Sensationalist Media

Asaba Kotone breezed through the practice questions. After checking his answers, he found that he had gotten very few wrong, and those were mostly either careless mistakes or questions that went a little beyond the syllabus.

That put his mind at ease. This part of the entrance exam definitely wouldn't be a problem.

Still, he didn't let himself relax completely. He planned to work through more questions whenever he had time, since there were plenty left in the Past Exam Compilation he had bought.

"I've heard back. Tokyo Public Safety will send someone here tomorrow morning, and they specifically asked to see you and me. Let's take tonight to unwind."

Aki Hayakawa walked over to Asaba Kotone and told him.

He hadn't had much proper rest lately, and he had used the Fox Devil's power earlier that day. His body was already worn out.

Now that his acceptance into Tokyo Public Safety was assured, even he, who had seemed tireless before, wanted to take a proper break.

"You're not planning to join Tokyo Public Safety for now, right? Then let's treat ourselves to a good meal tonight. Think of it as our last dinner as partners before we part ways."

Aki took the initiative to invite him.

"Sure."

Asaba Kotone was more than happy to accept.

He could tell that he and Aki had already built a pretty solid friendship.

If Aki's character entry became available to unlock later, his starting affinity would be fairly high. He wasn't sure whether Aki would have an entry, but he thought it was very likely.

Come to think of it, affinity could represent friendship, romantic love, or familial affection.

What he had with Aki was clearly friendship, while his bond with Denji and Pochita probably counted as both friendship and family. It certainly wasn't romantic love.

Unless someone he met was gay. Fortunately, none of the main characters were gay as far as he remembered. Otherwise, he would rather avoid them entirely.

"Another pitcher of draft beer, please."

Aki ordered another pitcher of draft beer.

Asaba Kotone and Aki were eating and drinking in a private room.

Asaba Kotone didn't actually like drinking much, but he was certainly willing to have a few drinks with a friend.

Although drinking under the age of twenty was illegal in Japan, Devil Hunters were exempt from that restriction. After all, most Devil Hunters didn't live very long...

Aki, on the other hand, seemed quite fond of alcohol. He probably often drank to drown his sorrows.

"It's honestly a good thing you're not joining Tokyo Public Safety. Public Safety is much more dangerous than private work. With your abilities, you should be fine working privately."

Aki was already a little drunk. His face was flushed, and he was talking more than usual.

"That's only for now. I might join Tokyo Public Safety later."

Asaba Kotone took a small sip of his drink as he spoke.

"I see... Then I hope you get assigned to the same division as me."

Aki said.

"Pochita, want to try some beer?"

Asaba Kotone turned to ask Pochita, who was eating grilled meat beside him.

"Woof!"

Pochita nodded.

Asaba Kotone poured Pochita a glass. Sitting on the table, Pochita wrapped both front legs around the glass and began drinking.

"Burp~~"

Pochita downed the entire glass in one go, then let out a burp with a satisfied expression.

Asaba Kotone couldn't help smiling at how adorable Pochita looked.

Later, Aki managed to stop drinking just before he passed out.

Seeing that Aki was still too dazed to move properly, Asaba Kotone didn't rush to leave. He waited until Aki had mostly sobered up before heading home.

He himself wasn't particularly drunk. He hadn't drunk much, taking only small, leisurely sips.

He had originally wanted to bring up the Gun Devil with Aki. Although he had only intended to offer an indirect warning, he decided against it after giving it some thought.

After all, dropping hints wouldn't accomplish much, and he couldn't speak openly either. What he knew about the Gun Devil was classified even on an international level. Saying it outright could easily land him in trouble.

Besides, learning the truth might make Aki give up on himself. His mindset wasn't as mature yet as it had been in the original story.

Once the time was right, Asaba Kotone would consider telling Aki those truths.

After resting for quite a while, Aki could just about walk normally again.

Asaba Kotone supported Aki as he took him home, then returned to his own place.

The next morning.

Asaba Kotone and Aki waited in the Guild Hall for the representative from Tokyo Public Safety.

Eventually, a tall man wearing a hat and a Public Safety uniform arrived.

He glanced at the photograph in his hand to confirm their faces, then addressed Asaba Kotone and Aki. "You two are Aki Hayakawa and Asaba Kotone, correct? I'm from Tokyo Public Safety. Please come to my car so we can continue this conversation."

"Sorry, but I'm not planning to join Public Safety for now. Do I still need to take part in the conversation?"

Asaba Kotone asked him.

Hearing this, the man turned to Aki. "What about you?"

"I want to join Tokyo Public Safety."

"Then come with me."

Aki followed the man away, and the man didn't say another word to Asaba Kotone.

Asaba Kotone didn't mind, though.

Before long, the car parked outside the Guild Hall drove off with Aki inside. Apparently, they had already settled everything.

With nothing else to do in the Guild Hall, Asaba Kotone decided to visit Chiba Rissei High School.

The media had also reported on his killing of the Carp Devil the day before. This time, their coverage was even more exaggerated, outright calling him a genius Devil Hunter who appeared only once in ten thousand years.

Asaba Kotone thought that, whether before or after his transmigration, the Japanese were just as melodramatic and over the top.

Not only that, they had deliberately sparked a heated debate over whether he would become the successor to Kishibe, the strongest Devil Hunter.

Kishibe was currently recognized as Japan's strongest Devil Hunter. These media outlets certainly knew how to generate buzz.

Although Asaba Kotone wanted to become better known, things seemed to have gone a little too far.

When he arrived at Chiba Rissei High School, the school security guard recognized him before he could even show his ID. He explained that he wanted to speak to the principal, and the guard let him straight through.

Classes were in session, so there were hardly any students around. With directions from the guard, he finally found the right building.

Once he reached the principal's office, Asaba Kotone knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in."

A middle-aged man's voice came from inside, and Asaba Kotone pushed the door open and entered.

The principal froze when he saw Asaba Kotone and Pochita come in.

He immediately took off his reading glasses and narrowed his eyes slightly, studying Asaba Kotone's face while wondering whether he was seeing things.

Wasn't this the genius Devil Hunter who had been getting so much publicity lately? What was he doing at his school?

Had a devil appeared on school grounds?!