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

Never Useless

"Keep your guard up, Yoichi! You can never be too careful, especially at this close range!" Shiho Kimizuki shouted, his voice cutting through the air as he lunged forward, swinging one of his twin swords at the smaller brunet boy.

With quick reflexes, Yoichi Satome intercepted the attack with his bow, the sturdy wood absorbing the impact. In a fluid motion, he drew a short sword from his belt with his free hand and thrust it forward. The blade found its mark, plunging into Kimizuki's abdomen with such force that Yoichi feared he might injure his own wrist. Kimizuki collapsed to the ground like a flower wilting under the sun's harsh glare. However, he expertly executed a technique learned during his training with the Demon Army, letting go of one sword and placing his palm flat against the earth while tucking his chin to avoid a head injury—a maneuver known as "slapping out."

After a brief moment of catching his breath, the pink-haired boy offered a grin to his younger comrade, who had yet to fully grasp the gravity of their training.

"Excellent job, Yoichi! How about we wrap things up for today?" he suggested, lifting his uniform jacket to reveal a chainmail shirt underneath, a protective piece he had procured from one of the villagers.

The wound inflicted by Yoichi's sword was superficial, and Kimizuki would recover, thanks in part to the armor as well as his demon contractor. Without it, the outcome could have been far more dire.

Yoichi extended a hand to help his sparring partner to his feet. "If you think it's time to stop, then I'm okay with that," he replied, a hint of eagerness in his voice. "But if you want to keep going, I'm up for a bit more practice."

Kimizuki shook his head firmly, grasping Yoichi's hand. "Nah, we've been at this for three hours already. We should head back soon; otherwise, Yuu will gobble up our dinner! That guy has an insatiable appetite."

Yoichi chuckled, a lightness in the air as he replied, "You might want to keep that to yourself. The last thing we need is to give him any ideas about speeding up his transformation into a demon."

At the mention of Yuu's ongoing struggle with his inner demon, a shadow crossed Kimizuki's face momentarily, but he quickly masked it with a smile.

Yoichi recognized his misstep and quickly offered an apology, "Sorry, that was a thoughtless joke."

Understanding the weight of their circumstances, Yoichi felt relieved that they were alone in the woods, away from prying ears. Kimizuki had taken on the responsibility of training Yoichi in melee combat to ensure he could defend himself if an enemy ever bypassed their squad and attacked him at close quarters, where his bow would be rendered ineffective.

While Yoichi had reassured Kimizuki that he could still use his bow as a weapon even without arrows, he conceded that it would not hold a candle to a sword in terms of effectiveness. Thus, he willingly accepted Kimizuki's guidance, dedicating himself to honing his melee skills. Although he still lagged behind the likes of Yuu, Mika, and even Kimizuki, Yoichi was making significant strides thanks to their rigorous training sessions.

His specialty lay in long-range combat, where he excelled as a sniper. Yoichi's primary goal with the sword was simply to defend himself in dire situations. Each day, after finishing the tasks assigned by the villagers, he and Kimizuki would retreat to the woods behind the village, engaging in sparring sessions that stretched until dinnertime.

"It's all right; I know you didn't mean anything by it," Kimizuki reassured him. "But how are you feeling about using the blade now? I made sure to choose the lightest and strongest one from the village weapon smith for you."

With a swift motion, Yoichi cut through the air with his sword before diligently wiping away the traces of Kimizuki's blood from the blade. The short sword was only half the length of those wielded by Yuichiro and Mikaela, but it was perfectly suited for his defensive needs.

"I think I'm getting the hang of it. Thank you for investing in this and for teaching me how to wield it properly," Yoichi replied with gratitude.

Kimizuki smiled, giving the younger boy a gentle pat on the back. "I hope you never have to draw it in battle, but being prepared is always wise."

"I understand what you mean. If I were as strong as you, Yuu, or Mika, I'd have pursued the path of a swordsman. But my only real talent lies in sniping; I wish I could contribute more," Yoichi admitted, his expression darkening.

Kimizuki could see the frustration etched on Yoichi's face, and he reached out, taking his friend by the shoulders and locking eyes with him.

