Deus.Ex.Machina Chapter 81

Issei shook his head violently, his face still burning red. "No, no, no! Not the ti for that!" he muttered to himself, forcing his perverted thoughts aside. "She needs help, you idiot!"

He quickly crouched down and started gathering the scattered groceries—apples, bread, what looked like ingredients for dinner. "Here, let help you with these," he said, carefully keeping his eyes focused on the task at hand and definitely not on... other things.

"Oh, thank you so much!" the girl said, her voice warm with genuine gratitude. "You're very kind."

Issei felt a little proud of himself for doing the right thing. Maybe he was growing as a person after all. Leon would probably be impressed that he'd managed to act like a gentleman instead of a perverted ss for once.

"It's no problem," he replied, standing up with an armload of groceries. "Are you hurt at all? That looked like a pretty hard—"

The words died in his throat as the girl stood up and turned to face him fully.

Holy crap.

She was... she was absolutely gorgeous. Blonde hair that seed to catch what little light remained in the evening, bright green eyes that sparkled with warmth and innocence, and a face that belonged in a painting or sothing. The nun's habit should have made her look plain or severe, but sohow it just made her seem more angelic.

Issei's brain, which had just barely managed to get back online, promptly crashed again.

"Um... are you alright?" the girl asked, tilting her head slightly with a concerned expression that was sohow even cuter than her smile.

Issei realized he was staring. And probably drooling. And definitely not responding to her question like a normal human being.

"I... uh... you're..." he stamred, his usual social awkwardness multiplied by about a thousand. "You're really pretty."

The mont the words left his mouth, he wanted to disappear into the ground. Way to go, Issei. Real smooth.

But instead of getting offended or running away, the girl's cheeks turned a light shade of pink, and she looked down shyly.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "That's very sweet of you to say."

Issei felt his heart do sothing weird in his chest. When was the last ti a girl had called him sweet? When was the last ti a girl this beautiful had even talked to him without imdiately walking away in disgust?

"I'm Asia," she said, looking up at him again with those incredible green eyes. "Asia Argento."

"Issei," he managed to reply, still feeling like he was in so kind of dream. "Issei Hyoudou."

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They walked side by side through the quiet streets, Issei carrying most of Asia's groceries while she held onto the lighter items. He still couldn't quite believe this was actually happening—a girl this beautiful was not only talking to him, but seed genuinely happy for his company.

"So you're a nun?" Issei asked, glancing at her habit. It was an obvious question, but he was struggling to think of anything intelligent to say.

"Yes," Asia nodded with a gentle smile. "I ca to Japan recently to serve at the church here. It's... quite different from Italy, but everyone has been very kind."

"Italy, huh? That's pretty cool." Issei shifted the grocery bags to get a better grip. "Your Japanese is really nice."

Asia's cheeks turned pink again. "Thank you. I'm still working on my Japanese. Sotis I worry I sound strange."

"Are you kidding? You sound amazing," Issei said earnestly, then imdiately felt his face heat up. There he went again, just blurting out whatever ca to mind.

But Asia just smiled wider. "You're very kind, Issei-san."

They paused at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. Issei found himself stealing glances at her profile, still not quite believing soone this pretty was walking with soone like him.

"Are you sure you don't mind carrying those?" Asia asked, noticing him adjusting the bags again. "I feel terrible making you do all the work."

"It's no problem at all," Issei said quickly. "Besides, you already tripped once. I don't want you falling again with all this stuff."

Asia laughed softly, a sound that made Issei's chest feel warm. "You're probably right. I'm not very graceful, I'm afraid."

The light changed and they started walking again, heading up a gradual hill. That's when they heard it—a sharp cry of pain from behind them.

"Oh no!" Asia gasped, spinning around.

An elderly woman had stumbled on the uneven pavent, her walking cane scattered a few feet away. She was clutching her knee, her face twisted in pain as she tried to push herself up.

"Obaasan!" Asia imdiately dropped her light groceries and rushed over, with Issei close behind.

"Are you hurt?" Asia asked gently, kneeling beside the woman.

"My knee," the old woman groaned. "I think I twisted it badly. Oh, this is terrible..."

