【ᴀ ʙᴏɴᴅ ᴜɴʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀɴʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ】

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"Like I promised... I came back, the next day with a thank you present in hand. I never expected that she was there, waiting for me..."

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"You came back..." Amane stared in shock as the spirit girl, (Y/n) standing infront of the forest shrine entrance. On his left hand was a small peach box and on the other was a platic bag filled with cold beverages. "I didn't think that you'll come back."

"You..." Amane stared at her in awe, making the fox masked spirit tilt her head.

"Huh?"

"You waited for me!" Amane shouted in joy, he began running towards to hug her when the thick branch she was holding yesterday, made contact with his head again. The human boy groan in pain as he held his head, not before putting the box he was holding on the stone stairs.

"You just don't learn, do you?" (Y/n) sighed making Amane laugh. He then stood up and picked the box again.

"I'm just happy. I just...sorry..." Amane look down in embarassement. (Y/n) didn't say anything before walking away.

"It's a bit hot here." She said, turning towards the child. "Shall we go to somewhere cooler?"

Amane was a bit hesistant. He remembered the rumor his uncle told him, those who walked into the forest will be lost forever. He did got lost, yesterday and he might still be if it wasn't for (Y/n).

"Don't worry. I'll see you out of here again." (Y/n) assured him. He nodded before quickly following her into the forest, making sure that the box he was holding wouldn't fall off.

"What is that?" The spirit girl broke silent, pointing towards the box, Amane was holding. Amane set the plastic bag on his arm and opened it, revealing some frosting covered donuts.

"I bought my favorites!" Amane chirped. "I wanted to share it with you so..."

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The two ate the donuts and drank the juice Amane brought as they continued walking, crossing a bridge that leads them to the deeper part of the forest.

Amane heard a sound, making him turn to see nothing. Soon he heard it again, and stopped to look around for the source.

A black silhouette appeared, hiding behind the trees. It has one eye and a mouth, seems likely the one that was causing the noise.

"(Y/n)..." The figure called out, staring deeply towards Amane. "Is that a human child? Can I eat it?"

Amane got scared and quickly hid behind the spirit girl, making sure not to touch her.

"No." (Y/n) said, putting an arm infront of Amane. "He's my friend."

"Is that so?" The one eye spirit gave Amane another glance. "Human child. Please do not touch (Y/n)'s skin. If you do, I'll eat you!"

Aman started shivering at the thought of being eaten, suddenly, (Y/n) sneezed under her mask, startling the one eyed spirit who soon transformed into a fox and ran away.

"Oh! Is that a fox?!" Amane asked in awe. His fright disappearing, completely.

"He's another one of the spirits." (Y/n) confirmed. "He transform to scare people, but he's all bark and no bite."

"Amazing!" Amane threw his arms in the air with excitement. "This is the first time I seen a spirit! So they do exists!"

(Y/n) sighed as she watched the young boy dance around. She placed a hand on her mask. "So what did you think I was?"

Amane noticed that (Y/n) walking away making stop dancing. He soon ran after her and slowed down once he was at her side. He gave her a wondering look. "Hey (Y/n)? Are you a No face or something? Why do you wear a mask?"

"No particular reason." She answered. "Nevermind. Tell me about yourself."

"Are you curious?" Amane grinned.

"That's why I was waiting for you." She shrugged making Amane's smile wider.

"What is there to say? Well, I love Donuts!" Amane laughed. "I also love Astronomy. Stargazing is one of my hobbies!"

"Stargazing, huh?" (Y/n) wondered out loud. "It might be calming, staring at the stars. Although I never really have the time to admire them."

"You should! They're really pretty to look at!" Amane cheered.

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"The next day, and the day after that, I went back into the forest. Those summer days, I ran and played all around the mountains."

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"Over here! Over here!" Amane called out as he ran around the open area, (Y/n) was calmly walking towards him.

It was night time. Amane made (Y/n) promised to go stargazing. Ofcourse Amane have to sneak out of his uncle's house. Tsukasa was fast asleep in their shared bedroom, but he knows that he can be a heavy sleeper so he won't notice him gone.

"It's better over there." (Y/n) pointed towards another direction. Amane nodded and followed her into another open field. There was also some beautiful wild flower patch growing at the nearby river.

Amane watched (Y/n) as she folded a leaf into a boat. He then walked towards her as she gently placed it on the water. The young boy watched in amazement.

Soon the boy found himself laying on the grass, staring at the stars with much admiration. The spirit girl was a few inches away from him, doing the same but remained silent.

Amane looked at the girl, wondering if she was still awake. It was getting late after all.

"Did (Y/n) fall asleep?" Amane muttered to himself, he soon stood up and approached the girl. "Do spirits even sleep?"

Amane lowered his hands towards her mask, carefully trying not to touch her face. But he wondered if it was okay to touch her mask.

The human boy has the urge to see her face. He carefully lifted the girl's fox mask and his eyes widened when he finally got to  see her face.

She was beautiful. Amane could feel the heat rushes from his neck to his cheeks. His heart was beating faster. She looks like an average human girl, but more prettier.

But then (Y/n) slowly opened her eyes revealing (E/c) colored orbs. Seeing that she was infact awake, made Amane panicked.

"Ah! I'm sorry!" Amane apologies as he roughly placed her mask on. The spirit girl groan in pain.

"Ouch!" She began to sit up. "Attacking someone in their sleep.... You're sure are a scary little shrimp."

"I'm sorry but..." Amane stared at her, his face was still slightly pink. "You were pretending to be asleep, weren't you?"

(Y/n) decided to ignore his question. "I look normal, didn't I?"

Amane stared at her.

"If I don't wear this mask, I don't look like a spirit, do I?"

Amane stared at the ground, guilty.

"You're weird..." Amane said, making her laugh slighty.

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It was infact getting late. (Y/n) walked Amane back towards the forest entrance. The young boy stared at the teen with sadness in his golden orbs.

"Hey, (Y/n)?" Amane called out. The spirit turn and to look at him. "I won't be able to come here tommorow. I told you about it before, didn't I? That my brother and I are just staying at our uncle's place for the summer? So I have to go home tommorow."

(Y/n) stopped walking making Amane nervous. Was she upset? Angry at him?

"Would you be able to come again, next year?" (Y/n) asked him. Amane smiled brightly at this. So she wasn't upset with him.

"Yeah!" Amane promised.

"Can you stretch your hand for me?" (Y/n) added. Amane tilted his head in confusion but did so.

(Y/n) then dropped a small object on the younger boy's open palm.

It was a small rocket ship keychain. It was made from carved wood.

"When you brought that picture book a while back..." (Y/n) started. "I saw how excited you are, while staring at the rocket ship. So I thought that maybe I could make a replica for you. I asked one of the spirits to find the metal chain, I just carved and paint the rocket."

"Thank you!" Amane was about to hug her when he saw her hands up in defence. He quickly moved away and scratched his neck. "Thank you....No one ever made something for me before..."

"Consider me as the first then." (Y/n) smiled under her mask, even though Amane can't see it. "I heard there are dangerous supernaturals roaming around japan, most of them targets children. I placed a spell on that rocket, to keep you safe from harm."

Amane's eyes were close to tears. She does care for his well being. "I'll come back! I promised! I'll be safe too!"

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"That....Is how summer became something I looked forward to..."

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