Statement

The temperature is quite cool outside. The reason is, the leaves of the trees block the sun's rays to illuminate and provide warmth to this place.

However, Neko's heart was beating wildly. His cheeks suddenly heated up. In fact, summer hadn't come yet and he didn't have a fever either.

Neko pushed Ritsu's hand away slowly. She looked at the small animal that was digging a hole in the ground, "Not yet. I'm still looked to someone. That person seems to have known me longer than myself. That's the only thing that makes me not want to have a lover."

Ritsu seemed to smirk, "I wonder, who is that lucky guy?"

Ritsu's thoughts turned to the figure of Natsume who had known Neko for a long time. Ritsu could only remain silent with a smile on his face.

"I-I like you, Ritsu," muttered Neko which Ritsu could still hear.

Ritsu chuckled hearing that. He embraced and kissed the top of Neko's head, "Too bad, huh. Ever since Harold left, my people have been forbidden to love a human. It's a pity, isn't it?"

Ritsu's words made Neko's heart hurt, "I-is that so." Neko tried to build a strong wall so she wouldn't cry.

"But, I'll break it just for you, Neko."

That simple sentence made Neko feel that she was under the influence of Natsume's magic. However, Natsume wasn't here either.

'Please tell me if this is real,' thought Neko.

"Don't joke, Ritsu," scolded Neko while pushing Ritsu to put some distance between them. However, that only made Ritsu closer to himself, "Do I sound like I'm joking?"

Neko was petrified for a moment. She didn't even hear Ritsu joking.

Ritsu got up from his seat and stretched out his hand to the girl he had just received his love for, "Want to go around the forest?"

Without hesitation, Neko took the extended hand for granted. She also looked happy when Ritsu's cold hand greeted his hand.

They continued hand in hand until they came to the side of the sunlit forest. Due to getting a rare sight, Neko immediately let go of Ritsu's hand and approached the border between the highlands and the lowlands.

"Be careful, I'm not responsible if you fall," said Ritsu before Neko actually approached the abyss.

The green sea and the gusts of wind make this atmosphere very soothing to the eyes. Unknowingly, the fog seemed to cover some parts of the forest and Ritsu immediately pulled Neko behind his back.

The blood red bead became sharp. His hearing began to invite his brain to think.

"Ritsu?"

"Shhh, not the time Neko," replied Ritsu with a wary look.

"Kraagghhh!"

I don't know what Neko saw. She only knew at a glance that a furry object with sharp fangs would almost cut off his head if Ritsu wasn't quick to pull it in the opposite direction.

"I told you didn't I, Corgi? I didn't come here to eat," said Ritsu who hadn't let down his guard in the slightest.

The giant wolf only growled in response. The wolf's gaze was no less sharp than Ritsu's.

"Corgi," called Ritsu.

They turned to stare at each other. Not long after, the wolf's gaze was on Neko who was terrified of what she saw.

The giant wolf also took some distance before he finally shrunk his body into a man with gray hair with bright gold beads, just like the previous wolf.

'Werewolf...,' thought Neko who couldn't hide her surprise.

"Keh! Until whenever I do not believe in your people at all," he protested.

"Um...."

Ritsu turned away from the man and embraced Neko proudly, "Meet him, he is my lover, Kurosaki Neko."

"Oogami Koga, remember that name carefully," he replied.

"N-Nice to meet you," Neko said as she lowered her body slightly.

Koga just stared at Neko with a disapproving look. Because, the last time he saw the woman he liked fell in his arms and died at the hands of the cold-blooded killer.

Ritsu suddenly yawned, "I think, it's time for me to sleep."

"Tch, whatever it is, don't let him die. If she dies, I won't hesitate to eat your head," said Koga and immediately left the pair in their wolf form.

Neko stared in horror at the man's words. But, at least she was calm because he had managed to meet the werewolf.

*****

After returning, Neko was invited to the music room by Ritsu. She saw some classical musical instruments that he really liked. Mainly the violin.

"You like the violin too, Ritsu?" asked Neko while touching the violin on the special shelf.

"No, Gabriel likes him. It's just that she sometimes struggles to adjust his tone," explained Ritsu.

"Eh? Why?"

"Gabriel has lived a thousand years and during that time, she hasn't played the violin anymore."

Ritsu's explanation was enough to make Neko silent. She didn't want to ask any more. And without the permission of the owner of the house, Neko played the violin.

The friction of the strings and the bow produces a melody. However, the melody that Neko brought was always the same. Everything is tied to sadness and loneliness.

Ritsu was very interested in that melody. He immediately played the piano and chose the right note to complete the violin playing.

Key by key he pressed. He also occasionally closes his eyes to feel all the stories he wants to convey in his music.

For some reason, Ritsu's heart felt comfortable and warm. For now, Ritsu felt that he wanted time to stop and let him hear this melody as he pleased.

Not long after, the melody had a hint of anger in it. Ritsu glanced at Neko who had not opened her eyes with her hands still busy playing the strings.

'She felt it? Has Natsume also not told who he really is?' Ritsu thought.

When the last melody sounded, they immediately smiled at each other. In fact, they also praised their melody.

This is Neko's first time playing music with other people. Because Natsume from childhood was too educated to be a reliable magician. Likewise with Natsume himself who has long been obsessed with the magic world.

So that Neko who in fact is an ordinary human can only relent. And it was the violin who became a friend when Natsume was too busy in his own world.