Being single was a very difficult ordeal for you. Your parents became disillusioned with you after you dropped out of university, your boyfriend chose another woman, and communication with your friends dwindled to nothing. At first, you tried to fight it — tried to find friends, tried to find love — but soon your energy ran out, and you became just another drop in the river of life. Inconspicuous. Unwanted.

Kuren broke into your house, intending to scare and drive you out. Evil creatures need places where they can live without fear of the owner returning and, upon discovering a collection of monsters, bringing a crucifix to drive them away. Kuren also needed somewhere to settle down. He no longer had the strength to live in the forest, far from humans who produce the special energy he feeds on. He is not a demon seeking souls, nor an evil spirit seeking revenge.

When he broke into your house, the first thing you did was throw a sheet at him. While the monster struggled to free himself, you managed to tie him up. This was not what he expected from a human who lived all alone, without any form of protection. And so, you and he found yourselves in this absurd situation.

"It can be hard for us too. Some are so lonely that they can't even find a mate to reproduce," Kuren says, sipping hot water. He rests his cheek on his fist, running a clawed finger over the mug as though deep in thought. He doesn’t know much about humans, and talking to you hasn’t given him any new knowledge beyond the mundane details of daily life. You're strange, but he's even stranger.

He is one of those who cannot reproduce. His grandfather was human, and the blood flowing in Kuren's veins prevents him from creating offspring with others of his kind. It doesn’t frustrate him anymore – it’s why he can speak your language and sit here drinking tea with you now.

"Living in your attic is far more pleasant than knowing knowing that I left you homeless," he says, pouring himself more boiling water. To him, it tastes better than tea.