"That is..." Satoru didn't know how to reply to Kaede's words because everything she said was true. He looked at the students behind, and they also turned their attention to him. The students were waiting for instructions from Satoru as he was the vice president of the student council.
"Please come back now that we have become the center of attention from the senior Realizers. If you still insist on going there, I will tell Setsuka about this matter." Keaede said after seeing that Satoru was silent because he was confused about what he should do.
"We will return now. You don't need to mention Setsuka's name to threaten me. I'm doing this for her good because I don't want her image ruined by that illegal Realizer. Plus, we're worried that The Reaper will do something bad to her. After all, she is the student council president of our school." Satoru replied calmly, and the students behind him nodded in response to his words.
"That's good. I didn't mean to threaten you. I don't want us to get into trouble here, especially with illegal Realizers. We need their strength to deal with space collapse. Besides, we should not waste time on the matter. We should rest and restore our stamina as much as possible because we will face a great battle soon." Kaede explained.
"I understand. I apologize for misunderstanding your words." Satoru lowered his head to Kaede and looked at the students behind him.
"We'll return and let the president take care of that matter. I'm sure she'll be fine because The Reaper won't dare touch the daughter of the head of Fuyushima Temple." Satoru said to the students. They followed his words and returned to where the students from Susiei High School rested.
After Satoru and the students returned, Kaede sighed in relief and turned her eyes to Setsuka.
"I've helped you to be alone with him, Setsuka. So you owe me an explanation after you get back." Kaede smiled slightly when she saw her best friend's happy face.
She wasn't stupid, and she knew Setsuka only showed that expression when she was with the man she loved. In other words, The Reaper is Tenku. After seeing her best friend's happy face, Kaede left the place and followed Satoru from behind.
Akio could only clench his fists when he saw Satoru and the others return before they gave Tenku a warning.
eaglesnovɐ1,сoМ At first, he wanted to go with Satoru to ask Setsuka to stay away from The Reaper. But Akio held back because he didn't want what happened in front of the Kumotori mountain entrance to repeat. Sure enough, Kaede appeared and stopped them. It made Satoru and the students the center of attention of the Realizers on the mission. Akio was relieved that he was not coming with them.
At another spot in the scene, Kirika was looking enviously and admiringly at Setsuka. That girl dared to sit close to Tenku under many people's eyes. Kirika didn't expect Setsuka's feelings to be so great for Tenku.
Setsuka didn't care about her image being damaged by the gossip that would arise after those people saw her getting close to the illegal Realizer. While Kirika thought deeply, someone's voice returned her to her senses.
"Why did that girl approach The Reaper? Is she afraid her actions will damage Fuyushima Temple's image?" Akihiroa said weakly, but the people around him heard his words.
"Huh? What do you mean? What does she have to do with Fuyushima Temple?" The one who responded to Akihiko's words was Ichiro.
He had seen Setsuka when the Realizers had gathered in front of Mount Kumotori's entrance for an identity check and strength test. Ichiro remembers that Setsuka is the girl he met at Lake Motosu. He would not be able to forget such a beautiful girl.
At first, Ichiro wanted to say hello to Setsuka, but he didn't because he was trying to get close to Kirika. He would get into trouble if he chased after the two girls at the same time.
Ichiro waits for the right time to approach Setsuka when Kirika isn't around. But then he was shocked when he heard Akihiko's words that Setsuka was related to Fuyushima Temple.
"You don't know, Senior Ichiro? She is Setsuka Fuyushima, the daughter of the head of the Fuyushima temple." Akihiko replied.
Ichiro's body trembled, and cold sweat flowed profusely from his forehead when he heard that. He didn't expect that the beautiful girl he met at Lake Motosu accidentally was the daughter of the Fuyushima temple. Even worse, Ichiro tries to approach her by force and intends to do the same on this mission.
"What's wrong with you, Senior Ichiro? Are you okay?" Akihiko asked because he felt strange after seeing Ichiro's expression.
"Ah, I'm fine. I was just a little surprised after hearing your words. I didn't expect the daughter of the head of the Fuyushima Temple would participate in such a dangerous mission." Ichiro answered nervously.
