"Almaz? Wake up!" Mao growled, shaking the Hero quickly
"Gh? M-Mao, what are you doing?" Almaz whined, opening his eyes to see a bunch of his heart residents, a dull, yet light blue in colour
"They just showed up, w-what are they?" Mao replied, looking nervously around at the surrounding residents
"W-why?" One of them spoke, voice cracking as if it were going to cry
"Why... do I do this to myself?" Another spoke, an even more sorrowed tone
"What are you guys!" Almaz growled, standing up quickly, as the True Heart of Almaz's heart stepped forward
"They're pent up sorrow, built up pain both mental and physical."
"Pain and sorrow?" Almaz asked, as they turned on Mao
"Why, do we put up with you?" One cried, Mao's heart seemed to skip a beat as they approached him
"M-me?" Mao questioned, as one drew it's sword
"Would, it be better, if you were removed from the picture?"
One ran forward, Almaz growled as he ran in front, grabbing the sword by the hilt before turning on them. He tore the sword from the attacker's hand before swiftly moving to attack it "Mao! What's going on!"
Mao remained silent, until a whine escaped him as he drew his own sword "I-it's a lot easier, to know I'd be attacking my own residents, not yours. Pent up sorrow, and built up pain? What does that mean?"
"Almaz has been enduring quite a bit, recently, and not expressing it. These are the result, stress could be another way of putting it. If too many build up other heart residents will flee." The True Heart explained, standing behind the two
Mao held his breath "So, would getting rid of them, get rid of the sorrow, anxiety, or mental instability Almaz seems to have recently?"
"It's unknown what removal would do, there's a toss up of both positive and negative outcomes. Not many demons hold these, especially not in such large numbers."
Almaz gasped "Kind of like the Mao who say Dad from his heart right?"
"Yes, these are a scar on the heart. It could have either a major effect on you, or, like Mao, could have no effect at all."
Almaz hesitated "W-we'll just have to see what we get, right? Come on Mao!"
Mao nodded, quickly attacking one that seemed to just become stronger when attacked. Almaz winced "G-gh!"
"Almaz!" Mao shouted, grabbing the Hero quickly "What's going on, you're hiding something! Mao continued, turning on the True Heart
He ignored the Dean's angered scream, walking up before examining the stronger resident "It appears, they, become stronger when hurt. How, can you beat something that can't be hurt?"
Almaz dropped the sword "M-Mao? Maybe, we shouldn't try! Should we just get out of here?"
The older snapped "No way Almaz! Don't you try to tell me what to do!"
Another appeared behind the Hero, much to Mao's horror "A-Almaz!" Mao shouted, running between the Hero and the heart's resident, gripping Almaz's arm "Who, are you guys!"
"Why do you, want to know? Do you even, truly care?" The resident spoke
"What are your names!" Mao growled
Almaz's true heart stepped in, grabbing one "I'll, get some information from him."
Mao nodded, his sword still drawn as Almaz looked up "M-Mao?"
"Just, stay back!" Mao commanded, his grip on Almaz's arm tightening "A good master... must always look after his servants, right?"
Almaz smiled "Thanks Mao."
Mao laughed, suddenly readying his sword. "Wait! Mao!" Almaz called once more "Call a battle! Like at the dimension gate!"
"W-what?"
"Just trust me! I know what I'm doing!" Almaz demanded, Mao nodded, as a base appeared "All clerics! Get out here!"
Eight clerics instantly bursted through, a confused look on their faces "Hey, Lord Almaz. What the hell could all us clerics do?" Steve growled "We're practically useless in battle, you know that."
Almaz smiled "Physically yes. That's not why you're out here though." He grabbed Mao, before dashing to join the line of clerics "We need to heal them!"
"Heal! Almaz are you insane!" Mao shouted
"Trust me! Clerics! Heal them!" Almaz commanded, seeing the various clerics instantly raise their various weapons, casting their strongest healing spells on the residents, seeing them simply get stronger "W-what! How, I thought healing the scars would make them go away!"
Mao jumped "Maybe, we have to heal the scars from the source."
"From the source?" Almaz asked, looking at the Dean, who tossed him his sword, before facing him
"Take your shot Almaz." Mao commanded
"W-what? What, do you m-mean?" Almaz stuttered
"Are you dumb Fake Hero!" Mao screamed, as another appeared behind Almaz. Mao cursed silently "Attack me!"
Almaz froze "A-attack, you?"
Mao growled "Come on Almaz! Attack me! Full force!"
