5 The Man Who Wield Fire

That same arrogant and deep voice. 'He was one of them.' Eirin thought as she glanced to her side. "What do you want from me?" The coldness from the wall seeped into Eirin's bare back, and she couldn't move away anymore.

"I don't remember doing something that could cause people to have a grudge against me. I can't understand why you're harassing me."

The man did not answer, and his face had no sort of expression at all, making Eirin unable to understand what was going on inside his head. Every step he took echoed throughout the small partition, and Eirin's heartbeat thumped loudly as she could hear her own breathing.

"I'm sorry if I did something offensive." 'Even though I remember nothing.' Eirin gulped. "But you can't harass me like this. It's a crime."

The man's eyes glistened, causing Eirin's forehead to crease as she rubbed her eyes. It was as if seeing an illusion, Eirin's starting to see the man's eyes turning red. "Harassing you? Are you blind?" His condescending tone and the way he stared at Eirin with his piercing gaze terrified her. "Do I look like I hold grudges?"

'Not only grudges! He looks like he's ready to kill someone if they did something wrong to him!'

"I-If not, what do you want from me?"

The man moved closer until there was only a little space left between them. Eirin noticed how he covered himself with black clothing from head to toe, and his way of pushing his ebony black hair back looked mesmerizing. 'If only he wasn't threatening me.' She thought.

"Do you not remember anything at all?" His voice sounded so close, but it was deeper than the ocean. "How you almost got burned alive."

Eirin could not believe her eyes as she pushed the man away from her. "F-Fire!" She said while staring at the man's hand covered with black leather-like gloves. The fire coming out of the man's hand vanished. "Do you want to burn us alive? Why are you playing with fire!? What if you dropped it and accidentally burned the entire room?"

"Ei? Is something wrong?"

The man warned, "Don't regret this," before vanishing quickly.

"Were you talking to someone? I swear, I heard a man's voice." Eirin heard Ava outside the changing screen. "Did a man sneak in and try to harass you?"

"N-No, it's nothing like that." Eirin quickly changed into her uniform. 'I don't know why, but that guy clearly threatened me.' She thought. "I was only watching a video from Utube."

"Oh. Right, I forgot my wallet and couldn't buy your drink." Ava said."

"It's fine."

"Anyway, Ms. Eleanor said she'll treat us to some good food." Ava cheered as they got out of the auditorium. 'For someone born in a wealthy family, Ava sure knows how to feel happy about free food.' Eirin thought as she adored her lovable best friend.

"What took you so long?" Bright yawned.

Ava slapped him on the back. "What? Are you that excited to eat?" The two started bickering while Eirin stared at them. There weren't any classes for them to attend because it was a day of celebration for the school's ballet club.

"Now, now. Shall we go?"

They took a taxi to Eleanor's restaurant, and Eirin remained silent, sitting in between Bright and Ava. Her head was clouded, and she just did not want to talk at all.

"What do you children want to eat?" Eleanor looked at the rear mirror.

"I would like tons of caviar, please," Ava said with her hand raised.

"Why are you so obsessed with caviars? Is that how rich people are?"

Bright and Ava started arguing once again while Eirin was out of it. The thoughts of someone being after her life made her restless. 'Why? For what reason?' She thought as she started fiddling with her fingers. Eirin was on guard when they entered the restaurant and requested a private room, which caused the others to stare. It was not like her at all. Eirin liked simple things far better than luxury.

"Did something happen, dear?" Eleanor asked as she sat beside her granddaughter. "You're looking pale."

Eirin could still hear Bright and Ava arguing in the background, and she didn't want any of them to worry about her. "I'm just relieved that the recital went well."

Eleanor patted Eirin's shoulder. "You were wonderful, my dear." She said, making Eirin smile.

They all ate in peace, but Eirin could not focus on her food. She doesn't even remember if she chewed everything well, and she could not remember any of their conversations at all. 'I need to get it together.'

"You're coming with us, right, Ei?"

Eirin flinched and looked around. They were already outside the restaurant and surrounded by people in the buzzing and busy street. "Y-Yeah?" She did not hear what Ava was talking about. "What were you saying again?"

"Let's go to the arcade!" Ava held Eirin's hand as they rushed towards the other side of the street, where all the fun and games were as they bid Eleanor goodbye. "It'll be fun!"

Eirin looked at Bright, who was only following them from behind, begging with her eyes, but Bright smiled and shrugged. 'I still can't rest, huh?' She thought. The three of them walked while Ava held Eirin's hand. The teenage girl could not calm down as she kept looking around her surroundings.

"Is everything alright?" Bright moved closer and asked her that. Eirin's heart skipped a beat because of how close Bright was, but it was not her primary concern. "You've been looking around. Are you searching for something?"

This also caught Ava's attention. "You're being awfully quiet too," Ava said while pouting. The two proved that they have known Eirin the longest, seeing how she's not being herself with only a few gestures. "You also chose a private room before and didn't talk to us while eating. Perhaps… were you mad that Bright and I were too noisy?"

