Part 1

This is something that happened before the trip, before we even went to that Liliana's casino to prepare for the trip to Kyoto

I called one of my girl friends at the Esper Community, Shouko, to talk about my situation while Tachan and Aya were gone.

Well, I obviously had to omit a lot of stuff, but...

"Ehhhh?! What do you mean there's another girl hitting on Kageyama?!"

She pratically yells in surprise at the other side of the phone

"Don't say it outloud!"

Shouko coughs and attempts to recompose herself

"I-I'm sorry... it's just that, really? That guy? I mean, maybe there are some girls that are into scary guys..."

I end up shaking my head

"N-no, that's not it, it seems she really likes him as a person."

Shouko's voice seems even more shaken now

"R-really? Damn..."

I nod

"And the worst part is that she's amazing! She's pretty, has a hot model body, is rich, wears dresses that look great on her, is smart, flirty and why am I complimenting her? I hate her!"

I say, throwing my face at the couch in defeat.

Truth is, when I first met Liliana, I was suspicious of her for being a devil. But I didn't hate her that, I didn't knew her and Tachan seemed to trust her.

But seeing how she acts around him, flirting with him all the time and the way Tachan responds, ughhhh! It just pisses me off!

"So... you really like Kageyama-kun? Like, like in that sense of the word?"

I feel myself blushing a little at her question, but end up sighing. I think it's too late to feign ignorance now...

"Yes, I... after all this time pretending being friends was enough, I see that I can't stand the idea of Tachan being with another girl. I like him... I want him for myself..."

I finally admit, my eyes starting to mist.

"Oh, well... it's not like it's a suprise to anyone, we were just waiting for you to admit but... I really wish it wasn't in a situation like this"

"Yeah..."

I say, trying to hold back my tears

"So... what are you going to do?"

Shouko asks

"W-what is there for me to do?! I said it, that girl is obviously better than me in every way! She's prettier, smarter, feminine, flirty, I don't stand a chance..."

Hearing my self loathing, my friend clicks her tongue

"Tsk, that doesn't sound like you at all, Ayumu"

"Uh?"

I ask confused

Shouko's annoyed voice grows

"You are a high rank, level 4 esper of our Community! The Red Flame that killed hundreds on unholy beasts! Are you going to give up just because some pretty ojou-sama has set her eyes on your man?!"

"E-ehh?"

A motivational speech?!

"I bet she doesn't even know his esper side!"

I feel compeled to tell her that she does know, but hold back

"Besides, even if she did, how long have you know Kageyama-kun?"

"Uhh, about ten years..."

I reply meekly

"See?! That girl knows him for barely two months! You have been friends since forever! You know that creepy looking bastard better than anyone in the world! Show that to him!"

It sounded cheesy at first, but little by little Shouko's words start making sense to me.

"I... I do, don't I?"

Except the part of the 'creepy looking bastard'...

"Yes, you do! Who the hell this girl thinks she is coming out of nowhere and trying to take Kageyama away from you?"

I nod, wipping away my tears

"Y-yeah! I'm Tachan's best friend for years! I know things about him she can't even dream about!"

"Hell yeah! Show him you are the one that can make him the happiest!"

I jump from the couch, pumped up

"Yes! I'll show him!"

"Heck yeah! And if she tries to flirt with him, you can also use that sexy body of yours to seduce Kageyama-kun as well!"

"And I can use my sexy body to... WHAT?!"

I scream on the phone

W-when did the subject shift to this?!

"Ugh! No need to yell in my ear"

She complains

"What did you expect though? If that girl is flirting with Kageyama, you gotta flirt too. You might not be the girliest type, but you have to stop demeaning yourself, you are pretty cute you know? I bet Kageyama will be overjoyed if you started trying to seduce him a little, you know?"

My blood flow rushes massively through my face and I can myself getting dizzy

"B-b-but I don't know how to flirt! I've never done it before!"

"Geez, what do you mean? All you gotta do is compliment him and be a little physical with him, don't you already do that everytime you latch onto his arm or jump on him?"

"T-t-t-that wasn't flirting!"

I yell back, did people saw that as flirting?! Oh my God, where do I hide my face?

