"You're going to have to explain why they look so cute on you! "

Wait, huh?

"Seriously, where did you buy them?" she said.

"Umm... Uhh.... " I said, at a complete loss for words.

"I'm a cosplayer myself! Got second place in the con three months back! You're one of those neko's right! I've always wanted to meet one of you!" she said.

What's a neko?

What's a con?

Does anything this girl say make sense?

"H-Hi. " I said.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Was I a bit too forward? My name's Hina. What's your name! "

I just blinked at her.

"Aww, there's no need to be shy! Tell me! "

"Y. My name is Y." I said.

As in why are you talking gibberish to me.

I'm not going to tell you my real name...

I can't trust anyone except for Lucy.

"Oh is that your stage name! I love it! It's got kind of a Death Note vibe ya know? Mine's Apple! " she said.

Where does all this girls energy come from?

"So what will your order be today? " she said.

"Umm, I just came for.... the.... smell. " I said, fidgeting uncomfortably in my seat.

"Oh, I love that one too! I'll go get it for you! " she said and skipped away.

It's an actual drink here!

"W-Wait. " I said and she stopped and turned back around.

"I-I have no money... " I said.

She smiled brightly.

"This one's on the house! I don't see many cosplayers like myself stop by here ya know? " she said.

"T-Thank you. "

Why can't I talk without stuttering!

"You're welcome! "

Then she did a pose.

"Ep! Ep! Neko! Neko! " she said and bounced away.

I don't know what a cosplayer is but whoever these people are, they just saved me from an extremely awkward conversation.

I sighed.

I don't deserve such kindness. I just killed four people nearly an hour ago. And infected a child.

Why can't she see I'm dangerous?

Maybe she's just too stupid to realise what I am. What I've done...

My breath caught in my throat.

Who I've hurt...

Maybe the scientists were right. Maybe I'm evil. I have guilt for my actions but not as much as a normal human would have.

I can't justify my crimes yet I keep trying with all my might to.

Lucy, how are we supposed to survive in this world without harming everyone around us? Must we kill or be killed? Or do we deserve to just be wiped out?

I clenched my fists.

No.

I will not die.

I still want to live.

I made a promise to Lucy that I would live and find her again.

And then, somehow, we'd find a way to carry on with our many burdens and sins....

"Hey, are you okay? " I heard a voice say.

I looked up to see a boy around my age looking down at me with light brown hair and warm amber eyes.

"You remind me of coffee." were the first words out of my mouth.

I immediately grabbed my mouth in embrassment.

He laughed.

"I remind you of coffee? " he said.

I nodded my head neverously.

"Are you okay, though? You were glaring at the table like it was threatening your life. " he said.

"I-I just was thinking... about... things... " I said.

He sat down on the chair in front of me and sighed.

"You don't have good social skills, do you? " he said.

I nodded my head in agreement.

He held his hand out.

"My name's Shinchi. What's yours? " he said.

"Why are you holding your hand out? D-Do you want something? " I asked.

He snickered.

"You're clueless aren't you? When you want to say hello you shake someone's hand. " he said.

"Oh. "

I grabbed his arm and shook it.

"Umm, that's not exactly how you do it you see... " he said and grabbed my hand and shook it - apparently - the right way.

"There. Now we are acquainted. Tell me your name?" he said.

But before I could say anything, I heard Hina's high pitched voice from the front of the cafe.

"I've got 1 smell for my friend Y! " she shouted and ran towards me and set the cup down on the table in front of me.

"Y?" the guy questioned.

"It's her stage name! " Hina shouted.

I want to hide in a hole.

"Stage name? " he asked.

"She's a cosplayer! Can't you tell from her kitty cat horns? " Hina said and grabbed my horns, squeezing them tight.

Don't kill her Yona...

We don't want to get blood on the table...

"Please remove your hands from them. " I said but she didn't let go.

Instead, she tugged harshly on them.

"Wow, you made these so well! They won't move an inch off your head! How do you get them out when you're finished with them for the day?" Hina said.

My teeth were chattering and my hands were shaking.

Must... Resist...Urge... To... Rip... Apart...

"Hina, remove your hands from my scalp before I gut you. " I said darkly.

She immediately let go.

"Aww, you're no fun Y! I was just-a-playin with you! " she said and grabbed my cheeks.

I swear, if she touches one more body part I'm going to decapitate her.

"Is she your friend? " Shinchi asked me.

"I just met her today. " I said.

"You two seem to get along really well! " he said.

Is he being sarcastic?

I hope he's being sarcastic.

"So, where are you going after here? " Shinchi asked curiously.

I gulped.

"N-Nowhere... I don't really have a place to go..." I said.

"Wait, are you homeless? " he said and slammed his hands down on the table.

"I-I guess so. " I said.

"That's why your kitty ears won't come off! You probably superglued them to your head to stay warm! " Hina said whilst crying.

She's just so stupid...

Even Lucy wouldn't mind if I killed her...

"Well, I guess that's it. You're coming with me. " Shinchi said and held out his hand.

"W-What?" I said.

"I've already gotten attached. I'm not going to let you live out on the streets. " he said.

He smiled.

"Take my hand. "

And then, in that moment, when I looked at him....I felt no anger for the first time in many years.

I just felt warm and cozy. I felt like everything was going to be alright.

So I took his hand and said, "Okay. "

------

A/N

The picture to the side is Hina/Apple.