"Sorry, Sorry… I just have real interesting standards on food." Ritsuka profusely apologized to his newest partner.
"It's fine. I don't know why you seem so picky." Asia wondered aloud. It wasn't bad but she was curious about her newest friend… after all, he kept her from falling every time that she tripped.
"During my job all the meals we had were technically home made. An organization that became like a family."
Ritsuka started before closing his jaw. "I'll tell you more about me later but you'll have to keep it secret. From everyone."
"I-I won't let you down." Asia almost shouted only for Ritsuka to place a finger against her lips. She couldn't stop the blush that appeared on her face.
"No need to shout. I'm right here next to you." Ritsuka chuckled as they finally picked a place.
For a bit the two ate in silence. Asia was overwhelmed by the flavor and atmosphere that seems to surround them. She had plenty to ask and plenty more she wanted to know about Ritsuka now with how nice he was to her but she could wait.
Ritsuka, on the other hand, was silently judging the hamburger. It was good, that was certain, but it felt like it was missing something. Emiya wasn't the best at hamburgers but he knew how to make his own version seem to pop.
Boudica as well knew very easily about hamburgers. Those two always seemed on top of things while Raikou and Tamamo Cat handled the fancier dishes or Japanese styled dishes. Marie worked on the French cuisine alongside D'Eon which already made him realize that the same heart wasn't being put into the food.
That was probably the reason he felt fine with Akeno's food. Maybe he should try using their class cards to make his new friends some food as well. They did provide him room and board and they still hadn't asked him to provide rent yet.
The two left after their meal. Ritsuka paid for it without any fuss which Asia was taken aback by. He was seriously nice to her and he didn't even have any motive for doing so. He didn't seem to care about her healing powers and didn't seem to worry about her status as a heretic.
"Ritsuka… why are you taking care of me so well?" Asia finally asked as they reached a quiet point of their trek towards the place he called home was.
"Well, at first, I was asked to watch out for you. Though my reason for deciding to do so was all about a hunch really." Ritsuka scratched his cheek since that would have been difficult to explain.
"A hunch?" Asia continued his thought with a question.
"Yes. I had a feeling that whoever those jerks had fooled into following them would be in trouble and I wasn't going to let that stand the moment I was given an option although I didn't know what Azazel had meant.
He mentioned you in the vaguest terms possible not even telling me if you were someone or something." Ritsuka sighed as he faced her fully. His arms crossed as if contemplating his next words. "Regardless of what he meant I was always going to choose to say yes."
"But you didn't even know if it was a trap or something. Wouldn't you have been safer if you hadn't got involved?" Asia questioned… she felt that it was a foolish question but to her it made sense.
No one wanted anything to do with her after her former family tossed her away so easily even if it wasn't her fault.
"I was already involved. Knowing I can help someone out is something I can take conviction in. You are worth helping after all, let no one ever say anything different."
Ritsuka answered as honestly as he could. Asia seemed to turn away so as to not let the tears she dropped be seen. It was a little too emotionally fulfilling to hear so honestly.
After a few moments which Ritsuka seemed a bit concerned about now, the two finally started walking back towards the manor. The sun was finally setting and the clearest path for the two was bereft of other people.
Asia walked closely to Ritsuka's side a quiet but dignified smile on her face as she walked next to someone she could consider her hero. It was obvious to her that that was how he held himself up to given how honest and full of conviction he acted.
Even though his eyes seemed extremely sad to her, they always seemed to give their best for those around her. She was almost convinced that regardless of his status as a heretic, he would be a savior of some sort.
And it felt so natural to walk by his side and not behind him… almost hand in hand.
Ritsuka stopped. It felt weird to him but ever since everyone in Chaldea had gone to the trouble of training him he knew whenever someone was looking at him with full unbidden hostility. .
A predator of sorts had surrounded them… only one but a dangerous one. Asia looked concerned when he placed an arm in front of her, keeping her from taking another step.
"Ritsuka?" Asia questioned as his face turned serious. He placed a finger to his lips to signal her to be quiet. With furtive glances she scanned the area as well. The moon had started rising as they reached the final four blocks before they reached the manor.
"Stay by me. No matter what." Ritsuka answered and the air around him seemed to change for her. He was a mage and his entire body seemed to be channeling mana throughout it. It was powerful and had she not braced herself for it, she would have probably gone weak in the knee from how dangerous he felt.
"Ho ho ho… look at that. You seem quite dangerous, don't you? I'd expect nothing less of two heretics huddled pathetically together." A voice called out… it was mocking yet joyful.
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