~Hachiman pov~
Morning, 9:55 AM
"...Nn…Mmm…Rustle.."
The thick, warm feeling and the soft, gentle touch wrapping around my entire body were such a wonderful combination that I really didn't want to open my eyes and wake up. The late morning sunlight filtering through the curtains could only make me turn away to avoid it, burying my face into the thick, soft feather pillow to continue indulging in this moment of stillness.
"...Mmm... Is it morning already?..."
I muttered in a raspy and utterly drowsy voice. My consciousness was still deeply submerged and hazy, as if floating in syrup. My brain, which still refused to reboot the system, let its thoughts drift aimlessly according to my lazy instincts.
"Sleeping on this bed is really soft…"
'...Mmm... On the bed...'
'On the bed...'
'On... the... bed...'
..
..
"...Huh...?"
I frowned slightly. A certain feeling of contradiction suddenly flashed through my nerves like a small electric shock. My previously sluggish brain began trying to process things urgently, causing my eyes to snap awake little by little.
Bed?
Before passing out last night, shouldn't the final image in my memory be me sitting and leaning against the back of the springy, flexible leather sofa in the living room?
Then where on earth did this first-class softness currently supporting my back come from?
I bolted up into a sitting position immediately. My dead-fish eyes widened as I surveyed my surroundings... The familiar bedroom ceiling, the dark curtains, and my own bed.
'...Did I sleepwalk across the room to sleep here? No, my power-saving mode shouldn't be capable of functioning with that much delicacy.'
The natural paranoia of a paranoid person kicked into full gear. I immediately flung the blanket off my body. My hands hurriedly reached down to pat, feel, and urgently check the condition of the clothes on my body. Shirt still on. Pants still fully there. Every single button was neatly done up... Okay, my body was still safe. No parts were worn or damaged.
"...Phew..."
I let out a long sigh of relief.
Even though I could vaguely remember Kalawarna promising that she wouldn't do anything strange…
But with a woman who likes to nuzzle other people's necks while inhaling deeply like she's abusing some kind of substance, who on earth could actually let their guard down?
I swept my eyes around the completely quiet room to look for that particular living being.
"Where is Kalawarna?"
I muttered softly in curiosity before getting out of bed to look for her.
I walked out of the bedroom, my footsteps stepping onto the freezing cold floor. My eyes swept across the living room first. The sofa I thought I had slept on last night was empty.
Where did she go?
"Kalawarna! Are you there?!"
I shouted out for her in a moderate volume, enough to be heard throughout the room. Even so, there was still no response from her.
Out of wariness, I stepped forward to check the bathroom as the next spot. My hand gently pushed the door open.
"...Empty, huh."
There wasn't even a shadow, or even any trace of morning usage. In my mind, numerous questions began to pop up. Where on earth did that seductive fallen angel chick vanish to since morning?
Normally, what would happen in this kind of situation according to the popular template of the rom-com manga or anime world is... when the protagonist pushes open the bathroom door without knocking, he would definitely encounter a massive sound of splashing water, along with the naked body of the heroine bathing amidst the swirling steam. After that, the protagonist would apologize according to his role and run outside.
…It's a cliché scene that I rank as the 9th most foolish fanservice scene in the anime world.
Unfortunate as it is, that kind of thing would absolutely never happen to me. But even if it really did happen, instead of the other party screaming, making a fuss, and kicking me out like in a scripted play, in the reality of this world... I felt like I would more likely be pulled by the arm, or else be invited to get in and take a bath together instead. Especially if that woman was Kalawarna.
I turned around and walked straight toward the kitchen, but the faint, sweet aroma of food wafting over to hit my nose caught my attention first. On the dining table, there was a food dish neatly covered with a food cover to keep it warm. And right next to it, a piece of white note paper was sitting prominently.
I picked it up and unfolded it to look. An elegantly cursive handwriting displayed itself prominently on it.
'..My apologies, Hikage-sama, that I had to leave without saying goodbye to you. It seems I have urgent business that I must hurry to handle. I have prepared and left breakfast for you. I hope you will thoroughly enjoy my meal. I promise that as soon as the work is finished, I will hurry right back to you... From Kalawarna, your beloved~'
"...Beloved your ass…"
I muttered with a deadpan face while gently raising my hand to hold my temple.
"And since when did you claim the right that this place is your home to return to…"
Despite complaining like that, I let out a quiet sigh, unable to help it.
At least I could be somewhat relieved that she didn't disappear because of some kind of trouble…
I placed the note down on the table before lifting the food cover to look at the food she had prepared.
A faint, pleasant aroma immediately drifted up.
"…Oh."
In front of me was a breakfast that looked much better than I had expected. A golden-yellow rolled omelet, white rice, and warm soup with faint steam still rising from it.
…Is this a newborn-wife level of cooking?
"Do fallen angels nowadays have to upgrade their housewife skills too or what…"
"By the way, what time is it now?"
I turned to look at the clock on the wall, before my eyes froze on those numbers for a moment.
"…Ten o'clock?"
My brain processed it one beat too slow.
Then in the very next second, I almost leaped right up from the chair I had just sat down on for a few seconds.
"Wait, ten o'clock!?"
Before actually standing up until the chair scraped against the floor loudly, my hand grabbed my phone to confirm the time once more, as if still unwilling to believe my own eyes.
…10:02 AM.
"…Holy shit."
Just last night, I had freshly put on a cool face in front of Issei.
I said it so well: "Tomorrow, you'll just see me walking to school as normal."
Plus, I acted like I had every situation perfectly under control.
"…Good grief, the image I built up last night is completely shattered."
