Chapter 40: Reia’s existential crisis
Akira was at a loss for words as it was clear Reia had not stopped thinking about what Lou said before.
'Think of something to say, quick.' Akira needed to do something to distract Reia as he didn't want to force her into thinking she has to accept the feelings she is having.
"Uhhh, so what are we cooking up?" Akira's voice was a little strained as he wasn't even sure if it would work, but it had seemingly got Reia to snap out of her thoughts.
"O-oh yes, food." Reia quickly turned and went into the kitchen to prepare some food for Lou and Kim. Akira followed behind and started opening some of the cabinets to see if there were any utensils and plates.
The kitchen was surprisingly stocked up with everything, there were cups, plates, bowls and even a microwave that was fully functioning. Opening up a bottom cabinet it turned out to be a fridge filled with water and next to it a freezer that had some meat in it.
"Looks like we should try going on a shopping trip and try to fill this up as much as we can." Akira knew how important this was as it would allow them to have proper meals and be able to store things properly without the risk of food poisoning.
Reia who wasn't paying attention while watching the canned food she was cooking spin in the microwave.
'Do I have feelings?' Reia could not stop hearing Lou's words echo in her mind and although she hadn't been bothered by her teasing before, this time it had really struck her.
'That feeling when I look at him, is that love like she said?' More questions ran through her mind until the microwave dinged at her. Pulling out the bowl, she had put another one in and started cooking the next one while she went and delivered the first one.
Entering Lou's room, she saw Kim sitting in a chair while Lou lay down on the bed.
"Here is some food." Reia passed it to Kim and Lou tried to get up from the bed, but was too sore to lift herself.
Kim quickly placed the food on the bedside table and helped Lou sit up.
"Geh I hate how useless I feel." Lou grabbed the food feeling a bit of shame as her current state was a hit to her pride needing so much help to function.
"Want me to feed you?" Kim pulled out the cute cat eyes as she really wanted to do what other couples did in shows she has seen. Lou's hand shook for a moment, but looking at Kim she couldn't say no.
"F-fine." Lou reluctantly passed the bowl to Kim and she instantly started scooping up some of the food in the bowl.
"Hehe~" Kim approached with the spoon and Lou closed her eyes while opening her mouth. What she expected to be food was instead a kiss from Kim. Pulling away Kim had a cheeky grin and Lou couldn't help but smirk.
"Sneaky little one you are, now give me my food before I start going crazy." Lou was extremely hungry and despite enjoying Kim's little sneaky kiss, she still was craving food.
'I wonder if me and Akira would do something like that?' Reia who had watched the entire scene would usually be grossed out by it, but instead had caused her mind to wonder.
'What the fuck am I thinking.' Reia broke out into a blush and this did not get unnoticed by Lou.
"Eh? Still thinking about him? You know I'm teasing you most of the time right and if you do have feelings you should just date him." Lou was not aware of the kind of internal turmoil Reia was going through so she saw the situation as rather black and white.
"It's not that, it's just I don't understand." Reia not having anyone else to talk to about this decided she may as well come clean.
"Hmm well it is true you only became softer recently and even after you recovered you were still rather emotionless unless we went on missions with Akira." Kim recalled when Reia first recovered and how much of a mess she was to feel so many things.
"Every time it's Akira that seems to bring these certain emotions, but I don't know how I should interpret them." Reia had even felt this while at the academy, but what stopped her was the constant watch of her parents when it came to her personal connections with any male.
"It is a lot simpler than you think, but seeing as you are rather confused, I think it's best you try to figure this out on your own. We can give advice, but it's up to you to decide what those feelings mean to you." Lou had gotten rather serious and despite her usual bitchy attitude she genuinely wanted to help Reia.
"Indeed, I think it's important you come to your own conclusion and when you're ready talk about it with Akira. I am sure he is waiting for you since he has been by your side without saying a word for so long." Kim had put in her own opinion and being rather close to Akira herself she knew that he had been holding back for Reia's sake due to her emotions.
'That stubborn guy even after talking about it way back in the academy with me still hasn't said anything.' Kim had hung out with Akira on many occasions as they enjoyed the same interest causing them to become good friends rather quickly. One day while hanging out he had come clean to her about how he felt about Reia.
"I-i, thank you." Reia felt a bit more confident in herself, but she still needed a lot of time to think on top of the mess they were in above ground.
A ding echoed out which meant Kim's food was ready, but as Reia was about to leave Akira had come into the room with the food.
"What girl talk is going on here?" Akira spoke with a rather sarcastic tone while he put the bowl of food on the table next to Kim.
"Pffhaha, you wish to get in on what we talk about? Are you sure you won't regret it~?" Lou looked at Akira who was now slowly backing away.
"Yeah, I think I'll pass." Akira didn't like the look in her eyes so he quickly escaped the room to go cook for Reia and himself.