Fortunately, he didn't say hello to Setsuka when he saw her in front of the Kumotori mountain entrance. If he did, Ichiro would be in big trouble. He looked at Setsuka and noticed the girl talking seriously with The Reaper.
"Why don't you get together with the other illegal Realizers?" Setsuka searched for topics and tried to start a chat with Tenku.
"I prefer to be alone than to have to sit together with them. Also, not all illegal Realizers are friendly and easy to talk to. So you have to be more careful when talking to them. But you better not get too close to those people because they are dangerous." Tenku warned Setsuka.
"Thank You. But I have no intention of talking to them. You are the only illegal Realizer I want to talk to because I am your fan." Setsuka replied with a smile on her face. Her heart fluttered because she could feel Tenku's concern from his words.
"You are my fan?" Tenku looked at Setsuka in confusion.
"Yes, I am your big fan." Setsuka looked him straight in the eye. Tenku raised his eyebrows because he sensed another meaning from her words.
"What's your reason for being my fan? I am not an actor or a great Realizer from an official organization. I'm just a middle-aged man who enjoys slaughtering monsters in space collapse." Tenku asked. He felt a little curious about Setsuka's words.
"That's why I became your fan. You killed monsters and indirectly dealt with space collapse. You have taken over the duties of the Realizers from the official organization who came late to that location. Even though I don't know your reason, you have saved many people by doing that, including me.
You don't expect anything in return or thanks from us because you come and go without anyone knowing. Thus, thank you for saving my life." Setsuka said and smiled at Tenku.
She has been searching for information and learning all about The Reaper since Tenku rescued her at Lake Shima. Because of that, Setsuka knew a lot about him and what he had done.
Setsuka looked at Tenku with a face full of gratitude. If it weren't for Tenku, Setsuka wouldn't be able to live up to this point, and she would have lost her little sister. Therefore, Tenku was a lifesaver and hero to her and Kohana.
"You are wrong. I only helped you by chance at that time. So you don't have to thank me. I'm not that kind of person. I have no intention of saving anyone. I just want to kill monsters, that's all, and nothing more. But if they survived because of what I did, you could say that's a bonus." Tenku replied calmly.
"I know about it. But whatever your reason, you have indirectly saved them. Because of that, I hope to cooperate well with you in this mission." Setsuka stretched out her hand and offered Tenku a handshake.
Tenku was speechless when he saw that. He felt Setsuka was talking to him intimately like they had known each other for a long time. Tenku was sure he had only met her a few times, and they couldn't even be called acquaintances.
"Yes. I also wish for your good cooperation in this mission." Tenku accepted Setsuka's handshake. For some reason, he couldn't refuse her words.
When he saw Setsuka's attitude towards him, Tenku began to suspect that she knew his identity. He intended to find out and confirm his suspicions, whether his feelings were true or Setsuka had other intentions to approach him.
"Thank You!" Setsuka said excitedly, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on Tenku.
"Alright. You better go back to your friends now. If you stay here, I'm afraid that the students from your school will come to this place thinking that I have done something to you." Tenku reminded Setsuka.
"I understand. But can I talk to you again?" Setsuka nodded obediently and looked at Tenku with an expectant face. She wanted to spend more time with him on Mount Kumotori.
"Yes, you can. If we have time, we can talk again." Tenku quickly agreed.
"Thank You! Then, I will take my leave now." Setsuka bowed her head to Tenku and quickly left the place with light steps.
Tenku sighed when he saw Setsuka had left. He felt slightly overwhelmed chatting with her when he became The Reaper.
When Setsuka returned to where the students from Suisei High School were resting, she received strange looks from Satoru and the others.
"What are you talking about with that person? You shouldn't get too close to him because he's dangerous." One of the teachers said.
"I came to him to thank him." Setsuka answered, and she told about her purpose in talking with Tenku. First, she wants to thank The Reaper for saving her at Lake Shima. Second, Setsuka asked The Reaper not to hold grudges against Daichi.
The teachers and students nodded after hearing Setsuka's explanation. They finally found out why she dared to meet The Reaper in front of many Realizers from the official organization.
After explaining that to them, Setsuka took a break to recover her stamina. Not long after, Kaede sat down next to her and whispered.
"The Reaper is Tenku, right?"
Setsuka's body trembled when she heard Kaede's words.