I muttered while looking at the phone, whose screen was lit up with a total of five message notifications.
The sender of all of them was—Issei.
"…Why on earth did this guy spam so much?"
I clicked in to view each message one by one.
『07:12 AM』
["Hey hikigaya! Are you okay!? I didn't see you this morning!"]
『07:46 AM』
["The teacher is starting to take roll call! You're not the type to skip school, aren't you!?"]
『08:13 AM』
["Or did you really get done in by a fallen angel!? Wait… or are you heavily injured!?"]
『08:51 AM』
["Answer me, you idiot! Now I'm starting to feel guilty for going back first last night!"]
『09:37 AM』
["...hikigaya, you're still alive, right?"]
"…"
I stared at the last message silently for a while.
Even if it's this guy, it seems he was really worried last night.
But looking at it from another angle, letting him send messages to check on my life up to five times feels kinda insulting for some reason.
"…Sigh."
I sighed before typing a short reply.
『Not dead yet』
The moment I hit send—
Ding!
『Ohhh thank goddddd!!!!』
"Terrifyingly fast reply… He must have been sitting there staring at the screen waiting for a reply from me the whole time, huh."
I sank back down onto the chair once again.
"Whatever, not going to school for one day probably won't hurt… Let's eat."
But just as I was about to pick up the spoon—
My eyes glanced back at the sentence at the very end of the note once more.
'P.S. When I was about to leave the room, there was a human female lying unconscious in front of your apartment. I do not know if she is an acquaintance of yours... But if she is, I leave you to handle the rest.'
"…Huh?"
I stopped my hand instantly.
A human female? Lying unconscious in front of the room?
The matter from last night just freshly ended. Before I could even catch my breath, this morning the scent of trouble is wafting over again.
Is it really that hard to just let me rest peacefully for a bit?
I slowly placed the note down before raising my hand to pinch the bridge of my nose.
"…No, maybe it's just a drunk person."
Right, a drunk person walking to the wrong floor, the wrong room, and then passing out in front of my door.
Yes, it must just be a completely wasted person who partied too hard until they forgot their way home, walked up the wrong building floor, walked into the wrong alleyway room, and finally their consciousness blacked out, collapsing dead cold right in front of my room door... This kind of coincidence happens all the time in a big city society.
"Let's go take a look."
I got up from the chair and walked toward the entrance door with slow footsteps.
Click
The moment I opened the door—
"…Ah."
I paused slightly.
Right in front of the room door, there was the body of a woman slumped against the wall.
"Mmm.."
I walked closer, leaned down, and narrowed my eyes slightly to observe this woman's physical appearance.
Her short black hair, cut into layers, was tied back loosely at the bottom, while her long front bangs fell down to perfectly cover one of her eyes.
On the side, a plastic bag from a convenience store had dropped, looking as if the owner had tried to carry something before losing her strength right here.
The body of the woman in front of me then slowly moved her shoulders and her head a bit, enough for me to clearly observe her face, accompanied by a soft, groggy groaning sound.
"Nnh…"
...!
"....Yoko-san?"
.
.
(Break)
~Issei's POV~
Nighttime.
Inside the Occult Research Club room.
"Never involve yourself with people from the Church again. Do you understand, Issei?"
"Y-Yes…"
I was currently being seriously lectured by Buchou because I had gotten myself involved with someone from the Church.
The story happened a few hours ago in the evening.
On the way home after club activities ended, I accidentally saw a woman stumble and fall on the street.
…And I got a full view of some good stuff.
Pure white panties…!
Of course, I didn't mean to look! It was an accident! It was a man's instinct!
And out of concern, I hurried over to help her.
It turned out she was a sister from abroad who happened to be looking for a church in this city.
And as a kind-hearted gentleman, I couldn't leave a woman in trouble all alone, so I volunteered to take her there.
Her name is—Asia Argento.
A girl with long blonde hair, emerald green eyes, and a face as soft and gentle as an angel… To be honest, she's my dream spec!
Maybe this is fate—!
…But then, remembering that I had become a devil, my pink dream almost crumbled right there.
Because to the people of the Church… devils are the "enemy."
Moreover, it seems Asia herself possesses a Sacred Gear.
I saw it with my own eyes when she used her healing power on a child along the way. It was an incredible power that made me stare in amazement.
…In the end, I could only walk her far enough to see the church before leaving.
Because the closer I got to that place, the more my body felt an increasingly chilly sensation.
It was an inexplicable sense of danger.
It was as if my body was crying out, warning my instincts that—
'If you get any closer, you're definitely going to get hurt badly.'
"…But even so, I don't think Asia is a bad person…"
I said softly, thinking of her gentle smile.
Upon hearing that, Buchou let out a small sigh.
"I didn't say she was a bad person, Issei," Rias said in a serious tone.
"But people of the Church and devils cannot coexist. That is the truth."
"…"
"Issei, they are our most formidable enemies. They can eliminate us with ease because their powers are supported by God's prayers. Furthermore, if it's an Exorcist with a Sacred Gear, that's like standing on the line between life and death, Issei."
The atmosphere inside the room went quiet immediately.
Even I could feel that those words weren't a joke.
"So, that chilly feeling I got when approaching the church was…"
"It's a devil's sensory instinct," Buchou continued with a calm voice.
"Places of the Church, like chapels, have holy power accumulated within them. Especially churches where priests or sisters reside permanently."
"Those holy powers are like poison to devils. The closer you are, the more your body will naturally trigger defensive reactions."
"Like an air allergy or something?"
"Something similar, but much more severe. If you were a low-level devil or a stray, sometimes just getting near the church's grounds could result in being burned away by the holy energy."
"Eh?"