"Fufu~ now is there anything else Reia?" Lou scarring away Akira, she was willing to hear any more of Reia's concerns.
"I think that's all and thank you for your help. Also once you are recovered we will head back out." Reia had calmed down and although they didn't have a plan, they needed to keep exploring the city to look for more members of the squad.
"Alright, enjoy your dinner date~." Lou and Kim waved to Reia who upon hearing Lou's words ran out trying to pretend she didn't hear anything.
'Just right as I calmed down.' Reia shut the door behind her and shook her head vigorously.
"Still teasing you?" Akira had just exited the kitchen and spotted Reia just exiting Lou's room.
"I-I uhhh, y-yeah." Reia wasn't sure what to say but hoped her response was good enough.
"I see well, let's eat and get some sleep." Akira looked at his phone with the time saying 8:26.
"Y-yep." Reia nodded and followed Akira out to the table which was in the common area.
Akira quickly went into the kitchen and brought out some food to the table. Sitting down they began to eat with Reia keeping complete silence unsure if she should say anything. Akira would be the first to break the silence between them.
"So do you have any plans for tomorrow or is it going to be a rather relaxed day?"
"Depending on how Lou is feeling we might just head out and try to stock up as much as we can. If we can fill the fridge and freezer with things, we can enjoy a bit of luxury food while we still can." Thanks to the conversation change Reia was able to speak normally and distract herself.
"Did we want to bring Kim along or would it be better if she stayed?" Akira thought the bunker to be pretty safe, but seeing as every military member had access it might not be a good idea.
"I think we leave her here with Lou, we won't be too far so if anything happens we should be back pretty quickly." Reia remembered some of the stores they walked past so it would not take them long to return.
"Sounds like a plan." Akira was okay with the idea and with everything sorted they finished eating.
Cleaning up after themselves they each went to their rooms to rest up for the night ready for tomorrow.
***
<Klein POV>
"Shit! Lou is there." Klein had kicked a wall putting a hole in it.
"Good thing I left, otherwise I would have been dead, but seriously out of all the things that could have happened while they were out, LOU had to be found." Kicking the wall again she let out her frustration as now it would be impossible to approach now.
"Tsk it looked like she was hurt so let's hope I can catch Akira alone so I can drag him with me." Klein's only hope was to use the last of the ice essence she had to capture Akira and take him for herself.
Taking a seat right at a window she got a perfect few of the alleyway where the bunker was waiting patiently for Akira to leave.
***
<Next morning>
"BITCHES!" Lou had come out of the bedroom walking around as if nothing had ever happened. Kim had followed her out, rubbing her eyes while still half asleep.
Lou's shouting had caused Reia and Akira to wake up, with Reia coming out first with a rather annoyed look.
"Can you not yell?" Reia was enjoying her sleep and not having to wake up so early.
"How the hell are you even able to walk around?" Akira had poked his head from behind Reia wondering how Lou was able to move around.
"Because I am just that good, no need to question it." Lou had sat on the couch and leaned back with her hands behind her head.
However, Kim poked Lou in the arm right where a bruise was.
"Ow! Kim, don't blow my facade." Lou had glared at Kim as although Lou could move she was still injured from the fight.
"Sorry, but I am not letting you outside with those injuries."
"Tsk, I only listen since you are right, I shouldn't be going out at the moment." Lou under any other circumstances would have gone out, but since the risk was very high in going outside she was willing to wait until she was back to being 100% recovered.
Reia had face palmed as it was very typical of Lou as it was not the first time she had run back into battle after sustaining a bunch of injuries.
Kim sat next to Lou while Reia and Akira were about to head to the kitchen for breakfast until Lou suddenly started sniffing the air.
*sniff* "I smell the scent of a slut." Lou had noticed the smell of someone she knew all too well.
"Tell me by chance did you let a succubus stay in the bunker?" Lou looked at Reia and Akira with a rather serious look.
*sigh* "Yes, Klein was here." Akira was the one to speak up since he was the one that protected her from being killed and saw no point in hiding it since Lou already knew who it was.
"Wow, I'm surprised you didn't kill her Reia, now tell me why didn't you." Lou glared at Reia as Klein was number one on Lou's list of people to kill.
"Akira stopped me since she could be useful because of her ability to copy essence." Reia averted her eyes as Lou was right that she would have killed Klein if it wasn't for Akira.
"There is a reason why I call her a succubus, did you want me to explain it to you Akira?" Lou understood now why Klein wasn't killed and figured Akira didn't know how Klein's essence actually worked. She had also considered yelling at them for letting Klein live, but seeing as Akira was naive to the facts and Reia listened to him, Lou would hope after explaining, he won't make the same mistake.
"Sure, you know the most about the situation so I wouldn't mind an explanation." Akira was going to use this as a way to see if he would have any sympathy left for Klein as he still didn't see her as the devil everyone made her out to be.
"Alright come sit down, I will explain it to you."
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