Preparations (2)
Time really does fly when you’re not looking.
“Got everything? Nothing missing?”
“Let me see. Pencils, ballpoint pens, erasers and mechanical pencils. Pencil case and…”
Cecilia checked each item off one by one, glancing back and forth between the memo she’d brought and the contents of the basket in her hands.
It had already been several days since we started preparing for her transfer.
On the first day we sat down together and studied the school system. We went through the files Unho had given us, looking things up, double-checking, confirming… Honestly, there was far more to learn than either of us had expected. Just hunting down and reading through all that information left us both completely wiped out, so we called it a day right there.
The second day we went out and wandered around a bit. We looked over various schools from the outside. Of course, most of them didn’t allow outsiders in, so we never got to see the interiors. And while she seemed a little better than before, Cecilia still clearly found other people’s stares uncomfortable… After a few hours of walking around we came home and collapsed, and that was the end of day two.
And today—day three—we finally set aside time to go shopping.
Everything we needed to buy was, of course, the supplies Cecilia would need for school.
“And this compass… yeah. Everything on the memo is here.”
Having finished her inspection, Cecilia murmured quietly. Then she shot me a quick glance, and I nodded.
“Alright. Let’s go pay.”
“Finally…!”
At my casual reply she clenched her fists, face lighting up with joy as she muttered under her breath. The black hoodie that completely covered her head caught my eye. It was perfect for hiding from stares. Cecilia stood out in so many ways that if she only wore a hat like last time, every eye would lock onto her. That was exactly why she’d crashed so early yesterday… Reflecting on that, she’d come out wearing the hoodie today. We’d walked around quite a bit, yet she still looked fresher than yesterday, so the effect seemed good.
“Finally going home…!”
Well, relatively speaking, compared to yesterday. Stretching both arms high overhead like she was working out a kink, Cecilia murmured in a voice full of liberation. She let out a deep sigh of relief and allowed a small smile to surface. The tension that had been coiling through her body seemed to loosen, at least a little; she looked more at ease.
“Hey, Cecilia?”
“Hm?”
She answered in a soft voice. Feeling a twinge of guilt, I continued.
“…Sorry, but now we still have to go buy our bags and shoes.”
“…Meaning?”
“Meaning we can’t go home yet.”
A thin sigh of a completely different kind brushed past my ear. I took the thoroughly deflated Cecilia by the hand and hurried toward the next store.
“I’m hooome—…”
“Good work. Up we go.”
The moment the door opened, Cecilia shot forward like a rocket and buried her face in the bed. She nuzzled into the blanket, wriggling her whole body. Thud—her outer layer slid to the floor.
“You really did great today.”
“Did we seriously have to buy that much…?”
I gave a wry smile at her muffled grumble. Setting down everything we’d bought—the bag, the mountain of stationery—I let out a long breath.
“It’s basically her first time going to school, and it’s high school on top of that. Of course there’s a lot.”
“Ugh…”
“We’re not taking all of it from day one. We just bought the stuff she’ll need later while we were at it. For the start, a few basic writing tools will be plenty.”
While explaining, I picked up the hoodie that had fallen to the floor and folded it neatly. Then I shrugged off my own jacket and hung it in the wardrobe.
“So, how was it?”
“Hm?”
“Your impressions after being outside for so long?”
At my question Cecilia turned her head and gave me a sideways glance. I met her eyes for a moment.
Truthfully, setting yesterday aside, there hadn’t been any real need for both of us to go out today. It was just shopping. We already knew exactly what to buy and where to buy it. I could have gone alone. The only reason we went together was because she had wanted to.
“…It was dizzying.”
“Figured as much.”
“Better than before, but still a little…”
With that she buried her face in the blanket again. The reason she’d wanted to come along was, of course, to prepare for school life. Schools are full of people—that’s a given. If she flinched at every single one of them, daily life would be miserable. So the idea was to get even a little more used to it before the transfer.
“…But I have a question.”
“What is it?”
I blinked at the sudden remark. Shifting around until she was sprawled star-shaped on the bed, she continued.
“Heave-ho… So, whether I wear a hoodie or a hat, my ears don’t show, right? Same with the tail.”
“Right?”
“Then why do people stare so much when I only wear a hat? Does it still look like I’m a beastkin…?”
I tilted my head at the dazed question. Why do they stare? Well, obviously…
“…Because you’re pretty?”
“Pfft.”
A snorting laugh escaped. When I glanced over, Cecilia had rolled onto her side and was covering her face with a pillow.
“P-pretty?”
