Diyu’s crying face came to my mind again. That very day at the Dragon Capital Mujinn where destruction is amassed everywhere and devils run rampant, only Diyu’s face is imprinted in my mind as it is the last thing I saw of her.

It had so much impact on me that I could control myself from lusting other girls, though, Senya is an exception…

I thought that it was buried underneath my heart because of everything that happened to me but, I thought that I can actually fall for Asagao but no.

The night that Senya and I had that affair, we talked about something about Asagao, a conversation that only Senya and I are aware. Senya told me something that at first, I thought it wouldn’t happen but, right now, I just did what she told me to.

If Asagao confess to you, don’t say yes!

Senya, from the start, may have known that Asagao holds such feelings towards me while I don’t. There’s no use thinking about it because right now, I cannot organize my thoughts.

Whether I find an answer or not is not even important anymore.

Instead of showing bafflement of surprise, Asagao’s just smiles at me like she already knows what answer I will give her.

“I know. I know that. I already excepted that answer…”

It becomes harder for me to breathe as another emotion arises from the pits of my guts. She may have said that and may have smiled at me like it was nothing but, her hands immediately grabs the hem of her own clothes, trembling…

She doesn’t realize yet that her shoulders are trembling, that tear start building up in the corner of her eyes, that she can’t contain the emotion inside her. Asagao has always been bad in hiding her own emotions.

I was as honest and full of expression before, just like her, just like this girl in front of me, Asagao. However, being immersed in this world, I learned how to mask most of my emotion, how to let them out, and how to deceive.

Now, there’s a world of difference between us as she constantly changes for the better and strives more. Meanwhile, I’ve become a scum that would let that girl tremble with tears and do nothing but stand still.

Whatever may be the case, I have to respond properly…

“I’m sorry, Asagao. Like I said, I love Diyu and I cannot…return your feelings.”

“Yes, yes! I…I know…I told you already, right?”

I’ve never experienced any romance before so I am unsure of how to end it. It as it may but, I feel like the lowest scum because I cannot resolve anything or even think of something good. Asagao was brave enough to confess and I am coward enough not to push her away.

That’s not the right words…

I know that whatever may happen tonight would tarnish our relationship and that relationship…I want to keep it limited to as friends. The thought of Asagao hating me, avoiding me, or even refusing to use Divine Possession with me will surely affect our future.

I have already considered everything but I can’t still squeeze any solution. Do I even need a solution? I want to keep Asagao close to me, like more than a friend but not quite like lovers. I wonder what would Asagao wanted?

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“You always tell me that you love Diyu since we’ve reunited back then.”

Asagao’s said like she is squeezing out her voice. Her every word screeches in my ear and it’s so painful. I can’t bear how sad she is but Asagao herself endures such pain…

She has endured more than that…

However, she accumulates more stress than a normal person and I can’t even begin to think how heavy her heart is or how suffocating this situation for her is.

I’ve always boasted that I can protect her but, that was not the case because right now, I am the one who burdened her heart. It sounds obnoxious but I don’t know what to think anymore.

“You don’t need to feel guilty. I just tripped and have hurt myself. It’s no big deal…”

Stop saying words like that. It makes my heart weary…

“I just wanted to confess my love to you. It’s obvious for me that I will be rejected. However, I have no regrets that I let out such bottled feelings.”

You are making it so light that what you are actually feeling right now. I want to say those words, I want to tell what’s spinning in my mind right now but, I can’t. Asagao is perfect in every aspect, meanwhile, I, a man who can’t even comfort the girl I just rejected.

No…I’m pretty sure that would make everything worse. Good thing I have thought of it before blurting out anything.

“Don’t worry about me. I am satisfied with this. I’ll be happy too if you start dating Diyu. I can cheer you on that.”

Again…

I cannot utter any words to Asagao. It’s as if I am chickening out from sparking anything new with her. Is this an ideal decision to do or I should say something? Should I say sorry or should I say cheer up?

“Ah, it’s late now that my eyes feel tired and heavy. I think I’ll head back…see you tomorrow…”

Asagao said as she immediately turns her head and around. However, I saw tears sparkles under the influence of moonlight spilling out from her eyes as she turns around. The atmosphere that we built earlier deflated into nothing and it was all washed away together with the sound of waves from the ocean.

She walks slowly with shoulders slumped down and her hands are both wiping her tears using the hem of her clothes. Her hic becomes audible for me and her breathing started getting rough as she tries to hold back her crying.

Right now, I am certain that I am only feeling guilty and I want to give my sympathy for her. I felt no love towards Asagao the whole time…It was an attraction to girls of peerless beauty and be as it may but, I can also say that I had a lust for her.

I feel guilty but now that I think about it, it was a rare chance for me too…

The words that I have said earlier, the words that I uttered to her, maybe I can still retract them. What if Diyu doesn’t feel the same way for me?

New thoughts formed in my mind.

It was selfishness…

If I were to attain my own happiness, I could do that with Asagao but I have to move on from loving Diyu.

Maybe…what if…

I can still follow her, grab her soft and trembling arms and hold them to mine. It might not be too late to answer to her confession. It may not be too late for us to be together like lovers. Besides, she is not hard to love…

I can move my feet, I was released from the daze I was in earlier and I can think a little bit clearly and logically now.

Asagao’s crying figure becomes distant but it’s no problem for me.

I have to make the first step…

“Asagao…”

I may turn things around and attain greater happiness with someone like her. I raise my left foot and put it forward.

I know that…I can still reach her…

“Asagao…!”

I start to move my body as I took the first step. Next is second…third…fourth…so on and so forth until I can reach her again and tell her…

“Asagao, I…”

I need to get to her…

“Why are you trying to follow Asagao? You just rejected her, right?”

A young voice of a girl enters my ears.

However, it was neither sweet nor comforting. It was voice full of bloodthirst…not just a simple hostility, a bloodthirst with blood-curdling anger that directly bathes me and me alone. It immediately alerted all of my senses and my hairs stand on its end.

“Damn you…!”

When I turn around to see the owner of such bloodthirst, I was not surprised by who it was but rather, I am surprised that someone small like her could make me feels cold on my feet.

“Higanbana…!”

It was the fox eared, fox tailed caramel haired girl, Higanbana. One of Asagao’s friend and among the people I know in our current group, she on the stronger side of the spectrum, however, not stronger than me or even close.

But I am certain that her growth in power is abnormal. Also, I didn’t even notice her getting close to me…

Chills were sent to my spine as her eyes filled with hatred towards me stares fiercely into my own eyes. I can say that I am no longer an ally for her but instead, an enemy…

“That’s…Asagao…is…”

“I am happy that you didn’t accept her feelings but…are you going to follow her? To hurt her again?!”

“No…”

“Hurting Asagao is unforgivable. I will make this an exception however, my anger towards you will never subside. You were about to trample her dignity by playing with her feelings!”

“I want to be happy too…and I am certain that I can make her…”

As I said those words, Higanbana becomes even more enraged than she is from earlier. That power, Astlan’s ira, started leaking out from her body…

“I will kill you! Don’t you dare try it! I want my chance too! I want my chance to have Asagao all by myself!”