A Peaceful Morning

Ryota open his eyes slowly and look up. Up of him was a small old chandelier glowing, after blinking his eyes for a few seconds he moved his body slightly. His body was still aching from lying down and felt a bit numb. 

With slight effort he raised his body up. He was lying on the couch in Masami's office. He stretched the back of his neck trying to clear his mind from all the various thoughts he had. 

He then remembered the battle in the woods, and how he burned to the ground all these demons. He look at his right hand curious.

How could I do such a thing? Where all this power came from?

Then the open door and Masami walked through it.

"Oh you finally join the land of the living Ryota dearie" she aid happily with a warm look on her eyes

"Ah Masami...what happened to me?"

"What do you mean nothing happened? What was that fire who came from by body?"

Masami smiled gently to him and approached him.

"It's called holy flame, an Ancient sorcery made by sorcerers with unlimited mana during the Old Age. I knew your mana was powerful but...you're truly full of surprises Ryota dearie"

Ryota looked at his hand again.

"I didn't know how I did it, and I don't know if I ever will"

"You will learn Ryota, in time, with lots of practice and training, and I promise you. You won't just learn it, you will master it" Masami said with her eyes glowing tenderly 

Ryota look at her and smiled gently.

"Thank you Masami...Oh, it's everyone else okay?"

"We got away with a few scratches but we are fine"

"But you...got hurt" he told to her, causing Masami laugh hardly 

"Ahaha, don't take me so lightly Ryota. I'm tougher than I look" she said with pride

Then the door opened and Sayaka charged towards to Ryota

"Ryota are you okay?" she said as she cuddled him softly

"Oh hello Sayaka, don't you worry I'm alright. How about you?"

"We're fine" an annoyed voice heard outside from the door

Then Ryosuke walked through it.

"Not even one demon attacked the city... you burned them all old man"

"Ryosuke you're better"

"Of course I am, I'm not like you...wounded from the first battle" he said to him angrily but then the look on his eyes grew warmer

"You did well old man, I hope you will be back on your feet soon. And you won't skip your practice do you hear me?"

Ryota smiled to him tenderly. Then Takashi and Nobuyuki also came inside.

"Yo Ryota, how the human flamethrower is doing?" Nobuyuki said loudly tone as he pat his back with his strong hands 

"Glad to see you alright Mr. Endo" Takashi smiled politely to him and then bow to him

"Also thank you for protecting my lady" he said with his eyes full of gratitude

"Thank you Takashi, you too Nobuyuki...Everyone thank you so much" Ryota's eyes got wet from the heart warming care and interest to him

Later Ryota was getting downstairs as Takashi and Ryosuke were supporting his steps.

"I'm okay everyone, there's no need..."

"Don't push yourself too hard Mr. Endo, you just survived a big battle" Takashi said in a calm tone

"Just shut up and late us take care of your sorry...ouch" Ryosuke was interrupted by a small punch to his side by Sayaka

"Don't badmouthing Ryota or I will tell Masa"

"Okay okay fine"

"Then the doorbell from the main door was heard. Nobuyuki was already downstairs so he spoke with the stranger.

"I'm sorry Sir we're closed at the moment" then Ryota heard a familiar voice

"Oh I see, when you will be open, I was going to come with a friend of mine..."

As he finally reach downstairs Ryota saw Reiji talking with Nobuyuki

"Reiji?!"

Reiji look at surprised at Ryota's side.

"Ryota?! What are you doing here so early you old man?" then he noticed how Takashi and Ryosuke were supporting him

"Hey what happened you?" he asked concerned

"Well..."

"Mr. Endo was trying to carry some heavy boxes upstairs and he got a little accident with his back" Takashi answered quicker than him

"Yeah, he tried to act tough but his age succeded over him" Ryosuke said teasingly and got another punch in his elbow by Sayaka

"HAHAHA, Same old Ryota I see I see" Reiji approached him

"I didn't know you knew those people in this café so well Ryota?" 