I accidentally gulped.
Isn't that too terrifying!?
"If you were still human, you wouldn't feel anything. But now that your body has become a full devil, you've started to perceive those things."
"…Then what would happen if I actually walked into the church?"
"If it were an ordinary church, you'd probably just feel uncomfortable," Rias replied.
"But if it's a place with a holy barrier, or where holy weapons are stored… you could actually end up injured."
"…Gulp."
Hearing that, I started to feel a little glad that I didn't try to walk Asia all the way inside earlier this evening.
…Otherwise, I would have definitely ended up like rotisserie chicken in front of the church.
Click
The sound of the club room door opening.
"Ara ara~ Looks like the training for Issei-kun is finished, isn't it?"
Suddenly, Akeno-san walked in through the door and inserted herself into the conversation.
"Akeno-san?"
She turned and smiled at me slightly as usual, before Buchou's voice followed up.
"Akeno, what happened?"
The gentle smile on Akeno-san's face faded slightly upon hearing that question.
"We received an order from the Archduke to hunt down a stray devil."
A stray devil?
…Ah, right.
Last night, I heard that name from Hikigaya's mouth, too.
But the situation wasn't exactly favorable at that time, so I didn't ask for further details.
By the way… is he really okay?
Last night, he specifically said he would come to school as normal, but today he's gone missing.
It's lucky that he at least sent a reply message; otherwise, I would have already stormed over to his house by now.
…Wait, wait.
Where does he live, anyway?
As I was pondering that in my heart, Akeno-san turned to ask me.
"Come to think of it, Issei-kun, how is Hikigaya-kun doing right now?"
"Eh?… Oh! Actually, aside from the message this morning, he hasn't replied to anything else yet."
During the day, I told everyone that Hikigaya was fine so they would stop worrying.
But it seems Akeno-san is clearly worried about him in particular.
Because ever since the day started, she has asked about Hikigaya several times already.
Plus, during lunch break, when I was about to talk about his situation for the first time, she was the one who brought it up before anyone else.
…Good grief.
Having a beautiful Onee-san like Akeno-san worrying about you this much—isn't that just too enviable!?
If I knew it would turn out like this, I should have stayed there longer last night.
At least I might have been able to get a beautiful Onee-san to worry about me…
…But in reality, I think I would have been kicked in the face by Hikigaya first, though.
"Hmm… I'm really worried," Akeno-san said in a low voice before smiling faintly.
"Why don't you try contacting him?"
"Understood. I'll give it a try."
I nodded, then reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone.
The screen lit up instantly in the dimly lit room.
"…Hikigaya."
I muttered his name softly while sliding my finger to open the chat.
There was still no reply since the last message.
"Hey… what on earth is this guy doing?"
I scratched my head vigorously before pressing the call button.
Tuuut…
The signal sound rang in the speaker.
Tuuut… Tuuut…
"…Pick up, dammit."
I muttered softly, starting to feel slightly irritated.
Tuuut… Tuu—
"『Ah… Hello?』"
The sound of the line picking up suddenly came at the very last moment.
"…!"
I froze instantly. My hand holding the phone went rigid.
The other end was silent for a split second before a raspy, drowsy voice sounded back.
"Hey! Hikigaya! Is that you!?"
"『Ah… it's me. What do you want?』"
Hikigaya's voice sounded strangely tired, like someone who had just encountered something headache-inducing.
"Nothing, just a little worried."
"『Huh? Worried?… Why did you have to call? Sending a text should have been enough, right?』"
"Don't talk like that! Actually, Akeno-san suggested calling to make sure you weren't dead or something."
"『Huh? That woman… what's this about?』"
"What's about me?~"
"『...!..』"
A sweet voice drifted in from my side—it was Akeno-san.
"『Cough— cough!… Himejima-senpai is there?』"
The other end was silent for a moment, as if he couldn't adjust his emotions in time.
"Yes~ Hikigaya-kun didn't come to school today, so I couldn't help but worry. Sorry for bothering you with a call."
"…Uh, it's fine," the voice on the other end replied raspy-like.
"I felt a bit tired last night, so I overslept."
"Is that so? And what are you doing right now?"
Hey… why does this conversation sound like a couple who have only been dating for a few days, calling each other out of missing each other?
"『Right now is—』"
"『Who are you talking to~? Hachiman~?』"
—! ×3
…Huh?
A woman's voice?
But the tone was strangely deep and sounded slurred, like someone drunk.
"『I'm talking to a classmate, Yoko-san…』"
Yoko-san?
It really is a woman!
"『You just called her Himejima-senpai earlier, didn't you… hic… a woman, huh… and a senior, too… are you lying to this Onee-san?~』"
The voice on the other end sounded like someone heavily drunk.
"『I'm not lying! Uh… she's my club senior.』"
"『You're not dating, right?… hic…』"
"『How could that be? We've only known each other for a few days.』"
"『Hihi~ That's right, Hachiman. You shouldn't cheat on me~ Because you already promised to take me as your girlfriend anyway~』"
…What!?
"Girlfriend?" I accidentally let out a sound.
"『Wait, Yoko-san, that's—』"
"『Huh~? Is Hachiman-kun trying to say what he said this morning was a lie… sniff… hic… because that Himejima whatever is prettier than me, is that why you're hesitating…』"
"『Ouch, it's getting out of hand… Yoko-san, you're very drunk. Stop drinking, please.』"
"『I'm not drunk!… hic… Hey! You on the other end of the line!』"
Her low voice felt inexplicably like a cool girl.
"Yes?" Akeno-san replied in a slightly confused tone.
