Chapitre 6: A Girl named Mira
Three days had passed, and Hiraku hadn't sensed any demons. The fact that his third eye had been shattered due to the divine retribution he suffered for using his power in daylight was a problem he couldn't easily handle. According to Zack's diary, it would take some time before his third eye could heal and become functional again.
He had seen Lisa at school over the past few days. Though he felt she wanted to tell him something important, she seemed too shy to engage in a prolonged conversation.
"Hey, can you help me with this question, please?" Mira, the top student in his class, placed a math textbook on his desk. Hiraku was surprised—she was actually talking to him.
"Um, sure," he replied hesitantly, hoping she didn't intend to embarrass him.
She glanced at Hiraku's seat partner, who sat motionless, staring forward as though she didn't exist.
"Move!" Mira demanded, her voice brimming with arrogance. Hiraku's partner stood up fearfully and hurried out of the classroom.
Mira sat down and began tying her hair into a ponytail. Hiraku studied her appearance. Her pitch-black eyes glistened in the sunlight, her blonde hair fell gracefully behind her, and her oval face had an subtle sheen. She was undoubtedly attractive—though not as beautiful as Lisa—but she was, as they say, every man's dream girl.
If she was sitting next to him to seduce or flirt with him, Hiraku thought to himself, "You're in for a rude surprise." He might not have much experience with girls, but he had his principles firmly in place.
He shifted his focus to the math textbook and began explaining the problems—problems she obviously already knew the answers to.
*
A boy walked slowly along the hallway, adjusting his glasses with a worried look on his face. Two boys trailed behind him. Hiraku glanced out the window and saw the scene unfold. He didn't need his third eye to know what was about to happen.
He got up from his seat and looked apologetically at Mira.
"I'm sorry, I need to go," he said hurriedly.
"But you're not finished," she retorted.
"Someone needs my help," he replied in defense.
She studied him for a moment, her expression softening into a gentle smile.
"Okay, but you owe me one," she said, crossing her legs.
"You'll have to do me a favor when I need something," she added in an alluring tone.
"Um, sure, I promise," Hiraku said as he hurried out of the classroom.
*
A Loud bang echoed against the sidewall of the school building. Hiraku quickly ran towards the direction of the sound. He arrived just in time to see the two bullies harassing the boy he had noticed through the window.
"You want to cry? Go ahead,cry then!" one of the bully sneered hitting the boy forcefully in the chest.The boy stumbled and fell, clutching his chest in pain.
"All you're ever good at his getting beat up,and that's all you'll ever be good at!"the second bully raved in anger.
"I'm not..." The boy coughed and slowly got up.
"I'm not afraid of you" He retorted in confidence.
"I might seem week,but I'm no coward," he added, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.
The two Bully let out a loud laughter and slowly came towards the boy in an attempt to beat him up,but suddenly there was darkness all around them, behind the boy stood a 14 foot giant golden lion. They both fell backwards in terror as it roared at them. They turned and ran away, shrieking loudly as the lion's roar echoed behind them.
"What?" The boy touched his face in amusement and wonder.
"Hi," Hiraku said from behind.
"Oh, hi," he responded anxiously, unsure if Hiraku was an enemy or just a passerby.
"Care for a meal? My treat," Hiraku said with a smile.
The boy thought for a moment and realized the bullies had probably run away because they saw Hiraku. Hiraku wasn't very popular. In fact, he could be described as a nerd who enjoyed reading. He was brilliant as a student and had no friends, but no one dared mess with him. Rumor had it that he once scared the top bully just by making eye contact.
"Sure, I could use a meal," he responded in a friendly tone. He felt he needed protection, and it seemed as though the heavens had sent Hiraku to him.
"If I stay by his side, I'm sure no one will mess with me," he thought to himself as they both walked to the school cafeteria.
"What's your name, bro?" Hiraku asked, beaming with joy as his mother's cheerful personality seemed to take shape in him.
"Shin. My name's Shin," he replied with a smile.
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Hiraku went to see Lisa. Lately, he had been thinking about her and wanted to know how she was doing. He stopped by her house and called her on his cellphone.
"Um, Lisa, I'm at your gate. Can we talk?" he said over the phone. Hiraku checked his watch. It was 8:45 a.m. on a Saturday. He was glad he had come early enough.
