So, I wanted to update this yesterday but it was harder than I thought.

This is my first time doing this and may be lacking, so please give your opinion of what can I do to improve it. And the next Interludes too.

Next time may be better.

This is an interlude, these contain scenes from the past, what they are doing and of the story itself from thei perspective.

I don't own arifureta .

Kaori PoV

I'll never forget the first time I saw him.

I was in my way to the supermarket for the groceries mom needs in her dishes in the city next to mine.

Suddenly I heard some yelling behind.

"Hey granny. These are vintage jeans, you know that? Do you have any idea how much they cost? An apology won't cut it, old hag! You better pay me back for this!"

"Really, I'm so sorry. I'll pay the cleaning costs, so please…"

"Didn't you listen to a word I said!? No amount of dry cleaning can fix this!"

Curious, I turned to see what was happening.

A little boy not even eight was cowering behind his grandmother, who looked pretty terrified herself. Before her, were a group of three college students or more likely, delinquents.

They were clearly threatening the poor woman. The cause of their argument seemed to be a drop of sauce of the takoyaki the kid still had in his hand spilled into the delinquents leader's pants.

Still, normally you don't threaten people for something so petty, they weren't being subtle. It was way too obvious that what they were doing wasn't reasonable.

Still.

'What should I do?'

It isn't a difficult question. The correct thing to do should be to help the old lady and the kid. The college boys were in the wrong for menacing defenseless people.

Yet, I found that I couldn't even give a step forward, I was scared. The more the situation developed the more I felt the need of do something. But, looking at the delinquents, their appearance, the atmosphere around them and the dangerous glint in their eyes, my body won't move. Worse, my legs were trembling.

I looked around, wanting someone else to do what I wasn't able to do. A very pathetic act, but it was all I was able to think of.

Sadly, the people watching the scene didn't interfered, they just stood there, uneasy looks in their eyes.

I wanted to be angry at them. But, I could not, because I understood, they were the same like me. They were scared too.

'Ah, I know, I call Shizuku-chan... and Kouki-kun and Ryutarou-kun'

The name of my friends came to my mind. They are strong, not like me. I can only stand here and watch while they would have already been doing something.

My mind made, I took my phone, ready to call Shizuku. I stopped though, because things grew worse out of sudden.

"Hmph, I'm getting tired of this shit. Just hand over your wallet, you hag. I bet you don't have enough money on you to pay for this. We're gonna go to the bank so you can transfer me what I need. I need your wallet to make sure you don't try to run away."

"B-But…"

"Hey, it's your job to clean up the mess your little brat made! You better not be trying to talk your way out of this!"

The delinquents were going to squeeze the old lady from all her money.

"Shizuku-chan… won't make it in time. In that case I'll do it myself "

Even though I said that, I didn't really move. I repeated encouragement words in my head but things didn't changed.

The delinquent was stretching his hand toward the woman. Somehow I overpowered my fear, but all I could manage was to advance one step.

Deception of myself and resignation weighted in me.

Then.

"Umm… Don't you think that taking her wallet is a bit much?"

A boy walked up to the group of delinquents. His age was roughly the same as me. His school uniform was one I didn't recognized, so he must go to some school in this city.

He looked... ordinary in every way. He didn't seem dazzlingly charming like Kouki, nor was he built like a bear, like Ryutarou. The only thing that stood out about him was his troubled smile.

Despite this, I could only stare, I couldn't take my eyes off him.

"Huh!? You've got nothing to do with this, so scram before I beat your face in!"

Though he seemed pretty scared himself, the boy wedged himself between the old lady and her harassers.

"Uh well, I guess you're right that I don't have anything to do with this… b-but you know… I think it'd be the best for everyone involved if you just took the cleaning fee and left it at that…"

He was purposely being evasive in an attempt to defuse the tense atmosphere. However, all he succeeded in doing was make the delinquents even madder.

"Fine then, you pay for her. It'll cost 10000¥ for the cleaning."

"Sorry, I don't have the money."

Despite his evasive attitude, his reply was surprisingly direct.

It was, I thought, kinda cute.

The delinquent grabbed the boy by his collar and lifted him up. The boy's face paled, and sweat began pouring down his forehead.

