The Supernatural Creator

Chapter 8:

By the time Yashiro returned to school the following week, she had already thought of the perfect twist to the Mokke's rumor.

"Good morning, Nene-chan!" Aoi approached Yashiro just as she was putting her shoes in her locker. "Feeling better?"

"Eh?" Yashiro didn't know what she was talking about until she remembered Akane saying that he was going to tell Aoi that she went home because she wasn't feeling well as an excuse of her absence the other day in Gardening Club. "Oh, I'm feeling much better, now, Ao-chan. Sorry I wasn't able to attend club meeting."

"It's okay," Aoi assured her. "But you should've told me though."

"I know, sorry," Yashiro apologized. "Next time I'll make sure to let you know."

Around them, students were gossiping but from the tone of their voices they sounded worried about something. "Do you know what they're talking about, Ao-chan?" Yashiro asked.

"Yeah," Aoi replied. "They're talking about Yousei-san, of course. A lot of stuff has been getting missing lately and everybody's worried that they'll get killed if they even dare look for them."

Thinking about the Mokke made Yashiro smile but the rumor was really unfair for them. "So they're stuff has been getting missing lately, huh?" she heard herself say. "Well, that's because they're not carrying candy with them."

"Huh? Candy? Why?" Aoi asked, confused.

"You haven't heard, Ao-chan?" Yashiro made a surprised face. "You're usually the one whose ears are always open for a new rumor to share to me. Carry some pieces of candy if you're suffering from Yousei-san. Candy distracts them so they'll forget all about stealing your stuff and won't want to kill you."

"Oh, really? That's great," Aoi said, quite relieved. She's been getting quite concerned about the Yousei-san lately. "Is that why you're carrying a bag full of candy?" She peered into Yashiro's bag and saw a white bag which she saw was full of candy.

"Oh, this," Yashiro pulled it out and handed it to Aoi. "Here, you can give these to everybody else. I bought way too many. Don't worry, I still have one." True enough, in her pocket were all of the strawberry-flavored sweets the Mokke gave her.

"That's so nice of you, Nene-chan," Aoi said with a smile, pocketing a piece for herself. "I'll spread the word."

That afternoon Yashiro was humming to herself as she walked towards the girls' bathroom, the kannagi inside her bag. In her locker she had found a note from Amane telling her to meet him in "his place" after class. She had told Aoi that she was going home early because "her mom needed her at home" so that the other girl won't get too concerned if she didn't show up for club meeting.

"No. 8-sama!" she heard a child-like voice say from behind her and she spun around, only to be knocked down by something. Or should I say, someone.

"E-eh?" Yashiro gasped as a small person, probably a child, began crushing her in a big hug.

"Finally Mirai gets to see you!" the child exclaimed. "Mirai has been waiting forever! Not fair for Honorable No. 7-sama to meet you first. And No. 1 too."

"Mirai! There you are," another voice, a more familiar one, said and soon Yashiro saw Akane running towards them, wearing an entirely different outfit and without his glasses. In his hand he held what looked like a pocket watch. Could it be that that's his appearance as a Clock Keeper? Yashiro thought in amazement and awe. Gosh, if only Ao-chan saw that. She'll fall for him immediately but I highly doubt that.

"Sorry about that, Yashiro-san," he said, pulling the child hugging her off of her. "Mirai was just dying to be able to see you."

Now that Akane got the child off her, Yashiro was able to get a better look at her. She was really small—if Yashiro hadn't known that supernaturals existed she would've thought that she was about two years old—and seems to be wearing three layers of clothing: a blue hooded jacket, a brown garment with diamond patterns and a white dress. She also had brown—or is it black?—hair held back in pigtails as long as her height that had the hands of the clock at each end and wore a small crown. Dangling around her neck was a watch. (A/N Lol, I'm sorry if I barely explain the description of the other characters. Sometimes I just don't feel like it.)