"Here, let help," Asia said softly, reaching out toward the woman's injured knee.

Issei watched in amazent as Asia's hands began to glow with a soft, warm light. The elderly woman's eyes widened in surprise, but the pained expression on her face imdiately began to fade.

"What... what is this?" the woman whispered, staring at Asia's glowing hands.

"Just rest for a mont," Asia said with a peaceful smile, her hands continuing to emit that gentle radiance.

Within seconds, the woman was sitting up straighter, the pain completely gone from her features. She flexed her knee experintally, then looked up at Asia with wonder.

"I... it doesn't hurt anymore," she said in amazent. "How did you...?"

"You must have just needed a mont to recover," Asia said diplomatically, helping the woman to her feet. "Sotis rest is the best dicine."

The elderly woman thanked them profusely before continuing on her way, walking normally as if nothing had happened. Issei stood there, staring at Asia with recognition dawning in his eyes.

"Asia," he said slowly. "That was... that was incredible. Your hands were glowing."

Asia looked around nervously, then nodded. "I have a special ability. It's called a Sacred Gear - sothing I was born with that allows to heal any injury, no matter how severe."

Issei's mind raced. Sacred Gear. Just like what he supposedly had. Leon had explained that so humans possessed these divine artifacts with incredible powers.

"That's amazing," he said honestly. "You can actually heal people just by touching them?"

"Yes," Asia replied quietly.

"You're like a real-life angel."

Asia's cheeks turned pink at the complint.

The light changed and they started walking again, heading up a gradual hill lined with trees. In the distance, Issei could see the silhouette of a church against the darkening sky.

"Is that where you live?" he asked, pointing toward the building.

"Yes, that's right." Asia looked up at the structure with a peaceful expression. "It's very quiet and beautiful. Perfect for prayer and reflection."

Issei nodded, though he had to admit he knew absolutely nothing about church life. The closest he'd ever co to religion was probably the shrine visits during New Year's.

"It must be nice," he said. "Living sowhere so peaceful, I an."

"It is," Asia agreed. "Though sotis it can get a little lonely. It's nice to have soone to talk to."

The comnt made Issei feel oddly happy. He was used to being the annoying classmate people tolerated at best. Having soone actually seem to enjoy his conversation was a new and welco experience.

They reached the church as the last traces of daylight faded from the sky.

"Well, here we are," Asia said, turning to face him with a grateful smile. "Thank you so much for helping , Issei-san. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't co along."

"It was nothing, really," Issei replied, though he felt a weird sense of disappointnt that their walk was over. He handed her the grocery bags, their fingers brushing briefly as she took them. "Just glad I could help."

Asia hesitated for a mont, then looked up at him hopefully. "Would you... would you like to co in? I could make so tea, as a thank you."

Issei's heart jumped at the invitation. Part of him wanted to politely decline—he didn't want to impose, and he definitely didn't know anything about church etiquette. But the hopeful look in Asia's green eyes made the decision for him.

"If you're sure it's okay," he said, trying not to sound too eager. "I'd like that."

Asia's face lit up with genuine happiness. "Wonderful! Please, co in."

She led him up the stone path toward the heavy wooden doors. As they approached, Issei felt a slight nervousness. He'd never been inside a real church before, and he had no idea what to expect. What if he accidentally did sothing disrespectful? What if there were other nuns around who'd wonder why Asia was bringing so random guy inside?

But when Asia pushed open the doors and gestured for him to follow, his worries faded. The interior was warm and inviting, with soft lighting and the faint scent of candles in the air.

"Welco," Asia said softly, her voice carrying a note of pride. "This is my ho now."

Issei looked around in wonder, taking in the peaceful atmosphere. "It's really beautiful," he said honestly.

"I'm so glad you think so," Asia bead. "Now, let put these groceries away and make us so tea. Please, make yourself comfortable."

As she bustled off toward what he assud was the kitchen area, Issei couldn't help but smile.

After Asia returned with two steaming cups of tea, they settled into comfortable chairs in what appeared to be a small sitting area near the altar.

"This tea is really good," Issei said, taking a careful sip. "Thank you."