The delinquent just angrily thrust him to the ground, he looked even angrier than before. I have seen those kinds of eyes before, all those times my friends got into fights, I knew what the delinquent was going to do next.

I wanted to yell a warning. But it was already too late.

"Gah!"

The boy grunted. The delinquent kicked him. Just as I thought, he was someone with no compunction about using violence.

The old lady tried to help the poor boy up.

"It's okay, you've done enough,"

She said softly as her grandson sobbed silently.

However, even the onlookers couldn't ignore such a blatant display of violence. A few of them had pulled out their cell phones to presumably call the police.

'That's right, the police! Why I didn't I think of that!? God, I am an idiot!'

While lamenting my own uselessness, the boy stood up with the help of the old lady. Then he looked firmly to the aggressors. His expression was so serious that I couldn't help to be drawn to it, forgetting the predicament he was in.

Still in pain from the kick, the boy spoke with a confident expression.

"Can't you be satisfied with just the cleaning fee? If not, I have another solution in mind. One you sure aren't going to like"

Could it be, is he planning in fighting them? I may have underestimate him, maybe he was a martial arts expert.

The delinquent seemed to think the same as me, his lips curled into a sneer.

"Oh yeah? So you want to fight? Fine, bring it on!"

The lead delinquent cracked his knuckles menacingly and took a fighting posture. He was more than ready for the challenge.

However…

"I'm truly sorry for all of the trouble I've caused!"

The boy interrupted him by apologizing at the top of his lungs. He then prostrated himself before the delinquent in an exaggerated fashion.

"The hell?"

The delinquent, who'd been expecting a fight, was at a loss for words. He was so stunned that he actually took a few steps backward.

Everyone on the street stopped to stare. It wasn't every day that you saw someone prostrating themselves on the street.

It was the first time I saw it myself.

Heedless of the attention he was attracting, the boy continued yelling.

"Please, find it in your heart to forgive them! I know this poor boy and his elderly grandmother ruined your precious jeans by accidentally spilling sauce on them! I know it's a fiendish act that deserves nothing but the most horrific retribution!"

"Huh? Uh, wait, I-I mean…"

The delinquent faltered. Even for someone as shameless as him, it was embarrassing to hear a "simple accident" be referred to as a fiendish act. The effect was multiplied by the fact that the boy was kneeling and yelling for all to hear.

However, the boy's eloquent apology didn't stop there.

"In truth, a million yen, no even five million yen, no even ten million yen wouldn't be enough to make up for the wrongs we've committed upon you!"

"T-Ten million!? Now hold on a second, I never said it cost—"

The delinquents started backing away. Even the old lady and the onlookers were surprised by the boy's sudden outburst. However, that was exactly what he wanted. The situation grew more chaotic.

"Still, this poor old lady cannot possibly hope to pay such a price. She has to pay off the huge debt her late husband left her. Though her neighbors all vilify her, she works hard every day just to save up enough money to see her grandson once every year! Can you imagine how much blood, sweat, and tears went into that single ball of takoyaki that young boy spilled!?"

'It can't be! Does really the old lady have to deal with all that!?'

The delinquents were shocked of hear that. My attention and that of all the onlookers went to the old woman, who looked just as confused as all of us.

"Umm, actually, my husband is still alive. And he's not in debt…"

She was saying something but the boy interrupted.

"So please, I beg of you! Show mercy to these poor souls! Forgive them for their transgressions, I beseech youuuuuu!"

His voice resounded throughout the street. People started using their phones to record this, I was recording it too.

The delinquents were bright red with embarrassment. The boy's actions had made them out to be some sort of exaggerated villains from a cheap B-rated drama. If they tried to shake down the old lady under these circumstances, they'd probably have their social lives destroyed.

I almost felt pity for them.

"Y-You're sick in the head, you weirdo! What do you even know about this hag, anyway! We..."

The boy interrupted, before they could defend themselves.

"I'm truly so very sorryyyyyyyyyyyy!"

I didn't think his voice could get any louder, but it did. It sounded so heartfelt, too. He was kneeling and everything.

"Sh-Shut up! Let's go somewhere else and—"

"Please, anything but ten million yen! You'll kill this poor lady!"

