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Hello and welcome to chapter 2 of "I need you now" :D
(This chapter corresponds of the Faeries Arc)
Title: "Yousei-san, the thief"

This chapter is very long, expect the other chapters to be as long!

Psychological fact: The average high school kid today shows the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the 1950's.

⚠️Warning! ⚠️ This chapter contains mentions of panic attacks!
The mentions start and stop at the signs.
***
Previously :
As she walks past the gate, Hanako was still on his favorite spot of the bathroom, the windowsill, observing her.
Once she was out of sight he sighs.

"What should I do now?" He wonders, pulling his knife out of his chest. He stares at it for a good minute before he puts it back to where it used to be.
"I really need to get rid of this habit." He mutters under his breath while he tried to sleep.

Yashiro for the first time in ages could sleep peacefully so when her alarm howled the next morning she was in a good mood.

***

Yashiro extends her arm towards the origin of the annoying sound of her alarm. When she felt it against her hand she raises this one before smashing it on the clock, shutting it.
She straightened up while stretching her arms with a yawn. No matter how she is used to this and no matter how great she slept last night, waking up early to go to school was stressful and annoying.

But before she could even think of sitting up, she pops down on her soft bed with a sigh.
"I don't wanna go out!" She groans, putting her head back on her fluffy pillow with exasperation. "Come on Yashiro you only have to bear 1 more day before staying at home for a whole day!" She convinces herself, putting all of her will to separate her head from her pillow.

She winces. "Now to get... up..." She struggles as she forces her legs to swing at the side of the bed, sitting up. "Screw it." She thought before she lets herself fall flat on the floor, making a rather loud thud. Her neighbor shouts to be quiet as it was only 6 am in the morning.

But Yashiro ignores the comment and start to crawl outside her room, pausing every 10 seconds. But surprisingly, she still manages to put on her uniform and to pack all the things she needs to go to school. She sighs loudly, getting on her knees.
"I have to stand up." She thinks, standing up while grasping the wall beside her to balance herself.
(Yashiro the spider episode 1-)

When she was satisfied, she walks or rather limp to the door and start to distances herself from her house, chewing on a bread she had found on the table.

⚠️*** ⚠️

She feels like throwing up.

Yashiro was shaking rather violently as she felt everyone looking at her like she was an insect that needed to be exterminated.
Laugher was already starting.

She hates it when everyone stares at her or mostly her legs she always felt sweaty and on the verge of tears.
She gritted her teeth in an attempt to block the sound of sobbing in her throat.

That's why she hates large crowds.
1. They were people and this itself was already bad enough. (Mood)
2. They stared at her, horrible. (Mood #2)
3. They were all so close to each other that they could smell each other, that was disgusting but the worst is that they could touch each other. And this was the death of her. (Mood #3)

She wants- no that was wrong.
She needed to leave, if she stays here any longer she feels like exploding. She trembles, even more, hugging her bag on her chest tightly as life depends on it. That's when her breath starts to get shorter and faster.

"I can't breath." Was the only thing she could processes as her head also start to spin. The ground seemed to sway under her feet as tears were welling her eyes, and choked sobs caught in her throat.
"I can't breath, I can't breathe, I can't breathe, I can't breathe, I can't breathe, I can't breathe, I can't breathe, I CAN'T BREATH!" The thought repeats everywhere in her head, it was as it was a really loud alarm that she couldn't stop. She coughs violently one time, followed by other coughs as painful as the others causing her back to bent forward, a hand covering her mouth.

⚠️***⚠️

Suddenly, a pair of strong arms surround her as, cold as ice and oddly pale hands were put on both of her shoulders. She turns her head up in surprise, discovering bright amber eyes looking straight at her with a concerned look, even if the ghost was smiling sweetly at her. As soon as she saw him nausea she was feeling disappeared almost instantly.

"Yashirooo!" The spirit beams at her as she looks around. They were in the backyard, surrounded by flowers. Yashiro didn't remember walking up there but maybe she did but was too busy having a panic attack to notice.
"Hello, Hanako-san." She greets still a little bit overwhelmed. "Um... Since when did you get her-" Before she could ask her question, loud and fast footsteps echoed.

"Nene-chan!" Aoi calls, rushing to her with a smile. "What are you doing here all alone?" She questions, her eyes shining as bright as the sun and her hair floating with the wind.
"Oh, I'm just admiring the flowers that are all!" She responds quickly, returning her smile. Her best friend nods.
"I see. Anyway, I wanted to tell you something!" She beams, backing away. Hanako teleported back to the bathroom, not wanting to disturb the girl's conversation. It's not like Aoi could see him but still.

"Really what is it?" Yashiro interrogates, now that her curiosity was aroused.
"I found another scary story." She exclaims still having the signature Aoi smile. Yashiro wonders if her mouth ever gets tired from quivering so much but before she creates weird theories, she shakes the thought out of her mind. "Would you like to hear it?" The indigo haired girl inquires.
"Sure!"
"Alright then." Aoi coughs one time and prepared her voice.

