Makoto Katsuragi wandered the sterile, white hallways of the Seirei Exorcist building, the words of his new boss echoing in his mind. His feet carried him aimlessly, a map of confusing corridors and identical doors unfolding before him. He'd only meant to grab some ice, but the building's uniform design had swallowed him whole.
"Where the hell is it again?" Makoto muttered, rubbing the back of his head in frustration. "I swear it was this way... this place is way too big for the number of people we have."
After what felt like an hour, he rounded a corner and spotted a familiar figure curled up on a couch, a book in her hands. It was Miwafe, one of the new recruits. She didn't notice him at first, her gaze fixed on the pages. When he finally approached, she jumped in her seat, her book nearly flying out of her hands.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, a startled look on her face.
Makoto flashed a sarcastic smirk. "Just taking lewd pictures, what does it look like?" he replied, earning an annoyed glare. He quickly added, "Relax, I'm just kidding. I can't find my room."
Miwafe tilted her head, a confused expression softening her features. She looked at the hallway behind him and then back at him before offering, "I could show you all the rooms on this floor if that would help... not like I care or anything," she muttered, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks.
"Sure," Makoto said, dropping onto the couch beside her.
Miwafe stiffened, trying to maintain her composure as the distance between them evaporated. To distract herself, she looked back down at her book. Makoto noticed and asked, "What are you reading?"
"The Seirei quote for exorcisms," she answered without looking up.
Makoto peered over her shoulder, a page of strange, ancient-looking text spread before him. "You can read this?"
"Of course, idiot," Miwafe replied, rolling her eyes. "It's no big deal if you study the manual."
Makoto gave her a skeptical look, which caused her to snap, "Stop looking at me like that, you creep!"
Changing the subject, she folded her arms and asked, "How did you even get lost?"
"I went to get some ice," Makoto said casually.
Miwafe raised an eyebrow. "Where's the ice?"
Makoto froze, the memory of his melted cup hitting him like a slap. "Crap..."
A small, genuine chuckle escaped Miwafe's lips, a soft sound that surprised Makoto. "No way... you can laugh?" he said in disbelief.
"Of course, you idiot! What, did you think I was some kind of monster?" she retorted, though her cheeks turned a brighter shade of pink.
Makoto smiled, the sight of her rare, unguarded expression sparking a memory. "You remind me of my sister."
Miwafe's interest was piqued. "You have a sister?"
"Not really," Makoto replied, causing her to frown in confusion. He clarified, "I was adopted by her family. We're not blood-related."
"Oh... So why do I remind you of her?" Miwafe asked, her voice softer now.
"She's tough, but she's also a total softie at heart. She hides it behind anger and comes off as scary and strong. She's the main reason I joined the Seirei Exorcists."
Intrigued, Miwafe pressed him for more. "Why?"
Makoto's expression softened as he spoke. "Her name is Airi, and she has a serious illness. She couldn't survive for long without treatment. My new boss, Takumi Enatsu, offered me a job here, and at first, I wasn't interested in becoming an exorcist. But it was the only way to save her, and I owed her family everything. They took me in when I had nowhere to go, and her father, Kyoka Katsuragi, raised me like his own son. So I joined."
Miwafe's face was a mask of concern. "Is she okay now?"
"She's resting after surgery," Makoto reassured her before asking, "What about you? Why did you join?"
Miwafe hesitated, blushing as she sputtered, "None of your business!" Her sudden shift in tone was jarring, but she eventually sighed. "If you tell anyone about this, I'll rip out your eyes."
Makoto nodded, intrigued, as she began. "My best friend, Yana, is the sweetest person in the world. She's so kind and caring that she was always an easy target for bullies. I always stood up for her, but as we got older, the bullying got worse. Yana wanted to learn to defend herself, even though she couldn't hurt a fly." Makoto asked how they became friends, as he thought she was from the West. Miwafe explained that while she was indeed from the West, she had spent most of her life at the center where she met Yana.
"One day, we met Takumi Enatsu, who told us about Standz and Seireis. Yana saw it as an opportunity to get stronger. I wasn't interested, but I joined to protect her... just in case."
Makoto smiled. "You know, I now like you more than just your..." He gestured vaguely at her chest. "Massive melons."
Miwafe turned bright red, her face a storm of rage and embarrassment. "Pervert!" she shouted before storming off down the hall.
Makoto chuckled and waved goodbye, only to realize a moment later that she was supposed to show him his room. "Damn it!" he yelled, resuming his aimless wandering.
The Next Morning
The smell of breakfast wafted through the halls, a chaotic mix of burnt sugar and something vaguely metallic. Haruko, Rin, and Miwafe woke to the scent and warily made their way to the kitchen, where they found Yana cooking with a bright smile on her face.
"Oh no... this is bad," Miwafe muttered under her breath, her expression one of dread.
"Good morning, everyone! I made breakfast!" Yana said cheerfully, a proud glint in her eyes.
Haruko eagerly ran to his seat, while Rin followed calmly. Miwafe, however, hesitated, trembling. She had lived with Yana long enough to know one thing: Yana couldn't cook. But she didn't have the heart to tell her.
Yana served them all a plate of what looked like overcooked noodles and burnt chicken. "Eat up!" she said with a radiant smile.
Haruko and Rin exchanged horrified looks, but Miwafe shot them a glare, a silent warning to keep their mouths shut. Reluctantly, they began to eat, forcing down their revulsion. Miwafe followed suit, swallowing a mouthful and forcing a pained smile as Yana beamed with pride.
Just then, Makoto shuffled into the kitchen, looking disheveled. Miwafe started to apologize for forgetting to show him his room, but Makoto waved it off, admitting he'd slept on the floor.
Haruko seized the opportunity to tease him. "So that's why you look like a run-over rat!"
Ignoring the jab, Makoto approached the table. "What's that?" he asked, pointing at the mysterious food.
Haruko, Rin, and Miwafe froze, their faces turning pale. Yana eagerly served Makoto a plate. He stared at it for a moment, a look of utter bewilderment on his face. "What the hell is this?" he blurted out.
Miwafe lunged to stop him, but Haruko and Rin held her back. Makoto took a bite, his eyes widening in horror. He chewed slowly, his expression grim. "This is terrible," he declared bluntly.
Miwafe fainted, her body collapsing onto the floor. But to everyone's surprise, Makoto kept eating.
"Why are you still eating if it's so bad?" Yana asked, her cheerful facade finally cracking into confusion.
Makoto smiled, though the action seemed to require immense effort. "You worked hard to make this for us. I can't waste it."
Miwafe, who had come to, looked at him from the floor, a small, genuine smile forming on her lips.
After finishing the last, burnt bite, Yana asked if he wanted seconds. "Are you trying to kill me?" Makoto quipped, but with a grateful look that softened his words.
Just then, the door swung open, and Takumi Enatsu strode in, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Get ready," he announced. "We've got a call—Seireis spotted nearby. Time for your first exorcism!"
The group cheered, the adrenaline of the moment overcoming their food-induced trauma. All, that is, except for Makoto, who sighed but got to his feet and followed along.