Ten minutes later, Cael stopped himself with effort.
He couldn't go any further.
If he did, something big was going to happen.
It was too soon, too fast.
Asa Mitaka lay there, face flushed, breathing hard, her chest rising and falling like she'd almost choked. Whatever regret she had about not getting to kiss Cael properly on the Ferris wheel had been thoroughly resolved.
Cael brushed a few stray strands of hair from her forehead and grinned, "Alright, so now that's it, right? We can call this an official thing between Asa and me?"
For the first time in his mind, Asa had transcended being some sad awkward girl.
Now she was… my girl.
But Asa didn't agree so easily. She frowned, thought seriously, then shook her head, "Not yet."
"Why? I'm already way into you, you know?"
Asa continued shaking her head, evaluating like it was a science lecture, "Pheromones, or external hormones, are chemicals organisms release to communicate outside the body. One of their functions is attracting the opposite sex. I don't think what just happened was purely infatuation. Your actions were probably influenced by the pheromones between us. Using that as a boost counts as cheating. So we still need to pursue this properly."
Cael couldn't help laughing. Her scientific breakdown was somehow adorable, like a robot trying to flirt.
"Fine, Asa. I'll listen to you."
Asa sat up, putting space between them so her brain could think straight instead of mushy romance goo.
While eating, she asked, "By the way Cael, when are you free soon?"
"Got something you want me to do? I can close the Funeral Home for a few days if needed."
Asa scooped some food into Cael's bowl, "I want to go see that injured cat from the other day, the one your colleague Kobeni Higashiyama took away."
Cael remembered immediately, "Let's go the day after tomorrow. I need to sort a few things at the shop tomorrow."
"I'll help you manage it," she said kindly.
Cael lightly tapped her head with a grin, "Asa, you should focus on school. Less skipping classes."
Asa pouted, "Skipping class doesn't matter. If you really want to learn, you can't rely on those outdated lessons they teach anyway."
"Oh, is that so."
Cael was surprised. Universities here were just as flawed as anywhere else, it seemed. And if Asa was being bullied or criticized there, it probably didn't matter much if she skipped. But corpses? That was Cael's job.
"Asa, dealing with bodies is my work. I know you hate corpses," he said.
She looked down, muttering, "Yeah. I hate corpses, truly hate them, but… I really like being with Cael, so honestly, I don't hate corpses as much anymore."
Cael smiled, understanding her meaning.
"Alright. Then tomorrow, Boss Lady Asa, I'll owe you. The reward is a kiss, and I already paid it in advance."
"You can't do that," Asa protested, blushing. "The reward should be earned tomorrow."
The next day, in a quiet, elegant Japanese‑style attic room, Makima and a worn middle‑aged man sat across from each other at a finely crafted sandalwood tea table. The man had short, parted hair and a noticeable stitched scar at the corner of his mouth. His deadpan eyes watched Makima carefully.
Makima sat with her knees neatly straight, every inch a well‑bred professional. Pochita lay calmly on her shoulder, as she always kept her promise to carry him wherever she went, including here.
Even now, meeting the strongest devil hunter in Public Safety's Special Division 4, Captain Kishibe.
Makima inclined her head slightly, "Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to see me."
Kishibe downed his tea with a grunt, "Let's not talk business yet. What's that on your shoulder?"
"Pochita is a devil," Makima said gently.
"A devil, huh. Can that little thing be used by Public Safety, like some kind of fox devil?" Kishibe asked, always blunt.
Makima shook her head softly, "No, Pochita is a Puppy Devil. Like the Tomato Devil, very weak in combat."
"Is that so? Weak devil. Can I kill it?" Kishibe refilled his cup with wine.
"No. Pochita isn't a pet, he's my family."
"Family?" Kishibe gave a bleak smile. "Makima, hearing that from you is surprising."
"Since he's family, does that make you an enemy of humanity?" Kishibe pressed.
Makima gave a flawless professional smile, "Mr. Kishibe, you jest. Since joining Public Safety, I've dedicated myself to protecting the world from devils. I'm not humanity's enemy."
"Let's hope," Kishibe said, sipping his wine. "I like fun toys, like the one you sent me before. This weak devil doesn't make me want to kill it, though."
Makima knew he meant Power, the Blood Fiend Hunter who was once part of Special Division 4.
She nodded at Kishibe, "Thanks to your training, Aki told me Power has improved a lot recently. Please keep guiding her."
Kishibe burped, shaking his cup, "Honestly, I'm starting to get tired of her."
Makima didn't react but listened intently.
"When I was a kid, I was a bit like you," Kishibe said, eyes distant. "I loved raising dogs. Not as family, but as toys. Too strong and I'd break them."
Makima picked Pochita up and placed him on her lap. "What are you trying to say?"
Kishibe set his cup down, serious, "Six people died in that attack on Special Division 4. It's not huge, but they were still lives."
Makima looked at Pochita with gentle eyes, "Yes, such a shame."
"Anything to say?" Kishibe asked.
"I was also attacked, and I gave warnings. Public Safety can't expect me to handle everything alone, right?"
Kishibe smiled bleakly, "Yes, your actions were fine."
Makima glanced out the window, "So, Mr. Kishibe, anything else?"
"I still remember exactly what you did before," Kishibe said, pointing at his head. "I need to warn you. No matter how cruel your actions are, as long as you're on humanity's side, I can let it go."
Makima adopted an innocent expression, "Of course. I want to save humans from devils."
Kishibe pointed at her again, "You're clearly cozy with the devil in your arms."
Makima didn't want the focus on Pochita. Calmly she explained, "If the counterattack plan succeeds, Special Division 4 can operate more openly, saving more humans. It makes more sense."
Kishibe scoffed, "Let's hope so. The freaks of Division 4 are nearly gathered. The counterattack's in three days."
"Mr. Kishibe will lead us," Makima nodded.
He rubbed his neck. "By the way, want to call in your ghost employees? I haven't met that temp yet. I heard the temporary worker named Cael is terrifyingly strong. I want to meet him."
Makima touched her chin, "If the shop's free, Cael might show."
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