Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 2 Chapter 3 (section)

===Part 7===


Having finished his call with Takigawa, Basara stood still in the room for a while.

Then he made a sigh and unlocked the door to leave the storage room. Like that he opened the door that lead to the hallway--- but then stopped. 

Because a girl was standing right in front of him.

“Yuki…”

It was Yuki, who was supposed to be absent from school today too.

She wordlessly pushed him back into the storage room and locked the door behind her back. And then,

“Please, Basara… I want you to withdraw from tonight’s battle.”

She said, slowly drawing closer. Clinging to him, her eyes that looked up to him at close distance were filled with sorrow rather than seriousness. 

However, Basara shook his head.

"Can't do that... I believe I told so before already."

Both Basara and Jin had decided to protect Mio. Even if the enemy was the Devil Lord--- Or the Heroes.

"I understand your sentiment, Basara.... but the situation changed drastically from before. You should know what it means when a 'Surveillance Target' gets changed to a 'Termination Target'."

"....Yeah."

So far he was let off with as just an exile, but this time they would make an open enemy out of the Hero Tribe.

But Basara softly placed his hands on Yuki's shoulders, he looked right into her sorrowful, upturned eyes.

"Even so, I want to protect Mio... I'm no longer a Hero. I lost the qualification and obligation to protect this world. But right now, I'm her family, her brother. It's a fact that won't change by what kind of enemies I make or whatever harsh situation I'm in. So I'll fight to protect her--- I believe that's my obligation now that I've lost everything."

"...Even if you have to fight Kurumi and me?"

"Yeah..."

That was the only point he couldn't back down from.

''...Besides''

Takigawa currently had an even more troublesome fellow than that giant devil with him.

And he said that "they would interfere" if Mio's life was in danger.

In that case, that troublesome fellow would undoubtedly make a move as well.

---Basara wasn't taking the strength that Takigawa showed in the battles on the roof of the school or the forest the other days as his full potential.

Most likely, Takigawa was still hiding his true power.

And that very Takigawa called someone troublesome--- Where from that one's strength could easily be imagined.

If that strength exceeded his own or Takashi and the other's by far,

''...Then that person would surely make a move.''

That Shiba Kyouichi, who said he was only an overseer this time.

Therefore, to protect everyone, Basara and the girls had no choice but to drive away Takashi and the others. She then must have understood that Basara's determination couldn't be shaken.

".......I see."

Whispering isolated, Yuki slowly got away from him, turned on her heel and was about to go away. However,

"---Woah."

Basara hastily grabbed Yuki's arm. Because he couldn't let her go yet.

"Let go... We have nothing to talk about anymore."

Looking down sadly, she tried to shake off his hand.

"Sorry, but I wanted to give you something for sure when we met again."

Saying so, Basara took out the prepared item from his pocket and made Yuki take it.

"...A key?"

"A duplicate key--- to our house."

Basara smiled on finally handing it over, whereas Yuki widened her eyes in surprise.

"Why..."

"Back in the days when my father and I were in the village... you had a key to our house, right?"

"That was a long time ago. We both have changed now. Besides, tonight---"

"---Yeah, I know."

Basara nodded.

"But you know, Yuki... I don't want to give up on it despite that. That is, you naturally coming over to our house like in the past."

After all,

"We certainly might have changed--- But even then, it's not over between us yet. I don't want it to be over, never.... So I hope you'll take it."

Even when today ended and the next day came.

Basara didn't want to give up on the possibility for a future where Yuki used that key.

He wouldn't give up.

"-----"

In regards, Yuki didn't say anything any more. He thought she might refuse to, but she left the storage room wordless, still holding the key.

She didn't turn around to him, but Basara didn't mind.

He knew it was difficult. Still, he managed to see a possibility for the future he desired.

Later--- he would just have to take a hold of that future.