31

'Thank you,' said Airi breathlessly, as soon as she recovered from her initial shock and fear.

Shen-ja had passed out from exhaustion almost as soon as they had escaped, and they were taking him along in a wheelbarrow as they walked side by side towards her house.

Kenji smiled warmly at her — a little too warmly; and the look suited him more than Airi could have ever imagined. 'Don't mention it,' he said softly. I couldn't let you suffer there, could I? I hope they didn't hurt you too much...'

Airi blushed for some reason. Maybe, it was because there was something otherworldly about the way he was gazing at her as they walked. Well, he was from another world...

'But, how did you find out?' she said.

'My father has this telescope that we can see things on Earth with,' explained Kenji. 'The moment I saw you, I knew I had to do something, so I came here directly!'

'Wait, you came back all the way just for me?' said Airi in surprise.

'Of course I did,' said Kenji nonchalantly, but his nervous side glance as he spoke betrayed his calm tone. Bother, he thought. What was this new, wild emotion he was feeling?

Airi smiled. 'That's so sweet of you — you know, I really felt doomed and lost until you came along...'

'Me too...' said Kenji.

'What?' said Airi, going red.

Kenji said nothing, and simply walked on.

'Careful,' he said after a while. 'Don't trip over that rock!'

Airi stepped over it, wondering at the gentleness in his tone. Kenji was acting... a little strange. And she was feeling stranger still. Since when had a simple walk together been such a complicated process?

They turned a corner and walked into a wide street. Kenji remained behind in the shadows so that he wouldn't be noticed by any passerby, and Airi walked in plain sight in the front.

They were walking silently in relative peace, when a girl came sauntering by and stopped when she caught sight of Airi.

'Heyyy,' she said, and Airi recognised her in dismay as soon as she came closer — it was Rei! 'What are you doing at this time?'

'What's it to you? Mind your own business!' said Airi crossly, hoping she would go away.

But Rei remained there, feeding off her discomfort as she smiled nastily. 'What's wrong? Are you hiding something? Oh, I would love to know...'

'Look, please just leave me alone right now, Rei!' said Airi with a frustrated sigh.

Rei spotted the figure behind Airi and smiled wider as she came closer to her and spoke in her signature soft, mean tone. 'Now, I get it! You're going somewhere with that freak, aren't you? I've seen you sneaking around with him before... what, is he your boyfriend now?'

'Rei!' said Airi furiously, 'he's NOT my—'

'Yes, he is,' said Kenji, stepping out of the shadows and standing in front of her. 'What are you going to do about it?'

Rei looked at Kenji in alarm, the fear and panic from the day they had met doubled when she saw him in his true form, and she screamed in terror and ran for her life.

'Good!' said Airi, smiling at him triumphantly before she realised what he had said to Rei and went redder than ever. Had he really meant that?!

'What's wrong?' said Kenji nervously, when they reached the backyard of Airi's house, but she wouldn't move. He looked cautiously at her and mentally facepalmed himself. Why had he gotten carried away and said such a ridiculous thing?! As if she would ever want to be more than just friends with him!

'No, nothing's wrong,' said Airi, her heart beating faster as she wondered how to say what she felt. 'I was just thinking about what you said earlier to Rei...'

'I knew it! I messed up! I'm sorry!' said Kenji all at once, his eyes flickering as he looked at her apologetically. 'I just said that because Rei was troubling you, and...'

'Oh,' said Airi, her tone almost disappointed. Surely he was only imagining it? 'So, you didn't really mean that?'

'No, it's not that! But...' said Kenji quickly, before he stopped himself. What was he doing?

'I wouldn't have minded it if you had,' said Airi, turning away to hide her flushed face. 'You looked like a real hero today when you saved me, Kenji.'

Kenji turned greener than he had ever remembered himself before, and he wondered what to say.

'I like you, Kenji,' said Airi softly. 'Whatever you think of me. Let's go in.'

'No, wait,' said Kenji, holding her wrist and stopping her before she could walk towards the door. 'Airi, I like you too. I like you a lot! You are really the nicest girl I've ever met... and I wish I could mean something to you... more than just your friend, I mean... and I know that sounds so weird coming from me, and I'll never mention it again if you say no, but...'

Airi smiled — that lovely smile he loved most of all — and gave him a sudden hug which surprised him. 'I would like that, too,' she said. 'Very much!'

'Really?' said Kenji, his heart skipping a beat as he put his arms around her awkwardly. So this was what a hug felt like! he thought, as he held her tighter, smiling in content.

'I was thinking,' said Airi after a few moments, 'I'm glad that Rei got at least something right for once!'

Kenji laughed and hugged her back. 'Yes,' he said softly. 'I think I forgive her now for her rudeness before; because without her, I might not have had the courage to tell you how I felt. Oh, Airi, I'm so happy! I feel like nothing can go wrong now!'

A sudden click behind them startled the two and they broke apart in alarm.

The door was wide open, and Airi's mother stood there, angrier than she had been in a long time.

'M—mom?' said Airi nervously.

Her mother only glared at her and Kenji, opening and closing her mouth silently, before she finally spoke — at the top of her voice. 'WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON HERE!?'