If he were still alive

Chapter 7 

The Wishing Ghost and the youth exchanged blows for who knows how long. Haruto fell as Felix swung his blade swiftly to the phantom's feet, the weapon in his hand dropped on the floor. He quickly tried to get his scythe, but the youth's sword hit his arms. 

"Gahh!" One of Haruto's arms disappeared like smoke, then he tried to move backward away from Felix. Felix raised the sword towards the now vulnerable ghost as he was about to hit the final blow. Just then, Mae defended Haruto with a wooden stick she randomly found and shielded him. The stick and the sword clashed with each other.

"Woah!" The wooden stick snapped into two pieces when it hit the sword. 

She noticed Felix's startled expression. He paused his movements for a moment, staring at her with bewilderment.

"Mae… What are you doing?" Finally, he spoke with unusual gentleness, as if he wasn't the one who chopped off Haruto's hand just now.

Her hands trembled while holding the broken wooden stick, pointing at him. "I'm sorry, Felix. I can't let you hurt him!"

Felix's eyes followed behind her where Haruto and the little ghosts were. "Why are you protecting those vermins?"

"Haru is my friend..! These are my friends!"

"Mae, how can you be friends with someone like them?"

"You don't understand, I need him!" 

Felix realized what was going on. "Don't tell me... Did you wish something to it??"

Haruto wrapped his arm around Mae from the back, while the other arm regenerated. "Oh yes… She asked me to grant two of her wishes~"

"Get away from her!" Felix wanted to strike Haruto with his sword, but Mae defended him again.

"Please, Felix..! Just let him go..." Hearing her pleas, Felix can't help but waver. 

He didn't say anything as he put his sword into its sheathe. Seeing his actions, Haruto lets go of Mae. "I'll let you off the hook for now. Mae, come with me. We're going home." His voice turned cold

Mae silently obeyed, leaving Haruto and the ghosts behind.

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The two walked through the neighborhood where pre-schoolers played on the side of the streets. She felt nostalgia while walking with his childhood friend. She, Felix, and Mikaela always go home from school together. They spent a lot of time talking, playing, and studying together. Now, it's just the two of them, silently walking towards home. 

"You can't be with them." Felix finally spoke, breaking the silence.

"I… I can't. He has to grant my wish."

"Humans and ghosts can't be together." He paused for a moment. "I noticed it was able to touch you. Those things aren't allowed to touch living beings. They aren't even allowed to interfere in the mortal world. It could put you in great danger."

She raised her brows as he kept regarding Haruto as 'it'. "Haru promised he could protect me. I just want my wish to come true."

"And I just want you to be safe!" Mae was surprised by his sudden outburst. 

They stayed quiet for a while before Mae asked. "…Is this the task Uncle told you to do?" 

"Yes. I have to protect the living beings from vengeful spirits." Felix answered.

"But… Haru isn't vengeful…" Mae retorted.

"How can you be so sure?" He snapped back.

None wouldn't dare to talk anymore. They walked until they reached their destination- Mae's house. They have said their goodbyes and parted ways. 

The Next Day

The students just got dismissed by their teachers. It was time for Mae to be in the old classroom with Haruto. As she was about to head out, Mikaela asked Mae and Diana if they could hang out together and play at the arcade for a while. It's been a long time since the three of them have spent time together. However, Mae declined and that made Mikaela sulk. 

"I'm sorry Mika, but I have to study," Mae said.

"C'mon! We rarely get to spend time with each other..!"

"You've been acting kind of weird lately... You have been rushing out of the classroom every dismissal! Suddenly saying you're studying, and even talking to yourself more often!" Diana said. 

"I..." Mae was rendered speechless.

"Just tell us... What are you up to lately..?" Having to ask that question, she struggled to let out a few words.

She desperately thought of the best excuse to change the topic, but it wouldn't work. Suddenly, a tall, handsome guy interrupted their conversation. "She's been with me recently." Mae was surprised to see Felix in her classroom.

That excuse is the best excuse of all time! At least, that's what Mae thought. 

She caught sight of the girls, those who still hadn't gone home, staring at them... or rather, at him.

"Wait, what? You two have been hanging out without me? I feel left out." said Mikaela, sulking again. She approached Mae and teasingly murmured, "If you would just tell me, I would've understood hehe!"

Mae understood what she was trying to say and her face got instantly red. "It's not like that..!" Before Mae could testify, her friends left the classroom, leaving only Mae, Felix, and the girls inside. 

In the old classroom 

"I am honored to have you in my class…. but, why are you here..?" Haruto hid behind Mae, scowling at the unexpected guest.

"I'm not here to attend to your so-called classes. I'm just here to supervise you. I don't want her to leave in the hands of some useless trash like you." Felix sat down on the chair, crossed arms.

Haruto gave signs to Mae that he was uncomfortable with him, but Mae couldn't pay attention. She was distracted by the handsomeness of his childhood friend. 

Oh well, it can't be helped then. Haruto hugged Mae from the back which surprised Mae. "But Mae likes me…" 

"Haru, please don't make any misunderstandings." She blurted bluntly.

