"Runa."
Soyo's voice carried a mix of worry and hesitation. She chose her words carefully. "Have you… already made your wish?"
"Wanna meet someone interesting," Runa nodded, casual as ever.
"No, I didn't mean what you wished for…"
"Have you already made your wish, Runa?" Aine spun around, glancing at the three others around her. A sudden pang of guilt hit her.
She was the only one left who hadn't made a wish to become a true demon-hunting girl. And she wasn't even the last to join the group.
"No need to rush, Aine," Soyo said with a warm smile.
Riki snorted, chiming in, "If anything, half-baked types like you would just slow us down."
Aine flinched, the verbal jab hitting hard. Unable to fire back, she shifted gears. "Ugh… fine. So, what did you guys wish for, Soyo? Riki?"
"Huh? Me?" Soyo's tone was evasive, paired with a cryptic smile as she dragged out the word.
Riki, on the other hand, was blunt. She turned her head sharply. "None of your business."
It was clear among them that asking about each other's wishes was an unspoken taboo. Aine, picking up on the vibe, muttered, "Just wanted some ideas…" and dropped the subject.
A moment later, Nero strolled over, balancing a coffee topped with a frothy layer of matcha-green foam. Their conversation had already shifted to the new girl, Runa, and fizzled out.
"Matcha coffee. Kept you waiting, huh?"
"Thanks."
Runa grabbed the cup, cautiously touching her lips to the surface. Too hot. She set it down, her focus drifting back to the group. A smudge of green foam clung to her lips.
The other three didn't know much about this new girl, so they sat there, exchanging awkward glances.
Finally, Runa broke the silence. "Wanna come with?"
"Come… where?" Soyo asked, sweat beading on her forehead.
"Demon hunting."
"We work solo," Riki replied coolly. "What, your gear needs a babysitter to function?"
"Huh?! That's harsh!" Aine, being a newbie herself, jumped to Runa's defense. "Aren't we supposed to be a team?"
Then she noticed Runa staring at her, unblinking. Aine shrank back. "Uh… Runa? Something wrong?"
"Wanna come with?" Runa asked again, unfazed.
"Uh… sorry, Runa. I haven't made my wish yet, so I can't go with you…"
"Got it."
Runa hopped off her seat and headed for the counter. She told Nero she wanted her coffee to-go, then left without another word, drink in hand.
"What's her deal?" Riki grumbled, then frowned. "Wait. Did she even pay?"
"No worries, I covered her," Nero's voice came from behind, calm and gentle.
Hearing Nero had paid, Aine clapped her hands together and bowed her head. "Sorry! I'll make sure she pays you back!"
In Aine's mind, there was only one reason Nero would cover Runa: they seemed like friends. Which meant Aine owed the favor.
"Don't sweat it. Just tell her to handle it next time," Nero said with a smile so warm it almost felt… maternal.
Soyo sighed softly. "Forget it, Aine. I'll cover Runa's drink."
She stepped up, paying for both her own and Runa's orders.
Originally, Soyo had planned to cover Riki's mixed coffee too, since she'd ordered it. But Riki beat her to it, settling her own tab.
"When you see Lamp next, let me know," Riki said, then walked off alone.
Aine and Soyo said their goodbyes and left too. Nero, though, didn't get a break. Maybe because it was a holiday, the café was busier than last time. And with Nero working the counter, it was clear some customers were just there to flirt, using their orders as an excuse to chat her up.
By the end of the day, Nero finally crashed at her apartment, sprawling on her bed to sort through the intel she'd gathered.
Not much to work with. She'd learned that Shoko Toyokawa—Mutsumi Wakaba's childhood friend and a former ally of Soyo and Lamp—had somehow erased others' memories of herself. But where her powers came from? Still a mystery.
That'd have to be figured out through trial and error, one fight at a time. No rushing it. Same deal with Little Ace.
Speaking of Little Ace… that sneaky punk had roped in a new partner behind Nero's back. Nero figured she could start digging there.
Aine was too sharp, too normal. Asking her anything directly would raise red flags. Runa, though? Total opposite. Earn her trust, and she'd spill anything, no filter.
Lucky for Nero, she had a bead on Runa's location. When she'd packed Runa's to-go cup, she'd slipped in a little demonic marker.
By now, Runa had probably finished her matcha coffee. The marker hadn't moved in a while. In the Land of Harmony, trash wasn't easy to ditch, so that cup was likely still in Runa's hands.
If Nero moved now, she could catch Runa in person.
No time to waste.
Nero tossed her casual clothes onto the bed and grabbed her top hat, "Faust." In a flash, she transformed into Samiel, decked out in a sleek tuxedo.
From her balcony, the sky looked grim—rainy season wasn't quite over. Nero tipped her hat and leaped off the high-rise.
She didn't hit the ground. As her body left the balcony, hovering mid-air, she drew her Yama blade and slashed. The blade tore a rift, and in an instant, she stepped through to the other side.
Right in front of Runa, who stared back with her mismatched eyes.
"Evening, miss," Nero said, tipping her hat with a bow.
Runa blinked innocently, glancing at the coffee cup that had just crumbled into dust—and at Nero, who'd emerged from it.
Then, she pulled out her phone and held it out to Nero.
Nero froze. What's this about?
Runa extended the phone flatly and said, "I don't have cash."
Was she… mistaking Nero for a mugger?
But before Nero could process, Runa finished her thought:
"Coffee money. Granny's got it."
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