snip
The sound of scissor cutting hair woke Haruki up like an alarm.
yaaaawn~
He woke up and stretched after hearing snip for the forth time now.
Haruki scratched his chest still half asleep, who was running a salon in their room.
"Good morning Haruki-san!"
Hori greeted with a warm smile, her cheerful voice loud as always.
Haruki paused then rubbed his eyes.
"....aaaghhhghhahhassgwhaaahhahhahhahhwhhahahhahhahhhahgaahhhhaahhga!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR HAIR?!!???!!???!!!"
He yelled at full volume! Hori had ruined it with a scissor!
"Oh, pay no mind to this Haruki-san, it was simply time for my yearly trim."
She answered casually. And returned to disfiguring her hair.
"What the hell is a yearly trim?!"
He asked coming closer to stop her from going any further with the haircut.
Hori explained that her father always cut her hair every year.
"He usually does it on my birthday. Thus the name 'Yearly trim' "
Hori said with a beautiful smile, contrasting the terrible haircut she had given herself.
".... so if you would excuse me...."
She rose the scissors to continue, Haruki stopped her with a sigh
"You should've asked for my help."
He said disappointedly.
"I shouldn't trouble you for every little thing. Surely I can cut my own hair!"
Hori said confidently. Ignoring the disaster on her head.
Narrator - but....it looks....like crap....
Narrator added.
It's not that bad...
She thought to herself.
Haruki let out a slight yawn, still shaking sleep from his body.
He said tiredly.
"Give me the scissor."
Hori complied without hesitation, she actually wanted to ask Haruki for help but was worried about being a nuisance.
He told her to follow him as he brings a stool to the bathroom.
Hori trailed behind him. Wondering what he was doing.
Haruki dropped the stool on the tiles and pointed.
A warm smile appeared on Hori's face.
She diligently sits down on the stool facing the bathroom mirror, just like a play-salon. Haruki spreads a towel over her chest and ties it at her neck.
He moved like he had done this before.
snip. snip.
The scissor cut Hori's hair elegantly and swiftly. He occasionally brushed it to get rid of fallouts.
------------
After some time Haruki was done. He sprayed some perfume at her nape then brushed her hair one last time.
He finally removes the towel revealing the hair cut.
"What do you think"
He asked, gently combing it with a smile.
".... wow, I look like a different person."
She said in awe touching her head.
Her once silky let down hair surprisingly turned spiky.
"I'm.... beautiful...."
Hori said in astonishment.
The hairstyle was an extremely short boyish design that contrasted with Hori's beautiful face, it gave her a confident look and looked a little odd being dark blue.
It simply oozed with personality, much more memorable than her original one.
"....thank you Haruki-san, again I am in your dept..."
She said bowing down.
"Your welcome."
He said with a big smile caressing her head.
"But woah, you look so different, you asked for a simple trim but I think I overdid it."
He said worryingly, girls do not joke with their hair. And Haruki might have made it a little too short.
"It's okay! l can feel so much fresh air entering my head!"
She said as she fluffed it up and down. All boys could relate to that feeling of cool air touching their scalp.
"Now let's go bathe, get dressed and head to SHO!!"
Haruki yelled.
"Yes sir!"
"Don't call me sir! So do you wanna bathe first?"
He asked as they left the bathroom.
"Of course not, you go first!"
Haruki stood for a second wondering her quick decline, but paid it no mind.
Hori went to sit on the bed to wait for him to finish.
Her posture was elegant and face neutral, she slowly put her hands on her face not obstructing her eyes.
This is terrible!!!! I don't have any clothes to wear!!!!
She panicked.
Narrator - Why don't you wear the clothes you wore yesterday?
Those are dirty! I can't walk alongside Haruki-san looking unkempt!
She argued.
Narrator - What will our protagonist do now?
sigh... I don't know, wait who are you talking to?
Hori's eyes scanned the room for a solution, before stumbling on Haruki's luggage.
Haruki whistled as he came out of the shower, tying a towel and drying his hair. He was finally done.
He stopped as he entered the living room seeing Hori.
"Are those my clothes?"
He asked dropping the towel used to dry his hair on the couch.
"Oh... I should have asked for permission first! You see, my clothes were dirty so I hoped you'd let me wear yours."
She said fidling with her hair.
"....aight"
He said casually.
Hori was dressed in a white sweater with dark green lines, she also wore a black simple short nicker. Basically looking like a guy with a pretty face.
"But shouldn't you take a bath first?"
