Kyokotsu Ward, Eastern Area.
The 13th Demon Hunter Squad slept in a condo for the night.
Inside one of the rooms, Zold opened his eyes, having just finished another session of skill comprehension.
Standing up, he opened the curtains, letting the sun cast a glow on his toned, muscular body.
"Hm…"
Zold cracked his neck and stretched his body, releasing all the stiffness from sitting around too long.
After that incident last night, the real murderer, whom he suspected to be a demonic spirit, seed to have disappeared.
But with his understanding of demonic spirits, Zold knew that it wouldn't remain hidden for long.
'Born from obsession, dying from obsession…'
He thought, sighing inwardly.
After stretching his body, he decided to take a bath.
A while later, he stepped outside of the bathroom, a loose bathrobe covering his toned body.
Zold exhaled a light breath, feeling refreshed.
He changed into his Demon Hunter uniform and left his room for a morning coffee.
'I rember the staff ntioned a coffee shop sowhere in the condo…'
Thinking of this, he went downstairs and looked for that coffee shop.
By asking around, he learned that the coffee shop was around the periphery of the condo.
Zold went outside and suddenly saw sothing that made him pause.
In a garden of beautiful flowers, Ayase bent down, staring at one of the flowers with a distant gaze. She caressed it softly, and a small smile appeared on her face. Her beauty was no less than the flowers surrounding her.
'So she could smile like that…'
Zold thought, shaking his head.
He scanned the periphery and quickly found the coffee shop.
Without hesitation, he headed towards it.
But the mont he walked away, he suddenly felt a presence closing up to him.
He walked faster, but the other person matched his rhythm.
Zold thought he was imagining things, but when he arrived in the coffee shop and even sat down in one of the seats, a familiar face sat across from him.
He raised his eyes, looking at Ayase with confusion.
"Why are you following ?"
Zold asked calmly.
Ayase raised her gaze, eting his.
"... I wasn't following you."
Zold fell silent.
He looked at her deeply, as if he was trying to discern her thoughts.
However, when he was staring at her for far too long, Ayase finally gave out, her cheeks reddening slightly.
She lowered her gaze and finally clarified her intentions.
"... Nagito-sama told to learn from you."
"He did?"
Zold frowned, massaging his chin.
That guy was really crossing the line with his requests now…
"Just listen to on missions. That's your job. I'm your boss before Nagito."
"..."
Ayase widened her eyes slightly, stunned. Shouldn't the Chairman be higher than the captain of a demon hunter squad…
After a brief pause, she perked her head.
"Okay."
Zold didn't reply anymore and fell silent, sipping his coffee.
Ayase also fell silent.
As the two of them sat across from each other in the coffee shop, a peaceful silence befell them.
---
In a different spot in the condo, the other three mbers of the 13th Demon Hunter Squad also unexpectedly crossed paths with each other.
In the batting center, Akihito was planning to play a round when he suddenly saw Namita and Seiji inside one of the fields.
His eyes widened as he imdiately approached them.
"Namita-san, Seiji-san… what are you doing here? You guys like baseball too?!"
Towards the end of his words, Akihito's eyes sparkled.
"Do you mind if I join you guys?!"
Namita and Seiji exchanged a glance, then stared at Akihito.
"We were just about to start," Seiji nodded slightly. "You can grab a bat and join us."
Akihito clenched his fist, seemingly excited.
'What an energetic fellow…'
Looking at him running, Seiji couldn't help but be amused.
Very quickly, Akihito returned, carrying a bat.
"Still, it's unexpected to see you guys together… what were you two talking about?" He asked offhandedly.
Seiji held the bat casually, then assud a stance.
"Nothing important. Namita-san was just asking what's a good thing to do in Nihono."
Akihito glanced at Namita and suddenly rembered.
"Oh, right, Namita-san is from another country…"
Namita nodded slightly.
"That's right."
Akihito smiled. "If you want soone to accompany you, I don't mind coming along, Namita-san."
Namita was surprised, but accepted the offer.
"Sure, when the lockdown is finally lifted."
"Right, there's a lockdown…"
Akihito said in slight disappointnt. No one knew when the lockdown was going to be lifted, and knowing what their captain said last night, it was almost better if it wasn't.
Woosh!
At that mont, Seiji struck with his bat, precisely hitting the ball and letting it soar through the air.
Akihito was surprised by his technique.
"Seiji-san, you're also good at baseball?!"
"A little bit." Seiji nodded slightly. "I used to be a baseball athlete back in high school."
Akihito hadn't expected that, especially when Seiji looked… quite gloomy.
"I can sense that you're thinking of sothing terrible, but I can't prove it." Seiji glanced at his bewildered expression.
"Haha, no way…"
Akihito denied it, rubbing his cheeks awkwardly.
Seiji shrugged, not minding it.
At that mont, it was Namita's turn.
Like Seiji, Namita had precisely hit the ball, causing it to soar in the air.
Akihito was surprised once again, his smile widening.
As a baseball fan and athlete himself, he recognized a fellow baller when he saw one!
"That's amazing, Namita-san."
Akihito comnted, giving a thumbs-up.
"Were you also a baseball athlete in your high school?" He joked, but when Namita didn't answer right away, his heart skipped a beat.
Namita shook his head. "No, I'm just a hobbyist."
"Hobbyist or not, your skill is real," Seiji comnted.
Akihito grinned. "That's right!"
Next, it was Akihito's turn.
He went to the batting field and assud a pose.
Whoosh!
Like Namita and Seiji, he also precisely hit the ball, causing it to soar.
"Nice!"
Akihito clenched his hand, looking at Namita and Seiji with a grin.
"How about let's play a ga? Whoever can make it fly the highest wins." He said, rubbing his nose.
Seiji and Namita exchanged a glance, shrugging.
Seeing them agree, Akihito smiled and left the center.
After him, the next one to go was Seiji.
Akihito stood beside Namita as they watched Seiji.
While Seiji prepared, Akihito suddenly recalled a question he wanted to ask Namita.
"Oh, right, Namita-san, from which country were you born? You never said that in your introduction."
Namita paused, then answered. "I was born in Lunaria."
"Lunaria… ah, that country with blue pandas."
Akihito said, recalling sothing he had learned from school.
"Yeah, that's right."
Namita nodded. Blue pandas were real, and they lived in Lunaria. They were one of the most exotic animals on the planet.
"That's cool!"
Akihito smiled brightly, genuinely happy.
Namita glanced at him and fell silent.
After a brief pause, he suddenly asked. "You're in high school, right? What's a kid like you doing in the Demon Hunter Squad?"
"Ah, that…"
Akihito rubbed his cheeks awkwardly, clearly not expecting the question.
For a brief mont, he showed a hesitant expression, seemingly trying to find the words.
Namita noticed his reluctance and imdiately stopped him.
"You don't have to say."
"No, I guess you guys will know anyway…" Akihito sighed. Then he smiled, shaking his head. "It's okay to tell you guys, we're a team anyway."
Whoosh!
At that mont, Seiji hit the ball, making it rise almost to the roof.
But Akihito didn't seem to have noticed, his gaze distant as he chose his words carefully.
"My sister is currently confined in the hospital… and I need to support her dical fees," Akihito smiled softly. "She has a rare case of terminal cancer, and my parents used to shoulder that burden. But the calamities ca… long story short, I now need a job."
He paused, then continued.
"Being a demon hunter pays quite well."
Hearing that, Namita and Seiji fell silent.
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