"『From now on, you are forbidden from even trying to flirt with this man! Do you understand!?…』"
"..."
Akeno-san went completely silent.
Is she stunned?
"『Not answering, huh… Fine. Then Hachiman-kun, tell me who you like best. Between me and her.』"
"『Uh… that's…』"
"『If you don't answer clearly, I'm going to rape you tonight—』"
Did she just say rape!?
What kind of life is that guy living to have a woman say something like that to him with a straight face!?
While I have to struggle with all my might for these kinds of things, and I've even almost been killed before.
…This is getting too enviable!
How in the world did he get this lucky with women, damn it?
"『Okay, okay, fine. I like Yoko-san the best.』"
"『Hihi~ Did you hear that~? He said he likes me the best… hic… hic』"
Sounds like she was lifting something to drink echoed from the other end.
"『That's enough. Drinking too much is bad for your health.』"
"『No! I'm going to drink more!』"
"『If you insist on that, I won't take you as my girlfriend anymore.』"
"『No… don't! Don't leave me, Hachiman…』"
"『Sigh… anyway, let's leave it at this for now, Issei. As you heard, I'm busy right now. And thank you for worrying, Himejima-senpai. See you tomorrow—』"
Click
"..."
"..."
"...…"
The club room fell into an awkward silence immediately.
The three of us remained unresponsive after the call ended, stunned by the conversation we just heard.
I slowly lowered the phone from my ear.
Before turning to look at Akeno-san, who was smiling.
…But it was a smile that was somehow terrifying.
"Issei-kun."
"Y…Yes?"
"It seems Hikigaya-kun has… more interesting secrets hidden than I thought, doesn't it~?"
"…Ha…ha-ha…"
I don't know why, but I've started to feel sorry for Hikigaya…
(Break)
Dormitory Apartment
~Hachiman POV~
"…ha…hachiman…ha…"
'Sigh… how tiring. Having to sit here comforting someone who was abandoned… or is it?'
In front of me, a woman was lying on the sofa, muttering my name periodically. She looked tired from venting out many things… even though the one who was truly being vented upon was me.
Oh… I guess you're curious who this woman is.
Her name is Kazumi Yoko.
A working woman in her late twenties, close to Teacher Hiratsuka's age.
Actually, she was the previous owner of the apartment.
But because her new boyfriend was overseas and due to various overwhelming situations, she decided to sell this place and move in with her boyfriend abroad instead.
Before I became the current owner, I used to be her tenant. This place was my first residence since coming to the human world. I met her through Azazel.
That guy once asked me what kind of place I wanted to live in.
When I answered, "Something plain, something normal."
He brought me here.
Once, Azazel thought about playing around and flirting with this woman because he thought she was interesting. Plus, that guy's personality was somewhat of a playboy, liking to flirt with women everywhere… maybe that's why he fell from heaven.
But this time, it didn't go as expected.
No matter what kind of tricks Azazel used, Yoko-san never went along with it even once. It's considered one of the few times he failed in this regard, despite usually never missing.
Four months ago, she was pressured by family and neighbors about her increasing age—the same old words like, "It's time to get married and have children," made her think about opening up and accepting her first arranged blind date.
You're probably wondering why this woman is only starting to open up now.
Actually, she is not the person you just saw in this state.
Her normal personality is calm, quiet, mysterious, and appears mature.
She is a beautiful woman in a "cool-headed girl" style. Her sharp eyes, which always look tired, give the feeling of an office worker carrying everything on her own.
She has a charm unlike ordinary women.
It's a pity… that when she's drunk, all of that personality disappears, and she becomes a completely different person.
But even so, that might also be her "true self."
People who talk little are often the ones carrying the most thoughts, only they don't think every feeling needs to be spoken out loud.
Every human being has two sides.
One side is the mask used to coexist with the world, and the other side is hidden away in silence.
And yes… it was that very drunkenness that allowed that silence to find a voice…
(Flashback)
.
.
"Sit here first, okay? I'll go get you some water."
I gently supported her arm, guiding her over to the sofa, before helping her adjust to the most comfortable position.
"…Ngh…"
Thud.
She collapsed onto the sofa, completely exhausted.
It didn't take long.
"Here… some water."
I handed her a glass of plain water to help bring back her hazy consciousness.
She took it and drank it in a hurry, like someone who had been parched for a long time.
"…Gulp… pant… Haa…"
"How are you feeling?"
"…Ugh… a little better."
Her eyes were still quite blurry.
…Does she even know who she's talking to right now?
Sigh… if this keeps up, we won't be able to have a proper conversation.
I might as well wipe her face; it should help her cool down a bit.
I walked over to the wardrobe and pulled out a fresh handkerchief.
Then I grabbed a small basin from the storage cabinet and filled it with a reasonable amount of water.
After that, I soaked the cloth, squeezing it gently until it was just damp.
Once prepared, I returned to the sofa.
Yoko-san was still sitting there, breathing heavily in short gasps, looking in rather poor shape.
I sat down next to her but kept a reasonable distance, not touching her directly, before raising the handkerchief.
"Excuse me, Yoko-san."
I extended my hand and carefully wiped around her face—her cheeks, chin, and forehead.
Then I helped brush her slightly messy hair out of the way to let the air pass more freely, hoping it would make her feel refreshed.
A few moments passed.
"…Haa… mmm…"
It seemed her awareness was gradually returning.
Yoko-san blinked slowly as she felt the cool dampness on her face.
She then realized that someone's hand was gently wiping her face with a cloth.
She slowly turned her face toward the hand, as if still unsure of what she was seeing.
And in that very second—
She saw a face she hadn't seen in over three months.
