~Hachiman POV~
Occult Research Club Room
Night
Two days have already passed since Issei and I joined this Occult Research Club.
During that time, my daily life hasn't really changed much... Ah... I mean, whether it was before joining the club or after, it's remained the same.
In the morning, I go to school as usual, living a quiet life just like before, just like the old world I left behind... Yes, that was the lifestyle I once hoped for before enrolling in this educational institution due to the mission I was assigned.
Yes... it should be like that. It would be fitting for someone like Hachiman Hikigaya.
But everything changed. There were various factors that caused that change, and of course, in the end, I had to accept the current way of life that had already been determined—no, I had to force myself to accept it. I can't just blame fate alone, so I had to adapt to my surroundings, helplessly.
I once looked down on adaptation and change as just running away from one's former self. It might sound true in some aspects.
But the truth is quite the opposite.
The world isn't kind enough to lower itself to adjust to you.
If you stand still, the world just passes you by.
No one cares about your weakness, no one stops to wait because of the reasons in your heart, and no one needs to understand why you choose to live like that.
Those who refuse to change end up being the ones who lose out.
...I used to think that being alone was the perfect answer. If you don't expect anything from anyone, you won't be disappointed. If you don't build relationships, you won't have to suffer the pain of losing them.
That logic had always protected me.
At least, the previous "Hachiman Hikigaya" truly believed that.
But after going through more stories, I've started to understand something—...no, maybe I understood it from the beginning. That constantly rejecting the outside world doesn't mean you're strong at all.
If you're just proud of a self that can't do anything, and then use the word 'sincerity' as an excuse to reject change...
In the end, you're just a coward afraid of being hurt again. Someone who wraps their fragile ego in nice-sounding words.
...Doesn't that sound pathetic?
Besides, my current situation isn't exactly favorable. One of those issues is women.
Specifically, certain types of women with such bizarre tastes that I'm starting to genuinely worry about their mental state.
What's more, since the day Kiba came to pick us up, strange rumors have begun to spread quietly throughout the school. Of course, the source is undoubtedly those fujoshi who have imagined things far beyond reality.
They've gone as far as giving me weird nicknames like "Ice Prince" or "Lone Wolf," and they even love to pair me up with Kiba.
...It's becoming too scary.
Humans really can create a love story just from two guys walking together, can't they?
This world is getting a bit too difficult to live in.
At least Issei is seen as just a common pervert.
But as for me...
I was just minding my own business, yet I got dragged into someone else's romance novel. Male x Female I can somewhat understand, but... Male x Male is absolutely unacceptable!
...Please have some sympathy for the person being shipped.
As for after school, I head straight to the Occult Research Club room. Although the name sounds like a club for the supernatural or mysterious rituals, in reality, it's just a front for the activities of devils.
And my club activities?
...Well, there isn't much. I just sit quietly reading a book on the sofa, occasionally sipping tea that Himejima-senpai brewed. Although I felt a bit awkward and paranoid at first—especially while reading, I'd often worry: what if a summoning circle suddenly appeared in this room and the person I've been trying to avoid all this time showed up?
But as time passed, everything was much calmer than I expected.
As a safety precaution, I indirectly told Rias not to tell anyone about me, using various reasons that sounded reasonable enough not to make her suspicious.
At least, for now, I can feel somewhat at ease.
The atmosphere inside this club room... strangely feels similar to the 'Service Club' from my previous world.
Except for the fact that this place is full of devils, and everything I've mentioned is my current situation...
Issei's situation, however, is entirely different.
That guy has to work every day after school, riding his bicycle to distribute flyers to the homes of humans who have "wishes."
Yes, that is the start of his job as a reincarnated devil, so that one day the degenerate dream he just set for himself a few days ago...
Will become a reality.
"Issei, today you will finally perform the duties of a real devil. You've done a great job with the leaflet distribution so far."
"Oh! I finally get to make a real contract!?"
Issei bolted upright instantly, his eyes sparkling like a child who just got a new toy.
At this time, the Occult Research Club room was still filled with members of the Gremory group, just like every day.
Rias-senpai was sitting in her office chair, while Himejima-senpai was pouring tea with a relaxed air. Kiba sat reading documents near the window, while Koneko continued to eat snacks quietly with her usual expressionless face.
As for me, I was still sitting in the corner of the sofa reading a book as usual.
The overall atmosphere was so peaceful I almost forgot that this was a gathering base for devils, until Rias brought up the topic.
"Yes. Since this is your first contract, I've chosen a task that involves a small wish for you first," Rias explained in a calm voice.
"Actually, this job was originally Koneko's contract, but today she received two replies at the same time. It might be a bit difficult to handle them both alone."
Having finished speaking, Rias stood up from the sofa and walked closer to Issei.
"So I thought this would be a good opportunity for you to try making a real contract for the first time."
After hearing that, Koneko, who was quietly eating snacks, looked up before turning toward Issei and bowing her head slightly.
"I'll be in your care."
"Mm! Don't worry, Koneko-chan. You can count on me!" Issei clenched his fist with a fired-up expression.
"Finally, the golden age of Issei Hyoudou has arrived!"
"...It's just going to make a contract, isn't it?" I muttered softly.
"Don't say that, Hikigaya!" Issei turned around immediately. "This is the first step on the path to becoming a Harem King!"
"...That sounds like a genuinely concerning future."
