Both Asia and I sat at a table in a local restaurant with food in front of us. I had to order for her because she couldn't speak Japanese and couldn't even understand the menu. I had to shoot quite a few glares at several of the male patrons who were eying her. I didn't want them getting any funny ideas.
I couldn't blame them though. Asia was one cute Sister. She had that kind of look that just made you want to protect her.
We sat opposite each other.
I remained in awkward silence. After the previous night, I was too shocked seeing Asia and unharmed at that. I mean I'm glad she's OK, but after everything that happened…
I sweatdropped at Asia who continued staring at the burger she held in her hands. She looked like she didn't know how to eat it…
Wait…does she really not know how to eat a burger? That…that's kinda depressing.
I decided to help her out. "You eat it by taking off the wrapper like this." I demonstrated.
"T-There's actually a way to eat like that!? A-Amazing!" I stared in awe of her reaction.
J-just… just too cute… There were no words to describe Asia's cuteness at that moment…
I took a few of my fries and ate them. "And you eat fwies rike dis." I said with my mouth filled with food.
Rather than eat the food herself, Asia simply stared at my fries.
"Erm… you… you eat too, you know." Asia stared at me before looking at her burger. She opened her mouth and took a bite. Her eyes lit up with surprise as she began to chew and swallow her food.
"Delicious!" She sounded very very surprised. "This is very delicious!"
SO CUUUUUUUUTE! Ah, Asia had such a cute smile! "You sound like you've never eaten a burger before."
"I haven't. This is my first time eating one! It's delicious!"
I blinked at Asia's statement. "You've NEVER had a burger before?!" I was genuinely shocked. "What do you normally eat?"
"Mainly bread and soup. I also eat vegetables and pasta food."
That sounds… depressing. Bland and tasteless after a while of such simple foods. I would never survive working for a church. I need yummy stuff like hamburgers and ramen and all that yummy stuff! I would DIE… again. Asia, I feel a whole new level of sorry for you.
"Well if that's the case, be sure to savor this." I advised. Asia nodded cheerfully.
"Yes. I will be sure to enjoy it." She took another bite of her foot and was clearly into her food.
What I really wanted to know was why she was at the park. She mumbled something about time off, but something wasn't right. She seemed like she was running away from something. She looked rather relieved upon seeing me. I really wanted to know what happened after I was forced to retreat the other day. I tried asking Asia what happened, but she just completely avoided the question.
That unsettled me.
I suppose I wasn't all forthcoming about me being a Devil, so I guess it makes us even. I can't complain too much, but I was a little worried.
So for now, we'll just forget all that stuff until she was comfortable enough to talk.
There wasn't much to do about it.
I quickly stood up from my seat. Asia gave me a worried look.
"Haruto-san?"
"Hey, Asia, let's go have fun somewhere! My treat!" I was getting so worked up and depressed, but Asia deserved to have a good time. "Let's go."
Asia seemed uncertain, but smiled at me now that she was finished eating. "OK!" She grabbed my hand and we left.
***
Asia and I ended up going to the game center and playing several different games.
I've been there many times with Issei. Never once has that boobs-idiot ever beaten me! BWAHAHAH—
"Oh…I won…"
I stared at the screen of the game Asia and I had just been playing together… Needless to say, she beat me. I held both pride and envy towards my friend who easily surpassed me in the games I've been playing for several years, but I was defeated so easily by (and I care about Asia when I say this) a newbie.
Anywway, we had a lot of fun at the game center. Asia needed a little help at certain points (not really. I'm just trying to make myself feel better.), but she did well at all of the games she played. We played for a while and eventually Asia set her sights on a cute-looking stuffed animal in one of those skill crane games. I ended up playing and won on my first try.
It was totally worth it when I saw Asia's extremely happy expression.
Turns out skill crane is the one game Asia doesn't kick ass at.
We played for a long time until it started to get dark out. It was evening and we had to leave the game center. We went to a bunch of other shops and stuff and we both had quite a bit of fun. It was the first time in a while that I've had serious fun hanging around town with a friend. Between Devil work and almost getting killed every ten minutes, I've never really just had time to chill out.
