Carrying Kaede in his arms Soma kept his running pace while observing the surrounding neighborhood until eventually he arrived at the intersection then he took a turn to the left and against the panicked crowd he slowed down his run, then decided this was a chance he connect his thought with the ring in his necklace and took his phone out.
"Mommy".
"Huh, What?!"
Soma halted his run as he was shocked hearing Kaede shout beside his ear. He turned to look at the way Kaede was seeing things and true to her voice. There is a woman in her late thirties wearing a brown coat and a blue dress running to their side with sweat drenched her body.
From the looks of it, it seems she also keeps searching for her daughter's well-being. He crouched down before putting Kaede to the ground and releasing from his embrace Kaedde ran straight toward her mother's embrace.
"Kaede".
"Mommy".
Tears began to accumulate in Kaede's corner eyes as she now submerged herself toward her mother's bosomed. The woman in question turned her attention only to find Soma was nowhere to be seen again. She could only be dumbfounded while saying thankful words in her heart.
"Thank god it ended this soon".
Soma, after witnessing the touching sight, began to retreat. He didn't want to interrupt their time, he also wondered if the parents knew about the incident that happened earlier, but Kaede was a smart girl, so he hoped that she would tell her mother what had happened and her mother could take a smart action to get as far away from the scene.
While running in a now deserted place. He puts the phone near his ear as he runs, bypassing the different route from the one he took earlier.
The ringing sound of a connected call from the other side entered his ear and after it beeped thrice. The phone was answered and Soma could hear the calm and dignified voice from Mr. Ito.
"What is the matter of Soma? Do you need something?".
"Yes, Mr. Ito there was a robbery that involved the awakeners happening in the place I was sightseeing, and I need your help in capturing those two".
"Tell me the details!".
Mr. Ito changed his demeanor in one go and Soma could hear his dignified voice more clearly, truly befitting the title of the leader of the Awakeners Association. Then, Soma began to explain the details from the first time he witnessed the robbery happen. It starts from the moment when a sudden gust of wind happens around and the explosion that occurred later. Then two men with black outfits wearing half-mask oni appeared.
"..As for their abilities, I didn't know much about them, but there is no mistaking that those two are awakeners. As for the address I will let you track my phone. Can you do that, please?".
"..Okay I will immediately inform my subordinate and send a high ranker awakener near you, stay in check".
"Okay. Oh, can you also bring one ambulance please. Just in case situation".
"..Okay, don't do anything reckless on your own Soma"
Mr. Ito hesitated at first but soon followed Soma's instruction. but didn't forget to state the warning for his well-being.
Soma wondered why Mr. Ito was giving so much care about him, but he put that aside in the corner of his mind. For now, he needs to focus on the things he faces and the well-being of the girl who is fighting.
"..Okay, I will. Please monitor me using my phone, then..".
Soma put away the phone inside his pocket pants. While still running in the narrow alley in front of him he spotted a single metal pole that stood upon the building nearing a trash can.
"I will borrow this".
He took the pole and kept his running face steady. Then in his sight, he saw Hina was being blown away. His greatest fear unfolds as he sees Hina blasted to the side. He clicked his tongue and he began to knit his brows, pissed.
Soma raised his running pace as he began to approach the location. He heard the shout of the lanky man beside him then he approached the man who tried to finish her life, raising the pole high.
"Not so fast". Then swung it with all his might until the pole was bent ninety degrees, but it succeeded in halting the bully man's action for a few seconds. He took Hina in his embrace and then began to run away from the place. Sliding one hand below her back and the other behind the knee.
"..Why are you here?".
Hearing a hoarse voice that came from her mouth made his heart stir in a swirling emotion.
"Shut your mouth for now!".
Unconsciously he opened his mouth in a rage. He also didn't understand why he did that. He thought that he could control his emotions well but it seems that it was wrong. The skill also didn't reveal itself, it seems he needs to manage his skill properly later.
The struggle he had to face upon facing the demon for the first time he arrived at this world, and the mistrust he got after trying to communicate with her came upon like a tidal wave flooding his mind in barrage.
Soma was risking his life just to save her life back then. But now she was just letting it be thrashed upon and now in front of, him she tried to act as a Hero by dealing with a robber and almost got her life taken before his own eyes. "Don't joke around, I will not let that happen''. He muttered.
He turned his attention to look at Hina's condition. She opened her eyes wide not expecting that Soma would utter such a harsh word toward her. But she could feel that from the anger Soma lashed out, there was a bit of a trace of worry about her well being.
Therefore she looked down, clenching her teeth hard while enduring the pain in her left abs. Soma in question knitted his brows seeing her in that state.
Her breathing was heavy, sweat began to drenched her temple and he could feel that his hands that were holding her back were also cold because of the sweat. This amount of sweat is clearly abnormal when she was just starting the battle unless. Then he noticed that Hina was holding the left side of her abs, while biting her lips.
Hina turned her attention to the behind, and didn't want to look him in the eyes for now. Then, shocked by the incoming attack.
"Jump to the right".
Hearing the words from Hina in his arms, Soma jumps to the side like she said and like a sound from the wind that has been cut. The debris from the broken building flew in a straight line at a high speed like a bullet intending to catch Soma off guard.
"Tch, I missed".
The lanky man in behind curses.
"Persistent bastard. Hina hold on for a bit".
"..Okay".
Soma tensed his body as he began to embrace hina tighty in his arm. He accelerated his running pace and soon became too far for the lanky man to use his wind magic.
"They are gone. Gor let's get out of here".
"..Umm, Okay boss".
Hearing the order from his superior the bulky man hesitated between chasing Soma or leaving this place. But he knew if he tried to object to his boss' decision he would be doomed. So he began to leave the place with the boss. Then the place becomes empty again after the four of them leave.