"Hey wait, I never asked for that—"

"Please, please, I'm begging youuuuuuuuu! Have mercyyyyyy!"

"Shut up! Just shut the fuck—"

"Mercyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!"

Finally, the delinquents began to panic. The longer they stayed there, the worse things got for them. Now even the old lady was playing along, hiding her face and trembling. Things would come to a head soon if someone didn't do something.

The delinquent grabbed the boy by the hair and forcibly tried to pull him up. When that didn't work, he kicked and spat at him, but that had no effect either. It was like the boy was glued to the ground.

In the end, the delinquents relented.

"Shit, forget it, I'm done here! Let's head home!"

The lead delinquent ran away as fast as he could.

"Wait, H-Hide-chan!?"

His two lackeys followed after him.

An awkward silence hung in the air. No one wanted to be the first to move, but eventually, the kneeling boy rose to his feet. He ignored the multitude of stares directed at him and grabbed the old lady's wallet off the floor. He turned to face her and handed it back.

"Th-Thank you"

The old lady stammered, her smile seemed a little stiff.

"Sorry for turning it into something awkward. Anyway, I'm gonna go home now, bye!"

With that, the boy dashed off into the crowd. The old lady reached out to stop him, but before she could say anything he was gone.

The crowd immediately began to disperse. Still, I stood there, looking in the direction the boy had run off.

"And then, and then, you know what he did, Shizuku-chan? He just ran before anyone could say anything… Hey Shizuku-chan, are you listening to me? You haven't said anything for a while…"

"I'm listening, I'm listening. This is the tenth time you've told me about the amazing kneeling boy, you know that right?"

"Not amazing kneeling boy, Shizuku-chan, Amazing boy who kneeled in the street! You make it sound like his kneeling was what was amazing."

"Ah, my mistake. Sorry. Anyway, Kaori. It's 2 AM, and we have school in the morning. I get that you're excited, but could you please stop now, for my health's sake?"

"What? No way. S-Sorry, Shizuku-chan."

I couldn't believe it was so late already. After coming back home, my mom found I forgot to buy the groceries. I immediately ran away, went to the supermarket and returned. It didn't stop mom from reprimand me, but I avoided the 'Shirayasha'. Still, as punish, mom took my phone.

I felt this burning desire to tell someone what I saw today but I couldn't. Once dinner was over mom gave me back my phone. The first thing I did was run to my room and call Shizuku-chan. It was 10 PM when I made the call. Four hours have passed, me telling her the same story over and over.

I'm so sorry, if Shizuku-chan is late for school tomorrow it would be my fault.

"Mmm, it's fine. I'd like it if you don't tell the whole story an 11th time, but… I get that it's important to you. Hehe, but you know, this is the first time you present such interest in a boy… I can't even count how many guys hearts you've broken right now. I guess your spring has finally come."

What's Shizuku-chan talking about? And why does she sound so happy?

"Shizuku-chan, what do you mean? How could I break something of someone, also is still winter."

"Haaah… Whatever, I get it now. You're just not aware of it. Well, he is your first, as far as I know… And it's possible it's not even really a crush yet… Anyway, you should take a good hard look at your own feelings. Granted, considering how dense you are, you might not be able to figure it out after all. As your friend, should I just lay it all out for you? Hmm…"

I feel like I was just insulted, but Shizuku-chan would never do that, right?

"U-Umm, Shizuku-chan?"

"Huh!? Ahem… Uh, where was I?"

"U-Umm… there's a place I want you to go with me…"

Gods, this is embarrassing.

"Oh, what's this? No need to hesitate. We're friends, right?"

Her words make me feel more confident.

"Thanks, Shizuku-chan. So uh, could you come with me to that boy's school tomorrow?"

"What!"

Ah, it is much more embarrassing than before. I feel my head burning.

"Like I said, could you come with me to his school tomorrow? I, uhh… want to talk to him… A-And maybe see if he'd want to be friends."

I said it, my face is completely red, I wrap myself in the mattress and roll in my bed.

"Now hold on just a minute here. You saw the guy today, right Kaori?"

"Yep. I wish I'd had the chance to talk to him."

"If you didn't even talk to him, how do you know what school he goes to?"

"I looked it up, duh. I just made a list of all the middle schools in the area and checked to see which one had his uniform."

