Translator: imperfectluck Editor: Kurisu
His own half-hearted refusal seemed far too shameless to Seiji.
He was immediately embarrassed after saying it. But then, he felt, why not? ‘I’m a scumbag man who started a harem anyways!’
Well, he decided against saying anything else and played some cards…
One hour later, Seiji’s cell phone rang.
Seiji was currently shuffling cards, but his expression instantly changed. He put away the cards and then answered the call.
“It really was so difficult.” Kamitani sighed. “I used just about every favor I could in order to arrange this face-to-face meeting for you. My bro Haruta, you’d better use this opportunity well. Don’t waste all of my hard work. Not only that, he’s not in a good mood right now. If what you say doesn’t satisfy him, it’s highly likely that he’ll directly attack you. He’s strong, really strong. You might even die.”
“Stop saying such useless things,” Seiji stated coldly. “What time and what place?”
“I’ve already worked so hard, so as my friend, you won’t even console me a little?” Kamitani acted like he was complaining.
“You’ve worked hard. I’ll invite you to some tea.”
“Only tea?”
“I can change it to coffee.”
“I prefer beer, along with some food that goes well with beer!”
“Sure. Give me a mailing address and I’ll send you some beer.”
“You won’t drink together with me!?”
“I’m still underage and can’t drink alcohol yet.” Seiji acted all serious.
Kamitani was rendered speechless.
Even for someone as sly as him, he couldn’t think of a comeback to this.
“Time and place? Hurry and tell me already.” Seiji didn’t care one bit about what expression Kamitani had right now. He kept urging Kamitani to get to the point.
“The time is in half an hour. The place is…” Kamitani told him a location, then paused for a moment. “You’d better not betray us, my bro Haruta.”
“Of course I won’t. You’d better not set a trap for me, Kamitani-kun.”
After that, Seiji hung up and looked at Shika and the others.
“I’m going out now.”
“Please be careful, Brother,” Shika told him.
Mika and Chiaki didn’t say anything. However, their expressions said the same.
“I will.” Seiji smiled.
Half an hour later, in the city.
Seiji was now fully equipped in his combat attire. He arrived at the location that Kamitani told him, an abandoned factory.
Weeds were growing all over, the walls were filthy, the lighting was dim, and there was abandoned machinery and garbage everywhere… It all seemed so desolate.
Seiji had often seen such places before on television and in movies. These locations were often used for negotiations, shady deals, meetings, fights, murders, kidnappings, or imprisonment… nothing good.
Well, this was truly a suitable place indeed for meeting with a high-ranked member of a terrorist organization like the Messengers.
Seiji cautiously walked into the factory and looked around. He found nobody.
It seemed that Voidfire hadn’t arrived yet.
Should he make some preparations then?
Just as he thought this, Seiji rejected the idea.
Voidfire might arrive at any moment. It would look bad if Seiji was in the middle of preparing something like a trap when he arrived. Besides, what could Seiji even prepare?
Seiji had come here to talk, not fight.
He didn’t bother with checking anything else in the factory. Seiji found an old chair that was barely still in working condition and sat down.
Several minutes later.
Seiji had his eyes closed and was resting when he opened his eyes as he sensed something. Although he couldn’t see anyone, he could sense that Voidfire had arrived.
He sensed heat.
This was the same heat sensation from Kosui Park in the last timeline, albeit much weaker.
This abnormal heat was approaching from outside and getting constantly closer. Seiji then heard footsteps as a dark gray shadowy figure walked into the factory.
This person was wearing gray long pants and a black hoodie with the hood up. He had on a black breathing mask that only revealed the upper half of his pale face. He also had bright red eyes and dark circles under his eyes, making him look rather sickly.
Any ordinary person who saw him on the street would likely be afraid of his appearance.
This sickly youth who kept his hands in his pockets, or Voidfire, walked up to Seiji.
Seiji stood up and looked at him directly.
“You… what are you?” Voidfire asked in his raspy voice.
“I am Seiji Haruta,” Seiji said directly. “Are you the person in charge of the attack on Soul Society? May I ask your name?”
“I know your name already, but that wasn’t what I was asking.” Voidfire looked at him. “Seiji Haruta, just what are you?”
“Before asking someone else this type of question, shouldn’t you at least introduce yourself?” Seiji spoke calmly.
The hoodie wearing youth fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
“My code name is Voidfire.”
“Hello then, Voidfire-san.”
Seiji had no hopes that he would be able to instantly find out Voidfire’s real name with that question. “As for your question, my answer is: I don’t know. If you insist on me giving an answer, I can only tell you that I am human. However, I’m sure that you don’t want such an answer, Voidfire-san. You probably saw something in me that caused you to ask such a question. Unless you tell me what you saw, I won’t know how to explain it to you.”
Something deep flashed in Voidfire’s eyes as he fell silent again.
“I can see through that there’s something foundationally different from humans in you,” he spoke raspily. “If you release your full power, you’ll become an incredibly powerful existence. Yet, you haven’t. You’re restraining yourself and taking this current form instead.”
“…Indeed.” Seiji nodded and admitted this. “I do have an incredible power. If I casually used it as I please, it would make even myself afraid. That’s why I’m choosing to restrain myself instead. But even so, I still believe that I am human. As for what I truly am objectively, I really don’t know.”
Voidfire took a deep look at him.
“You’re foundationally pure and holy. You’re far too divine for this wicked world and ugly humanity… that’s why you’re definitely not human. Although you’re not human, you believe yourself to be human. You’re restraining yourself in order to protect humanity and the world. That’s evidence of your purity. That’s why I’m quite happy to meet you, Seiji Haruta.”
“If you’re that happy to meet you, could you tell me your real name?” Seiji asked.
“…My true name is far too ugly. It is the most hypocritical family name in this hypocritical country. It is so ugly that it will only soil your ears to hear it,” Voidfire said raspily.
“If I’m so holy and pure as according to you, you shouldn’t worry about me being soiled,” Seiji stated directly.
Something flashed in Voidfire’s eyes as he fell silent.
Seiji quietly waited.
“…Dousei Ashiya,” Voidfire spoke in a low voice. “That’s my real name.”
Ashiya… Could it be that “Ashiya”? Seiji had a realization.
“Ashiya-san, your family name…”
Seiji didn’t even finish his question when he suddenly sensed a powerful aura emanating from Voidfire. He immediately understood the answer.
If Voidfire’s family name was “Ashiya”, then he was likely the descendant of the legendary Yin Yang Master who was the only person that rivaled the strongest Yin Yang Master Seimei Kamijou in strength. That would be the most “evil” Yin Yang Master in Sakura Island’s history—Douman Ashiya!!
According to legend, Douman Ashiya and Seimei Kamijou were mortal enemies. Douman Ashiya was just as powerful and talented as Seimei Kamijou was. However, Douman Ashiya had an evil personality and committed many crimes. As Seimei Kamijou was known to be a good person on the side of justice, he stopped Douman Ashiya’s crimes and schemes countless times.
Many manga and anime had fictional versions of their interactions before. That was why most people in Sakura Island already knew the legends and stereotypes. Douman Ashiya was Seimei Kamijou’s greatest rival and most powerful antagonist.
Of course, there were also all sorts of stories about how their rivalry bordered on frenemy level, or that they were more like star-crossed lovers, or the best of friends, etc., etc… These stories fleshed out Douman’s personality.
But fundamentally, all stories kept the same trait of Douman Ashiya being the most evil Yin Yang Master in history.
But actually, the truth of history was…
