Inori paused from her earlier awe then blinked twice as if to clear her eyes.
"....AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!???!!?????????!??!!????!???" She yelled with an unnatural volume!
He ignored and continued feasting on the Sinners undead corpse, his face making a sour expression showing the distaste he felt."Ugh, Tastes like crap." The boy said in disgust.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!???!!?????????!??!!????!???!!???!!!??!???!??!!??!!??!???!?" She parroted her words this time even louder! Accompanied by rapid shuffling away.
'Why did she repeat herself?' The boy wondered.
He eventually finished devouring the horribly tasting Sinner and stood up. Leaving Inori in fear and confusion.
He burped then spoke.
"Don't you know ordinary people can never kill a Sin nor Sinner?"
He lectured with sass, elegantly cleaning its blood from his mouth with a red napkin.
She snapped back to reality from her earlier shock. "A-are you...not a Priest?!" Inori asked confused. He showed superb skill so how was he an ordinary person.
"Huh? no...." He paused for a while, then continued. "My name's Haruki!" He approached Inori who backed away. "I'm 16 years old, My favorite color is red, I really enjoy American movies but prefer Japanese games. And no I'm not a girl so quit calling me ma'am." He chuckled at the last part.
Inori stared a bit then blinked.
"Eh? What is happening?" The series of events that'd occured so far made her slow. She needed time to process things.
The boy sighed and introduced himself once more.
"Wait, are you telling me you're male??!" She screamed.
"That's a weird way to phrase it but yeah." He said.
Inori shook her head in disagreement.
"No! I can't accept it! Father said girls are prettier than boys!" She barked.
"Well too bad I guess. I could show you my penis if you need proof." Haruki suggested as he walked away, his statement making Inori blush with an insulted look. "Why would I want to see that?!" She screamed back, "what inappropriate sentence." She pouted.
Some steps from Inori he turned his head back and grinned.
"If you think that's crazy, wanna hear something wilder?" He asked Inori who was still in disbelief. She gulped then asked, "W-what is it?" Staring intently.
Haruki was already beside Inori, whispering in her left ear with a seductive tone. "I'm actually...a Sin."
He let the words linger, his sly voice causing Inori to shiver before giving a doubting look.
"Really?" She rose a brow, an expression she barely made.
".... you're a Sin?" Inori asked with an unimpressed look. Haruki simply nodded while smiling.
She thought to herself, Sins look nothing like humans, no matter what Sin they embody. "You're lying." So she came to that conclusion.
He frowned at her unenthusiastic response. "I-I'm not lying! I'm a Sin! Ehm, The Sin of....uhhh, something!"
The boy yelled in protest as if wanting more amazement from Inori.
She simply gave a tired sigh. "Listen, I don't know if you see me as a fool, but just let me go already." Inori added, now her losing interest.
"Ugh, why won't you listen? I'm not lying, and I don't care if you believe me or not. I'm a Sin okay?" He carried his sword and walked to the inn. Inori trailed behind him, hopping. She was still bundled up.
"C-could you please untie me now?" She said referring to the rope binding her body, they were becoming too uncomfortable.
"Huh? Oh, sorry about that."
Haruki turned back, suddenly pointing his short katana to Inori's chest behind thick rope.
She flinched, expecting an attack of some sorts, but Haruki swiftly slashed her front. Cutting such thick rope in a single motion. Alas, Inori was free.
"Finally!" Her face brightened as she rubbed her shoulders and wrists, sour from prolonged constraints.
Inori stared cautiously, she hesitated at first but bowed in appreciation.
"T-thank you. I...I best be on my way now." She awkwardly pointed a random path in the forest, about to leave.
"C'mon, don't go. Let's talk a bit." Haruki insisted. Inori held both shoulders and stammered. "I-I'd rather not... please excuse me." She said, high on alert.
"Should I tie you up again?" Haruki asked while smiling. Inori shuddered, her shoulders slumped in defeat.
'This boy is never letting me go is he...' she turned slowly, avoiding his gaze.
Haruki was holding a weapon, which only made her more terrified. The boy was just too unpredictable, she didn't want any more trouble.
Inori adjusted her posture, standing up straight while holding her hands tight.
"Good, now first things first. What's your name sweetie?" Haruki suddenly switched to a warm, comforting tone. But Inori didn't buy it. This person almost murdered her last night.
"Hellooo Your name?" Haruki asked again, seeing her stare furiously at him. Inori honestly just processed the question. This was actually quite the pickle.
