Ai's, Eyes, and Even More Eyes!

[Word Count: 2929]

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"What's your name, anyway?" Leo asked.

It was lunchtime, and Leo intended to disrupt the teachers during their break. Himeno's friends had pulled her aside, likely to exchange more rumors, leaving the purple-haired girl as Leo's companion on their journey to the teacher's lounge.

"You don't know my name?" the purple-haired girl replied, feigning offense.

"No," Leo answered simply. "The only person's name I know is Himeno's."

Surprisingly, it was true. Aside from the blond boy who had left, Leo didn't know anyone's name, let alone their last name. There simply wasn't a reason for him to remember.

"Hmph," the purple-haired girl turned her head and crossed her arms, displaying a pout.

Leo observed her from the corner of his eye, bewildered. How was he supposed to respond to that?

"Are you going to tell me or not?" Leo asked, breaking the awkward silence.

The purple-haired girl kept her arms crossed and continued to pout.

Reaching the teacher's lounge, Leo knocked twice.

"Come in," called out a voice from inside.

Opening the door, Leo could faintly hear the purple-haired girl mutter something behind him.

"Ai," she whispered.

Stepping inside, Leo left the door ajar and entered a room occupied by two of his teachers.

Wiping their mouths with napkins, one of the teachers inquired, "Ah, Mr. Tsukumo, what can I help you with?"

"Missing assignments," Leo responded simply.

"Ah," the teacher acknowledged.

Sliding back in their chair, the teacher opened a drawer on their desk. "I tried delivering the assignments you missed to your home, but no one answered the intercom, so I couldn't deliver them," the teacher explained, pulling out a folder with Leo's name on it.

Handing Leo the folder, the teacher continued, "We didn't cover much this month for obvious reasons, so it's not much."

Taking the folder, Leo nodded before turning to the other teacher present, who held a similar folder. Without a word, the teacher handed it to Leo, and he made his way out.

"Why the sudden interest in my name?" Ai asked once Leo had closed the door.

"I wanted to know the name of the person who stole my bag," Leo answered.

"Ah," Ai's pout faded as the stolen bag was brought up. She averted her gaze and appeared more sheepish.

"Ehehe," Ai nervously laughed. "I didn't exactly steal it per se. The teacher let me take it."

"Uh-huh, and I didn't rip a devil's heart out," Leo responded, unimpressed. "Guess we're both liars then."

Ai's nervousness seemed to dissipate as she lifted her gaze, her gradient-colored eyes meeting Leo's black eyes.

Smiling softly she responded. "Guess we are."

Again, Leo found himself at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond to the situation.

They stood outside the teacher's lounge, a silent tension lingering between them. Leo was uncertain about the next course of action, while Ai seemed content to maintain her unwavering gaze.

Just then, a pair of students strolled by, their conversation dwindling to hushed murmurs as they passed between Leo and Ai. Sensing Leo's gaze upon them, one of the students turned back and was taken aback to find Leo's eyes fixed upon her.

Startled, she abruptly halted her conversation with her friend and diverted her attention to the outside scenery, nervously wiping the sweat from her brow. As they distanced themselves, her friend cast a perplexed glance in her direction.

Letting out a sigh, Leo shifted his gaze back to Ai, her stary eyes shimmering with life, a stark contrast to his own lackluster expression.

Uncertain of what to do next, Leo resorted to his old reliable move. He snapped his fingers and pointed at Ai with finger guns, mustering a half-hearted attempt at enthusiasm.

"Cool," Leo murmured under his breath before turning to walk away.

Contrary to his assumptions, Ai trailed behind him, demonstrating that she wasn't under some sort of trance as Leo had theorized.

As they made their way through the bustling halls, Leo's gaze remained fixated on the floor, lost in his own thoughts once again. Meanwhile, Ai hummed softly to herself, a melodic accompaniment to their journey.

A snippet of Shouzou's advice briefly resurfaced in Leo's mind, but he swiftly dismissed the thought. While it was generally sound advice, Leo had bigger fish to fry before facing a final boss.

Finally arriving at their classroom, Leo placed his hand on the doorknob but hesitated before turning it.

What are the chances of getting my bag back?" Leo inquired.