"..."

"Earth to Shizuku-chaaan. Sorry, are you tired? Should I call back later?"

"Ah, um, sorry. I just saw a side of you I didn't knew existed…"

Shizuku-chan cleared her throat.

"Anyway, I'm fine with it. We can go together. I'm used to you jumping into things without thinking by now. But you don't even know his name, right? How are you going to find him?"

"I was thinking about just go to the froy gate of his school and wait there for him to appear, since going asking for him inside might annoy him. If this don't work maybe look for him in the area where I saw him today..."

"Calm down a bit, you're starting to sound like a stalker…"

"That's so mean Shizuku-chan, I'm not a stalker"

I started considering my ideas, and the more I thought about it the more stalkerish I seemed. I'll worry for that later, right now that wasn't important.

"Any way, I have a recording of today's events that I'll share with you tomorrow to help you to identify him if you see him. Unfortunately I have not his name, our next priority is to obtain his name, next we..."

"Please, stop... you are scaring me"

Shizuku-chan sounded so tired, it was best to let her sleep, tomorrow we would be busy after all.

"Anyway, let's go to his school tomorrow. I'm definitely going to find him and a-ask him to be my friend. And then, we'll start hanging out on our days off, and maybe I'll even get to go to his house… Ehehe. Shizuku-chan, I'm gonna do this!"

"It's already too late to stop you now. Mysterious kneeling boy, I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do."

The call ended after Shizuku-chan puzzling words.

I was so excited I couldn't sleep until a hour later. That day I was late for school and was reprimanded bymy mom again.

It was spring. Three months since I saw him. Nagumo-kun his name is.

With Shizuku-chan help, after school we tried looking for him at the front gate of his school, but not even once we saw him leave.

After a full month I really wanted to storm my way inside and look for him, but Shizuku stopped me.

Then I tried asking the students if they knew him, but for some reason, most of them seemed afraid of me.

Still, I learned that his last name is Nagumo and that he doesn't stay in school after class. That's why we couldn't find him, he isn't here for when we come.

Just, wait for me Nagumo-kun I'm going to find you.

My next strategy was to skip school and wait before class ended and ambush him, but Shizuku-chan didn't let me skip school.

So I tried looking for him using the internet and his last name. I got near a hundred of potential leads.

With Shizuku-chan help we investigated each of this leads every weekend for a pair of hours.

Some days we simply walked the streets and looked around. Nagumo-spotting I called it, a new hobby of mine.

I don't know why I am so obsessed about this, I just didn't want 'that' to be only time I ever saw him.

I regret not calling him that day. All I have of him is a name and a recording. I still won't give up, I'll find him, we have narrowed the possibilities to thirty, I'm getting close, I know.

"Stop that, Kaori, you are scaring me again"

"Sorry Shizuku-chan"

Today is the day of her entrance ceremony and the beginning of my life as a high schooler.

I am very excited. Close to me are Shizuku-chan and Ryutarou-kun that were in the same class than me. Kouki-kun is in our class too, but as the freshman representative he has to give a speech.

"Do you think Kouki-kun's nervous?"

"I doubt it. Kouki's never been nervous in his life."

"Yeah. He gave the middle school opening speech too, so he's used to it."

The principal finished his speech, his wig nearly falling off multiple times, and Kouki-kun took the stage. The crowd erupted in cheers. The entire auditorium shook from the force of the girls' voices. It was like they had suddenly stepped into an idol concert. The fanaticism of Kouki's female fans was certainly at the same level as idol fans

"I-I expected something like this… but it still amazes me some times."

Shizuku watched the proceedings with a wooden expression.

Eventually, the cheers died down and Kouki-kun began his freshman address. His fans hung on to his every word. It was like he was the head of some cult.

"Dude, look. That guy's straight up sleeping through all of this."

"I know people sleep all the time during stuff like this, but I can't believe the noise didn't wake him up… He's one heavy sleeper."

Someone is sleeping amidst all these cheers? I turn in my seat to look who is. I follow the eyes of the boy behind me. When I got a good look at the person in question I gasp.

"Ah."

My heart started beating faster. Time seemed to turn slower.

