novelBefore the Storm (6)
| ← Ch.024 | Ch.026 → |
The next morning. A girl's voice resounded in the garden of the Witch's Mansion.
"YAAAAAAAAAA!"
The number 2 of the Magic Division in real strength, Hozhikaze-senpai, was in a gym uniform and brandishing a katana that came swinging at Kazuki.
Kazuki dodged with agility, and then the girl turned the katana with a fluid motion and slashed for the second and third time. The [forms] that Hoshikaze-senpai learned were still few, but she learned those few forms perfectly.
Kazuki counter-attacked and stabbed at the gap in the middle of the flow.
Hoshikaze-senpai blocked that with her katana in a panic.
An instant of swords locking against each other——Hoshikaze-senpai forced back Kazuki's sword straight-forwardly, but Kazuki warded off that force in a circle trajectory, and he manipulated the sword blade skillfully and strongly repelled senpai's katana.
The moment the swords separated, with that one move, Kazuki's posture was in the position of releasing a slash, whereas Hoshikaze-senpai's posture was disturbed to where it was impossible to counter attack.
Freely controlling the momentum of the swords in the moment that the swords locked against each other, that was the technique of old school's sword art.
"That technique is called [Instant Position]."
Kazuki's katana lightly hit Hoshikaze-senpai's forehead, which was repelled by the blue defensive magic power.
"Senpai, when locking swords, it's no good to push directly opposite you know."
Of course, even if it became a contest of strength Kazuki would win. In that case it was not something to teach.
"...I see! Whether Physical Reinforcement MagicEnchant Aura or physical strength, a genuine swordsman will absolutely surpass me in both areas. That's why I must constantly parry my opponent's attack. This is very important knowledge, isn't it? Ha! It's even more true if the enemy is a Demon Beast that boasted their strength!"
Just from one word that Kazuki said, Hoshikaze-senpai could understand ten things on her own and nodded her head repeatedly.
Everything was done with this enthusiasm, and she was a great student with tremendous quality.
Moreover, when Hoshikaze-senpai learned the form at the beginning, the form was engraved into her body only by seeing and practice swinging a little. When Kazuki showed an example, it seemed she traced that movement by aligning her consciousness with Kazuki's using advanced telepathy. Kazuki was dumbfounded when he realized there was that kind of method.
"Keep in mind that strength is not all there is in a match... Senpai has Thunder God Body FlickerRide Lightning, so being defeated in close range combat should not happen."
Ride Lightning was the characteristic magic of Baal, the Diva that Hoshikaze-senpai was contracted with. Special electric signals were sent to the whole body's muscles and nervous system, making it possible for the body to move at lightning speed.
That's why for the sake of using those summoning magics, senpai begged Kazuki to teach her about close quarter combat.
She only learned the fundamental movements so far, but even those basics would become terrifying if used in high speed with Ride Lightning.
"I'm glad that I became your apprentice! Honestly saying, until I met you, somewhere in my heart I was also looking down on swordsmen. But swinging swords together with you every day, I had a feeling that a new world rapidly opened up!"
Hoshikaze-senpai's handsome yet beautiful face suddenly changed into one with a smile. She was a senpai that looked like a prince and was popular with students of the same gender, but it was also impossible for Kazuki to not be attracted towards her character.
"Moreover, your way of teaching is kind. Somehow getting knocked down on the palm was a happy thing. You're not savage at all, so... Even though you are a man, I want to know you more, through these sword lessons."
As senpai said that with an ecstatic tone, a heart mark floated up from her chest.
"...I was like you for a long time, I was wishing for a friend of the [same gender]!"
"No, please wait a little senpai. Senpai and I are not the same gender."
"That is true but... however, I am, see, somehow my appearance looks like a boy, doesn't it? The behavior of the girls around me somehow are... a little strange. I'm happy receiving adoration from them, but that is quite lonely. But if it's with you, then I feel that we can immediately face each other as friends!"
"Of, of course! I don't have any idea other than friendship!"
"Thank you, I'm happy! ...Oops, eh?"
Hoshikaze-senpai's feet staggered while laughing. She didn't realize it when she reinforced her body with magic power, but when she relaxed her attention, unexpectedly there was fatigue piling up.
"Are you okay senpai?" Kazuki immediately supported her shoulder.
Hoshikaze-senpai instantly trembled. ——This senpai, the truth was that she was not good with boys.
She was mostly used to dialogue face to face, but... it seems she was bad when getting touched.
Senpai 'Hyaa!' raised a shrill and a nervous voice and pushed away Kazuki who was getting closer.
Kazuki staggered because of that surprise attack. It was hard to predict a reflexive action.
"Ah... sorry! You okay!?"
This time it was Hoshikaze-senpai's turn that reflexively supported Kazuki, and she pulled Kazuki close with good momentum.
But she did that with too much force, senpai staggered backward while closely embracing Kazuki.