"Where do things go when they have been forgotten?" Aoi starts as she purposely makes her voice sound deeper.

"Do they fade out of existence?"
"No, those things...
Are still with us even now."

"Have you heard the rumors..."
"Of the Faeries?"
***

(End of the day, 3rd girl's bathroom of the 3rd floor in the old building)

"Hanako-san please let me go home for the day!" Yashiro pleads, wearing gloves and holding a mop and a bucket full of water. Today she was also in cleaning duty but she was hoping she could convince Hanako to let her pass this time, as she needed to take care of something in the gardening club.
"Nope!" The ghost denies the idea, popping out of the 3rd stall of the bathroom with his arms cross.

"But I have to go to my club activities!" Yashiro whines. "It only happens once a week!" She exclaims, putting her hands together above her head. "I beg you!" But it was in vain, Hanako had already made up his mind and he was the type to do anything to have what he wants.
In a desperate attempt to convince him, Yashiro gave up her dignity.

"Youth is temporary!" She states while grabbing both of the ghost's shoulders, shaking him. "And I finally have a chance!" She squeaks.
"A chance?" Hanako asks, now curious. "A chance of what?"
"You really wanna know?" Yashiro fan girls, having both of her hands under her chin. While giggling like a child.

"I got asked out by one of the hottest guys in class!" She poses while lying. There was no way she could have ever been asked on a date by him.
"Really?" Hanako floats behind her. "And what are you do there? Naughty stuff?" He inquires while finding this whole thing quite funny. Like she thought she could lie to him just like that.
But before Yashiro could come up with a reply, Hanako cuts her off.

"There's no chance I'm going to let you go." He replies, as cheerful as ever while Yashiro could only sigh. "Besides I have an important job for you today." He exclaims while crouching down and getting the mop Yashiro had a drop, back.
"Plus," He starts, lowering his voice as he approaches Yashiro until he was just behind her. "I'll treat you..." He grips his hands on Yashiro's on the mop. "Much better than that guy." He smirks, obviously teasing her.
But the high schooler couldn't help but have her heart race at this while red crept on her cheeks.

The bell rings again, causing both the human and the apparition to jump in surprise.
The supernatural backed away from the human slowly before Yashiro rushes out of the bathroom while screaming a 'goodbye' at him.

***

Yashiro who was in the middle of math class sighs loudly while resting her head on her arms, not really listening to her teacher.
That's not like she would understand anyway.
In truth, Yashiro was really good at math!
...
Well, that was until they decided to mix the alphabet to it.

But while thinking about the tests she would have, her mind suddenly wanders around Hanako for some reason.
"After class, I still have to go clean the toilets." Yashiro sighs, hiding her tired face with her math book.
"He even put a guard on me." She thought, looking straight at the little orb who tilts. "What did Hanako-san called it again? Kuraijoudai?" She recalls. "What a weird name."

Kuraijoudai sticks his tongue at her. "You're the one with the weird name here!" He angrily squeaks at her, even if she couldn't hear him. "The name that Hanako gave me is lovely! >:/"

Little did they know that a slimy-looking supernatural was eyeing them with a huge eye.

"Yashiro-san!" The professor calls, making Yashiro come back from reality. "Can you give me your notebook? I need to see if your exercises are done." He explains, while scribbling something on his agenda, probably planning the class's next lesson.
"Yes!" She exclaims while standing up but then she freezes, she remarks that all of her notebooks were gone. She couldn't even find her bag!

"EEEh?!" She shouts in confusion.

***
Time-skip brought to you by Hakujoudai and KuraiJoudai

Later when math class finishes, Aoi got up to her.

"Maybe it was the work of the faeries?" She wonders, approaching Yashiro with a watering can. A thoughtful expression on her face. Yashiro jolts.
"About that!" She raises her head to look at her. "You didn't finish their story yet!" She exclaims, Aoi giggles.
"Alright alright!" She waters the plants before she puts the watering can away on the windowsill.

"Have you ever lost something you were keeping a close eye on?"
"Or had something that was always there vanish right when you needed it?"
"Has that happened to you?"
"Then you have been a victim of the faeries."

"But you must never look at them."

"Because if you do..."

"They will even take your life."

Yashiro gulps as Aoi made a menacing pose with her hand. (I notice that this part of the chapter was on page 66 I-)
"Or so they say!" Aoi beams, showing her hands next to her head. "Of course it's just a rumor!" The indigo haired girl reassured.
"That's all?" The teal haired girl inquires a little disappointed, Kuraijoudai lets out a sigh of exhaustion.

"But lately..." The popular student turns her head in the direction of the other students, Yashiro follows her gaze and a lot of whispering could be heard but they all had one common thing, they were all talking about missing objects.
"So what if the faeries actually exist?" She exclaims cheerfully, and before Yashiro could reply something, another student rushes in, shouting at the class to come with him.

Both girls stare at each other before following the student. The boy leads them to the entrance of the building with Aoi holding her watering can for whatever reasons.
A lot of fellow students were crowded around the lockers as they whisper things to each other.
Yashiro and Aoi approach the lockers, only to discover that the doors are missing.