"I'm glad you like it," Asia replied, cradling her own cup with both hands. "It's a blend I brought from Italy. It reminds of ho."

There was sothing in her voice—a hint of loneliness, maybe sadness—that made Issei look at her more closely. "Are you... are you okay? I an, it must be hard being so far from ho."

Asia's smile faltered slightly, and she looked down at her tea cup. "I... yes, it has been difficult. I ca here from Italy, and everything is so different."

"What brought you all the way here?" Issei asked softly, sensing there was more to the story.

Asia was quiet for a long mont, as if weighing how much to tell him. When she spoke again, her voice was barely above a whisper.

"I was... asked to leave my previous position," she said carefully. "There was a misunderstanding about my abilities. So people thought I was doing sothing wrong when I was only trying to help."

Issei frowned. A misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding could get a nun kicked out of her church?

"That's stupid," Issei said imdiately, his protective instincts flaring up again. "Helping people is never wrong. Anyone who says otherwise is an idiot."

Asia looked up at him with those green eyes that seed to hold so much pain despite her gentle smile and nodded.

"Not everyone saw it that way."

"What do you an?" Issei asked, though he was starting to get a sinking feeling.

Asia looked down at her hands. "My healing works on... everyone. Even people that the church considered enemies. When they found out, they called a witch and cast out."

Issei felt a flash of anger on her behalf. "That's horrible! You were just trying to help people!"

Asia's eyes widened slightly at his vehent response, then tears began to well up in them. "You... you really think so?"

"Of course I do!" Issei said, leaning forward earnestly. "If you can heal people, then you should heal people. It doesn't matter who they are or what other people think. Helping soone who's hurt is always the right thing to do."

A single tear rolled down Asia's cheek, but she was smiling, brighter than she had all evening.

"Thank you, Issei-san," she whispered. "You don't know how much I needed to hear that."

Issei slumped back in his chair, still buzzing from the intensity of what Asia had just told him. He couldn't believe it—soone like her, gentle and kind to a fault, had been treated like that? It felt wrong on every possible level.

He glanced at her again. Asia was dabbing at her eyes with a small handkerchief, smiling despite the tears still clinging to her lashes. Sothing about that smile tugged at him hard, like a hook in his chest.

For once, Issei didn't even think about boobs or anything remotely perverted. He just thought about how much he wanted to protect that smile.

The tea between them had long gone cold by the ti Issei finally set his cup down with a sigh. "I should probably get going," he said, his voice heavy with reluctance. "It's getting late, and my parents will freak if I'm not ho for dinner."

Asia blinked, her smile faltering for just a second. "Ah... of course," she said quietly. "I understand." She quickly stood. "Thank you again, Issei-san, for walking with and... for listening."

Issei scratched the back of his head as he stood, trying to ignore the pang of disappointnt that hit him. "No problem. I an—" He fumbled for words. "It was nice. Talking to you, I an. You're... easy to talk to."

That earned him another one of her soft, glowing smiles. "You're very kind," she murmured.

They walked together toward the heavy wooden doors, the quiet creak echoing through the empty church as Asia pushed them open. The night air outside was cooler now, stars just beginning to peek out above the rooftops.

Issei stepped onto the stone path, then turned back toward her. He wanted to say sothing clever or smooth, but all that ca out was a mumbled, "Um... I'll see you around?"

Asia hesitated in the doorway, her hands clasped in front of her, and for a heartbeat Issei worried she'd just give him a polite nod and let him walk away.

Instead, she t his eyes, her voice soft but hopeful. "I would like that. Please... co visit again, Issei-san."

Issei's heart did that weird flip-flop thing again, and he felt a grin spread across his face before he could stop it. "Yeah," he said, more firmly this ti. "Definitely."

He gave her a small wave as he started down the hill, groceries completely forgotten, his mind buzzing with the mory of her smile and her words.

Behind him, Asia lingered in the doorway of the church, watching him go with an expression caught between sadness and happiness. When he glanced back one last ti, she raised her hand in a tiny wave, her eyes shining even in the dim light.

Issei shoved his hands in his pockets, cheeks burning, but he couldn't shake the thought that played over and over in his head as he walked ho.

He was definitely going to see her again.

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