Btw, Haru's design is outdated in the image above ⬆️
And so, Yurio, Atomu, and Kyou headed out to get materials for Echo. Meanwhile, Luna, Yachel and Leo stayed in the garden to build its beauty! Yukine stayed in his room, not wanting to deal with anyone. Echo did the same. Galaxy was nowhere to be seen, and Hiro... meh, who knows?
"Haha! Mission start!! Don't worry, Yurio!! I'll protect you all the way!!" Atomu beamed from outside.
"This isn't some dumb mission. Stop being childish," Yurio sighed.
Kyou looked back as they walked... to see Haru watching them from a window.
"Hm... so we don't connect with anyone but ourselves?" Haru muttered from the darkened halls.
He gradually turned around and walked across the hall.
A knock echoed on a door...
"Uh...?" Yukine turned his gaze to the door.
He had the same photo of him and Yachel - that Luna had picked up - in his hand.
He waited a second before getting up from his desk, putting the photo down.
The door slowly opened...
"Uh! ... mm," Yukine gasped, then exhaled with a grunt.
"Hey, Yukine," Haru smiled from the other side of the door.
"Now, this is out of character. What do you want?" Yukine asked with great disinterest.
"Well, just to talk. You said we don't connect with anyone... but you struggle with that too, don't you? So, why don't we help understand each other?" Haru suggested with a small blush of nervousness.
"... so now, all of a sudden, you want to understand me?" Yukine growled.
"Is that so wrong?" Haru asked.
"The notion isn't; the timing is," Yukine mentioned, closing the door.
"Uh..." Haru stood blankly as the door shut in front of him.
"Mmm..." His eyes darkened in annoyance.
Yukine walked back to his desk.
He saw the photo he had put down...
Looking at it brought back memories... memories of how things used to be. How he used to be...
He heard Yachel laughing from outside as he helped to plant flowers and food.
Flashback...
"Haha! Look, Yuu-kun! The flowers are blooming! Aren't they so pretty?" A small Yachel beamed.
"Whoa... they really are," Yukine smiled with a warm blush.
"We did such a good job!" Yachel clapped.
"We...? I didn't do much, though... you're the one who planted them," Yukine mumbled.
"Sure, you did!! You protected them from the storm!! Yuu-kun is so strong!!!" Yachel cheered.
"Because someone wouldn't wake up," Yukine reminded him.
"I was sleepyyyy," Yachel pouted.
"Because you work so hard to nurture life..." Yukine mentioned, gently lifting a petal with his finger.
"It's an angels job to do so! I'll protect everything too fragile to stand alone..." Yachel smiled.
"... you know you can't do that," Yukine mumbled.
"Huh??? Why not??" Yachel cried.
"... we can't protect everything... you know we're not like the angels, Yachel. We can't save everything just like that," Yukine lowered his gaze to see the petal he touched fall to the dirt...
"... then we'll just find a place where we can! We're not like the angels... I know that. But we're not helpless! We'll find where we belong. And when we do, we'll grow strong together and save the world from evil!! Hahaha!!" Yachel cheered,
"..." Yukine thought back at his brother's words...
"Why... is it so hard to find where we belong?" he recalled Kyou saying.
"........" Yukine diverged his gaze back to the door.
Maybe I am being over-reactive... I suppose talking with Haru wouldn't exactly kill me...
Yukine opened the door... but no one was there.
Oh, right, It's been a minute since I closed the door on him....... whoops.
Meanwhile...
"So, how's your body doing, Yurio? Are you really feeling better already? You could hardly even move yesterday! I thought you were gonna die!" Atomu mentioned as he walked with Kyou and Yurio.
"Wow, thanks for the faith," Yurio grumbled sarcastically.
"It's to be expected. A human receiving demon magic... and magic as strong as Yachel's too... you should be dead, Yurio," Kyou mentioned.
"Uh!" Yurio froze from his abrupt words.
"Yet somehow, you're still standing. It's actually quite impressive. Very impressive..." Kyou added.
Yurio's eyes widened, and his cheeks darkened ever so slightly.
"You're strong, Yurio," Kyou told him, turning to look him in the eye.
Yurio couldn't move... his words caught him completely off guard. Someone as impressive as Kyou... was calling him strong?!
