"Still none?"

Theresa responded to Tomoya's question with a regretful nod.

"Well, we'll surely get something soon," Tomoya shrugged back to the grimoire. "Take your time and I'll take mine. I just know I've read something here on how to counter demons... you know... demons are like humans. They have also, how should I say this... they also have races."

"I thought we're taking our time here?" Theresa grimaced.

"Hmm..." Tomoya cocked a brow. "You're being really mean these days. Calm down, geez! Or, perhaps, are you on your period—AW!" He yelped when the heavy pillow came in contact with his forehead.

"WHAT'S THAT FOR?!"

"What's that for my ass!" Theresa growled. "When was I not even mean to you? On top of that, you're giving me hypertension. Can't you see that I don't wanna talk?! I'm an introvert! AND—," she raised a finger in between them. "What's been happening lately made me lose my shit! How am I supposed to stay calm?!"

'Twas a long speech, but Tomoya only looked at her in askance.

"First of, you're not being mean to me when my cousin is around, yes? Second of all, you act calm, collected, and doesn't get hypertension when my cousin is around, yes? Third of all, you just don't wanna talk to me, but you can have an entire conversation with my cousin whole day, yes?" Tomoya giggled when Theresa's face crimsoned. "No objections, Your Honor, yes!"

"W-What... W-WHAT?!"

"I know you like him," Tomoya laid his back against the back pillows, carefully placing the grimoire on his crossed legs. "You're much easier to read than this," he pointed the book. "Anyone can see through you and your emotions.

Theresa didn't retort as she has already grasped what Tomoya is trying to say. Her eyes unconsciously looked at Takumi who's standing idly at the balcony, watching the sun slowly rising from the horizon.

The man reads and analyzes human behavior. He must have seen her confidential feelings most immediately just with an eye contraction.

How can I be such a jizzcocking dickweed?!

"I just have to warn you though."

She turned back to Tomoya who had his eyes soberly pinned on her. "He can't feel the same way as you do. He just couldn't."

Saving her remaining pride, Theresa forced a laugh. "W-Why are you telling me that? Let's say that I like him, but it doesn't mean that I want him to like me back."

For some reason, Tomoya's shoulders relaxed. "It was just a warning though. I just thought you needed to know."

No, but yes. Theresa don't want to yet her prying eyes says otherwise... hopeful enough, Tomoya could see it cross her face; however, he had already turned to the other side.

Maybe he already like someone else. Alright! But who?

She made a silent tch out of irritation. Truly, Tomoya is a mood-wrecker. None of them had fallen asleep yet; somnolence has not paid them a visit either, might as well use their time to dig more information from the grimoire.

"Say..." her lips parted, brushing the sole of her foot on Tomoya's cozy carpet. "What kind of person Samantha really is?"

Tomoya's shoulders suddenly stiffed, relaxed, and then looked at her. "Hmm... why'd you ask?"

Theresa shrugged. "Nothing in specific, but she's the reason behind all of these horrors, might as well get to know her through your point of view as I heard you were in love with her once. How is she as a woman?"

"I'll take your reasons then," Tomoya closed the book and gently place it beside him. His eyes wandered around the place before landing on Theresa.

"Shane was more like a big sister to me than someone I loved romantically. It was true that she has this weird character, personality perchance. Her emotions change quickly, but she's really a kind person. She's just having a hard time showing it because of her past traumas."

"T-That's ironic," Theresa tittered. "She's a psychiatrist, isn't she? She's supposed to be aware of her own actions."

"You could say that, I won't judge as I also used to think about the entire situation that way until I learned about her life. You have eyes of the future. Eventually, you'd come across foresights far more than just alterations. You saw what happened to Scott... about what he did to save Kathleen," Tomoya's voice went raspy.

"The whole damn thing didn't make any sense to me. He's supposed to be the villain, but... ugh!" Tomoya raised both hands in defeat. "And this book isn't helping as much as we all need. I don't know. I was so sure I've read everything written in there, but all of the sudden... poof! I became stupid. Yeah, you were right about me after all."

