Chapter 2:

"Continue to walk forward... until my legs are tired..."

Continue to walk forward... until I find my final destination...

... Those precious things... what are they?"

*The next day, lunchtime, rooftop*

Letting out a small sigh, he put his empty lunchbox aside. It had been quite a long time since he had anything other than mugimeshi (1), which he had to use broken rice (2) instead of normal rice due to his financial problem, and takuan (3). And since yesterday had been his birthday, treating himself with something luxury for once wouldn't bring any negative result to his wallet.

And the instant curry he had bought last night was really delicious, truly worth every yen. And that reminded him to thank Kashima for her suggestion. She was a really nice girl and he was thankful that he was her friend.

Too bad his meal would return to the usual after this luxury (4) treat. Perhaps yesterday he should have wished to be able eat instant curry everyday instead?

Nah, perhaps not.

Shaking his head slightly with a usual tired sigh escaped his lips, he looked up at the cloudy sky with his mind started wondering about his future after graduating. He knew studying in university would cost him a large sum of money that he couldn't afford and getting an university scholarship was extremely hard. Without education in university, he would struggle to find a decent full-time job to raise himself, let alone raising his future family...

Yeah right, as if a girl would lay eyes on a poor guy with nothing special like him. He couldn't help but laugh at himself.

Man, he was so pathetic...

Well, he did HAVE something special, but those weren't something he could tell other normal people. And moreover, he didn't want to get the attention from the devils in this school. It would make his side jobs harder.

But now thinking about it, it appeared they were oblivious about his status based on the encounters between him and them while Amaterasu-sama had said that she had notified the Crimson Satan, Sirzechs Gremory about him being the representative of the Shinto faction. While Kuoh was considered as the devil's or more precisely, Gremory Clan's teritory due to agreements between Factions, it technically still belonged to the Shinto Faction since Kuoh was a part of Japan.

Which led to his status as the representative of the Shinto Faction in the town to oversee the people followed Shintoism, making sure they wouldn't be caught in the crossfire between supernatural factions. So at least his sister, who was in the same class with him, should be awared about his status but it seemed not.

Oh well, no use of thinking about that now and it wasn't like he complained about it. His job as Agent of Mercy as well as representative for the Shinto would be much easier without their attention. They stayed out of his way and he stayed out of theirs. It was just simple like that.

A small white bird flew past him in the sky. Now he wondered what kind of life the bird had. Full of freedom? Or just like his life?

Ah, now he really wanted to become the clouds in the sky. But then again, what was the point of running away from the problem?

*RIIIIIIIIIIIING!*

With a loud long noise, the school bell stopped his train of thought dead in its track. Shaking his head one more time, he picked up his things before returning to class.

*Timeskip, after school*

"Hawaa!"

Well, this was... weird.

"Auu, why do I keep tripping?"

After all, it wasn't everyday that you met a foreign-looking blond nun, who had just tripped because of no reason and was currently lying on the ground, her arms spreaded wide open and the situation was giving him a very good view of her panties.

He wondered what 'The Perverted Trio' would probably trade to be in his position if they knew about this. Letting out a short sigh, he crouched down and picked up her veil before turning to the moaning nun

"Are you alright?" Being the representative of Shinto Faction, he was granted the ability to understand all the languages and made people understand what he said or wrote despite the language difference. While this ability hadn't helped him much with his job as the representative of Shinto Faction, it had helped him alot in earning money to live.

Oh, and the English tests, too. Having perfect scores without learning was a nice bonus.

"Ah! Thank you very much for your kindness!" said the nun sincerely in Italian as he helped her up. She was quite young, about his age at best and she seemed travelling alone if her luggage indicated anything.

A travelling life, huh? He wondered what that life would be like. Going around, seeing new places and new people...

"I just got here and I can't speak Japanese very well." said the blond nun as he gave her back the veil "Do you where's the church in this town? I was appointed there but I was lost and... um... people couldn't understand what I was saying."

Wait.

The only church in the town had been abandoned for years. Why would a nun be appointed there? There was something dodgy here.

"You do? Thank you very much!" the nun clasped her hand and started praying after receiving a stiff nod from him "Meeting such a kind person must be God's grace!"

If she knew the truth, she wouldn't say that. That aside...

"If you want, I can lead you to the church" he said in a neutral tone

... He should take a look at the church the nun mentioned since it would at least gave him some... info, even if what he gained might be pretty useless. But since the place he worked was not really far from there, why not? Having something was better than nothing.

"Really? Thank you!... um... I'm sorry but what's your name?" said the nun in embarassment "I'm Asia. Asia Argento."

"Yodaka. Kashitarou Yodaka."

(Chapter end)

(1) Mugimeshi is rice cooked with barley mixed in and is known as meal for the poor.

(2) In Japan, broken rice is often used as bird feed. You can also buy it in bulk online, especially during new-harvest season. Some merchants sell it as "helping the household budget" rice, although you have to acknowledge a disclaimer that it is definitely not the same as whole rice in quality and taste.

(3) Takuan, or pickled radish, is also known for being a simple side dish to appear in an average meal.

(4) Curry (let alone instant one) is anything BUT luxury.