"Well, anyway, you have to be more pro active if you want to win your Tachan's heart, think about it girl"

This conversation was what led me to try and be closer to Tachan during the trip and so far I think I'm doing a pretty good job, Tachan has been nervous a lot near me, just like when Liliana flirts with him, ufufufufu.

Just as I'm thinking about this, Kanae talks to me

"Hey, Ayumu, are you and Tatseyo finally dating?"

She suddenly asks, causing my face to become even redder than it already was due to the warm bath.

"W-w-what? N-no! We are just friends..."

I say, not able to fully disguise the disappointment in my voice

"Uhh? Really? What about all that flirting in the train? Ufufufufu"

She says with an impish expression, I turn my face to the water to hide my embarassment, but it's not effective as Kanae notices it right away

"So you were flirting with Tatseyo! I knew it!"

I put my hands on her mouth

"Shhhh! Everyone's going to hear you!"

I say, trying to silence her

"Hehehe, sorry, but why now? Are you finally awakening your feelings for him?

I nod

"Y-you can say that..."

Kanae makes a confused expression, but quickly cheers up again

"Is that so? Hehe, you go girl, I'll be cheering for you two!"

She gives me a thumbs up and I smile a little

"T-thanks."

"But you know, Tatseyo is really dense guy, I don't know if he's even realizing that you are flirting with him"

I turn to her in shock

"E-eh?! Really?"

I noticed that Tachan was acting nervous, but he acts like that when Liliana flirts with him so I thought I was getting the same reaction, but could it be he wasn't noticing at all?

Kanae nods with a troubled expression

"That guy, he's a good person but is really oblivious sometimes, you know, I'd be a little more proactive if I were you"

"E-even more?!"

Another person telling me to be more proactive! But I almost died of embarassment sticking to Tachan like glue trying to make him notice me!

"B-but what else can I do?"

Kanae sighs as she soaks deeper in the water

"With him you're probably gonna have to be direct..."

Direct, what does she mean...

No, wait, could it be?

"Eh? Eeeehhhhhh?! You're not talking about that direct are you?"

Kanae closes her eyes and says

"Maybe not confess right away but... with that guy's thick skull you'll probably gonna need more than flirting."

I gulp down.

"R-really?"

She nods

"Well, even he will likely notice sometime, but if you are going for it then don't be afraid to take the wheel! Show him!"

S-s-show him?!

I cover my body with both hands

"S-show what?"

Kanae makes an impish expression

"Heh? I was just talking about your feelings, what were you thinking about?"

I feel steam coming from my ears and my face going red hot

"You naughty girl~"

"S-shut up!"

I yell before sinking myself into the water to hide myself

Uhh! This is driving me crazy!

Part 2

After we returned from the meeting with the unexpectedly cute Maou sama, I laid in my bed, mine and Tachan's room is much more simpler than the others because of the possibility we might need to host the Hero Faction, I don't really mind, the lack of luxury is a much minor problem compared to the events surrounding us and the turmoil going on in my head

(You should be more direct with your feelings if you want him to notice)

I kept thinking about it ever since we returned, even though I should be worried about the Hero Faction I just can't take this out of my head.

I like Tachan.

Not as a friend, as a man.

I don't want any other girl to take him away from me, but... I also don't want to make things weird between us.

(I bet he would be overjoyed if you were to flirt with him)

Even though, if Tachan were to reject me...

I feel my chest tighten

Am I being selfish thinking about this when Tachan is worried about the mission?

Probably, but even then, I can't help it. Ahhh! Why does love has to be so difficult?!

I shove my pillow into my face, trying to silence the world around me.

However, in the midst of the darkness and silence, a face comes to mind

Tachan's face...

He was my first friend in this new supernatural world, he is my best friend since forever, he's the one that knows me the best and the one I know the best.

Tachan was the one that gave me strength when I thought it was all over, when I thought I had lost everything, when I hated myself.

And now I...

(But you know, Tatseyo is a really dense guy, I don't know if he's even realizing that you are flirting with him)

It's true, he didn't realize I was flirting with him... all I did was make Tachan more confused and nervous during this already tense mission.

I'm awful...

What kind of friend have I been

Tachan has trusted me to be by his side and yet, I've been selfish and acting strange around him...

