Kenzaki and Tsuyuki walk to the far-end corner of the storeroom.
KENZAKI: What's the matter?
TSUYUKI: Nothing about this feels right. How could a Demon track down a Sixther's Sense?
KENZAKI: Some Demons have those abilities-
TSUYUKI: But they could only track down their own kind. And not every Demon can do that.
KENZAKI: ... right.
TSUYUKI: We have to go to Central. We have to report this.
KENZAKI: Wait... I don't think we should.
TSUYUKI: What?
KENZAKI: I mean... not yet. Not until we help him.
TSUYUKI: You already briefed him. All that's left is to re-
KENZAKI: I mean, we should help him with his...
TSUYUKI: ... what?
KENZAKI: ... his problem.
TSUYUKI: (shock) You're kidding?
KENZAKI: I never kid.
TSUYUKI: The Stone-Ape?!
KENZAKI: Hear me out-
TSUYUKI: You're crazy enough to fight with it in the first place, and now you're saying we have to do this by ourselves?! You're lucky you're still alive.
KENZAKI: I just... (looks back at Ryuken) I just want to-
TSUYUKI: We need help. We need reinforcements. We're not capable enough to fight a Level 4 on our own.
KENZAKI: We've been training for this moment. We can do it, together.
TSUYUKI: And risking Mie and Kouga's lives?! They haven't even graduated from the Academy.
KENZAKI: But you know what they can do. They're strong, talented, they know how to take care of themselves. Plus, we're officers. We are ready to face such a threat.
TSUYUKI: TWO unranked officers! We are supposed to report this to Central because we are not qualified for any of this!
KENZAKI: ... I just can't do that.
TSUYUKI: Why not?
KENZAKI: ...
TSUYUKI: ... well, if you won't do it, I will. (walks away)
KENZAKI: I won't let you.
TSUYUKI: You can't stop me.
KENZAKI: ... are you... disobeying me?
TSUYUKI: (stops, looks back) ... what?
KENZAKI: Are you disobeying your commanding officer?
TSUYUKI: (glares) ... you wouldn't.
KENZAKI: I won't like it, but I will.
TSUYUKI: (glares furiously)
KENZAKI: I know you can't take another offense to your record, but I can't let you report to Central.
TSUYUKI: ... is that an order?
KENZAKI: ... I just can't let you do that.
TSUYUKI: (stares sharply at him) ... you're hiding something...
KENZAKI: ...
TSUYUKI: (walks back to him) What's really going on here?
KENZAKI: ...
TSUYUKI: Who is he?
Meanwhile, Mie and Kouga are hanging out with Ryuken.
KOUGA: Man, I wish I could get a piece of that Stone-Ape...
MIE: Woah! Very daring of you, Kouga-kun.
RYUKEN: I... don't think that's a good idea...
KOUGA: Huh?! You think I can't handle it?
RYUKEN: N- no, that's not what I-
KOUGA: If it were me, I'll crush that Ape where it stood. Then, we won't have to bother hiding your Sense, or whatever. Huh... how did you do it again, Mie-chan?
MIE: I pretty much scramble up his Sense. Not even Kenzaki-kun can track him.
KOUGA: Jeez, Mie-chan... what exactly can't you do?
MIE: (chuckles, scratches her head) Well, I can't crush rocks with my own hands.
KOUGA: Well... (grins proudly) I can give you some pointers, if you'd like.
MIE: (chuckles) Oh, I can't do that... I value my hands too much to hurt them. Look at them! They're the hands that will craft the future...
KOUGA: (chuckles) Well... these are the hands that will crush that future!
MIE: (shock) You can't?!
KOUGA: (grins) Can I?
MIE & KOUGA: (laughs)
RYUKEN: ... um...
MIE: Oh, sorry, Ishinara-san. We were just rambling.
KOUGA: Got carried away, there. (chuckles) You can ask us anything, if you like.
RYUKEN: Um... you can... uh... crush rocks?
KOUGA: Oh, of course. (grins) Well, small ones, for now. (chuckles)
MIE: Believe it or not, he's incredibly strong for his stature.
KOUGA: (glares) Hey...
MIE: (chuckles)
KOUGA: Well, you have your weird seals... and your weird... snake obsession.
MIE: I'm proud of my weird seals. Kenzaki-kun even used one on the Stone-Ape.
KOUGA: He did?
MIE: Yeah. To think he would use it in battle, (eyes sparkles) it makes me want to make more different kinds of seals...
KOUGA: (holds a small piece of paper) I still have mine with me. Never crossed my mind to use it.
MIE: Cause you like to get your hands dirty.
KOUGA: (grins) What can I say? I think with my fist.
RYUKEN: You can just... punch a Demon, like that?
KOUGA: Sounds scary, huh? You'll get your fair share of battles.
RYUKEN: M- me?
MIE: We all do, eventually. My first time fighting with one was so tense. I froze up, I couldn't move!
KOUGA: You froze fighting a Mud Rat?
MIE: It was hissing at me! When it chased me, I had to run away. Anyone would run from a rat.
KOUGA: (laughs) Of course, they would.
MIE: Come on, Kouga-kun... no one could be dumb enough to chase after a Sand Beetle till it gives up.
KOUGA: It was BRAVE of me to chase that beetle around, thank you very much!
RYUKEN: I'm... kinda confused.
MIE: Oh, sorry... we were just rambling... again... (chuckles)
KOUGA: Yeah, Ryuuji. Sorry about that.
RYUKEN: It's... Ryuken, actually.
KOUGA: Oops, sorry. (embarrassed)
RYUKEN: Kouga-san, right?
