Vol 2 Chapter 1 (1/2)

Yakiniku and Youth Special Edition

Part 1

A sight that orth being called a masterpiece

A contrast of white and red, sti the appetite of the watcher A brilliant colourfulness that covered the whole of the big table It was beef that was cut so that it looked extrele Yakiniku In the restaurant, which was like an everlasting absolute justice for hiawa Yahiro

”Wh- What's with these beef tongues? They look like they're laying sideways… They're at least 1cm thick, Basacchi”

”Yeah, let's grill them quickly and eat… There's still a lot of other meat too”

”O- Okay… Then here I go”

Suues on the field called charcoal grill

Along with a sizzling sound, the delicious s in the air

”Th- Then I'll help myself first”

With a gulp, Takigawa nervously carried the beef tongue towards his mouth--- In the next moment,

”S- So, gooood What's this!? This is no longer just beef!”

He widened his eyes and shouted Basara inadvertently made a wry smile

”No, it's beef alright”

”Watcha doing, Basacchi, eat up! Sweet… This ood”

”Yeah, I will But don't hold yourself back, Takigawa The fine rills too much”

Basara said so to Takigaho started to put the beef one piece after another on the grill

”Pfft, like I would let theet burned I'll nicely eat them all!”

Welco the chopsticks and thethe meat didn't stand still

Basara and Takigawa's meal started for real

”---But is it okay, Basacchi? Treating me at such an expensive restaurant”

Takigawa asked without stopping his eating hand, whereas Basara nodded with ”Yeah”

Basara had taken Takigawa to a Yakiniku restaurant called ”Akagi”

”I told you, this restaurant has an all-you-can-eat only for students… and even at a student charge”

”But together with my share, it's 5000 yen That's quite the sum”

Considering it was a high schooler repaying a small favour, 2500 yen per person was certainly expensive However Basara had a different reason for bringing Takigawa here

---The devils were currently divided into two big forces Into the ”Current Devil Lord Faction” which was a hardliner faction that wanted to resume the invasion of the human world, and the ”Moderate Faction” which followed the will of the previous Devil Lord Wilbert, anted to avoid conflicts with humans as much as possible Nonetheless, after Wilbert's death, the once powerfulto Mio being chased by the current Devil Lord faction, since she unwittingly inherited the Devil Lord's power from her father

Furtherawa Yahiro's real identity was an observer for Mio, sent by the current Devil Lord faction

Basara had fought with him due to some development In fact, that was just the other day

And now, Basara had formed a secret alliance with him under the mutual conditions that Basara wouldn't spread the news about Takigawa's failure to the current Devil Lord faction Takigawa then implicitly admitted to be a secret spy fro Mio like Maria does, against the current Devil Lord Faction who are after Mio

It was an alliance on equal grounds Even so, Takigawa gave Basara an important piece of information

The true identity of the culprit who killed Mio's foster parents and drove her to fight the Devils that came after her

But Basara hadn't told Mio about that yet Mio's reason to fight stee for her killed foster parents It would be bad if she were to eo out of control when he carelessly told her, and the situation wasn't all too clear anyway Thus it was better for only Basara to know about it for now

Because of that, he owed Takigawa big ti him to Yakiniku would make them even, but

”Don't worry about that I still have s from each month”

”Okay then But your dad is away these days, right? Didn't you get so expenses? And this here practically falls under necessary expenses”

”You sure know your stuff… But I can't use my dad's money to treat you”

Currently he had gotten Jin's credit card But Basara forement So he couldn't use the card for it

”Mhm, I see…”

Takigawa had finished eating all the h Basara's intention

”I thought for sure you were going to ask soe for the Yakiniku”

”I'm not so dauntless that I could demand valuable information or assistance just because I treated you once Today's under thefrom now on', that's all”

Therefore,

”I'll repay you for taking over my task fro ear--- the murder of Mio's foster parents, I'll pay that back from now on as best I can”

”Jeez, why so serious, Basacchi~ All the stories I heard about Toujou Jin were epochal--- Are you really his son?”

