After a long hunt, Azazul opened his eyes and saw a room… but instead of the cabin room he expected, he was in Akiko's bedroom. And instead of his soft mattress, he was lying in a bedroll. Last night he had no choice: Akiko had gotten really bad wounds on her right leg, and he had to carry her home.
Her room was nice. The walls were a beautiful white, there was a double bed—but because she was a girl he had to sleep on the floor. She wasn't Meira, with whom he had shared a bed since they were babies. There was also a closet, one door hanging open, filled with a lot—and i mean a lot—of women's clothes.
Probably her and her sister's clothes…
Azazul didn't wait for Akiko to wake up and went downstairs on his own. Akiko's sister was already done setting the table, and as she walked past him she said,
"Good morning, Azazul. I'll go wake up Akiko."
Azazul replied, "Good morning to you too."
How does she know my name?
He went to the table and sat down, not daring to start eating without the two sisters.
After a few minutes they came downstairs—first the older sister, then Akiko, who was using a cane to help her walk.
As the two sisters sat, Azazul noticed the older one looking directly into his eyes. Then she said,
"Wow, you really do have weird eyes. Sorry about that—where are my manners? I'm Akiko's sister. My name is Runa. No need to tell me yours."
Even as she spoke, she didn't take her eyes off his right eye.
"Wow… I thought your eyes would be the terrible kind of weird, but they're the beautiful kind of weird. Not gonna lie—I like the gold one more."
Akiko raised her head from her breakfast. "Sis, are you going to talk about his eyes the whole time?"
Runa let out a small chuckle.
"Oh, my little sister, you don't want me staring into the eyes you fell—"
Before Runa could finish, Akiko stood on her one good leg and slapped a hand over her sister's mouth, but she lost her footing. The chair she had pushed away was too far for her to fall back on.
Before she could hit the floor, Azazul suddenly stood and caught her in his arms. Suddenly Akiko's face was really close. Both of them felt their faces heat up. Azazul quickly set Akiko back on her good leg and hurried to retrieve the chair so she could sit again.
Runa watched with a very amused smile.
"Oh wow, what interesting little lovebirds you two are."
Runa stared at them, trying to see if her words had any effect—and they did. Both of them blushed at the same time.
"Well, Azazul, if I may ask, how did you two meet?"
Azazul took a while to chew his food, then said,
"Well, she yelled 'kid with the weird eyes,' and then she asked me where I was going. I said I was going hunting, so she came with me."
Runa finished chewing and looked at Akiko.
"Oh my… my little sister went hunting with someone—and a boy, nonetheless—out of her own free will. Now that's something I never thought I'd hear."
Akiko lifted her hand and brought her knuckle down on Azazul's head.
"Owww! What was that for?"
"You airhead. Now she's never going to stop."
As Azazul rubbed his head, he asked,
"Why? Don't you have a lot of male friends?"
Before Akiko could answer, Runa cut in.
"Oh, she has friends, but only female friends. You're the only boy friend she has. See, my little sister Aki over here doesn't like boys. Like, at all."
Azazul turned to Akiko and asked sarcastically,
"Why? Did one bite you?"
Azazul and Runa both laughed.
Then Akiko grabbed him by the neck and started strangling him. Azazul turned red.
Runa smiled at the two. "Oh my… how cute."
At those words, Akiko released Azazul as fast as lightning, her face bright red. Azazul's face was also red—but for different reasons.
After breakfast, Azazul asked,
"Do you guys want some help with the dishes?"
Runa shook her head. "No, it's okay. I'll handle it."
He stood. "Well, I'll take my leave then. My uncle is probably worried sick. And thank you for the delicious breakfast."
Before he could go, Akiko said,
"Wait—I'll walk you out."
Azazul quickly insisted,
"No, it's okay. You still need to recover."
But Akiko was as stubborn as ever.
"Hey… I might not regenerate entire limbs, but I'm still not a baby!"
Azazul nodded nervously. "Okay then."
They left the house together. As they walked, Azazul spoke first.
"Just so you know, just because I'm your only male friend doesn't mean I think I'm something special."
"Well, you read my mind."
Why did he have to say that?
That's exactly what I wanted to say… but I wanted to say it.
"And when your leg is good enough to walk and train, you can come train with me and my uncle." Azazul added.
"No, it isn't necessary."
"Why not? You still want to join the academy, right?"
"Yeah, but I'm good enough."
"Maybe you are, but he's really good with swords—and daggers. I just thought it'd be something you would want."
"Okay, fine. I'll join. Well, this is as far as I go, so see you soon, weirdo."
"You know I really hate that name."
Akiko let out a small laugh.
"Yeah, I know, weirdo."
"Well… see you later, Akiko."
After her walk with Azazul, Akiko returned home and saw her sister sitting at the table.
"You're done with the dishes already?"
Runa looked serious—scared, even. A look she rarely had.
"Little sister… why didn't you tell me he had a gold eye?"
"Was it that big of a deal?"
"Yes. Yes, it was that big of a deal. That's why he can regenerate entire limbs!."
Runa swallowed hard.
"Akiko… Azazul is a deity."