I slowly remove the pillow out of my face and realize what I have to do.

"Even if it's just a little, I want to help relieve his burden."

I say to the wind as I pick myself up from the bed and, almost as if pushed by an invisible force, open the door of my dorm room and walk through the hallway heading towards Tachan's room.

Knock Knock

I tap on his door a few times

... No answer

Maybe he is asleep.

Just as I'm about to give up, the door opens slowly

"Ayumu? What are you doing here?"

It doesn't seem like he was in bed, so he was having trouble to sleep too...

"I couldn't sleep, may I come in?"

He looks surprised, but quickly moves over

"Of course"

I get inside of his room, almost exactly like mine aside from the position of the windows and furniture.

"So, is there something you wanted to talk about?"

He asks and I shake my head

"No, in fact, I came here because I wanted to know if there's anything you want to talk about"

A look of confusion takes over Tachan's face

"W-what?"

I walk over to him

"Tachan, I think you're worried. You've been keeping this brave face all the time, you've been trying to have fun while we were visiting the turist attractions, but... deep inside I know there's something bothering you and... I probably didn't help with how I've been acting..."

I just wanted Tachan to notice me more as a woman, but if he didn't notice I was flirting with him, then it might have backfired and made him even more nervous.

"Ayumu... yes, I've been worried a little about how you've been acting lately, is everything alright?"

He asks, I just nod.

"Uhum, but what about you, Tachan? Please, tell me what you are feeling now, be honest with me."

In a bout of courage, I reach out and hold his hand.

Not in a flirty manner, not trying to tease him, just genuiely trying to support him.

Tachan looks at our hands together and squeezes mine in return

"Thanks Ayumu, and sorry to make you worried"

I shake my head

"It's no problem at all"

He sighs and answers

"The truth is... despite everything I said before to Liliana, to Aya-chan, to you, even to myself, the truth is that I'm not afraid of what we are doing anymore, I am terrified."

When Tachan says this I feel his hand starting to shake

"Tachan..."

I't's the first I've seem him like this, so open, so vulnerable

I get even closer to him.

"They might have someone inside the Esper Community, this means that if our plan doesn't work, something much worse than we ever believed might happen and this sudden realization, it is terrifying..."

"So that's what's been worrying you..."

And I've been uncounsciously making it even worse with my stupid flirting plan, honestly, I'm so stupid...

But, if there is anything I can do for Tachan, then I'll gladly do it.

I put my hands on his shoulders

"It'll turn out okay, we have each other's backs and everyone that is helping us... even if I don't like them so much..."

That last part gets a few chuckles out of him and I smile

"So trust in yourself and smile again, you always look better when you are smiling"

"Hahaha, only you would think like that"

I shake my head

"That's not true, you are really handsome, Tachan"

I say something like this without thinking again and he looks at me, his face red

Suddenly noticing I still had my hand on his shoulders, I pull back, my face probably as red as his

"A-ah, sorry"

Tachan shakes his head

"No need to, I'm the one who should be thanking you."

He smiles again, one of the few genuine smiles I've seem Tachan give ever since we arrived in this town.

I'm glad... so glad I can see him like this.

I love you Tachan, I love you so much you have no idea!

"Oh, by the way, why were you acting so weird anyway? You suddenly started latching into me so much, I actually got worried, you know?"

I pout and look at him, geez how can you be so dense?!

I silence myself, looking at Tachan without saying a word

"E-eh? Ayumu? What is it?"

I don't want to ruin our friendship and I also don't want to put even more pressure on Tachan

But if I don't do it, there's no way this will get out of my head...

So I make a resolve

"A-Ayumu?"

I start getting closer and closer to Tachan, untill I'm standing just a few inches away from him

"Y-you're acting weird again, what's going on?"

I ignore him and speak on my own

"It's complicated, but..."

I put my arms on his face and kiss him on the cheek

"A-A-Ayumu?!"

His face goes beet red and he seems to start panicking

I smile at him

"Once this mission is done, I'll tell you why"

Tachan looks at me confused and places a hand on his cheek

"A-alright... I guess..."

But before we can say anything else, Tachan's phone starts ringing

"U-uh? Who could it be at this time..."

