Note: Do not take this fic overly serious. I'm writing purely for the fun of it to see how well I can write. Do be nice with your comments.
--- The Y to equation X ---
Minamiya Natsuki.
An attack mage of the highest level.
Feared and respected, working under the supervision of the Japanese government, specially assigned to the Demon District—Itogami Island.
Her name alone struck fear in most rogue witches, corrupted librarians and fugitive magical creatures alive.
The saying "As long as you don't come across the Witch of the Void, then all is well" was as famous as her name.
After all, this was because of her infamous Spatial Imprisonment Magic which had sealed many dangerous individuals over the years.
Of course, she had that infamous title to match that.
Due to her proficiency in such a magic, she was given the title of the Witch of the Void.
Everything had been well till… well.
[From Cabinet Intelligence and Research office]
[To— the Witch of the Void. Minamiya Natsuki]
[Due to special reasons, the Parliament has deemed it necessary to dispatch a "special observer" to monitor the Fourth Primogenitor.]
That was the message.
An unencrypted, direct, and stamped message with the seal of the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office.
That is to say, she was greatly bewildered by the message.
"What?" —-Was originally what she muttered when she saw the message.
That couldn't be right.
The Lion King Organisation, which is part of the National Public Security Office and affiliated with the government, has been approved of an official observer—at least, in the records.
It made no sense why another observer would be needed.
Confused and suspicious, she, of course, requested the full case file of the person being sent.
She regretted it instantly.
Perhaps what she experienced wasn't as simple as regret; rather, one could say it was "unease".
[CLASSIFIED] Unauthorized file - Do not distribute.
Subject Name: [Aliester Crowley]
Codename: [Seraph]
Age: [15 physically], [20+ mentally]
Affiliation: [Japanese Government Self Defence Force]
Threat level: [Treat him like you would treat a Primogenitor] [High Threat Clearance]
Compiled by: [Internal Informat and Redacted agent]
[Summary]
"..."
It continued like that; each word she read made her believe the person codenamed Seraph was something out of another fantasy world entirely.
She let out a long, tired sigh when she digitally closed his files, sending them to her private cloud database for safekeeping.
"...Why him?"
She muttered.
From there, she argued, sending appeal after appeal; however, the rejections were just as fast, saying:
[@reply from Cabinet Intelligence and Research office]
[To— the Witch of the Void. Minamiya Natsuki]
[Apologies. Witch of the void, Minamiya Natsuki. Codenamed: Seraph is very invested in this mission. There's nothing we can do, nor can we take it back.]
[However, if you wish, then you may become his "observer" and observe his every action to determine if he's a threat to Itogami Island or not.]
That was the last reply she received from them before she herself stopped with the pestering.
Sooner, the day of his arrival came. She wasn't cautious but paranoid at that time.
He looked more ordinary than she originally thought.
If she hadn't kept an eye on him, she wouldn't have noticed him.
When he even introduced himself. He did so with his hands on his chest, bowing like those old-world vampire nobles.
Naturally, as they continued to the tower, she had continued to watch his every action.
Maybe he was hiding them well, or this was his true self. Either way, he was the type that didn't strike him as someone harmful from the get-go.
But of course, it didn't mean she'd put her guard down.
Not even a little.
Since the government has appointed her as a watcher of this island, then she would be the watcher of him too.
His observer,
. . .
"Nn."
Natsuki's eyes fluttered open.
It was the weekend, and sometimes, things like this happen.
Since her body was a projection and it was constantly being projected to the outside world, it requires an immense amount of magic.
On a weekend like today, she would take a longer nap for her main body to recharge.
Sunlight draped over her face in soft streaks filtered through her apartment's skylight.
The room was quiet like usual, which she didn't mind. She'd been long used to the quietness.
She blinked, her head still groggy, only to find the silhouette of someone seated beside her bed.
Aleister.
"....."
Sitting with his legs crossed in a chair she never remembered owning, reading an old hardcover book.
A grimoire, which she deduced instantly, despite her groggy state.
