Chapter 22: The Path to Be Forged.
0O0O
Yuna was leaving the office and heading to the parking lot when her eyes caught Kishibe's car approaching and searching for a free spot. She simply rolled her eyes, thankful that she was too busy with a meeting to have to deal with him.
She set off towards her own car and got in with all the things she had in her hands, documents of utmost importance concealed in thin envelopes ready to be presented at the Tokyo Public Security offices and eventually transmitted to the rest of the country's offices.
However, as she organized her belongings, she noticed something that didn't match the items she would typically carry. Unbeknownst to her, she had taken the library book she had snatched from Takahashi's hands.
With a tired sigh, she forced herself out of her car and returned to the library. She had always been responsible with things that needed to be returned eventually, and this was just a mistake caused by her distraction. No matter, she just had to put this back in its proper place; no one here could afford to lose a book, especially not one as important as this.
Of course, almost no one outside this office was aware of how important this book was. Inside, only she and Makima knew, and she highly doubted Takahashi could understand its true significance.
On her way, she barely noticed Kishibe and Quanxi getting out of the car and walking in the same direction as her. The doctor simply ignored them and focused on her own path. If they were curious about why she entered and exited her own vehicle, they didn't express it and kept a safe distance from her.
No one wanted to talk.
And there was no need to.
Yuna was the first to pass the reception, and when she reached the first containment cells, she noticed with interest that none of the devils were making any noise, not as they normally would in the presence of humans.
When she had gone through here before, there had been noise, screams of rage and lamentations about wanting to get out, the usual.
But not now.
'Hm' she paused for a moment to examine this strange phenomenon. She quickly dismissed the idea that the devils had escaped, so they had their personal reasons for staying quiet. But that didn't make it any less curious.
She was already reaching the door when she heard the other door at the far end behind her opening; maybe another day she would take a closer look at whatever was happening to these devils, but for now, she needed to return this book quickly and get out of here.
"Oh no, it's happening again, Quanxi, I'll protect your rear, don't worry" Kishibe barely heard himself say before closing the door and leaving that place.
Kishibe earned another smack from his companion. "I thought you stopped making those kinds of jokes when you turned thirty."
"No... Do you want me to continue?"
"Only if you want to die from blows."
"Good point... But let me think about it in more detail."
Kishibe couldn't think of anything before one of his demons voiced their frustration.
"Damn it, this disgusting feeling of oppression all over my being is returning, someone stop it!"
'Hmm?'
"It's just like the first time... something is changing in the atmosphere, making me feel subject to the ominous influence of a mysterious, additional, and unknown feeling, and power looming over this place."
'Mmm' Kishibe's features tensed again. His instincts were telling him that this probably had something to do with a certain demon girl who also resided in this place.
Quanxi noticed this but didn't say anything; she kept her own eye fixed on monitoring the place.
"Ugh, if I had a mouth, I'd probably vomit right now. That this kind of power is unleashed so abruptly is ridiculous and suffocating. Although, on the other hand, at least it doesn't affect us as much as those poor devils who are locked up."
Kishibe and Quanxi exchanged a glance before deciding to quicken their pace, wanting to reach Hiro's location quickly. Unbeknownst to them, Yuna had already beaten them to the elevator.
0O0O
How long had they been like this?
It felt like hours, but a quick glance at his digital watch told him it had only been about 10 minutes, 10 minutes where neither of them dared to let go of their embrace.
They were just two individuals entwined in a loving hug, lost in a world where time became capricious. Like stars in a cosmic dance, they created a bubble where time surrendered to their connection. Some time ago, Hiro had read in a science and space-related magazine about the theory of relativity, which revealed how time could stretch in the most intense moments or feel different for other people. In this case, it was becoming the accomplice of making this feel like an eternity, a very pleasant eternity.
Even though only a few minutes had passed on the external world clock, they had shared a universe of emotions in the few minutes they had been talking, and now they were making those minutes eternal in the cosmos of their friendship, which was stronger than ever.
He liked this... Really, hugging Makima felt good, maybe not with the same intensity as she returned it, but he liked it all the same.
He gently stroked her hair in a comforting way that seemed to calm her with every fading sob and with every minute that passed like this.
