Cael fell silent, finally grasping Higashiyama Kobeni's hardships.
Sigh. A dysfunctional family. This wasn't just about supporting her brother anymore. Combined with Yasuda Yuzuki's account, it was an entire dozen people, all leeching from her. Poor kid.
"Pfft—HAHAHAHAHA!"
Power, unable to contain herself, shamelessly clutched her stomach and burst out laughing. "Look at the shorty's face! All tears, hahaha!"
Thump!
Hayakawa Aki couldn't take it anymore. She stood and clocked Power with a knuckle sandwich.
"Ouch!" Power howled, clutching her head. "Braid Girl, why'd you hit me?"
"Don't laugh at Kobeni."
"It's obviously hilarious, why can't I laugh?"
The Angel Devil, Angel, glanced over expressionlessly and pushed a tissue box toward Kobeni.
Yasuda Yuzuki gently stood, pulled out a few tissues, wiped Kobeni's tears, and helped her sit back down. Softly, she reassured her, "Don't be afraid. Better days are ahead. You're strong, Kobeni. You won't break that easily."
Himeno watched, her gaze unreadable. She was probably drunk. As Kobeni's direct superior, she didn't offer words of comfort, letting the scene play out.
Sakata, the burly man who had earlier told Kobeni to quit, spoke bluntly but logically. Being a Public Safety Devil Hunter wasn't exactly a normal job. Could she ever surpass the Gun Devil? One appearance, and millions could die, tens of millions displaced. If not for the pay, resigning early would make sense. Even Himeno herself thought about switching to civilian hunting—less dangerous devils, bounty money.
Tsk. If not for worrying about Aki, Himeno might've left long ago.
"Here, Kobeni, eat more. Don't cry, okay?" Yasuda picked up a slice of papaya and placed it in her hands.
"Th… thank you, senior…" Kobeni sniffled, gradually calming.
"Sorry, I didn't realize your situation," Sakata murmured, lowering his head.
An awkward silence fell. Cael decided to shift the conversation, turning to Hayakawa Aki.
"By the way, that tall guy who came with Kobeni and Himeno at the amusement park—why isn't he here? I think his name was Arai?"
"He's gone." Aki reached for a cigarette, but immediately remembered the table manners and put it back.
"Gone so soon?" Cael frowned.
"Did he… sacrifice himself?"
"He resigned, resigned!" Himeno corrected, clutching Aki's arm. Drunkenly, she explained, "That tall, pure-hearted guy was Arai Hirokazu, 22, contracted with the Fox Devil like Aki. Hobby? Haiku. But the shooting incident scared him off. Not just him—dozens quit too."
"I see…" Cael nodded, taking a quiet sip of beer.
Himeno slammed her glass on the table. Her eyes scanned the room, standing and shouting, "Who among you wants to kiss me?"
Aki groaned. Oh no, senior's drunk again.
Cael frowned. Is she serious?
"I need the restroom, excuse me." Mr. Fú waved and left casually.
"I'll get you a bowl of miso soup, Kobeni," Yasuda offered.
Sakata also excused himself, "Suddenly feel like smoking."
The veterans had survived Himeno's drunken antics before. Whenever she drank, she became a kissing maniac, regardless of gender. The old guards slipped out quietly, leaving only Cael, Kobeni, Angel, and Power. Aki, still held by Himeno around the neck, didn't count as a newcomer.
Himeno grinned, eyes scanning the remaining group.
"Eye-patch girl, don't interrupt my meal," Power snapped, chomping a chicken leg.
Kobeni shivered under Himeno's gaze.
"As long as you're not brain-dead, you won't touch me," Angel said calmly.
Cael shrugged. "Senior Himeno, you know I have a girlfriend."
Himeno shook her head in mock disappointment. None of the newcomers could be touched, and the others had fled. Only one target remained…
"Aki~"
"Senior, calm down. It'll be over soon," Aki warned, sweating bullets.
Once Himeno's antics concluded, everyone returned to their seats. The only victim? Hayakawa Aki.
At that moment, the izakaya's curtain lifted.
"Ara, everyone seems to be having fun."
Makima entered, Pochita perched on her head.
"Woof!"
Pochita wagged his tail excitedly at Cael. Makima removed her black coat and blood-stained shoes. "Excuse me, a draft beer, please."
Himeno perked up. "Ha! Makima's here! And I haven't kissed her yet. Shame… If only you'd arrived earlier…"
Aki grimaced, dabbing at vomit with a handkerchief. "I'd rather senior Himeno vomit on me."
Makima sat across from Angel. She finished her beer and called to the counter, "Another draft beer, please."
Pochita, having missed Cael, leapt into his arms. Cael noticed his fur felt even softer. Makima really cared for him.
"Fifteen minutes late. Everything okay?" Aki asked.
Gulp, gulp, gulp. Makima downed another beer.
"Encountered a Cilantro Devil on the way. Took a bit to handle it."
"YUCK!" Power gagged. "I hate cilantro! You should've left it for me to blow up!"
"Next time." Makima replied calmly, sipping her beer like a traveler dying of thirst.
Cael stroked Pochita, impressed. "There's really a Cilantro Devil?"
"Yes. As long as humans fear something, a devil appears. Those afraid of cilantro or tomatoes? Probably picky kids."
"Yeah, like Power here."
Power opened her mouth to protest but remembered Cael had awarded her a "nobel prize," so she grumbled instead. "Prime Minister's Hand, you're being disrespectful…"
Aki looked at Makima with curiosity. "On your Kyoto trip, any updates on the Gun Devil?"
Makima waved to the counter again. "I'll tell you if Aki can beat me in a drinking contest."
"Drinking? Yay! I want in too!" Himeno eagerly squeezed herself in.
"Cael, want to join? The more, the merrier," Makima glanced at him holding Pochita, her gaze unreadable.
Cael waved. "I drove here. No drinking."
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