(Meanwhile Kuno at the underground shelter)
Deep in the underground shelter, Kuno sat with his arms crossed, glaring at the little devil in front of him.
The kid this silent little gremlin just stared back with his big, unblinking eyes, chewing on something.
Kuno sighed. "Tch… babysitting, huh? Of all things, why the hell am I stuck with this job?"
The kid just tilted his head, spitting out whatever was in his mouth. Kuno's eye twitched.
"What did you just eat?"
Silence.
"Tch, kid, answer me wait, right, you don't talk." Kuno rubbed his temples. "This is gonna be a long day…"
The kid stood up and ran off at full speed.
"OI, WHERE THE HELL YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?!"
Kuno chased after him, but the little gremlin was zigzagging through people like a pro parkour master.
Kuno gritted his teeth. "Tch, why is this kid moving like he trained with assassins?!"
The kid suddenly leaped onto a market stall, grabbed an apple, and shoved it in his mouth like a wild animal.
The shopkeeper blinked?"
Kuno grabbed the kid by the back of his shirt, lifting him up like a cat. " YOU LITTLE ! You can't just steal , dammit!"
The kid stared at Kuno blankly, still chewing.
"Don't look at me like that, you gremlin! Swallow first before you choke!"
The shopkeeper just "chuckled."
Kuno sighed and slammed a few coins on the stall. "Tch… keep the change."
The kid wiggled out of Kuno's grip again and took off running.
Kuno "sighed"
After finally catching the brat, Kuno dragged him around the shelter, asking if anyone recognized him.
Kuno held up the kid. "have, you seen this gremlin before?"
An elderly woman squinted. "Oh, what a cute little boy"
Kuno cut her off. "No, no, I don't care if he's cute. I need to find his parents before I throw him into a cabbage cart and hope for the best."
The old woman gasped. "You wouldn't!"
Kuno stared deadpan. "Try me."
The kid just blinked.
No leads.
No one recognized him.
Kuno sighed and plopped onto a bench, exhausted. The kid stood in front of him, just staring.
"Tch… what now?" Kuno muttered.
The kid suddenly opened his mouth… and spoke.
"…Hungry."
Kuno froze.
Silence.
Kuno's soul left his body.
"DID YOU JUST TALK?!"
What is your name kid
The kid tilted his head. "Hungry."
Kuno grabbed his head with both hands. "AFTER ALL THIS TIME THIS ENTIRE DAMN DAY YOU COULD TALK?!"
The kid just stared at him blankly again, completely unfazed.
Kuno pointed at him. "YOU'RE MESSING WITH ME, AREN'T YOU?! YOU LITTLE DEMON!"
'Hungry'
Kuno just stared in disbelief.
"HARUTO, GET BACK HERE THIS LITTLE DEMON WOULDN'T LET ME BE IN PEACE
After the battle
The underground shelter was buzzing with energy, a stark contrast to the battlefield we had just left behind. The scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread filled the air, mingling with the occasional whiff of burning incense a tradition to ward off lingering evil. Dim lanterns lined the cavern walls, casting flickering shadows that danced like ghosts against the stone. Laughter and chatter filled the space, a rare moment of peace for the survivors.
I sank into a chair at a long wooden table, the surface scarred with knife marks and old burns. My limbs ached, my throat felt dry, and all I wanted was something warm to drink. Steam curled up from the cup in front of me, a comforting contrast to the cold dampness of the underground.
And then
Yuno BURST into the room, panting, hair a chaotic mess, eyes dark with exhaustion.
"I HAVE SEEN HELL."
I barely turned my head. "…You were babysitting, not fighting demons."
The entire room fell silent for a beat, then erupted into hushed snickers.
Yuno slammed his hands on the table, rattling the dishes. "SAME THING."
I sighed, taking a slow sip of my drink, letting the warmth soothe my throat. "What did the kid do now?"
Yuno jabbed a finger toward the child, who was comfortably nestled in Rin's arms, looking as innocent as an angel carved from marble.
"THIS LITTLE MONSTER HAS BEEN TORTURING ME."
Rin tilted her head, her long silver hair catching the glow of the lanterns. "Oh? But he looks so innocent."
Yuno's expression twisted into something between agony and betrayal. "Innocent?! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES HE RAN OFF?! I'd turn around for ONE SECOND, and boom gone! I had to chase him all over the shelter like some senile old man playing tag! And when I finally caught him, he BIT me!"
Yahiko, who had been leaning back against the stone wall, nearly choked on his drink. "Pfft—wait, he actually bit you? Like a wild animal?"
Yuno yanked up his sleeve dramatically, revealing a tiny bite mark. "LOOK AT THIS. WAR WOUNDS."
I leaned forward, inspecting it. "Forgive him Yuno after all he is just a child ."
Yuno shot me a glare. "YOU TRY BABYSITTING HIM THEN."
And then, without warning
The kid spoke.
"…Mama."
The word slipped out like a casual afterthought. A few people in the shelter turned to look, their curiosity piqued.
Rin, with a bright smile ,nodded. "Yes,"
Then, the kid's gaze shifted. His big, round eyes locked onto me.
"…Papa."
I smiled. "yes?"
Yuno clutched his head. "See? Do you see what I've been dealing with? He doesn't talk to me, but the second I get him to behave BOOM, he suddenly speaks."
Yahiko, his arms crossed, smirked. "Well, that's 'cause you're not part of the family, old man."