"Hmm," Ai pondered the question, placing a finger on her chin as she contemplated. "It would depend. When do you want it back?" she replied.

"Today would be preferable," Leo responded.

"Hmmm," Ai continued to hum thoughtfully. "I'd say it's about a 50/50 chance."

"I see," Leo acknowledged, taking a moment to absorb the information before finally opening the classroom door.

The final bell of the day resonated through the school, signaling the end of the day for both students and teachers alike.

With the folder in hand, Leo made his way to the designated teacher and handed them the completed work. The teacher's surprise was evident as they expressed, "Finished already?" Leo simply nodded in response.

As Leo walked away, the teacher was doubly astonished to find both folders fully completed. Although it hadn't been an extensive workload, it still constituted a small stack, making Leo's efficiency remarkable.

Emerging from the school building, Leo was greeted by the warm embrace of the afternoon sun, casting its golden glow overhead. The winter breeze danced through the air, subtly reminding everyone of the season as it rustled the dust on the ground

Lost in thought, Leo tried to recall the number for a cab that could take him to Devil Hunters Tokyo HQ. While pondering, he noticed two familiar figures standing at the entrance.

There stood Himeno and Ai, engaged in a conversation. From a distance, Leo managed to catch Ai saying something that sounded like "-Idol," followed by striking a pose and flashing a peace sign. Himeno's excitement was palpable as she exclaimed, "That's so cool!"

Ai hummed with pride as Leo calmly walked past them without much reaction.

"Ah, Leo, did you hear?" Himeno called out, prompting Ai to freeze momentarily.

"Hmm?" Leo hummed, turning around slowly to face them.

"Ai is an idol!" Himeno shared enthusiastically.

"Ehhh," Leo responded nonchalantly, his expression unchanged.

Ai turned to face Leo, striking a pose, tilting her head slightly, and forming two peace signs, accentuating her mesmerizing purple, six-pointed star eyes. "Ei~"

Leo stared at her blankly. "Neat."

Gradually, Ai's excitement deflated as Leo shifted his attention to Himeno.

"So, you're into idols?" Leo inquired.

Himeno shook her head. "I don't really keep track of that kind of thing, but I think it's cool that Ai is already starting her career as an idol," she admitted, scratching her cheek sheepishly.

Glancing at her watch, Himeno suddenly gasped lightly before hastily excusing herself. "Sorry, I have to go."

Leo watched as Himeno disappeared into the distance, his gaze lingering for a moment before turning back to Ai, who had dropped her pose and was also gazing in the direction Himeno had walked off to.

"An idol, huh?" Leo broke the silence, his curiosity piqued.

"Yup," Ai confirmed with a nod.

"So, that's why you were headed to Shibuya a week ago," Leo hypothesized, connecting the dots.

"Yup, it was one of my first gigs," Ai revealed, a hint of excitement in her voice.

Leo contemplated for a moment before asking, "Is it fun?"

Ai's expression softened with surprise as her gaze locked with Leo's, then she whispered, "It keeps me busy."

Leo glanced at his watch, a sense of urgency washing over him. "If it keeps you going, then it's enough."

Ai's eyes met Leo's, and a faint smile curved her lips as she seemed to agree with his words. She hummed in acknowledgment.

As the two of them stood there, a gust of wind blew through, rustling their hair and carrying the faint scent of winter. Leo looked at Ai, his gaze lingering for a moment before he spoke again.

"Well, I have an interview to attend. I highly doubt I'll be back tomorrow, so I'll retrieve my bag at another time," Leo announced.

"An interview?" Ai inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Leo nodded as he made a peace sign. "A devil hunter interview."

Ai's smile widened, her gaze fixated on the peace sign. She then shifted her focus back to Leo.

"Is that what you want to do?" Ai asked, her voice filled with genuine interest.

Leo's expression became duller, and he replied, "I have no choice. Either I become a devil hunter, or die."

Ai's laughter erupted softly at Leo's matter-of-fact response, her joyous giggles reverberating through the air like a symphony of happiness.

Leo watched Ai's laughter unfold. He silently contemplated the possibility of purposely failing his interview as Ai nearly lost her balance.

Drawing in a sharp breath through his teeth, Leo mustered a low murmur amidst Ai's fading laughter. "Cool," he uttered, his voice barely audible but filled with a tinge of regret.

