"Uhmm..."
A pungent sweet smell fills my nostrils along with a soft sensation that feels like it's enveloping my body
"Tatseyo...?"
I slowly open my eyes and begin to make sense of my surroundings, the place I just woke up at is unknown, yet the way it's decorated seems familiar
"Thank goodness you woke up!"
A hand touches my cheek and I look down to see a very familiar face
"Li-Liliana...?"
A wave of comfort immediately washes over me. After that fight with the Hakuryuukou and the things that proceeded, my mind is jumbled and confused, but Liliana's presence soothes my senses
However, after the short moment of bliss is over, I realize the situation in which I'm in.
"W-where are we?! Why I'm in a bed and why... holy shit!"
I immediately try to stand up on the bed, but find myself unable to due to Liliana's weight right on top of my waist!
I put a hand in front of my face
"W-w-why are you on top of me! W-where is my shirt?!"
Liliana has her hands on top of my naked chest, she herself had clothes on, but why are we in a bed?! And why am I almost-naked!?
"Tatseyo!"
However, ignoring my questions, Liliana immediately hugs me, placing her arms around my neck and rubbing her face against mine
"You're well! I'm so glad!"
"H-hey! L-Liliana..."
Ah, her breasts are pressed against my naked chest! Nevermind, her whole body is pressed against mine! And we are in a bed for all that's holy!
I try to grab her by the shoulders to shrug her off, but find myself unable to as her pleads of happiness seem incredibly genuine and concerned.
She was worried, I made her worry...
"I was so worried! How are you feeling?"
She asks while not loosing even a little the grip around me and I stare into her concerned moist eyes whilst the events from before begin to flood my mind
I place a hand around Liliana's back in an embarassed attempt to return her tight hug
Oh... yes. I was knocked out after that.
And Aya-chan appeared.
When I sensed a burst from Ayumu's aura I knew it most probably meant a fight, that's why I asked Aya-chan to stay behind and go back home, but I guess she was stubborn and decided to follow me.
I definitely should get mad at her for disobeying me and stepping into danger like this, but I can't help but feel somewhat relieved that she followed me
God knows what would happen if Ayumu herself were to call Liliana through my phone and explain what had occured.
"I-I'm fine, thanks... are Aya-chan and Ayumu okay?"
Liliana nods and gives a relaxed smile
"Don't worry, they are both fine."
So in the end it turned out like this, huh? I wonder how their conversation even went...
"T-that's good, but Liliana... why are we..."
I avert my eyes in shame at the question I'm about to make and hear Liliana's curious voice
"Huh? Why are we... what?"
I know we are in an important situation and there are a ton of things we need to talk about.
But before anything else, there's something I really feel the need to ask
"Y'know... in a bed... like this..."
I put my hand over my own bare chest still keeping my eyes away from Liliana, even if she's fully dressed it's still embarrassing to be in bed with a girl on top of you!
"A-ah! R-right, sorry!"
As if realizing just now the situation we are in, Liliana quickly gets out of me and I can move freely again
She hops off the bed and reaches for a desk drawer which is holding all her usual jewelry on top of it
"Galard healed your wounds, but the pressure on your mind and spirit was too great, so I took you here to help you make a full recovery faster"
I put my shirt back on and stare at Liliana's back, which is exposed by her dress, as she looks at a wall mirror and begins to put her jewelry back while explaining what happened. She does it all so graciously that I find myself staring at her and listening without uttering a single word in response.
Help me recover? But how did taking me here would help me...?
Then, as I become self conscious of my staring, I notice the situation I am in.
Liliana hopping out of the bed we just shared, then fixing her hair and carefully ornamenting herself before me as I silently stare at her exposed back after just getting my shirt back on.
It almost feels like we are...
!
I gulp down and shake my head to dismiss the thought. N-no way, Liliana wouldn't...
"H-hey... Liliana, what did you do to me... exactly?"
I ask rubbing the back of my head in embarassment
"Uh?"
