Blue Exorcist: New Life

Chapter 3

((Em's POV))

Aria class. It's truly amazing. I learned stuff I wouldn't have been able to learn from my old man at the shrine.
"Em, the passage dear, the one I assigned for homework. In Corinthians 4:16-18."
"O-Oh. Right!"
I stood, all eyes on me. At lunch, I left Rin because he seemed busy. I spent half of it looking over this. I'm prepared.
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
Relief flooded over me as I sat down again. Everyone clapped, and I thought maybe I could do more readings in front of the class.
"Very well said my dear!"
I gave everyone a small smile. Maybe I really could be an amazing Aria.
• • •

The rest of the class went by fast. We got the passage we were supposed to memorize by two days.
It was pretty long too.
At the end of class while I was walking down the hallway, I was stopped by a rough voice.
"Hey, what's your name."
I turned around, nearly wanting I scream. A huge guy with a bunch of ear piercings, and with blonde sort of mohawk stared down at me.
"The names Emrel... Your...?"
"Ryuji Suguro. You were pretty good. Was that your first reading?"
"Well... Yeah. In front of people besides my old man."
He nodded, and looked at me up and down. Now he was making me nervous.
"I saw you hanging out with Rin. He has no clue what it means about memorizing the bible, or school in general. Come hang out with us instead. We can memorize parts of ancients scriptures and help you. Shima, Konekomaru, and I are Arias."
The guilt from earlier filled me again. Leaving them to go alone was rough, but going with other people besides my first friend? Well, we only talked once... He must know these guys.
Besides, I could always see him in other classes.
"Okay! Sounds great!"
He surprised me by ruffling my dirty blonde hair.
"You have to meet the guys. Call me Bon by the way, since we are friends now."
Friends, finally I was gaining them again.

• • •
At the end of the day, I made my way back to the shrine I lived at. It was an amazing day after I met Bon! His friends are amazing!
"I'm home," I said as I put my shoes off outside.
"Welcome back. How was your day?"
"Good. How was yours?"
I looked at him sitting on the floor in his kimono.
"Same as usual. There is some green tea in there for you."
The name almost made me gag. Tea hadn't been my favorite when I first came here, but it was okay now.
"Please excuse me of not wanting to drink that bitter tea you made."
He only laughed as he stood.
"You don't have to try and speak proper in front of me. I'm your guardian."
His old wrinkly hand patted my head just like normal.

I told him the story of how I read as he drank his afternoon tea. He was quite proud of my accomplishment, and told me I could run the shrine after he was gone. My future was set out for me, and for these 10 years of living with him, I couldn't have been happier.
"Emrel, your 16th birthday is coming up"
I paused while pouring him another glass of tea.
"Yes it is."
"Don't you want to do anything special? Like have friends over?"
"Yeah, that sounds great."
He gave me a little frown as he stopped me from pouring more into the little cup.
"You always just memorized more that day instead of having a party. Is it about before."
The room grew silent before I stood up.
"Please excuse me while I get changed into my kimono as well."
I left him behind as I went to go change. No, I wasn't going to speak of it ever again.

((By the way readers, the title picture is made by me, and edited by my amazing friend vicky1678 ))