Supernatural Beings: Strive Survivors Vol. 2

Strive 194: Tao And Kuma's Bond

Author Note: "Yo! Just a heads up, it's another heavy chapter. Again, feel free to take breaks in between the chapters.
Thanks for reading!"

Akuma's POV

Yup.

This is it.

Remember, Akuma. Don't expect Tao to open up even if you ask her questions. She'll probably shut you down or try to change the subject. All I need to do is be there and try to ease her pain. Things won't be as smooth as last time.

You know what,

I won't even ask until Tao is comfortable enough to talk. Yeah, even if it's silent, I'll still be there for her. After all, that's the least I could do as a friend.

Right.

Here I go!

I started to fix my clothing. So my black shirt that said 'bad girl' with a heart with devilish horns and a pointy tail at the end of its behind looks okay. I'm also wearing a pink skirt and jacket, which are cute and hopefully look girly. My right sleeve is lowered, which means my right shoulder is showing skin. I'm also wearing some heart-shaped earrings and a necklace shaped like a heart. 

"Okay! Time to do this!" I whisper to myself and nod intensely. I lean in to knock, but-

Cree!

"H-huh?" I widened my eyes when I saw the door opening. And-

"Alright, Taoreta, get plenty of rest, okay? And don't force yourself to sleep while skipping dinner and breakfast! That's not good for your body." I heard a familiar voice. I then saw the person that had that familiar voice mentioned. It reveals Kibun, my father, who took me in as a kid.

Kibun started to close the door behind him but stopped when he noticed me.

"Akuma!" Kibun says in shock.

"Old man- I-I mean, dad!" I say out of habit, but I change it to respect him more.

"Old man is fine," Kibun says with a smile.

"I thought you didn't like that name?" I said with a left brow raised.

"Yeah, well, hearing you calling me father or dad these days doesn't sit right with me. Call me "Old man" if it feels right with you. Also, it's kind of weird hearing that from you now that you're a young adult. Eighteen years old at that." Kibun jokes around, but I narrow my eyes with a puffy face.

"Drop dead, you old geezer!" I shouted.

"Now that's more like it. That's the daughter I had raised." Kibun says with a smug look.

"Jeez, why do you have to make things weird, dude?" I say while looking upset.

"That's what Dads do, stupid. We make things weird for our children so that they can think about our actions. Well, in some cases, not all. Other times, it doesn't make any sense, but hey, that's parenting." Kibun commented.

"Uh-huh," I say in a monotone voice.

"Anyway, what's with that outfit? Meeting a boy or something?" Kibun asks while pointing at my clothes.

"Nope," I shake my head.

"Huh. A girl, then? I'm not going to judge you, though. You like what you like." Kibun says with a shrug.

"I'm not doing that either!" I shouted.

"Oh, you're not sure which you like? Well, there's a-"

"Ah, listen! I'm not dating anyone, nor I'm planning to! I'm here to cheer up Tao, damn it!" I shouted in frustration.