The dusty air gradually dispersed, allowing Jotaro and Aiko to remove their hands from their faces. Both, with their eyes narrowed by the dust, looked around, and the first thing that caught Jotaro's attention was the scene before him: the three orcs lay dead on the ground, while Kira, at the center of all the chaos, lifted the corpse of an ogre.
-Yes, what a nuisance those three orcs were, they kept running," commented Kira, as if it were the most trivial thing, as she took the ogre's corpse and lifted it effortlessly.
With the dust now dissipated, Jotaro noted how Kira was watching him.
-Hello again, Jotaro.
-No "hello again"! You just threw the ogre we killed with so much effort as if it was just a worthless object! -Jotaro scolded him in a serious tone.
-But it's worthless," Kira replied with a shrug, as if her act was of no importance.
-Of course it's worthless, without it we can't claim our reward from the guild! -Jotaro exclaimed, almost incredulous.
-That's true! -acknowledged Kira, finally remembering the purpose of killing the ogre.
-Hey, don't tell me you forgot about it? -asked Jotaro.
-Yes," Kira admitted with a shrug.
Jotaro sighed. Just as he was about to continue scolding Kira, Aiko intervened.
-Excuse me, Jotaro, but I don't think you should be scolding Kira.
-What? But if she threw the ogre's corpse? why shouldn't I scold her? -Jotaro asked, confused.
-Well, it's because she saved us from the orcs by throwing the ogre," replied Aiko, unexpectedly calm.
-Yes, but... -Jotaro couldn't find a way to argue against that.
-You heard Aiko, you can't scold me," Kira mocked, showing a smirk, clearly enjoying the moment.
Jotaro, looking at Kira angrily, fought his frustration, knowing he couldn't scold her anymore. Finally, he sighed.
-Okay, I won't scold you... but on one condition," said Jotaro, determined to change the subject.
-What is it? -asked Kira, curious.
Jotaro waved his hand, inviting Kira to come closer. When she did, Jotaro leaned into her ear and whispered:
-Could you help me do what we talked about at the temple?
-Of course," Kira replied in a whisper.
Jotaro pulled away and, looking at Aiko, spoke to her.
-Aiko, Kira and I are going to talk alone for a moment, could you wait for us for a while?
-What, again? What about the ogre's corpse? -Aiko asked, a bit surprised.
-Could you take care of it for a while, please? -asked Jotaro.
-Okay," answered Aiko, without hesitation.
-Okay, we'll be back in a moment," said Jotaro, and with a last look at Aiko, he walked away with Kira.
As they walked, Aiko stood there, looking at the ogre's corpse. She pondered silently before speaking to herself.
-I guess they'll be talking about how to let people know that the demigod Jotaro is here.
Aiko looked around, realizing she had nothing to do for now.
-Well... what do I do now?
Meanwhile, Jotaro and Kira went deeper into the forest, looking for a secluded spot.
-Ok, I guess no one will hear us here," said Jotaro, sitting down on the ground.
-Yes, now we have to talk about how you will introduce yourself to the people of the village," replied Kira, sitting down in front of him.
-Yes, but first, let me tell you that we are not going to use your idea," said Jotaro firmly.
-Huh? Then what are you going to do? -asked Kira, intrigued.
-I'll make a celebration! -said Jotaro, smiling with a confident expression.
-Interesting, keep talking," replied Kira, animated.
-I want you to put on the demigods' clothes again and present yourself in front of everyone," said Jotaro, smiling broadly.
-Why do I have to wear it again? -asked Kira, somewhat confused.
-Because the people in the village have already seen you in those clothes and they've never seen you in the adventurer's outfit," explained Jotaro.
-That's fine, but... Why do you want me to introduce myself in front of everyone? -asked Kira, although she was beginning to understand.
-So that everyone will think that the demigod Jotaro has returned. Then, you will take advantage of the fact that everyone will be near you to tell them that tonight they must go to the temple for something important," explained Jotaro enthusiastically.
-Ok," said Kira, nodding.
-When everyone is at the temple, you will appear at the entrance and announce my return. I'll go out afterwards and greet everyone," continued Jotaro.
-Hmm, I like that idea. Decided! Let's do it! -Kira exclaimed, with a smile.
-Good! Then all that's left is... -Jotaro was interrupted by Kira.
-You're forgetting about Aiko.
-Aiko? -Jotaro looked at her, confused.
-She doesn't know you're a demigod, does she? -asked Kira.
