Fate DxD

Chapter 119

Friday, May 26, 2023.

The alarm clock rings, waking Chiyo and me from our sleep. As usual, she has quietly entered my room and snuggled into my futon, holding me tight. She is the first to move, stretching to turn off the alarm clock. Accepting my fate, I let her do it, before she returns to her original position. At that moment, I sit up and stretch, looking at the time, which is exactly 6 a.m. Despite her reluctance to let me go, she falls back asleep, wishing me a good day. I cover her properly with the sheet before getting dressed and leaving my room.

With the whole house still asleep, I tiptoe to the entrance and put on my sneakers. I grab my keys when suddenly I hear a little trill behind me. It's Monji, still a little sleepy, coming to say hello. I pet him gently, which makes him purr and rub against me. But seeing that time is passing, I get up, tell him I'll be back, and leave.

"Good thing I brought a sweater..." I rub my hands together.

I leave the garden, closing the gate behind me, and warm up before heading off for a jog in to the park.

During my run, the sunlight timidly peeks out from the horizon, orange in color, its rays passing around the few clouds scattered across the blue sky. In the old neighborhood, there aren't usually many people on the streets at this time of day, except for a few cars or adults on their way to work, also heading to the big city for their trains or buses.

After several minutes, I arrive at the Fuyuki Bridge, that enormous red structure that has made our city famous, along with the huge faces carved into the mountain representing our Hokage. I cross it quickly, accompanied by a few cars and buses, before turning and heading towards the central park, a place that leaves no one in Fuyuki indifferent.

"Huff... Huff... I'm finally here..." I catch my breath between two gulps of water.

Fuyuki Central Park, ten years ago, used to be the site of a future huge shopping mall, but after the Fourth Holy Grail War, it was all destroyed by this flood of sin, burning absolutely everything in its path. Now it is a green area, but vegetation struggles to grow there, as the leaves on the trees and grass are pale, even though it is the middle of spring.

(It was here, this black hole in the sky, and this liquid coming out of it...) Shivers run through my body.

This place is the ideal playground for children, but for adults... and especially for those who are capable of it, one can feel the many grudges and negative emotions infesting the park, left behind by this tide of sin.

I shake my head and refocus to continue my morning workout. I head to the few facilities in one corner of the park and begin my training session.

As I finish my last set of push-ups, I hear the leaves rustling in front of me and Azuki, the red-haired tomboy from Maken-ki, emerges. Seeing me there, she stops, surprised.

"Huh? Senji...?" She walks toward me.

"Huff... Good morning, Azuki-senpai... Huff... What are you doing here so early in the morning? Huff..." I ask, continuing my push-ups.

"I'm heading to work!" she exclaims. "What about you? I didn't know you were training so early! No wonder you're improving so quickly! We should train together sometime!"

"That could be nice, yes... Huff..." I nod in agreement.

"Besides, you know our camp is coming up soon, so take it easy, otherwise you'll be in for it," she explains. "You know Minori-sensei, she'll show you no mercy."