Having just placed everything back on, Liliana turns to me with a confused expression
"I-I mean, how did you... helped me?"
My face begins to feel hotter as I have to further elaborate my embarassing question
"Oh... so that's what're talking about..."
Liliana turns to me and gives an impish smile before winking and placing a finger in front of her lips
"It's. My. Secret. Fufufufufu"
My face goes completely red at her devilish statement,mwhat the hell does she mean by secret?!
My evident embarassment, makes Liliana laugh and I feel her hand on my chin
"Don't worry"
She lifts my head to look at her
"You're still a damsel, fufufufufu"
Moving my head away I blurt out
"Don't joke about things like that!"
My response only gets more laughter out of Liliana before she extends me a hand
"Huh?"
I look up and see a smile on her face
"We really should get going, Ayumu-chan is waiting for you and... well, I think you have a lot of explaining to do, right?"
As Liliana shifts the subject, I sigh and nod
"Y-yeah..."
Truth be told, both the situation back then and this situation right now are making me incredibly nervous. No matter how many times I played this big reveal in my head, the real thing still makes my heart beat faster
It's a huge risk that I'm only able to take because it's Ayumu we are talking about, but even her would be difficult to convince...
I hear Liliana's voice
"Uh? Tatseyo... is everything alright?"
I nod my head and reply
"Y-yes, I'm feeling fine"
Liliana tilts her head and looks up to stare straight into my eyes
"I'm not talking about your body, I'm talking about how you are feeling. I sense hesitation, is something bothering you?"
My eyes wide in surprise at Liliana's question, but right after I sigh and give a half hearted smile
"Nothing gets past you, huh? Guess I should stop being surprised by this"
At the suggestion that her guess was right, Liliana frowns and steps towards me
"Are you afraid that Ayumu-chan might do something?"
I profusely shake my head
"Of course not! If there's someone I can trust, it's her, but... Ayumu..."
I shoot off Liliana's suspicion right away, but hold back from voicing my greatest concern, causing Liliana's face to turn with confusion as she walks closer towards me
"Ayumu...?"
Coaxing me to keep talking, Liliana sits by my side and I sigh.
"No matter her answer... our friendship will never be the same again"
I confess while looking away from her, feeling stupid for saying this after all I did and promised.
Ayumu blowing the whistle on me is not what concerns me, I know her, the bond we have is enough to believe that even if she hates what I am doing, she won't do anything that could harm me.
But it still worries me to death how she'll see me after I explain
"... Whatever Ayumu thinks or feels about this, no matter if she likes us or hates us, it's impossible for us to keep things the way they were after this... and that's what scares me"
I close my eyes and place my hand against my forehead
"Through my whole life I've been taught to use my powers for the sake of others. And that's what I believe to be doing right now, that's why I've felt so guilty about talking over this. I am doing something good, yet I'm afraid for selfish reasons..."
A moment of silence follows my remark and I gaze at Liliana. To my surprise, the silver haired girl had a big smile on her face
"W-what is it?"
I ask, wondering what was so funny about my worries
"Fufufu, ah, sorry..."
Liliana waves her hand as if trying to say she meant no offense
"It's just that... you two really have a beautiful friendship, don't you?"
She states with the most natural smile and I feel the blood starting to rush at my face
"W-well, yes, I trust her a lot and I think she holds me in the same regard so-"
"Then you're absolutely not being selfish"
She cuts me mid-sentence and I stare at her
"What part of this is not selfish? I'm hesitant of doing something for the sake of everyone because it can change my relationship with Ayumu"
Liliana faces forward with a smile and laughs
"Fufufu, okay, maybe it's a little bit selfish. But do you honestly think you are the only person in the world who would be hesitant in a situation like this?"
I turn my head away and sigh
"...That's not the problem"
I feel Liliana pat my shoulder
"It might not be, but I still think it's wonderful how worried you are about mantaining this friendship, that's why I believe that, no matter what changes between you two, you're still going to be great friends."
She says this with the most reassuring expression, making my heart thump as she locks eyes with me.
