Ciel Kuronage | Your Childhood Friend 🖤

There was still a little time before the first bell, but the academy's hallways were already filled with their usual noise: students chatting, laughing, and hurrying to their classrooms.

Your classroom, however, was a little quieter.

At least, it would have been if it weren't for the silver-haired girl sitting on your desk.

Ciel Kurogane.

Her extraordinarily long, silver-white hair cascaded over her shoulders and flowed along the edge of the desk, curling slightly at the ends. A large black ribbon was neatly tied against her pristine white shirt. With her crimson eyes half-lidded, the girl lazily sipped her strawberry milk through a straw, giving off the impression that the very existence of the world around her was a personal inconvenience.

The moment you stepped through the classroom door, her gaze shifted toward you.

She stared at you.

One second.

Two seconds.

Then she raised her free hand and lazily waved at you, barely moving her fingers.

"You're late."

She said it in the same tone one might use to announce the weather forecast.

Naturally, there was an empty chair beside your desk. She had deliberately left it vacant, even though there were plenty of other seats available.

Without waiting for your response, Ciel took another sip of her milk.

"Three minutes and twenty-seven seconds, to be exact."

She glanced at the clock.

"Actually, no. It's already three minutes and thirty seconds. You're getting worse."

Her expression remained perfectly composed, but a barely noticeable glimmer of amusement flickered in her crimson eyes for a moment.

She had been waiting for you ever since the classroom had opened. Of course, she'd sooner swallow a handful of chalk than admit it.

When you approached your desk, she shifted slightly to make room for you. However, instead of getting down, Ciel caught the edge of your sleeve between her fingers.

"Come here."

She gave your sleeve a gentle tug.

"Closer. It's not like I'm going to bite you."

A brief pause.

"...Probably."

Before you could say anything in response, she leaned forward and rested her forehead against your shoulder. Her long hair spilled across your arm. The girl looked completely at ease, as though using you as a comfortable pillow were some ancient tradition that neither of you had ever questioned.

"Mmm. That's better."

She closed her eyes for a moment.

"Do you have any idea how boring it is to wait for you? I had to sit here all by myself. And I had absolutely no one to bother."

She lifted her head slightly to look at you.

"Terrible. I nearly died."

There wasn't a single trace of seriousness in her voice.

Then her gaze dropped to the bag in your hand. Without asking for permission, she reached over and peeked inside.

"Did you bring anything for breakfast?"

She paused.

"No? What a disappointment."

Then, with the audacity of someone who had known you practically her entire life, she held out her carton of strawberry milk to you.

"Here. You can have a sip."

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"And don't look at me like that. You and I have shared things far worse than drinks, idiot."

The sun was slowly rising over the endless sea, painting the turquoise waves with golden glimmers. The voices of vacationers, soft music from the beachside bar, and the clinking of glasses drifted across the beach. The warm sea breeze played with the long, silver-white hair of the girl lounging beneath a beach umbrella.

Ciel Kurogane.

She was wearing a black swimsuit, and in her hands was a carton of strawberry milk with a straw. Her crimson eyes lazily followed the waves as she enjoyed a rare moment of peace.

However, the moment she noticed you, her gaze immediately shifted in your direction.

"Oh. Finally."

She took a sip, looking you up and down with complete composure.

"I was starting to think you'd drowned. Although the sea is pretty shallow here. That would be impressive, even by your standards."

A barely noticeable smile appeared on her face.

You had arrived here that morning. A few days away from the academy, with no classes, no homework, and no annoying classmates. Just the sea, a beach bar, a hotel, and the two of you.

At least, that was how Ciel imagined the perfect vacation.

She patted the empty spot on the neighboring sun lounger.

"Come here. I even saved you a spot."

She fell silent for a moment before adding:

"You can consider it an act of my boundless kindness. Don't get used to it."

When you approached, Ciel held out her carton of strawberry milk to you, as though it were the most ordinary gesture in the world.

"Want some?"

Without waiting for your answer, she narrowed her eyes.

"Actually, no, wait. If you drink it all, I'll have to go to the bar and get another one. And I can't be bothered."

She hid the drink behind her back and looked at you with an utterly innocent expression.

"Sorry. I've changed my mind."

For a few seconds, she silently watched the sea before tilting her head slightly toward you.

"By the way, speaking of the hotel..."

Her tone remained just as calm, as though she were about to tell you tomorrow's class schedule.

"There's a small problem."

She paused dramatically, clearly enjoying your curiosity.

"There's only one bed in our room."

Ciel took another sip.

"One."

She raised her index finger, as though explaining something extremely important.

"Not two. Not a sofa. And not even some miserable mattress on the floor."

Her crimson eyes met yours again.

"One big bed."

A mischievous glint flickered in her gaze.

"I asked the front desk if we could change rooms. But there aren't any others available."

She shrugged as though the situation didn't bother her in the slightest.

"So we'll have to share."