Chatters on who could have possibly done this explode in the hall, however, Yashiro thought it was the work of a supernatural as no normal human could do that.
Suddenly, something in Yashiro's mind told her to go to the old building and fast. So she did.
After all, every time her mind told her to do something like this they were always right so she trusted her gut feeling.

"I'm sorry I have to go Aoi-chan!" Yashiro shouts, sprinting to the old building.
"Ah!" Aoi couldn't say anything else before her best friend runs out of sight. Suddenly, a boy runs into her, causing her to drop the watering can and to fall down.
Akane was already waiting behind the guy who had run into her with a bat.

*Insert to be Continued Meme*

***
Timeskip brought to you by Akane's torturing methods

Yashiro followed a bunch of missing objects from the students until she notices her own notebooks and skull brooch who was usually on her uniform above the bow. She continues following the objects, leading her to a door slightly open. She decided to take a little peek, discovering in horror a slimy monster with multiple eyes looking straight at her.

The high schooler screams as she falls as her breath was fastening. Her body enters the panic mode and was unable to move a muscle even if she wanted to. A slimy that belongs to the beast grasp one of her ankles.

"You saw us..." It growls, exiting the room a little.
"No..!" She tries to get away but her body still refuses to move.

"You must never look upon the faeries." The memory of Aoi's speech echoing in her head as she stares at Yousei-san in horror. "If you do..." The beast has now fully got out of the room. "They will take your life," Yashiro yelled at the top of her lungs, completely terrified as the hands from Yousei-san got up to her fast.

She saw her life flash through her eyes as time seems to slow down. A lot of persons had said that when they were about to die they saw their whole life parade across her, just like it would do if she was watching a movie.
"Is that... the end?" She squeezes her eyes shut, putting her arms in front of her face in a desperate attempt to protect herself.

"Sic 'em Hakujoudai!"

Yashiro reopens her eyes, watching in awe as Yousei-san starts to glow a bright white before it explodes.

"You're easily drawn to pretty boys and supernaturals huh Yashiro?" Hanako steps in with a big smile on his face as he crouches down next to her.
"You have to be careful, humans die easily you know?" Yashiro turns her head towards his direction with tears welling up her eyes.
"Hanako-kun...!" She shouts as she jumps on him, causing both of them to fall down considering Yashiro took Hanako by surprise.

She starts to sob on the ghost's chest as this one pats her head while saying "There, there" continuously.
They could have stayed here in this position for a lot of time until multiple yelps are heard as small pink blobs fell from the sky or ceiling in this case.
Yashiro looks at the origin of the voices curiously discovering the slimy pink blobs who had the form of a bunny.

"What are those?" She asks the mystery while approaching the little bunnies. Once they were back on their feet and notices Hanako, they bow down.
"These guys are Mokke." The spirit informs as Yashiro as said one poked a mokke. "They are cute and very different from before." She thought, comparing how they look now than how they did before.

"Currently known as the faeries, they are supernaturals that have been with humans since ancient times, performing small acts of theft and other mischiefs." He explains while petting one of the mokke, the little one purrs like a cat despite looking like a bunny.
"MokkeS are weak, timid supernaturals. Because of that whenever they want to attack someone they have to get together and change form. It's one of the reasons why they are usually not the type of supernatural to attack people." He pets another one, who ran up to him shouting a soft me too!

"We didn't wanna kill her..." One of the Mokke bow down in shame. "But our story changed." It continues.
"We had no choice!" Another one replies.
"Story?" Yashiro asked in confusion.
"They meant the rumors. Most supernaturals can't go against their rumors because if they do they will disappear from the nearshore." Hanako explains, as one of the adorable Mokke hops on his hat, giggling.

"Disappear?" Yashiro repeats, glancing at the Mokke who were eating sweets. One of them notices her and hand her a candy using his bunny-like ears. "Want one?" They ask. The human stays silent.
"Would you like to change the rumors of the Mokke?" Yashiro looks up to her ghost friend with a confused expression.
"As one of the seven mysteries, it is my duty to keep a decent relationship between the humans and us. If a supernatural goes berserk I will have the obligation to eliminate it." Hanako explains as one of the Mokke looks sad and he got into the end part.

"Eliminate it?" The living human turns her head to the supernaturals who were silently eating sweets with small tears in their eyes.
"I don't want to disappear..." One of them cried to its friend who pats their head with their ears with the same expression.

"I will do it!" She exclaims with no hesitation in her voice, the fierce determination in her eyes make the spirit startled.
The Mokke start to cheer.

***
Timeskip brought to you by the Mokke's world domination!

"So you got a bad day am I right? And some jerks even dared to 'attack' you?" Hanako asks as he heals a wound on Yashiro's arm who was sitting on Hanako's favorite spot. She nods with tears in her eyes, it hurts, a lot.

To be continued because it's becoming ridiculously long-

***

So yeah Chapter 2 is complete :D
Thank you for having the patience to read this book!
Also, doesn't the end give you a deja-vu sensation:^

See you later! 😊👍🌸
-Asuka

Words: 3160