It was good to see that the Fallen Angels and Exorcists had something to do OTHER than try to kill me…
In hindsight, I think I kind of jinxed my luck with that.
I was rather tired from our time playing today that I was running low on actual energy. I ended up tripping on a small crater in the ground and almost fell over. I tried to recover quickly, but Asia still noticed it.
I had tripped because of my tiredness and the awkward tightness that still existed from my previous wound. I could still feel the little "scratch" on my abdomen from where that shitty priest had shot me.
It was healing up quite well due to the brief treatment I received the previous night, but the scar was still there and it the healed area felt strange and awkward when I was walking about. It wasn't pain as such, but I felt that if I even attempted to stretch my arms, my wound from yesterday would just tear open again.
Asia gave me her "puppy dog eyes" look. "Haruto-san, are you still injured from yesterday?"
Damn. The evening was really good so far, but it was all ruined by reminding Asia of painful memories. How many, I don't know.
Asia then looked off to the side, blushing slightly. "Um… I know this sounds weird, but…could you… could you lift up your shirt for me…?" She poked her fingers together nervously.
I felt my face flush red, backing up uncertainly. "W-Wha-?"
I stared, slightly confused, but I did as she asked and lifted my shirt up to my mid-chest, exposing the bullet mark that remained from the previous night. I resisted the urge to curse at myself once again for getting so easily distracted. I could've turned the fight around if I hadn't messed up.
But it was so embarrassing. Even if it was just my lower torso, it felt embarrassing to reveal it to Asia like this.
The blonde-haired Sister placed a gentle hand on the injury.
I couldn't help but flinch slightly.
Asia backed away for a second, alarmed. "Oh! I'm sorry! Did I hurt you? Are my hands too cold?"
Still blushing, I shook my head. "N-No. It's fine. Y-Your hands are rather warm actually. It took me by surprise."
"Oh. Alright. Well then…" I did my best to remain still as Asia once again placed her hands against my torso.
I was confused as to what she was doing until a warm, gentle, green light shined on my injury. It was green just like Asia's beautiful eyes. It was warm just like her personality.
A soft and gentle girl like Asia… just how did she get involved in such a dangerous world like this? It doesn't make any sense that she would be an assistant to Freed of all people! And not only that, there's a lot that doesn't make sense here. Something has been sitting poorly with me since my conversation with Mittelt. It concerned Azazel and his orders for my execution.
I had the sneaking suspicion that I knew what was wrong, but I had no evidence to prove my theories… well, Mittelt seemed forthcoming enough when it came to information. Maybe if I found her again, I could get the remaining information I needed to form the evidence I required to prove my theories.
"How is it?" Asia asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
It was then that I realized Asia had finished. Feeling embarrassed, I lowered my shirt. I stretched my arms and walked around a few steps, realizing that the unpleasant feeling in my torso was gone.
"That… that's amazing!" I exclaimed. "I figured you had some kind of healing Sacred Gear, but this is amazing!" I grinned a little. "If you went into medicine, you would make a killing."
"So Haruto-san also knows about Sacred Gear?" I nodded.
"You may have seen it last night. It was that pair of wings on my back, the Sacred Gear Divine Dividing."
Asia covered her mouth, gasping. "The Longinus?! Truly an amazing power! It explains how Haruto-san is so strong!"
I felt myself blushing more profusely at Asia's praise. "W-Well not really. I'm still not very skilled in using it. Last night was just a mix of adrenaline and instincts keeping me alive." Shit shit shit! Please disregard my reminder of the previous night! I laughed awkwardly. "Compared to my ability that's really hard to master and utilize properly, your power is amazing, Asia." I scratched my head. "So from what I've observed, that power can heal everything and everyone, right? Humans, animals, and even Devils like me? That's—"
When a complicated yet sad expression appeared on her face along with the single tear that fell from her eyes, I was certain I had royally fucked up…
Then another tear. Then another and more and more and then she was completely crying.
Shit shit shit shit! She's crying! What do I do?! Think, Haruto, think! Say something!
"I…" SHIT! I'm drawing a blank! I literally have NOTHING to deal with this situation!
With no other choice, I brought Asia to sit on a bench on the roadside.
