The Raven Dark Hero 36

Chapter 36 : The Childhood Friend Asakura Azusa

TL:SummerPeanut

Merci for the patron Sham Knight, Ian Gingras, and Mika Swaggy!

Author’s note:

※Bookmark count went past 10000! Really appreciate it!

※I added Kouki’s monologue!

Bright and Teaser went on a mission to defeat Almirage. After successfully completing their mission, the two decided to have lunch at a high ground with a good view.

"It looks delicious."

"Isn’t it? I've put a lot of effort into making this!"

Teaser proudly unfolded the stacked boxes. The menu consisted of naporitan, omusubi, sandwiches, fried chicken, hamburger steak, nikujaga, fried eggs, vegetable salad, and homemade pudding for dessert.

(Uhh, you're putting too much effort into this.... What is this, field day of elementary school?)

"Feel free to eat up everything!"

(No way I can eat all of it.....Kuh, here goes nothing!)

"Let's eat."

It's hard to eat with the helmet on, but he adjusted the angle of his chin and mouth before throwing the fried chicken into his mouth.

"Yum...... this is pretty good."

"Right? Oh, eat this too! Here you go, open your mouth..."

(Even until feeding me...)

One after another, dishes were brought to Bright's mouth. All of them were delicious, but he was forced to eat so much that he lost any sense of taste.

(I-I'm in pain.... The suit is tight, so it's even more painful than normal...)

"Wow! Bright, you ate it all!"

"......-it was delicious."

(Damn... should I drop my cool character act? No, then my true identity would be exposed...)

He felt that if he relaxed his guard even a little, he would throw up but he managed to hold it in and loosen up with the coffee that Teaser brought for him.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For earlier. You covered for me, didn't you?"

Teaser was concerned about what Skull had just said to him.

"I wonder? What are you talking about?"

"Fufufu. Bright, you look cool from outside but you're surprisingly hotheaded! Even that time when we send off Yoger and Mist, you were the one who pulled me up. Thanks to that I felt like I was saved for the most part... That I have done something for the two of them even if I’m like this."

As for Kouki, he was naturally mourning for the two. But at that time, the larger part of the reason was that he couldn't control his bloodlust against the enemies in front of him. Thus when Teaser thanked him, he felt a strong sense of guilt...

(...No matter what, I must have overdone it that time...haha... Even though Teaser is acting cheerful now, I'm sure she’s still feeling down from the loss of her long-time companions... Since I'm also still frustrated.

So long as Teaser feels indebted about the two’s send-off, I won’t deny these feelings.)

"...don't worry about it. You and I are like comrades now, aren't we?"

"Comrades huh... Yeah, that's nice, comrades!"

Rumi had previously said that Yoger and Mist were comrades to her, so he resolutely said so.

(...I'm well aware that I might be going to far by saying so. Still, if I could at least support Teaser's, my comrade’s, heart even a little bit... at the very least there is some meaning to this act...)

The two of them relaxed while having such a conversation.

Teaser was smiling all the time. Still, there were times when she suddenly looked sad.

(Losing a friend... it's not something that can be rationalized easily. If the same thing happened to Teaser, I can’t and don’t even want to imagine it… At least, as long as I'm around, I'll be on Teaser's side. And I'll fight with all strength so that she won’t die.)

The time passed quickly, and it was getting late in the evening...

"Shall we go back home for today?"

"That's right.... Oh, isn't Bright-kun staying at the hideout today?"

Since it’s Saturday, he originally planned to stay overnight. However, he felt tired due to his continuous act as Bright that he arbitrarily made up. Not to mention, he wouldn’t be able to wear his suit if he is invited by Teaser for dinner.

"I'm... going back today."

(Sorry, Teaser! Guarding against my loose mouth all the time is really tiring!)

"Is that so. Bright, where do you usually live?"

"I'm at the port ....... No, I haven't decided yet, have I?"

"Ah, oh right. It's Kuroyume’s rule to not pry into others private information, right? ...it’s obvious you live in the port area from just now though."

He tried to cover up his slip of the tongue, but she had already heard him clearly.

"Forget it."