"It seems Issei-kun is highly motivated," Kiba looked up from his documents with a gentle smile. "I'll give you my support as well."
"O... Oh. Thanks, I guess..." Issei replied with a visibly awkward expression.
It seems this guy still dislikes the 'Prince of Kuoh' as much as ever.
"Akeno, prepare the transportation magic circle."
"Yes, Buchou."
Upon receiving the order, Himejima-senpai walked to the center of the room before spreading both arms at shoulder level.
A few seconds later—
Vwooom—
A large red magic circle appeared beneath her feet. A red light glowed slowly, along with various strange characters that were rotating.
"Issei, give me your hand."
"Ah... Y-Yes."
Issei quickly extended his hand, and Rias used her finger to draw something on his palm.
A pattern resembling a red rose gradually appeared before emitting a faint glow.
"This is?"
"The seal of the Gremory household," Rias explained. "With this, the magic circle will send you directly to the client. And once the contract is finished, you will be able to return to this club room immediately."
"Wow..." Issei looked at the seal on his hand with sparkling eyes.
"Akeno, are you ready?"
"Everything is ready, Buchou," Akeno replied as she stepped out of the magic circle.
"Alright, Issei. Go stand in the center of the magic circle."
"Yes!"
Issei hurried inside, before stopping in the middle of the magic circle with a look of extreme excitement.
"Are you ready, Issei?"
"Yes!"
"Good answer... Then, go!"
Vmmmmmmm—
The magic circle began to rotate faster and faster. A bright red light slowly enveloped Issei's body.
Then—
Fwoosh!
.
.
.
"…..?"
"….."
What everyone expected next was for Issei's body to vanish from the room.
But it seemed that wasn't the case.
Because Issei was still standing in the same spot, perfectly still.
"Ara~" Akeno tilted her head slightly.
"...Sigh..." I let out a long sigh, as if I had already seen this coming.
"Wow... You're even unluckier than I am, Issei. Congratulations."
It really was like that.
Even though I have a fair amount of bad luck myself, I didn't think there would be someone this unfortunate, especially in terms of 'ability.'
"...Uh, Buchou, what does this mean?" Issei turned to ask Rias, who was clutching her forehead with a dazed expression.
"Issei... it seems you are unable to use the transportation magic circle to travel to the client's location."
"Huh?"
"That magic circle requires a certain level of demonic power to function... though it doesn't actually require that much power."
Rias sighed helplessly before continuing.
"In fact, it's a basic ability that almost every devil can do. Even a child can use it."
"….."
"In other words, your demonic power right now is lower than a child's. So low that the magic circle cannot process it."
Issei froze instantly.
It was likely because those words cut too deep, especially the comparison to a child... and being even lower than a child at that.
"Wh-What the hell!!"
"Ha... haha..." Kiba laughed dryly with a strained smile.
"How unsightly," Koneko said flatly with her usual expressionless face, making Issei look even more pained.
"Ara ara~ Then what should we do, Buchou?" Akeno turned to ask Rias with a troubled look.
"Hmm... but the client is waiting now, so we can't just leave it," Rias thought for a moment. "Besides, this kind of case has never happened before..."
"It can't be helped, Issei. You'll have to travel there yourself."
"Eh? By myself?"
"Yes, just like when you went to distribute flyers. You'll have to ride your bicycle."
"Uh... is there really such a thing? A devil who goes to make a contract on a bicycle... isn't that a bit pathetic...?"
"It can't be helped," Rias said with a sympathetic face. "Since you don't have magic power, you have to use physical strength instead."
"Now, hurry up and go. The client is waiting!"
"Sniff... sniff... U-Uwaaaah! I'll do my best!!"
Issei wailed as he bolted out of the room immediately.
Bang!
The sound of the door slamming echoed, before silence descended upon the club room for a moment.
.
.
"My, my~ How truly pitiful, Issei-kun is. Right, Hikigaya-kun~?"
After a while, himejima-senpai started the conversation again with her usual gentle smile.
"I guess so," I replied while lifting my tea cup to take a sip.
"No one feels good after starting a new beginning with full determination, only to be left with the bitter taste of reality from the very first step."
I set the tea cup down gently before continuing.
"I'm certain that when he gets there, the client will look down on him as a devil. Then he'll probably cry in front of the door while venting his feelings."
"Fufufu~ You say such cruel things."
I shrugged in response before turning toward Rias—
...No, I should call her 'Buchou.'
Even though I'm not used to it, as a club member, I have to call her that as well.
"By the way, Buchou, is it really okay to let Issei go alone like that at night?"
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Rias turned around immediately with a surprised expression.
"You haven't forgotten the words of that fallen angel old man, have you?"
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"..'if you keep neglecting things like this, someone like me might just come wandering by and hunt them down, you know?'.. something like that."
The atmosphere in the room grew a bit quiet.
"If Issei could teleport from the start, I wouldn't have mentioned this because there would be almost no risk."
I stared straight at Rias.
"But now that guy has to ride a bicycle alone in the middle of the night. And maybe... the news that Issei isn't dead yet might have already reached that Yuma girl's ears."
"...!"
"If that's the case, what do you think she'll do next?"
Rias frowned immediately. It seemed my words carried enough weight for her to start considering it.
After being quiet for a while, her expression gradually softened.
"Hmm... you're right. I should have been more careful," Rias sighed. "Thank you, Hikigaya, for the warning."
"I just said it just in case. I don't know if it will actually happen."