"That's what I've been saying!!!" Atomu jumped in.
"But I get the feeling you don't believe me, do you?" Kyou evaluated.
"Uh... Mm... well, I was the one who needed to absorb someone else's magic. So how can I be strong?" Yurio rejected.
"You're focusing on the negatives. A human body shouldn't be capable of surviving demon magic... but you have, Yurio. You're a strong human," Kyou told him.
"But a weak person," Yurio argued.
"Stop being so negative, Yurioooo!!! You're so strong!! It doesn't matter if we're human or demons or whatever!!! Have some faith in yourself before I slap my faith into you!!!!" Atomu suddenly attacked Yurio, shaking his shoulders.
"Lay off!!" Yurio detested.
"Agh!! Hey!!!" he yelped as Atomu slapped his cheeks repetitively.
"So... should I go get the materials or....?" Kyou muttered, stood outside a shop in the village as people started to stare at Atomu and Yurio, causing a scene.
"Yurio has to stay here and think about how amazing he is!!" Atomu decided.
"Ah- what?!" Yurio yelled.
"Until you admit that you're strong, you're staying right here!!" Atomu added.
"Who gave you the right to order me around?!" Yurio grunted.
"Echo said I had to look after you!! And I can tell that you're letting your head get the better of you, Yurio. You're hurting... and people do stupid things when they're hurt. So stay out here and clear your head. Look at everyone around you who don't know the first thing about magic! All these people you could protect! All these people who would give anything to be half as powerful as you!" Atomu lectured him.
"Stop sulking all the time about not being the most powerful all mighty god of the world!!!" he added.
"Ah! I'm not sulking!!" Yurio detested with a blush.
"Yes, you are! Now stay here until we get back!" Atomu ordered.
"Come on, Kyou! Let's go!" He proceeded.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to--" Kyou went to say.
"Too late to negotiate!" Atomu pulled him away.
"Ah...!!" Yurio let out with a twitch to his expression.
"Tst. Since when did Atomu grow a pair?! A child treating me like a child?!" Yurio grunted.
He leaned against the wall of the shop Kyou and Atomu had gone in.
He looked about him to see all the humans going about their day.
... why am I like this? Ever since we fought Eclipse... I've been feeling so... aggravated. So frustrated! ... What do I want? Why can't I reach it? Am I acting like this because I know it's impossible?
"You're strong, Yurio," he recalled Kyou's words.
... am I?
Yurio gazed down at his hand.... because edge.
He sighed then looked about him again. He glimpsed to the side to see Atomu and Kyou in the shop, looking for materials.
"Only one way to find out..." he muttered before walking off...
Back at Shadow Moon, Echo was rewriting books in her room...
"Knock knock," Haru smiled, opening Echo's door.
"I get the feeling you don't know how knocking works," Echo mentioned, seeing him at her door.
She was sat at her desk with a pile of books towering her.
"Apologies, Mistress," Haru bowed to her before closing the door behind him.
"... everything ok? I hope you didn't let what Yukine said get to you..." Echo wondered.
"Oh, it's ok! I actually tried to reason with him just now... but he didn't seem too co-operative," Haru smiled awkwardly.
Echo sighed.
"Never is... always so determined to keep to himself and never open up..." Echo muttered.
"I suppose it's no fault of his, though. He is a ghost demon, after all, right?" Haru brought up.
"Yeah, that's true," Echo muttered.
"But... it does seem he is making progress, don't you think?" Haru mentioned.
"Hm. I'm not so sure," Echo disagreed.
"Well, I saw him helping Luna and the others with the garden earlier. That's an improvement from staying in his room, isn't it?" Haru teased.
"Where is he now?" Echo questioned.
"Uh... in his room....." Haru answered.
"Thought as much," Echo sighed.
"Still, I've never seen a ghost demon so stable... I wouldn't be surprised if Yukine managed to revive himself if he stays here with Shadow Moon," Haru mentioned.
"Uh... do you think that's even possible?" Echo asked, turning her head back to Haru.
"Of course! Ghost demons souls are drained of emotion... however, that doesn't mean emotion can't be developed again. Most ghost demons just don't reach that point, that's all," Haru explained.