"Yes~! I have forgotten where you live! But I often go to the port area too. Maybe we've crossed paths somewhere?"

(...more like we've been meeting every day lately.)

"But it's a bit of pity~. Oh well, I'll invite someone else over for dinner."

"...I'm sorry."

"No, no, no! Well, I'm just a little disappointed."

After saying that, Bright returned to his hideout and parted ways with Teaser.

(What should I do now? I was actually planning to stay at the hideout today, but should I just lock myself inside my room? But...)

Bright has only been to his room, the boss's room, and Cid's workshop. He's also been to the infirmary, but he can't even remember where it is. So he was planning to explore the dining and entertainment facilities today....

(...is wearing a scarf and sunglasses enough? But I'm not sure if I'll be recognized instantly if I meet Teaser.)

This is where the negative effects of seeing each other every day start to show up. If it's a friend you see all the time, even if you're wearing a scarf and sunglasses, there's a good chance they'll recognize you if they see you up close.

(Can’t be helped... Let’s just go home for today...)

-Home. Eight o'clock in the afternoon.

He had nothing special to do, so he sat in his room and watched TV.

"...I’m dying from boredom. Should I go to the convenience store?"

The convenience store was about ten minutes away from Kouki's house. It's not too dangerous to walk alone at night because there are relatively few people on the street at this time of night. Not like the usual dangers from just walking alone at night would faze the current Kouki.

So, when Kouki was walking towards the convenience store...

""Ah""

He bumped into Asakura Azusa, his childhood friend and now a member of Hiro's harem.

He remembered what Hiro had said.

(He said that he lied to the girl who liked me. To make her fall in love with him... that girl must be Azusa...)

Just remembering it made him want to punch Hiro in the face. Maybe it was because, as Hiro had said, Kouki used to have a crush on Azusa.

(...But well, it doesn’t matter now.)

Kouki didn't say anything and tried to walk past Azusa, but... for some reason, she suddenly grabbed his arm.

"What is it?"

"I'd like to talk to you about something for a bit."

"I see... But I don't. See ya."

He used to have feelings for her. But now Azusa, as a member of Hiro's harem, always treats Kouki like an obstacle. When Kouki was struggling to get his gift manifested, Azusa persecuted him instead of helping him. This alone made Azusa a nuisance to Kouki.

Previously he interacted kindly with her because he was in a good mood after manifesting his gift, but considering what happened at the Nerima branch of the NDF, it felt out of place for him to be infatuated with women after taking away so many lives. ...He was reminded that he has no such qualification.

All in all, after thinking about it again, he didn't even want to be friends with Azusa anymore.

(It might have all been a trick of Hiro's, but still, it's too late now.)

"Hey! Why are you being so cocky..."

On top of being persistent, Azusa took on an arrogant attitude so Kouki gave her a glare infused with a small bit of his anger.

"I’m telling you to shut up. You, that well-bred high-class girl, and that bastard wearing the skin of saint as well. If you get involved with me anymore, I'll kill you."

He was surprised by his own tone of voice, which had become a little harsher than before.

(...as expected, all the pent-up feelings before I manifested my gift changed a large part of myself..)

"wha...what the heck..even though you are just a Kouki..."

Azusa was desperately acting strong, but she couldn’t hide her tears in her eyes and quivering hands.

Azusa is probably Kouki’s first love. In the past, he had saved Azusa and Hiro from bullies. Even if he put aside that past story, it wasn’t his intention to make his first love cry.

".........my bad, I went too far. So don't cry anymore."

"Uhh...hikh, I'm not crying!"

"You're crying."

"I told you I'm not crying!"

(Sigh...so annoying.)

"...geez, I'm going to the convenience store now. If it’s just for a while, I’ll listen to your talk."

".........Okay."

While clicking his tongue softly, Kouki walked away. Azusa followed him too but for some reason, she was still grabbing his arm.

It was a nostalgic scene that was very common when she was a child: Kouki helped Azusa, who was crying because she had been bullied, and they went home together.

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TL: Forgive or no? Btw recently I played this game, it’s pretty interesting and dope. You should try persona 5 strikers if you have the time. It’s an action-rpg.