He asked.
"Of course!"
Hori did so, and they left the room.
They still had time in their room, till about eight in the evening until they would need to check out.
So Haruki proposed they leave the luggage and go enroll at SHO first.
After that, they'll carry their luggage back to Haruki's house, the damaged inn.
They both arrived outside the hotel, Hori shielding her eyes from the early morning sunlight.
"So do you even know where to sign up?"
He asked with concern, where they just going to walk aimlessly?
Hori replied with a witty accent.
"SHO registration is extremely easy, they usually have several stands that collect aspiring members names and addresses.
The compiled list is then collected and the applicants are notified by Mail when the date arises."
She paused.
"To partake in the worst test known to humanity....the 'Sabbath Exams' "
Hori spoke with dread.
Narrator - Ahhh, yes. The Sabbath Exams... apart from Sins and Sinners constantly devouring humans. The deaths from this exam contributed to such a low population in this verse.
Haruki on the other hand wasn't scared. Unlike Hori, he hardly knew anything about SHO despite being a Sin himself.
He placed his arms behind his head and said.
"So we just write our names and addresses then submit it?"
"That is correct, SHO spends 1 full month each year to collect new applicants. Conveniently enough, the month for this year's collection is September, so we still have time.
"The dates 28th."
Haruki said after checking his phone.
"That means we will be notified to partake in the Sabbath Exams 7 days from the end of this month."
"That's....2+7, that's 9 days from today!"
Hori answered.
"... you're really knowledgeable of all this SHO stuff, you're dad really worked there huh?"
He complimented Hori's intelligence.
Hori blushed and said
"Yes, he's the founder-
Smack!
Hori immediately slapped her self.
"Are you alright?! Why'd you do that?!"
Haruki asked with fear, that must have hurt.
Ahem
"As I've already told you. He is just a high ranking priest at SHO."
Hori continued, ignoring what just happened.
That was close! I almost told Haruki-san about father!
She stared at the him sweating.
Narrator - Hori's Father, Father Tabata Jiro is not only the Prime Minister of Japan, but also the founding executive of SHO, at least in Japan.
Narrator - His family's ancestors are responsible for creating the organization, so naturally, he inherited that title after his own father's death. He is believed to be the strongest priest known to mankind....
aha!
Hori said dismissing Narrators haunting tone. She spotted a stand that worked for SHO. You could tell by the obvious cross logo on the desk.
"Wow, that was easy?"
Haruki said almost disappointed, he thought they'd at least go to the vibrant city, Tokyo. But it was a normal looking stand about 20 meters from the hotel.
The both approached.
Hori spoke politely.
"Good day ma'am!"
She bowed.
It was a middle aged woman with black hair wearing a suit, a simple formal attire.
"Please we would like to take part in this year's Sabbath Exams."
She wasted no time and stated their goal.
"Okay, please write your name here, sign here and fill in your address here."
She instructed them, pointing at a black form. Resembling a death contract.
Hori picked up the form and quickly read it. Everything was legit until the closing paragraph.
"Please check this box indicating official compliance in the case of forfeiting your life to the Sabbath Exams."
She briefly hesitated but checked the box with the pen. It might've been a dangerous test but still doable.
Hori stumbled upon the name portion but mistakenly wrote Jiro Inori. She immediately cancelled and used her alias Inori Hori.
This was who she was, at least for now.
She was about writing her address but stopped.
She looked at Haruki and asked for his house address since she would be living with him from now on.
He did so and as well filled his own form, but wrote his email address instead.
The Woman collected the two forms and put them in a brown folder that had many more.
"Thank you for putting your lives on the line for the Sabbath Exams. In the continues effort of battling Sinners and Sins, Priests are highly respected."
She bowed.
That being said, don't these two look two young to enroll at SHO?!!
She thought to herself, sure the rate of minors becoming priests was high these days but they looked too young!
Hori bowed once more and they left.
"That was pretty easy..."
Haruki said putting his hands in his pockets.
"That is the ONLY easy part Haruki-san. The Sabbath Exams are.... quite difficult."
Hori said with a trembling voice, as if now regretting registering.
"Don't worry!"
Haruki reassured.
"We still have 9 days till then, so I'm gonna train you!"
He patted her shoulder.
"Really?!"
"Yup, I'm already pretty strong cause I'm an assassin and a Sin, but you'd probably die if you said the Sabbath exams are really tuff."
"What's an assassin?"
Hori asked innocently.
