Chapter Forty-Two: Heart in Thorns:
Vivian stared
out the window of her friend’s room. She wasn’t ready to go back yet. But still…
She turned back
her head when there was a knock on the door.
“Viv?” she heard
from the hall. Vivian had a puzzled look on her face.
“Hotaru-san?”
she asked.
“Can I come in?”
the loli demon asked.
“Whatever,”
Vivian said. She watched as the door opened. Hotaru poked her head inside.
“Hello,” she
said. Vivian gave her a small wave. Hotaru walked into the room. She took a seat
on the bed.
“How are you?”
the loli demon asked.
“Fine,” Vivian
said.
“Good,” Hotaru
said. “We’re doing we’ll too.”
“Heh,” the wolf
demon said. “Did
he send you here?”
“No,” the loli
demon said.
“Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“Heh.”
Hotaru put her
hands on her knees. “Look, Mike wasn’t himself at the time.” Vivian rolled her
eyes.
“No, no,” the
loli demon said. “Hear me out at least.” Vivian narrowed her eyes. Hotaru took a
breath.
“Right,” she
said. The loli demon sat up.
“I fixed the
sorrow in his heart,” she said. “It’s not completely away. Mike needs help to
fix himself. He would never hurt you intentionally.” The words wobbled as they
came out of her mouth. Vivian didn’t look convinced.
“What are you
saying?” she asked. “Are you saying I should go back to him?”
“No,” Hotaru
said. “I’m saying focus on you. You need to take care of yourself. How are you
doing in school?”
“Good,” Vivian
said.
“Keep that up,”
the loli demon said. “Go talk to your family in New York.” Vivian tilted her
head.
“I don’t get
it,” she said.
“Get what?”
Hotaru asked.
“Why are you
telling me this?” the wolf demon asked. Hotaru put her arm around her shoulders.
“Because I care
about you,” she said. “You are all my family.” The loli demon hugged her from
behind. Vivian nervously laughed. Hotaru let go of her.
“You can come
home when you are ready,” she said. “Have a good day.” Vivian watched as the
loli demon walked out of her room. Just as Hotaru left, the wolf demon’s friend
walked in looking down the hall.
“What did Hotaru-san
want?” she asked. Vivian shrugged and shook her head.
“Just checking
on me,” she said.
“Ah,” the friend
said. She was about to turn and leave.
“Hey, Yuko,”
Vivian said. Her roommate turned her head. The wolf demon shifted in place.
“Um… What are
you doing today?” Vivian asked.
“Not much,” Yuko
said. “Why do you ask?” The American woman shrugged and shook her head.
“No reason,” she
said.
“Well, I was
going shopping for milk later,” her friend said.
“Can I come with
you?” Vivian asked.
“Sure, I guess,”
Yuko said. The wolf demon bowed her head.
“Thank you,” she
said.
“You’re welcome, I suppose,” her friend replied.