A young man with black hair streaked with white bangs, a face that was handsome in a somewhat rogue way, and a striking amber-gold left eye that seemed to glow in the dim light.
She froze slightly, her brain unable to process right away who the person in front of her was.
"Hachiman-kun?"
"Oh, you're awake."
Seeing that she had regained enough consciousness, I stood up from beside her and immediately moved to sit on the opposite sofa.
"…Ugh… where is this…?"
"It's your old apartment."
"Ah…"
"I found you unconscious in front of the main entrance."
"..."
Did she think this was still her room?
…No, when people are drunk, their bodies often move on instinct without passing through conscious thought. Maybe she just remembered the familiar route naturally.
…But putting that aside for now.
The main point is, why did she come back here?
"Yoko-san… why are you here?"
I paused for a moment before continuing.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm only asking because I remember you moved abroad with your boyfriend."
The moment she heard the question, she lowered her head slightly, her expression visibly darkening.
"…Uh… if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine."
I added quickly, feeling like I might have probed a bit too deep.
But honestly, just looking at the current situation, I could already guess the rough outline of the story.
…When a relationship like that falls apart, the reasons usually boil down to just a few things.
"…No… maybe venting it out might be better."
She shook her head gently before looking up at me with eyes that seemed even more exhausted than before.
A sad smile appeared on her face.
"The reason I came back here… is because I have nowhere else to go right now."
"Eh?"
"I had a bit of a problem with my boyfriend. The story is…
.
.
…And by the time I realized it, I was already in this room."
"..."
Well… how should I put it?
After sitting and listening to her entire story, only one phrase popped into my head.
…What the hell?
If you were to say she was "dumped," it wouldn't be wrong from an outsider's perspective.
But the problem was… the reason for this breakup was a bit too much of a headache.
No… from the very beginning, could that even be called a "couple"?
It was too distorted to describe with normal words.
From what she told me, their relationship didn't feel like lovers at all.
On the contrary, it felt more like a "mother" taking care of a child.
Why did I think that?
Because no matter what her boyfriend did, she always had to manage, teach, and correct him.
It wasn't that the guy was incompetent.
It was just that this woman… was too perfect.
She was the type who, upon seeing anything untidy, would automatically step in to handle it.
That kind of dynamic lasted for about two and a half months.
And finally, the boyfriend couldn't take it anymore.
Probably because he felt his self-worth constantly diminishing.
Like a child being lectured by an adult, even though their actual ages weren't that different.
Then a huge fight broke out.
In the end, she was told that she was a "weird woman" who didn't understand a lover's affection at all.
…And they broke up.
Now I'm starting to understand why she looked so troubled while telling this story.
It wasn't because she was still in pain from that love.
It was because she was afraid.
Afraid that others… including me… would view her as a "freak" too.
After the breakup, she intended to return to her family.
But on second thought, she grew anxious that her family would just arrange more blind dates with other men, and everything would end up the exact same way.
In the end, she just wandered around aimlessly.
…And before she knew it,
She had stopped right in front of my door.
"Hachiman-kun, do you think I was wrong?"
"If you're asking who's at fault… it's probably both of you."
"You tried to make everything too perfect, while the other side wanted a lover, not a child to be taken care of."
"What do you mean?"
"Yoko-san… I know you did it out of good intentions."
"But no matter how good the intentions are, if it's too much, it eventually turns into pressure."
"It makes the person living with you feel like they have no space, no purpose, and that everything they do is being corrected."
"And worst of all… they gradually start to feel like a 'dependent' rather than a 'life partner.'"
Honestly, I actually like this kind of woman. That way, I wouldn't have to work at all and could just laze around the house all day.
"..."
Yoko-san went silent immediately.
Her eyes wavered slightly, as if she was trying to process my words.
"Of course… he was wrong too."
"Instead of speaking up directly that he felt suffocated or sharing what he was thinking, he just let the dissatisfaction accumulate."
"In the end, when he couldn't take it anymore, it exploded into the conclusion you see now."
I sighed softly before continuing.
"Being a couple isn't just about taking care of each other."
"It's about trying to understand each other… and accepting the other person, including their flaws."
"..."
"The real question is…"
I looked at her steadily.
"Did you even like him from the start?"
"…Mmm."
She lowered her head slightly before answering slowly.
"Then… what is that supposed to feel like?"
"..."
I immediately massaged my temples.
Are you serious?
The emotional development of this woman is way too poor for someone her age. Isn't she a bit too cool-headed?
"To put it simply…"
"Imagine that guy talking gently to another woman."
"At first, it might just feel a bit strange, but the closer you see them getting, the more a tight sensation starts to build up in your chest."
"Or… try closing your eyes and imagining him with another woman."
"Then place your hand over your heart and see how it feels."
Hearing that, Yoko-san slowly raised her left hand to her chest and closed her eyes as instructed.
The room fell into silence for a while.
"…How is it? Do you feel anything?"
She opened her eyes slowly before answering in a hesitant voice.
"…Mmm, I feel a little worried."
"Worried?"
"Yes…"
"I'm worried about whether he can take good care of that woman…"
"..."
Are you his mother or something?
It's completely backwards. Normally, people should worry that 'that woman is going to steal my boyfriend,' not turn around and worry about 'whether my boyfriend can take care of that woman.'
…Ah.
Now I understand why Azazel failed to win her over.
This woman should be ranked at the top of the world's "hardest women to court" list.
"Then, do you think I should change, Hachiman?"
"Why would you need to change?"
"Eh?…"
Yoko-san paused, biting her lower lip.
"But you just said earlier—"
"My point is whether you love him or not."
"If you truly love him, love him enough to want to be with him… then changing yourself wouldn't be strange."