"You are not weak or useless, Yoichi. An effective squad requires a variety of skills. Remember Shinya Hiragi? He isn't a close-range fighter either, yet he helped turn the tide during the Battle of Shinjuku. And without you, we wouldn't have been able to ambush and defeat that creepy bastard, Lucal Wesker. Never doubt your worth; you bring something unique to our team that no one else can replicate."

Yoichi felt a swell of warmth at his friend's encouraging words. Initially, his delicate appearance and gentle demeanor had led others, even Kimizuki, to underestimate his capabilities in battle. However, through his experiences in the battles of Shinjuku and Nagoya, he had proven his mettle time and again. The physical labor, hunting, and relentless training sessions in the past few months had strengthened him considerably.

If one were to observe closely, they would notice that Yoichi's shoulders had broadened, his limbs were more defined, and his agility had sharpened. His archery skills had reached incredible heights, allowing him to hit multiple targets in rapid succession with unrivaled precision—something no one else in their squad could match.

In fact, Yoichi had become a contender for the second-best sniper within the entire Moon Demon Company, just behind Shinya Hiragi.

"Thanks, Kimizuki. That truly boosts my spirits," Yoichi said, his heart feeling lighter.

"I'm not just saying it to make you feel good, Yoichi; I genuinely mean it. We have more than enough swordsmen in our ranks. You must focus on what you excel at, and your sniping skills are vital to our mission. Right now, our priority is to protect Yuichiro."

"You're absolutely right. Everyone has their strengths, and we must leverage them to support one another. Without teamwork, we wouldn't stand a chance against the vampires. Although I must admit, it feels odd for me to say that, given we have one on our side now."

Kimizuki released Yoichi's shoulders, his expression turning serious at the mention of their new vampire companion, whom they had first encountered as an adversary on the battlefield.

"Speaking of which," he said with a furrowed brow, "Do you really think we can trust that blond vamp, Yoichi?"

Yoichi chuckled softly, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "You know, that 'blond vamp' you're so fond of calling him has a proper name, you know. It's Mikaela Hyakuya, and he happens to be Yuichiro's brother. They might not share the same blood, but their bond is undeniable. I trust him with Yuu's safety and well-being more than I would with most humans, honestly."

"Mikaela Hyakuya…" Kimizuki echoed, the name rolling off his tongue like a bitter pill. It stirred memories that he would rather leave buried, remnants of an encounter he couldn't shake off.

Over the past three months, his conversations with Yuichiro's brother had been sparse. Their first encounter had been rocky, to say the least, with Mika delivering a head-butt that had come dangerously close to fracturing his skull after Kimizuki had refused to comply with the vampire's demand to relinquish the unconscious Yuu. The memory still lingered in his mind like an unwelcome shadow.

"Aside from Yuichiro, it seems he's a bit more open with Shinoa and you," Kimizuki said, his curiosity getting the better of him. "What's he really like? What's your impression of him?"

"Well, my understanding of his past comes mostly from what Yuu has shared with me," Yoichi replied, his voice thoughtful. "Both of them have endured a lot, and I can see why Mika would be wary of humans, especially given the horrors the Demon Army inflicted on Yuu. I can't blame him for his distrust, especially after what Kureto Hiragi did in Nagoya. He didn't hesitate to sacrifice his own soldiers just to resurrect the Seraph of the End. But as for Mika, he's not as bad as you might think. Once you get past the initial barriers, I believe his heart is in the right place. I genuinely don't think he would betray us, Kimizuki."

Kimizuki let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I hope you're right about that, Yoichi. I really wish I could share your optimism and faith. You always seem to find the silver lining in everyone, no matter how dark things get. But we should probably start heading back now; the sun is setting, and it's getting dark."

"Right," Yoichi agreed, shifting his focus. "How's your wound? I didn't hurt you too badly, did I?"

Kimizuki let out a light laugh, trying to brush off any concern. "Nah, it's just a scratch. Nothing to worry about; I've had worse injuries in the past."

"Good to hear. Then let's get moving," Yoichi said, determination in his voice as they set off together, the shadows of the approaching night wrapping around them.

A/N: Ok, 5th snippit done. I hope you enjoyed this one; I apologize for the unexciting sparring part since I don't write fight scenes that well. I'll be working on a Mika/Yuu snippet next! Please look forward to it!"