-That's right, she doesn't know I'm a demigod," said Jotaro, touching his chin thoughtfully. -That's a problem for my idea.
-Yes, because if we go on with your idea, we would leave her alone, I feel sorry for her," said Kira, nodding.
-You're right. -Jotaro muttered, thoughtfully.
-Well, we'll have to modify something while we walk to the village," said Jotaro as he stood up.
Jotaro looked at Kira, but she seemed distracted looking at the tree behind him.
Kira tried to say something to Jotaro but she only said in a nervous voice and stammering.
-A... a...a
Jotaro heard Kira only say A and was confused.
- ¿A?
-Aiko is behind you," said Kira to Jotaro.
Jotaro slowly turned around and saw a strand of hair peeking out of the tree. Aiko was hiding, listening to everything.
Aiko as she hid behind the tree, thought. - Please don't let them see me! Please don't let them see me!
Jotaro asked.
-Aiko... You're there, aren't you?
Aiko, realizing she had been discovered, came out of hiding, her head lowered in shame.
-How much did you hear? -Jotaro asked, his nervousness evident.
-Since Kira said "I like that idea," replied Aiko shyly, raising her head.
Jotaro, hearing that, tensed.
-Since there! -he thought quietly, realizing that Aiko had heard most of the conversation.
-Aiko! This isn't what it looks like... is it, Kira? -said Jotaro, looking at Kira nervously.
-Uh... yeah, yeah, hehehehe," Kira tried to disguise it, but her clumsiness was obvious.
-You're lousy at dissimulation," said Jotaro, resigned.
-You see, Aiko, we were....
Jotaro was interrupted by Kira who said.
- It's useless to dissimulate Jotaro, Aiko already heard everything," said Kira, looking at Jotaro, as she stood up from the floor.
Jotaro sighed accepting, that Aiko had heard him.
-It's okay, I guess it doesn't matter to make excuses since she heard everything anyway.
-Aiko, could you tell Jotaro and me why you are here? -asked Kira.
-Well, you see, when they left, I was picking up the ogre's corpse, but while I was doing it, I was curious about what they could be talking about. What could they be talking about, came to my mind so....
-So you decided to come and listen to our conversation, hiding behind a tree," Kira finished the sentence.
-Yes," answered Aiko, ducking her head.
- And the ogre's corpse, where is it now? -asked Kira.
- Ah? Well, it's here," answered Aiko walking towards a bush, near the tree where she had hidden.
Aiko took the ogre's corpse out of the bush. Jotaro seeing the corpse said in surprise as he approached her.
- I didn't think you would bring it, but it's better than leaving it in the village.
-Yes, I thought it would be bad to leave it in the village since people might get scared," said Aiko with a slight smile.
-Well, going back to the topic that you found out that Jotaro is a demigod, I want to ask you something can I? -said Kira.
-Yes.
-Well, you already knew before that Jotaro was a demigod, didn't you?
Jotaro, when he heard Kira Asia Aiko's question, couldn't hide his surprised face.
-Well, am I right? Yes or no? -asked Kira.
Jotaro turned to look at Aiko. Aiko answered.
-Y-Yes you are right," answered Aiko shyly.
-May I ask, how long have you known? -asked Kira, curious.
-Since you talked to Jotaro at the temple," answered Aiko, her voice soft.
Jotaro, surprised, muttered to himself:
-Since there!
-Please excuse me for spying on you," said Aiko, embarrassed.
Kira approached Aiko and tapped her on the shoulder, smiling.
-"Don't worry about it. Actually, you saved us from having to figure out how to make you not suspect that Jotaro is a demigod.
Aiko, surprised by Kira's reaction, didn't know what to think.
-Hey, aren't you upset?
-Why would I be? -answered Kira, smiling. -Don't worry, it's okay. Sooner or later you would have found out.
Jotaro nodded.
-That's right, sooner or later you would have found out," he said, approaching the two of them.
Aiko, seeing that Jotaro and Kira weren't angry, smiled in relief.
-I'm glad they're not mad at me.
With a smile, the three realized that now that Aiko knew the truth, Jotaro's plan would be much easier to carry out.
-"Well, now that Aiko already knows that you're a demigod, this will be easier," said Kira, looking at Jotaro.
-Yes, Aiko, you will help us, won't you? -asked Jotaro, with a confident smile.
-Of course," replied Aiko, with a smile.
With the plan clear and the truth finally revealed, Kira picked up the ogre's corpse and the three of them headed to the temple to begin the first step of Jotaro's plan.