“Y-yeah. Your hair color stands out, too, and…”
Realizing a beat too late how blunt that had been, I tacked on an extra line. A brief silence settled. After that wordless moment passed, Cecilia suddenly sat bolt upright and murmured,
“…I’m hungry.”
“Well, it’s a bit early for dinner. Let’s have a little snack.”
I answered lightly, leaving the awkwardness behind, and pulled a few slices of bread from the freezer. I switched on the toaster and slid the bread in… when suddenly my phone chimed with a notification.
“Hm?”
With a click I pushed the toaster lever down, then picked up my phone to check what the alert was.
“…Oh-ho.”
“What?”
Cecilia asked in a puzzled voice. I turned the screen toward her and answered.
“Got this text. What do you want to do?”
“Huh? …Eugh.”
The moment she read it, Cecilia’s face crumpled.
The sender was Sherry’s guardian, Donggeon. The message read:
The meeting place turned out to be a Western restaurant with prices that weren’t exactly cheap. Inside a private room that managed to feel both elegant and comfortable, Cecilia and I sat quietly waiting.
“Still, I’m surprised you actually decided to come out.”
“…Well, there were things I wanted to ask about…”
Resting her chin practically on the table, Cecilia answered. Through the slipped-back hood, her drooping ears were visible.
“When that Donggeon person comes, the demon girl will come with him, right…?”
“Yeah.”
“How do I put it… I wanted to ask a little about things to be careful of while living in this world…”
As she spoke she fidgeted with a napkin she’d pulled free. Despite saying she wanted to ask, her expression was rather reluctant.
“Hmm…”
“Something worrying you?”
“She won’t just grab me in a hug again, will she?”
Apparently that first meeting had left quite an impression. Well, getting squeezed in a full-body hug the moment they met… she had every right to be wary.
“I’ll block her properly.”
“Really?”
“…If I can.”
Assuming Sherry was weaker than me, that is. From everything I’d seen so far, it wouldn’t be strange if she were three times stronger… so I wasn’t exactly confident.
Just then came a polite knock at the door. Cecilia pulled her hood up as I called for them to come in. The door opened and a massive silhouette stepped inside.
“It’s been a while, you two.”
It was Baek Donggeon, his muscular build still impossible to miss.
“It’s been a while. Donggeon… hyung?”
Remembering our previous meeting, I tried calling him “hyung” half-jokingly. Donggeon’s eyes widened slightly… then he broke into a broad grin.
“Haha! Good to see you again.”
He thrust out a huge hand and we shook. Cecilia was looking at me with mild confusion, so I whispered, “We met before.”
“…Huh? Where’s the demon girl?”
“Right here~!”
The moment Cecilia asked in puzzlement, a bright voice popped out. Immediately afterward Sherry, who had been hidden behind Donggeon’s bulk, revealed herself.
“Hi~!”
“Ah, hi.”
“I wanted to see you again~! Our soft little beastkin—ow?!”
In a flash Donggeon spun around and gave Sherry a light tap near her horns, right through the hood.
“No sudden lunges. Got it?”
“O-of course.”
That single tap seemed to snap her back to her senses; Sherry nodded with exaggerated seriousness. Donggeon turned back toward us, but—
“…Heh-heh♪”
—outside his line of sight, both Cecilia and I caught the way Sherry’s eyes glittered. A faint chill ran down our spines as we exchanged matching wry smiles.
“Well, the reason I called you isn’t anything major.”
Saying so, Donggeon took a seat. Then, with completely natural movements, he began pouring water into the glasses.
“You’ll be transferring soon, right? I thought it might be nice to meet up and talk a bit beforehand.”
“For information sharing?”
“Nope.”
Donggeon grinned playfully. Beside him Sherry propped her chin on her hands and beamed just as brightly.
“For moral support.”
“Cheers! Clink~!”
We took our glasses and, swept up in the mood, tapped them together. The high, clear ring of ceramic cups filled the room.
…Even if it was only water.
I felt a little dazed.
“Just meaning don’t get too tense. And also…”
Glancing sideways, Donggeon leaned toward me. When I leaned in as well, he said,
“Wouldn’t it be nice if the kids who’ll be going to the same school already had a connection?”
“…Ah.”
I glanced sideways myself. There was Sherry, smiling ear to ear as she looked at Cecilia, and Cecilia carefully asking her questions in return.
So that was it. The real goal had been to get them friendly beforehand.
“You’re well prepared.”
“Not at all.”
We exchanged light words and shared a small smile. Friends who would soon be attending the same school. I watched the scene for a moment, unbidden memories of my own school days rising to the surface.
The transfer would happen soon. I turned that single fact over in my mind with complicated feelings.
I just hoped Cecilia would be able to live comfortably and happily.
That was all I wished for.