Chapter 47: Nobody Escapes (Patreon)

Prompted by the bamboo-tube-shaped water bottle, Hanakain Fubuki's thoughts were instantly pulled back ten years into the past.

【This uniform... So you're from the Himejima family's exorcist unit, huh? Instead of properly cleaning up Cursed Spirits with those sorcerers, what's the meaning of chasing down a little kid out here?】

【Kill me? Tsk tsk tsk, you've really got guts. If you actually manage to pull this off, everyone in the 'Hero Village' will have to thank you...】

【...Hey, are you okay? Need some water or something to eat?】

【You can take this water flask, get on the high-speed rail to Kyoto, then find the fox sister with the super huge breasts at Yasaka Shrine. Show this to her, and she'll understand. She'll take care of you. It's safe there.】

【My name is Hanakain Fubuki, current acting head of the Kyoto Hanakain family. I'm traveling alone right now.】

The words from that time surfaced clearly in his mind, one by one, and understanding gradually dawned in the young man's eyes.

As stated before, Hanakain Fubuki wasn't slow-witted, and his memory was excellent. He basically never forgot someone he had met. Yet, he had never imagined that the girl he had casually rescued while passing through on his journey back then was the very Akeno standing before him now.

Mainly because... don't children in Japan usually take their father's surname?! Since her father was a Fallen Angel, and Fallen Angel surnames tended to sound more Western, logically, she should have had a Western surname. While the name 'Himejima' easily brought to mind the Himejima family, one of the Five Great Exorcist Families, it could just be a coincidence – like how a certain politician named Abe, targeted by an 'open-minded individual' a couple of years ago, shared a name with but had no relation to the current Mikadoin family.

And the most, most, most crucial point was: when they first met, Akeno hadn't looked nearly as… developed as she did now! Not only did she seem short, small, and incredibly frail back then, but her chest was also completely flat. Compared to her current large and perky figure, she looked like a completely different person. Compared to the little girl who seemed almost malnourished back then, Hanakain Fubuki wondered what kind of super-fertilizer Rias had been feeding Akeno all these years to achieve such off-the-charts development. Seriously… was this level of change even plausible?

Returning to the present, the sorrowful expression remained on Akeno's face. She put down the bamboo water bottle, took a step closer to the young man, and wrapped her arms around his waist. Glistening specks of moisture began to gather in her violet-red eyes.

"So, do you remember now?"

"...I remember." Hanakain Fubuki gave a small nod. This time, he truly remembered. No, it wasn't that he hadn't remembered before; more accurately, he had never even considered connecting the two. Again, who would have thought such a drastic change could occur in just ten years?

However, more pressing than that, Fubuki realized they had a bigger problem right now: their current posture was honestly a bit too intimate for a public place. Luckily, no one else was around in their immediate vicinity at the moment. If a store employee saw them like this, they'd almost certainly assume they were a young couple looking for thrills by fooling around secretly in the supermarket and would kick them out immediately. Plus, judging by Akeno's current state, she didn't look like she was about to let go anytime soon. Hmm—

"Fubuki, I just want to ask you one thing. Please answer me honestly, okay?" As if afraid he would run away, Akeno tightened her embrace, her words spoken one by one like reciting a beautifully tragic farewell poem.

"Okay." Agreeing to Akeno's request, Hanakain Fubuki impassively moved his hand behind his back. Focusing spiritual pressure at his fingertips, he flicked out a small person-repelling barrier. While he felt apologetic that this would likely hurt sales in this section of the supermarket today, at least they wouldn't have to worry about being discovered like this.

With that done, Himejima Akeno's voice continued. "So, the relationship between you and Rias... is it genuine, or was it just because Rias asked?"

"If you absolutely have to ask... it's probably about 70/30," Hanakain Fubuki answered directly, not beating around the bush. Admittedly, the whole thing had started primarily because of Rias's request. But at the same time, he himself held considerable affection for Rias; otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed so readily. It was like accepting a confession – acceptance is only an option once the affinity level reaches the 'execution threshold.' Otherwise, if he had to accept every girl who asked... he wasn't some public utility pole.

"Is... that so," Hearing this answer, Himejima Akeno's eyes seemed to glaze over for a moment. "So you and Rias... are actually genuine..."

"Mm."

"Then... what about me?" Himejima Akeno asked, mustering almost the last of her courage to voice the question. Deep down, she had already admitted defeat the moment he confirmed his genuine feelings for Rias. Although she had kept him in her thoughts all these years, putting it bluntly, it was just one-sided, wishful thinking – unrequited love. In terms of actual time spent together, it wasn't significantly more than the time he'd spent with Rias.

But simply giving up without even asking was something she absolutely couldn't accept. Yet, it felt like a death row inmate's final prayer before execution. Himejima Akeno could almost picture herself being rejected, and the gut-wrenching pain made her face turn even paler.

Then, she heard the young man's voice come from above her.

"Hmm~ I quite like you too."

...Eh?

The completely unexpected development seemed to make the long black-haired girl's brain stall for an instant. Then, her eyes snapped wide open. "Wait... hold on, restart. First, what did I just ask?"

"You asked how I feel about you, Akeno."

"...And what did you say?"

"I said I quite like you too," Hanakain Fubuki responded fluently, tilting his head after answering her question. "Is there a problem?"

"No... it's just..." Himejima Akeno's lips parted slightly, seemingly too shocked to know what to say. After all, Fubuki and Rias had already genuinely confirmed their relationship, yet now he was saying he quite liked her too? In that case...

"Well, actually, Rias and I have already talked about this," Hanakain Fubuki shrugged. "The process was a bit complicated, but the end result is that Rias doesn't mind..."

"Really!?" Like a spring breeze suddenly sweeping across the land overnight, the girl's joyous voice rang out. The mournful, fragile look on Himejima Akeno's face rapidly receded, replaced by disbelieving delight. She opened her beautiful violet-red eyes wide, filled with expectation. "Are you serious, Fubuki? Rias really doesn't mind...?"

"Mm." Hanakain Fubuki patted the hands clasped around his waist. "Anyway, it's kind of a long story. I'll explain properly when we have the chance later. For now, let's finish buying what we need..."

"It's okay, it's okay! I want to hear it right now!"