Feeling awkward, I rubbed Asia on the back as she continued crying. After a while, I finally got her to talk again. I asked what was wrong…
Then, she told me a story about the girl who was once called the "Holy Maiden".
In a certain region in Europe, there was a girl who was discarded by her parents.
She was raised in a Church nearby by a nun along with other orphans.
The girl who was a strong follower of the Church received a special power at the age of 8.
She healed a wounded puppy, and a person from the Catholic Church witnessed it by chance.
From there on, her life changed.
The girl was taken to the main Catholic Church and she was symbolized by many as a "Holy Maiden" because of her healing power.
She used her power to heal many believers and they were told it was a power of divine protection.
Rumors brought rumors and she was respected as a "Holy Maiden".
Even without her approval.
She had no dissatisfaction for how she was treated. People from the Church were kind and she didn't hate healing people.
She instead was happy that her power was of use.
The girl was thankful to her power which was bestowed to her by God.
But she was a bit lonely.
She didn't have any friends she could open up to.
Everyone treated her nicely and was nice to her. But there were no one willing to become her friend.
She understood why.
She knew that they were looking at her power as something irregular.
They didn't look at her as a human but as a creature that could heal humans.
But one day, it changed.
By coincidence, there was a Devil nearby and she healed it.
A wounded Devil. The girl couldn't ignore it.
She thought that even if it was a Devil, she had to heal it if it was injured.
It was her kindness that made her take such an action.
But that changed her life forever.
One of the people from the Church saw that incident and notified others of the Church.
The ministers of the Church were shocked about it.
"A power that can heal Devils!?"
"Something absurd like that cannot happen!"
"The power of healing can only heal the followers of God!"
Yes, there were several people who had the power to heal.
But the power to heal the Devil was out of the question. The people of the Church thought it was common sense that the power of healing doesn't work on Fallen Angels and Devils.
Apparently, a similar incident had happened in the past.
The power to heal Fallen Angels and Devils that were not protected by God. But that was feared as the power of a "Witch".
So the people saw her as a heretic.
"Damn witch that heals Devils!"
The girl who was respected as a Holy Maiden was then feared as a "Witch" and the Catholic Church abandoned her.
She didn't have anywhere to go and the organization of "Stray Exorcists" picked her up.
In other words, she had to get divine protection from the Fallen Angels.
But the girl never forgot to pray to God. She also never forgot to thank God.
Even so, the girl was abandoned.
God didn't save her.
What shocked her the most was that there was not even a single person in the Church that was willing to defend her.
There was no one who cared about her.
Once she had finished, I wasn't sure what to say. It didn't take a genius to realize that the girl was Asia.
This was her own tragic past.
After everything she had gone through, she still held onto her faith. She still managed to retain her ability to smile…
Compared to both her and Issei, I felt even more pathetic and weak.
"…It's because I didn't pray enough. It's because I'm clumsy. I'm so stupid that I can't even eat a burger by myself." Asia laughed while wiping her tears.
I gently petted her on he head, rubbing her assuringly and gently. "Idiot…" Asia stared at me with tear-filled eyes.
I was right… that sense of loneliness Asia felt…
It was the same one I felt after my mother died. After she died, I just felt so alone. I was always too nervous to interact with other kids my age, so they always found me weird and either picked on me or ignored my very existence. After Mom's death, I felt so dead inside. Some days it was a miracle I managed to get out of bed even with Naru-nee's urging.
The difference between me and Asia was that I found someone who saved me from my own loneliness… the first friends I ever made who became the light of hope within my darkness.
Issei and Iri saved me. They protected me from the bullies. They befriended me when no one else would. They refused to leave me alone.
Asia, she was never saved. She never had the opportunity to live a normal life or make friends. Because of a power she didn't choose and because of her kind heart, she was feared and hated for unfair reasons.
Asia continued staring at me, still crying. "I'm sure I will make lots of friends one day. I have a dream. I want to go buy flowers with a friend, buy books and… talk…" She choked a little on her sobs.
I stared sadly at Asia.