"Well, good luck," Ai exhaled, wiping away the tears of mirth that had gathered in her eyes. With a final wave, she gracefully walked away, her steps imbued with a radiant energy.

Leo observed Ai's departure, noting the pep in her stride and the glowing aura she exuded even from a distance.

"That's an idol for you," Leo muttered.

Glancing at his watch once more, Leo realized he still had an hour or two to spare before meeting Kishibe. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to check on his laundromat and tie up any loose ends before venturing to Devil Hunters HQ.

"Who was that friend of yours, Ai?" inquired a blonde man with short hair and a thin beard, identified as Ichigo Saitou.

"He's the one I told you about, Mr. President," Ai replied, her voice carrying a hint of excitement.

Ichigo observed Ai through the rearview mirror, his gaze fixed upon her as he asked, raising an eyebrow, "The pathological liar?"

"Mhm," Ai hummed affirmatively. "Just like me."

Ichigo maintained his attentive gaze on Ai for a moment before diverting his attention back to the world outside, his eyes scanning for the black-haired boy, who had already vanished from sight.

A mischievous glint sparkled in Ichigo's eyes as he formulated an idea, and he turned to Ai with a sly smile playing on his lips.

"Do you think he might be interested in becoming an idol?" Ichigo inquired, his voice laced with amusement.

"He mentioned becoming a devil hunter," Ai responded, quickly dismissing Ichigo's suggestion.

"Ah, a devil hunter," Ichigo acknowledged, nodding in understanding. "We seem to have seen a rise in their numbers lately. But..." His words trailed off as he noticed Ai's solemn nod.

"Is he one of them?" he probed, sensing a deeper meaning behind her reaction.

"His mother's picture was also displayed on the mural in the school entrance," Ai shared.

Ichigo's expression softened, his eyes reflecting empathy. "I see," he murmured. "Poor kid."

With the conversation taking on a somber note, Ichigo shifted the car into gear and began to drive away, the weight of their exchange lingering in the air.

Four hours. Four hours had slipped away since Leo departed from school, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, Tokyo's bustling nightlife emerged onto the streets.

Engrossed in phone calls with various construction companies, Leo had lost track of time while searching for the perfect team to revamp the laundromat's interior. He was determined to turn it into a profitable venture, but that didn't mean he would frivolously spend money without careful consideration.

Approaching the towering structure of Devil Hunters HQ, Leo marveled at the abundance of windows that adorned its exterior, giving it an aura of transparency.

Upon reaching the entrance, Leo peered through the glass doors, spotting Kishibe seated in the lobby, casually sipping from his flask.

A knock on the window captured Kishibe's attention, causing him to briefly glance at the door before taking another swig from his flask. He then rose from his seat and proceeded to open the door.

Kishibe's movement was slow and deliberate. Either he was drunk which was unlikely or he was tired which also seemed just as unlikely.

As the door swung open, the scent of spilled alcohol wafted toward Leo, greeting him upon entry.

"You're late," Kishibe remarked in his customary monotone.

"Thanks for waiting," Leo replied.

Locked in a silent, intense gaze, Leo and Kishibe seemed to exchange unspoken tension until a soft, alluring voice interrupted the palpable atmosphere, causing Leo to avert his eyes.

"Ah, you've arrived," the redhead greeted from behind Kishibe, her presence adding a touch of intrigue to the scene.

No longer concealed by her coat, her business shirt and pants accentuated her curves leaving little to the imagination.

"So I've been told," Leo remarked, before turning his attention back to Kishibe. "Are you going to let me in?"

Kishibe, who had never broken eye contact with Leo, silently stepped aside, allowing him to enter the building. Once Leo had passed through, Kishibe promptly closed and locked the door behind them, sealing off the outside world.

"Shall we proceed to my office?" the redhead inquired, her yellow eyes sweeping over Leo from head to toe.

In contrast to Kishibe, the redhead appeared less perturbed by the notion of working after hours, displaying an air of effortless grace.

Leo simply shrugged. Like Kishibe, He was just looking forward to getting out of there as soon as possible.

Unfazed by the silence, the redhead gestured for them to follow her, leading the way to her office with a confident stride. Her poise exuded a sense of authority and intrigue.

