"It was supposed to be a top-secret thing, right?" I was trying hard not to blush. "I haven't heard about it from anybody else"
"It is, but I thought you should know. There might be something you can do about it"
"What do you mean?"
"Yaze might know something about this. And when I look at you, I see Yaze in you" Kanade stood up and went inside, only to come back with another bottle. " You want some?"
"Thanks, but no" Kakashi replied.
"Come on, it's ethanol~"
"Ethanol?" Kakashi raised his brow, confused.
"One hundred percent alcohol"
"Are you trying to kill me?" Kakashi yelled. "I don't think it is a good idea to drink that"
"What are you talking about? I drink it all the time" Kanade expression changed, she looked serious again. "What was I talking about?"
"Yaze and I got some connections or something like that" Kakashi was not completely sure what was wrong with her.
"Yeah, that's right!" Kanade opened the bottle and drank from it, not minding the glass cup that was in front of her. "When Yaze first appeared in the academy, he was kinda like you. Stubborn, childish, and even talkative, he was always talking about being a hero."
"So, what happened?"
"He suddenly changes, I didn't know why, but he stopped being his old self"
"And you think it might be connected with everything"
Kanade nodded.
"What about Ayaka? What happened after the attack?"
"Well, Before the supernatural could make it there, the entire clan was gone and Ayaka was seen in front of her house. She was staring blankly into the forest, and even after we took her back to the academy, we noticed that she paid very little attention to us. It was like she lost herself..."
Natski later explained to Kakashi how Ayaka became the cat goddess host. The cat was a powerful creature that lived ancient era of Japan, to maintain the balance of the world the cat had transformed into a human to compress her power. She later fell in love with a human who was the head of the Kamisato clan.
"Aya was the name of the cat, Aya's power was then transferred to their daughter, Ayako and the power was continuously passed down to the first female of the family. The clan grew greater after Aya got there, that was the way she was worshipped. She helped the clan by answering their prayers, and because of that not only the clansmen even outside the clan, she was worshipped. Shrine was built not only in Japan but countries outside Japan"
"So, you're saying Ayaka is like a goddess or something?" Kakashi asked after Kanade's long explanation.
"I'm not saying she is like a goddess. I'm saying she is a goddess" Kanade leaned back on the chair. "Because of that, miss Natski never allows Ayaka to go out on her own, especially near the shrine"
"If Ayaka already knew what would happen if she went to the shrine, why does she try to go there?"
"It's because she thinks it's her responsibility" Kanade replied. "Although Miss Natski was able to seal the power, she suddenly was able to hear the prayers again and this time from everyone, even those that do not worship the cat goddess. That's why she has been trying to go to the shrine lately, it's like she's able to read our minds, know our desire and tries to grant our wishes"
"She hears our prayers?" Kakashi whispered to myself. "Since when did it start?"
"I'm not sure, but it was about the day before you came to the academy"
"Me?"
"Since when you came to the academy, she has changed"
"She did always try to stay around me like she was somehow attracted to me," Kakashi said. "If she could hear our deepest desire, does it mean she'll try to help fulfill it?"
"Yes"
Kakashi just realized something.
"Umm... The other day when I came back from training, I didn't see Ayaka. Did she go on any mission without me?" Kakashi asked, trying to find a better way to put his words.
Kanade quickly gulp the beer before answering my question.
"Yeah, we did hunt for the demon you fought the other day" Kanade's expression saddened. "Too bad we weren't able to capture him. With cash like that in my account, I'll finally be able to quit"
_She also did that for me!?_
"Thank you, Miss Kanade" Kakashi bowed down.
"It was nothing, maybe you'll take me out to drink someday"
"I hope not" Kakashi smile awkwardly.
"You should meet Hibiki, he said he wanted you to help him out with something"
"Will do"
Kakashi stood up and left the room, leaving Kanade as she drank from the bottle without a care in the world.
By the time Kakashi got back to his room, Ayaka was already awake but still lay down on the bed.
"How are you feeling now? Does it still hurt? What do you need?, I could get it for you" Kakashi burst out as he noticed she was looking at him.
"Don't worry, I'm fine now" Ayaka tried to get up but fell back on the bed.
Kakashi quickly ran to help her, he kept her upright on the bed and used the pillow to support her back as she rested against the wall.
"Miss Kanade told me everything" Kakashi bowed his head to the ground, trying to avoid any eye contact. "If you ever need anything just tell me, isn't that why we are teammates?. You shouldn't do everything by yourself"
"I just didn't want to drag you into my problem, you already got too much on you right now" Ayaka turned her face to the window. "Besides, the exchange program will start five days from now. I wanted you to train as hard as you can without worrying about me"
"Ayaka!" Kakashi yelled, trying to make her look at him which worked. He quickly held her close to himself "I just want you to know that I... I want to be there for you, I want you to depend on me more, and I want you to keep believing in me"
Ayaka's face turned red, and she tried to move backward, but the wall restricted her.
"Wh... where is this coming from!?" Ayaka asked, rather flustered.