...How could God be so cruel? I admit I was never zealous in my faith, but as a human, I always tended to think about God when life got hard, thinking there was a big guy upstairs looking after me and my friends who would somehow make our fortunes turn out alright. He was supposed to care for everybody. Asia was one of the most loyal of His followers. How could He abandon her like this, if He truly loved us, humanity, His children? Why did He grant us these powers in the first place? These powers that have caused untold harm and pain upon many of us… Was it all just some sick joke?
That was when I remembered something. I frowned.
"Hey. I was talking." I told Asia, who apparently didn't quite hear me before. "I'm a little hurt that you said you didn't have any friends. What does that make me?" I managed a genuinely pleased smile when Asia's eyes widened with realization. "I'm a Devil, but it's all right. I don't plan on taking the life of the woman who saved my life, and I won't take any price! You can call me whenever you feel like it! I'll even give you my phone number if you want it!"
"…Why?" Asia asked. I sighed.
"I told you before, remember?" Asia gave a confused look at my question. I sighed again. "Dummy, we're friends. We've played together the entire day. We've talked and laughed together. Therefore, we are friends. Human, Devil, God, Fallen Angels, none of that stuff matters to me. You're my friend."
Asia stared still. "...Is this a pact with a Devil?" Perhaps I needed to be less subtle.
I grasped both of Asia's hands in my own, holding them warmly and tightly.
"Then let me fully express it, Asia." I said. "I make my vow here and now: From here on out, I will remain by your side. Even if we have not known each other long, you have already gained an important place in my heart. That's why you must remain by my side as I must remain by yours. In sickness and in health, I will stay with you. In times of despair and chaos, I will remain by your side. Even if we were to venture through the very fires of Hell, I will remain with you. Even should all others abandon us, I will remain with you. Asia, you are a very important person to me. So please, let me stay by your side forever and I will remain with you forever."
Oddly, not only did Asia's eyes continue to fill with tears, but her face also turned a deep shade of red.
She placed her hands on the sides of her face. "H-Haruto-san-! T-To say such a thing s-so suddenly! I-I-!—"
I frowned in confusion. Somehow, I felt like I created a horrible misunderstanding with my words.
She calmed down after several seconds, staring at me with those sad eyes of hers.
She started crying again, but she didn't seem so sad anymore. "I have no common sense and I don't know much about Japanese culture, Haruto-san."
I grinned. "Then let me teach you! I'll teach you everything there is to learn, Asia!"
Asia's tears began to flow more freely, but now, she was smiling.
"...Will you really remain by my side forever?" Asia asked. I could feel her hands tremble slightly with happiness and hope.
I tightened my grasp on her hands reassuringly, smiling softly as I stared Asia in the eyes.
"Of course I will. I said before, that if you accepted, I would remain with you forever and that means forever, Asia. We will always be together. Everyday, will be fun. I will always help you and you will never have to be afraid to lean on me and ask me for help. Because, Asia, you are someone important to me now and I will always stick by you as I would with the rest of my friends, no matter what." My smile widened. "So let's get along."
Human, Devil, Angel, Fallen Angel, it doesn't matter. It may seem impossible, but there is no doubt in my mind that we could be friends regardless of what race we belonged to.
I will protect the smiles of my friends, especially Asia. They are my friends and I won't let anyone get in the way of that! I'll protect them no matter what!
"Oh, how cute." A familiar voice mocked. "That's so sweet I think I'm gonna puke. What you're talking about is impossible."
I tensed.
No… it can't be…not her…
I was left speechless as I turned in the direction of the voice. What I saw was a familiar, slender girl with silky black hair. My heart stopped.
This cold feeling… even though I was angry… I knew it was also fear. I didn't fear her, but my body remembered the sensation of being run through by this girl.
"Raynare…" I said out of shock.
The Fallen Angel's eyes widened. I realized my mistake and mentally cursed myself. There was no way I should've known that name without Mittelt's information. It was too suspicious. I should've called her "Yuuma" which was the only name I was supposed to know her by.
"You. I see you survived by turning into a Devil. How is it you knew my name?"
Asia looked at me and then at Raynare, perhaps wondering what our connection was. "...Raynare-sama…"
I narrowed my eyes. "..." I couldn't come up with any real answer to Raynare without putting Mittelt in danger.
