The volcano had almost erupted as Akira leaned against the wall blocking off the normal street and the bathroom building. Although it was close to boiling over and causing a massive disaster in that desolate side-street, Amatsuyu managed to run past the entrance presented between the two parts of the wall in time.

As he ran, he failed to stop in time because of his hurry and accidentally tripped over himself and landed on the ground with a painful blow. The volcano was instantly put on pause as Akira's boredom was put to rest, even though the progress remained the same.

It was still moments away from overflowing, so anything that would make Akira dislike Amatsuyu more would instantly tip it over and cause a natural disaster where Amatsuyu's existence would be wiped.

Amatsuuy rose up with his same face from before and said

"Excuse me, let's proceed then."

"Go ahead..."

Amatsuyu started walking again, taking his position a couple of meters in front of Akira again. He smiled to himself slightly.

As if he saw the materialization of hope in front of him, he grabbed a leaf he found resting on gates and squeezed it tightly. That tiny leaf represented all that he had left, a tiny piece of hope from his conversation with the old man. He'd fought his hardest, but he'd gotten a chance of surviving the situation, but the odds weren't looking him favorably.

Several problems were brewing up and could potentially crush the little leaf he held.

He thought

- I must keep this a secret until I can pull it off! Right now, he's following me because there's at least a chance that I'm telling the truth about my contact. But if he finds out that I'm lying, then he has no reason to tag along anymore.

But I have to do this quickly as well! Otherwise, my feelings will return fully, and that'll prevent me completely from accomplishing this mission. -

For his usual self, that situation would've been a very tense one. Fortunately, his current emotion-less self it didn't give anything other than the thought that he'd better hurry. They started walking again with the ticking bomb Akira taking extra-large, lazy steps as he followed Amatsuyu's lead.

They turned another corner that led them to a large street with many shops on each side, parallel to the other shopping street they were in before. A lot of high schoolers could be seen walking around the different food stalls there, not because they were delinquents, but because it was a popular place to hang out during the lunch break.

An unexpected sight was soon picked up by Amatsuyu as a large and broad-shouldered high school student with a similarly colored school uniform as Amatsuyu walked casually down the street.

Zukiwa quickly approached Amatsuyu as soon as he saw them walking and grabbed Amatsuyu's shoulder hard, and said

"Hey, you! Where's that shit you were with!? I have a score to settle with 'im!"

Amatsuyu didn't have time to answer him before he locked his eyes unto the person behind Amatsuyu, and said

"You're the person I walked into before! How about you? Do you know where he is!?"

Zukiwa was approaching Akira the same way he had approached Amatsuyu, which made him react quickly as he reached out his hand to try and stop it, saying

"Wait---! Zukiwa!"

*TOUCH*

But it was too late as Zukiwa's large hands grabbed the shoulder of Akira tightly. He had even stepped forth a little to make sure it happened before Amatsuyu could react.

He looked up into Zukiwa's eyes briefly before saying

"Yeah, same as you."

*SHAAAAAA*

*POOF*

With that, the large-built student disappeared in the same way Kaharu had before. Amatsuyu bit his lip as he looked at the missing spot in frustration. Akira looked forth with content, and flashed a subtle grin that made his appearance start to look like that shadow-crow once again. He said

"I don't like it when people disrupt my own peace with their arrogant violence."

That smile was engraved into Amatsuyu for a moment as they started to slowly walk again. A sense of Dejà vu was implemented in Amatsuyu as he felt similar emotions to the ones he had experienced before. It was happening, his emotions were slowly making their way back.

Amatsuyu got anxious as they continued through the shopping street, eventually catching sight of his actual goal. Akira was suddenly forced to increase his walking speed, seeing the person in front of him to that. He scratched his chin in amazement at his accomplishment. He was really able to wipe anybody he hated in an instant. Although he didn't like to unnecessarily wipe people, if it was for the sake of knowing his powers better and getting stronger: He didn't mind it.

As long as it managed to benefit him in any way, the method or context didn't matter to him. There was no reason to care for that, after all. He was always alone, so there was no need to care for anybody else but himself in the end. But there was also no need to wish ill upon anyone other than himself either. They lived in two different worlds, and that was that.