"No, it's better to be safe."
Then Akeno walked over and whispered something in Rias's ear.
Hmm? What happened now?
"I see..." Rias nodded slightly before turning back to me. "It seems that right now, no one is free enough to go keep an eye on Issei."
"Koneko, Yuuto, and Akeno all have their own contract work to do. As for myself, I have personal business as well."
She paused for a moment before continuing.
"Therefore, there is only one option left now..."
"...Hikigaya, I want you to go check on Issei."
"Wait a minute, why did it turn out like that?" I frowned immediately.
"I'm not some errand boy you can just order around whenever—"
"I'll give you compensation."
"Okay, that's acceptable."
"Senpai is a sell-out," Koneko spoke up immediately with her usual expressionless face, but it gave off a strangely disappointed feeling.
"...Guh.."
Seeing a girl around Komachi's age say something like that made my heart ache in an indescribable way.
"N-No! This is a mutually beneficial exchange!"
"Fufufu~ It seems Hikigaya-kun treats Koneko-chan quite specially. I'm a little jealous."
Jealous of what! I'm not trying to hit on a kid!
(Break)
.
.
Night
On the Road
"...(Gulp)... Hah~ No matter when, the sweetness of Max Coffee is truly the best thing for healing the soul."
It was now past midnight. For most people, this would be considered very late.
The surroundings were quiet and almost devoid of people, especially in small alleys in a residential area like this. The light from the street lamps stretched long across the road, while the night wind blew softly from time to time.
I walked leisurely without any rush, one hand holding a can of Max Coffee taking occasional sips, the other tucked in my pants pocket.
My destination was the house of that client... the house where Issei was currently making a contract.
From what I heard Koneko tell me, it seems this client is quite a hardcore otaku. He often asks Koneko to wear cute cosplay outfits and carry him in a bridal carry every time a contract is made.
"….."
Uh... I guess there have to be people like this in the world... right?
Maybe on the outside he's an ordinary middle-aged man, but inside his heart, he might be a young girl.
...Mm, mm. It must be like that.
I tried to comfort myself with that strange logic.
But thinking about it, most humans who call upon devils tend to be people with wishes unlike ordinary folk anyway.
If they were normal people living a simple and happy life, they'd have no reason to rely on supernatural powers.
...Even wishes themselves seem to become more distorted according to the level of human isolation.
People, no matter how normal they look on the outside, always hide something deep within their hearts.
Loneliness, dissatisfaction, regret, jealousy, or even desires they cannot speak out directly.
The longer they keep it inside, the thicker it builds up, until finally it becomes a 'wish' strong enough to reach out for the supernatural.
Some want money.
Some want love.
Some just want someone to listen to them.
...And then there are some who want to be bridal-carried by a small girl.
"The world truly is vast..."
I muttered softly while looking up at the night sky. The words might sound impressive, but my tone was more sarcastic. Perhaps in the old world there were things like that too; I just might not have discovered them yet.
But come to think of it, it's not that strange.
Ultimately, wishes are like a reflection of human identity.
A philosopher once viewed that 'desire is the essence of man. Man will always suffer because he wants something. Even if he gets it, the happiness is only temporary, and then a new desire will arise, repeating in a loop.'
Those who lack something usually yearn for it.
Those who have never received it cling to it even more than others.
Because of that, devils can exist.
Because humans will never stop wanting something.
..Uh... that sounds a bit sad.
I took another sip of Max Coffee. The intense sweetness flowed down my throat.
"But if you have to sell something valuable just to be carried in a bridal carry... I think you should take that money and see a doctor first..."
"...Sigh.."
.
.
.
30 Minutes Later
And then I finally reached my destination.
Walking leisurely without rushing took quite a bit of time, but it was within my calculations from the start because I didn't intend to arrive early anyway. If I arrived too early, I'd probably get bored waiting.
I stopped in front of an old apartment complex before quietly scanning the area.
It didn't take long to find a familiar bicycle leaning near the entrance of the building.
"...Found it.."
It seemed Issei had been here for over an hour already.
The fact that he could stay in that room for this long was quite impressive.
Normally, if a contract partner chosen by the client was suddenly changed mid-way, there was a high chance they'd get upset or dissatisfied.
Especially considering the tastes of this client, he didn't seem like the flexible type.
But even so, Issei hadn't been kicked out.
That meant the other party might have actually taken a liking to him.
"...Now that I think about it, that guy is also considered an otaku himself, isn't he?"
I muttered softly while looking up at the room on the upper floor.
Come to think of it, it wasn't just Issei, even his other two problematic friends as well.
Except in their case, it went far beyond the level of otaku and into the territory of being creeps.
...From where I was standing, I could faintly sense what was happening inside that room.
The sound of talking and debating—it wasn't a fight, but rather seemed like a debate over whose stuff was better. Then laughter followed.
.
.
Click… Clack!—
"Well then, Morisawa-san, I'll be taking my leave! Let's compete again next time!"
"Of course, Hyoudou Issei!" a middle-aged man's voice replied cheerfully. "I had a lot of fun today! Look forward to next time!"
...Wow, the feedback was better than I thought.
After saying goodbye, Issei walked down the apartment stairs with an incredibly bright face, as if he had just discovered a new path in life.
The guy went to unlock his bicycle before pushing it away from the front of the building in a good mood.
It seemed his first contract went much better than expected.
"Truly unbelievable."
