Asuka realized that she had parted from her group, but she didn't think too much since there were a lot of things inside her head, and she felt that she needed time to be alone. Out of everyone, she knew that she might be the most useless, especially when she didn't want to use her power. If she wanted to use her power, then without a doubt, she would be amazing, especially when she could control a lot of people easily. As long as those people weren't that powerful, she could control them easily, and there weren't any limits.
Even though what Asuka controlled might be a group of small fries, sometimes a number was also a weapon.
Still, Asuka didn't really like that since she didn't want to become such a witch that would control the mind of people, so it was impossible for her to use that power.
However, hearing Haru's words about the development of her Gift gave Asuka hope since it was the first time she knew that there was another way to use her Gift.
'Controlling the Gifts...'
Asuka knew that she had that ability, but she didn't have another Gift other than her own Gift that made her able to control anything. Haru might have lent a Nalakuvera to her, but she felt quite bad since it wasn't her power, and even though their relationship was close, she didn't feel comfortable borrowing something from him, especially when she couldn't give him anything.
In her mind, it had always been a give and take, and she also had been on the side of the giving since she was rich, so the concept of taking something from someone was strange for her.
If Asuka was his lover, then she might not think too much, but Haru had a lover after all.
"......."
"Wh - What are you thinking, Asuka?!"
Asuka shook her head furiously, causing her long beautiful hair to sway right and left. She then calmed herself and continued to look around, but she didn't expect that she would meet a small, golden-yellow fairy that glows softly, playing on the display of the shop.
When Asuka looked at this fairy, the fairy also looked at Asuka.
They looked at each other, and somehow they came together after a few moments of their meeting.
With the company of the fairy, Asuka's trip became more enjoyable since she had to admit that it was a bit lonely to walk around in this town. Even though it was true that she wanted to be alone for a while, she still felt quite lonely, which somehow made her feel quite contradictory.
Asuka decided not to think too much and continued her trip with the fairy to the exhibition.
"There are so many people." Asuka was amazed and continued to look around until suddenly, the fairy on her shoulder chirped, calling her name several times. "What's wrong?" She then looked at the humongous thing in front of her. "That's is...?"
"It's so big!" The fairy jumped several times happily.
What appeared before them was a giant automaton with a singular, blue eye. Its color was red with gold accents.
"What community has made this...?" Asuka was dumbfounded. She had seen various crafts that were created by various communities, but this was her first time to see such a giant automaton, so she wondered who could create this.
"Asuka, Rattenfanger!"
"Huh?" Asuka looked at the board display and was surprised when she found out the one who created this giant automaton was Rattenfanger, the name that was said by the fairy several times, which made her wonder whether there was a connection between this automaton and this fairy. "Did your community create this?"
"Um!" The fairy nodded proudly.
Asuka smiled and could feel the love that fairy felt toward its community, but then suddenly a strong wind appeared all of a sudden, causing all the fire inside the exhibition to extinguish, and the room became dark.
Asuka suddenly felt nervous, and her whole body became tense.
"I have found you!"
"Wh - what is that?" Asuka kept glancing around to see who had done this. "Come out, you coward! Don't hide!"
However, no one appeared, but creepy voices kept sounding through the cave where the exhibition was held.
"I have found you... The which dares to lie about the Rattenfanger!"
Asuka turned her head toward the other side of the cave that would lead her toward the deeper part of the cave, but she didn't expect to see something that caused her goosebumps to stand. "R - Rats?!"
Tens of thousands of rats kept pouring and running as if they were about to prey on something.
The guests inside the exhibition were scared, and they directly ran away in fear.
Asuka was startled and also felt a bit scared since the numbers were too much.
The fairy also screamed, panicked.
Hearing the scream of the fairy, Asuka didn't hesitate and used her power. "Return to your nest!" Her eyes turned red as she gave her order, but the rats didn't stop, and they kept running toward her, which caused her shock!
Asuka was in shock since her power was useless and she was too late to run away, so watching the group of rats that were about to attack her, she could only stand there in a daze.
"What are you standing there for? Why don't you run away?"
Asuka was startled when she heard this helpless voice, but at the same time, it gave her a sense of security and reassurance.
"Scram!"
As this voice fell, tens of thousands of rats directly stopped and passed out directly on the ground.
Asuka blinked her eyes, and she was in shock again at how powerful the power of this young man was since with just one word, he could make tens of thousands of rats pass if they did not die directly.
"Let's go back, Asuka," Haru said as he looked at Asuka.
"........" Asuka still couldn't react since she wasn't sure whether she was dreaming or not, but when she felt warm on her hand. She was startled and noticed that her hand was held by Haru. Her face quickly turned red, and she was so shy. "Ha - Haru?"
"Let's go back first and talk there," Haru said gently.
Asuka looked at him for a moment before she nodded gently. "Um." She let him guide her, letting him hold her hand, but she had to admit that this feeling wasn't bad at all. 'Still, it is too rude to hold a lady's hand, right? But...' She looked at Haru's profile from the side, and she was in a daze again. 'I'll forgive him this time.' The only thing that she was worried about was that she might not be clean enough for her future husband since her hand had been held by another man. 'Should I ask about his responsibilities? But he has a girlfriend, right?' Her head was in a mess, thinking about various things, forgetting the fact that she was in a dangerous situation before.
Haru didn't know what was on Asuka's head at that moment and just wanted to go back since there was something more important to do.
On their trip, they happened to meet Leticia, who was searching for Asuka for a while but only found her when the accident was over.
Haru was wondering whether this was the power of the plot? He wasn't sure, but he could feel Letica staring at his hand that was holding Asuka's hand intimately with an envious gaze. He blinked his eyes and naturally held Leticia's hand with his other hand.
"Shall we go back?"
Leticia blinked her eyes while looking at Haru, thinking that what Asagi had told her might be true since this guy was a scumbag. Still, she didn't hate it at all since this was what she had been waiting for.
"Yes." 2x