"No way Mao! I-I can't!" Almaz refused, passing the sword back to him, who rejected the sword "Mao! Don't do this!"
"Almaz, we need to." Mao sighed, a sorrowed expression on his face as he braced himself "Come on, Hero!"
Almaz shook, holding the sword tightly in his left hand. Mao's eyes widened as he saw another appear behind the Hero "Almaz?"
"Mao, I can't do this..." Almaz sighed, throwing the sword to Mao's feet, quickly wiping at seemingly dry eyes
Mao came to a realization. Almaz's sorrow, and forms of pain, may be due to him, but, to put Mao through the same pain, makes Almaz's sadness, sorrow, worse.
The Hero didn't want Mao to suffer, no, far from it. He simply wanted Mao to help make things right between them "Almaz?"
Almaz stood there, his head hung as tears fell from his eyes "You, must think I'm simply pathetic."
Mao smiled, pulling the Hero close "Nah, far from it."
Almaz blushed slightly "W-what?"
The older demon smile grew, seeing one of the residents disappear "Let's get out of here Almaz, all of us!"
The clerics returned to the base as Mao and Almaz quickly fled the heart
"Mao, I, don't think I want to go in there again." Almaz sighed, quickly gripping the Dean
"We'll have to Almaz. Maybe, should I just, go without you?" Mao asked, quickly being held tighter
"They'll tear you apart Mao!" Almaz shouted, a look of anger and sorrow in his eyes
Mao looked nervously at the Hero "F-fine. I won't go in."
Almaz blushed "You, you really mean it Mao?"
Nodding, Mao replied "Of course I mean it, Almaz. Though I guess, I'll have to keep you happy, now won't I?"
The red on the Hero's cheeks instantly darkened "Mao?"
Suddenly jumping, the Dean turned from the Hero "G-gh! I-I mean... nngh!"
The younger Hero laughed, seeing the Dean turn a harsh red, stuttering to try to find the right words to say. Almaz released Mao, who growled angrily as he placed a hand on his forehead "Don't worry Mao." Almaz snickered
"I... gh!" Mao responded, not even able to speak to the Hero at this point
"Mao, don't worry about it. I understand."
Mao just kept blushing, the look on his face getting darker and darker "D-damn it... Almaz, I..."
Almaz stopped him from talking, pressing the two together "Mao, d-don't worry."
The Dean grabbed his arm, pulling him back towards their room "Come on, I, think it's time to talk to Makora."
Nodding, the Hero stopped, gently taking Mao's hand "Right, she's probably waiting."
Mao walked with him cautiously out of the heart bank, seeing various demons stare, as they began snickering and whispering among one another. Mao sighed, looking back at Almaz, a simple kiss wouldn't stop their annoying gossip this time. "I know, Mao... it's bugging me too."
Mao cringed, he knew this was going to have a negative effect on the young Hero's heart, he pulled Almaz close, releasing his hand to wrap his own arm slowly around Almaz's waist. The Hero turned a slight tinge of red, smiling at the other "Almaz, don't let demons bother you. To take what a demon says to heart is a waste of energy."
"You aren't a waste of energy though." Almaz replied, wrapping both arms around the Dean
"There you guys are! I was just heading back to the Heart Bank to look for you two!" Makora grinned, seeing the demons whispering to one another "Ignore them, damn pansies are disgraces to the Netherworld. Relying on petty gossip to fuel their happiness is pure stupidity at it's finest."
Almaz laughed, remembering a similar phrase he had heard back at the castle in the Human World, before Mao released the Hero, walking up to Makora "It's time for us to talk."
"T-talk? About what?"
"Almaz, go see Beryl. She'll probably want some company, with the human gone and all." Mao commanded "She enjoys being around you. She trusts you it seems."
Almaz nodded, as he bolted off "Father daughter talk? I guess, in a sense I'd be out of place, but..."
The Hero wandered aimlessly through the school, quickly finding the classroom hallway "Ms Beryl?" Almaz called, hearing the echo off the hallway, before the familiar demon opened her door slowly
"Ahh Hero Almaz! Come in come in!" Beryl smiled, opening the door wider so the Hero could enter "What brings you here?"
"Mao sent me, he said you might enjoy the company while he talks to Makora." Almaz explained, looking happily at the shorter demon
"He doesn't want you there?" Beryl asked, a small frown struck her face "That's, kind of rude..."
"It's a father, daughter talk. I'm technically not her father remember?" Almaz chuckled "Plus, it's really not all that bad, I'm fine with it."