Lisa opened the gate, and before he could say a word, she grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. Then she quickly shut the gate.
The two of them hurried up the stairs and into her room. Lisa swiftly shut the door behind them.
Hiraku was beyond shocked, flushing nervously. What was she thinking, dragging him all the way to her room?
"I'm sorry, I just didn't want the neighbors gossiping. My mom, she, uh... has a loud mouth too," Lisa explained apologetically.
Hiraku felt relieved by her response. He understood her perfectly; after all, he had someone at home who was the master of over-exaggeration.
Lisa twirled a strand of her hair as she sat down on her bed.
"Um, I also have something I want to discuss with you," she said.
"Okay, you go first," Hiraku replied as he sat down on the bed next to her.
"I want you..." she said softly, her voice trailing off as she hesitated to finish the sentence.
The words "I want you" made Hiraku's palms sweaty. His face turned red, and his heart started beating in a fast, rhythmic thump.
"What is this feeling?" Hiraku thought to himself. He looked at her face and saw how quirky she looked, and his heartbeat quickened even more. Clutching his chest with his left hand, he stood up abruptly.
"Hira, are you alright?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
His heart fluttered even more. Only his mother had ever called him "Hira."
"I'm fine," he coughed out. "Um, are you going to finish what you wanted to say?" Hiraku looked at her, quickly trying to regain his composure.
"I want you to teach me how to become an exorcist," she said, her tone rushed but determined.
"Lisa, you can't be serious. After everything you've been through?" Hiraku replied, clearly aghast at her request.
"I want to help you battle those demons! Besides, you can't track demons alone—not after what happened with your third eye," she responded forcefully, her determination unwavering.
"No, I refuse your request," he said firmly, his tone fierce. "First of all, you have no idea how horrifying those forces are. They don't follow the laws of the physical world—they have no restraint and show no mercy. One small mistake, and they will come after those closest to you, destroying the little happiness you have left in your life."
Hiraku spoke with a glint of fury in his eyes. He knew how much he had suffered because of the past—the loss of two loved ones, the pain he carried in his heart, and the endless nights spent wishing they could come back to life. Lisa was someone he never expected to meet, but as he had said before, his encounter with her was fate. Now, she held a special place in his heart.
"I know it's dangerous. I'm not so naive that I don't understand that," Lisa said firmly. "But it's not just me who wants this. Zack also requested that you teach me."
Hiraku looked stunned.
"Zack?" Hiraku said as he averted his gaze from Lisa and stared at the floor. "I have no idea why Zack would want you to become an exorcist."
Lisa walked over to her bag and pulled out a book. The title immediately caught Hiraku's attention.
Clavis Salomonis.
"This book was left to me by my late father," she explained. "I saw you holding a book with the exact same name when you first brought me to the church." She handed him the book.
"I want to know more about my father," Lisa said, her voice calm but resolute. "I also believe we met for a purpose that goes beyond our understanding."
She looked into his eyes, pleading.
"Let me stay by your side and help you. If I train well, I can help you exorcise demons and also discover who I truly am."
Hiraku stood up, a tired look on his face.
"You make it sound easy," he said. "I face death every time I fight those things. You say Zack instructed me to train you—I believe you, Lisa. But if you get hurt again, and I can't save you..." Hiraku trailed off, staring at the floor.
"I could never forgive myself if anything happened to you," he added softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
For some reason, those words warmed Lisa's heart. She felt an overwhelming desire to be closer to him. Without thinking, she held his right hand, and he looked at her in surprise.
"As long as you're with me, I'll be fine," Lisa said in her usual quirky tone.
At that moment, Hiraku knew he had to make a choice: teach her or stay away from her. Breaking off their friendship seemed like the safest option to protect her, but he couldn't bear the thought of being apart from her.
"I'll teach you," he said hesitantly.
Lisa's face lit up with a bright smile.
"But," Hiraku continued, his tone stern, "I have conditions you must follow. You can't go against them."
"Whatever conditions you have, I'll obey," she responded confidently.
"We'll start training tomorrow," Hiraku said as he walked to the door.
"I won't be a burden," she replied, squeezing his right hand gently. "I'll walk you outside."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone