Disclaimer: I do not own Owari no Seraph (Seraph of the End). I write this for your enjoyment only.

What Makes a Family

Makoto Narumi took a deep breath, wiping the sweat from his brow as he paused from his laborious task of repairing the wall of the shed. The damage had been done during one of Yuu's unpredictable demonic transformations, an incident sparked when he managed to break free from one of his restraints. It had been quite a spectacle, but thankfully, Mika had been there to hold Yuu down long enough for Shiona and Mitsuba to apply another demon restraint talisman until Yuu finally regained his composure and reverted to his human form.

Given the volatility of Yuu's transformations, Mika insisted on staying close to him at all times. Currently, the two Hyakuya brothers were enjoying a stroll along the beach near the village, leaving Narumi to tackle the shed's repairs alone. He had been working diligently for several hours and was nearing completion when he heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching. As he turned, he was greeted by the sight of Shinoa Hiragi, her arms full with two delicate tea cups and a pitcher of water.

"Are you feeling thirsty, Narumi-san?" she asked, concern lacing her voice. "You've been at this for three hours now, and it's quite warm today. Mi-chan also asked me to check in on you because dinner will be ready in about an hour."

With a playful smile, Narumi replied, "You left Miss Sangu in charge of the kitchen, Miss Hiragi? Isn't that a bit risky?" His teasing earned a light laugh from Shinoa.

"You might want to keep that little comment to yourself, Narumi-san. Unless you fancy going without dinner for the next week!" she joked in return.

"Of course, I was just playing around. Yes, I would love some water, thank you."

Setting down his tools, the former sergeant of the Demon Army took a seat on a sturdy wooden crate nearby, gesturing for Shinoa to join him. She accepted the invitation and poured him a cup of water before sitting beside him. Leaving the door of the shed wide open, they enjoyed the refreshing breeze as they sipped from their cups. The sun hung low on the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, a signal that dinner would soon beckon them back to the house once the others returned from their day's work in the village.

Shinoa poured herself a cup of water, placing the pitcher on the ground beside her, and raised her cup to her lips, mirroring Narumi's actions.

"Do you think you'll be finished soon?" she inquired, her tone shifting to concern. "If there's still a lot left to do, you can always finish tomorrow. We can figure out another place to keep Yuu if he shows any signs of transforming again."

Narumi shook his head resolutely. "No, I'm almost done. Besides, I believe this is the safest location to keep him restrained. It's far enough from the house and the village to avoid any collateral damage if he transforms again. I need to wrap this up as soon as I can."

"I understand… but how much longer do you think it will take?"

"Just about another half hour, I'd say. There isn't much left to fix. I've been discussing with Kimizuki how we can reinforce the walls to better withstand Yuu's struggles; he thinks he can use his demon, Kiseki-O, to help with that."

"That sounds like a solid plan," Shinoa agreed. "But I can't help but think it would be best if Yuu could learn to restrain himself. I know he's trying his best, but I still worry about him. We should consider ourselves lucky that the vampires and the Demon Army haven't shown any signs of movement yet."

"Frankly, it's not surprising," Narumi replied. "Both factions suffered heavy losses during the events in Nagoya. We can only hope that this lull gives us, and Yuu, enough time to gain control over his powers. I genuinely believe they could become a valuable asset to us."

"You could be right," Shinoa nodded in agreement. "By the way, Narumi-san, can I ask you something?"

"Of course! Just pour me another cup while you're at it," he said with a grin.

Shinoa smiled back, pouring another cup of water for both of them before finally asking the question that had been on her mind for quite some time.

"Why did you choose to come with us? After all, Yuichiro isn't your problem."

Narumi raised an eyebrow at the unexpected question, as if Shinoa had posed the silliest inquiry imaginable.

"Why did I come? Well, I suppose now is as good a time as any to discuss it, considering neither of us can go back!"

Shinoa's expression turned serious, sensing that her question might have displeased him.

"I'm sorry if I offended you, Narumi-san. Maybe it's best if I just head back to the kitchen and help Mii-chan before the others return."

Just as she stood to leave, Narumi gently grasped her wrist, stopping her. "There's no need to apologize, Shinoa. I'm not offended. To answer your question more honestly, I came because I can no longer align myself with the Demon Army or the Hiragis after witnessing their true nature. Besides, I openly committed an act of insubordination against your brother, Kureto. I'm guessing your reasons are quite similar?"

Shinoa frowned, recognizing the truth in his words. She had never felt particularly close to her other siblings, who always seemed cold and distant, with the exception of Shinya, her adopted brother. In many ways, Shinya was the only one who treated her like family, and she lamented leaving him behind when he ordered her squad to flee Nagoya. But she took comfort in knowing that Shinya was more valuable to the Hiragis alive than dead, unlike herself.

It also didn't surprise her that Kureto had swiftly ordered her execution when she chose to defy him to protect Yuu and her squad. Their father, General Tenri Hiragi, the head of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army, would not have cared one way or the other, and they both knew it. Tenri had no patience for weakness or insubordination, even from his own children.

"Yes, you're absolutely right," she finally admitted. "Is it strange that I feel closer to my squad, my comrades, than to my own blood relatives?"

It was a question she had never posed to anyone before. Although Shinoa was the leader of her squad, she often found herself seeking Narumi's counsel, appreciating his experience and wisdom. While she had wanted to apologize for the loss of his previous squad for some time, she hesitated, fearing it might strain their newfound alliance. After all, she needed Narumi as an ally, and she hoped he wasn't still harboring resentment over the losses they had endured—losses that were partly her fault.

Narumi remained silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. Shinoa wondered if she had asked something he wasn't sure how to answer, as it diverged from their usual discussions about strategy and planning for when Yuu eventually gained control of his powers.

Not wanting to impose, she quickly added, "I'm sorry, Narumi-san. That was a silly question, really. Please, excuse me."

It's perfectly fine, Shinoa," Narumi reassured her, a warm smile spreading across his face. "I really need to get back to work and finish patching up that hole before the others return. How about you go check on Mitsuba? We wouldn't want her accidentally turning the kitchen into a disaster zone," he added playfully, giving her a cheeky wink.

Shinoa chuckled at his lightheartedness as she rose to her feet, ready to leave. The camaraderie between them always lifted her spirits.

"You're absolutely right, Narumi-san," she replied with a grin. "I'll make sure she doesn't set anything on fire. See you at the dinner table!"

With that, Shinoa gathered the cups and water pitcher, preparing to head through the door of the shed. Just as she was about to step outside, she heard Narumi's voice calling her back.

"Shinoa."

She paused and turned around, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Yes?" she responded, looking at her older comrade with anticipation.

"To answer your earlier question," he began, his tone turning serious, "I don't find it strange at all that you consider your squad more of a family than the Hiragis."

She tilted her head, intrigued. "And why is that?" she inquired, eager to hear his perspective.

"Because," Narumi said thoughtfully, "Family isn't defined solely by blood or genetics. It's love, trust, and the bonds we build with one another that truly make a family."

His words hung in the air for a moment, resonating with Shinoa. In that instant, she felt a deep sense of belonging and gratitude for the people she fought alongside, realizing that the connections they shared were far more meaningful than mere lineage.

A/N: Ok, fourth snippet done. I hope you all enjoyed it! Since Narumi doesn't come in until about half-way through the Nagoya Arc, I had to take some liberties about his character based on what I've seen in the anime and manga. Though I try to stay IC and canon as possible, sometimes I might wander a bit off to make my stories work out. I hope it won't be too much of an issue for the fans. See you next chapter :)