Lazing in his chair, with his arms folded across his chest and a the eyes closed, was the person I wanted to meet the most.

"It's him."

I zoned out Kouki speech. The rest of the world faded away, and all that remained in my sight was the boy. All other sounds vanished. My senses were focused only on him. An imaginary space where only the two of us existed.

"Kaori. Earth to Kaori. Hey!"

"Hwuh!?"

I was forcibly brought back to reality by Shizuku that was shaking my shoulders.

Kouki-kun speech ended with a final round of cheering that was so loud it hurt my eardrums.

"Hurry up and turn around! The teachers are glaring at you!"

"O-Oh, okay"

Reluctantly I turned my gaze to the front. All the teachers eyes were pointed to me, it was kinda scary.

"What's gotten into you?"

When the teachers finally stopped glaring, Shizuku subtlety whispered into my ear.

Clasping both my hands over my wild beating heart I whispered back.

"U-Umm, he's here. He's here. What do I do, Shizuku-chan?"

"He? Who's he… Wait, no way? That he? Where!?"

"Behind us. Two rows back, the boy who's sleeping."

"That kid who's sleeping through all this noise is the one you've been looking for?"

"Y-Yes. I'm sure of it. What do I do, Shizuku-chan? If he's sitting that close to us, that means he's in the same class, right? What do I dooo!?"

Even though I spent more than a year looking for him, now that he is so close to me I don't know how to approach him. I feel like my heart's going to fly right out of my chest at this rate. I grabbed Shizuku-chan arm and started tugging on it.

Shizuku-chan smiled and gently patted my head, calming me down.

"Good for you, Kaori. As for what you should do, obviously you should ask him ou—Ahem, ask him to be your friend. Spend these three years of high school with him and make as many memories as you can. Basically, just get closer to him."

A vision of how I imagine the future to look like began playing in my mind.

Going to school together with him. Making pointless small talk about what they'd eaten for breakfast, or if they'd finished their homework on time. We could eat lunch together every day. I could even make him lunch… and then after school we'd walk around town and just spend time together, visit a cafe and sit together, people might confound us for a couple!

These are definitely going to be the best three years of my life.

Oh wait, there's still one big problem…

"Wait a second, Shizuku-chan! What am I supposed to say to his parents!?"

"How'd you jump to that already!? I get that you're excited, but you're taking this fantasy way too far! Are you planning on marrying him or something? Are you going to spend the rest of your life with him? You can't, Kaori! You need to plan your future carefully if you want a happy family!"

Shizuku-chan's lost it! How can she say such embarrassing things in public!?. Her outburst drew the attention of the teachers over us again.

"Shizuku-chan, I just want his parents not to hate me, since I'm going to be his friend…"

"Huh!?"

"Sh-Shizuku-chan, your imagination is a little too overactive."

"Wha—!?"

"Im sure your conversation must be really interesting, mind sharing it with all of us?"

Standing to our side, a teacher spoke aloud. All attention was instantly on us.

Shizuku curled herself into a ball and started rocking back and forth.

"I just want to crawl into a hole and die right now"

Shizuku-chan whispered something, but I couldn't heard her.

The first day our new lifes started with Shizuku-chan and me getting a long lecture on the staff room.

Still, I was more excited than ever.

To know him better, to be his friend. That are my goals for this year.

"Defeat the traum soldiers and reach the bridge, I'll take care of Behemoth."

Nagumo-kun said those words after drop to the floor. Behemoth was then half eaten by the ground.

The others quickly started retreating, Kouki-kun destroying with ease the Traum Soldiers blocking the way for the stairs.

I stood there, Shizuku-chan with me.

I didn't want to accept Nagumo-kun sacrifice. I wanted to convince him of run, that there was another way for all of us to survive.

Yet, I knew it won't work. This is the type of person that Nagumo-kun is. Someone able to move forward when others won't. The stronger person I know. That was the reason I fell for him and the reason he is going to die.

Still, even if is useless that never stop me for trying before.

When he looked about to give up I moved I used [Mana Transfer] to give him my mana and a minor healing spell to cure the burns and alleviate his pain.

"Why are you still here Shirasaki"

Because, I want to be at your side forever. I want to confess my love for you. I want you to meet my parents and me to officially met yours. I want many things that would be impossible if you die.