Tho a simple question, it could spell trouble for our protagonist.
"....uhhhhh~" She froze but her mind raced.
'This is bad, I'm sure he's heard the fake news of my death. So I can't say I'm Tabata Inori! Then he'd think I'm the Prime Minister's daughter.... but I am tho... I-I don't want to take any risks of someone thinking I'm mentally ill again!
I'll just play the safe card and give a fake name, we'll most likely never meet again!' Her brain calculated and came to that decision.
The boy had a face full of worry.
'Is she okay?' Haruki thought to himself, Inori had been looking like an idiot for some time now.
'Okay, now i just need a fake name! Think~ A fake name~!'
Still thinking to herself.
Inori had never lied before, so it was quite difficult for her first time.
"Uhhhhhhhhhhhh~"
She said out loud to notify Haruki she was still conscious.
"It's okay, take your time." He reassured.
She returned to her train of thoughts.
'Inori, what about Midori, no, that doesn't feel right! Hurry up! he's looking at you weird!!'
After 5 minutes she snapped her fingers with confidence. "My name is Hori! Inori Hori!" She finally formed her Alias.
Haruki stared for a bit, a little suspicious at first.
"Inori Hori... nice to meet you Hori!" He said with a smile, somehow making him even more attractive.
'She used my (fake) first name?!
Without any honorifics?!'
Inori, now Hori thought in confusion, they literally just met.
'So...my name is Hori now?'
A sad expression grew for a second, denying her identity didn't feel pleasant at all.
Her heart raced as she stood in front of Haruki, his taller build crouching to observe Hori like some attraction.
'My heart is beating so fast!' She stole a glance at Haruki who seemed to be staring holes into her. Her face immediately turned red.
'Why does he keep staring?!' She panicked, this had never happened to her before. Haruki noticed her sweating and asked what was the issue.
"Huh? Oh nothing, Haruki-san!"
She turned her face.
He looked confused. "San? Hey aren't we the same age? you can drop the honorifics." He shrugged dismissing her formalities.
"Well, I'm only 14, and you said you're 16 so-
"Wait you're 14?" He cut her off.
"Yes?" Hori answered.
Haruki slowly poked leaned in and observed her body, making Hori even more uncomfortable.
"Wow, you're really big for your age." He said, earning an annoyed expression from Hori. "Excuse me?" She asked clearly irritated.
Hori scoffed, whipping her hair to the side, no longer afraid of the boy but now insulted. She hissed before speaking.
"Meeting you has been an unpleasant experience so far. You've done nothing but hurt and harass me. So Good bye forever, Haruki-san!" Hori walked away with exaggerated footsteps.
Haruki laughed it off.
"Till we meet again, '14 year old' girl" He waved the strange girl good bye.
Hori finally left the forest to God knows where.
Haruki did some morning stretches after clearing the debris from his house. Tapping his chin as he slowly paced about. "What a weird girl. I'm honestly not that angry anymore. I guess I'll leave the massacre till further notice." He spoke to himself before leaving the forest as well.
-------------------------------
15 minutes later, we see Haruki walking down a slightly crowded road.
The time - 8:30 AM in the morning showcased a lovely scenery by the sun bouncing light off puddles of rain.
Haruki occasionally waved whichever girl gave him a glance, knocking them dead with a friendly smile. Quite the popular one due to his unrealistic looks.
After some time walking, a fake sigh escaped his lips. He turned then spoke.
"...why are you following me?" He asked Hori who immediately hid behind a vending machine.
She gasped before covering her mouth. Hori tried throwing him off by saying. "Th—that's not true Madame! There's no one following you!" She spoke behind the vending machine, in a husky English voice for some reason.
Haruki was confused, what was this girls deal. And why did her English sound perfect?
"J...just keep walking young lad!" The vending machine spoke again but this time Japanese.
Haruki squatted, now facing the bi-lingual vending machine, he could obviously see Hori's bare tattered feet poking away.
".... Mr vending machine... don't you have parents?" He asked with a soft voice. As much as he'd love to ignore this strange girl, she obviously needed some help.
The vending machine went quiet.
Haruki as well remained in silence, he might have asked a hurtful question.
He awkwardly cleared his throat and changed the subject. "....okay how about this! I'm going to a hot springs close by, wanna tag along? You can freshen up there!" He said with a welcoming smile.
Hori's eyes glimmered, she could finally take a bath after 7 days straight! She immediately came out from the side of the vending machine.