"Oh, shit...we...file taxes."
Haruki said with honesty.
"Is that so, then I shall be in your care Haruki-san."
She said while bowing.
growl
Her stomach once again ruined the moment.
"We didn't eat breakfast yet so it can't be helped..."
Haruki said understandingly.
Why do I always embarrass myself!!!!
Hori cursed.
Haruki gasped as if remembering something.
He reached in his pocket and brought out ¥1,000
"Here you go."
He handed it over to Hori.
She frantically waved her hands to refuse it, what was it for?
Haruki explained that she was working for him.
"This is for carrying my luggage to the hotel. I know you lied when you said they weren't heavy"
He smiled.
"... Thank you"
Hori bowed then slowly collected the cash.
She had a splendid upbringing but was never given pocket money. Her father found it unnecessary.
She played the money in her pockets and bowed once more.
"I'm broke right now, so we can't eat out. Okay, I'll just buy some ingredients and whip-up something."
He thought out loud with his hand on his chin.
Now contemplating on what exactly to cook.
snap!
"Okay Hori! I have good news and bad news. The good news is, you get to eat my cooking today!"
Hori brimmed with excitement! A meal from Haruki held promise.
He continued
"The bad news is, you have to carry all my luggage back from the hotel to my house."
Her smile immediately faded.
"C'mon! I'm paying you so don't look sad!"
Haruki nagged.
It was true, Hori apologized for complaining and agreed.
He ruffled her hair and spoke with enthusiasm of his own.
"Trust me, it'll be worth it! My cookings pretty good."
He winked.
They both headed back to the hotel, Haruki finally checked out.
Hori brought his plentiful luggage down trying her best not to damage it. They looked even heavier than last night. Did the clothes multiply?
They exited through the door and began walking to the forest. Destination, their house/inn.
"This is...so heavy! It wasn't as heavy yesterday!"
Hori whined, carrying the luggage on her shoulder.
"Oh, that's because I asked a friend of mine to drop off female clothes."
Hori asked what he meant.
"You said you didn't have clothes right? You gotta look pretty now don't you."
That must be the reason why he said he was low on money. He spent a lot getting Hori clothes of her own.
Hori went silent for a bit.
"You're so kind Haruki-san, thank you for the clothes."
She appreciated with her heart racing. At this rate,it looked like Haruki had feelings for her, doing so much until now.
She smiled, a little excited to see him that way.
Haruki added.
"She even helped getting underwear."
"Ehhhh??!!!!!!"
Hori yelled with a flushed face.
They arrived at the forest where Haruki's house was located.
Haruki suddenly stopped walking causing Hori to bump into him.
"What is the matter-
shhh!
He whispered cutting Hori off.
She wondered what was wrong but suddenly caught a smell. Goat blood....
"For the wages of sin is deeeeeaaaaath"
A haunting but familiar voice came from the inn.
"Sinners of Idolatry! About 3!"
Hori yelled, shifting to Haruki's side. She wasn't mistaken.
A Sinner of Idolatry resembles an ordinary man or woman making a prayer hand sign, their palms are melted together with a hunched back as if praying.
Of course with the usual black and red poko-dot design Sinners are iconic for having.
Narrator - The reason Hori can easily identify Sinners is because she is very literate in their kind.
Narrator - Her father, Father Jiro, being the head of SHO was often involved with Sins and Sinners.
Narrator - Hori as a child will even sometimes read his books about identifying them based on features....Quite the strange kid you were.
"Really not the time Narrator!!"
Hori shut her up.
"Who is Narrator?!"
Haruki yelled telling her to keep quiet.
He faced the scene at hand, as his brows turned worried.
tch, What do I do... I really don't feel like eating THREE Sinners!
Narrator - An ordinary human can never kill a Sin or Sinner. But a Sin like Haruki can, through eating them.... however, they taste like rotten meat.
"Gross!"
Hori said.
The 2 were hiding behind a bush, calculating what to do. Hori faced Haruki, seeing him stare at her.
....hmmmm~
A devilish grin appeared on Haruki's face.
"Hori! I have a job for you!"
He said, half whispering.
"What is it, Haruki-san?"
Hori also whispered shuffling closer.
"I want you to fight those Sinners!"
Haruki whispered.
"What the hell?"
She said as if not hearing well.
"I wanna see what you can do, besides, ordinary people can't kill Sinners so it's the perfect sparring opportunity!"
".... are you serious?!???"
Hori yelled standing up.