Chapter 74 - #73 Reunion (2/2)
”What?!” Everyone was shocked by Gozuki's words.
”Daddy, what do you mean by No. 0? Isn't No. 1 the strongest?” Poney immediately asked while throwing a quick glance at Najasho.
”Forget it, some of you might even remember him. After all, he was together with you in the forest that day. Just wait until he will arrive- hm? Looks like he is finally here, look.” Gozuki shook his head and said another shocking fact but before he was able to finish his sentence he noticed someone walking on the road dividing the plains into 2 halves.
Everyone immediately turned in the same direction just to see two figures slowly approaching them.
One was a black-haired girl wearing a gray sleeveless shirt and mini skirt with a red belt, she was also munching the cookies.
He was wearing a very similar uniform to which Najasho was wearing with the exception of color. One was wearing black and the other was wearing white.
”...He looks like a dark upgraded version of you, Najasho...?!” Poney said with a teasing smile while glancing at Najasho who had a serious expression on his face which alarmed her.
”I remember him.” Najasho said with a dead-serious tone that attracted everyone's attention except for Akame's who was staring at the figure of that girl with wide-open shaky eyes.
”What do you mean?” Green asked with a curious expression since he couldn't recall him at all.
”He is the kid that joined us at last second during the test and he was also the last one to exit that forest, however, he walked out of there with a smile on his face without any scratches on his clothes.” Najasho explained with narrowed eyes.
”?!” Everyone's eyes widened after hearing Najasho's words.
”Oh! I remember now! If I recall correctly, he just left after the test ended and he even took someone with-” Cornelia suddenly remembered and said aloud but before she could finish her sentence, she saw the girl next to the man suddenly start running towards them which alarmed everyone but none of them actually draw their weapons since they didn't feel any hostility from her plus their ”father” was with them.
---Akashi's POV---
Looks like we found them without any complications.
”Kurome, why don't you go ahead? I don't feel like running.” I said with a small smile towards Kurome who was looking at Akame with wide-open eyes.
She looked at me with slightly confused eyes before she nodded and started running.
”?! Kuro-” Akame shaky voice got cut off when Kurome jumped on her, making her fall into the grass.
This alarmed other members of Akame's team but they instantly turned dumbfounded.
”Big sis~! I am so happy to see you again!” Kurome exclaimed while rubbing her cheek to Akame's cheek.
”Kurome!” Akame finally regained her posture and called out her name with a big smile on her face while hugging her sister.
”...So that's Akame's sister?” Tsukushi muttered and everyone who was paying attention to Akame and Kurome but a few people were still looking at me.
Especially Gozuki, Najasho, and Poney.
---
'*Ta-thump* Why do I feel like I know him? Could it be because he was with us during that test' Poney heart skipped a beat when she looked at Akashi more closely, especially into his red eyes with vertical pupils.
---
”Greetings, Gozuki” When I finally arrived in front of them, the first one I greeted was Gozuki since I ”didn't” know anyone else here.
”Hello, it is good news that you will be joining us. It's been 8 years and I would have never thought at that time that you would become widely known as Red Devil.” Gozuki got up from the ground and said with a small smile.
”Red Devil?” Both Poney and Najasho muttered with a thoughtful expression.
”I wouldn't say widely known, it's just within the Capital and its surroundings. Anyway, I should probably introduce myself to everyone.” I said with a wry smile before raising my voice a bit to gather everyone's attention.
”A-Akashi?” Just now, Akame finally spotted me since her eyes laid the entire time on her sister.
”Well, I will be going with you all on your mission to Putolu so we will be working together for the time being. My name is Akashi of the Phoenix house but you can just call me Akashi.” I introduced myself with a slightly tired tone and half-open eyes.
”I am Poney, nice to meet you, new temporary partner!” Poney immediately puffed out her almost flat ċhėst and extended her fist to me with a wide smile, showing off her white teeth.
Now I feel slightly awkward since she is the one I was fighting against for a few minutes. But it's nothing I can't control, the most awkward situation will be with...Cornelia since I was intending to let Taeko kill her while I had no thoughts of killing Poney. Whatever, I am here just to steal a few treasures for myself and that's all.
”It's nice to meet you, shortie.” I said with a small smile and bumped fists with her.
”? S-Shortie?” She muttered with a dumbfounded expression before her head and shoulders dropped down in disappointment with the new nickname.
---
'I just wanted to make a good first impression but instead, I got myself such a nickname...But it doesn't have to necessarily represent a bad thing! Maybe he means it in a way that I am cute! Yes! That must be it.' Poney thought with a disappointed expression before she suddenly raised her head with wide-open eyes and clenched her fist in the realization that such a nickname doesn't only represent one's height.
---
Everyone quickly introduced themselves to me.
”Most of you already know my companion but I will still introduce her. She is Kurome, a biological sister of Akame here.” I said while gesturing with my hand to Kurome who already recovered from her state of happiness and now kept standing next to me with a smile.