Chapter 93: CH 72: ISSUE(4)

"Kuroha...I know you're the one saving people as Devil."

The moment he heard those words, Kuroha's hand that was stretching toward his teacup stilled for an instant, so short it was unremarkable, before naturally reaching his target and taking a sip out of it. During this sip, hundreds of thoughts went at lightning speed in his head. Before four option presented to him one after another

Should he ask what made her say that? No, doing so would be basically confessing.

Should he simply deny? He didn't know. After all, even though he hides many things from those close to him, he never explicitly lied to them. Still, lying by omission was still lying.

Should he flee? It wasn't like he could flee eternally, sooner or later he would have to confront her.

Should he refuse to speak...? Momo isn't the kind to force secrets out of another. 

Should he simply accept her assertion…? Did he trust her enough to do so?

While Kuroha was thinking, Momo was nervously observing him since the moment she said those words. She knew him. At least she knew that the number of information he could process at one time was abnormally high. It was one of the reasons he always lost at battle and sport type games. The AI was simply too slow for him. 

She had many times wanted to tell him to just play strategy type games or RPG, he would have way more success on them. But he was so cute when he became depressed after losing that she and the others never told him that.

Anyway, she knew that right now he should have already reached a conclusion. Whatever it was, she would respect it. If he denied then she wouldn't insist. But, this would show his absolute lack of trust in her...She didn't think they would ever be close again. She would rather he refused to speak. At least it would show that she had enough weight in his heart and that he didn't want to lie to her.

Finally, Kuroha opened his mouth,

"You're right. I am Devil."

This decision of his was done because for reasons both objective and subjective. Let's say, that this was just a bluff. That she only had a hunch. Then what? Will denying her question make her stop? No. it wouldn't. It would make her search more, and one day, she will be swept into his problem.

If on the other hand she really had proof of his identity, then him openly lying would just destroy their friendship. He wasn't naive enough to think that love could allow one to act with impunity. Simply because she loved him didn't mean she would succumb to all his whim. 

Love wasn't unlimited. If you pushed the limit again and again, then it would fade away, and generally, when love faded away, it was replaced by hatred. Kuroha's life was hard enough without having to have someone who could collapse the economy of the world with just a thought as an enemy. Of course, this was just pure speculation. But why would he try it?

Now that Kuroha did not deny her claim. Momo was a little lost about what to do. But she remembered. One of the reasons Himiko was so far ahead was because Kuroha trusted her. Then, she just had to be as trusted if not more. Finally, she firmed her mind once again.

"KUROHA!!!"

"Yes?" asked Kuroha with a surprisingly calm voice.

"Kuroha…I.," added Momo with a weak voice as she gripped the hem of her robe. "I want to know more about you. I want to know THE TRUE YOU!!!"

She nearly shouted her last sentence before lowering her head in shame. Once she finished, *Thump* *Thump*, her heart began to beat madly in her chest. It looked like it would explode. Even when she trained, her heart never beat so strongly.

Since Kuroha stayed silent for a rather long time, she timidly raised her head to see Kuroha staring thoughtfully at the horizon. Finally, once the silence began to feel a little awkward, he talked;

"Are you sure you want to know more?"

"Yes!"

"Do you know why I'm wanted by the country?"

"Yes, I know!"

"...And despite all my crimes, you're still doing your all to be with me? Why?"

"...There's no particular reason why... I simply...Love you from the bottom of my heart."

The moment those words sounded, a gentle wind raised slowly blew her hair. Once you added the fallen leaf lying around, all it lacked was a sad theme song to make a truly epic scene. 

"I don't understand."

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He cast his head down as he mused those words. He really didn't understand. Kuroha wasn't an emotionless being. He could feel any emotions like any other Human. But, his emotions were clearly dampened compared to other people. 

That's why he couldn't understand. Those who had aspirations, those who had obsession, those who had a dream, those who could give up everything to reach their goal. For him, people like that shined more than anything in the world.

If his world was a landscape of grey, then people with true dreams and obsession were the only source of light and color, and right now, Momo's light was so bright that it nearly rivaled the one emitted by Himiko.

For the first time, since he knew Momo, he began to feel something other than simple friendship for her. But this wasn't enough. Simple words weren't enough. Would she still be able to say the same words once she learns nearly everything about him? 

"I don't understand…" He repeated as he raised his head, "...But, I am willing to talk to you about the true me."

Then, he began to speak. He would tell her everything he knew, everything except his deepest secret. He rose from his chair, turned his back to her, and began to explain. He didn't want to see expressions of fear or disgust on her face.

----

Kuroha couldn't remember his past as a lab rat. But he had enough information to explain it more or less to people. For the next hour, he told her everything. He didn't think that what he did was bad. But he knew that most people in Japan would only see him as a monster. Well, not that he cared.

He told her everything he could. How he was raised in a lab. How he suffered from multiple tortures, how All Might and Nighteye saved him, how he was adopted by Nighteye. After that, how began his nightlife. How many he killed, and all that. When he finally stopped talking. Silence descended on the scene. 

He couldn't help but wonder what kind of expression was on her face. Then, *Sniff* he could hear sounds of sniffing and sobbing. When he tried to turn to see what was happening, he could suddenly feel a weight on his back. 

"Momo..?"

"*Sniff* Sniff* I am so-sowwy *Sob* Sob*"

Kuroha let out a bitter smile. He was ready for many things, but he didn't think she would cry because of his story. Though he did find it a little cute how she couldn't even speak that well while crying. He slowly turned and hugged her tightly with his left arm, while his right one softly patted her head,

"There, there, there. No need to cry. I'm alright."

Momo shook her head but still put her head against his shirt. She didn't want him to look at her face right now. Her tear and the makeup should make her look like a mess. She couldn't help but berate herself. 

She was really too naive. No wonder Kuroha didn't accept her confession last time. There was so much she didn't know about him. She didn't care about how many crimes he committed. His mean might have been extreme, but he never targeted innocent people. This was enough for her.

After a while, she finally calmed down. When she raised her head.

"Phh...Hahaha. You should see your face right now...Hahaha."

Momo was momentarily stunned. How many times had Kuroha laughed like that? She didn't know, but she knew it could be easily counted. If this was the price to pay in order to see him laugh, then it was really cheap.

"Then, Momo, I think that I should go." As he said, he separated himself from her."I think I gave you enough to mull for a night. It's time for me to go home."

"W-wait."

Kuroha was already on the verge of vanishing when she touched his hand. Normally, he would have simply vanished with no problem, but, once he reached Mirko home, he was really surprised by what he saw,

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

...A naked Momo was standing next to him.

REDLAW

Sooo. This is the last chapter of this arc.

I promised to not end with a cliff. But... Well... I lied. *tehe*

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