Yuno grumbled under his breath, crossing his arms. "ill forgive him if he calls me grandpa"
The kid turned, tilting his head slightly. Then, with the same blank innocence
"…Grandpa."
Silence.
I took another slow sip of my drink, letting the moment hang. " There it is."
Yahiko's shoulders shook as he barely held in his laughter. "You're officially part of the family now, Yuno."
Rin chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You did a good job, grandfather. Really."
The kid, still clinging to Rin, let out a tiny yawn, rubbing his eyes. Then, he reached out toward me.
"…Papa. Carry."
I smiles come here. His small body was warm, his steady breathing already slowing, like he was about to doze off.
hey kid I forgive you cause you call me grandpa."yuno said with a bit Flushtered"
I smiled, adjusting my grip on the kid."
Yahiko grinned. "Well, I guess we know who's putting him to bed tonight."
I shot him a flat look. "Shut up, Yahiko."
Laughter echoed through the shelter, the warmth of the moment settling over us like a long-awaited peace.
The warmth of the celebration had finally settled, the echoes of laughter and music fading into a comfortable silence. Most of the people had retired to their rooms, their exhaustion catching up after the long battle. Lanterns flickered dimly, casting soft shadows against the cavern walls, while the scent of burnt-out candles and lingering food still hung in the air.
I sat at the long wooden table, arms crossed, the weight of the past few days settling in. Across from me, Rin gently cradled the now-sleeping child, his small body rising and falling with each steady breath. Yahiko leaned back against his chair, his sword resting beside him, while Yuno, still recovering from his 'babysitting war,' sighed heavily.
"…So, what do we do about him?" Yahiko asked.
Yuno rubbed his temples. "I asked around again. No one knows where he came from. No missing child reports, no leads, nothing." He shook his head. "It's like he just appeared out of nowhere."
Rin glanced down at the child, brushing a few strands of his messy hair away from his face. "He's been alone for a while… You can tell by the way he clings to people." Her voice was soft, a rare sadness laced in her words. "I don't think he remembers his family. Or maybe… he never had one to begin with."
A silence settled over us, heavy yet unspoken.
I exhaled slowly, resting my chin on my hand. "…Then he stays with me."
Yuno blinked. "Wait, seriously?"
I nodded. "i smiled. It's not like we can just abandon him. If no one else is coming for him, then I will."
Rin smiled faintly. "I figured you'd say that."
Yahiko snorted. "You sure about this? Raising a kid is different from fighting battles, you know."
I glanced at the sleeping child, his tiny fingers curled around the fabric of Rin's sleeve. "…I don't mind."
For the first time, I saw the kid truly at peace no running, no mischief, just sleeping soundly, like he finally felt safe.
I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms. "…His name from now on is Anos."
Yuno sighed dramatically. "Great. Now he's officially your problem."
Yahiko smirked. "Guess that makes you a dad for real, huh?"
I shot him a look. "Tch. Shut up."
Rin chuckled softly. "Well then… Welcome to the family, Anos."
The underground shelter was always eerily silent at night. The soft hum of lanterns flickered across the rough stone walls, and the distant echoes of water dripping from stalactites gave the place a strange, almost haunting calmness.
I lay on a makeshift bed, my arms crossed behind my head, staring at the ceiling. Even after everything, sleep never came easily. My mind kept replaying the battle, the weight of Anos' presence, and the unspoken responsibility that had suddenly fallen on my shoulders.
Rin and Anos were already asleep. Yuno snored lightly in the corner, probably still recovering from his 'babysitting trauma.' Anos, curled up beside Rin, breathed softly, completely at peace.
For the first time in a while, things felt... calm.
The Next Morning
I was jolted awake by a firm knock on the wooden door. Before I could even sit up, the door creaked open, and a soldier rushed in, his expression tense.
"Haruto sama! The Koronji are on the move again!"
I swung my legs off the bed, already feeling the exhaustion return before the day had even begun.
Yahiko groaned, rubbing his temples. "Can't they take a break?"
Rin was already up, adjusting her cloak, her expression serious. "Where?"
The soldier swallowed hard. "Scouts report heavy movement near the east shelters. They're moving faster than we expected."
I sighed, standing up fully. "Looks like we don't get a day off."
Yuno stretched, cracking his neck. "I swear, if I don't get at least one full night's sleep, I'm going to personally punch every last one of them."
Anos, still half-asleep, clung to Rin. "…Mama?"
Rin smiled softly, patting his head. "It's okay, Anos.mama and papa have some work so stay with grandpa and listen to him okay?"
Yuno "sighed come here you little demon"
Thank you I said
Tch! Don't thank me I am his grandpa after all
I smiled and nodded
..
The underground meeting room was dimly lit, the air thick with tension. The elders sat at the long stone table, their faces grim.
Onori spoke first. "The Koronji have started moving at an alarming speed. Their numbers are larger than before. If they attack again, we may not be able to hold them off as easily."
Another elder, a sharp-eyed woman, nodded. "We need to decide ,do we fight head-on, or do we evacuate?"
I crossed my arms. "Running isn't an option it's our home we need to protect it."
Rin rested a hand on her holy bow. "We'll need a strategy."
Yahiko leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "So what's the play, Haruto?"
I looked at the map laid out before us, the markings of Koronji movements forming an ominous pattern.
I exhaled slowly. "…We end this before it begins."
Silence fell over the room.
The next battle was coming fast. And this time, we weren't just defending.
We were going to take the fight to them.