The two walked down the street together.
Xi Ye took Koneko out for some snacks.
It was summertime, and the sun would linger in the sky until late evening.
Up ahead, a girl stood out among the crowd, her clothing made her unmistakably distinct.
But Xi Ye recognized her instantly.
It was none other than Asia, the nun he had been searching for.
At that moment, Asia was gently cradling a cat with a broken paw.
Xi Ye glanced her way, then turned to Koneko, still nibbling on her snack.
"Koneko-chan, you should head back for today. I've got something to take care of."
Koneko, previously cheerful, paused mid-bite and looked at Xi Ye with a puzzled expression.
Something happened? Though she didn't speak, their long-standing bond allowed her to understand his intent.
"It's a personal matter," Xi Ye said simply.
With that, he turned and walked off quickly, like a soldier with a mission.
"See you tomorrow, Koneko-chan."
"Okay..."
Whether or not he heard her, Koneko whispered a response as she watched him go.
Once he disappeared, her usual composure seemed to waver.
She stared blankly in his direction.
"…That's not the way to Xi Ye's house."
After a full minute, as if she had finally snapped back to herself, she quickly finished her snack and hurried off after him.
Following the path Asia had taken, Xi Ye soon arrived in a quiet area surrounded by rice fields—clearly the outskirts of town.
Across a quiet road, he spotted the girl again, walking down a dirt path, looking a little lost.
A white hood bearing a blue cross rested atop her pale blonde hair.
Her black nun-like attire matched perfectly with the image of Asia Argento that lived in Xi Ye's memory.
But this Asia Argento was no longer a sacred figure.
She was a "witch," exiled from the church.
A flicker of pity passed through his heart.
Still, wearing a gentle smile, Xi Ye approached her confidently.
"Hello. Do you need help?"
"Ah… yes…" Asia seemed startled, clearly unaware he had approached.
But when she saw the warmth in his expression, she visibly relaxed.
Returning the smile, she said:
"If you don't mind… could you tell me how to get to the church? Some kind people gave me directions earlier, but I… got lost along the way."
Again?
Xi Ye recalled a similar scene from the original timeline and couldn't help but think, You probably just got distracted and forgot to follow the directions, didn't you?
"The church, huh…"
He looked thoughtfully at her kind, delicate face.
"If I remember right, there's only one church around here. But it's been abandoned for a long time. Are you sure that's the one?"
Asia nodded without hesitation, clearly having been asked the same thing before.
"Yes. That's the right one."
"In that case, I'll take you there myself. I wouldn't want you getting lost again," Xi Ye offered. Then, casually, he added, "I'm Xi Ye. What's your name?"
Although he already knew her name, introducing himself first kept things natural and less suspicious.
"Ah, I'm Asia Argento..." she replied, then hurried a few steps to catch up, bowing her head slightly. "Thank you for your help!"
Xi Ye's lips curled slightly. The white-haired exorcist hadn't shown up yet, so he had time to leave a good impression.
If he started ranting about the death of God right away, she'd probably think he was crazy.
"Meeting a beautiful girl like you is my pleasure," he said warmly.
But he knew he'd have to find the right time to tell her the truth.
The fallen angels had already been taken care of, and Asia was no longer of use to them.
Without Raynare's protection, she'd just be abandoned.
Her Twilight Healing was purely supportive, useless in combat.
She was vulnerable now.
They hadn't walked far when a sound suddenly broke the moment.
Growl~
He looked over.
Under the folds of her nun's habit, Asia was clutching her stomach with a dainty, pale hand.
Her pretty face flushed bright red, the blush quickly reaching the corners of her eyes.
Seeing such a familiar scene, Xi Ye didn't tease her, he simply smiled.
"I'm a bit hungry too. How about we grab something to eat first? Welcome to Kuoh Town. My treat."
"But… we just met…"
Though tempted, Asia hesitated, her expression conflicted.
Just as Xi Ye was about to reassure her, a familiar voice called out behind them
"When you said 'personal matter,' you meant flirting with a pretty nun?"