---
Kurojin slowly opened his eyes, staring at a blurry ceiling.
"Ah! He's awake!" Natsu grinned and instantly hugged him tight. "Master!!"
"Can't… breathe…" Kurojin gasped.
Yuki stepped in calmly. "Natsu. Let go."
Natsu chuckled and released him. "Sorry. Got excited."
Kurojin sat up, holding his chest. "How… did you die?"
Natsu's smile faded. "Same way as everyone else. In the explosion."
Kurojin paused. "So… Ard?"
"Yeah," Natsu nodded. "Ard's a dragon slayer too."
Kurojin turned to Ard, who floated nearby, then back to Natsu. "You're a dragon slayer?"
Natsu gave him a proud nod.
Kurojin sighed. "Great. I've got a witch… and now a dragon slayer." He glanced at Yuki. "You both following me everywhere now?"
Yuki looked away, pretending not to hear.
Natsu grinned. "Nah. I'm not that crazy."
Kurojin rolled his eyes just as Luna burst into the room.
"Oh! You're awake!"
Kurojin groaned. "Yeah. So now you can stop worrying and leave."
Natsu stretched. "Right, I'm off." He opened the window and jumped out like it was nothing.
Kurojin stood up and bowed slightly. "Thanks for letting me stay here."
He walked out the room. Yuki silently followed.
---
They walked together in silence.
Kurojin finally asked, "So… how did you meet Ard?"
Yuki didn't answer.
Kurojin sighed. "Fine."
They arrived at his house.
Kurojin turned around. "See y—"
Yuki had already disappeared.
He stared at the empty space. "Seriously. How does she keep doing that?"
He walked inside, saw the living room was empty, and headed to his room.
He lay on the bed. "Ard…"
Ard's voice echoed. "What?"
"How did you meet Yuki?"
Ard replied flatly, "Why do you want to know?"
"Just answer."
"No. Not after shouting at me earlier."
Kurojin rolled away. "Fine. Whatever."
He closed his eyes.
---
The Next Morning
Kurojin got up, dressed, and grabbed breakfast.
Suddenly, his sister called, "Brother! Someone's here for you!"
Kurojin walked out and saw—Yuki.
His sister blinked. "Is this your girlfriend?"
"She's not," Kurojin answered, annoyed.
He stepped outside. Yuki followed.
"So why are you at my house?" he asked.
Yuki sighed. "Didn't you hear? There's a kidnapping case in Lost City."
"…What?"
Yuki nodded. "Someone went missing last night."
Kurojin sighed. "Seriously?"
Just then, Luna ran up to them.
"Kurojin! Did you hear the news? Someone's been kidnapped!"
"I heard," he muttered.
Luna bit her lip. "Do you think… we should help look?"
"You're only doing this for your followers," Kurojin said.
Luna looked away. "No… it's not like that."
"Really?"
She pulled out a piece of paper. "If you change your mind… here's my number."
Then she ran off.
Yuki raised an eyebrow at him.
Kurojin noticed. "What?"
"Nothing," she replied.
---
At school, Kurojin sat in class, head down.
Ard groaned. "This is so boring."
Kurojin sighed again.
After class, he walked with Yuki down the hallway.
"Bye," he said, turning.
But when he looked back—Yuki had vanished.
He threw his hands up. "How does she do that?!"
---
At home, Kurojin opened the front door—and froze.
A police officer stood in the living room.
The man turned and walked toward him. "Are you Kurojin?"
"Uh… yeah. What's going on?"
The officer pulled out handcuffs. "You're under investigation."
Kurojin's eyes widened. "What?!"
"You were the last person seen talking to Luna."
Kurojin took a step back. "What do you mean?"
The officer stepped forward. "Luna… has been kidnapped."
Kurojin felt his heart sink. "No… it wasn't me!"
"You need to come with us."
He was dragged into the car.
"I didn't do anything!!" he yelled.
"IT WASN'T MEEEEE—!!"
---
To be continued...
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