"Mm... it was almost too late when we found him..." Echo recalled.
"Oh? I don't think you ever mentioned that..." Haru returned.
"Uh... mm... it's not something I wanted to share with everyone... I doubt Yukine would want that either," Echo answered.
"I see. Did Yukine ever tell you about the attack? How did it even happen?" Haru wondered.
"He doesn't remember exactly. Seems it's an effect of the soul manipulation," Echo returned.
"He can't remember anything?" Haru asked in surprise.
"I don't think so. I did try and read his mind to see for myself who did it... but everything's just a blur," Echo explained.
"I see. Well, I hope he finds a way to remember soon. Then we can make the soul demon who attacked him pay!" Haru claimed.
"Hm. Yeah. But that won't happen until he stops being so stubborn... he's getting nowhere throwing accusations out like that," Echo sighed.
"Well, to be honest... I can understand why he's suspicious..." Haru mumbled, gaze lowering to the ground.
"Oh, don't even say that! He has no good reason to be so judgmental. He doesn't even know anything about you! What gives him the right to make assumptions like that?!!" Echo ranted.
"Uh... you don't believe him then?" Haru blushed.
"Why would I?! He's being ignorant," Echo claimed.
Haru smiled warmly.
"That makes me happy... I... was afraid you'd start to hate us too..." he mentioned, vision blurring with tears.
"I could never hate you; don't be so ridiculous. I'm here for you, ok? You're a part of Shadow Moon. That means we're gonna protect and support you, ok?" Echo assured him.
"Ah! B-but that's our job, Mistress!" Haru let out.
"No. It's the job of Shadow Moon. We're all here for each other. It's how we survive... don't go hogging all the Knight in shining armour," Echo smiled.
"Haha. It's the least we can do to thank you for giving us that support in the first place," Haru smiled, sitting at the end of Echo's bed.
"Well, that's why we all protect each other. We all need that support and acceptance..." Echo smiled warmly.
"... even you, Mistress? You seem pretty strong to me!" Haru smiled.
"... do I?" Echo's expression dropped as the pen in her hand lowered.
Haru hesitated, hearing the drop of excitement in her voice.
"... You know, I try really hard to be strong. But... even if I am, that's not always a good thing. Great power requires control... without it, you can't protect anyone. Without it, you'll just cause hurt... I wish Yurio would see that. He thinks being this strong is admirable... but he really doesn't know a thing!" Echo ranted.
"The human sure is ambitious... if he acquired the power you hold, he'd become encaged in the madness for sure! But you... you control your power really well! I don't understand what you're so worried about- uh!" Suddenly Echo got up from her chair and placed her hand on Haru's cheek.
He immediately flinched back from the burn.
"This is what happens when I lose control... don't tell me not to worry. Being this powerful is nothing to be proud of. Not when I still can't control it! If I'm not careful, it will overtake me completely..." Echo whimpered, holding herself as she stepped back from Haru.
"What will overtake you...?" Haru wondered.
Echo met his gaze, suddenly snapping out of her rant. She didn't mean to reveal so much...
"N-nothing... never mind," she quickly stuttered, turning back to her desk.
She sat down and picked up her pen again...
Haru sharpened his gaze.
"Uh!" Echo jumped as Haru suddenly wrapped his arms around her from behind.
Her skin stung from the contact... but somehow... she didn't mind.
"Are you really rewriting all of these?" Haru asked, looking at the pile of books surrounding her.
"Uh... y-yeah..." Echo's cheeks darkened.
"Wow! You're amazing, Echo!" Haru beamed, chin resting on her shoulder.
"Um... thanks," Echo blushed, gazing down at his hands that joined around her...
She went to gently touch his hand...
"How many books have you read anyway?" He wondered, stepping back and letting his hands fall back just before Echo could touch him.
Echo didn't follow his leaving figure, eyes fixed on the book in front of her from embarrassment.
"Erm... I'm not sure, actually. I've always loved reading. I've been doing it since I was little..." Echo mentioned.
"Haha! You're so smart. I can never understand all those words. Brother and I spent a lot of time at the royal library studying, but I could never learn anything! How long have you been studying magic, anyway?" Haru asked from the background.
