(Chpt. 9) Family.

Alice.

I wanted to know, why Aizen was a girl, I decided to ask. It has been bothering me since I met her again.

“Hey, Aizen why are you a girl now?’

“Because of you…”

“Eh?”

Aizen answered with a cold voice while having an empty expression. I let out yet another stupid voice, how does this happen? What could I have done to turn Aizen into a girl?!  When Aizen heard my stupid voice, her face quickly changed, she started talking with visible anger and resentment.

“Since you consumed that item!”

My expression turned blank for a second while I was thinking ‘How does the item affect Aizen.’ As if reading my mind Aizen answered.

“I was affected because of the contract we made.”

“What does that have to do with the contract?”

That question seemed to have fueled her anger. Aizen snapped.

“Are you stupid?! To summon something you form a contract, in other words, you are linked, that is why you can know how your summoned beast is doing without looking at it! For us beasts, contracts are something sacred. I basically gave you my life, yet...”

“...”

“You show up, decades later and pretend everything is fine?! Just what is wrong with you...”

Aizen's voice cracked at the end of her sentence. I was speechless, this is all my fault... Under normal circumstances, it would not affect him, game or not. But what about this whole situation is normal? ‘Decades later.’ I realized at that moment what that meant... Aizen’s rage settled down. She had gone through a lot and yet I did not do anything... I felt my chest cramp from the sudden realization. Aizen sat down under a tree while looking at the ground with an empty look and lifeless eyes. She started drawing things on the dirt with her finger.    

“You know, Kuro…”

Aizen spoke while looking at the ground with a hollow and distant voice, devoid of any emotions, no dignity, no pride, no loyalty, only emptiness. Just a husk of her former self. A broken person.

“I don’t think I can come with you.”

I wanted her to come, but I could not bring myself to ask her again. Do I even have the right to ask her? I started thinking and Aizen seemed to want to say something but did not, after some time of silence, Aizen suddenly said with a tone full of regret.

“I want to end our contract.”

“...”

My eyes widened. Why would she want to end our contract? No what am I even thinking, it’s obvious why she would want to end it. I do not even deserve to have contracts. I started looking at the sky with a difficult expression while thinking about how to apologize. Aizen realized this and continued speaking.

“Kuro, It’s not you, it’s me.”

“What do you mean it’s not me? What could make it you?!”

I was agitated. What does she even mean? Not me? I did not do anything and left her alone. Aizen turned into a girl because of me, yet… I do not understand… Aizen started speaking with a melancholic voice.

“Kuro, I want to continue serving you, however, my feelings changed over time... I realized...”

Aizen paused. She had a hard time talking, I don’t get it, I had so many questions to ask but the most important one.

“If you want to continue serving me, then why?”

Aizen froze she stopped aimlessly drawing on the ground, after a few seconds I could see tears falling on the ground. Aizen started speaking again with a voice I have never heard before. It was a frail and quiet one.

“You know Kuro… In all these years I realized… I am no [Legendary Dragon] it’s just a dignified appearance... Right now, I am just a pitiful girl with nowhere to go.”

“So what?”

Aizen froze and looked up to see me, Aizen had an expression filled with regret and tears flowing out from her eyes.

Ah, I see how it is. Aizen you need to understand, You are much more than just a dragon, now that you are a no longer a dragon, you think you are not worth anything but you are worth to me much more than just a dragon, especially now. You are the only one I can rely on. I do not know what you went through, however, I will listen to your experiences and you will listen to mine. My companion, and now my friend…

I spoke with a serious tone.

“So you want to end the contract?”

Aizen nodded with a confused expression. While wiping her tears.

“Very well, I will accept however you must make a promise.”

“... A promise?”  

“Yeah, a promise.”

“Let me make a promise then.”

She was taken aback by my sudden request but she accepted as if that was her only choice, how foolish. There’s only one choice… Aizen you will come with me.

"Before that."

Aizen was bewildered by my words as if I had forgotten what all of this was about.

"Before that?"

I had to confirm something first. Does she just want to leave it at that? End the contract with me and call it a day?

"Aizen are you really ok with this?"

Aizen froze, her face was filled with more sadness and regret than before, she tried her best to stay composed but she was trembling, her voice was no exception to this.

"I-I am okay with this"

"I am not."

I declared, how could I ever be okay with this? Aizen looked at me with eyes questioning what I meant by that. Aizen, I will make you understand.

“Aizen, I will end our contract, however, I want you to come with me, I need you. Not because you are the legendary dragon. I need you. I need Aizen."

Aizen’s eyes widened in surprise, after a second or two, her usual eyes returned and her expression changed to one with a faint smile, but something was wrong. Her expression quickly changed to one of insecurity and doubt. She stood up from the tree she was under and started wiping her tears with her arm. She started speaking, with insecurity.

“Are you really fine with me?”

I answered instantly full of conviction and confidence.

“Of course, is that really a question? You are the only one I can rely on, moreover, you are my companion and now my friend.”

She muttered something. Her face quickly changed to one of pure happiness as if she had come to a realization. She was crying. I decided to ask even If I knew the answer.

“Do you accept?”

“Yes!”

She said full of joy and enthusiasm.

Well, let’s get started… Now that I think about it, I do not know how to end the contract with Aizen. She saw my confused face and started talking.

“To end the contract we just need to have each other’s consent.”

Huh? That’s pretty simple. Well then, I agree to end the contract with my summon the [Legendary Dragon Aizen]. As I finished thinking that, I felt a jolt in my spine. It made me shiver, Aizen also looked stiff so I guess that’s the end of it.

[You have ended your contract with the Legendary Dragon Aizen.]

“Well let us start again… My name is Yami, would you like to be my friend? ”

I said with a smile while holding my hand towards Aizen, she seemed to be wondering about something and asked.

“Why not Kuro?”

“I don’t want to be Kuro anymore, it seems problematic.”

Aizen nodded as if understanding. I mean seriously, I would probably be chased by the church so I can make them items or something, It’s not something I want to happen. As I was thinking.

[Your main name cannot be removed.]

I made a wry smile after that happened. Aizen started speaking.

“Let's be friends.”

She said with her usual dignified voice, and shook my hand, at that moment.

[Error: Contract failed. Can only form a contract with a beast.]

“”eh.””

We both let out stupid voices in unison, we just looked at each other wondering what happened. We did not even try to make a contract. As we were thinking, the system voice resounded in my head again.

[Yami becomes your main name.]

[Requirements met. Kuro becomes your family name.]

[New family member: Aizen.]

[Title unlocked: Family]:

You have created a family. Isn’t that wonderful?

We both looked at each other and decided to not say anything, ’Looks like she also heard something similar.’ I muttered, however Aizen and I could tell, we formed a contract, it was just a different type of contract…

Alice.

Hey guys, this is a bit different compared to the slice of life chapters. I am not very good at expressing character emotions so, I made another lame poll to feel better about myself. EDIT: Fixed paragraph spacing.