"But the question after that is, do you feel good? Are you comfortable with that kind of change?"
"..."
"To summarize it simply…"
I leaned back against the sofa, looking at her calmly.
"To me, the most important part of changing is whether you're ultimately still happy."
Yoko-san's eyes widened instantly.
"…Happy?"
"Yes."
"Think about it… why did you end up back here when you intended to go to your family? Even though there are so many places to go in this world, your body walked here unconsciously."
"That's because to you… this place is where you feel the most at ease."
="A place where you don't have to be on guard, don't have to try to be something for someone else."
"A place where you don't have to listen to the expectations of those around you, and… where you don't have to force yourself."
My voice softened slightly.
"There are plenty of men in this world; there's bound to be someone who truly fits you."
"Don't bother with picky men; staying with them will only ruin your mental health for nothing."
I let out a soft chuckle.
"Besides…"
"A fine gem is naturally hard to find."
"But no matter how hard it is… if you find it, isn't it worth it?"
"..."
Kazumi Yoko remained frozen like that, her once-dull eyes trembling bit by bit.
Only one thought occupied her mind.
'This boy… who exactly is he…' 'Why does he understand me so much…' 'Even though I myself… have never understood myself like this before…'
As she listened to my long speech, color gradually returned to her exhausted face.
Her heart, which had been quiet for a long time, began to beat distinctively.
In front of her was a boy who spoke coldly, too bluntly, and sometimes rudely.
But he was the one trying to make her feel… the most comfortable, without any need for lies.
And finally…
She asked a question, one that seemed to measure her own worth.
"Then what about you, Hachiman… do you like the way I am right now?"
After asking, she immediately lowered her head.
But she still peeked up slightly, as if afraid of missing my expression.
As for me, I just replied in the most casual tone.
"Of course."
"A woman like that is pretty cool, isn't she?"
I paused for a moment before offering a faint smile.
A small smile that was barely any different from usual.
"Besides… wouldn't that not be the Kazumi Yoko I know?"
Thud.
It was as if an invisible arrow had instantly pierced straight through the woman's heart.
Thump…
Thump… Thump… Thump…
The heart that had beaten sluggishly all her life began to race uncontrollably, like a car accelerating to top speed.
Her face grew red, spreading all the way to her ears.
If one looked closely, it almost seemed like steam was rising from her head.
"…Mmm."
"Thank you… Hachiman."
Seeing her still hanging her head, I couldn't help but ask.
"Are you sure you're okay, Yoko-san?"
"…Ugh."
She nodded gently like a chicken pecking at grain.
'Cute.'
Especially for someone who usually acted so composed and cool.
After that, the atmosphere returned to silence.
But it was a slightly awkward silence because neither of us started the next conversation.
I caught sight of a convenience store bag resting beside the table.
Inside was filled with beer cans. I picked one up and offered it to her.
"Would you like a drink?"
Honestly, I shouldn't have done this; she had just sobered up.
But I've heard that when people drink what they like, it helps them relax a bit.
Similar to how I'm hooked on Max Coffee.
"Eh?… Mmm, thanks."
She took it awkwardly before drinking it down in one go, as if unsure of what to do with herself.
'I never thought I'd see Yoko-san in a state like this…'
A while passed.
It seemed the alcohol was starting to kick in again slightly.
"…Hey~ Hachiman…"
"Yes?"
"Do you have someone you like yet?"
I blinked in surprise at the question that came out of nowhere.
"Well… not yet," I replied. Why was she suddenly asking that?
"…Is that so?"
She lowered her head again and smiled slightly, before gently wiping her lips with the back of her hand, as if trying to gather some sort of courage.
And then…
She uttered a phrase that shouldn't have come out of the mouth of a woman her age at all, let alone to a guy younger than her.
"Hachiman~"
"If in the end… I still can't find a worthy man…"
She slowly looked up at me, her eyes slightly hazy from the alcohol, trembling a little.
"Will you take me as your girlfriend?"
"Huh?"
Is she so insecure about herself that she's using me as insurance?
…Hikigaya Hachiman was mistaken.
In reality, Kazumi Yoko was no longer insecure; she had already decided that 'if it's not this man… I don't want anyone else.' And of course, Hachiman had no way of knowing.
That he had just completely reeled in the woman he deemed "one of the hardest types to court in the world"….
Seeing that I remained silent, Yoko-san began to sniffle softly as if she was about to cry.
"…sniff… hic…"
"I thought so… I am quite old after all…"
"Hachiman probably dislikes the thought of being with me…"
"N-No, that's not true! Yoko-san!"
Good grief!
Another new problem thrown my way! I really shouldn't have let her drink. If I leave it like this, today will never end!
…I guess I'll just have to play along for now.
"To me, you are very beautiful. In my entire life, there are very few women who could make me say this."
"You're cool, kind, and dependable too."
"How could I possibly dislike a woman like that… Honestly, you're even too perfect for me, Yoko-san."
…How strange.
I don't know since when I started being able to spout these sickeningly sweet words so smoothly, just like a playboy working his charm on a woman.
In the past, just hearing these kinds of words from others would make me cringe in disgust, but now it feels completely normal to say them.
…Or is it because of the devil cells inside me?
Whatever.
The woman in front of me is more important right now.
"Then… what's the answer?"
It seemed she wouldn't let it slide easily.
She still wanted an actual answer.
"Uh… alright."
"If it really comes to that time, I'll take you as my girlfriend."
"…Hihi~"
(End of Flashback)
"…Sigh…"
I let out a long sigh while leaning my head back against the sofa.