He would strive towards personal satisfaction in the same way as they would, so there was nothing for Akira to worry about. People who dared to cross that border would now be able to disappear at his will, the future seemed bright for Akira as he continued to walk.

The body in front of him eventually stopped, which made Akira want to take advantage of that situation, so he continued to walk towards that body.

Amatsuyu desperately dodged the impact with Akira as he stepped to the side.

But Akira didn't reflect too much on his miss as his eyes were instantly drawn to a large, bronze gate surrounded to the sides with yellow leaves that brought up a sharp reminder that the seasons had changed. Akira didn't pay too much attention to the leaves as his eyes were drawn to the sign placed on that bronze gate shaped like half a chair with wings on its side, he read quietly

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" 'Yamanawa… shrine'…?

A shrine?"

Amatsuyu recovered from his sidestep as he tried to position himself by that large gate. Akira took on a neutral face as he said

"Your contact is here? Someone who's going to fix my pen, at a shrine?"

Akira thought to himself

- This guy's most likely lying about his 'contact' at this point. If I can confirm it, I think my current dislike would turn into hatred. -

Amatsuyu looked in towards the shrine with an open mouth and thought

- This is bad! He isn't believing me about my contact, he might leave at this rate…! -

Turning around to face him, Amatsuyu said to Akira

"Well, he doesn't work here. I just told him to meet me here."

Akira figured he might as well tag along to expose him in his lies, and they started walking towards the main area of the shrine as Amatsuyu sighed of relief. Akira said

"Odd place to meet, isn't it?"

"I thought it was good since it's a large landmark here."

"Strange, I thought you were from Akuma High School on the other side of town."

Amatsuyu started to sweat a little as he felt Akira's offenses get more and more aggressive towards him, he thought

- He's really trying to expose me…! Why is he pushing this hard? To get a clear reason to leave? No, that can't be the case. He has said that he only follows his own will, so if he strongly believed it was a lie, then he'd just leave.

Could it be that he…? -

Amatsuyu got even more sweaty as he reached a potential reason for the attacks, but he quickly responded to Akira

"That's true, but I live in this town. I've been here before in the shopping streets here and such, and this shrine is very distinguishable"

For every word he uttered, he felt as if he walked down upon a cliff that got more narrow as it continued. Amatsuyu scratched his hair as Akira said

"Hmm? Then who's your contact? D'you expect them to know this place?"

As his emotions were returning, his senses were darkening under the pressure. Whatever words he said dictated whether he was allowed to exist or not, or if his 'brother' would be allowed to exist. Amatsuyu stuttered as he said

"M-My brother

…!"

He quickly held his mouth tightly as he thought

- Crap...! -

Out of all the things he could've said, he had chosen the most inconvenient as his spur-of-the-moment decision. Akira grinned to himself again as he said

"Oh? Your brother? Shouldn't he be living with you? Or do you commute to the other side of town every morning just for school? Even though we have multiple high schools here? Or does he work here and commute here? Even then, why would your brother be good at fixing pencils? I won't be cooperating if it's a bad job, ya know?"

Akira thought to himself

- Come on, admit it! Even though there is flawed logic in what I said, with the pressure in this scenario and lack of planning on his side, there's no way he won't crack! I have an invincible power after all!

Come one, just say "I lied" so I can hate you! Or just change the subject, that'll also be a sign of defeat! -

*TAN*

*TAN*

The tree next to Amatsuyu got two punches from Amatsuyu's fist as his sweat was dripping quite a lot from his face and hands as they hit the stem. Akira smiled contently at him as Akira took his last step, waiting for Amatsuyu to reply in any way.

Amatsuyu turned around, as if turning around on a tight-rope walk, and said

"Do you think you're strong? Do you want the responsibilities that come with such power, or do you wish to use those powers against everyone you dislike?"

Amatsuyu put on a face of courage as his heartbeat practically punched against his chest, Akira smiled maliciously as he quickly thought

- He switched, it's settled then…! -

"I guess, I do.

I'm able to make you disappear with them, after all, Amatsuyu! You liar!"