Gasp!
"Hori it was you?!"Haruki said with obvious sarcasm.
Hori held her shoulders then bowed with appreciation for his invitation. The two walked for 10 minutes now, their destination a local hot springs.
Hori was quiet for a while before finally speaking.
"I hope I'm not being a nuisance..." She said feeling bad having to tag along.
"It's okay, I don't mind." He answered, facing forward with both hands in his pockets.
He stared at Hori's hair with interest. "....you dyed it your yourself?" Haruki asked, seeing it was dark blue.
"No, I just woke up and saw it that way." She answered quietly, her face looking dejected, remembering her first day of being missing. Haruki didn't understand her reply, your hair doesn't change color overnight, but he paid it no mind.
"So.... you an orphan?" Haruki asked again. Trying to get some information or to at least start a conversation.
Hori shook her head, facing the floor as they walked.
"That means you ran away?" He leaned in, curious. "I'd never run away from my home!" She answered gripping her arms, slight tears escaping her eyes.
Haruki was getting annoyed, her replies made no sense.
".... I'm sorry, I'll stop prying."
Neither said anything after that as they walked silently to the hot springs.
----------------------------------
A total of 15 minutes. They finally arrived at the hot springs which stood as the biggest construct in the street.
"We're here!" Haruki yelled with fists raised to the sky.
"Matsumoto springs." Hori read the sign out loud. The Onsen appeared to be nothing unfamiliar, a little wider than usual tho, seeing as it was public and for the locals.
The two head inside after opening the front door.
They were welcomed by the satisfying scent of bathing lotions and the like. The warm sensation typical of a hot springs hit them both like a truck.
Automatically forming a pleasant look from Hori. The establishment wasn't quite packed, usually having a rush of customers at night.
They walk towards the attendant sitting adjacent the entrance on a chair, paying no mind to his surroundings as the boy chatted on his phone.
He had a name tag on the casual clothes he wore, 'Matsumoto Amane' Hori read the tag and acknowledged that his family owned this place.
Immediately dropping his phone seeing as they had customers. "Hello there, what option will you be trying out today?" He spoke politely looking at Hori.
"Amane! How's it going?!!" Haruki yelled, staggering like a delinquent.
'He used his first name, they must be close....or perhaps he's like that with everyone?'
Hori thought to herself, this Haruki of a character seemed to have no respect for typical naming convention.
Amane paused before dropping his head. "H-haruki-kun.... you know you're banned from here, right?" His eyes twitched.
"Yeah I know, but it's temporary right? The old man said I could come tomorrow." Haruki defended himself.
"Yes, but today's not tomorrow right?" Amane gave a haunting smile with closed eyes. Hori couldn't follow the conversation the two were having.
"If dad sees me letting you in I'd definitely get punished!" Amane barked.
"Uhh, it's fine isn't it? I'm like you guys best customer right?" Haruki had a point. Hori simply stared in the background.
Before their argument could continue, a shriveled but charming voice interrupted the two.
"Oh my, oh my, Haruki-kun? It's been so long~" a rather elderly woman approached, she wore a name tag as well. Reading Matsumoto Eguchi.
She grabbed Haruki's fair cheeks and squeezed them lovingly.
"My, yer as pretty as ever ain't ya." She complimented.
"Nice to see you grandma." Haruki greeted with a natural blush. Hori bowed as well but probably didn't need to. They honestly couldn't notice her.
Haruki explained that Amane wasn't allowing him through, faking puppy dog eyes as if getting bullied. The old lady immediately got furious.
"Amane! What's wrong with you?! Are you chasing customers away now?!" She snapped dragging his ear.
"B-but mom, dad LITERALLY said Haruki's banned." Amane whined in pain.
"His ban is ending tomorrow, just let him in already!" The woman continued.
Haruki gave an evil grin, smirking at Hori who shifted her eyes.
Hori suddenly felt odd, as if experiencing such atmosphere for the first time.
'Why are they so loud.' she thought to herself almost irritated.
After all the bickering, Amane eventually let the two in.
"Enjoy yer self now you hear me?" The old lady yelled at Haruki.
"I will~" he chuckled while replying.
"Ah, I almost forgot. My friend over here would like a shower first before dipping in." He pointed at the filthy Hori who clearly needed that.
She felt insulted at first but kept quiet, Hori honestly wished for such but was too shy to speak up while the three conversed.
"Okay, I'll show her to the women's bath." Eguchi-san offered.