"Soutarou!" He raised his head.
Miwaka stood a dozen paces away, hands clasped in front of her. Her eyes darted to the workers, then back to him, clearly hesitant to approach in public.
"Hey." He closed the distance between them. "You okay?"
"I'm okay," she said quickly. Then, quieter: "Um..."
Her gaze flicked around too many people, too many ears.
Soutarou understood immediately.
"Follow me," he said, already turning. His hand lightly caught her elbow, guiding her away from the crowd. "Can't talk here."
He led her through the base, toward the eastern edge of the compound, where storage buildings sat quiet and abandoned this time of morning.
He glanced back once checking for followers then ducked into the narrow space between two supply sheds.
Miwaka exhaled, tension draining from her shoulders now that they were hidden.
"About what happened yesterday...." she said immediately." Then she swallowed hard. "I still don't know if I made the right choice."
Soutarou leaned against the shed wall, arms crossed, expression patient. "Having second thoughts?"
"Yes. Maybe." She pressed her palms against her eyes, frustrated with herself. "I don't know. I just—I need answers. You promised."
"I did," he agreed quietly. "What do you want to know?"
Miwaka lowered her hands, meeting his gaze directly despite the tremor in her voice.
"Everything. Start from the beginning. What is a Demon Tamer? Why did the organization erase them? What happened to you in that forest?"
She squared her shoulders, trying to look braver than she felt.
"And don't leave anything out because you think I can't handle it. I saw what you did. I'm already in this."
Soutarou studied her for a long moment—this young slayer who'd chosen conspiracy over safety.
'She's stronger than she looks'
"Alright," Soutarou said finally. "But this will take time. And some of it..." His expression darkened slightly. "Some of it isn't clear"
"I'm listening," Miwaka leaned against the opposite wall, arms wrapped around herself against the morning chill.
Soutarou breathed out slowly, organizing memories into words she could understand.
"Centuries ago," he began, voice low and steady, "During the Special Candidate training where the higher ups adopt kids and train them for childhood to become legendary slayers and leaders of the future Taima Dam. The Head at that time adopted six children but later he discovered those children weren't ordinary kids."
"Later the kids manifested different powers, the ability to corrupt and control and demon."
"I remember we're praised and loved among demon slayers, but some people didn't like it."
"Until.." Soutarou paused. He could see a blurred image of crimson. His death scene but he couldn't fully grasp the memory.
"I don't know what happened but all the tamers got killed." Soutarou said quietly.
He sat down on a nearby rock.
"My technique works on a Soul Energy called shoki."
Miwaka's eyebrow arched. "Oh... what's that?"
Soutarou looked up at her, expression unreadable.
"I don't know. I think it's the opposite of Ki"
She moved closer.
"But demon's soul energy:Makai is the opposite of Ki"
"Yes. So I guess it a new variant"
The word hung in the air between them.
"What—" Miwaka's face flushed, trying to process. "That doesn't make sense unless there is another variation of Soul Energy?"
"Yes." Soutarou said simply.
Miwaka wavered, mind racing through implications. "But Ki represents Life, Makai represents Death then what does Shoki represent."
"No idea."
Miwaka studied his face. Is he saying the truth or just pretending?
"Can you use it on me?"
"No." His answer was immediate. "It doesn't work that way."
"But if your chain is powered with Shoki.." Miwaka said.
"Then what are you? Another type of demon?" Miwaka asked jokingly.
"Something like that," he answered dismissively.
The admission hung between them, heavy with implication.
Soutarou looked away, staring at the distant rubble of the outer barracks.
"I was... human. In another life. " He struggled with the words. "Was just an orphan found and was trained to protect but got killed because I did my job well."
Miwaka sat down slowly, finding a fallen beam to perch on.
She picked up a stick and began doodling. "I just realized that you can't be a demon we would have sensed that long ago. Probably be dead by now."
After a moment, she asked quietly, "What about the demon you tamed? Where is she?"
"Shion," Soutarou called into the shadows.
Nothing.
The shadows materialized but remained still.
"She's not listening," he said, a hint of irritation creeping into his voice.
Miwaka's expression shifted—relief replaced by alarm. "If she can't listen to your orders, are you sure it's safe? What can you do to force her to listen?"
Soutarou sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You ask too many questions."
Then he stretched his hand forward.
Chains materialized from nothing. They shot into the shadows where Shion hid rattling, wrapping around something unseen.
Soutarou's fingers closed into a fist.
He pulled.
Shion flew out of the darkness, white hair whipping behind her, face twisted with surprise and anger. The chains coiled around her, binding her mid-air.
"Kneel," Soutarou commanded.
The chains yanked her down. Her knees hit the ground with audible force, head bowed whether she wanted it or not.
Soutarou looked at Miwaka. Her expression shifted back relieved.
"Satisfied now?" he asked.
Miwaka smiled faintly and nodded.
The chains shattered like glass dissolving into light.
Shion rose to her feet slowly, deliberately. Her white hair fell forward, covering one crimson eye. The visible one locked onto Miwaka with pure venom.
"You..." she hissed. "Whore."
"Shion." Soutarou's voice carried a warning.
She spun toward him, and her expression transformed instantly fury melting into desperate affection.
"Varō-sama, why do you humiliate me in front of her?" Her voice cracked slightly. "I was just... I was staying hidden like you asked."
Miwaka ignored the outburst, eyes fixed on Shion with sudden intensity.
She stood, turning to look back toward the barracks, at the smoking wreckage of the outer defenses.
Then back at Shion.
"Why did you attack us?" Soutarou and Shion froze. "The base. The outer barracks. All those people."
Miwaka took a step closer "Was it an order? Or just you?"
Shion's expression changed again, the manic energy replaced with caution.
She remained silent, her eyes flicking between Miwaka and Soutarou.
The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken answers.