3 months later...

"HIIIIIIYAAAAAAA!"

C/N watched in complete horror as Y/N kicked the sandbag, making it violently knock out a vase.

The younger Tsukira rushed into action, catching the precious porcelain before it could fall.

"Y/N?" Mrs. Tsukira's concerned voice called out from downstairs. "What was that noise? Are you alright, honey?"

"We're fine!" C/N replied earnestly. To their relief, Mrs. Tsukira went silent.

"That was so cool, Y/N!" They pouted enviously. "I want to learn how to kick like that, too!"

"Just take some Taekwando lessons," Y/N dusted her shirt with a small smile, stretching her arms in a small warmup.

"But you learn so quick!"

"Did not!"

"What was your first move?" C/N tilted their head curiously.

Y/N sighed, feeling the old instinct of the once-only move she knew in her right arm. Slowly, she demonstrated an uppercut.

C/N clapped furiously. Y/N laughed.

"So what's that move for?" They gushed.

"Defending yourself."

"From many guys?"

"No. Just one."

"Who is the one?"

Y/N's laughter trailed off. "Let's just say... I'd give anything to uppercut him again."

C/N was not satisfied by this answer. They peered over at Y/N suspiciously.

Luckily, Y/N was saved from the aching memories as her phone rang. F/S [Favorite song] resounded loudly in C/N's room.

"Welp! Gotta' go, little sis!"

"Y/N!"  C/N whined.

She smiled apologetically, rushing out of the room and whipping up her phone. She hastily answered the call.

"Hello...?"

"Y/N!" Kou's energetic voice blasted in her ears.

She nearly stumbled by how loud he was shouting. He sounded so excited!

"Hey, there!" Y/N smiled through the phone. That was how she'd been communicating with everyone throughtout the three months of summer. She missed them; and of course, above it all...

Y/N sighed, not wanting to think about him.

"It's nearly back to school!" Kou cried in excitement. "If me and Yashiro can sneak a phone in, we'll contact Hanako for you!"

Y/N's eyes widened. "You'd really do  that?"

"What?" Kou chuckled. "Ya think Yashiro and I would just let your relationship slide?"

Y/N rolled her eyes, blushing even through the line. "Don't make assumptions."

"Oi!" An unfamiliar voice snapped impatiently from behind. "You have a girlfriend, now? Just like in p*rn, you lame-ass traffic sign-"

Y/N's face went blank in horror as she heard a bolt of electricity, followed by a high-pitched scream.

"Sorry about that!" Kou laughed nervously through the phone. "Teru called me up to exorcise this other spirit, but he seems nice. For now, I'm trying to-"

"EXORCISE MY A**!" The same voice blew a raspberry.

"That's a boy?" Y/N managed to croak, very nervous and confused about the whole ordeal.

"Hmm?" The apparently-boy's voice suddenly grew with interest.

Y/N drew a sharp breath as the phone pulled away from an indignant Kou's hands. How would she talk with this hot-tempered spirit?

"Hello?" The boy called out hopefully.

Y/N was caught off guard by how calm and collected he sounded now. In the background, she could hear Kou mumbling weak insults and curses.

"H-Hello?" Y/N stammered in reply.

"Y/N!" The boy said in a more friendly tone, though it had a hint of sadness. "You still have that stammer?"

"How do you know my name?"

She could hear the boy chuckle sadly, mumbling a "nevermind", before she heard Kou get up and walk towards the spirit.

"She doesn't remember?" She heard Kou's low voice through the phone.

"I don't think she does." He murmured back. "Even if I was the first to defend her against Futama."

Y/N's mind hurt from the sudden upbringing of that memory. It was distant and vague, but one she could still faintly recall.

When did she meet Futama first?

First year.

Who was that stranger that defended her?

Pink hair. He had pink hair...

Y/N's eyes widened.

"MITSUBA!"  She nearly choked on her own shock. The name only fell into place after she recalled.

"You remember me?!" Mitsuba's voice was as high as a girl's again; but it was out of obvious delight.

"O-Of course!" Y/N held the phone closer to her ear. "How could I forget? We were both..."

Y/N's voice went to a shameful whisper. "...bullied."

Mitsuba stayed quiet for a long time. Afterwards, he let out a small sigh. "I'm fine as a spirit; especially if you can still remember me."

Suddenly, his voice went cheery again as he spoke to Kou.

"Can I see her?"

"Eh? Video call?!"

"WAIT! NO!" Y/N pleaded nervously. "I look horrible! I just got back from a work-"

Too late. Y/N heard the familiar "click!" as the app opened her camera.

She instantly faced the floor, refusing to look up.

"Y/N!" Mitsuba pleaded. Kou simply laughed in amusement.

"What happened to your hair?" Mitsuba continued.

Y/N slowly rose her head. "My hair? Why, does it look-"

Mitsuba gasped sharply.

Y/N stiffened, but she had shown her face already. It was too late for take-backs.

She shyly adjusted herself on her bed, facing Kou.

'Wait, where is Mitsuba?'

"Can't see him?" Kou grinned, reading her betrayed expression. "I think it's because cameras can't pick up apparitions!"

Speaking of cameras, Y/N thought she heard a faint snap of one.

"What was that?" She looked at the phone wildly.

"Sorry." Mitsuba's teasing voice rang out from the phone. Y/N tensed; she could imagine him grinning through his words. "Couldn't help but take a photo of you!"

Y/N looked at him, bewildered. As for Kou, he looked furious.

"And I thought you didn't like people for subjects!"

"Well," Mitsuba mockingly responded. "It's like what the photographers say-"

The boy's voice went low, as if he were adressing Y/N.

"-gotta' capture the beauty."

She snorted, half-embarrassed, half-amused. Just like her, Mitsuba seemed to have upped his game... as strange as it was!

"NOW WHO SOUNDS LIKE A PERVERT?!" Kou cried in exasperation.

"SHUT UP YOU-"

Y/N hung up the call, leaving the two bickering boys to be.

It was not only out of their loud, nonsensical quarrels. It pained her to see something she knew she could never have.

Even before the school year had started, people were finding it fun in Kamome. She couldn't help but feel a little envious.

But then she looked at her calendar. Tomorrow was her first day in her new school.

'I have Sukora now!' She tried to think positively.  'It'll be a fresh start!'