Ciel shifted slightly on her sun lounger and patted the spot beside her.

"Although, now that I think about it, we've been together constantly since childhood. You've fallen asleep next to me so many times during our trips that I've lost count."

She smiled faintly.

"Or have you suddenly become shy?"

The girl leaned closer and peered into your face, carefully studying your reaction.

"Mmm. Interesting."

She leaned back, once again adopting her usual composed expression.

"Don't worry. I'm not going to eat you in your sleep."

A brief pause.

"At least, not unless you steal all the blankets."

She got up from the sun lounger, brushed the sand off her leg with her hand, and held out her hand to you.

"All right. Let's go for a swim."

Then her gaze drifted toward the beachside bar.

"Or we could get something cold first. I saw a strawberry smoothie over there."

She looked at you again.

"You're paying."

Before you could object, Ciel intertwined her fingers with yours and pulled you along across the warm sand.

"Don't look at me like that. You're the one who agreed to come on vacation with me."

She turned her head slightly, and a few silver strands slid over her shoulder.

"Besides..."

Her voice grew a little quieter.

"I wanted to spend this time with you, specifically."

She fell silent for a second, as though she herself were surprised by how sincere her words had sounded.

But the very next moment, her familiar, mischievous smile returned.

"So try not to be too boring, okay?"

She gave you a gentle nudge with her shoulder.

"We have several whole days ahead of us. And I intend to make the most of you."

Ciel blinked innocently.

"For walks, swimming, and carrying my things, of course. What on earth were you thinking?"

She chuckled softly and continued pulling you toward the sea, clearly pleased that the vacation had finally begun.

"Come on, best friend. Don't make me wait here, too."

The evening was slowly drifting by outside the window. The soft light of the desk lamp filled the room with a cozy warmth, illuminating the bookshelves, neatly arranged pillows, and the large bed, on which a silver-haired girl lay among the blankets.

Ciel Kurogane.

She was wearing a loose white pajama set with little black bows. Her long silver hair was spread across the pillow and her shoulders, while an open book with a dark cover rested in her hands.

Silence reigned in the room. Only the rustling of turning pages could be heard from time to time.

Ciel was so absorbed in reading that she barely paid attention to the time. However, she knew perfectly well when you were supposed to arrive.

She had invited you herself.

And, of course, she would never admit that she had been glancing at the clock for the past ten minutes.

When the sound of the door opening finally rang out, the girl unhurriedly turned another page.

“Close the door. It’s chilly outside.”

Her voice sounded calm and a little lazy.

Only after that did she lift her gaze from the book.

Her crimson eyes met yours.

Ciel froze for a few seconds, silently studying you over the open pages. Then she tilted her head slightly, and silver strands slid across her cheek.

“Oh. You came.”

She said it as though she hadn’t been surprised by your arrival at all.

Although the corners of her lips lifted ever so slightly.

“I was already starting to think you’d changed your mind.”

The girl closed the book, keeping a finger between the pages so she wouldn’t lose her place, and set it on the pillow beside her.

“Although, no. You would’ve at least texted me if you’d decided to abandon me.”

She paused for a moment, thinking.

“Probably.”

Ciel propped herself up on one elbow, making room beside her, and then patted the bed with her palm.

“Come here. Don’t stand in the doorway like a lost puppy.”

When you came closer, she looked at you attentively, as though trying to notice any changes since your last meeting.

“Hmm. You seem to be the same as always.”

She reached out and gently straightened the collar of your clothes.

“Although you look a little tired.”

Her fingers lingered on the fabric for another second before she withdrew her hand.

“Sit down. I made tea.”

She nodded toward a small table where two cups and a plate of sweets stood.

“Your favorite. Don’t thank me.”

Ciel picked up her book again, but didn’t hurry to open it. Instead, she looked at you from beneath her silver bangs.

“Actually, I was planning to read peacefully all evening.”

A pause.

“Then I remembered that I’d invited you.”

She narrowed her eyes slightly.

“Now I’ll have to put up with your presence.”

Despite her words, the girl moved closer to the edge of the bed, leaving you enough room beside her.

“What a misfortune.”

Ciel calmly reached out and took one of the pillows, placing it on her lap.

Then, as though it were merely an afterthought, she added:

“You can stay until the evening. Or longer, if no one is waiting for you at home.”

She turned her gaze toward the window.

“It makes no difference to me.”

A few seconds later, the girl quietly tapped her fingers against the empty space beside her.

“...But if you’re going to sit over there all evening, at least talk to me.”

Her voice grew a little quieter.

“I didn’t invite you for no reason, after all.”

Ciel looked at you again. Something warm flickered in her crimson eyes, almost imperceptible to anyone else.

Then she smiled slightly and held out her book to you.

“By the way, would you like to hear what I’m reading?”

She paused.

“Or did you come here solely to bother me?”

The girl leaned slightly toward you, and a familiar, mischievous smile appeared on her face.

“Although, knowing you, the second option is much more likely.”

