Chapter 86 - #85 Aftermath 1 (2/2)

”We are all exhausted and we also need to report to father. We have no idea where to even start looking plus look around yourself...there is only rubble around us, how are we going to find someone under it?” Najasho stopped and replied without even turning around when he was done, he resumed walking.

...Acting all cool and apathetic while having your hands in your pockets despite feeling down also needs a lot of skill in self-control. He is a good leader, he doesn't want to show any weakness to them, he wants to set an example for them. They can grieve but he, as a leader, needs to remain strong.

I thought while looking at Najasho's back.

”You should probably follow after your leader” I voiced out my opinion while everyone was just staring at his distancing back.

Everyone looked at me.

”People die, it happens, there is still a chance that she is alive, however, don't get your hopes too high...Sometimes, failed high expectations are even harder to bear than the real death of your comrade.” I muttered and gestured to Kurome to remain with Akame before I also took my leave.

”W-Wait, what about your coat?!” Gin suddenly shouted at me while gripping the coat she was wearing with an embarrassed expression.

”Do you want to return it to me right now? I don't mind if that's your wish, however, if not...you can return it once you are rested enough and also once you get your own clothes...Don't forget to wash it, after all, you are almost fully nȧkėd under it.” I stopped walking and glanced behind me with an amused smile before I resumed walking.

”?! What do you mean by that?! I don't stink!” She gritted her teeth and shouted at me with an upset expression.

”If you will want to become a fine wife in the future, you will need to practice those things to become efficient in them anyway.” I replied without even turning around or stopping this time, I just raised my hand as a goodbye gesture.

----

”Hah?!” Gin exclaimed with a dumbfounded expression before her expression distorted into a twitching smile while vain popped on her forehead while she was clutching her fist.

”Gin, no need to become so heated, he saved our lives after all...” Natala immediately tried to calm her down with a helpless smile.

”Maybe yes, maybe not. Who knows what would have happened if Kurome didn't come to help us at first? Maybe at the time, he would have arrived, I would already wish for death. And you also call yourself a man, grow some balls. Hmph!” Gin said while snorting at Natala's attempt to calm her down, she also tossed her head to the side to show that she is ignoring him and is disappointed in him.

”?...” Natala just looked at her with a completely dumbfounded expression.

'What do you mean by ”grow some balls”?' Natala thought with typical dense expression.

”Big sis...are you alright?” Kurome asked with a worried expression when she saw Akame's glazed eyes. Tsukushi and Poney weren't any different from Akame. However, they still knew that they have to move out, standing still won't do anything.

”I- I am alright...let's return back for now before doing anything else.” Akame said with a sad expression but despite her words, tears slowly started pouring down her cheeks.

”...Akame” Green muttered with a depressed expression while looking at Akame's tears before he started gritting his teeth with a clenched fist while looking downward.

”Let's go back, there is not much we can do here anyway.” Akame replied with a forced smile.

---

...I guess it was expected since when I was buried under that rubble I could also see some stones covered in ice.

I thought and decided to approach that person sitting on the boulder made of ice.

”To think that I would meet Red Devil himself here! It's nice to see you here.” She said aloud with a teasing tone and a friendly smile and then she jumped down from the boulder to match my height.

”Hearing such words from Ice Queen herself is very pleasing to ears. Hello, how long was it since we last saw each other?” I replied with the same teasing tone and a small smirk.

”Heh, more than 1 year perhaps?” She said uncertainly and approached me before pulling me into a hug.

?! This slightly surprised me but then I remembered our last meeting and I instantly calmed down. Even during our last meeting, she also hugged me so I guess there is not much to be surprised about.

Anyway...Her ċhėst is really big.

I thought while hugging her back with a helpless smile on my face due to her hugging tightly, I could feel her big ċhėst intensively pressing against my body.

---

On the side, not too far away, Gozuki was speaking with Najasho, however, when he saw the sight of Ice Queen hugging someone, his jaw almost dropped while Najasho just looked at him with a confused expression before redirecting his gaze at Akashi and Esdeath.

'They apparently know each other...' Najasho thought with a stoic expression before looking away from them.

---

”...You look a bit different.” When the hug finally ended, Esdeath held her chin and said while closely observing me with narrowed eyes.

What? Don't tell me her woman's intuition is tingling.

”...Well, we haven't seen each other for while 1 year. You have also changed a lot, you look stronger than before.” I said with a slightly helpless smile. I thought of saying that she looks more beautiful but I quickly dismissed that idea after thinking about what kind of woman she is.

”Maybe we will have time for a spar once again, hehe” She smiled when she heard my words but she still looked slightly suspicious and confused while searching for the change on me.

I didn't change physically much after that 1 year...

I thought with a puzzled expression.