I muttered softly while leaning against the wall on the side of the road under the light from a street lamp.
Before long, Issei noticed me.
"Ah— Hikigaya!?"
The guy quickly pushed his bicycle over with an excited face.
"What are you doing here!?"
"Buchou told me to check on you," I replied flatly. "Apparently, she was afraid you'd be killed on the way."
"Don't say something scary like that with a normal face!"
I didn't reply, only glancing at the guy from head to toe for a moment.
Judging by his condition, there really seemed to be no problem.
The two of us walked along the road in silence until I brought up the topic.
"...By the way, was the contract successful?"
—!
The moment I asked that,
Issei's movements came to a halt. His previously bright face instantly froze.
"….."
"...Huh?"
The guy stood still for a while, before slowly averting his eyes suspiciously with a troubled look.
"...Uh, well..."
"Don't tell me—"
"Yeah, I forgot to make the contract..."
"..."
I went silent immediately.
"We just got carried away talking, haha..." Issei laughed dryly while scratching his head.
"Did you go to work or did you go find a playmate?"
I immediately clutched my forehead.
This was beyond being useless. This guy's level of incompetence was starting to step into another dimension entirely.
"If devils could be fired, you'd probably be the first in history to be dismissed from your very first mission."
"Don't talk like I'm a part-time worker!"
"But you really did fail the job, didn't you?" I sighed.
"And it's not even a failure because the client was dissatisfied, but a failure because you forgot the job entirely."
"Guh..."
Issei flinched immediately as if he had been stabbed in a vital spot.
Then the guy slowly lowered his head slightly, before muttering in a faint voice like a child who was repenting.
"Buchou is probably going to scold me, right?"
"Definitely."
"At least try to comfort me first!"
"Comfort someone who forgot their job because they were busy talking?"
"Fair point."
Issei's shoulders slumped instantly.
Seeing him like that, I let out another sigh.
"Forget it. Just consider the first mistake a lesson for next time. Buchou probably won't be that angry anyway. It was your first contract work after all."
"Mm... I hope it's like you say—"
—! ×2
The moment Issei finished speaking, the surrounding atmosphere changed in an instant.
The cold wind that had been blowing just a moment ago came to an unnatural standstill. The night sky that had been dark and peaceful began to fluctuate, as if the air had suddenly grown heavy.
"...."
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
'Is it really coming...?'
I had only said that in passing; I didn't think it would actually come true... or is my mouth just cursed?
"Hey... Hikigaya," Issei spoke up with a tense voice. "This feeling is..."
"Probably," I replied while slowly turning my gaze behind me.
"It's a fallen angel."
A slight pressure radiated from behind.
While it wasn't strong enough to make it hard to breathe, it was clear enough to sense that 'the other party' was walking straight this way.
The sound of footsteps echoed faintly amidst the silence of the late-night road.
Clack… Clack…
Step by step.
Step by step.
As if intentionally letting us hear them clearly.
Hmm? I frowned slightly.
Those footsteps sounded a bit strange. It wasn't the sound of normal shoes, but a sharp, hard impact... like high heels.
'A woman...? Or is it that Yuma girl?'
...Mm, probably not.
That girl should be emitting more pressure than this.
That girl should be emitting more pressure than this.
Even though they're both fallen angels, the sensation I'm getting is clearly different.
This woman is likely of a lower rank than her.
"Wh-What should we do, Hikigaya..."
"Hmm... Issei, you go ahead first."
"Eh!? No way!" Issei shook his head immediately. "I won't run away and leave you alone!"
"..."
How annoying, with this typical protagonist dialogue.
Even though it sounds like just shouting to sound cool, the meaning inside is so sickeningly sweet it's skin-crawling.
...I'm begging you, at least say that to the heroine and not to me.
If my position right now was replaced by some girl, the atmosphere would have turned into a heart-pounding scene ready to develop into romance or something like that.
But in reality, there were just two guys standing in the middle of a dark road at night.
...How awful.
If some fujoshi passed by and saw this, I'd surely have more fics written about me.
"Are you an idiot, Issei?" I shook my head slowly. "Have you forgotten who I am? I've killed countless stray devils already."
...Actually, it wasn't quite that many.
Even saying it out loud, it felt exaggerated.
But it couldn't be helped. Right now, I had to make this guy feel that I was formidable enough to handle the situation in front of us.
"But..."
"Besides, if you stay here, you'll just be a burden," I continued in a pressuring voice. "Right now, you can't even use demonic power."
"..Guh.."
Issei froze immediately. That sentence seemed to hit the mark directly, because he knew better than anyone how weak he was right now. Staying would achieve nothing and he might even become a drag on others.
That feeling of uselessness... must really hurt for this guy.
...Of course, I didn't say it to hurt him.
But sometimes, people must acknowledge their own weakness first before they can begin to try and change it.
When one begins to loathe their own incompetence, it becomes a driving force.
The feeling of not wanting to be left behind anymore.
And for Issei, who is stubborn and refuses to give up anyway—
that feeling might become the catalyst that allows him to grow. It's quite the effective medicine.
"…Yeah, I get it. Be careful out there, Hikigaya," Issei said with a serious expression.
"You're one of my precious friends, you know!"
"Ugh… that's disgusting."
"Don't react like that! I'm being serious!"
"Yeah, yeah… I get it," I replied dismissively, waving him off.
"Don't worry about it. Tomorrow morning, you'll still see me walking to school like usual."