He guessed that now everything was truly settled. Hiro knew she was a devil, and Makima knew perfectly well that he didn't hate her. Everyone won.
Everyone was fine.
Everything was fine.
...
...
But now what?
What were they going to do exactly from now on? Well, the answer for him was obvious, and it hit him like a stick to the head. He would continue training with whatever Kishibe and Quanxi had prepared for him. He reluctantly remembered that these four years would be all about learning the theory, plus whatever they wanted him to do. He was curious to find out what that entailed, but he hoped it wasn't something as boring as reading all day.
But they definitely couldn't come up with something much more boring than reading all day; he hoped they wouldn't take it as a challenge.
On the other hand, he wasn't sure what Makima would do from now on. Of course, they would still be friends, but he didn't know for sure what she would do now that everything was settled between them. Maybe just continue with her life but now with a new addition to her world. He would do the same.
Wow, if Hiro thought about it carefully, this was the hardest and most extensive way to become friends with someone. At least now they had nothing to hide.
Yes, there would definitely be no more secrets.
Life would be easier from now on, for both him and her.
Was this how the best friendships were formed? Maybe only time would tell.
He could feel the girl in his arms starting to calm down completely; her sobs had finally ceased, with the occasional shiver from her, but for the most part, she was now calm.
Her hands were gripping his chest so tightly that Hiro theorized that with a little more effort, she could lift him into the air with ridiculous ease.
He wouldn't be surprised if she did that; she was much stronger than him in several ways. He supposed that even if he set out to train hard for the next ten years, he still wouldn't measure up to the girl he was holding.
To him, she was in a completely different league, one he would never reach.
"Makima."
He startled a bit when she finally mustered the courage to say something after several minutes. "Mmh?" he inquired.
Her voice was soft, almost in a whisper, and at the same time, it carried a tone of vulnerability that only she could feel. "That's my answer to you..."
Oh.
"I guess I just want to be Makima. I don't know what it's like to be the Control Devil. I haven't manipulated anyone, started wars, killed people, or anything like that in these 10 years of life... The most noteworthy thing I've done is get close to you..."
He was relieved that she wasn't looking at his face right now; anyone would laugh at his embarrassed expression. He wasn't sure if that was a compliment or if he should feel more sorry for her.
"If you say that Makima and the Control Devil are completely different entities to you, then I'll take your word for it... For now. I'll try to always be Makima... Your friend."
Hiro had a smile that showed he agreed with her idea.
"Makima..." she tested the name once more. "To me, it was always an insignificant name, one of the many that the world created to classify me. I thought it was just another way to hide in human society. If you think about it, it wouldn't be the first time I've taken a human name, I probably did the same in the past to blend into this world."
Well, she had a point. Hiro hadn't thought about that; perhaps Makima had used multiple names to go unnoticed among people for many years and in different eras. Still, he was pretty sure that she was now completely different from what she was in the past. This new name was much more special and different than the rest.
It probably represented her more human side, it was funny to think about it, but when you looked at it more closely, Makima could show one of humanity's best qualities.
Resilience.
The desire to change one's surroundings, to try to find a way out of that seemingly bottomless pit that only brings pain. To be willing to give anything to be happy, no matter the adversity.
At least this time, she had the desire to change, Hiro was very sure of that; otherwise, none of this would make sense.
It was as if she had read his thoughts.
"I want to be something different this time; I want to find happiness for once and feel that I've truly done everything. So maybe next time I die, I won't have the desire to reincarnate, because the world will have offered me everything I ever wanted." Her grip on him tightened as if she wanted to emphasize what she said in some way.
Hiro just stayed silent, reaching his second epiphany of the day.
Could it really be enough for her to be happy in this life to avoid coming back here somehow? Hiro thought about it carefully; if he managed all of this in the best way, not only would he make Makima happy, but he would also prevent the reappearance of the Control Devil in the future.
Makima would finally stop suffering and leave this world with the best experience she had ever had, and the rest of the world would have one less devil to worry about.
It was a win-win for everyone.
He didn't know if that's how reincarnation worked, but he was willing to try it anyway.