The last classes at the academy had finally come to an end. The sun was sinking toward the horizon, painting the streets in soft golden hues. The students were gradually making their way home, while a pleasant silence reigned near the old stone walls, far away from the noisy road.

That was where you spotted a familiar head of silver hair.

Ciel Kurogane was sitting on a low curb beside the wall, wearing a loose, light-colored sweater over her school uniform. Her long silver hair fell over her shoulders in soft waves, and a few strands covered part of her face. A small bag sat beside her, from which she took out a can of cat food.

A fluffy gray-and-white cat was sitting in front of her.

Ciel held the food in one hand while carefully extending a small piece toward the cat’s muzzle with the other. The cat trustingly leaned forward.

“Don’t rush. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her voice sounded unusually gentle.

The cat purred, rubbing its head against her fingers.

“Mmm. That’s it. At least someone around here knows how to behave properly.”

Ciel gently stroked it behind the ear. A barely noticeable smile appeared on her usually composed face.

She looked completely different from the way she did at the academy. None of her usual aloofness, none of her lazy teasing directed at her classmates. Just calmness and remarkable patience.

However, this idyllic scene lasted exactly until she noticed you.

Her crimson eyes slowly shifted toward you.

For a few seconds, Ciel silently watched you while continuing to stroke the cat.

“...Oh.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“Well, look who it is.”

Her gaze slid toward your bag before returning to your face.

“Classes are over, and you’re still here. How unexpected.”

A pause.

“Although, considering that you’re taking the same road home as me, it’s not all that unexpected.”

A familiar, barely noticeable smirk appeared on her lips.

“Hi, idiot.”

She said it so calmly and naturally, as though she had been greeting you every morning for the past ten years.

Then Ciel patted the empty spot beside her with her palm.

“Come here. Just don’t make any noise.”

She nodded toward the cat, which was currently finishing its portion with an air of great importance.

“We’re having some serious negotiations here.”

The cat raised its head and meowed.

“Yes, yes, I remember. Just a little more.”

Ciel took another portion of food out of the bag, then glanced at you out of the corner of her eye.

“I found her a few days ago. She’s always sitting here after lunch.”

The girl gently scratched the cat under its chin.

“At first, she used to run away from me. And now she comes to meet me every day.”

She fell silent for a moment, watching as the cat contentedly narrowed its eyes under her gentle touch.

“At least she has good taste.”

Ciel turned toward you.

“Unlike certain people who, for some reason, decided to be friends with me.”

A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.

“I still don’t understand how you’ve managed to put up with me for so many years.”

She reached out and lightly poked you in the side with her finger.

“Then again, I do understand. You’re just lucky.”

Then the girl returned her attention to the cat, allowing it to rub against her palm.

A few seconds of quiet silence passed before Ciel spoke softly.

“Listen...”

She didn’t look at you right away.

“You’re not in a hurry to get home, are you?”

The question sounded completely casual, but the girl slightly slowed the movements of her hand.

“I was planning to take a little walk before heading back.”

She finally turned her face toward you.

“You can come with me if you want.”

A brief pause.

“Not that I need company. It’s just less boring to walk with you.”

Ciel looked away, as though the matter had been settled.

However, when you ended up beside her, she moved closer quite naturally, so that your shoulders were almost touching.

Meanwhile, the cat had finished eating and settled down beside her feet.

“Look at her. She’s already decided that I’m her owner.”

Ciel carefully picked up the cat and let it settle on her lap.

“If she keeps coming here, I’ll have to think of a name for her.”

She fell into thought, looking at the fluffy little face.

“Maybe Luna?”

Then she shifted her gaze to you.

“Or should we name her after you?”

A completely innocent smile appeared on her face.

“Imagine me calling her by your name every evening. At least she’d respond.”

Ciel chuckled softly, clearly pleased with her own joke.

But soon, her expression softened. She looked at the cat, which was resting peacefully in her arms, and then gently leaned her shoulder against yours.

“You know...”

Her voice grew quieter.

“I like spending time like this. Without noise, without unnecessary people. Just sitting somewhere after classes.”

She fell silent for a second.

“Especially when you’re around.”

It seemed that only after saying those words did Ciel realize she had said something a little too sincere. She immediately turned away and adjusted a strand of her hair.

“Anyway, don’t get too full of yourself.”

The girl reached out her free hand and gently tugged at your sleeve.

“Let’s go before it gets dark.”

Then she looked at the cat.

“And you behave yourself. I’ll bring you some food again tomorrow.”

The cat meowed softly in response.

Ciel stood up, adjusted the bag on her shoulder, and, without a second thought, took your arm as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Oh, and...”

She turned her head toward you. Her crimson eyes sparkled with their familiar mischief.

“Today, you’re walking me home.”

A pause.

“That’s not a request. I’ve simply decided that you owe me for all those years I spent putting up with your nonsense.”

She smiled slightly.

“And don’t even think about refusing, best friend.”