"Okay! Well then, I'm off!"
With that, Issei quickly hopped onto his bicycle and pedaled away. After reaching a certain distance, he turned back and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Make sure you come back alive!!"
Instead of shouting back, I just gave a lazy wave as my body slowly turned to face something that was walking toward me from the end of the road.
Clack… Clack…
The sound of high heels hitting the ground grew clearer amidst the silence of the night. A cold breeze blew softly.
Then, the silhouette of a woman gradually appeared under the dim streetlights.
Long blue hair fluttered in the night wind. Her curvaceous figure under that tight red coat was undeniably eye-catching. The long legs revealed beneath her short skirt and dark heels further enhanced her look as the type of woman men would unconsciously stare at, only to regret later that they ever got involved with her in the first place.
Those yellow eyes were scanning the surroundings with a hint of arrogance, as if searching for filth that needed to be removed.
Overall, this woman was quite beautiful—a dangerous, mature charm—
No, no, no.
My thoughts are drifting again.
—Wait a second…
Now that I look closely, she looks familiar. Like I've seen her somewhere before…
"Strange…" she murmured softly. "I could still sense a devil's power just a moment ago. Even though I, Kalawarner, was ordered to eliminate any remaining traces… I didn't expect a human to be here."
Kalawarna, huh?
Hmm…
….
…
..!
Ah…
I remember now.
"Hm?"
It seemed Kalawarna had just noticed me standing there, staring at her without responding.
She raised an eyebrow slightly before flashing a cold smile.
"Human… move aside. I have no business with you."
"…Oh."
I replied flatly, taking the last sip of my Max Coffee.
What should I do…
Should I just let her pass for now?
I don't really want to reveal my identity yet.
But from what I know about this woman, she probably isn't the type to blabber about me to others.
The main question is, why is she here? If I remember correctly, she should be stationed in a different area.
While I was lost in thought, Kalawarna approached and walked past me, heading in the same direction Issei had just gone.
But after taking only a few steps—
She stopped.
"Hmm… No fear. No panic," she said in a cold, monotone voice. "For an ordinary human, to stand before my presence and remain this calm… isn't that a bit too strange?"
She slowly turned her head slightly.
"It looks…"
BUZZZ!
The moment she was halfway through her sentence, a light spear was created in her hand in an instant.
Then, Kalawarna swung it backward in a whip-like motion.
Whoosh!—
"…too natural."
Grab
…But in the second she turned around,
the light spear that should have sliced through my body suddenly halted and began to dissipate as if being corroded from the outside.
A black liquid, resembling shadows, was flowing around the spear and its source—
which was my hand, reaching out to catch the light spear.
All while my body was still facing the same direction, not even bothering to look back at her.
Seeing what happened, Kalawarna's eyes widened immediately before she leaped back away from me, as if her instincts were screaming of danger.
Flap!—
Black wings sprouted from her back, flapping violently as she created distance.
The brown eyes that were full of arrogance just a moment ago were now filled with clear caution.
"Who are you? ..No—are you even human?"
Her voice dropped an octave. It wasn't just a question of curiosity; it was a question directed at the anomaly before her.
She was certain he was human, but the black liquid flowing from his palm just now felt so evil and twisted it was chilling. It wasn't something a human should possess.
Even the Sacred Gears she had encountered before had never emitted an aura this dark.
Even so…
For some reason, it felt strangely "familiar."
So familiar that it felt as if a part of her had been longing for it all along.
I slowly let the remaining fragments of light in my hand dissolve before flicking the black liquid off my fingertips and turning toward her.
"Of course I'm human."
I answered in a flat tone.
"But before asking someone else who they are, shouldn't you at least introduce yourself properly?"
"Don't play word games with me!" Kalawarner furrowed her brows.
"A human could never touch a light spear directly. Even an exorcist couldn't destroy my light power that easily."
"Then just think of me as someone who isn't an ordinary human."
I replied simply, spinning the empty Max Coffee can in my hand.
The atmosphere immediately became tense.
A cold wind blew through the silent street.
But no one moved first.
Kalawarna was staring at me, as if trying to read something from the entity in front of her.
As for me, I just stared back silently to see what she would do next.
"You followed that devil," she spoke again. "Or are you a bodyguard?"
"Who knows."
"…"
She narrowed her eyes immediately upon hearing my ambiguous answer.
It seemed her patience was beginning to wear thin.
BUZZZ! ×2
Two more light spears appeared in both of her hands in an instant.
This time, it didn't look like she was just testing the waters.
"I'll ask one more time," Kalawarna said in a freezing voice. "Who the hell are you?"
"…Sigh…"
I let out a weary sigh.
It's probably fine if it's this woman.
"If I do this… you should remember."
Black liquid slowly flowed from my fingertips before forming into a pitch-black mask.
Its shape was simple and plain.
But the eyes and mouth sections gave off an unsettling feeling that was hard to describe.
It looked like it was 'smiling.'
However, that smile was devoid of warmth.
It was a smile that seemed to hide dangerous intentions beneath a calm surface.
Then, I lifted it and placed it over my face.
—!
The second Kalawarna saw that mask,
the sharp eyes that were filled with hostility a moment ago instantly wavered and softened.
Her mouth hung open slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but no sound came out.
That reaction…
It was as if she was reuniting with someone she had missed for a long time.
"..H-Hikage-sama…?" she murmured a name that wasn't familiar, her voice soft as she slowly walked toward me.