Jin once was a Hero that hogged the title of the strongest Hero in the <village> all to himself The stories Basara had heard were all unbelievable battle legends of Jin during the great war According to the stories he had heard in the <village> from all those that knew the past Jin, Jin had apparently become quite pacifistic now, but

”…Guess he's famous in the demon realm too?”

”Well, duh He killed quite a nust us devils, Toujou Jin is feared as our strongest enemy--- like a war God When the previous Devil Lord Wilbert ordered the retreat, there were two reasons why the guys, anted to keep fighting, reluctantly obeyed One was Wilbert's clout, as the strongest devil back then even as a centrist, the other was the fear of Toujou Jin's th”

As expected, Jin was such an outstanding ain As his son, it didn't feel bad to have his father praised In fact, Basara is actually proud of him

And then--- their conversation temporarily came to a halt In this silence, they nicely ate the Yakiniku with relish for a while

Continuing to eat even et to the last plate of their first order when---

”Oh, right, that reminds me, I have some information I better tell you, Basacchi”

”Information? …You sure?”

”Well, it seems like I can trust you Besides, now that we have teamed up it would be bad for eous situation”

With that, Takigaearily made a wry smile and suddenly, his eyes turned serious

”---During the incident at the park before, Naruse Mio let her power go out of control, right? It was quite devastating I had to secretly patch it up with ic The news of it still reached the current Devil Lord faction, but also the moderate faction I don't know yet how the moderate faction will make their move, but--- the current Devil Faction has decided to appoint a new observer, since they have judged that Naruse Mio has awakened the inherited power from Wilbert”

Basara froze up on these words

”A new observer… Don't tellto the deht now Basara and the girls overwhelth compared to the current Devil Lord faction Thus he wanted to borrow Takigawa's strength until he could read the situation a bit better If Takigawa goes back to the demon realm now---

”---No My surveillancein reinforcement just in case, since there's been development I mean, the top brass has always been after the power Naruse Mio inherited”

”I see… I got cold feet, thinking you would leave”

”Still, don't let your guard down With another observer, it surely will be harder for me to cooperate And while I said reinforcement, it isn't necessarily someone weaker than me Besides, the Master and Servant Contract between Naruse Mio and you is still new, right?”

”? What do you mean?”

Was there so with the Master and Servant Contract that he had to be careful about?

”That o, it has been used quite often and was improved on various occasions At first it only made you able to locate each other and activated the curse on betrayal, but now it can even amplify the power of the Master and Servant, when they share a strong loyalty and trust The master can power up his servant and the servant for his h-class Devils have a lot of servants with the Master and Servant Contract to increase their own strength”

”Is that so…?”

Maria didn't explain it to him to that extent Most likely the important part for Maria was that it was a counterer

”---And on the other hand, it also serves the purpose of preventing inforht by the ene a burden to the awa

”Regardless of the characteristic, the servant won't be able to survive when the curse activates at maximum”

”…Seems so”

The characteristic of the curse from the contract between Basara and Mio ca of the contract spell, she gave it the characteristic of a succubus' ”aphrodisiac” From what Maria had said, if the curse is activated at maximum, the brain nerves would fry fro half-serious, but it surely was the truth It was quite a well- it even prevented information leaks from prisoners

”So you better be careful You guys made the contract spell from the succubus, since the one froht?”

”Yeah… Guess so”

”This isn't an all too pleasant story--- High-class Devils live a long time and some of them purposefully make a Master and Servant Contract with the succubus' characteristic instead of their own Living a long life makes them crave for some amusement”

”Amusement…?”

”For sex plays Just like drugging a woman, the 'aphrodisiac' chains her with pleasure”

”…I see Really not pleasant”

”Nah, that's still innocent The real assholes switch servants a the curse activate”

”Play around… wait, don't telltheir own servants?”