He walks to the desk where his phone is and looks at it

"I dont know this number."

He says, nervously answering the call.

"H-hello?"

Tachan's expression turns serious the moment someone starts talking to him and he seems to be carefully listening what the other person is saying.

Suddenly, his expression changes to shock.

"W-what? Does it have to be now?"

He protests, looking over at me, but after a moment agrees.

"I-I see, gives us just a few minutes then."

He says before hanging up and giving a long sigh

"It's the Hero Faction"

I wide my eyes in surprise

"H-how did they get your number?"

"Probably from the same contact that told them you were with me. Honestly, I'm really not liking this"

He says angrily before giving a sigh

"Anyway, they said they will send someone over to take us and they said it has to be now"

"Oh... so we're going there? Already? What should we do?"

I ask surprised, Tatseyo answers with a troubled expression

"I'd like to communicate with Azazel and the others, but their agent will probably arrive at any minute, I'll just message Liliana instead and hope she'll get in touch with them as quickly as possible"

I agree and Tatseyo sends the message, just as expected, not long after he finishes it, the same member of the Hero Faction that met us in the subway emerges from the magic circle on the letter given to us.

"Connla, right?"

Tachan asks and the man nods before bowing

"Yes, I am the descendant of the hero Connla and I shall take you to the HQ of our faction. It is my honour"

He seems completely humbled in our presence, which takes both me and Tachan by surprise

"Y-you don't need to bow"

I say to him and the man slowly raises his head

"Thank you, please come with me"

Me and Tachan look at each other and nod, we stay side by side with the man who activates another teleportation spell and we sink into a shadowy circle, our sight being covered for a moment before our surroundings changed completely

We were suddenly into some sort of japanese temple hallway with large pillars supporting the roof and a large red double door in front of us.

In front of the door were two men I suppose are also members of the Hero Faction.

Connla walks up and speaks to them

"I have brought the two espers that Cao Cao-sama requested, let us through"

He said the name of their leader, the descendant of Cao Cao of the three kingdoms, bearer of the Holy Spear...

Liliana warned us this can be a very dangerous guy, but honestly, I don't think he stands a chance in front of Tachan.

The two men nod and without saying a word open the door to us, revelaing another hallway, this one decorated with statues and other fancy objects such as vases and lamps.

"This way, please"

Connla motions over and we follow him into the room

"Sorry about the walk, but Georg-sama has made the actual meeting room protected against teleportation spells for security reasons. So please bear with it a little."

He says as we follow him into a large room

"Here it is"

He opens a door smaller than the one leading to the inner hallway and reveals a huge conference room with a big round table on the middle and several chairs surrounding it.

The members of the organization were standing in row, looking at us and quickly bowed.

I instantly recognize their leader, seeing as it's the only person in the room wielding a spear.

The weapon truly gives out a mighty aura, unlike any weapon or artifact I've ever seem in my life.

His clothes were weird, on top of a school uniform he wore traditional clothing of the Han chinese period

"Welcome young espers, I am Cao Cao, leader of the Hero Faction. Pleased to make your acquaintace"

"We are also pleased to meet you"

Tachan gently bows towards and I follow suit

"Oh, isn't this son of ours polite?"

However, a moment later comes a voice that immediately makes me and Tatseyo stand up stiff

Walking out from behind the members of the Hero Faction is a green haired woman and a black haired man that we are very familiar with.

Tatseyo's eyes wide and his interjection comes out almost like a scream

"Mom?! Dad?!"

Afterword: Ayumu's romantic plot is advancing. Honestly, my first draft for this chapter was a lot different. I was going to have Ayumu trying to confess herself to Tatseyo but be interrupted by the Hero Faction's phonecall, however, she would insist and stop Tatseyo before he answered the call, confessing and kissing him. But I thought this would be too fast. Don't worry, it won't affect the outcome of the story, I still plan with following the same storyline I would follow if Ayumu had dones this, just with some slight alterations of course.

Also, really liked the idea of blood manipulation. There's a whole arc in DxD for the vampire country, a power like that can fit neatly in some sort of esper that specializes in killing parasitic creatures or something like that. Thanks for the idea.