Kuoh Amusement park was considered an old relic in Kuoh town, holding the childhood memories of most of the local youth.
With a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, pirate ship... the facilities were quite huge. The amusement park had been established for over ten years, yet it still attracted a constant stream of visitors.
It wasn't a holiday today, and it was still morning.
Apart from a few elderly people exercising, the amusement park wasn't crowded at all.
Just then, a couple holding hands appeared at the entrance.
"Since this is a date with a limited time, let's keep it light and fun. I imagine you don't come to places like this often."
Sona nodded, confirming that Yasuhiro's words were true.
Her birth meant that she had to give up certain things.
Things that others took for granted were things she could never hope for during her childhood.
With her sister being one of the current Four Great Maous, her personal brilliance was completely overshadowed.
Under this invisible pressure, she couldn't do anything inconsistent with her status, otherwise, she would be tarnishing her reputation as the sister of the Maou Leviathan and the name of the Sitri Clan.
Even as she grew up, she had long passed the playful stage of childhood.
However, that innocent hope had always remained buried deep within her heart.
Now, Yasuhiro's actions gave Sona a sense of comfort and support.
"Let's go, our first destination is the Ferris wheel."
Yasuhiro ran to the Ferris wheel ticket booth and, under the helpless gaze of the staff member, bought two tickets.
Because it wasn't a holiday and it was still morning, they were the only two people riding the Ferris wheel, essentially having the entire ride to themselves.
"When I was little, my favorite thing to do was sit on the Ferris wheel and look down at the whole town."
"Sometimes, when I was feeling down or had upset my parents, this was my best refuge." Yasuhiro said nostalgically.
Sona gazed through the glass, taking in the scenery outside. As the Ferris wheel rose higher and higher, the entire landscape of the town gradually came into view.
"What a nice view." Sona couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
For the first time, she looked down on the entire town of Kuoh from high above. The town had neat houses and winding streets, dotted with patches of woods. The streets were filled with a loose flow of people, looking peaceful and serene.
In particular, when she saw the students having physical education class on the athletic field, those slacking students being punished by having to stand outside, and the students secretly skipping class and preparing to climb over the wall.
She couldn't help but feel an urge to protect this vibrant and pure land before her.
...
"How're you feeling?"
"The lingering worries and anxieties in my heart have almost completely disappeared, and I'm starting to look forward to the next activity." Sona ran her fingers through her hair, smiled, and said something with a hidden meaning.
"Has anyone ever told you that you look beautiful when you smile?"
"You're the first."
Yasuhiro touched his forehead and said, "It's truly my honor."
...
"This..."
The noise and sounds were incessant.
Sona was a person who preferred quiet, and if Yasuhiro hadn't been holding her hand, she'd have left.
She didn't want to stay in such an environment for even a second longer.
"A must-visit place for all students." Yasuhiro winked and grinned mischievously.
That's right, Yasuhiro had brought the Sona to an arcade.
Entertainment venues like arcades are usually packed with people, with no empty seats even on weekdays.
Yasuhiro exchanged nearly a hundred game tokens in one go, seemingly preparing to take Sona to play every single game in the entire arcade.
First, he pulled Sona to an empty claw machine, inserted the coins, and gently pressed her small shoulders to make her sit down.
"Please do your best." Yasuhiro made a gesture of invitation.
Sona rolled her eyes at Yasuhiro, clearly annoyed. She had seen claw machines countless times but had never actually played one herself, so she had little interest in them.
In her view, playing claw machines was a simple thing.
Sometimes she didn't understand why many of her classmates spent almost all of their monthly allowance trying to win a favorite plush toy, only to fail and then try again.
Soon after, she realized that nothing is as simple as it seems...
One, two, three...
After nearly ten consecutive attempts without catching a single prize, even the usually calm and collected Sona couldn't help but subconsciously slap the claw machine's control panel.
Half an hour passed.
She had invested nearly a hundred game tokens, and despite her flurry of practice as a rookie, she still hadn't made any progress.
In the end, the arcade manager, feeling sorry for them, opened the claw machine and just gave them one.
Sona held the black doll in her arms, which perfectly represented her inner feelings.
Her face was flushed red, and she dared not look up, acting like a shy lovestruck girl.
She was afraid that Yasuhiro beside her would see her embarrassing state.
Of course, she recovered soon.
Yasuhiro exchanged another hundred or so game tokens for Sona and began to play other games.
...
Yasuhiro and Sona had spent the entire day in the arcade.
Under Yasuhiro's guidance, Sona gradually went from being reserved to fully immersing herself in the experience.
"Now I finally understand why some students are so obsessed with arcades, this really do relieve stress and frustration."
"Thank you, Yasuhiro."
"What's wrong?"
Seeing that Yasuhiro didn't respond, Sona followed his gaze and saw that he was looking at a man in black.
The man was wrapped up tightly in his clothes and exuded a disgusting aura.
"A devil or rather a stray."
Sona's hand tightened, she hadn't expected to encounter a stray devil here.
Strays usually roam at night, partly to evade capture and partly to make hunting easier.
What troubled Sona was that there were so many people here, and it was too late to set up a barrier to repel them.
Acting rashly and alerting the enemy would stimulate the strays ferocity, causing it to go on a killing spree right here in the arcade.
Everything that happened today made Sona even more reluctant to disrupt the peace and tranquility of the town.
As she was agonizing over her decision...
"Don't worry, leave it to me."
Yasuhiro patted Sona's head.
After spending the day together, Yasuhiro and Sona naturally began to engage in some of the affectionate actions that only a formal couple would do.
Of course, Sona didn't feel the slightest aversion to this.
"Get out of my way if you don't want to die."
The Stray sensed Yasuhiro's approach and a low sinister growl emanated from it.
Yasuhiro chuckled inwardly.
He had almost forgotten the last time a devil had been so arrogant towards him.
Ignorance is really a bliss.
Yasuhiro walked over to the stray and casually placed a hand on his shoulder.
"DIE."
Devils who stray from their masters are always short tempered, bloodthirsty and ruthless.
What happened?!
The Stray, who wanted to break free was shocked to find himself unable to move.
It wasn't some kind of intimidation, he discovered that the cause of this phenomenon was the guy in front of him.
The hand resting on his shoulder was like a nail, pinning down all his physical strength and his demonic power.
Under the ashen gaze of the stray, Yasuhiro pressed his thumb directly into a vital point on its throat.
Now the stray devil understood that the seemingly fragile student before him was the hunter, and he was merely the prey.
In the desperate and regretful eyes of the stray, Yasuhiro's fingers were nearly an inch deep into its throat.
Yasuhiro gently pulled his fingers out and wiped the blood off on the stray's clothes.
After that, he positioned the stray on a stool so it appeared to be in a drunken stupor, and quietly left.
"Alright, its resolved. Now time to bring our date to an end."
It wasn't until Yasuhiro walked up to Sona that she realized what had just happened.
Sona was shocked by Yasuhiro's methods.
She was absolutely certain that Yasuhiro dealt with the stray without using even the slightest bit of light or any other supernatural power.
That guy was killed purely through skill.
After a pleasant day together, Sona had almost forgotten that the person beside her was a executioner of the Church.
The way he casually annihilated the stray devil sent chills down her spine.