A Cold One After

“That was all she told you?”, Kuro asked still doubting.

“Yes, just secure the scene, wait for the clean-up crew to arrive, and let them take over.”, Hinako responded.

They both at on top of a wooden pallet and watched some of the MDF mages perform purification spells in the backyard. The two women were in medical care, and the corpses of the men were already taken away.

“Huh… No complaints, accusations, threats of violence or even death?”, Kuro asked nervously.

“No… just that we should try not to do something stupid for the rest of the week and that she will see us next Monday in the office to discuss the rest.”, Hinako recalled a bit confused from his nervousness.

Kuro breathed a sigh of relief but then paused.

“Us? She said, us? Not you?”, He asked.

“She specifically said… you two.”, Hinako clarified.

Kuro cursed. One of the MDF mages put the dagger, that summoned the demonic fiend into a small box and carried it away. Now everything seemed normal again in the back yard.

“So, what was that Oni looking thing exactly?”, Hinako asked, as the last of the clean-up crew left.

“As I said, a demonic fiend, or lesser demon. Typically, they serve other demons, since they are so weak.”, Kuro explained.

“Weak? That thing was weak?”

“Compared to real demons… yes.”

Hinako looked at the middle of the backyard. The dread that she felt as she saw the creature still lingered in her.

“Was this your first time seen demonic power up close?”, Kuro asked, after he followed her gaze.

“Yes… well technically no, but the last time I was too young to remember.”, Hinako answered.

“How did you feel?”

“Terrifying…”

“Most people feel that way when they are in demonic presence. A lot of adepts quit after their first bout with them.”

Hinako looked down into her hands and pondered for a while.

“You didn’t seem terrified.”, She said slowly.

“I’m used to them.”, Kuro replied with a sigh.

“Did you fight against more powerful ones?”

“Yes.”

“And you killed them?”

“I would not be here otherwise.”

Hinako paused for a moment.

“Will I be able to stand against them, some day?”, She asked hesitantly.

“Yes… If you survive until then.”

“That’s not very motivating…”

Hinako turned with a weak smile towards Kuro. His blue eyes gleamed behind the shaggy hair as he locked eyes with her.

“It’s the truth.”, Kuro said in a firm voice.

Hinako’s smile grew stronger and she nodded.

“Umm… can I ask you something?”, Kuro suddenly exclaimed.

“Yeah?”

“Am I really that old? I’m just thirty-five!”

Hinako blinked confused. Her smile grew to a cheeky smirk.

“You really wanna know?”, She asked and raised an eyebrow.

“On second thought… maybe not…”

Hinako began to snicker.

“Don’t worry! You’re only as old as you feel in inside, old man.”, Hinako commented and placed a cheeky hand on his shoulder.

“Oh… shit… then I’m fucking ancient…”, Kuro remarked with a sigh.

Hinako’s snicker transformed into a laugh.

“Well, we should get going.”, Kuro said after a while and got up.

“Home?”, asked Hinako and got up as well.

“I was thinking more along the lines of getting something to drink. A cold beer is the best thing after some demonic pest control. And judging by how your stomach is growling, you could use something to bite again.”

Hinako’s stomach rumbled as if it was ordered to. She grinned sheepishly.

“I know a good Izakaya around here. They have godly karaage if you aren’t tired of chicken for today.”, Kuro suggested.

“Fuck yeah, let’s go!”, agreed Hinako.

Not long after they entered said bar not far from where they were.

“Welcome… Oh Kuro! Good to see you! Your usual table is free if you want. I’ll be right with you!”, The waitress behind the bar said.

“Thanks Emi!”, Kuro replied and went to the back of the bar, where a free table was in one of the nooks.

“You come here often?”, Hinako asked while they were sitting down.

“Yeah… from time to time.”, Kuro replied.

Hinako looked around. The decoration of the place was mostly wood panels and carvings, arranged in a cozy atmosphere in mind, but a few anime posters were snuck in between.

“Oh, who is the lovely young lady? Did you forsake the two dimensional, joined the normies and got yourself a girlfriend, Kuro?”, Emi, the waitress, asked in a jokingly manner.

Her shoulder-long hair was dyed part deep purple and part turquoise. On her shirt was a wolf-boy anime character.

“No way! I won’t be swayed from the righteous path of the superior less dimensional that easily! She’s a new work colleague.” Kuro answered less jokingly.

“Good!”, Emi remarked and smiled cheekily.

Hinako wondered if there was even a trace of jest behind that smile. Kuro didn’t notice or chose not to.

“What can I bring you?”, Emi asked and pulled out her tablet.

“Two cold beers and one large serving of Karaage… no make it two.”, Kuro ordered.

“Roger! Coming right up!”

Emi brought the beers and then disappeared into the kitchen.

“Ah, that’s what I’ve been waiting for!”, Kuro said and grabbed his glass.

They both clanked their glasses and then took a swig. The Karaage came a few minutes later.

“Here you go! I put some extra spicy mayo there for you!”, Emi said as she brought the two plates.

“Thanks, Emi! And can you get me a new beer?”, Kuro replied and held his empty glass up.

“Damn, someone is thirsty today! Sure, coming right up!”

Emi came back with two beers in her hand.

“How was your Oshi’s live event yesterday?”, She asked and sat down next to Kuro.

“I couldn’t go… work came up…”, Kuro said with a big sigh.

“Oh shit! That’s a bummer!”

“Yeah…”

“Oh, yeah! Did you hear about the new collab project?”

“No? What is it?”

Emi and Kuro started talking in depth about an upcoming two weeklong event in some videogame involving a lot of different Vtubers. Or at least that was all that Hinako could gather, since she was too occupied with devouring the fried chicken in front of her to follow them. But what she noticed was that Emi steadily got closer to Kuro. He seemed oblivious to the fact as he was too absorbed in the Otaku-talk.