Damnit, that's not the time for this!
Covering my flushed face with one hand I retort half-heartedly
"Y-you can't be sure of it..."
After a brief pause, Liliana puts a hand on her chin and stares at the ceiling
"Hmm, you are right. But there's one thing I can be certain of..."
She tilts her head and looks at me with a smile, causing me to flinch before I feel a warm feeling on my hand. I look down to see Liliana had reached for it and held her hand on top of mine as she smiled at me.
"Even if things go south, I'll be here for you."
My heart thumps faster and I feel my face go bright red as I turn my head away from her
Dangerous! This is dangerous! Liliana is probably the most dangerous devil I've met in my life!
Even with my gaze averted I continue to hear her voice as she encourages me.
"That's why, cheer up. I hate seeing you like this, I bet Ayumu wouldn't like it too"
Though I still feel completely embarassed, a smirk comes into my face.
How many times has it been that Liliana or the others cheered me up? I feel really stupid relying on them like this, but I feel like a load just came out of my shoulders by talking it out.
"Y-yeah, you are right, thanks."
I grip my hand, that's right, I chose to trust Ayumu with this because there is no else in the world I can rely on more than her. Even if it seems difficult, this is a step I wanted and I still want to take.
"Let's go, keeping Ayumu-chan and the others waiting is no good, you know?"
Liliana says in a mocking voice and I laugh as I stand up and follow after her
Just as we are about to leave the bedroom, I call her out one more time
"Hey, Liliana"
She turns to me with a curious expression and I rub my neck embarassed at what I'm about to say
"Th-thank you for listening to me, it's been a while since I've had this on my mind, but I didn't want to share with anyone."
The reward for my honesty comes right afterwards as a dazzling smile is draw on Liliana's face while she looks directly at me
"You're welcome!"
I gulp down nervously and watch her turn around as she guides me to where Ayumu and the others should be at.
My concern about Ayumu becoming much lighter, I keep staring again at Liliana's back and think about what exactly she is to me
We've know each other for barely over a month and yet I can feel natural talking about things like this with her.
At first I joined out of curiosity over how a devil could know so much about espers, ambition as she promised to reveal powers I never knew of and the fear of what the dreadful organization know as Khaos Brigade could do this world
But now...
Even if I knew all there is to know about espers and psych. Even if I were to reach the apex of power. Even if I were to wipe all threats to humanity from the face of earth
I still wouldn't want to leave all these people behind.
'People' huh? It seems that I already grew used to think of them like this.
As these thoughts flood my mind, Manaki's words also ring in my head.
[Tatseyo, do you like Liliana-sama?]
Afterword: I'm sorry for taking so long to post just this fragment of what was supposed to be a full chapter, but things (mainly family situations) have led me to have almost no time do dedicate to writing ever since the last chapter. The next one is almost done so it'll probably come out soon, but after that I'm sorry but I'll have to ask for your patience untill things here at home settle. Also, today is Akeno's birthday! Glad I could post something on my best girl's day
Anyway, here's answers to the last chapter's questions:
Regarding Leonidas: He's a real badass, but I've been trying to use historical figures who are rarely used in anime and mainstream media. Just because I think it would be fun to work with those who are rarely used in general, as an example I wanted to use Gilgamesh, but have him be way more like the one from the Epic, not like the one from the Fate series, but decided against it since he's been used so damn much in Fate already so people are already used to him. Leonidas has also been used in Fate, 300 and has kinda become a textbook example of a badass warrior. I wanted to introduce characters people usually don't know or don't see portrayed in media very often. Aside from Melankomas, I already have a queen, a bishop, two knights and two pawns in mind, though it's not conclusive if they will really be who I have in mind at the moment.
Regarding Baki: It might be a bit of a spoiler, but it's one I'm willing to give because it's almost like you read my mind, read it at your discretion. Ever since I created Diz I had other fighting type espers in mind and there'll be some that will use Baki techniques, including the "Demon's back" among other things.