Raynare rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I don't want a filthy low-class Devil like you talking to me anyway.b"That girl, Asia, is our personal belonging. Can I have her back?" Yeaaa-No. "Asia, you know it's useless to run away."
It was that one statement that made me realize something from earlier. That afraid look on Asia's face. How relieved she was when she saw me… She had been running away from the Fallen Angels.
I made sure to completely hide Asia behind me, blocking her from Raynare's sight. "I won't let you lay a hand on Asia!" Asia clung to my back, tightening her grip on me.
"I don't want to return to that Church. I don't want to return to the people who kill other people. Also, you people did things to me…" Those words made me angrier. What the Hell did this bitch do to Asia?!
I raised my fists, ready to fight. "You heard the lady! She's not going anywhere! You want her—" I summoned Divine Dividing. "—you'll have to go through me!"
Raynare's eyes seemed to glow with malicious intent at the sight of my Sacred Gear.
"...The the reports were telling the truth…" Then she smirked. "Well if that's the case…then I suppose taking a second Sacred Gear could be a bonus for a job well-done."
I stared blankly. "Say what now?"
The malicious intent radiating off of Raynare increased immensely.
"If I take both your [Divine Dividing] and Asia's [Twilight Healing], then I'll truly become invincible!" She then reached out a hand towards me. "I'm afraid you'll have to come with me as well, Ha-ru-to-kun." She spoke with a mocking cutesy tone that made me sick to my stomach.
I changed my form to a battle stance. "The day I go with you willingly is the day that Hell freezes over!"
"Ooh feisty," Raynare teased. "You seem to catch onto the situation much more quickly than that idiot, Issei-kun. I'm certain I dropped hints left and right about my true intent, but that idiot didn't suspect me in the slightest. Maybe I picked the wrong guy to torment. You seem like you would've been more fun to torment and then tear apart."
I clicked my tongue, narrowing my eyes. "Sorry, but I have standards: I don't date bitches." I clenched my fists at my side. "And now you have the balls to mock my bro…? Reminiscing about how you hurt him…? At first, it was just to protect Asia, but now I think I'm going to enjoy beating the shit out of you, crow."
Raynare sneered. "The feeling is mutual, Shitty Devil." She laughed. "I wonder how you right now… facing a more powerful enemy using a weapon you barely know how to use. I honestly don't know who's more pathetic: you who unrealistically believes you can defeat me or Issei-kun who is amongst the weakest insects I've ever had the pleasure of crushing under my heel."
"SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!" That was when I snapped. "Don't you fucking say another bad word about Issei! Issei's the strongest guy I know! He's far more superior than a hundred of you put together! No matter how strong I get, Issei will always be stronger than even me! Stronger than you! He's a humongous pervert, an idiot, has little to no self-control, he tends to obsess over boobs too much, and I'm fairly certain he was the one who lost my IPod last year, but—no matter what—Issei is the strongest person I ever could have met! He deserved better than a stuck-up bitch like you!"
I could tell I pissed off the crow now. I saw her eye twitching.
"If that's the way you feel, then maybe I'll pay him a little visit after I painfully extract your Sacred Gear. After I gain the power of both Divine Dividing and Twilight Healing, it won't matter if I piss off that red-haired bitch from the Gremory clan by killing her precious servant. But first things first, I have to deal with the pest in front of me."
My desire to kill Raynare grew larger and larger with each passing second.
I did my best to remain calm though. I still had Asia behind me. I had to fight to protect not only Issei, but Asia as well.
"You're not laying a single hand on my bro, you bitch!"
All three of us turned our head in surprise to see a panting, brown-haired teen wearing a red gauntlet on his left arm.
"Issei?!" I called out in shock.
My friend clenched his fist, a powerful determination in his eyes.
"I came as soon as your friend told me you were in trouble!" Issei said. He looked at Raynare, tensing somewhat. "Now I see why?"
I frowned. What "friend"? Other than Asia, I haven't really spoken to any of my friends since last night. Even if I did, how would they know I was in trouble?
Issei scratched his head. "She didn't give me a name though. Just told me there was trouble…"
So Issei didn't know her either, so it couldn't have been anyone from the ORC.