Life was also about taking chances after all; if someone put enough faith into something, the odds of it being successful increased.
But for Makima to be able to live with a good experience in the world of humans, he would have to interfere as much as he could. He would be there for her in whatever she needed; he wouldn't let her down; he would be damned if he did.
There would be many things to do, but most of them would be discovered in the future.
But in general, he would always have to interfere because that's why he took on this mission in the first place. Being friends with Makima would entail more work than many could imagine.
'Because every action has a reaction, right?' he thought.
That also came from the science magazine.
Hiro wondered if Makima had recently awakened the power to read minds because what she said next raised suspicions.
"But none of that could happen if you're not there" she buried her face further into his chest, Hiro's shirt was getting damp. "You're the first friend I've ever had, but you have everything I've always wanted in one, you're just like the ones I saw in movies, and I always envied how they all got along, looked happy and carefree... But I couldn't have that. Why? Why couldn't I create the same bonds they had? What was missing for me to have what they have? Why did no one ever offer me a place in their life?"
"Why did I have to be born as a devil? That's the reason no one ever wanted to get close to me and ask if I wanted to be a part of their lives... They didn't even bother trying."
She stopped before delving into thoughts that wouldn't lead her anywhere; it was better this way. Anyway, it didn't matter at this point; all those were past concerns that had been overwhelmed by Hiro's arrival in her life, and she couldn't be happier about it.
She took a deep breath, appreciating Hiro's scent as always. It calmed her to levels only she could understand.
"But then you came" the faintest smile registered on Makima's lips, the mere act of remembering and saying it was enough to fill her with joy. "You did try; you saw through me like no one ever had. You saw what I wanted most in this world and offered to give it to me, even if it was something trivial among mortals, but for me, it was the first time someone accepted to be my friend. It made me so happy, you have no idea... And even after you found out who I really was, you didn't back away; you were willing to mend things between us. That way, you made it clear to me that despite everything, you're still willing to be my friend because you believe I can transcend what I was in the past, right?"
She didn't give him time to respond. "I really want to give it a try, even if the world we live in is rotten, with you by my side, I feel like I can go anywhere..." She moved her head on his chest while smiling contentedly, as if he were the most comfortable pillow in the world.
Hiro felt his face shift through various shades of red as he listened to Makima's speech. Was this how she felt before when he assured her that he didn't hate her? Well, damn, it felt good and very embarrassing at the same time.
But something about it intrigued him.
'Does Makima think the world is rotten?'
Well, duh.
She herself tried to destroy it before, but he found it curious that she still thought that way. Was it a common thought among devils? He tried to find a reason for how Makima had come to these kinds of conclusions.
The world wasn't rotten, or at least he didn't see it that way.
Sure, there were terrible things, but at the same time, there were very pleasant things.
'Ah, of course'
He supposed that Makima thought the world was horrible because she could only afford to appreciate the horrible things it offered. Probably, this was the first time she had experienced something genuinely beautiful.
He didn't want to imagine the rest of the things she had to go through.
Yes, that must be the reason.
Right?
If that was the case, he would have to make more effort to show her all the good things the world has to offer. Maybe that way, he could give her a different perspective.
Hiro smiled shyly, moving away from those thoughts for now. "I... I don't really have much more to say. I think most of my words left several minutes ago" he tried to respond, always finding it difficult to reply to compliments.
He could feel her smile "It's not necessary anymore, but that's my answer. I understand it better now. I'll just be Makima; I would like to be just Makima if it means I can continue to be your friend."
Hiro also smiled happily. "That would be the best. I'll be there for you whenever you need it. After all, that's what friends do" he said sincerely, straight from his heart.
Makima took a few moments to respond, but when she finally did, her face was at the same height as Hiro's. The boy couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed by the close proximity they were having right now.
"Thank you" Makima expressed with the brightest smile Hiro had ever seen on her. It was almost like an extra spotlight for the room.
At least that's how it appeared from his perspective.
"Thank you for being my friend, Hiro. Thank you very much." Makima's words were so genuine that Hiro couldn't help but let his own smile appear as well.
"No problem."