"So long as it's okay. Hero, is something wrong? Mao said you've been upset recently. It's really been bugging him."
"It's, been bugging him? Ms Beryl, don't taunt me now." Almaz whined
"No, really Hero. Mao came to me nearly crying not too long ago. He's really loves you. He reminds me all the time."
The Hero turned a strong shade of red "R-really? No kidding?"
"I'm a Delinquent, I wouldn't lie to you." Beryl laughed
Almaz sat down, looking at the small Delinquent, who was now at his eye level "That's, great to hear. Thanks, Ms Beryl."
"Anytime." Beryl replied
"So, what should we do?" Almaz asked, the smile still plastered across his face
"Lucky for you I don't have class today. I'm just here to finish some paperwork is all." Beryl giggled "I'm almost done, so, why not grab something to eat once I'm done?"
"Sure! Sounds great!" Almaz jumped, a sudden happiness took him
Beryl simply laughed at the Hero's sudden pep, before sitting down before a scattered display of papers "Just, a few minutes is all I'll need."
"Right! Take, your time Beryl." Almaz shouted, the smile never leaving his face
The Hero found himself thinking about what Beryl said "Mao, was worried about me?" He whispered, taking the small medal out of his pocket as he placed it on his coat. His thought zoned him out from the surrounding area. Mao, worried about him. This was a big deal to Almaz "Ms Beryl, what, did Mao say, when he'd tell you about me?"
"All kinds of things Hero, his mood varied so much each time around. No matter how angry he sounded, the heavy concern he held showed through more. He'd ask me what he could do to help you a few times, but, to keep his reputation of number one Honour Student, even as a Dean, he chickened out." Beryl laughed "It was kind of funny to be honest, seeing him so nervous. He'd always come back blushing like crazy!"
"You serious? Is that why he wouldn't talk to me?" Almaz questioned
"Yeah. Mao, the last time, just a few days ago actually, came to me crying. I felt horrible and told him to talk to you. I didn't know how else to respond." Beryl admitted
Almaz jumped "He, was crying, over me?"
"Yeah, it tore me to pieces. Though, at the same time, it was one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. Seeing someone as tough as the number one honour student crying over a friend, no, spouse, is just touching." Beryl chuckled "You're pretty lucky, Hero."
"I know I am..." Almaz smiled
Beryl stood up, placing the pen down "I'm ready anytime. You ready?"
"Of course! Come on." Almaz laughed, grabbing her arm as they walked out of the room, Beryl stopped, locking the door behind her
"So, to the cafeteria?
"To the cafeteria!" Almaz chuckled as they both ran through the galls
"Sooo, Almmaazzz, how's Mao been doing?" Beryl smiled looking at Almaz, who swallowed the bite he was eating quickly before turning a bright red
Almaz stuttered, remembering the night two days before "J-just fine..."
"What's wrong?" Beryl asked, her smile quickly disappearing
Chuckling nervously Almaz's cheeks turned a brighter red "N-nothing~"
"No, seriously Almaz, I'm kind of worried now..." Beryl sighed
"It's nothing, I promise!" Almaz blushed. Beryl growled, grabbing Almaz's arm
"Tell me!" Beryl demanded "Or I'm not letting go!"
Almaz shrugged, before realizing he had lost complete control of his arm "D-damn Beryl, that's a pressure point..."
"Come on! Almaz I just wanna know~"
"Ow! Ow Beryl! You're starting to hurt me!" Almaz yelped "He's just been kind recently!"
"Kind!"
"I'm just trying to defend his ego is all." Almaz lied, as Beryl instantly released his arm, which he rubbed gingerly "Owwww..."
"Awww, Almaz, go see him... he's probably lonely~"
"R-right! T-thanks Ms Beryl!" Almaz smiled "You're right, he's probably done his conversation with Makora by now!"
Almaz stood up, quickly bolting from the cafeteria. An extreme excitement to see Mao once again, to know how his talk with their daughter went. He quickly bolted around, to the main area of the school, and up the stairs, towards their room
"L-Lord Mao? You look happy!" Almaz yelped, walking back into his room
The Dean looked happily at the other "She said she didn't do anything. She was actually trying to break up with him. We don't have anything to worry about anymore."
Almaz smiled "That's great Mao! I'm so glad tof hear that!"
"I know, I am too. Almaz, I have no complaints about today. I'll find a way to heal your heart, too. That's a promise, Hero."
Almaz smiled, bringing the Dean into a gentle, loving hug "That, means so much. Thank you, Mao."