"Oh Ryota is a regular customer and a very good friend of us I can assure you Sir" Reiji looked surprised as he heard Masami melodic voice as she came from upstairs

"I see...well good for him then...Nice to meet you miss" Reiji bow flustered by Masami beauty

"My name is Reiji Uchiyama, friend of Ryota" 

"Oh how lovely, I'm very pleased to meet a friend of Ryota. We were just about to have some breakfast, will you honour us with your presence Mr. Uchiyama?

"Ah ehm... of course miss that will be lovely"

"Excellent, please Takashi escort this gentleman upstairs so he can sit with the rest of us"

"Ah thank you, are you coming Ryota?"

"In a minute, I want to breath some fresh air"

"What a coincidence Ryota dearie, I was thinking the same thing" she then put her arm in his arm and walked towards the exit "If you will excuse us for a moment"

After they walked out Reiji was standing still like a statue.

"'Ryota dearie'" he managed to whispered until Takashi escort him by his hand upstairs

Outside the Sun was rising as Masami and Ryota walked arm in arm. The stand on the road watching the river turning orange by the light of the sun coming out.

"So beautiful...I'm always enjoying watching the sunrise on the river. It's the perfect way to begin your day" Masami said warmly

Ryota look at her into her eyes.

"So what now Masami?"

"What do you mean Ryota dearie?"

"Well...even if I'm not adept to demons. I know that they won't stop, and there others still lurking in the world."

"Hahaha...of course they exist Ryota dearie, I'm so glad that you're not some kind of dream-walker who thinks he just saved the whole world"

"so what we will do now Masami?" Ryota asked her serious

Masami look at him tenderly.

"We will live our present Ryota, just like we always do. The most important for humans it's the present. We will live our day and we will keep fighting like we did yesterday, and we will keep fighting for the rest of our lives"

Ryota look at her surprised and then started laughing. She look at him surprised.

"Why are you laughing"

"Oh...hahaha...I'm sorry...it's just I...I just thought that even without any demons in our lives, we will still keep fighting in our lives for different things. Isn't that kind of funny...people will always fight in their lives for different reasons or things...but in the end we all are fighting... because such is life."

Masami look at him lost in words the she smiled to him tenderly.

"You really are full of surprises Ryota dearie" she said warmly as she squeezed his hand

Later they got upstairs to find Reiji sitting with Ryosuke and Sayaka into a square table and talking. Sayaka was holding Nyoka into her embrace as usual. When they saw them, they become more joyful.

"Finally you decided to come eh Ryota dearie?" Reiji said teasingly as Ryota sit next to him

"Eh?"

"Don't 'eh' me, you're not getting away with this old man. You're going to tell me everything one way or another"

Then Takashi and Nobuyuki appeared from downstairs, holding one big disk each of them full with miso soup, bowls full of rice and plates with tamagoyaki.

"Here's the food, everyone get ready to dig in like a pack of hungry wolves"  Nobuyuki said with his loud voice as he was putting the food on the table

"Just try not to act like rustic and act as a gentleman for once you brute" Takashi said annoyed as he gave everyone chopsticks

"Oh zip it grandpa"

"Now now, no need for name calling you too in front of our guests" Masami said in a strict tone

"Don't forget to eat your soup too, not only the tamagoyaki this time" Ryosuke instruct Sayaka only to saw he stick out her tongue teasingly

"Blegh, you're not to tell me what to do Ryo-nii"

"Why you little! And I told you to stop calling me that"

Reiji look around everyone as they were sitting and turn back to Ryota. 

"I understand why are you coming so often here old sport. Those are very interesting and good people"

Ryota look at them too and smiled happily.

"Yes...the truly are"

"Okay everyone let's dig in Itadakimasu" Masami said as she clapped her hands to everyone

"Itadakimasu" said everyone with one voce and start eating their breakfast, as they were laughing and teasing each other in this beautiful morning.