KOUGA: Yep. Hirano Kouga. That's my name. But just call me Kouga. (chuckles)
RYUKEN: Ah, yes. But... it seems weird...
KOUGA: What's weird?
RYUKEN: I mean, well... you sound... excited... fighting a Demon...
KOUGA: Who wouldn't be?
RYUKEN: Well, I mean... aren't they scary?
KOUGA: Definitely, (raises his fist) but I'm all for it.
RYUKEN: ... I can't imagine myself being... like that...
MIE: Don't worry, Ishinara-san. We're all just people here. You'll fit right in. We just... you know, can see Demons, that's all.
KOUGA: And beat them up good!
RYUKEN: Um... I heard that... you don't have... the same... abilities?
KOUGA: Not every Exorcist does the same thing.
MIE: Yeah. Everyone is all unique. Like a snowflake.
KOUGA: Mie-chan is more of a magic caster.
MIE: (smiles, raises a peace sign)
KOUGA: I'm more of a brute fighter.
RYUKEN: Then, what about Kenzaki-sempai?
KOUGA: Kenzaki? Well, we call him a Shaper.
RYUKEN: Shaper?
KOUGA: Shapers can like, um... make blocks, I guess?
MIE: Well, there's more to that. It's called Energy Formation.
RYUKEN: Energy...?
KOUGA: Come to think of it, there's so many things that we have to learn back then.
MIE: So many! I forgot how tough it was learning all those stuff the first time.
KOUGA: Yeah! Now we just study what we do best.
RYUKEN: Like... what kind of stuff?
KOUGA: Hoo, boy! Let me think... there's Energy Formation, which she mentioned, Seal Origination, which she does best, Magical Conjuration, which she also does best, and... uh... my brain stopped.
MIE: Spiritual Concentration, Divine Regeneration, Soul Detection, Object Spiritualisation-
KOUGA: Oh, that one! I'm good at that.
MIE: -Demon Tethering, Demon Sealing-
RYUKEN: Demon Sealing?
MIE: Yeah. It's an old technique where they trapped Demons inside weapons.
RYUKEN: (eyes widen) Weapons?! Like, swords?
KOUGA: Yeah, weapons like swords and... more swords?
MIE: Mostly swords, I think.
KOUGA: Maybe... I mean, they're called Demon Bladers for a reason, right?
RYUKEN: Demon Bladers?
KOUGA: Yeah. It sounds cool, right? DEMON BLADER! But I heard it's tough to learn.
MIE: Ooh, you remember that teacher, the one with the snowy Demon Sword?
KOUGA: Malaya Pascuo?
MIE: You remember her name?
KOUGA: How could I forget a beauty like her?
MIE: She was really cool when she showed off her Demon Sword at class. It kinda made me wanna try it for a moment.
KOUGA: Same here. I heard she's a captain now.
MIE: Really?
KOUGA: Yeah, Defence Division.
MIE: Wow! That's amazing! I'm so happy for her.
KOUGA: Hey, if we're talking about the Defence Division, we gotta talk about Commander Asa-
RYUKEN: Wait, wait, wait... this Demon Sword... it traps the Demons inside it, right?
MIE: Um... yeah. That way, they could use the Demon's powers.
RYUKEN: And, and... Bonding! Is there a thing called Bonding?
MIE: Uh, yeah...
KOUGA: How do you know that?
KENZAKI: What have you guys been talking about?
MIE: Oh, Kenzaki! You and Yuki-chan done talking?
Mie sees Tsuyuki standing alone at the corner. Arms crossed; she silently glares at Ryuken.
MIE: Anything wrong?
KENZAKI: ... nothing's wrong. I'm just curious in what you guys have been conversing about.
MIE: Lots of stuff! Well, mostly me and Kouga-kun.
KOUGA: Yeah. But, Ryuken... how do you...
KENZAKI: How does he what?
MIE: He asks about Demon Swords... and he mentioned Bonding...
KENZAKI: Bonding?
RYUKEN: I... uh...
KENZAKI: Ryuken?
RYUKEN: I... heard about... Bonding.
KENZAKI: Where did you heard it from?
RYUKEN: ...
KENZAKI: Ryuken?
RYUKEN: ... I- I don't know how to explain this...
KENZAKI: Ryuken. We're here to help.
MIE: ...
KOUGA: ...
TSUYUKI: ...
RYUKEN: ... something... happened last night...
...
Ishinara Residence
Akari and Maki are watching the news.
"Several strange phenomena have been happening around Machi Town earlier. Witnesses claimed an earthquake wrecked the road at Kabuto Street. Experts believed that something fell from the sky. Witnesses denied seeing anything falling. Experts believe that the strange phenomena was similar to what happened in a playground at Nicho earlier."
AKARI: What is happening?
MAKI: Come on, come on...
"There have also been reports of giant splashes on the Ao river. Here is a video captured by a bystander-"
AKARI: Wow... you're right.
MAKI: I told you!
AKARI: This is freaky...
MAKI: I said that I wasn't lying, and yet you wouldn't believe me...
AKARI: Well, you're not easy to trust.
MAKI: What?! How could you say that?
AKARI: Years of living with you...
RYUKEN: (opens door) ... I'm home.
AKARI: Ryuken! (walks to the door) Where have you been? I've been worried sick. You never come home this la-
Ryuken and Kenzaki are standing at the porch.
AKARI: Oh, is this your friend?
RYUKEN: Um... he's-
KENZAKI: (bows) Greetings. It's a pleasure to finally meet Ryuken's mother.
AKARI: Oh, well... it's nice to meet you too. And you are?
KENZAKI: My name is Tetsunouji Kenzaki. I am a friend of your son's.
End of Chapter 8
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