My eyes drifted to the woman who was sleeping, periodically muttering my name, leaving me with a complicated feeling.
'…Why do I feel like I've been tricked somehow?'
At first, I only intended to comfort a normally heartbroken woman—no, can that even be called heartbroken?
In the end, I accidentally made a strange promise just like that.
…And she seems to remember every single word of it perfectly.
This is worse than signing a contract with a devil.
At least a devil's contract has clear terms.
But here, I accidentally created a verbal promise with a drunk woman who seems to take it more seriously than anyone.
…Come to think of it, Yoko-san's normal self versus her drunk self reminds me of a certain woman who claimed copyright over being my Onee-san several years ago.
A composed, quiet, mature personality…
But once she gets drunk, everything crumbles.
The clinginess, the stubbornness, the selfishness, or even the dangerous thoughts that are ready to slip out without restraint.
…Good grief.
What was the author thinking, creating another character with the exact same traits?
Just one was enough to give me a fatal headache, and now there's a second one.
Don't they know this type of woman is the hardest to handle?
I don't want to make the same mistake a second time!
"..Hachiman~… don't touch right there… hihi~"
"..."
….Yeah.
Truly hard to handle…..
(Break)
The next day.
In the evening.
Tok... tok...
Right now, I am walking toward the Occult Research Club.
I intend to visit or sort of report in, since I promised I would yesterday.
…To be honest, I only came because I still hold the status of a club member.
Come to think of it, Issei didn't show up to school today.
For a guy like him, this is considered pretty strange.
Because I don't think a guy like him would just skip school for no good reason. Especially not here at Kuoh Academy.
…An institution overflowing with premium-grade beautiful girls.
For a pervert whose brain is driven by sheer lust like Hyoudou Issei, skipping school at a place like this is practically no different from throwing away a life opportunity.
Which means…
Something must have definitely happened to him.
I arrived in front of the clubroom door, before slowly pushing it open.
Clack
"Excuse me—"
Slap!
The moment I stepped into the room, the very first sight that slammed into my eyes was Buchou slapping Issei right across the cheek.
"…Uh."
I froze right at the door.
What is it this time?
The atmosphere inside the room was so heavy you could almost see it taking physical form. Issei stood there silently, holding his cheek, his expression a mix of confusion and slight resentment. Meanwhile, Buchou kept glaring at him with icy eyes, while Kiba and Koneko stood around without saying a word.
…What happened?
A lovers' quarrel again?
Or do I have to sit down and comfort another couple today?
Give me a break, I'm starting to get tired of these repetitive plots.
…Don't you guys feel like it's getting monotonous?
I'd love to say that out loud, but the thing is, these two aren't even a couple yet.
…At least, not "right now."
The story has only progressed a few episodes. There hasn't been any event heavy enough to develop their relationship to that level yet.
Therefore, if I had to guess the situation in front of me right now, it would be a matter between a "Master" and a "Servant" instead.
…But even so, Buchou going so far as to personally slap Issei is still pretty severe.
I quietly closed the door behind me, scanning the atmosphere in the room once more.
Looks like I walked in at the absolute worst possible timing.
"How many times do I have to repeat myself, Issei?"
Buchou's icy voice resonated within the room.
"My answer remains the same… No means no. I absolutely will not permit you to go save that sister."
Sister?
Who?
I slowly tiptoed closer to Kiba, who was standing quietly watching the situation from the side, before leaning in to whisper softly.
"Kiba… what happened?"
"Eh—?!"
Kiba flinched slightly before quickly turning toward me.
"Hikigaya-kun?! When did you get here? You startled me."
"Just just now."
It seemed he was so focused on the situation in front of him that he didn't even notice me walking in.
"So, what exactly happened?"
Kiba lowered his voice slightly before explaining.
"Yesterday, it seems Issei-kun got to know a certain sister. And today, she was captured by the Fallen Angels. It looks like they are going to use her for some kind of ritual…"
"So Issei-kun wants to go save her."
"…Hmm."
Now I understand why Issei got slapped.
Because this isn't a problem that can be resolved just by rushing in and picking a fight with the Fallen Angels.
It's an issue between races.
If this small incident escalates, it could become the spark that reignites the war that ended a long time ago.
…Have you ever heard of the saying 'a single drop of honey'?
Yes..
Just a single drop of honey, yet it can turn into the root cause of a massive war.
As for what is about to happen right here… it's not much different.
Of course, from my perspective, nobody is truly "wrong" in this matter.
Issei has his own reasons.
That woman is a good person, and right now, she's in danger.
If it were any ordinary guy, especially the type driven by straightforward emotions like Issei, there's no way they would just leave her alone.
It's purely a matter of morality.
As for Buchou, she isn't being cruel either.
The one who stands at the top always has to shoulder the consequences of their team members' actions.
They need to constantly think things through, look further than momentary impulses, and cannot allow themselves to sway easily.
Because the moment a wrong decision is made, what crumbles might not just be a single person's life.
But it could include the entire group… or even the relationship between whole races.
Therefore…
I guess we'll just have to see whose "reasoning" between the two sides wins the argument.
But Buchou's eyes look a bit strange.
Even though she is strictly opposing Issei, deep down in those eyes, it feels more like she is testing Issei's reaction.
….Or am I just overthinking it?
"Then I'll go alone," Issei spoke up with a determined voice.
"I'm worried about that ritual. The Fallen Angels are doing something behind the scenes. There's absolutely no guarantee for Asia's safety."
"Are you really that foolish?"
Buchou shot back instantly.
"If you go, you will definitely be killed, Issei. And this time, you won't be resurrected again. Do you understand?"
Despite the harsh words, she still tried to keep her voice calm and controlled throughout.
