3rd Person POV
A few days had passed since the incident at the school gate, and Kazuki's routine had returned to normal.
Or at least, that was what he thought.
The streets were already beginning to fill with people heading toward work and school, while several shops were opening for the day.
Kuoh was a relatively peaceful town, with quiet residential areas, small businesses, and several older buildings scattered throughout the city.
For most people, it was simply an ordinary place to live.
For Kazuki Sakuragi, however, this morning was anything but ordinary.
He was running through the streets with his bag slung over his shoulder.
"Shit..." he muttered between heavy breaths. "I'm going to be late, thanks to too many newspapers being assigned to the wrong delivery routes."
He cursed under his breath.
"I should've checked the route list before leaving. The organizers really messed this one up."
As he continued complaining to himself, Kazuki suddenly crashed into someone.
The impact sent the other person stumbling backward while Kazuki only staggered a few steps.
"H-Hey," Kazuki began, quickly regaining his balance. "I'm sorry. Are you alri—"
He stopped.
Standing before him was a young girl with long, golden-blonde hair that fell gently around her shoulders and bright green eyes.
She wore a dark green nun's habit with a white wimple framing her face, along with dark stockings and simple shoes. A small golden cross hung around her neck, completing the modest appearance of a young nun.
"Ouch..." the girl muttered, rubbing the spot where she had been hit. "I'm sorry. I'm too clumsy."
"A..." Kazuki's lips parted. "Asia...?!"
The girl looked up at him with confusion.
"Huh? Who are you, mister?"
Kazuki froze before, without warning, dropping to his knees.
"Oh, Lord..." he said dramatically, clasping his hands together. "Is this my punishment for forgetting someone else's name?"
He wiped away an imaginary tear.
"Forgive me, for I have sinned."
"Hmm?" Asia narrowed her eyes as she studied his hair and eye color. Her expression suddenly changed.
"Wait..." She pointed at him. "That black hair... those red eyes..."
Her eyes widened.
"Kazuki!?"
"Yeah," he stood up with a wide smile and pointed his thumb toward himself. "It's me—bugh!"
Without any warning, Asia launched herself at him and wrapped her arms around his stomach like a surprise attack, causing Kazuki to suffer a fatality-level fall onto the street.
"It's been so long!" Asia exclaimed, tears forming in her eyes. "How have you been—"
But when she looked down and saw Kazuki lying unconscious beneath her, Asia froze.
A nervous sweatdrop appeared on her forehead.
"...I'm sorry!"
Small Timeskip
Kazuki and Asia sat on a bench near the main street. Kazuki was clutching his stomach, still feeling the lingering pain from Asia's surprise reunion tackle.
Asia's face was red as a tomato, embarrassed that she had been unable to contain her excitement at their reunion.
"Ugh," Kazuki groaned. "It still hurts, Asia. "What if you had broken my ribs?"
"Umm... I'm sorry." She lowered her head, but then looked up as she felt something familiar on top of her head.
"Nah, it's okay."
It was Kazuki, gently ruffling her hair.
"I sometimes forget that you can get pretty excited. Remember when we found those delicious berries behind the church? You rushed to grab them and somehow ended up getting scratched by the rose thorns?"
Asia chuckled and nodded.
"Yeah, I remember. I also remember that Sister punished you by smacking your butt with a stick because you were older than me and didn't protect me."
"Ahh..." Kazuki pinched the bridge of his nose. "Don't remind me of that."
Kazuki then stood up and walked away, causing Asia to tilt her head in confusion.
"Wait here for a moment."
Asia nodded while gently swaying her feet.
Kazuki approached a nearby vending machine and looked over the prices and drinks before sighing heavily at the sight of his wallet.
"After treating Murayama-san..." He looked at the money left in his wallet. "I guess, I'll have to make one cup of ramen last for two meals just to survive the next few days."
He inserted the money into the machine and pressed the button for a can of milk tea twice.
Clank!
Two cans dropped into the dispenser.
Kazuki retrieved them before walking back toward Asia.
"Here..." he said, tossing one of the cans toward her. "Your favorite, right?"
"Huh?" Asia caught the can and looked at him in surprise. "Ye-yeah... You remembered? But why?"
"It's our reunion celebration." Kazuki opened his own can and took a sip. "It's been almost six years since the Cathedral took you in. I still remember you crying and hugging everyone before you left."
"Mou..." Asia pouted cutely as she opened her own drink and took a sip of her milk tea. "I feel embarrassed whenever I remember that."
"But, Asia..." Kazuki began. "What are you doing here in Kuoh? Wasn't your dream to become the best nun?"
Asia's eyes widened before she lowered her gaze, nervously playing with the can in her hands.
"Actually..." She paused. "I was expelled from the Cathedral."
Kazuki immediately spat out his drink.
"Wh—what?"
He began coughing, prompting Asia to panic as she gently rubbed his back.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine..." Kazuki managed between coughs. "But what do you mean you were expelled? Why?"
Asia lowered her gaze again.
"I don't know all the details, but... Kazuki, you remember that miracle I had, right? The ability to heal people?"
Kazuki nodded as he remembered the rabbit she had healed behind the church all those years ago. Everyone had been amazed by what they had witnessed.
Not long afterward, the Cathedral had taken Asia into its care.
"One day, I healed a young man," Asia continued quietly. "But a few days later, people at the Cathedral began accusing me of witchcraft."
She paused.
“I didn't understand what I'd done wrong. I was only trying to help him.”
Her fingers tightened slightly around the can.
"Then they stopped calling me the Holy Maiden..." She swallowed. "They called me a witch instead. And after that..."
Asia paused. A few tears escaped from the corners of her eyes.
"...I was expelled from the Cathedral and forbidden from entering any church."
Crack!
Asia suddenly heard the sound beside her and turned her head.
Kazuki was gripping his can so tightly that the metal had begun to deform beneath his fingers.
His eyes were sharp as he stared straight ahead, his teeth clenched tightly together.
For a moment, the gentle and carefree expression he usually wore had completely disappeared.
Asia's eyes widened.
"B-But I'm okay!" she quickly said, trying to reassure him. "I have a friend who followed me, actually. She's been a great help to me during that time."
Kazuki slowly turned toward her.
"...A friend?"
"Yes. Sister Ray-Ray." Asia smiled brightly and nodded. "She's been very kind to me."
A huge sigh of relief escaped Kazuki as his grip loosened, releasing the can from his fingers. He smiled faintly.
"Then..." he said, "I should meet her and express my gratitude for being there for you, Asia."
"Really!?"
Asia's eyes lit up as she suddenly leaned toward him, bringing her face dangerously close to his.
Kazuki instinctively leaned back a few centimeters.
"Ye-yeah..." he replied with an awkward smile, his eyes glancing to the side. "Also... you're too close."
"Ah!"
Asia immediately panicked and pulled herself back, her face turning bright red as she hurriedly fixed her hair and clothes.
"I'm sorry! I just... I thought you and Sister Ray-Ray would become great friends once you met each other."
"I see..." Kazuki simply replied.
He thought about it for a moment.
"Then... I suppose I could meet her now."
"Great!"
Asia suddenly jumped to her feet.
"But..." She glanced at his uniform. "You're going to school, right? Is it okay if you stay here?"
"Ah, shit..." Kazuki rubbed the back of his head. "I forgot about school..."