”Nah, not like that… Well, since you're so sincere, it's an unknoorld to you” said Takigaith a wry smile

”The servant devotes his soul and body to histo the servant, it will be a perfect betrayal against the master Because the servant couldn't protect his chastity--- What do you think will happen then?” Ah, Basara changed his expression on finally realizing it, whereas Takigawa nodded

”Yeah Being done by so activates the curse If you're lucky, the curse is too strong and you can die, but at worst you lose your sanity and can't even feel the immorality anymore But they have no use for a broken toy They dispose of the”

And,

”Incidentally, the deviser of this sick play was--- the ear” Basara sed down his breath with a gulp

”Th- Then… the reason you relieved him of his observation”

”Exactly There's a possibility that Naruse's inherited poill disappear should she die froed that there was a risk that Zolgear, after killing her foster parents who belonged to the moderate faction, would lay his hands on Naruse as well”

Basara was at a loss for words fro story

”So be careful Zolgear can easily tell that Naruse's under the Master and Servant contract Should she ever fall into his hands, she would never be sane again when he does so to her, since he's the all so hateful ene her personality, she would bite off her own tongue before so to her--- But you would like to avoid that, wouldn't you, Basacchi?”

”Obviously…!”

That alone he would never let happen Looking down, Basara tightly clenched his teeth

”Well, the top brass won't let Zolgear near Naruse anye, since they don't want Wilbert's power to disappear when Naruse dies from the curse after it's known that she's under the Master and Servant contract”

That certainly was a big advantage Quite big, but

”…But, they aren't the only ene after Wilbert's power”

Besides the moderate faction that tried to protect Mio, there were other forces that opposed the current Devil Lord faction Froe to the current Devil Lord faction by killing Mio

The eneain noticing how difficult it was to protect Mio, Basara awa suddenly said quietly

”---Well, it's not like I'm out of ideas” ”Really?”

Basara raised his head in a flash

”There are tays to cancel the contract The first is to annul it with the sareee it into a vow'” said Takigawa

”As a symbol for the contract, a es depending on the level of loyalty With a low loyalty level the ets violet-blue, then violet-red and lastly crimson red”

And,

”When it then raises to the highest level --- maximum loyalty, the mark disappears and the curse won't activate anymore After all, the servant won't ever betray the master at this point That's the phenoh there are notthat state, even froainst a master and his servant in that state”

”In other words, if Mio and I reach loyalty on the level of a voe'll beco as the former examples?… But Mio and I have only known each other for a little while, you know” It surely was possible, precisely because Devils had a long lifespan

”Guess so But even if reaching the vow level is impossible, it's worth to deepen the trust and loyalty between you two I s for each other into strength… That said, if you give up before even trying, it certainly will be impossible for you”

Being told with a sharp cynicisawa said ”Well,”

”You can't decide it by yourself Discuss what to do with Naruse”

”…Yeah, I will”

In regards, Basara said just that with a low voice

---It wasn't like he couldn't trust Mio Basara had no confidence in himself

He was not a person that could ever get Mio to trust him

Toujou Basara could not believe in Toujou Basara

In himself, who once committed a sin and banished a lot of comrades

He couldn't tell her to trust him as he was, even if it ripped his mouth

Basara once again recognized the grave situation they were in and fell silent, whereupon

”We have fine in with, you can't do anything about worst case scenarios, no matter how hard you think”

”……Yeah”

”I otta order more for to make the most of our money”

He felt Takigawa's kindness froe

”You're right… Okay, let's stuff ourselves!”

Basara teot his spirit back and called the waiter with an ”Excuse awa, they discussed if they should either get beef ribs, pork loins or guts After deciding, they ordered

As they watched the waiter leaving, they moistened their throats with cola At that time

”---Oh I was guessing those voices were familiar for a while now”

The boys looked up to the sexy fe from the side

”Hasegawa-sensei…”

There stood the school nurse of Hijirigasaka Acadeawa Chisato

Hasegawa spoke like a lamorous breasts--- she had a sex-appeal and beauty that were not appropriate for pubertal high school boys

”Toujou and Takigawa… It's just the two of you?”

”Eh? Yes, that's right”

”Great Sorry, but could you let me sit at your table? Actually I was supposed to ent business caawa

”Since I'uys fro out tofor a woman to eat Yakiniku alone?”

