The Demons of Shadow Moon

Part 77 - A.M Chem

At the material shop...

"Let's see... so these are all the materials we need, right?" Atomu asked, carrying a bunch of wood.

"We also need some leather," Kyou added, holding some glass.

"Leather??? What for??" Atomu asked, wood blocking his vision.

"I don't know. Echo just specified to get the magic absorbing leather. Maybe she's making you new gloves," Kyou shrugged.

"Ah!!!! W-would she really do that??" Atomu blushed, stumbling over out of shock, dropping all the wood on the floor.

"Well, either that or she wants to use it for some fun," Kyou smirked, ignoring the fact he had fallen.

"What kind of fun???" Atomu asked cluelessly, picking up the wood he dropped.

Kyou coughed awkwardly.

"Mmm..." Atomu got up from the floor, picking the wood up with him.

"Hey!" He shoved his head into Kyou's personal space.

"Uh!" He leaned back, not expecting Atomu to get that close suddenly.

"You and Haru aren't allowed to have fun with my lady without me!" Atomu claimed.

"Who are you to give me that order? It's none of your business what Mistress does without you," Kyou argued.

"It is so!!! Echo is my business!!! If you mistreat her, I'll never forgive you!!" Atomu yapped.

"You're like an annoying small dog; you know that?" Kyou mentioned.

"I AM NOT!!!" Atomu barked.

"Still... mistress doesn't need a dog like you," Kyou added.

"Uh... mmm!!! You don't know anything about what Echo needs!!" Atomu claimed.

"And you do?" Kyou challenged.

"I know that she doesn't need someone like you! All you do is follow her around, acting like some butler! My lady is a strong and capable woman with a sword of her own! She doesn't need a knight in shining amour," Atomu went on.

"Isn't that exactly what you pretend to be? You want to protect her, right?" Kyou argued.

"Of course I do! I'd always be there for her in a fight! But fighting isn't what she needs! What she needs is comforting! She deserves someone who will always be there, right beside her for when she feels weak, to remind her she's the most amazing, badass person in the world!! Do you understand emotions at all?!! She may not show it... but she gets scared too, ya know?! She doesn't need a servant; she needs a friend! Instead of following orders all the time, maybe you should listen to her heart and do something to show you actually care!!!" Atomu lectured Kyou.

Kyou stood silent, in shock that this small human was seriously lecturing him.

Yet...

His words aren't entirely nonsensical. Show I actually care...? I thought that's what I was doing...

"Mmm..." Kyou grumbled, looking away awkwardly as Atomu continued his death glare.

"You're making a scene, you know? There's no need to get so worked up. I do care about Echo. A lot," Kyou told him.

"Then prove it properly!" Atomu yelled.

"Uh... why would you say that when you clearly like her?" Kyou asked.

"Because I want Echo to be happy! So I'm gonna keep trying to make her happy! I do everything I can to show her how much I care. She deserves that from you too! If you really like her, then you have to tell her like I have!! Or else you're not even worthy of being my rival!!!" Atomu declared.