His own half-hearted refusal seemed far too shameless to Seiji.
He was immediately embarrassed after saying it. But then, he felt, why not? âIâm a scumbag man who started a harem anyways!â
Well, he decided against saying anything else and played some cardsâŠ
One hour later, Seijiâs cell phone rang.
Seiji was currently shuffling cards, but his expression instantly changed. He put away the cards and then answered the call.
âIt really was so difficult.â Kamitani sighed. âI used just about every favor I could in order to arrange this face-to-face meeting for you. My bro Haruta, youâd better use this opportunity well. Donât waste all of my hard work. Not only that, heâs not in a good mood right now. If what you say doesnât satisfy him, itâs highly likely that heâll directly attack you. Heâs strong, really strong. You might even die.â
âStop saying such useless things,â Seiji stated coldly. âWhat time and what place?â
âIâve already worked so hard, so as my friend, you wonât even console me a little?â Kamitani acted like he was complaining.
âYouâve worked hard. Iâll invite you to some tea.â
âI can change it to coffee.â
âI prefer beer, along with some food that goes well with beer!â
âSure. Give me a mailing address and Iâll send you some beer.â
âYou wonât drink together with me!?â
âIâm still underage and canât drink alcohol yet.â Seiji acted all serious.
Kamitani was rendered speechless.
Even for someone as sly as him, he couldnât think of a comeback to this.
âTime and place? Hurry and tell me already.â Seiji didnât care one bit about what expression Kamitani had right now. He kept urging Kamitani to get to the point.
âThe time is in half an hour. The place isâŠâ Kamitani told him a location, then paused for a moment. âYouâd better not betray us, my bro Haruta.â
âOf course I wonât. Youâd better not set a trap for me, Kamitani-kun.â
After that, Seiji hung up and looked at Shika and the others.
âIâm going out now.â
âPlease be careful, Brother,â Shika told him.
Mika and Chiaki didnât say anything. However, their expressions said the same.
âI will.â Seiji smiled.
Half an hour later, in the city.
Seiji was now fully equipped in his combat attire. He arrived at the location that Kamitani told him, an abandoned factory.
Weeds were growing all over, the walls were filthy, the lighting was dim, and there was abandoned machinery and garbage everywhere⊠It all seemed so desolate.
Seiji had often seen such places before on television and in movies. These locations were often used for negotiations, shady deals, meetings, fights, murders, kidnappings, or imprisonment⊠nothing good.
Well, this was truly a suitable place indeed for meeting with a high-ranked member of a terrorist organization like the Messengers.
Seiji cautiously walked into the factory and looked around. He found nobody.
It seemed that Voidfire hadnât arrived yet.
Should he make some preparations then?
Just as he thought this, Seiji rejected the idea.
Voidfire might arrive at any moment. It would look bad if Seiji was in the middle of preparing something like a trap when he arrived. Besides, what could Seiji even prepare?
Seiji had come here to talk, not fight.
He didnât bother with checking anything else in the factory. Seiji found an old chair that was barely still in working condition and sat down.
Seiji had his eyes closed and was resting when he opened his eyes as he sensed something. Although he couldnât see anyone, he could sense that Voidfire had arrived.
This was the same heat sensation from Kosui Park in the last timeline, albeit much weaker.
This abnormal heat was approaching from outside and getting constantly closer. Seiji then heard footsteps as a dark gray shadowy figure walked into the factory.
This person was wearing gray long pants and a black hoodie with the hood up. He had on a black breathing mask that only revealed the upper half of his pale face. He also had bright red eyes and dark circles under his eyes, making him look rather sickly.
Any ordinary person who saw him on the street would likely be afraid of his appearance.
This sickly youth who kept his hands in his pockets, or Voidfire, walked up to Seiji.
Seiji stood up and looked at him directly.
âYou⊠what are you?â Voidfire asked in his raspy voice.
âI am Seiji Haruta,â Seiji said directly. âAre you the person in charge of the attack on Soul Society? May I ask your name?â
âI know your name already, but that wasnât what I was asking.â Voidfire looked at him. âSeiji Haruta, just what are you?â
âBefore asking someone else this type of question, shouldnât you at least introduce yourself?â Seiji spoke calmly.
The hoodie wearing youth fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
âMy code name is Voidfire.â
âHello then, Voidfire-san.â
Seiji had no hopes that he would be able to instantly find out Voidfireâs real name with that question. âAs for your question, my answer is: I donât know. If you insist on me giving an answer, I can only tell you that I am human. However, Iâm sure that you donât want such an answer, Voidfire-san. You probably saw something in me that caused you to ask such a question. Unless you tell me what you saw, I wonât know how to explain it to you.â
Something deep flashed in Voidfireâs eyes as he fell silent again.
âI can see through that thereâs something foundationally different from humans in you,â he spoke raspily. âIf you release your full power, youâll become an incredibly powerful existence. Yet, you havenât. Youâre restraining yourself and taking this current form instead.â
ââŠIndeed.â Seiji nodded and admitted this. âI do have an incredible power. If I casually used it as I please, it would make even myself afraid. Thatâs why Iâm choosing to restrain myself instead. But even so, I still believe that I am human. As for what I truly am objectively, I really donât know.â
Voidfire took a deep look at him.
âYouâre foundationally pure and holy. Youâre far too divine for this wicked world and ugly humanity⊠thatâs why youâre definitely not human. Although youâre not human, you believe yourself to be human. Youâre restraining yourself in order to protect humanity and the world. Thatâs evidence of your purity. Thatâs why Iâm quite happy to meet you, Seiji Haruta.â
âIf youâre that happy to meet you, could you tell me your real name?â Seiji asked.
ââŠMy true name is far too ugly. It is the most hypocritical family name in this hypocritical country. It is so ugly that it will only soil your ears to hear it,â Voidfire said raspily.
âIf Iâm so holy and pure as according to you, you shouldnât worry about me being soiled,â Seiji stated directly.
Something flashed in Voidfireâs eyes as he fell silent.
ââŠDousei Ashiya,â Voidfire spoke in a low voice. âThatâs my real name.â
Ashiya⊠Could it be that âAshiyaâ? Seiji had a realization.
âAshiya-san, your family nameâŠâ
Seiji didnât even finish his question when he suddenly sensed a powerful aura emanating from Voidfire. He immediately understood the answer.
If Voidfireâs family name was âAshiyaâ, then he was likely the descendant of the legendary Yin Yang Master who was the only person that rivaled the strongest Yin Yang Master Seimei Kamijou in strength. That would be the most âevilâ Yin Yang Master in Sakura Islandâs historyâDouman Ashiya!!
According to legend, Douman Ashiya and Seimei Kamijou were mortal enemies. Douman Ashiya was just as powerful and talented as Seimei Kamijou was. However, Douman Ashiya had an evil personality and committed many crimes. As Seimei Kamijou was known to be a good person on the side of justice, he stopped Douman Ashiyaâs crimes and schemes countless times.
Many manga and anime had fictional versions of their interactions before. That was why most people in Sakura Island already knew the legends and stereotypes. Douman Ashiya was Seimei Kamijouâs greatest rival and most powerful antagonist.
Of course, there were also all sorts of stories about how their rivalry bordered on frenemy level, or that they were more like star-crossed lovers, or the best of friends, etc., etc⊠These stories fleshed out Doumanâs personality.
But fundamentally, all stories kept the same trait of Douman Ashiya being the most evil Yin Yang Master in history.
But actually, the truth of history wasâŠ