Third person POV

"I... I should just head back, right?" Akuma grimly chuckled to herself, face palming her overly nervous self.

"No no. It would be wrong for me to leave now. I need to talk things through and face this! You stayed up all night reflecting and thinking about what to say and act! I can't continue being like this...!" Akuma slapped herself, groaning in anxiety.

"Why is life so difficult~!" Akuma pulled at the ends of her hair, gritting her teeth. "I never changed have I?! This needs to be done!"

"......" Ryu sweatdropped at the unusual yet familiar childish like character Akuma possess. He calmly without thought, walked over to Akuma with a small hello, seating himself down onto the field of grass under the shade of a great and large tree.

"Oh, hello..." Akuma shyly sat down after, embarrassed if Ryu heard her rambling nonsense.

'So... What now?' Akuma thought, her right eye twitching.

'I don't know what to say...' Ryu paled, sweat dropping as he rubbed his clammy hands.

"...... Ah! I don't know if I'll say the right words because of this damn tension and because I'm horrible at talking, but I am sorry for causing you trouble, distraction, and for being an idiotic person! ... That damn Obi... Regardless, I, I am frustrated that I have been closing myself up because of pitiful reasons! I understand if you no longer want to be with me because I am a lunatic!" Akuma blurted out, panting with an exhausted expression, filled with nervous jitters bursting out the door.

'I don't think any of that made sense nor did I touch the right subjects...! I ended up saying things I didn't want to say!' Akuma internally shouted, crying deep down inside as she clenched the fabric over her chest.

"....." Ryu blinked with wide eyes, surprised at the choice of words and the initiated action.

"Please stop looking at me like that!" Akuma blushed brightly in embarrassment and pointed at Ryu.

"O-oh, sorry." Ryu nodded his head and turned away. "I... I don't think you are a bad person or a lunatic like what you claim..." Ryu hid half of his face in the covers of his sweater's collar.

"Huh? What? You're clearly wrong about that." Akuma exploded into more shades of red, bluntly shooting down Ryu's statement. "You've seen what I did and what I am capable of. Plus, I am incredibly hotheaded and I lose myself because I do things on an impulse..."

"But that doesn't mean you're a bad person... Obi told me this before too, but you just have difficulties in expressing yourself and I believe that. You are a good person." Ryu reassured, turning his head back around to face Akuma.

"... Seriously... I don't get you, but that is also why I am grateful to have you..." Akuma laughed it off cooly, burying her face into the palms of her hands. "How are you so patient with me?"

"Patient? Well, I am just hoping that things would get better rather than leaving this alone. If I don't try the process, then I would probably remain troubled and inpatient." Ryu rubbed the nape of his neck, looking down to the ground with gentle and thoughtful eyes.

"... I'm sorry. All I did was get angry and avoid confrontation when I knew the answer while I left you to think for yourself..." Akuma shamefully sighed and tightly covered herself from feeling loose.

"I didn't think all alone. You were troubled too, meaning that you were also thinking." Ryu said, looking up and to meet Akuma's eyes.

"... You're too nice. I don't deserve you since I'm really slow, or rather, I doubt and turn the opposite way rather than going forward..." Akuma wrinkled her nose, fumbling with her hands.

"Th-then why don't we work things out together? To match each other's pace and to say what, what is on our minds..." Ryu's cheeks lit up, hoping that his solution would be looked kindly upon.

"Mm! Of course! I am determined to change and to make this work! I won't let you down this time! I promise! I'll really change!" Akuma nodded her head energetically, her eyes shining brightly.

"I will also give it my best..." Ryu softly smiled.

"Ryu...! I'm still not the best person, but I am willing to practice getting rid of my bad habits...! Your words to reach out to me really makes me feel better... This isn't the first time either... T-th-thank, thank you..." Akuma's face and ears lit up very brightly in shades of pink and red, her lips quivering.

"... Mm. You're welcome and thank you..." Ryu shyly said, his face heating up. "I-I'm also going to try to speak more to you..."

Akuma softly smiled at Ryu, her eyes watery. Pushing away her worries and insecurities away, Akuma, closed her eyes and gently laid her head onto Ryu's shoulder. Ryu was surprised and unsure of what to do, but he stayed still nonetheless. He liked the fact that Akuma once again was able to feel comfortable around him again.

It was at the very least, possible for now to feel relieved and happy with this new proposal and improvement.