-8-

"You got a hair cut?" Hiiro stares at me, like I did something really bad. He never looks happy with anything in my opinion. "Asuna suggested it didn't she? It is similar to how she wears her hair."

"She did suggest it to me." I nod my head, touching my hair gently with my hands. "Isn't it so cute? She has great taste in style so I knew I could trust her with helping me pick out a new hair style!" I feel like I look prettier in the mirror now when I see myself. I'm not sure how others see me though.

"Elie, you look so lovely!" Emu gusts, walking into the room with a box in his hands. "Did Poppy suggest it?" He isn't using her disguise name right now, but that is sometimes what he does. Also, we're alone so it is okay. 

"Yeah, she did and thanks." I smile, dropping my hands back to my sides. "Uh...what is in the box, Emu? Did something get delivered or did something happen upstairs?" Something must be going on up there or around here.

"He's studying to become like me," Hiiro informs me. "Not personality wise, but job wise. He wants to make a difference in lives like I do. I'm in charge of him while he is doing this." So, he's torturing Emu in other words? 

"Oh, how fun," I mutter out, frowning. Poor Emu. Hiiro is going to own his soul by the end of this isn't he?

"Elkie, did you get the cake that I requested? You had to get it, remember?" Hiiro asks me, not caring for anything but his precious sweet treat. How can he only think about his precious sweets at a moment like this? Can't he see that Emu is suffering because of him?

"Yeah, I got it," I answer, moving over to the white box near us. "See? It is right here in this box, Hiiro! It is all good!" I'm so proud of myself for not screwing up because if I did, I would have to hear about how I'm so bad all day long and cause trouble for them from his cold mouth.

"Good. You're doing your fair share around here then." What was that now? He ticks me off most of the time!

"I always try my best." Sometimes. I do miss being a cashier though. I rather talk to customers than deal with Hiiro. Even if they yell at me, at least I get why. Some people are jerks for no reason, Hiiro is a jerk because he's a jerk. 

"Elk, have you been out much yet? You seem like you've been stuck down here," Emu asks me.

"Uh...no, I haven't. Why?" I don't get why he is asking me. He looks so sweet standing there in his white coat, gamer shirt that is red, and his typical pants. He literally is precious compared to Ice Prince Hiiro.

"I guess I'm just worried how trapping you down here is going to hurt your mental health," he answers, shrugging a bit. He doesn't know why he is asking, right? "I'm just worried that you're going to end up in danger at some point if we leave this place and you stay here. Parad can teleport into rooms and all without an issue." He's worried about that?

"Oh...right! That is pretty worrying to think about." I totally forgot that. They think Parad wants to hurt me when he doesn't. "I'm scared of him and Kuroto showing up at any moment, but I got to be a big girl and be brave." I force a smile onto my face. I hate lying to him when he's so sweet. 

"So, you worry about the Bugster getting to her? How about Kuroto, Emu? He's colluding with the Bugsters to harm the general public," Hiiro asks harshly. Why does he have to get in on the conversation? Why can't he get up and get his cake? I wish he would shove it into his mouth and shut up!

"I worry about that too, but I'm more worried about Parad at the moment. He seems like he would be someone who tries kidnapping Elkie just to torment her home world," Emu says, answering the question. His eyes go over to Hiiro as he puts down the box. "We should probably send her someplace they won't look for her."

"Such as?" 

"Yeah, where?" I ask.

"Taiga's hospital," Emu suggests, rubbing his neck. "Not that we should do that at all! I'm just trying to say that we should think about getting her to a safe place." He's so worried about me and it is so sweet.

"Taiga is busy with Nico and we can't afford to trust him with her life. Elkie is our priority and responsibility," Hiiro tells Emu, bashing his suggestion. "Cake me, Poppy."

Poppy appears out of nowhere basically, twirling around in circles. Pixels surround her, floating around her body. She's so precious.

"I'll get it now!" Poppy exclaims, popping up next to me. She picks up the cake box and moves it over, looking at it with her eyes. 

"I'll cut it so don't cut it," Hiiro states, ruining the dreams of many. Nah, he ain't doing that!

"Pipo..." Poppy stops and sulks, looking super sad. I feel so bad for her right now. 

I wonder what Parad is doing at this moment right now. He is probably chilling with Kuroto in that one room with all the things in it. I think it is an abandoned building or warehouse. I don't have much of a clue honestly right now. Wait...is something wrong with me for thinking about that Bugster right now? He's fictional and horrible.

"Quit standing there and doing nothing. Go and do something useful," Hiiro snaps, bossing me around.

I look at him and nod my head. "What shall I go and do?" I ask. I'm not going to argue with him because then I'll be stuck dealing with him for another moment. 

"How about you go out and get a coffee? You deserve to have a coffee break," Emu suggests, thinking of me like he usually does. He's like an angel. "Hiiro, can she go and do that? There is a place for it nearby."

"That is completely out of the question, Intern," Hiiro states, standing up slowly. "She's not allowed out because she is the target of two evil things." He's calling them things to be rude it seems. Also, because they aren't exactly human. 

"Hiiro!" Poppy shouts, protesting his treatment of me. I'm used to it though. When isn't he so rude to me?

"I think I can make it if I'm quick." I am not in too much danger with Parad. He's just curious about me. "I can defend myself a bit." I did take a bit of self defense, but I am not the best at it. 