He looked up, smiling, as the light from the window cast a faint halo around him.
"Good morning."
Aliester said that, his voice laced with casual amusement, and a smile that would no doubt charm those pitiful middle-schoolers she put him up with.
However, this was Minamiya Natsuki.
Naturally, the woman groaned, throwing an arm over her eyes.
"I should have sealed my room."
"Even if you did, I'd still enter. You of all people should know how my powers work by now."
He said that, his eyes already drifting back to the hardcover grimoire in his hands.
"Why are you even here in the first place?"
Hearing this, Aliester's smile grew a little, as he closed the grimoire gently.
"Figured I'd check in on my gracious host. Can't a concerned boyfriend drop by?"
Aliester said it with a matter-of-fact tone. After all, it was weird for her to sleep in like this.
By around 7:30 am, she'd have been pestering him.
However, when he entered here, he already deduced the reason why she slept in today.
To say he was concerned was actually correct.
But Natsuki wasn't having it.
She paused. Then snapped.
"You—"
She sat up violently, extending her hand, a purple triangle magic circle lighting up in front of her hands.
Natsuki was summoning those binding chains of hers; however, nothing happened.
Aliester, seeing this, blinked, smiling at her like an affectionate boyfriend.
Yet, she could tell he was mocking her. She could almost hear him say:
"Despite knowing how my powers work, you still foolishly try to use magic in my presence."
This made her groan, her lips curling into frustration.
Aliester is an abomination to every magical creature!
"Damn it…." She muttered.
"Haah. I can't believe you of all people would make such a mistake—"
"Get out."
"Well, sure, after I make breakfast for you."
Despite brushing him off like that, he took his steps at his own pace, walking off like he lived here.
She gritted her teeth, pulling the covers off and storming into the adjacent bathroom.
. . .
Fifteen minutes later, she stepped into her penthouse's open-air kitchen-dining space, rubbing her temple.
The scent hit her first.
Eggs, pan-seared toast, herbs, and something peppery.
Aliester stood at the stove wearing a light-blue apron over a casual outfit.
She blinked at the sight. Yet, seeing this, she crossed her arms, exhaling.
"What are you doing?"
"Well, you have eyes…. I'm cooking."
She stifled, almost stumbling back a little, but regained posture.
"I can get you arrested for trespassing."
"Well, that's funny. After all, my position in the government is just as high as yours, if not higher. Are you sure you can get me arrested?"
Aliester countered back, shaking his head.
Flipping the pan over, he continued.
"In the first place, you were the one who started this. Breaking into my room unannounced."
Natsuki at this moment was getting slapped by words, and clearly, maybe she had indeed taken it far.
After all, he had to put up with her attitude over the week.
Still, that didn't change her annoyance towards him, though. However, as she was about to argue again….
*Sniff.
A scent wafted through the air.
"...Is that garlic and thyme?"
"Mmm. And a bit of miso butter too."
The table was already set. Toasted sourdough, seasoned eggs, warm rice, and sautéed mushrooms.
An extravagant breakfast even for her. Hence, she simply stared.
'He was that good of a cook? Just what on earth was the government teaching him during his quarantine? Or had he always been good at cooking before then?'
Now, she couldn't deny that she was curious about him.
However, while she pondered about him, he had pulled out a chair for her.
"Come now. Sit; you'd be surprised about how well you'll like this dish."
He said with the boldness of a chef, smiling at her while she scoffed.
"Hilarious."
Natsuki said that but sat down anyway.
As she did, he poured her tea. Perfectly steeped. She took a sip and then begrudgingly sighed.
"Damn you."
"You're welcome."
From there, they ate in relative silence, only interrupted by the soft clinks of silverware.
Yet, even as they ate, she watched him out of the corner of her eye.
Perhaps it was because there weren't many people stronger than her or because of her situation.
This man was probably the only one capable of treating her like this.
Still, she hadn't let her guard down around him. She wouldn't let it happen.
Regardless…. She took another bite.
It was good.
Too good.
She hated that.
She hated that a little.