Within the solemn, sacred shrine, the beautiful shrine maiden lay in Kiana's arms. The two simply sat quietly on the ground, saying nothing as they rested in silence.
Compared to the scheming, cheerful, and generous Akeno Himejima from before, she now seemed much more fragile.
In truth, Akeno Himejima was not strong. She was weak. It was only her painful past that had made her layer her fragile heart in a disguise—a self-deceiving disguise.
At Kuoh Academy, Akeno Himejima gave people the impression of being an extremely dependable big sister. She usually appeared gentle and was always smiling. She was even a sadistic pleasure freak who liked hearing other people scream in pain.
Even her openness could rival Rias's...
But who had ever truly delved into her heart and understood what kind of person she really was?
Once her disguise had been torn apart, what Akeno Himejima revealed was merely a weak and helpless little girl with a touch of selfishness.
Because she hated her own helplessness, she rejected the thought of letting others see her useless, vulnerable side.
But now, Akeno Himejima seemed willing to open her heart. She had exposed her vulnerability before this white-haired knight girl.
She was not some gentle, dependable big sister. She was only a girl who desperately needed a sense of security and wanted to be protected.
Lying quietly in Kiana's arms, Akeno Himejima could clearly hear the girl's heartbeat, and it made her feel exceptionally at ease. The nightmare of watching her mother die before her eyes was no longer something she feared and hated.
Akeno Himejima probably was not into girls. Even though she and Rias usually played around quite openly, they were simply very close, and demons tended to be more uninhibited.
But whether she was into girls or not