In an unexpected move that caught him off guard, Makima pressed her forehead against his. She felt so relaxed with him now more than ever, so secure as if he could protect her from the greatest evil in the universe. The connection she felt with him was so special that she supposed if anyone else entered her life, no one, absolutely no one, could compare to Hiro. Only he could read her like an open book.
After all, he had proven it to her today and on the day they first met. It almost felt like a power he had developed himself.
He was so special to her right now.
Hiro Takahashi was a wonderful boy who radiated the purest of kindness; all his good intentions were directed only toward her.
And he was hers.
He was her Hiro.
That thought was very pleasant.
Hiro remained frozen in place, still taken aback by the proximity. Makima's hair was starting to tickle his cheek.
But still, he didn't move away. He didn't know why, but this felt very comforting. It was like a representation of the closeness of their friendship, as if they had finally culminated with all the difficulties that almost brought them to a point of no return. But now they could proudly say that they were fine, that their friendship would be more enduring than either of them had initially thought.
Both of them were now smiling, both had their eyes closed, enjoying this peaceful moment between them, as if there was nothing else around, as if they were the only things that made up the world.
And Hiro got his answer to his question: yes, this is how the best friendships are formed.
However, all good things must come to an end, but Hiro took a moment to realize it.
He felt a second grip on his left shoulder, strong, and he could almost feel the emotions it wanted to convey.
Anger.
Hiro's eyes shot open, and he slowly turned his gaze to his shoulder, where he found a hand that he assumed was feminine, judging by the slightly longer nails.
Unless Makima had a second limb of which he was just now becoming aware, he was pretty sure whose hand it belonged to. The thought sent him into a panic.
The hand on his shoulder squeezed harder, causing him to wince in pain as some nails dug into his skin, only slightly cushioned by his clothing.
He could swear a vein was forming in the hand.
Hiro finally mustered the courage to pull away from Makima and turn his face to confront the person, his eyes filled with fear and even more so when his suspicions became a reality.
"..."
"..."
Hiro and Doctor Yuna stared at each other without saying a word, their own emotions and intentions reflected in their eyes. One felt terror and the urge to run for his life to avoid being killed, while the other harbored a barely contained anger, itching to rip someone's head off, preferably a nosy child.
"What do you think you're doing, brat?" Yuna spoke slowly, with a growl, and her left eye twitched.
It was only then that Makima realized her presence and took a step back, distancing herself from Hiro. The part of her that warned her of danger suggested that this was not a good time to approach Hiro, no matter how much she desired it. It simply wasn't the right moment, and Doctor Yuna's aura said it all.
Hiro didn't even notice when Makima let go of him; he was too terrified by the look the woman was giving him. She definitely knew how to instill fear in others.
"I-I-I..." he thought he had finally mustered the courage to confront the director, but this felt very different this time.
They weren't discussing ideals like they did a few days ago when both of them didn't hold back in their responses and arguments. Now, they were both in a situation where he had tacitly sworn not to make such advances to Makima while she was present.
Hiro's survival instinct had told him earlier that if he didn't want the director to get angry with him and kill him with her own hands, it was best to approach Makima when she wasn't looking.
That was better; maybe he wouldn't end up in a ditch.
However, he had just done the opposite.
Yuna growled while looking at Hiro with hatred and what she presumed was disgust. "So, this is why the devils down below weren't making a fuss" she glanced at Makima with the same intensity. "Your emotions spiraled out of control, creating an oppressive aura over the others," she turned her gaze back to Hiro.
"All of this is your fault, you stupid child."
Both young people had no idea what she meant.
Hiro's words came out automatically, "E-eh... I'm sorry?" He really didn't know what to say to that.
Yuna only stared at him with cold eyes this time. She couldn't believe this kid still had the audacity to approach Makima in this manner. Who knows what nonsense he'd put in her head to have them hugging like that.
The scene made her nauseous.
"Have you ever been told you're a nuisance?" she asked rhetorically. She had never liked this boy, and she probably never would.
"And you?"
Doctor's eyes widened in surprise when she felt a hand resting on her shoulder with much more force. She turned her head only to meet Kishibe's icy, slightly furrowed brow.
The aura he emitted could rival the one she was giving Hiro, only his was directed entirely at her.