"It's been a long time, Kalawarna."
The voice coming from my mouth now wasn't my original one.
It was noticeably deeper, heavier, and colder than usual.
The moment she heard my response, Kalawarna rushed toward me immediately.
"Hikage-sama!"
Huh!
"Wait! Hold on! Don't come in—Oof!?"
Fump!
Her body slammed into me, hugging me with such force that I almost lost my balance. The soft sensation pressing against my front and the faint, fragrant scent of a woman—which made my male instincts kick in—made me freeze for a moment.
To put it simply, the current situation was 'dangerous' in many senses of the word.
For an average woman, she was quite tall. But even so, I was still about five centimeters taller than her.
"Where have you been!?" Kalawarna spoke rapidly, as if afraid I would disappear again.
"Do you know how much I've missed you!? To just vanish like that without a single word of goodbye…!"
"…First of all, can you let go? It's cramped."
"I won't."
…This woman.
Wasn't she a cold, terrifying woman just a second ago? Why has she turned into a puppy finding its owner now?
"…Sigh."
I let out a long, soft sigh.
This was another reason why I hesitated to reveal my identity to her. Because the result would be exactly what you're seeing…
"Calm down, Kalawarna," I said in a low voice through the mask.
"And please loosen your grip. It's hard to breathe."
"Ah! M-My apologies!"
She quickly let go and took a step back.
But even after backing away, those yellow eyes were still fixed on me, as if afraid that if she looked away for even a second, I'd vanish again.
"…I truly can't believe I've found you again," she said with a slightly trembling voice, as if trying to hold back her emotions.
"Oh, is it really that much?"
Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration? It's not like I died.
"Yes… At that time, I even thought to myself that you vanished because you hated me…" Her last sentence grew noticeably quieter.
"Hmm? Why did you think that?"
"Because back then, I acted rudely toward you. I almost transgre—"
"Alright, that's enough."
I cut her off immediately.
If I let her keep talking, I'd probably die of a headache first.
"I don't hold a grudge about what happened back then, understand? I'm not angry or hating you at all."
I paused for a moment before continuing.
"I only vanished because I had urgent business to attend to."
"I am relieved to hear that."
"…Not holding a grudge… that means it's okay to do it, then…" she muttered softly to herself, bowing her head slightly as if thinking about something.
"Huh?… What did you just say?"
"N-Nothing! I was just talking to myself!" Kalawarna startled slightly before quickly denying it.
"…Is that so?"
Though it was a bit suspicious, I didn't intend to pry further.
"Anyway… let's move somewhere else to talk."
I scanned the surroundings of the open night street before continuing.
"It's too exposed here, and I have quite a few things I want to ask you."
"With pleasure~"
Kalawarna replied almost instantly. Her tone sounded noticeably brighter and sweeter, completely different from her mature, cold demeanor at the beginning.
It seemed that just being able to talk to me again had significantly improved her mood.
…Women are truly difficult to understand.
(Break)
.
.
.
A certain apartment dormitory.
"Sniff… Haa~…"
The sound of soft breathing echoed rhythmically within the silent room.
It was a faint sound, yet it made the surrounding atmosphere feel strangely heated, like someone indulging in something so deeply they let a sound slip out unconsciously.
If anyone had walked past the room at this moment, they wouldn't have been able to resist stopping to press an ear against the door, imagining some lewd scene happening inside that locked room.
The soft orange glow from the lamp beside the room cast its light onto the long sofa in the middle of the living room. The shadows of two people overlapped there in close proximity.
One of them was sitting, leaning back on the sofa wearily.
As for the other—
She was sitting on his lap.
Long, silky blue hair fell softly over her shoulders while her slender figure, clad in a tight red outfit, sat astride him, hugging him tightly as if afraid that if she let go even slightly, the person before her would vanish again.
Her face was buried in the crook of his neck.
Her warm breath blew against his skin periodically, sending ticklish sensations through him, accompanied by the faint sound of inhaling close to his ear.
"Sniff…"
As if she were confirming to herself that he was truly still here.
"…Hikage-sama…" Kalawarna murmured softly, tightening her embrace a little more.
"…Sigh.. If you're satisfied, could you please let me go?"
I spoke with a weary voice, while Kalawarna remained buried in my neck just like before, showing no sign of moving an inch.
…This woman hasn't even considered letting me go easily.
It probably sounds quite strange, right? How the situation turned out like this.
Actually, after we moved to my apartment, I tried to talk and catch up with her for a while—about her well-being and the time that passed after I vanished.
Of course, to be fair, I had to tell her some of my own stories as well.
…Though I didn't reveal everything.
It's not that I didn't want to say anything.
It's just that my life doesn't really have much worth telling.
At most, it's just working, taking missions, living day by day, and trying not to get involved in unnecessary trouble.
…Though in the end, those troubles always seem to walk right up to me anyway.
Then, after the conversation had gone on for a bit…
I got straight to the main point.
Naturally, what I wanted to know most was 'information.'
Whether it was the movements of the low-level fallen angels, the reason she came to this town, who gave her the orders, and what the group she belonged to was doing.
But when I started asking seriously—
Kalawarna simply smiled, but it was a smile clearly laced with cunning, as if she had been quietly waiting for the right moment to strike back.
Then she said:
"If you want to know… there must be an exchange first~"
…At that moment, I immediately felt a headache coming on.
