One Above All

Chapter 4: Living with a hunter

Although Mr. Kishibe was an imposing man, and he was, Hiro didn't think he could be the fatherly figure to replace his dad. It wasn't just the lingering love he had for his deceased father, but also because Kishibe seemed uninterested in trying at all.

Kishibe was cold, distant, and somewhat sharp. Hiro realized that the most he had heard him talk was back at that restaurant when he was explaining everything. He wondered what kind of life had shaped Kishibe into the person he was now.

During his first week, Hiro had also discovered that Kishibe's cooking was... decent, but there was always something missing. Sometimes, he cooked the same meals his mother used to make, but his versions felt... melancholic.

Furthermore, Kishibe often ordered food occasionally junk food like pizza, various meat dishes with different sauces, or burgers. While Hiro enjoyed them, having burgers twice a week for breakfast wasn't an excuse. There was also hotel food which was better than consuming high-fat junk, but Kishibe rarely ordered from the staff, perhaps because it was more expensive for the high-quality, elegant food. Yet there was still a touch missing, something Hiro couldn't put his finger on.

"So... What are you going to do today?" Hiro asked, holding a metal spoon dripping with milk in his right hand.

They were having cereal for breakfast, an uncommon choice in Japan that Hiro had found in the kitchen drawers. He suspected it had been there for months, but it was better than having pizza for breakfast twice in a row. How did Kishibe manage to not gain weight?

Kishibe was also having cereal, he was more coerced into it to stop hearing the boy's complaints. Nevertheless, he answered.

"The usual, devil hunting or trying to pick up some pretty girls, or just drinking until my body crumbles..." he said.

"I've never seen a devil" Hiro said, ignoring the regret in Kishibe's voice. "Well, there was the one at my home, but... I hardly remember much about it. Just that Mom was screaming and Dad looked scared, then... everything became blurry. I don't remember anything else" Hiro stared intently at the bowl of milk and cereal, lost in his thoughts.

Kishibe also overlooked the sadness in Hiro's voice. "Well, you might see one someday. Many attack the city regularly."

"But even though we live here, I've never seen one."

"That's because Japan's security is good these days. Some devils tend to hide before launching surprise attacks, involving the city. But in recent months, there haven't been any major sightings of building-sized demons, just regular human-sized ones or weak ones like fruit devils," Kishibe replied as he slurped his cereal.

Hiro swallowed. Even if the city was safe for now, knowing that demons could hide and strike anywhere made him nervous. What if there was a devil beneath the house? Maybe the neighbors were devils? What if he himself was a devil?

"Stop trembling and eat; time will slip away from you" Kishibe advised with a grumble. Hiro was easily frightened, his hand trembling with the spoon he held.

Hiro nodded and decided it was best to stop dwelling on his theories that kept him on edge and focus on eating instead.

Now, they both lapsed into silence. This was how their mornings went Hiro initiated conversations, and Kishibe responded briefly. They didn't know each other well enough for casual breakfast talk, especially since Kishibe always seemed to prefer silence, something Hiro agreed with.

Hiro gazed out the window. The sky was as usual, cloudy, and there were droplets of water from condensation on the windows. This was the view almost every day. What was the point of living in a luxury apartment this high up if the view was so dreary?