Editing Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 2 (section)

=== Part 4 === 

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 091.jpg|thumb|]]

"Yo"

" - huh?"

His shoulder abruptly clapped from behind, Isurughi Daiki's body shook.

Looking over his shoulder as if he was flipped, there was a man without any feeling of tension and a relaxed smile.

"Yagami-san! "

Containing the fact he had been frightened, with a tone full of criticism, Daiki called out the man's name.

"What have you done until now? You made the Chief be worried about you!"

"That so? I thought about showing my face around here, though"

Without caring about the criticism, Kazuma shrugged his shoulders.

That attitude, so very usual, secretly made Daiki relieved. 

''"What, isn't he completely alright?"''

''''Don't make eye contact''''  

''''Don't defy him in any way''''

''''Avoid getting in touch with him as much as possible, take refuge immediately and report the place he's at afterwards''''

- What was Kirika pointing to her subordinates the way to interact carefully with Kazuma as if he was some sort of atrocious criminal, Daiki felt like it was entirely unnecessary.

Even his smiling face, lively and a little cynical, even his casual attitude with no affectation unlikely for the Jutsushi with the highest rank in this world, there was nothing unusual.

A dangerous presence was not to be found.

''"I should tell the Chief when she returns. That "There's no need to worry."''

Even though a policeman, Daiki was nothing more but a newbie who had only just been assigned.

The skills of a police detective such as the insight to see through the true feelings hidden behind a smiling face had yet to appear.

Consequently, not realizing Kazuma's eyes were entirely not laughing, Daiki interacted with him just like before. 

"So, I don't know where you've been or what you have been doing but did you find something?"

"Absolutely nothing. Your way?"

At the light retort that betrayed his expectations, Daiki let out a dry laugh.

"Ha ha.......instead of progress, the problems increased"

" - Did something happen?"

"Utsumi Kousuke escaped"

"........."

Kazuma looked slightly upwards and was silent.

Ten seconds passed. And then, looking at Daiki holding his breath and waiting for Kazuma's reaction, he replied with a serious face.

"Who is that?"

"Whaaaa!?"

Daiki collapsed.

"Is that comedic stupidity? It's the spell user acting violently at Ayano-san's school!"

".....aah, now that you mention it there was that story"

Finally remembering, Kazuma made a small nod. As if searching around for memories, he spoke slowly.

"But, didn't you catch him? The barrier there is not something an amateur can break, no?"

"Yeah, that's right but -"

Pulling himself together, Daiki explained the situation with a serious face. As the story progressed, Kazuma's face became more and more sharp.

"humph - I see"

For one moment all expression disappeared from Kazuma's face. From the ruin of the smiling face mask came undone, a terribly dry and hollow face with no make-up peeked.

But Daiki didn't became aware of it.

"I understand. I'll also look for him"

"Aah, we're saved"

Without showing distrust towards Kazuma's words, who instantly smoothed over his facial expression, he was innocently glad.

"Ooh, this became a major incident. Even though we're short-handed even at the best of times, we even had to guard the girl Utsumi is aiming at!"

"Well, it can't be helped right? It's Ayano's acquittance. If you were to make a blunder she could kill all of you in a fit of anger. Even Kirika's desperate, right?"

"........I don't think Ayano-san is that kind of person."

"........aah?"

Kazuma raised his eyebrows quizzical and Daiki started to justify himself red in the face.

"Aah, no, you see, there's no special meaning, ugh....... Ayano-san is a kind person, so maybe she won't have such an unreasonable behavior or something.........it's...it's just that! Deeper feelings than those, I really......."

"Aah......., well, isn't that fine?"

With a careless expression, Kazuma interrupted the excuse that continued for too long.

"I think that's a peculiar taste but it's got nothing to do with me."

" - You're not mad?"

"Why would I?", asked Kazuma with a serious face.

"I think it would be terrible (for you) if it would turn out well but do your best. I'll secretly root for you"

"Ha, haaa......"

With an irrelevant expression, Daiki nodded his head ambiguously. Taking that as the end of conversation Kazuma announced.

"Well then, tell me if you find something new"

"Aah, yes, roger that. Yagami-san too, get in tough with the Chief as soon as possible"

"I said I understand"

Waiving his hand across his back, Kazuma vanished inside the crowd of people. Because he send off that silhouette, Daiki returned inside the Police Department to inform Kirika of this.

After this, charged with the crime of not contacting her immediately, Kirika turned her highest level of anger on Daiki - That is a digression.




After parting from Daiki, as a matter of course Kazuma tore off the smiling mask.

What became visible from inside, although having the same smile, carried the opposite emotion - a desolate, humorless, dark smile.

Scattering an ominous presence that would put the fear of God even into a yakuza, Kazuma stepped forward inside the crowd of people as if conquering an inhabited land.

"Utsumi Kousuke, huh......?"

From that mouth chiseled in a smile one guy's name leaked out. The thoughtless, foolish boy who could see only under his nose.

Attached to that boy, the face of a girl came to his mind. He saw her once or twice through Ayano, a clever girl with a strong will carried in her eyes.

"........I can use this", laughed Kazuma raising his lips.

The word ''heartless'' doesn't even begin to describe the face smiling or rather sighing.

It was the face of a demon.


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