enjoy this alone time. To make up for lost time beating around the bush. They were supposed to talk about it, but that will be for another day. Hanako promises they will have that conversation. Alas, not tonight. Not tomorrow, not in a week. Only when the time comes.

Tonight and for the rest of Nene Yashiro's days, they enjoy the warmth, comfort, and strong love they shared unconditionally.

The moon watched over the two lovers cursed by fate. They kissed, no longer knowing where their wandering hands ended up. They lost themselves in each other's passion. Her lips swelled under the hungry assaults, Hanako could no longer tire of that sweet taste. Nene moaned and gasped as he nibbled at her mouth. Then he attacked her neck. His cold teeth scraped and marked her boiling flesh.

"Mine...," he growled against her skin.

The girl shuddered at this possessiveness.

"Just for you... Hanako-kun... just for you...

She pulled his hair and their lips collided violently. She wanted him to mark every part of her body. She would die soon, so she didn't care about rushing things. They would go at their own pace. She wanted him to be her boyfriend and no one else. Not Fuji-kun, not Minamoto-senpai. Only him. For him to become her forbidden lover and her greatest dream. For him to express his jealousy by marking her with his voracious mouth.

Nene knew she'd kill her dear boyfriend the next day when she discovered the numerous purple hickeys all over her milky skin. For now, she'd have to thank the wonders of jealousy.