His grip on her shoulder was as strong as a warning, telling her to stay away from the boy right now, only if she valued her life enough.
Yuna met the hunter's gaze, trying not to feel fear from his threatening presence, which was going to be very difficult. Yuna knew perfectly well that Kishibe could instill fear in others, as much fear as a killer like him could express.
Because that was one of the things they taught here, and one of the things he easily adapted to.
It only demonstrated once again how committed the man was to the boy. Why would Kishibe go so far as to threaten a director who technically outranked him?
He saw something more in Hiro Takahashi, Yuna was very sure of that, something she hadn't seen yet. It exasperated her.
Eventually, she removed her hand from Hiro's shoulder to his great relief. Kishibe did the same with her a few moments later. It was the best course of action; they refrained from killing someone today.
Just for today.
The hunter's eyes quickly and accusingly turned to Makima, and they made eye contact, only to both look at each other with anger and then turn away with a grimace.
"Tch"
"Tch"
They still didn't like each other. It was nothing new.
Both Yuna and Kishibe positioned themselves protectively with Makima and Hiro on their respective sides, not wanting the other to get close to their responsibility.
It was like two people not wanting their dogs to meet.
Although for Hiro and Makima, the situation felt reversed. It was as if both felt the need to keep Yuna and Kishibe away from each other to prevent one from killing the other.
Although Makima would gladly allow that to happen if Yuna allowed it.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Kishibe, Yuna, and Makima didn't say anything while the two women glared daggers at the older man, who looked back at them with his best demeanor.
"Uh, I-I didn't think you'd come back here" Hiro spoke, breaking the silence and feeling more apprehensive than ever.
The atmosphere felt like it was on the verge of war, and he was caught in the middle of it as both sides prepared to open fire.
Yuna gave him a brief look "I came to return something I accidentally took" she glanced at Makima with a raised eyebrow "But then I stumbled upon a rather unpleasant scene."
The girl simply smiled serenely, and Yuna rolled her eyes.
Kishibe looked at Hiro inquisitively. "Now what did you do?" he asked with a tired tone, not wanting to get into more trouble. Kids were definitely a nuisance.
Hiro only stared at Kishibe for a considerable moment. His expression could easily be read by someone as experienced as Kishibe, and after a few moments, he understood.
"Oh..." he sighed "I can't believe that shitty plan actually worked."
Quanxi chose that moment to appear behind everyone. Apparently, she had been listening all this time, but no one had noticed her. Makima looked at her with curiosity, taking the opportunity to think more about this peculiar woman for once.
The huntress felt Makima's gaze, and Makima gave her a knowing smile, as if saying, 'I know you' with just a look. It was as if she was mocking her while instilling fear at the same time.
Quanxi shivered down her spine and decided it was best to just ignore her.
'Creepy brat' she thought.
Quanxi glanced at the director with condescension, not bothering to greet her or anything; she was more interested in Hiro.
She looked at him, her single eye filled with curiosity and a hint of anxiety. "Did it work?" Her question didn't make sense to anyone present except Hiro and Kishibe.
Hiro nodded with a smile, and his fear quickly vanished when he finally had Kishibe and Quanxi's presence around him. They were the only ones who could protect him from... well, anyone trying to kill him. He simply felt safe between them, like they were impenetrable mountains.
"Yes" he confirmed proudly.
It seemed as if a weight had been lifted off Quanxi's shoulders when she placed her hand on Hiro's head. "Well done, kid" she patted him lightly.
Hiro felt like he was receiving a bravery medal; they should probably give him one for playing with danger for the past few days.
"What the hell are you guys talking about?" Nishimura's puzzled question snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Why the hell do you care?" both Kishibe and Quanxi said.
An anger vein popped up on his forehead. "You disrespectful bastards!"
That reminded Hiro of something he had been on his mind for a while, so he looked at Quanxi with some embarrassment.
"Aunt Quanxi, your advice actually worked, thank you" he thanked her, remembering that telling Makima how beautiful she looked that day had somehow improved the atmosphere, if only a little. It could have gone much worse.
Quanxi nodded wisely. "I knew it would work for you. You're welcome."