"Kuroto is a skilled fighter due to making games and probably having some sort of game training to fight. I'm sure he made himself a simulation game to practice his skills since he has the huge ego," Hiiro says, telling me why I'm not allowed out. "Besides, you can't fight off Parad. Bugsters have unknown powers since they all differ. The only ones we know for sure are infecting others and teleporting."

"I know, but I think I can handle them if I come across them. Come on, I can do this!" I just want to be out of here for a bit. I need time away from him.

"You got ten minutes then. But if you get into trouble, this will be the last time you're allowed out alone. Consider this a reward for doing your duties today," Hiiro says, giving in. Finally!

"Thank you so much!" I'm so proud of him for letting me go for a bit. Thank goodness! Freedom!

~.~

I take a sip of my frappe and exit the fast food place that sells coffee. They weren't a coffee place before, but they are now. Thank goodness they all because I totally need to have this drink right now.

"I am curious about something," a voice says and I feel a hand on my free hand, stopping me. I swallow my drink quickly.

I turn a bit and gasp. "Parad!"

"Are you being honest with me about your world?" He asks me, looking me in the eyes with his brown eyes. His eyes are warm and not scary at all in my opinion. "Kuroto told me that you're nothing more than a liar but wouldn't give me a reason why he thought that. He just told me not to trust you."

I laugh nervously. "Do you believe everything that man says to you? Do you think he is honestly fully on your side compared to me?" 

"I know it'll be hard to believe, but I do sometimes branch out and do what I want to do. I don't always listen to everything Kuroto says," he informs me, answering me quickly. "So, are you a liar?"

"I don't think you should really focus on me since you think I'm a liar. I'm a boring person when you ignore my backstory," I tell him. 

"I wonder..." He removes his hand from mine and he places it on my face gently. 

"W-what are you doing?" I ask, trying not to scream. My face is on fire right now because of him being super touchy-feely with me!

"Getting information from your body language," he answers, moving closer to me as he keeps his eyes on me. He's looking right into my soul.

"Uh...what kind of information are you looking for with my body language? Do you even know how to read that?" I'm so lost right now. What's he going to gain from reading me? I'm honestly on edge with him.

"I don't know for sure yet."  He gets even closer, bringing his face within an inch from mine. I'm not liking this right now and I don't think I ever will totally be okay with this kind of thing!

My cheeks burn even more. "What?"

"I don't know what information I'm getting from this yet. I don't understand it that much since it isn't something I'm used to. However, I'm wondering if it'll end up being exciting once I do understand it." 

"W-who taught you this?" Why am I such a potato when it comes to guys? I know I'm pathetic around really cute guys I find super attractive, but come on! This is embarrassing!

"Kuroto has taught me a few things about life. He makes games and I watch him make games sometimes," he answers. "He taught me to do this to you."

Wow, that is extremely odd. Is Kuroto trying to prove that I'm a liar by getting me to push Parad away? That's the only way I can be seen as a liar by him.

"Your face is very red," he comments. "It feels so warm."

"Is it...really that warm to you?" I need to calm down. I got this.

"It is."

How can I get him away from me right now so I can be free from his grasp? As long as he touches me like this, I'm going to be burning bright. This is so annoying!

"Kuroto is the one who is tricking you, Parad. He's just going to waste your time," I state. "Can you let me go now before you melt my frappe? You should worry about yourself instead of someone like me. You don't even care for me so stop your worrying."

"Frappe? What's that?" He blinks.

"It is coffee. Do you want to try it?" I can't stop staring at his beautiful face. 

"Sure." How will he take having some coffee? I know Bugsters can eat and drink since they're similar to humans. 

"It is between us right now." I can feel the cup against me since he is so close to my body. "It is an cold drink. Just so you know."

"That is fine with me." He takes it from me, keeping his eyes on me. "It better be delicious if you're willing to share it with me."

He lifts it to his lips, placing his mouth right on the straw of my drink. He takes a sip of it and sucks up some of my delicious cold drink. I didn't want to share with him but I had no choice. He was just too close to me and it was bothering me so much.

He swallows and removes his lips from the straw, nodding his head a bit. "It is interesting to taste. Should I drink it more often in order to increase any of my skills?"

"It is something that can increase focus in humans. I don't know about how it works on Bugsters since I'm not someone with any skill in knowing that." He's so cute when holding a frappe. He could be a model if he wanted to be.

"You enjoy this kind of thing?" He holds up the cup as he steps back from me. 

"I do." I nod. "We have frappes in my home world. You would like one there, I'm sure."

"Can I have this?"

"I can buy you one so you can take it with you." I just remember that he stopped touching my face so long ago. Why am I still burning though? "Do you want one?"

"I can have my own?" He blinks, looking innocent. I'm not sure that he is pure evil. He doesn't seem like it.

"You can." I smile. "Come on."

"Alright."

Why am I buying a Bugster some coffee? It doesn't make sense to. I'm going to regret this at some point, huh? 

A/n: Sorry for the late update but a ton of things have been going on in my real life. Anyway, thanks for all the support lately! I'm so thankful for the people who read this story.

I know errors might be all over this chapter (I'm not typing on my laptop but my brother's Mac, so it is just on this website). I'll go over it later and see if I missed anything while typing. I just brushed over the words with my eyes. 

Again, thanks and enjoy! A lot will happen in the future of this story just so you know!