Another Chance | Aki x Reader

10: "Technically I was a devil hunter"

**Manga Spoilers once again.

You and Aki both walk out of the room, you turn to Aki and softly mumble, "Hey, mind if I walk with you, I'll help look for the devil... two pairs of eyes are better than one right?"

"Yeh that's fine, let's just hope we can find a way out. You can stay behind me since you don't exactly kill devils." Aki stated, trying to place you slightly behind him.

"Hey..." You debated internally whether you should tell Aki you used to work as a devil hunter. You had a suspicion Makima might know, considering she sent you to a few missions that you really didn't need to go to considering your field of work. There were just too many coincidences that almost forced your hand to use your devil. You just got lucky you didn't have to use it. However, you felt like your luck might run out and today it seems like the day it would. "Just 'cause I don't kill devils now doesn't mean I haven't in the past."

Aki looked at you confused, "In the past? Care to explain that one, engineer?" he asked curiously. He couldn't imagine you in a combative situation where you had to kill devils, perhaps that's the reason you wanted a change in your life in the first place.

Both of you began walking, searching in different rooms for any sign of the devil that has everyone trapped. "Well, I guess I should just come out clean. Figured I couldn't hide this if Makima keeps sending me to these trips." you sigh, disheartened at the fact you would be forced to devil hunt once again. "I was a kid when I killed my first devil. My dad was a devil hunter and so, I just wanted to impress him. He was indeed impressed, and as a result, he trained me in combat. How to use weapons against a devil. He did try steering me away from forming a contract with devils, he knew my mom would get mad if she found out I wanted to become a devil hunter, let alone be in a contract with one." you softly chuckle.

"How did that work out for you..." he looked at you with innocent eyes.

You stayed silent, affirming that you indeed have a contract with a devil. "Well, the devils just kept getting bigger and harder to kill, so there really is no way around it, you know how it is. I had to do it so I could provide some form of income for my family, but now that I don't have to, I was able to drop it and pursue what I always want to do."

Aki simply hummed, unsure what to respond to you.

"So yeh, technically I was a devil hunter, but I am not anymore. I put that behind me or tried at least. Seems this 'engineering' internship brought me back to it." you scoffed, "I just wanted to prove that I was just as capable as my classmates. That I don't need people holding my hand and being fearful that I'm just weighing the team down."

After a few seconds of silence, Aki finally decided to speak. "You don't have to be a devil hunter if you don't want to y/n. I can keep your contract a secret if you would like. You don't even have to tell me what devil you have a contract with. It's fine." Aki voiced earnestly, compassion laced in his voice. "You should be able to follow your dream, devil hunting isn't a part of that."

"Thanks, Aki, I wish I could just stick to just being an engineer. Go to my office and design defense weapons to keep you guys safe... But I have a feeling that won't happen. Hence me being here on my day off... But I suppose that gives me more time to be around you guys, I can have a different way of protecting you guys, so that's the silver lining." you laughed.

Aki simply giggles at your response. He liked how you tried to have a positive outlook in life, always gripping onto optimism to keep you smiling, even if deep down you felt the opposite. He noticed your presence was falling behind his pace and turned to you. He saw you sitting down on the floor, with your back against the wall.