"Nagumo-kun"

A wall grew from the ground before I could take any action, stopping me from go to his side.

"I'll only tell it once, Get out of here Shirasaki, run for the stairs."

"But, what about you?"

"Is too late for me. I can't outrun behemoth, neither can outrun the fall of the bridge"

It dawned in me that this was what that dream last night was all about. If I don't do something now I'll lose him forever.

"I don't want to lose you, I promised I'll protect you"

A turmoil in my heart I couldn't stop.

"Listen well, Kaori... This is not the end. Whatever happens next I'll promise you that I will live"

His words didn't matched with his feelings.

"Not matter the distance and not matter the time it takes, we'll met again, of that you can be sure because...—"

Still I choose to believe him.

"—I love you"

Because I understood what my own feelings were.

"I love you too... That's why I'll stay here with you.."

I made my determination to stay here pretty clear.

"I'll stay here with you.."

"Yaegashi knock out Kaori and take her far from this place"

Hajime words made me fix my gaze on Shizuku-chan. She stood there a sad expression in her face.

"I am sorry Kaori, you can hate me later"

I had bo time to react at all before all faded to black.

"Nagumo-kun"

I woke up.

I was in the bed of the room I share with Shizuku of the Inn.

Thanks God it was just a nightmare. We have yet to leave for the dungeon. I must have been really anxious because of that dream.

The door was open and Shizuku-chan ran in the room and huge me.

"Kaori, you are finally awake"

"Shizuku-chan"

"I am sorry Kaori, you can hate me later"

It was just a bad dream.

"Shizuku-chan, you wouldn't believe the horrible nightmare I had. We were exploring the dungeon when a trap teleported us to a bridge where a mean looking monster and a lots of skeletons attacked us. Then Nagumo-kun recklessly was sacrificing himself, the bridge was collapsing and the you of my dream hit me and then and then I awoke."

Shizuku-chan mood turned sour while I described my dream"

"What should I do Shizuku-chan, all these dreams makes me think that I have to stop Nagumo-kun from getting into the dungeon..."

"... Kaori, the expedition was yesterday"

"Ahh?"

"It was just like you remember"

"What are you saying Shizuku-chan?"

"Kaori... that wasn't a dream... all of it... it really happened"

"This isn't funny Shizuku-chan, stop this cruel joke right now"

"... You understand... don't you..."

"Stop it..."

"... he isn't here anymore"

"Stop it..."

"Nagumo-kun... he is..."

"Stop... just stop..."

"He is dead"

"No, that's not true!... because... because after you hit me, you saved Nagumo-kun right, you saved him didn't you?..."

"Kaori..."

"Ahhh"

I stormed out of the room. My mind in turmoil I just ran with no specific direction. Yet somehow I ended in a certain room.

It was the room he slept for a night. It was the room where we drink that cheap tea while talking. It was the room where I made a promise under the moon.

It was his room, Nagumo-kun's room. Nagumo-kun's empty room.

I wanted to keep denying it, to say it was all a dream, a lie, a joke. I knew the truth from the start, but I chose to delude myself rather than accept it.

I just don't want to accept it.

I fell to my knees and cried. I cried until I couldn't any longer. Or so I expected.

"I knew you will come here Kaori"

"H-he..."

Shizuku-chan hugged me.

"He isn't here anymore right, ho-how did he...?

"The bridge collapsed, the last thing we saw of him was his figure falling to the abyss"

"But, he was still alive right?"

"Kaori... what are you thinking?"

"Shizuku-chan, I feel, no... I know Nagumo-kun has to be alive somewhere. My heart tells me he is. I won't believe that he's dead until I saw it with my own eyes."

"Kaori..."

"I'll become strong, I want to stop being someone that can only watch while others fight. I want to be able to make a difference. I want to be strong enough to reach Nagumo-kun"

"..."

"Will you help me Shizuku-chan? Will you lend me your strength?"

"Have you to ask? Of course I will. Until you've found an answer you can accept, at least."

"Shizuku-chan!"

"I don't need any thanks. We're best friends, remember?"

A new goal is set before me.

The next time I see him I let him know my true feelings.

Wait for me Nagumo-kun I'll find you, whenever you are.