chapter 21:something

"W-Well, when you're putting yourself against Fallen Angels with only Enchanter Magic, it tends to make a you a bit anxious." Takeshi said, before he sighed tiredly. "I think I'm done for the night. I'm gonna hit the hay." Takeshi said as he decided to leave. As he did, Issei gave him a grateful nod and smile.

"Thanks a lot Fuyushima! You really helped me and Asia!" Issei thanked with gratitude. Takeshi just gave a small grin back.

"No problem! Oh, and you can call me Takeshi! I don't mind, really!"

"Only if you call me Ise in return! You helped me, so I owe you one!"

"I don't need it, but thank you anyway Issei!" Takeshi said his goodbyes as he left the group. Once he got away from them in a good distance, he soon took out his phone and waited for a certain Fallen Angel to pick up.

(Park)

Takeshi soon made his way to the park, and found Erika sitting on the fountain alone. Once she spotted him, she just gave a wave at him.

"Hey, looks like you've made it." Erika greeted.

"Yeah. Glad things turned out alright on our end." Takeshi said with a relieved smile. Erika then gave a curious look look to Takeshi.

"You know, I never took as the type who would know how to get around negotiations. How did you know how respond to certain situations when I talked with Gremory? Your text was quiet specific." Erika pointed out.

Before Raynare was taken before Rias and her Peerage, Takeshi quickly texted Erika what do say and do once Raynare was found. He gave her example questions and answers for her to memorize just in case she had to confront Rias and talk her out of letting Raynare go. Suffice to say, his instructions worked for the both of them and managed to save Raynare from death.

"I've read a lot of mystery, psychology, and fictional political novels. I just used the situations I've read and put it together to get through Gremory-senpai. Plus, I somehow predicted this might happen. You know, Murphy's Law. Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." Takeshi stated with a knowing tone, making Erika look at him with amusement.

"I swear, bookworm till the end." Erika said in a friendly manner. Takeshi simply chuckled at his supposed title before he looked around.

"Say, where's Raynare?" Takeshi asked, looking for a crisp Fallen Angel.

"I already sent her back to the Grigori along with her other partners. No doubt getting chewed out by Azazel." Erika said while saying it like it isn't her problem.

"No doubt there." Takeshi agreed, before his body slumped in a tired manner.

"So...is it all over?" Takeshi asked his Fallen Angel companion.

"Seems like it. We've completed our mission, so I think we're about done here." Erika said with a nod. It was then Takeshi held out his hand to her.

"Well, it was great working with you Erika-san. Thanks for all your help." Takeshi said with a grateful nod. Erika, in turn, just gave a small smile towards him and returned the handshake as well.

"Well, even though it was a short time, I had fun. We should do this sort of thing more often." Erika said while an excited grin formed on her face.

"Ha ha ha, I'd rather not. I prefer avoiding conflict." Takeshi said while scratching the back of his head.

"Oh don't be such a pacifist. It makes things boring." Erika told him with a playful tone.

"I don't know. It sounds nice and fitting for a guy like me." Takeshi said while seeing himself as a pacifist. It isn't that bad being one. Erika merely gave an amused snort, before she shrugged.

"Your loss." Erika said with indifference, before she lets go. Going back a few steps, she gave Takeshi a wave of goodbye before she spread out her wings and took off into the air. In a flash of light, she soon left the area.

Takeshi looked at where she left with a fond smile on his face, before he decided that he should head back home as well.

(Few Days Later - Kuoh Rooftop)

"...And in the end, Erika-san and I parted ways and I headed back home and went to sleep." Takeshi concluded his story. Sitting next to him was his childhood friend Kiyome, who looked at him with a complexed look on her face. She then proceeded to sigh while rubbing her temples.

"Honestly, to go all through that in one night." Kiyome said with a slight jaded tone.

"Yep! In the end, everything turned out all right." Takeshi said while a carefree smile appeared on his face and lets out a content sigh as he leaned back against the fence.

"Thank goodness that things didn't turn out for the worst. And you were very lucky that you experienced no injuries." Kiyome pointed out. Takeshi simply chuckled as he scratched his cheek.

"There were a few close calls, but I've managed to pull through. But hey, all that it matters is that everything turned okay." Takeshi reassured his friend.Yes, let's all be happy that this whole mess ended that way. Hopefully, you won't get yourself into any more trouble, now will you?" Kiyome asked while giving Takeshi a raised eyebrow.

"Ha ha ha, don't worry. I'd prefer not to get myself into these types of situations." Takeshi told her.

"Yet you choose to do so anyway?" Kiyome questioned.

"Well, yeah. I wouldn't sleep well at night if I turned a blind eye towards this whole thing. Plus, I've managed to make two certain people happy." Takeshi said while smiling, making Kiyome sigh at him once more.

"You and your ideals..." Kiyome quietly commented with a resigned tone.

It was then the two saw the door to the rooftop open, and revealed a familiar set of sandy blond hair.

"Oh, hey Saji!" Takeshi greeted with a friendly tone.

"Yeah yeah, hello to you to." Saji responded with a less enthusiastic tone, before he jabbed the back of his thumb behind him half-heartedly. "Kaichou wants to talk to you about something."

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