Hiro now turned his gaze to Kishibe with an unreadable expression. "And as for you..."
"Mmh?" Kishibe raised an eyebrow at Hiro's sudden animosity.
Hiro had an advantage he had to take now that he was ten years old and his height reached Kishibe's legs, so he raised a fist, gathering all the strength he could muster at the moment...
And he punched him in the balls
Kishibe didn't scream, but his face contorted in pain for a moment before he bent over on the ground, clutching his family jewels. Slight tremors escaped from him.
"YOUR STUPID ADVICE ALMOST GOT ME KILLED!" Hiro yelled angrily, recalling how he mocked the director as 'advice' that Kishibe gave, claiming she would take it lightly.
But all he managed to do was shorten his chances of survival even more.
Kishibe continued to clutch his groin in an attempt to ease the pain, regardless of the fact that it was a 10-year-old who had struck him. That area had always been the weakness of every man.
However, he allowed himself to smile. "I'm... pretty sure it was worth it" whatever it took to mock Nishimura.
Everyone watched this act with astonishment and bewilderment.
Makima couldn't help but smile with clear amusement on her face as she enjoyed Kishibe's suffering. Part of her, if not all of her, felt very proud of Hiro.
Yuna betrayed no emotion, but deep down, she was very satisfied with how the day had turned out for Japan's strongest hunter. A low blow, as it should be.
Quanxi remained perplexed as she looked between Hiro and Kishibe (who was still in pain). The boy was definitely growing with each passing day; it was literally the first day of training, and he already had the guts to hit Kishibe in the groin.
Both Quanxi and Makima were proud of him.
"Well, as much as I like your actions today, it's getting late. It's time to go home, kid" Quanxi announced.
Yuna took that moment to slip to the back of the library and return the book. She hoped to God that Makima would stop lending out this thing.
Makima knew her time was running out, so she decided to clarify some things with Hiro. "Before you go, I think you should take something into account" she said, grabbing Hiro's attention.
"About what?"
Makima didn't know how to explain it. "You see, we've been having these long conversations for the past few days, but before that, I used to be everywhere at once. Sometimes, I don't leave my room because they make me study certain subjects, some days I'm at the training field all day, other days I don't leave the library. In general, it can vary..."
Hiro was getting it, more or less. "Um, okay? What are you trying to tell me?"
Makima sighed sadly "It's likely that we won't see each other every day as you might think." As much as she didn't like the thought, she had to accept that her life would continue to be a constant examination for the next ten years. She wouldn't have enough time to be with him every day due to her constant monitoring and study.
It was something she had wanted to bury in her mind, but she knew it would eventually come to light, and she didn't want to disappoint Hiro in any way.
"Oh," was Hiro's simple response. Part of him felt disappointed by the turn of events. But another part of him felt like a fool for not considering it. It was obvious that both Makima and he would be too busy with their own training to have time to see or talk to each other.
They would probably end up too exhausted to even see each other. It was an unpleasant thought, he had to admit. He would have liked to spend more time with her, every day if possible, but in the end, the world had other plans.
"But!" Makima added with a bit more enthusiasm, "I'll always try to see you. After I finish my studies for the day, I can always come by if I have time." She smiled more as a way to convince herself that she could make it happen.
In the background, Yuna heard that last part and made a mental note to extend Makima's classes a little longer than agreed. She wasn't going to make it easy for both of them.
Hiro also smiled with relief. "That sounds good. It will always be nice to talk to you, especially now that everything is sorted out."
Makima nodded. "Yes, it definitely will be."
She approached him to give him another hug, which he quickly returned. It was just a farewell hug, but for Makima, any hug from Hiro felt like one filled with a thousand dancing emotions.
"See you, Hiro."
"Goodbye, Makima."
They slowly separated, still gazing at each other. This day had been perfect for both of them. They had been immersed in an ocean of emotions from which there was almost no return, but thanks to one of them being persistent, they managed to escape that dark abyss that would have left them on bad terms for life.
Hiro didn't regret what he had done, even if there were long-term repercussions. He was still happy that he had helped Makima. She deserved it; she deserved to be happy. This day would probably stay in their memories as a reminder of why they had come so far in their friendship and a way to console them.
