Hello! Thanks so much for the kind and motivating comments! I'm officially on summer break, so I plan to update this as much as I possibly can.

Just to clarify something: At the moment, I do not plan to discontinue the story. I will write this. The timing is never ideal, but I want this to continue.

Sayuri and Guren are my special OTP, so I want to give them their own special ending.

*Also, please forgive me for spelling, grammar etc.

Thanks again, and enjoy! :)

"Sayuri, are you alright? You have been so quiet ever since you came back from the Black Demon dungeon." Goshi said as we all were in our meeting room, deciding to have lunch there.

I was not purposely ignoring my comrades' company. There were just too many questions and thoughts in my head. I was mostly worried for the children that Guren-sama had taken down to the dungeon for a Black Demon series weapon trial.

"Are you doubting Guren-sama?" Mito suddenly chimed in. "There is a reason why he kept such a close eye on those three. Guren-sama has superb instincts. If this is what he is betting on based on those instincts, we have to trust him to do it. He has been doing his homework to measure the abilities and capabilities of those children."

"I understand what you're saying. I just… them three being so young… that just reminds me of what it used to be for us."

Earlier in the classroom when Guren-sama had unsheathed his sword, the persuasive force was almost too overwhelming. I was still very disappointed at myself for not being able to withstand it.

Even now that female eerie cry still rang in my head.

"Well, Guren did want me to tell you all that in case he does not return in time for the meeting, then we're actually free for the night." Goshi-san said as he began to exit the room.

Later that night...

It seemed that Guren-sama was not going to make it to the meeting after all. It was seven o' clock at night now, and he was probably still in the dungeon with the three students.

Goshi-san, Mito, and Shigure had already left. I told them I would follow behind after I locked up some rooms. We took turns to lock-up each night, and tonight was my turn.

When I finished, I made my way to the front of the school and pulled my keys out.

"Locking up?" I quickly turned around to find Guren-sama coming up the stairs with his hands shoved in the pockets of his pants.

"Ah, yes. Goshi-san said that you said we could leave if you were late to the meeting." I turned the keyhole to the left for the click to ensure the locking.

"Yeah, I did. It took longer than I had expected down in the dungeon."

Strangely, I noticed we were both walking together down the streets.

Was he planning to walk me home? And just why would he do that?

"Are the students safe? Were they successful?" I tried to stable the quivering concern in my voice.

"All three of them succeeded."

After hearing that, I was able to let out a relieved sigh.

"Are you that concerned for them?" he asked.

"Of course I am. They're young, and I don't want them to get hurt."

Guren-sama must had found this amusing because he laughed at what I just said. He never laughed at real jokes, but he laughed at things you normally would not laugh at.

"Sayuri, you need to have more faith in them. And in me."

"O-of course I have faith in you, Guren-sama."

"You sure about that?" he challenged with a raiseed brow at me. "Because I recalled you were pretty hesitant about my decision earlier today. I hope you know that when my authority is challenged in front of the students, it can potentially chip out our reputation."

"Yes, Guren-sama. I won't do it again." I was sincerely sorry if my behavior earlier in the classroom came off as disrespectful to him.

There was this awkward silence that crept between us. Although he and I had both agreed to be professional and okay, there was no missing this thick unspoken tension between us.

"U-um… Guren-sama, I can walk home by myself. I will see you tomorrow. Goodnight!"

"Ah… yes, goodnight as well," he said. And he had definitely noticed that tension as well.

It was awkward when we were both alone. Things were not the same as they used to be when I could confidently speak to him because we were friends for so long.

Now, I longed to be far from him because I knew how capable he was to knock my barriers down and make me feel such sensual and embarrassing feelings.

He was easily my weakness. And I shouldn't make that so obvious to him all the time.

How does one recover from sensual earth-shattering kisses like that? Every time my eyes lay on him, scenes of him and me flooded my brain, making me forget my composure.

I shook my head from these thoughts again as I walked alone in the night.

A few days later...

As the days passed by, everyone had their share of work to do to make the Shinjuku attack a successful one.

I had been up late after classes with the crew to practice formations in many possible scenarios. It was important that we considered them all with an offense and defense formation in mind.

"Shigure, as always, lay the net flat when the enemy least expects it. You're the surprise element that the enemy will play into. Mito, stay in combat close to Shigure. Goshi, you will keep close and blanket all of us entirely if we are overwhelmed."

All three of them saluted to Guren-sama's orders.

"Sayuri, you and I will engage in combat up in the front."

I had wondered for a bit if me fighting by his side had been a personal decision. Part of me had gotten excited, feeding on feelings that should have been buried.

I should know better by now, don't you think?

"You're all excused. Except for Sayuri."

"Umm…me?"

"You and I are fighting the front. We'll have to go over our formation again to solidly hold it when the time comes."

"Y-yes, Guren-sama," I said as I watched the others leave.

The last time Guren-sama had excused everyone except me, I was being scolded for having dinner with Kureto-chujo. It was a moment I wasn't very proud of, and this just reminded me of it.

In the next hour, Guren-sama and I had finished the formation, retaining it to our memory.

"All right. That's all for today. If you'll excuse me, I have to give those kids their mission."

I was surprised by how professional he was in our time alone again.

Guren-sama had always been good with feigning and shielding his emotions. I was just having too many thoughts again, thinking this meant more than it should be.

"Um… Guren-sama. What kind of mission are you assigning them?"

He grabbed his sword and secured it to his waist.

"I'm sending them to Harajuku to rescue the humans that have been kept as livestock. I received word they were seen and kept there."

""But, it's their first mission. I don't know if—"

"Are you questioning my authority again?" he chimed in to cut me off.

I immediately regretted it, but I could not help my own nature. I had a soft spot for children, and these youngsters venturing out of the walls into the infested lands of vampires and monsters tugged my heartstrings.

"I-I'm sorry."

Guren-sama cocked his head to the left and observed me. Then he chuckled and made his way to the door.
"You've always had a soft spot for children, Sayuri. Your compassion is what comforts and help preserve the sanity of these people. However, the cruel world has forced them to mature. They can't be treated like this anymore. You, I, and the rest of our squad should know this better than anyone."

"Yes." He had a point.

"Alright, I'll be on my way. Have a good evening, Sayuri."
"You as well, Guren-sama."