SCIENCE AND FAITH
On a moderately busy afternoon street,some pedestrians looked and muttered in concern on seeing a atypical site in Academy City.
A young,silver haired Sister in white robes and headwear with gold lining had fallen flat on the pavement,seemingly in agony.
"Should we call an ambulance"
A woman whispered as the small number of people watching this looked on with worry,not sure how to proceed.
However a young man soon stepped forward and leaned next to her.
"Are you all right,miss?"
The girl responded by slowly turning her face towards him and open her eyes.
The boy raised his eyebrows when he recognised her face and striking green eyes.
"I know you! You're..."
*Grrgh!*
He blinked on hearing a loud growl,seemingly coming from the girl's stomach.
The small silently looked on awkwardly and some began to walk away.
The girl opened her mouth.
"S-so Hungry. Can you spare me some food,kind sir?"
"..."
The two went to a nearby open air cafe. Well,he pretty much carried the girl and placed her on one of the chairs then ordered food for her.
"Ittadakemasu!"
The Sister exclaimed as she chowed down on the burger brought in front of her.
The young man looked on with astonishment at the girl's appetite. At this rate he might have to order another,adding dent to his pocket money.
He sighed but didn't complained and waited for her to finish.
But he did find it strange to hear her say that Japanese expression. She looked like a foreigner,a European probably and didn't know what prayer the people of the Church would say before a meal.
"I didn't know there are religious people in this City of Science. I've never even heard of a Church existing in this City."
She lifted her face to stare at him as If she were offended,half-eaten burger in both her hands.
"Hmph! I suppose you're another Athiest who doesn't believe in God's miracles."
The boy felt stung by her comment and reacted.
"Excuse me?! I do believe in God. Just not in your Christianity."
She sat straight and took a good look at him for the first time.
He looked about the same age as Touma and had short black hair,brown eyes and brown complexion.
He clearly looked like a foreigner in this country,just like her.
The boy was also wearing same school clothes as Touma's.
"I'm Hakim by the the way. Just Hakim"
He also found it amusing when Japanese people realise it's his first name and get awkward when calling him,because of culture and naming conventions and all.
It's a common practice in his religion to just have father's name as last name for paperwork reasons.
"Oh you're a Muslim."
He didn't quite like her tone when she said that.
"Is that a problem."
She shrugged
"The Church of England hasn't given orders regarding that. For now"
He picked up on the Church she mentioned.
"Are you from England?"
"That's right but I've been appointed to be here for now."
She resumed eating and he thought of what to say next. He then remembered something.
"I recognised you when you showed up in our classroom. You called out for Touma Kamijou before sensei took you outside. Everyone was talking about your relationship with him."
"He just gives me food."
He didn't want to ask her to clarify her relationship with his spiky-haired classmate.
Hakim had heard about Touma's misfortune but while they weren't friends per se,more of a acquaintance but he seemed a decent person and among the few treated him as a normal person.
Japanese can be passive aggressive to foreigners by staring or avoiding conversations and it just makes him uncomfortable.
"If you know Touma then I guess your trustworthy. I'm Index Librorum Prohibitorum of the Church of England."
She said while folding her arms and having a haughty tone. She seemed like a child to Hakim so he felt she was just proud of being part of the Church or something.
"Well,I called Touma after ordering food so he would be here shortly. He seemed to be panicking."
She looked sad on hearing this.
"I just wanted to try out some food shown on T.V and got lost. I made him worry again"
Hakim now felt bad,she seemed like a nice girl at heart.
"Well, there is still time till Touma gets here. Is there something you would like to know?"