”Well, probably…”

”Ahh, not at all, Sensei”

Basara and Takigawa looked at each other and told her

”Anyways, they were just so persistent that I considered giving up onhome, but I've alanted to try the food here As students you ether with a teacher, but I would be grateful if you would let me join you”

”Hah… If it's like that, I don't mind”

That said, if Takigaas against it, he could only apologetically turn her down Today they were here for their foraith a look that said ”What about you?”

”Nah, I'm okay with it too, of course There are a lot of people, students and teachers alike, ant to eat together with you, Hasegawa-sensei”

”…So he says”

”I see Then allow me to take a seat”

”Okay Sensei, since it's decided, next to me is free”

Takigawa grinned and offered Hasegawa the seat next hiawa in question readily sat down next to Basara with an ”Excuse me”

”Ah, but we're having the student all-you-can-eat, so sharing a table would be---”

”Don't worry about that The shop isn't at fault, but they don't want to have me troubled I'm sure they'll comply with it”

Just like she had said, the waiter came with a cold and wet towel and boith a ”We're sorry” right after Hasegawa sat down at the table Apparently the staff felt sorry for not being able to keep the other custoawa ordered a drink and a few kinds of meat from the waiter

”But I must say, I didn't know this restaurant had an all-you-can-eat for students Could it be our students often come here?”

”I doubt it Because it's quite a distance from school, with the station in-between And while it's cheap considering the taste, it's still a bit expensive for a student to casually come here”

”Right I didn't know of it either until Basacchi took me here today”

”So you knew about this restaurant beforehand, Toujou Do you come here often?”

”No, it'ssummer vacation… But I came here once with my father” said Basara

”My father is a professional photographer and the owner here is apparently a fan of my father He once requested a photo and the landscape photo at the entrance--- That was taken by my father”

And additionally to the fee of the photo, ere invited here and treated to a meal

”Hoo… To think this restaurant had a fan of 'JIN' too”

”You know my father?”

”Surprised? I'm not a passionate fan, but I like his photos A critic said in a inal charm of the subject--- a moment that no one else can capture It can be called an art Even an aets fascinated by it”

”Thanks… I'll tell my father that you said that next time”

With that, Basara lowered his head embarrassed, whereupon the ordered meat and drinks arrived

Since Basara and Takigawa's additional order and Hasegawa's order arrived together, the table was filled with plates at once

”Well then, time to eat”

”Okay, we better get serious too”

Along with their words, the variousoff a delicious smell

---Aawa's earlier words

Jin had left the village along with Basara to protect hi from was the caedy five years ago, and seeing Jin's photo that stirred up one's emotions from the bottom of the heart, saved him numerous times

At that tier been the Hero that saved the world, but even so, for Basara he was the Hero that saved him

Precisely because he saw Jin like that, Basara could honestly think now that he wanted to protect Mio and Maria

Part 2

Basara and Takigawa kept eating until the time limit and this Yakiniku day ended with full satisfaction

Since their houses were in opposite directions, he split up with Takigawa right after leaving the restaurant

And currently--- Basara walked hoawa

”But you really don't mind, Toujou?”

Hasegawa next to him asked

”I asked you to let me sit with you, so I could have paid your bill”

”No, it's alright, really I had to pay for it today”

It would've been awa's share However,

”Still…”

As Hasegawa still couldn't agree, Basarawhat a duteous person she was

”Then please treat me on the next occasion, at the restaurant of your choice”

”Mhm… Okay If you're fine with that, I'll invite you another time”

Huh, she won't invite Takigawa Well, I did pay for his share

”But I must say… All this about 'Devils' and 'Loyalty', you two sure talk about strange things I don't know if it's a gaa, but is it popular these days?”

Apparently she had heard their conversation Even so, Basara did not panic Even if they were overheard,on their own, like Hasegawa did In fact, if you openly responded, it would be no problem

Thus,

”Well, yeah… It's a game”

”I see I have no clues about this, so I don't understand, but youngsters sure get hyped up on it Is it that fun?”

”Well, depends on the person Everyone has his own enjoyment”

”I guess so But at least it seems like you're quite hooked on it, Toujou”

”What makes you say that…?”