"I'm telling you..! He's trying to kill me!" He loudly whispered to Mae's ears while Felix looked at him with murderous intent.

"Let's just start the tutoring session.." She sighed.

Felix Luxwell, Mikaela's cousin. Mae, Mikaela, and Felix grew up together. When they were in their 3rd Grade, Felix had to move overseas to pursue a better education. However, he came back home to fulfill the task his father gave to him. Turns out, he's from a family of powerful exorcists. It was the family's duty to continue the bloodline that they pledged. The Evergreen High School just happened to be one of the sources where spirits and ghosts haunt. Felix was tasked to preserve the boundary between the mortal world and the underworld.

"Okay... And we're done! You can go home now, Mae.."

Once the tutoring session had ended, Felix walked Mae home to ensure her safety. Sure, Her friends stopped teasing her about her bad grades, but they continued to do so because they assumed Mae and Felix had a thing with each other, which they did not. This kept going on for days like a loop. As the two walked further from school, he suddenly asked a question that startled Mae.

"What was your second wish to him?" For a moment, she paused. She wasn't expecting him to ask about her second wish. She struggled to explain the situation, leaving vague sentences, and excluding specific events.

"Making that wish… I accidentally made a bond with Haruto that day... That's why Haruto can touch me."

He was stunned hearing her words, almost as if on the verge of exploding. "What? Do you like him or something?"

"What!? No!" She instantly denied it. "That isn't it!"

"Then, did he take advantage of your wish to be in that relationship??"

"Oh my! My house is right there. I have to go in or else my mom will get angry. We'll talk again about this later. Bye!" Mae ran off, avoiding his question. In front of Mae's house, Felix dumbfoundedly stood, watching her run off. He could feel that she was trying to avoid the topic.

As days pass, Felix and Haruto continue to argue like cats and mice, yet they eventually start to get along. When they were about to start the tutoring session, Felix's phone rang. He said that an emergency occurred and needed to get going. He hesitated to leave Mae alone in the classroom, but she reassured him that Haruto wouldn't do bad things to her. He had no choice but to leave. They watched Felix go out as the atmosphere inside became an awkward silence.

"Hey, follow me." The Wishing Ghost finally broke the silence, floating towards the door. "I want to show you something." He smiled at Mae.

She was curious about what he wanted to show to her. Could it be that what Felix said about them is true? Will he put her in danger by following him? However, Haruto wouldn't do such a thing to her because he has to fulfill Mae's wish. 

She started having doubts as she followed Haruto out of the classroom. He floated through the corner of the hall and found the stairs. The original building was four stories tall if Mae recalled correctly. Was there a secret floor that ghosts use? Mae's doubts get stronger as her chest gets heavier and heavier. The ghost went to the stairs while she followed, finding a door at the end of the stairs. Haruto paused in front of it before going past it. 

"Try opening the door Mae," He said from the other side.

The girl hesitated to open the door. It could be a trap Haruto planted, but despite her doubts, she decided to trust Haruto. She opened the door and a light emitted through it.

Her eyes widened when she saw the beautiful scenery in front of her. Autumn skies are vast and ever-changing, with colors ranging from fiery orange as the sun sets below the horizon. The air is crisp and chilly, with the first taste of winter brought by the breeze. 

Below the building are students in their wintery uniforms, some are chatting on the benches and beneath the trees while some are playing on the fields despite the cold wind. Mae carefully moved towards the railing where Haruto was. There was a rooftop in this building!?!?

"So, what do you think of the view? Mesmerizing, right?" Haruto smiled brightly at Mae.

She felt a pang of guilt about doubting Haruto. She was glad she chose to trust him. "I didn't know there was a rooftop here..." Mae replied. He turned to the girl and noticed how her eyes sparkled seeing the view. 

Suddenly, she flinched when Haruto embraced her from behind. "Haru..?"

"You've been hanging out with him recently... Is that how much you like him?" He tightened his hug more as if someone could snatch her away from his grasp.

Is Haruto perhaps… sulking? Mae shrugged the thought. "...You already know how much I like him." Her cheeks turned red not because of her liking Felix, but because Haruto kept hugging her which made her remember the day they shared a bond.

"I'm touched about what you just did when he cornered me." Haruto let go of her and positioned himself standing beside Mae.

She groaned when she remembered an embarrassing moment where her only weapon was a broken wooden stick meanwhile, Haruto had his scythe and Felix his magical sword. At least it worked by stopping them. 

"Ghosts like me don't have any friends, but I'm glad you said I'm your friend," Haruto added. He smiled again at Mae, making her flustered. He walked away towards the exit while her gaze followed the sight of his transparent figure.

"Even though I'm dead." 

She glanced at him for a long time. If he were living right now, would they be classmates sitting with each other while listening to the teacher's discussions? Or would Haruto follow his dreams and become Mae's teacher who nags all day telling her to study? Or would Haruto be an old geezer from Mae's neighborhood where they would make small talk outside his house? 

She knew it wouldn't happen. After all, Haruto... is dead.