"Anyway, back to your question," he heaved a sigh. "Shane is someone unforgettable, I could say it that way since I haven't forgotten about her ever since. She's very unique in ways I couldn't put into words. I could tell you to ask my cousin for more details since he must have known more about her than me."

"Why?!" The slight rise of tone in Theresa's voice made Tomoya's lips twitch. He had seen her reaction beforehand and he's enjoying it quite a lot than he should.

"Because they've been with each other longer than we did?"

"But they're just colleagues, r-right?"

"Uhm... yeah? Why do you sound agitated all of the sudden? They work in the same asylum. They're even classmates before that, so he should know her more."

Seeing that Tomoya is already making fun of her, another set of pillows flew in the air and landed right on his face. "Oh, fucknugget! You hit my eye. I might go blind, Jesus Christ!"

Theresa stood and went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. She felt her nape getting heavy; her vision might get dark and strangle the shitmagnet to death. Tomoya's still ranting and it's in Japanese; she didn't understand and didn't give a damn either.

Theresa opened the fridge, took a pitcher of cold water, closed the door, and just stood there, doing nothing. She couldn't take a thought out of her mind. Clearly, she has not liked anyone yet that her feelings towards Takumi is overwhelming her. It might be just an admiration, but for her chest to ache by what Tomoya said earlier, it should be something more than what she thought it is.

"Strange," she scoffed, almost mocking her own emotions.

"Saw something?"

Theresa almost dropped the pitcher on the floor when Takumi spoke behind her. She immediately held it close to her chest before turning to face him.

"S-Saw w-what?!"

Takumi's brows rose a little. "Vision, silly."

"Oh... oh... yeah. N-Nothing yet," she walked pass through him to get a glass on the glass hanger rack. In a most accurate way, it is safe to say that Tomoya has an extra furniture taste.

"Really."

"Yeah, sorry."

Theresa had to pour water from the pitcher with both hands to control them from trembling. She could sense Takumi leaning against the counter just beside her.

"You must be enervated. You can go home and rest. Just hit us up when you see something. We can continue from here."

The water stopped filling up the glass for a split second when Theresa remembered her purpose in the frame, the reason why she's with them in the first place—the only reason for her to be around him... the only reason for her to be with him. Her mouth opened, lips quivering.

"I... I feel like I'll get something later. I must stay, so I won't miss any details," she turned and looked at Takumi directly in the eyes.

"Alright, suit yourself" he answered almost right away and already at the point of leaving when Theresa spoke. "Why are you doing this for her?"

"Do what?"

"All of this," she placed the pitcher down the counter. "W-Why are you helping her despite knowing the risks? You might face a situation that would place you in the verge of death. Aren't you scared?"

Although Takumi's facial features has not change, the way he looks at her hit visible leeriness. "I am," finally, he answered. "Natheless, the person I am trying to reach is someone worth life-risking for."

"Is she that important... to you?" So much for her muted rationalization. Please say no reechoed above and beyond that question. Lamentably, Takumi had too much in his mind to deal with her prodigious questions at the moment. It was rapid, but Theresa saw it clearly... Takumi smiled before stepping back and walked away. It must be her. It should be.

She was half way in chugging the water when Tomoya cursed.

"We have a situation, lady and gentleman!"

"Why what happened?" Takumi, who was about to enter the balcony again, dashed towards Tomoya who had his phone placed against his ear.

"It's Kathleen."

Takumi blinked and pulled his phone out of his pocket. "She called four times. How was this thing turned silent anyway? Any details?"

"Nothing. She cut the call off after cursing at me for being loud."

"Oh."

"Should we go now?" Theresa asked, walking towards them.

Takumi shook his head. "No, you stay here with Tomoya and you..." he eyed his cousin. "You better have something to report when I get back."

"You, too," Tomoya pointed Theresa.

"W-Why me?"

"Why not?" Takumi continued; she almost feels like he had slapped her the reality of her existence in his life.

"O-Of course."