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Chapter 003: I Thought We Could Be Friends
"A promise with a friend... That sounds nice..."
As Touta and Yukihime continue on their journey, glancing forward, he notices they're hardly making any headway to the tower. Yukihime notes that they are walking after all and when he asks why, she explains using public transportation would have a great chance of running into a bounty hunter which would surely result in needless bloodshed. Content with this answer, he continues along, singing a cheerful tune he makes up on the spot and his carefree attitude annoys his mentor ever so slightly. He suggests to her that once they get settled in the capital, they should go back to Shinobu's village, saying she's one of his best friends.
However, Yukihime insists that he give up on that and the idea of making friends in general, seeing how they are vampires and considered a disgrace to humanity, saying he'll only regret it. Annoyed, he scolds her for shoving such a negative outlook in such a young child's face, but she simply drops the conversation and suggests they take a quick break.
As she takes a break at a store, he announces he'll check out a waterfall nearby, but she warns him to watch for bounty hunters before he goes, as there are worse things than death.
However, Yukihime insists that he give up on that and the idea of making friends in general, seeing how they are vampires and considered a disgrace to humanity, saying he'll only regret it. Annoyed, he scolds her for shoving such a negative outlook in such a young child's face, but she simply drops the conversation and suggests they take a quick break.
As she takes a break at a store, he announces he'll check out a waterfall nearby, but she warns him to watch for bounty hunters before he goes, as there are worse things than death.
Touta strips down and jumps into the stream, floating on the water and realizing that his friends will grow up as he'll remain a child. As he grows bitter about his fate, the stream pushes him forward and he hits a soft surface. Without looking, he reaches his arms out to investigate, not realizing he bumped into the nude backside of another person. This stranger looks back to find young Touta groping their butt and when Touta sees its another person, he asks who they are. However, given the situation, the stranger picks up a sword from a rock above them and just as Touta realizes where his hands are, the character swings their sword at him, great force behind the attack. Touta manages to dodge and tells exclaims how awesome the move was. The stranger took a defensive position, desperately holding a towel to cover themselves, their face panicked and flustered.
Seeing this person's long hair and slender feminine figure, Touta calls out and apologizes for not realizing they were a women and for accidentally peeking at their naked body. However, this only results in the stranger being offended for assuming they were a girl and socked Touta in the face.
After they dressed, Touta apologizes once again as they make their way back into town, insisting it was hard to tell since the boy had such a cute face. He says since they're both men, there's no harm, no foul, but this further angers the young boy, who holds his sword up to Touta's neck, saying if a complete stranger were to grope another, there should be disgust. Touta simply laughs, apologizing once more.
After they dressed, Touta apologizes once again as they make their way back into town, insisting it was hard to tell since the boy had such a cute face. He says since they're both men, there's no harm, no foul, but this further angers the young boy, who holds his sword up to Touta's neck, saying if a complete stranger were to grope another, there should be disgust. Touta simply laughs, apologizing once more.
Touta points out that since he began traveling, he was shocked to see such remote abandoned locations like where they were and was surprised to see another traveler there. He asks the boy if he is a foreigner and the boy says yes, but he does have Japanese ancestry. He asks Touta in turn why he's traveling and Touta explains due to circumstances, he'd traveling with a companion. With the hostile air lifted, the boys take the opportunity to officially meet.
The boy introduces himself as Kuromaru Tokisaka and that he's never met a boy his age who was able to dodge his sword. Touta does the same and they put their issues aside. Glancing at Kurmomaru's face for a second, Touta lifts up his long bangs to closely examine his new friend's face and once again questions if he's a girl, but as this is a touchy subject with Kuromaru, he once again begins to throw his fists as Touta.
The boy introduces himself as Kuromaru Tokisaka and that he's never met a boy his age who was able to dodge his sword. Touta does the same and they put their issues aside. Glancing at Kurmomaru's face for a second, Touta lifts up his long bangs to closely examine his new friend's face and once again questions if he's a girl, but as this is a touchy subject with Kuromaru, he once again begins to throw his fists as Touta.
Kuromaru explains that he came from the top of the tower, much to Touta's excitement. He immediately asks for Kuromaru to be his friend and explains it's his dream to go there and bombards the poor boy with numerous questions, none of which he gives him time to answer. Touta also explains he promised to help a friend of his open up a shop in space, but Kuromaru seems envious of the premise of making a promise with a friend. Touta notices and asks what the issue is, saying the two are already best buds. Touta's frustrating, but endearing optimistic behavior causes Kuromaru to burst out laughing. Touta makes a mental note of how easy it is to make friends and makes it a point against Yukihime's warning.
Kuromaru explains that he came from the top of the tower, much to Touta's excitement. He immediately asks for Kuromaru to be his friend and explains it's his dream to go there and bombards the poor boy with numerous questions, none of which he gives him time to answer. Touta also explains he promised to help a friend of his open up a shop in space, but Kuromaru seems envious of the premise of making a promise with a friend. Touta notices and asks what the issue is, saying the two are already best buds. Touta's frustrating, but endearing optimistic behavior causes Kuromaru to burst out laughing. Touta makes a mental note of how easy it is to make friends and makes it a point against Yukihime's warning.
Touta informs Kuromaru that he is traveling to the capital and his friend explains he came down from the tower to locate a specific person to complete his work and until then, he's no longer able to return to his homeland. He says the person in question is Evangeline A.K. McDowell, a tall woman with blue eyes and silver hair. Touta recognizes the name and proudly announces that the person Kuromaru is looking for is no other than his companion.
Kuromaru is shocked by this and notes that she wouldn't be traveling with a human, and when he pieced it together, he realized Touta had no reflection. Touta, not realizing the situation he was in asked his new buddy what was wrong, but the saddened boy revealed he came from a clan of bounty hunters, tasked with exorcising demons, including beings like Touta. Though he had found a friend in Touta, he prepared to attack, despite his friend's pleas to talk it out. He draws his sword and attempts to perform a Shinmeiryuu technique, but Yukihime appears and effortlessly catches the sword in her hand before it could do damage. She makes note how the style was nostalgic before plunging her hand through the Kuromaru's stomach as Touta cries out.
Kuromaru is shocked by this and notes that she wouldn't be traveling with a human, and when he pieced it together, he realized Touta had no reflection. Touta, not realizing the situation he was in asked his new buddy what was wrong, but the saddened boy revealed he came from a clan of bounty hunters, tasked with exorcising demons, including beings like Touta. Though he had found a friend in Touta, he prepared to attack, despite his friend's pleas to talk it out. He draws his sword and attempts to perform a Shinmeiryuu technique, but Yukihime appears and effortlessly catches the sword in her hand before it could do damage. She makes note how the style was nostalgic before plunging her hand through the Kuromaru's stomach as Touta cries out.