Chapter IV: Man's best friend
Koromaru leapt up the last few steps and rested his battle-hardened paws on the familiar paved stones steps of Naganaki Shrine, the small figure of Ken trailing behind him. The night air was cool and a gentle breeze was blowing. That time of year had come again.
It was on nights like these that another had brought him here, occasionally bumping into one of his many acquaintances or together with one of SEES. More often than not though, it had been just the two of them, with the entire grounds to themselves.
As Koromaru had run around unrestrainedly to release all the pent-up energy he had after a day of lazing in the dorm, his red eyes always inevitably wandered to the solitary figure sitting on the small seesaw, blue hair flowing in the breeze and the soft yellow moon reflected in his expressionless eyes.
He had also watched as that boy lead the team to victory every battle, utilizing their strengths and covering their weaknesses as they ground every grueling floor to the top of Tartarus. It was for that that the boy had gained their total respect and like the rest Koromaru came quickly to develop a fierce loyalty to him.
To them, he seemed almost superhuman, but Koromaru, if anybody, knew better. He had watched as those confident shoulders started hunching over ever so slightly as the months wore on and how every time he would take longer and longer to mount the long flight of stone steps to the shrine.
Koromaru had no idea why he noticed these imperceptible details. From the very beginning he knew was different from all the other animals. He could always tell how the old priest was feeling instinctively, and it was no different when it came to his new master.
In December when the Chairman's insidious betrayal was finally revealed and everybody including the stoic, icy Mitsuru sank into the depths of despair the boy acted as the sole beacon of hope for their lost souls. In the end, they came to rally around him as they had always done, and found the courage to fight against the end of the world instead of running away.
But Koromaru knew that even he had to be hurting, for he was only human. Koromaru was grateful that he was a dog, for he would never have to carry the crushing emotional burden they all had unwittingly placed on him.
He remembers the last night they went out together. That night, the boy was not looking at the waxing gibbous moon but silently at his feet. One way or another, it would all end a few nights away from that one.
Suspending his normal routine, Koromaru had crept up to him and whined as he rubbed his furry head against the boy's trouser leg. Perhaps he had sensed that Koromaru knew what he had been hiding within, for he allowed himself to crack a sad smile as he proceeded to fondle Koromaru's ears. That would be the only sign of weakness he would ever show.
Koromaru whimpered as he stretched his sore leg muscles and headed back to the playground. His body was no longer what it used to be, and he could feel his once razor sharp sense of sight and smell fading.
Ken was sitting in his usual spot. The diminutive figure in the zip hoodie was a sharp contrast with the boy in the jet black Gekkoukan blazer.
Those would be hard shoes to fill.
By some strange coincidence the moon that night was full, but the round object in the sky that had once sat so ominously and menacingly now emitted a soft, peaceful glow. Even so, memories of the past had kept them on edge every time that time of the month came around. It had been almost half a year since March ended, but the tension was telling as Ken fiddled unconsciously with his zipper and Koromaru could feel his hair stand on end.
Koromaru wondered what would happen if something similar were to occur again. Aigis had since transformed from a mere machine into, well, almost a real living, breathing individual, but would she be able to shoulder the entire burden and lead them to victory as he had?
As he broke into a trot upon hearing Ken's whistle, Koromaru hoped he would never have to answer that question.