Out of Akira's peripheral vision, a bright light shone, but his mind was dedicated to the person he saw in front of him. Amatsuyu seemed to have a face of deceit in the eyes of Akira, as he said

"AMATSUYU--!

I HATE

YOU--"

*Shaaa*

Akira stood in silence as all that had left him was a subtle 'shaa' sound from his fingertips, but the face of deceit remained in front of him. His eyes were quickly drawn to Amatsuyu as he collapsed to the ground. He held hope for a moment, but realized that Amatsuyu wasn't going to disappear.

Amatsuyu sat on the ground for a moment, full of relief. His stare into the sky put his mind at such ease, as his heart had been full with worry throughout that walk. But it turned out that his intuition had been correct. Not many things were circling around in his head, he was exhausted from everything that had happened.

Filled with hatred and confusion, Akira leaped forward to land a punch on Amatsuyu in his moment of temporary victory. But his hand was quickly caught by a figure that appeared from the bushes beside them.

As Amatsuyu looked over at Akira, he realized something. As that light had shone before, that crow-like shadow creature that had hunted him had dissipated into Akira's true face: A normal teenager with tired facial details.

His face was currently contorted into a confused mess, as he had no idea what was happening. Amatsuyu sighed to himself as he felt dumb for getting so scared over such a normal-looking student. But he knew that the immense power behind that average face was worthy of fear.

The old man that had grabbed Akira's hands said

"Looks like I won't need to be lonely anymore, my new God Candidate"

Akira looked up at the grinning old man with furrowed eyebrows as he commented

"God Candidate!? What---!?"

Amatsuyu stood up and cleaned his school uniform a little bit as he unintentionally took two steps back. He looked directly at Akira as he said

"It looks like I was right about my theory, luckily.

You had such an enormous amount of spiritual energy within you that it had manifested into some sort of power that you used subconsciously. But when you now got into a God Candidate position, that power got overwritten with something new, because you always get a power by the god of the shrine as you enter into that agreement.

I don't know what power you have now though, and you probably still have that scary amount of spiritual energy to use. If anything, you're probably stronger now than before."

Akira looked at his hand as he said

"So…

You tricked me twice!? I really hate you now!

I shall test my powers against you first then!"

Akira leaped forth as he tried to throw another punch at Amatsuyu, but was again blocked by the old man as he said, with a smile

"Now, now. I am the god of this shrine, so your powers won't work against me. We will have fun together from now on. I'll have to teach you how to control your powers, and attitude as well, it seems."

Akira looked up at the old man with contempt as he realized his position was under someone. Like the teachers at school, that authority they had over him made him infuriated as he directed his hatred towards Amatsuyu with a serious tone

"I won't forgive you for this, Amatsuyu.

You only reached this level because you knew something I didn't… You liar!"

Before Akira had the ability to touch Amatsuyu in any way, Amatsuyu started running out of the shrine and towards that shopping street again.

As he did, he felt a sense of bitterness in him. He had succeeded in the mission, but his own jealousy hadn't gotten rest from that. He'd ultimately failed in his goal of bringing Akira, the person who thought he was so superior, down to his own level or below. He had instead made Akira even stronger and fertile to grow even more. He would pose an even more serious threat the next time they would meet.

Although he was unsure if Akira would necessarily be on the opposing side, since he only followed his own desires. Perhaps that unpredictability made his silhouette even more menacing.

But there was nothing else he could have done. Amatsuyu found a peace in that thought, as there was no way for him to have beaten Akira fully. He had been lucky to even get this result, there were so many ways he could've fallen down that narrow path and into the depths of darkness, never to be seen again by anyone.

That bitterness he held fueled his run as he found his way out to the street, and looked to the left immediately. A couple of dozen meters away, a largely-built man sat on the floor confused, with comments from passersby beside him.

Amatsuyu got a wide smile on his face as he thought to himself

- They really were released…!

That means that Kaharu is---!

I have to go, quickly! -

Amatsuyu started running once again, filled with both the bliss of having survived that event, but also the bitterness of reaching his own potential.

Either way, his mind was centered on seeing Kaharu again.

…