Leo and Kishibe trailed behind the redhead as she navigated through the dimly lit corridors of Devil Hunters HQ. The sound of their footsteps echoed off the walls, creating an eerie atmosphere that matched the late hour.

Reaching an unmarked door, the redhead turned the handle and invited Leo and Kishibe inside her office.

The office appeared worn and barren, as if the furniture had seen better days. The word "dilapidated" could accurately describe its state. The desk, adorned with only a nameplate bearing the simple inscription of "Makima," lacked any other embellishments.

"Got any tic tacs?" Leo inquired, turning to Kishibe with a hopeful expression.

Kishibe patted his pockets, then shook his head much to Leo's disappointment, indicating he had none to offer.

"Please, have a seat," Makima invited, settling into her own chair behind the desk.

"I'm good," Leo replied, sliding his hands into his pockets and opting to stand a few feet away from Kishibe.

Adjusting her posture, the redhead placed her hands on her lap, emanating an air of authority.

"Very well, let's get down to business," Makima began her tone firm yet inviting. "Leo, I have reviewed your file and received positive feedback about your skills. However, our devil hunters must undergo a rigorous selection process to ensure they meet our high standards."

Leo raised an eyebrow as he turned to look at Makima, then shifted his gaze to Kishibe.

"Haven't I demonstrated my capabilities?" Leo questioned.

Kishibe seemed to be lost in his thoughts, staring into space. After a moment, he blinked once and slowly turned to Leo, but remained silent.

Leo regarded Kishibe with an unamused expression before redirecting his attention back to Makima. Her yellow eyes gleamed in the dimly lit room.

"Taking down one devil doesn't meet the standard," Makima declared.

Leo raised his hand and extended two fingers.

"Two devils," Leo corrected, locking his black eyes with Makima's piercing yellow gaze.

An unspoken challenge filled the room as they engaged in a staring contest, neither willing to back down.

The silent standoff might have continued if it weren't for Kishibe smacking Leo on the back of his head.

"Manners," Kishibe interjected simply.

Leo clenched his teeth, feeling the sting from Kishibe's smack. While he had developed a level of tolerance, it didn't make the sensation any less uncomfortable.

Taking a deep breath, Leo withdrew his hands from his pockets and placed them behind his back, forcing a closed-eye smile.

"I am very, very, sorry, my apologies, for comin' off so harshly. Impart me, second chance, so I can dance the way you want me," Leo apologized, his words causing a faint flicker in Makima's smile as her eyes widened slightly when he finished. "You nazi."

Leo glanced at Kishibe, his eyebrow twitching with a touch of snark.

"Better?" Leo inquired.

Kishibe unscrewed the cap of his flask, took a sip, then answered, "It'll do."

When Leo redirected his gaze to Makima, her features settled back into a composed demeanor, but there was a spark of intrigue in her eyes. Leaning forward slightly, she held his gaze unwaveringly.

"I appreciate the apology, Leo," she responded, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. "Rest assured, our selection process goes beyond the number of devils you've taken down. We value potential, adaptability, and the ability to work within a team."

Leo simply nodded, the earlier closed-eye smile fading as he listened, or at least feigned interest.

"I understand," Leo replied, his tone lacking genuine enthusiasm. "I am determined to prove myself and make a meaningful contribution to the Devil Hunters. I may not fit the conventional mold, but I believe I possess the necessary skills and dedication for the job."

Makima's eyes flickered with amusement, a subtle smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"Very well, Leo," she said, reclining in her chair. "We will proceed with the next stages of the evaluation process. This will involve physical and psychological assessments, as well as an interview with other members of our organization. If you successfully pass these stages, you will be considered for recruitment."

Leo nodded mechanically.

"I am ready to undergo the evaluation," Leo affirmed, his boredom seeping through his words. "I will give it my all."

Makima's smile widened, revealing a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes.

"Good," she replied, her voice holding a touch of gratification. "I expect nothing less. Now, let us discuss the details and schedule for the upcoming assessments."

As Makima and Leo delved into the specifics, Kishibe leaned against the wall, his expression stoic, observing the interaction in silence.

The office atmosphere crackled with sarcasm and subtle mockery, as plans for Leo's evaluation took shape.