That last part applied more to Makima, who didn't regret being the first one to strike up a conversation with him, which eventually led to a stronger and more sincere friendship between them. It seemed that every effort always had its reward, and Makima's reward was having such a wonderful friend as Hiro. She had hit the jackpot with him.
Both of them agreed in their thoughts.
'Today was a good day to be alive'
Hiro followed Quanxi before giving one last look at his friend. The one-eyed woman led the way this time towards the exit. Kishibe managed to get up with some difficulty at that moment but managed to make a finger-gun gesture at Makima.
"Don't go too far" he warned her sternly, reminding her of the consequences of harming Hiro.
Makima returned his gaze, but this time, she extended her middle finger in retaliation.
Why did this guy always have to ruin the good moments she had with her Hiro?
Kishibe almost wanted to laugh at that moment. 'It seems that Hiro is not the only one who is growing' He had agreed with Quanxi's thoughts; the kids were growing at an accelerated rate.
He didn't know if that was a good or bad thing.
Kishibe finally left, walking with some difficulty.
Makima looked blankly as everyone left the library. At that moment, Doctor Yuna appeared beside her.
"He won't stop meddling in our affairs" she said, but Makima didn't know who she was referring to, Hiro? Kishibe?
"Even if I were to ask you what happened while I wasn't here, I don't think I'd understand, and it wouldn't contribute to what I want to achieve with you" Yuna realized that it wasn't worth dwelling on the things these two discussed.
They didn't even have anything to hide anymore; she had already warned the kid about the fine line between Makima and him, but he always seemed willing to cross it.
That boy was too frustrating, even if he didn't mean to be.
He reminded her a lot of Kishibe.
Yuna walked slowly towards the exit, giving the others time to leave immediately.
"I'm leaving. Tomorrow, we'll have more tests, but again, they'll be short. Wake up early. Do whatever you want while I'm not here," she looked at Makima over her shoulder, "And try to control yourself when you're with that boy." With that said, she walked out the door.
Makima stood there alone, thinking about what her teacher had said.
But she was quickly interrupted by a small squeak coming from a rodent at her feet. The mouse she had used to spy on Hiro was still here, it seemed. She wasn't very good at controlling the future behavior of animals yet, but she was improving day by day.
She bent down to pick up the rat, and the animal climbed onto her palm calmly. It wasn't like it could escape her control, after all.
Makima smiled peacefully as she looked at her little spy. A small and innocent question formed in her mind.
'Is there a difference between a country mouse and a town mouse?'
0O0O
As they rode the elevator, Hiro looked at Kishibe and Quanxi as if they were the craziest people he had ever met.
Today, they were definitely confirming that.
"What do you guys want me to do, again?" he asked with a great deal of incredulity, unsure if he had heard correctly.
Quanxi smiled at him. "Just as you heard, tomorrow you'll be joining us at work."
Oh yeah, his training was just getting started.
0O0O
Author's Notes: Well, that was fun.
The original plan I had for this chapter was to include the entire library scene and the part where Hiro accompanied Kishibe and Quanxi to work.
Unfortunately, I had to cut the latter part, so it will have to be in the next chapter.
This means that if everything goes as planned, there will be two more chapters before the time skip.
The next one will include short scenarios depicting what happened between the remaining years of 1980 and 1984.
If that's how I'm going to do it, instead of skipping three years without telling anything about it, this time I want to show a bit of what Hiro and the gang did during that time. Mainly because there could have been interesting interactions between Makima and Hiro.
But the best of their relationship I'm saving for when they're 14, don't worry.
The library scene was also planned for the previous chapter, but if I had included it, I would have had an 20k-word chapter.
I think I've spoiled you with 10k-word chapters, I'm sorry.
I also wanted to tell you that I finally managed to get a PS5, hell yeah, the routine has been restored
Resident Evil 4 Remake and Genshin Impact look stunning at 60 fps, and the SSD is truly very useful.
Now, returning to the story, I'm somewhat unsure of how the next chapter might end. I don't have much experience writing action scenes, but I'll do my best, and I'm excited to give it a try.
See you next time. I was abusamadres, and until next time.
