"...is impossible to authenticate, but the story goes like this," Akira said, with a mysterious smirk, "After God, or a god-like entity, caused the Big Bang, somehow he died. This much we know for sure. Anyway, after that, his physical body began to decompose, scattering all across the universe. Now, it is believed that a part of his body had found its way to Earth when it was forming, that is the reason this planet has sentient life and other things, as well as God's cells everywhere."
"And, those who come in physical contact with one of God's microscopic cells awaken a Haltija," Zaire nodded.
"Eh… Not quite," Akari shook her head. "Contrary to what you might think, experts believe that every one-in-a-thousand person has a God Cell attached to their body. On its own, a dormant God Cell really isn't a rare or big deal. What you need is a triggering event. It can be anything. intense bliss, weakness, sickness, you name it; someone has manifested through it. That's what opens the dam to the limitless power a God Cell has."
She looked up and rubbed her chin, "I would say the death of your parents was your trigger event, but clearly they died as a consequence of your untamed soul, so it must be something else."
"I… had watched the Jackson brothers crash into the back of a bus, right before coming to my house. I had seen a pre-teen's brain throbbing outside of her skull." Zaire shared, his voice quiet and desolate.
"I'm sorry to hear that," she said, pursing her lips. "That must've been what triggered your manifestation."
Akari really wanted to tell him that in five years, he might thank those tragedies for the powers he will have. But, again, thought better of it and simply gave a polite smile to the boy who was vigorously taking notes on a pocket pad.
Di-ri-dir-tara! Di-ri-dir-tara!
Suddenly, Akari's phone rang. It was the alarm. She turned to him with a sheepish smile, "Looks like my nap time just ended."
Zaire chuckled. He was about to say something, but Akari cut him off.
"I'd better get going, I have lots and lots of homework to do." She said, sitting up from the dining table and walking towards the wash basin, "Thanks for the food, it was great."
No! Don't go!
Zaire, who had been watching her storming through the house in a hurry to leave, wide-eyed, felt slightly embarrassed about stopping, but he did so anyway.
"Wait!" He said. By the time he did, she was already halfway to the foyer. The same place she had been while she had put his parents to rest.
"What is it?" She looked over her shoulder curiously. Somehow looking exactly like how she had been an hour ago.
In that moment, Zaire felt an indescribable pull towards her.
This girl, Akari, whom he had never directly talked to, the quietest kid in her class with seemingly nothing going on in her life, had not only come to check in on him, but also actually gone out of her way to help him when he needed it the most.
How many do that?
Zaire met her gaze and found himself wanting to spend more time with her; he found the thought of her leaving displeasing. Fortunately for him, he knew how to ask.
"Um, is there any way you can stay a bit longer? W-what kind of factions are coming for me? The soul force you are exerting to contain my soul, can I learn it? What was with those magic circles, and how did you make my parents' ashes float?"
"Whoa, so many questions," she laughed. Then she brought her palms together in a silent plea, and gave a reluctant smile, "I am really sorry, I can't stay any longer. I have already spent a lot of time in a"—she air quoted—"'boy's' house. If any of my three brothers finds out, we will be in a world of trouble."
Zaire stood up and walked up to her. "I-I see, I guess it can't be helped then," he croaked, looking down.
Akari looked at the relatively towering figure of Zaire, one that almost subconsciously gave the impression of strength and reliability, now shrunk to half its size. She hated how that made her turn away from the door.
"Hey. Don't worry, I mean, we can still talk more in, ugh, on the way to our school. Yeah! I'll tell you all about it then," She beamed, "and if you really want to know more about the supernatural society, you should try to get your hands on the latest books published by A.S. Publications."
"A.S. Publications? They are known for publishing this—ugh, I don't remember the name—fantasy anthology series every day, right?"
"That… is correct," Akari said. "How'd you know?"
Zaire squinted his eyes, shoved a hand in his pocket, and puffed his chest in exaggeration. "So, I read fantasy. Sue me."
"Hah!" Akari's lips cracked open in a fit of laughter.
"Anyway, their company and practices are weird. They upload daily, and their stories are usually terrible, they don't have an online fanbase, but their sales are off the charts. If I am not wrong, they are one of the top five book publishers in the world. They literally make billions in annual revenue. Gosh, I am trying so hard to remember the anthology series' name, it's at the tip of my tongue, but I just can't remember."
Akari covered her mouth and giggled adorably. "Don't strain your mind, silly. You can't remember because they have a global-scale remember-me-not spell. It's weak, but anyone who isn't from the supernatural society is simply unable to break it."
That made Zaire's eyes widen in realization, "You don't mean…"
"Yup, A.S. stands for All-Seeing. They are the faction with the highest concentration of seers, scryers, and diviners in the world. And, all the 'stories' are real; they happen on Earth with minor, contextually-understandable changes. They are literally supernatural news 101, and everybody buys their stuff. Why don't you try them for some insight into the supernatural?"
A flash of disappointment passed through his eyes, a flash that didn't go unnoticed by her.
"Okay…" Zaire said slowly.
Akari quietly glanced at him for a moment, then opened her mouth and closed it again. She doubted her next actions greatly, thinking she was completely misunderstanding the situation.
However, words still escaped her lips.
"Do you want my number?"
"Huh?" Zaire looked up at Akari, eyes wide.
"What?" Akari said, eyes turning saucers.
They stared at each other with wide eyes for a moment, which quickly turned into a life-or-death staring contest that got more and more intense as neither of them wanted to blink first.
In the end, Akari's growing smile became too much for Zaire to handle, and he averted his gaze.
"Oh, mama, today your daughter is coming home winning," Akari said with a big, smug smile.
"It's not fair!" Zaire met her gaze, smiling broadly.
"Oh?" Akari leaned forward, hands behind her back. "How is it not fair, mister?"
"You were smiling!" Zaire said, immediately realizing the mistake in his words.
"Oh," Akari went quiet, quickly realizing the meaning behind his words.
Both of them turned quiet again, this time, full of awkwardness.
"I-I should get going," Akari said, already turning her back to Zaire, hand on the doorknob. Only to abruptly hear something so bold that it made her pause.
"YES!" Zaire said in a volume that almost blew Akari's eardrums. "I would lov—like, really like to have your number! For emergencies, of course! Because you know, I am kind of involuntarily volatile and unpredictable at the moment, and…"
Zaire went into great detail about the many reasons it's ideal to have each other's contact information, but none of it registered with Akira.
Because she was too busy holding in her growing, quivering smile and not looking back.