Of course, if it was a nonsensical or excessive request, I intended to refuse immediately without wasting time thinking.
Then her first proposal was—
"I want a hug."
…Hmm.
That sounds somewhat acceptable.
At least it's within the realm of a normal person.
But then she raised a second finger.
"Tonight, can I sleep with you?"
…At that moment, I almost used my power to forcibly extract the information from her.
But before I could open my mouth to refuse, Kalawarna quickly added:
"Don't worry, I won't do anything strange for sure~"
…The problem is, when people say that sentence, they usually end up doing something strange.
Even so, I didn't end up using force.
Partly because I didn't want to have a direct conflict with her.
…But another part was because I started having a 'bad premonition' about this woman's tastes for some reason.
Especially after coming to Kuoh Academy, I've started to understand that for certain types of women, being pressured or threatened doesn't always make them afraid.
Some of them seem to get even more excited.
And I absolutely didn't want to risk flipping whatever weird switch might exist within her. So, in the end, I allowed her to hug me first.
But the problem is…
This woman's hug is starting to not look like a 'normal hug' anymore.
From sitting on my lap, nuzzling my neck, sniffing my scent, to rubbing her cheek against mine every now and then…
…Is this really still called a hug?
To be honest, I'm starting to feel like I can't handle this much longer either.
If I wasn't biting my lip hard and trying to distract myself by thinking about other things…
Yes—I even went as far as trying to imagine Totsuka taking a bath.
…Wait, no!
Wrong person!
I immediately shook that dangerous thought out of my head.
Let's try again… uh… Zaimokuza. Yeah, that's the one!
If I didn't do that, my 'younger brother' would have been fully awake by now, and that would be the absolute worst signal to give at this moment.
If the other party sensed that 'response'…
I'm certain this woman would get even more emboldened and start doing things much weirder than this.
.
.
10 minutes passed.
"Haa~… Alright, I'm satisfied now."
After taking one last deep breath, Kalawarna slowly leaned back away from the crook of my neck.
But even so, she still refused to get off my lap.
Instead, she sat still, staring directly at my face.
"Hm? Is something wrong? Is there something on my face?"
That gaze was even more uncomfortable than when she was hugging me just now.
"No."
She shook her head slightly before her lips curled into a faint smile.
"…I just didn't think that beneath that dangerous-looking mask would be an ordinary high school boy."
She paused for a moment before continuing softly.
"…And a rather handsome one at that."
Those words made me freeze for a split second.
"…Uh, thanks."
I replied dismissively, trying to keep my expression from changing any further. Of course, I admit I'm reasonably good-looking, but I'm not conceited to that extent.
What is with this woman… Suddenly being too blunt without caring about the atmosphere at all.
Kalawarna continued to stare at me as before, before licking her lips lightly and flashing a meaningful smile. Then she spoke up:
"Like this… it's like I'm preying on a younger boy, isn't it?~"
"Huh?"
Say what?
Who gave you permission to prey on me… since when? And what exactly does that word 'prey' mean anyway?
That's right…
Isn't this woman quite old? Hundreds of years, thousands of years, or maybe even more.
'A great-great-grandmother who's obsessed with kids…'
I almost let those forbidden words slip out if it wasn't for the lesson from a certain teacher who once made me deeply realize the meaning of abdominal pain—
A lesson that taught: Never talk about age with a woman, or else your fate might not end well.
"Don't say such nonsense… and anyway, are you going to sit on my lap much longer?"
When I pointed that out, Kalawarna blinked, as if just realizing she still hadn't gotten up.
"…Ah."
She made a soft sound before moving slowly. But instead of getting up immediately, she leaned in a bit closer, as if hesitating.
"I can get down now, right?"
"It should have been like that since a while ago, shouldn't it?"
What is with her…
Why does she talk as if I was the one who asked her to sit on my lap in the first place?
Even though I'm the one who's been dragged into this weird atmosphere the whole time. This woman is giving me even more of a headache now.
"Fufufu~"
Kalawarna chuckled softly upon seeing my expression before finally getting off my lap, albeit a bit lingeringly.
…But even after getting down, she still sat right next to me in close proximity anyway.
"Do you have no understanding of personal space at all?"
"I do."
"Then please use it."
"But I don't want to use it with you~ Besides, seeing you like this, I can't help but tease you~"
"Ouch."
I immediately pressed my hand to my forehead.
Dealing with villains might be easier than dealing with this type of woman…
"Alright, this has dragged on long enough. Let's get to the point…" I said while lightly massaging my temples. I'm really starting to get sleepy now.
"…Sigh, alright then," Kalawarna sighed softly, as if regretful that the quiet moment from before had ended, before beginning to tell me what I wanted to know.
"Actually..."
.
.
.
Kalawarna continued her story.
There were many times I unconsciously furrowed my brows. Some things were quite bitter to hear.
'…I didn't think things would be this complicated.'
And there was something even bigger.
It seems her group is preparing a ritual to extract a Sacred Gear from a young girl.
Kalawarna said that the girl was once hailed as a "Holy Maiden" because she had the power to heal any wound.
But after that, she was excommunicated from the Church. The reason was simply because she used her power to heal a devil.
To them, a power that could heal an enemy of God was considered evil—a threat.
In the end, that girl was branded a witch… and immediately cast out from the Church.
And the person who took her into the group was Kalawarna's leader—
Raynare.
Or the "Amano Yuuma" that I know.