Raynare observed Issei's Sacred Gear with amusement. "I doubt you would be much help in a fight, Issei. Your Sacred Gear is a horribly common one, the [Twice Critical], a Sacred Gear that doubles the user's power for a short time."
Issei raised his left arm, a hint of disappointment on his face, but his determination remained.
"It doesn't matter! Me and Haruto are gonna kick your ass!" He shot me a confident grin before turning back to Raynare.
I smiled softly. I closed my eyes. "Sorry, Issei, but there's something else I need you to do for me right now…"
"What…?" Both Issei and Asia looked at me with confusion.
I turned around to face Asia, still smiling. "Sorry about this."
"Haruto-sa—AGH!" Asia was unable to finish speaking because I drove the edge of my hand into her neck, hitting her with just enough force to knock her out. After making sure Asia was indeed unconscious, I picked her up princess-style walking over to Issei, who stood perfectly still, gawking at me.
I handed Asia to Issei. "Take her back to the ORC. You make Gremory-senpai and Sitri-senpai protect her, no matter what." After a brief pause, I added, "I'll stay behind and keep the crow busy."
Issei took Asia in his arms, shaking his head. "N-No way! I—"
I placed my hands on Issei's shoulders. "Issei listen to me! We can't let Raynare get Asia! You're the only one I can count on to do this!" I stared directly into his eyes. "Will you do this!?"
Issei bit his lower lip, seeming unhappy about the request he had been given. After several seconds of mental debate, he looked back at me and nodded.
"Alright. But the moment I get Asia to safety, I'm coming back to help you kick ass!"
We both grinned at that. "Fine, just don't keep me waiting too long, bro!"
Issei gained a better grip on Asia and started running away from the battle.
"No you don't!" Raynare, having realized what Issei and I were doing, summoned a light spear. "I'm taking Asia's Sacred Gear and I'll kill every single person who gets in my way!"
She threw the light spear at the fleeing Issei.
My move that came in response to that was based solely on reflex.
I reached out with my hand in what I assumed to be an attempt to grab the spear mid-flight.
What I ended up with was a light spear pierced halfway through my hand.
My first thought in response: FUUUUUUUUCK! THIS BURNS LIKE HELL!
It hurt as badly as I remembered it when Mittelt had attacked me. Only this time. The light spear actually pierced deeply through my flesh, so the pain was ten times more intense when mixed with the light poisoning I was getting.
Gritting my teeth, I used my one remaining free hand to grip the shaft of the light spear.
It burned even more to even attempt to grab it, but I had to get that little shit out. I tightened my grasp despite how badly it hurt me.
With a pain-filled scream, I tore the light spear out of my flesh, revealing a large, very painful-looking, and very bloody hole in my hand.
I managed a shallow laugh before directing a dark look at Raynare. "Sorry, crow, but it's like what I said: If you want Asia, you have to get past me!"
And I charged at the crow.
Of course I wouldn't win though. That's what I couldn't bring myself to tell Issei.
Halfway through my exchange with Raynare, I sensed one or two of her allies approaching as well. Even if by some miracle, we defeated Raynare, we would be in no shape to resist a new enemy. Issei would be killed and Asia and I would probably soon follow if Raynare got the chance to extract our Sacred Gears.
As I fought tooth and nail against Raynare, I didn't regret my actions.
In the end, Issei would be safe and Asia would be under the protection of Sitri-senpai and Gremory-senpai. I would most likely still die, but even if Raynare somehow got my Sacred Gear, I had faith in Issei to get stronger and kick her ass.
That's what I always loved about Issei. What I always envied about him. No matter what happened, he always got stronger. Even if he were to lose, he wouldn't give up. He'd just keep getting back up stronger than before, over and over again until he found victory.
That image, that's what always drove me to keep moving forward. My hope of someday being on the same level as that idiot. My desire to surpass him. Even if I got physically stronger, Issei would always be the strongest. The strongest person anyone could meet. I could always depend on him. That's why I trusted him to protect Asia.
He's my greatest rival…and he's my best friend. The person I admire the most if, for a moment, I could be honest.
My last thought before I fell into unconsciousness upon my inevitable defeat:
Issei… thank you…
Then darkness…