”Because you sounded so serious when you talked about it with Takigawa”

Hasegawa pointed out with a teasing tone

”…Yeah, you ht”

While dropping his gaze a little bit, Basara declared

”Even if it's a game--- I definitely can't afford to lose”

It wasn't like he was optimistic The situation they were in was indeed severe The new dispatched observer The existence of Zolgear, who killed Mio's foster parents The advantages and problems of the Master and Servant Contract There were a lot of things he had to consider dealing with Then,

”---Eh?”

Suddenly Basara was enveloped by a soft warmth Then he noticed in what kind of situation he was

Hasegaho had walked next to him, had entwined her arms around his neck and embraced him

Her big breasts enveloped his face like they were burying it

”S- Sensei…!?”

Not knowing how to respond to the sudden event, Basara was in a flutter

”Don't move It's okay, so stay still”

Hasegawa said with a rebuking tone

”Geez… Out of the blue you fall silent, only to make such a worried face then Think about how a teacher feels when her student makes such a face in front of her”

He thought he had suppressed it, but his irritation and impatience must've shown on his face

”…Sorry”

”There's no need to apologize Worries are a part of life Specially for a boy your age But remember that there are people, who can't leave you alone when you're like that”

Basara nodded lightly, then allowed hiawa's attention a little bit

When he closed his eyes, he could feel her kindness and softness much better

”……Thank you I'm fine now”

Before long, he declared his gratitude, whereupon Hasegawa released Basara's head But even though Hasegawa pulled away both her hands from around his neck, she noined them around his waist

”Ehm, what… Sensei?”

”I told you that I can't leave you alone You can consult with me now for as much as you can tell me”

”Well, but…”

Basara inadvertently uttered hesitation, whereas Hasegawa slowly brought her face closer

”Or--- are you against talking with me, Toujou?”

He couldn't say no It was none other than Basara, who aorried Therefore,

”Actually… my father's currently out of the house”

Basara spoke of his oorries as much as he could afford to

The feelings he couldn't speak out because he didn't want to worry Mio and Maria, or because it would be coawa--- Toujou Basara's distress

”I' happens, I want to protect Mio and Maria--- Ah, Maria is Mio's little sister”

”Okay…”

Hasegawa's gentle nod urged him to continue, so Basara made a wry smile

”But it's not that easy… to truly protect so People are faced with all kinds of worries in life and some of them can't be told to others When you want to protect them despite that, you also have to keep secrets But it see by myself”

He bit down on his lips and tightly clenched his fists

”I want to protect them Whatever ain realized how hard it is to properly protect soth and existence seems so small and unreliable”

He didn't really think he could pull off everything just fine But if he htly shape, he wouldn't coht happen, he would just exert all of his strength

”…But”

Being unable to protect the crazy He never wanted to lose soret and pain froain There,

”……You're taking too much upon yourself”

Hasegaho had silently listened so far, opened her mouth

”I somewhat could understand your worry And also that you don't want to worry Naruse and her younger sister because of it… But, when you're treasuring your new family, your little sisters, then you should properly communicate with them”

After all,

”If it's so you absolutely don't want to lose, you need to properly grasp and understand the situation and position you're in Thefor that is the cooperation and mutual trust between the protector and protected Once you have that, you can start to come up with an actual counter-measure But you know--- It'sperfectly So you set your priorities and draw a line from where you won't back off at all costs, and just protect that no matter what”

”A line from where I won't back off at all costs…”

”Yes For example, you certainly have to keep secrets, but it's not the secrets you're supposed to protect Toujou--- closely think about what it is that you truly want to protect, once again”

What he truly wanted to protect --- He ruawa spoke out in his heart

”……I understand I'll do so”

When Basara affirawa nodded, satisfied, with a ”Good”

---In the next moment, Toujou Basara was kissed on the cheek

”Eh---?”

When his thoughts stopped due to this sudden event,

”…blessing and guidance…for the future of…”

Hasegawa re so He inadvertently became dumbfounded

”S- Sensei…?”

”Ah, sorry, it was a reflex… It's a little charm in the countryside I'm from”

Don't worry about it--- sawa removed her hands from Basara and started to walk