"Your actions won't just affect you alone. It will affect the other members as well."
"You are a Devil of the Gremory眷属. So please, be aware of your position."
"Then just let me out of this peerage."
Issei countered almost instantly.
"I'll go handle things there alone."
"I can't do that!"
Buchou's voice grew slightly louder than usual.
"Why can't you understand?!"
"I'm just a mere [Pawn] in a chess game..."
Issei clenched his fists tightly.
"Just losing one pawn shouldn't—"
"Shut up!"
"...."
Whoa…
Pretty intense, these two.
If only I had a bucket of popcorn right here, it would be perfect. A scene like this isn't something you get to see every day.
"Issei."
After a moment of silence, Buchou let out a soft sigh.
"Do you think a Pawn is the weakest piece?"
"Is it not?"
"Sigh..."
She pressed her hand against her temple gently before continuing.
"The [Evil Piece], I've told you before that it possesses traits similar to real chess, right?"
"Especially the 'Pawn'."
"That piece has a special trait called 'Promotion'."
"When it reaches the enemy's base, it can promote to any other piece... except for the 'King'."
Issei froze slightly.
"In other words..."
"Whenever you can advance to the position I designate as the 'enemy base', you will be able to promote to another piece."
"But because you've only recently become a Devil, your power and body aren't stable enough yet, so you can't promote to a 'Queen' right now—"
Clack
The sound of the door opening.
I immediately turned toward the sound and saw Himejima-senpai stepping into the room silently. She walked past Issei as if not wanting to interrupt the conversation, before heading straight toward Buchou.
Then, she leaned down slightly, whispering something into her ear.
"…!"
The atmosphere in the room changed almost instantly.
It wasn't just me who noticed it. Even Issei automatically stopped talking, as if cut short by an invisible pressure.
Buchou fell silent for a moment, her previously serious expression gradually turning even more solemn than before.
"…I understand," she murmured softly in response.
Himejima-senpai gave a slight nod, before calmly stepping back and resuming her usual position by Buchou's side.
…Something has definitely happened.
Ding!
Hmm?
Suddenly, a notification sound chimed from my phone.
I pulled it out of my pants pocket and opened it, before my eyes widened slightly when I saw the sender's name.
"What's wrong, Hikigaya-kun?"
Kiba chimed in immediately upon noticing my reaction just now.
"Oh, it's nothing."
I slowly put my phone away.
"It looks like I have some urgent business to attend to. I'll take my leave now."
Having said that, I walked out of the room, while the scene before me continued to unfold.
.
.
The park.
I pulled out my phone once more, before opening the message that was sent just now.
Sender: The Old Man Who Loves Tossing Problems My Way
[Hikigaya, I want you to go help clear up a problem regarding my subordinates.]
[You can probably guess the rough situation by now, so I won't explain too much.]
[I can't move personally because of my position, which would cause certain repercussions, as you should well understand.]
[The reason I'm entrusting this matter to you is because it's delicate, and you're the only one I can trust.]
[As for how you handle it, it's entirely up to you.
I'll make sure to add a bonus for you later. I'm counting on you. _]
"....."
I read through that message repeatedly, as my body began to tremble slightly until my eyelid twitched.
The hand gripping the phone gradually tightened, to the point where I felt that if I applied just a little more force, this phone would definitely turn into a piece of wreckage right in my hand.
…Again.
Tossing problems to me again!
"Dammit…!"
I swore softly under my breath, while holding my forehead.
"Every single time… whenever a problem comes up, the one who ends up clean up the mess always has to be me…"
'As for how you handle it, it's entirely up to you,' huh…
You're just too lazy to think for yourself, aren't you!
Speaking as if he has justifiable reasons for everything, when in reality, that guy barely even pays attention to his own subordinates.
Just completely obsessed with his Sacred Gear research all day long…
"..Sigh.. having a boss like this is exhausting—"
Ding
Hmm?
What now…?
I sighed once more, before pulling out my phone to open it.
Sender: Issei
[Hey Hikigaya, right now me, Kiba, and Koneko-chan are heading to the abandoned church. I'm going to save a friend of mine. Do you want to come along?]
"...."
…Hmm.
So that guy ended up going after all.
This is bad. Looks like I need to hurry up and clear things out before those guys reach the destination.
The abandoned church…?
…Ah, right.
That's a place where I once went on a mission.
If I remember correctly, there's still a large basement inside that church. In that case, teleporting straight to the basement would probably be faster…
Hmm…
…Let's go with that.
I typed out a reply.
[Sorry, I'm a bit busy right now. I'll wait to hear the good news when you guys get back.]
Sent.
'Alright… let's just get this over with.'
I gently opened my palm, before a black liquid slowly flowed out and gathered together, taking the shape of a mask, before sliding up to cover my face.
Vmmm—
A yellow and black magic circle slowly manifested above my head, before lowering to envelop my body gradually.
As it passed through my clothes, the school uniform I was wearing instantly transformed into a butler-style suit.
'How many months has it been… since I last wore this outfit?'
It is my official uniform whenever I go out on a mission.
As for the reason why it has to be a butler suit… it's just applying the knowledge gained from "a certain woman."
No one would ever suspect that beneath the image of this neat and tidy "butler," the true identity is actually that lazy, sharp-tongued Hikigaya Hachiman.
Speaking of which, Kalawarner is over there too, right? Yesterday she said she had errands… so that must be it.
'I just hope that when we meet, she won't suddenly rush over and throw herself into a hug…'
I checked my condition to make sure everything was in order, before noticing something unusual on one of my hands.
…Huh?
'Where did my ring go?'