"That's not it!" It baffled Ava and Bright after Eirin suddenly raised her voice. "I-I just can't forget about the mistake I made earlier."

"What's with that? You already did great." Ava said after hugging Eirin while pouting. Something in Eirin's heart made her feel so uncomfortable while lying to her best friends, but she did not want them to worry, either. "Let's just enjoy this day and forget about everything that happened earlier."

'I wish it was that easy.' Eirin thought.

As soon as they got inside the nearest arcade, Ava pulled the two into the karaoke room. "Let us sing our hearts out." She said as she knew that the two cannot resist her charms. They sat on the couch, watching Ava sing.

"Are you sure that's all you're thinking of?" Bright scooted near Eirin. "You still look worried about something."

'Why is he so observant?' Eirin thought as she forced a smile. The loud music and Ava's singing voice filled their ears as they tried to talk loudly. "I'm really fine. I just hate making mistakes when it comes to ballet."

"For someone who used to hate ballet, you're really passionate." Eirin could not hear most of what Bright said, but she heard him chuckling.

"Hey! Are you two not going to sing?" Ava said through the mic, making the two cover their ears, and laughed.

Eirin stood up and said, "You better be ready. I'm about to let you guys hear my siren voice." She flashed her brightest smile and took one microphone.

"That's more like it!"

Ava and Eirin sang while Bright cheered for them and sang in the background. The loud music and their laughs filled Eirin's head that she slowly forgot about her worries and was genuinely enjoying the time with her friends. They sang lots, however; Ava was not over having fun as she pulled Eirin towards the crane machine outside the karaoke rooms. There were lots of students in the arcade, just like them.

"Remember that crane machine near our elementary school before?" Ava stared at the stuffed animals inside. "I hated how I couldn't get anything despite pouring my allowance there."

Bright chuckled. "That's because you suck."

"Shut it. That's not the point." Ava rolled her eyes at Bright and smiled as she turned to Eirin. "I felt frustrated, but Ei went to that crane machine almost every day, even on weekends, just to get me that bear toy that I still cherish now."

Bright raised an eyebrow and leaned to the two. The sounds in the arcade were too loud for them to hear each other properly and too cramped. "Your point is?" He crossed his arms.

'I wonder why Bright often gets competitive when he's talking to Ava,' Eirin thought as she stared at the two.

"The point is," Ava clung to Eirin's arm and squealed. "Ei is so cool and loyal. I want to marry her someday." She said, which caused Bright to flick her forehead and the two started fighting again.

Eirin watched them as she backed away due to the cramped space, but as it was a small space, she bumped into someone from behind.

"I'm so–"

The teenage girl froze the moment she saw someone wearing that dark black cloak walking not far from where they were. She could not even apologize properly to the person she bumped into.

"Ei?"

Eirin did not realize she was already out of breath and panicking. "It's so stuffy in here." She said as she let out an awkward laugh. "Do you want me to get you a stuffed toy from that crane machine?" Her hands were trembling as she pointed to the crane machine near them.

Ava noticed the weirdness in Eirin's voice, causing her to look around. "No, I think we should just go home." She said as she held Eirin's hand. "You don't look well."

Eirin's chest felt constricted. It had been long since Ava could come out of the house and have fun, yet Eirin could not accompany her. "Let's just have fun some other time," Ava said, knowing that her best friend will blame herself for not feeling well.

"Thank you, Ei," Ava said as they arrived in front of her house.

"What for?"

Ava turned to their humongous gate. "For hanging out with me despite feeling tired."

The guilt and anxiety filled Eirin's heart. 'I shouldn't have let those things bug Ava, too.' She thought. "We're best friends. You don't have to thank me for that." Ava hugged Eirin before they bid each other goodbye.

"Aren't you going home too?" The teenage girl turned to the young man behind her while walking on the path toward her house. It has only been a day, but it felt like lots of things happened.

"I can't let you go home alone. It's already dark, and it's dangerous."

Relieved, that's what Eirin felt as she realized that she was not going to walk on the dark sidewalk alone, but she was also worried about getting Bright involved. The fear of getting Bright hurt preceded Eirin's feeling of wanting to be with him longer. "You don't need to. I can protect myself."

"I know, but I want to walk with you more."

Eirin's expression was blank as she stared at the guy. 'Stop giving it other meanings.' She told herself. "Fine." Instead of digging deeper as to what Bright meant, Eirin ignored it, until Bright leaned to Eirin's face and she stopped breathing.

"You got a leaf on your head."

Her eyes followed Bright's hand, holding a piece of leaf. "T-Thanks."

They walked the straight path, illuminated by the streetlights. The gentle breeze touched Eirin's face as it calmed her anxious heart. Despite the car noises and people's voices everywhere, the sound of her breathing filled her ears.

'If this calming feeling could just stay forever.' Eirin glanced at Bright and her eyes twinkled. 'If I could just stay like this with him forever.'

Her worries slowly vanished as she felt comforted by Bright's presence beside her.

'I don't want this to end.'