Of course, she wasn't taken in out of mercy.
Their purpose was to extract the Sacred Gear from that girl's body from the very beginning.
While Kalawarna was telling the story, I couldn't help but feel a heavy heart.
Whether it was her expression, her voice, or her eyes… there wasn't even a fragment of guilt.
On the contrary, she spoke of her leader with admiration, even though what they were doing—no matter how you looked at it—was completely wrong.
I glanced at her silently, thinking to myself.
'Characters of this type usually don't have a very good end…'
Perhaps in the original story, she was just a minor antagonist who was eventually eliminated by the protagonist's side.
It makes sense. Someone who can ignore an innocent girl being used like this… would eventually have to be eliminated.
Yes… has to be eliminated..
…But why do I feel uneasy?
Why is that? Why does the thought of her being eliminated make me feel bad?
Is it because she's someone I know?
Or is it because she likes me…?
…I really don't understand.
Drowsiness began to wash over me bit by bit. My eyelids felt heavy, my vision blurred, and my thoughts became unstable.
And in that moment, I did something without thinking.
One hand slowly reached out to touch the ring on my right ring finger. It was a ring I almost never took off.
In the center was a dull black crystal that faintly reflected the orange light in the room.
Before I realized it, I had taken it off.
It was an action born from feeling… not from thought.
Kalawarna froze immediately when she felt her hand being held. She looked down slowly and saw that I was cradling her hand gently.
Before slowly sliding that ring onto her ring finger.
"…This… uh… I'm giving it to you…"
My voice began to blur.
"It will help… you… when something happens… a crisis…—
Fump.
"…ha…"
After finishing that last sentence in an unclear voice, I fell asleep on the sofa just like that.
"…haa… haa.."
Hikigaya had no idea that the impulsive action just now was causing the fate he was trying to avoid to slowly draw closer to him than before.
~3rd Person Perspective~
"…haa…haa.."
Within the room that had fallen into silence, there was only the sound of the clock ticking slowly, harmonizing with the steady breathing of the sleeping young man.
Kalawarna looked down at the ring on her finger, frozen as if under a spell. Her sharp eyes widened slightly before her pupils wavered with an uncontrollable surge of emotion.
"…This is..."
She murmured faintly, barely a whisper. Her gaze remained fixed on the ring, unmoving.
The feeling of shock still lingered in her chest. She never expected that someone like Hikage-sama would do something so sudden and impressionable.
The face that was once adorned with a seductive and confident smile was now dyed with a flush of red that spread unmistakably to her ears. The fallen angel girl's heart beat wildly out of rhythm.
"…Doing this… is too much against the rules, Hikage-sama…"
She looked away from the ring and up at the face of the young man who was plunging into the depths of sleep. That unguarded, handsome face had a charm so magnetic it would be hard for any woman to resist. Seeing him lying still before her like this, the desire hidden deep within erupted even further.
"What should I do with you, I wonder~…?"
Her breathing began to stutter and turn ragged when she saw that the sofa he was sleeping on seemed too narrow for her to squeeze in beside him.
So, Kalawarna made a decision. She slowly slid her slender arms beneath his back and the crooks of his knees before gently lifting him up in a bridal carry.
She walked silently, carrying him to his private room, which was likely the young man's bedroom.
When the door opened and closed, absolute privacy began. She laid his body down onto the wide bed gently before quickly inserting herself into his arms in a hurry.
"Ha… Ha…"
"haa~….haa~.."
The sounds of two rhythms of breathing harmonized amidst the darkness. There was the cool breath from the stillness of the sleeper, and the heated breath from the surging emotions of the woman.
Finally, Kalawarna could no longer resist the pent-up desire within. Primal instinct began to take over.
"…Hikage-sama, I can't take it anymore… I ask for… just a little bit…"
Without waiting for his consent, Kalawarna reached up with both hands to cradle the young man's face, gently turning it toward her, before slowly leaning down until her soft lips pressed firmly against his.
"…Mmm~… Ha… Mmm…"
Her slender tongue slowly seeped through the gap of his lips, deeply exploring the sweetness that still held the lingering taste of coffee within his mouth.
She tried to entwine and play with his tongue longingly, while her plump legs wrapped tightly around his hips and legs. Her body writhed slightly according to her rising emotions.
This bold action—if Hikigaya were to wake up and discover it, she would become the number two woman he would try to avoid in the future.
Time passed for a long moment. Finally, she reluctantly pulled her lips away. A thin thread of saliva connected them for a brief second before snapping.
"…Ha~… Ha~.. This is really addictive~.. If it wasn't for the agreement I promised, you would have been eaten whole tonight for sure, Hikage-sama…"
After finishing the sentence, Kalawarner leaned down to nuzzle his warm neck, sniffing his body scent just as before.
Her flushed face held a smile that was most cunning and seductive.
"But next time, I won't hold back anymore… no matter what agreement there is~ Since you said yourself that you don't hold a grudge… then don't come blaming me later~…"
After the whisper full of dangerous implications ended, Kalawarner tightened her embrace a bit more, resting her face against his chest, before allowing exhaustion to take over and finally plunging into the depths of sleep along with the young man.
Amidst the surrounding darkness, the atmosphere within the room that was once heated with the vapors of desire began to slowly return to a quiet and cool calm. Leaving behind only the sound of breathing harmonized in rhythm, amidst the faint fragrance permeating the air of this long night.