"A very long time. Probably for around a decade now?" Echo recalled.
"What's with all the questions, anyway?" She turned to see Haru stood by her bed.
"Well, I want to know more about you! Yukine did say we don't seem to connect with anyone... s-so I want to connect with you, mistress!!" Haru burst out.
"Uh..." Echo blushed as he walked closer to her.
"And honestly... I've been getting a little jealous. That angel is always drooling over you! What's his connection to you, anyway? Do you love him??" Haru pouted, getting way too personal.
"Ah!!!!" Echo steamed up as her whole face went red.
"Uh!! Is it true???" Haru cried.
"What?!! N-no!! Yachel's an idiot!!! I wouldn't fall for him! " Echo claimed.
"Hmmmmm. Well, as long as you don't let him steal your heart~" Haru smiled.
"Because that's my job!" He grinned with a blush, leaning closer to her, hands behind his back as he quickly pecked Echo on the cheek!!
"Um!!!" Echo blushed deeply.
Haru giggled to himself to see her adorable reaction.
"So? Is there anything I can do to help Mistress with her work?" He wondered.
"Uh... Not really... uh. Actually, you made a really good stir fry the other day. I think we should have enough ingredients left for another one," Echo mentioned as Haru let his hands move back to his side.
"Ah! Of course-"
"If you don't mind, could you make one for Luna and the others outside?" Echo finished.
Haru paused, assuming Echo wanted it for herself.
"You're not hungry?" Haru asked.
"No, I'm ok. They're working really hard to make the garden for Yurio... and knowing them, they won't remember to feed themselves. So I think it would be good motivation to have some of your cooking after working so hard," Echo smiled.
"Besides, you said you wanted to connect with the others, right?" she added.
Haru hesitated...
"Hm. Right! Then I'll go prepare it right away, mistress!" Haru beamed.
He headed out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Echo sighed.
"So many distractions," she grumbled with a blush.
Haru stood leaning against Echo's door... he pulled out a book from under the back of his shirt, tucked into his trousers...??
'Diary' it read.
Haru skimmed its pages to the latest update...
He scrolled through the words...
'Yukine seems to think Haru and Kyou are a part of some schemes Shadow Moon is being entangled in. He's had a bad feeling about them since he first saw them. I've been telling him that he's wrong, but I know I still need to be cautious.'
Haru's eyes widened.
'The twins are... oddly calculated. They seem to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time... and yet, there's something... oddly sweet about them. They make me feel like maybe... maybe I can open up again. Maybe... I could even—
"What are you reading?" Yukine suddenly asked, stood a few meters from Haru in the hallway.
"Uh!" Haru met his gaze, closing the book.
Yukine's aura was intensely dark and fuelled with an apprehensive abhorrence.
"Oh, this? Echo asked me to put it back in the library since she finished restoring it. So what brings you out of your room?" Haru returned.
"Actually, I was trying to find you. You wanted to talk, right? But now, I'm thinking, it's not a good time for you?" Yukine mentioned, gaze meeting Haru's without daring to break.
"Well, Echo did just ask me to make some lunch," Haru smiled.
Yukine narrowed his gaze, trying to look at the book in Haru's hand.
"You can help if you want? I'm sure Luna would love to have food cooked by you!" Haru mentioned, walking past him.
"... you know something? Hearing you say her name... really makes me want to hit you," Yukine suddenly growled, voice deepened...!
Haru paused, turning his gaze back to Yukine behind him.
"W-well, that's not good for me! Ahhh hah! But let's not start a fight. It would make Mistress so angry..." he whimpered.
"L-look, I know you think I'm some kind of mastermind behind this whole Eclipse thing, but you have to believe me, all me and Kyou want is to stay here and help people! When we find out who's really behind this, you'll see!" Haru confronted.
"That's not what I think at all," Yukine returned.
"Uh... really?" Haru gasped with some relief.
"You and your brother are anything but masterminds," Yukine denied.
"O-oh... erm... thank you.....???" Haru whimpered.
Without bothering to reply, Yukine walked away. Haru watched nervously, body releasing from its tense state.
He let out a sigh.
"Looks like we haven't made a home here just yet..." he frowned, looking back at Echo's dairy...