Both of them staggered around while in the position of embracing——for a while it looked like a complicated exchange of energy like when they were locking swords, but in the end both of them tumbled down onto the lawn.
Blue light of defensive magic power burst out. Thanks to it there was no pain.
Kazuki was wrapped with warmth and softness. When he opened his eyes, his head was buried into Hoshikaze-senpai's chest that was covered with gym clothes. It was soft, a sweet aroma of a girl's sweat tickled his nose.
The gym clothes in front of his eyes were wet with sweat, and a water colored sports bra was showing through. Kazuki's body was forcing through the spats covered legs of senpai, a posture that looked like he was completely drowned in senpai's body.
"Ha, Hayashizaki-kun..." Hoshikaze-senpai's face blushed bright red.
Through an act of God, it became that he pushed down a girl!
...Kazuki hopped up and separated his body. However before Kazuki could ask for forgiveness,
"So-sorry! It looks like I was trampling down on your kindness again!"
Senpai bowed her head down toward Kazuki because she thought she had done a very embarrassing thing.
"Senpai, please don't apologize! There was no harm done anyway!!"
{Getting apologized to even though a lucky perverted event happened, what a great harem king huh, my king!}
Leme, who saw Kazuki's situation from Astrum, sent ridiculing words to his head.
True, rather it was a good feeling... stop, having such wicked thoughts like that towards senpai was no good!
Senpai's pupils were blurred with tears of self-condemnation though.
"I'm really sorry... Despite my intention to rely on you in my mind, but when a man approached I got surprised....Am I disqualified as your friend...? Please don't hate me because of..."
Those eyes were not like a prince's. Spontaneously they became the eyes of a girl that had to be protected.
"It's fine senpai! The unshakeable friendship between me and senpai won't be destroyed by something like this!"
"Unshakeable friendship! ...Hayashizaki-kun, you really say it that much! I like it very much!!"
Hoshikaze-senpai grasped Kazuki's hands in deep emotion.
But even though it was the case that Hoshikaze-senpai grasped Kazuki's hand because she was overcome with emotion, she gradually started to feel scared of the fact that she was grasping the hand of a man. However, she trembled so much, that she couldn't even separate her hand by herself.
"Senpai, please don't force yourself."
Kazuki separated their hand with a bitter smile. This senpai was really a person that moved without thinking first.
"For-forgive me. Why did I become like this? ...Haa. I wish that someday you and me can do a hot-blooded hug of friendship between men and ascertain our friendship with each other."
"...Normally, there is no hugging in friendship between men you know."
"Eh? In my favourite manga, they hugged each other while their faces got closer, and then they mutually whispered in each other's ears 'I love you' and bit the earlobes of their partner though? I didn't really understand, but it made my heart beat faster you see."
...That was not friendship, but boys love wasn't it!?
"I want to get along better with you however. Just like that you seee..."
The positivity level of Hoshikaze-senpai that leaked such honest and dangerous words was——39.
It was only 39. Heart marks often flew out from Hoshikaze-senpai, but the amount the score raised up each time was strangely low. Moreover, sometimes the score decreased by itself even when Kazuki was not doing anything.
{It is because of her man phobia. The points decreasing arbitrarily as well, it was because even though she doesn't hate you, she is also wondering whether it's okay to like you. Her positivity level is restrained by her feeling of guilt. }
Leme was giving an explanation inside Kazuki's mind. To get along better with senpai... not just simply raising her positivity level, her phobia of men must also be conquered, was that it?
But the more Kazuki knew about the matter of this person, the more he wanted to get along well with her.
That moment——suddenly, a voice that seemed to ridicule the situation came out from the bush behind.
"——Fufufu, it's not a mere child's play to get along with Kazuki-dono of all people."
"...Who is it?"
When Kazuki turned back, the figure of a female student appeared from inside the bush.
——She is not a normal person. That was what Kazuki felt. The figure that appeared, when she walked, her head didn't shake up and down at all. That's because her footwork moved like she was sliding, the characteristic of an ancient school of martial arts.
Regardless that this was the site of the Magic Division, the girl brazenly wore the Sword Division's uniform.
It was rare for a swordswoman with long hair to keep their hair extending free and not braiding them instead. A daring smile floated on her lips, and the majestic atmosphere around her had the taste of the coexistence of calmness and wildness.
Drawing the eyes even further——there were three different swords tied on each side of her hips, and on her back she bore an large war swordoodachi. Seven swords in total....What kind of swordsman is she?
"If you accompany her playing around like that, your precious skill will grow dull, Kazuki-dono."
While walking to Kazuki's side, the swordswoman threw a laugh toward Hoshikaze-senpai's special training.
"As I thought, I'm only bothering you, am I? ...Sorry, Hayashizaki-kun."
"That's not true, please don't be downhearted senpai! ...And you are?"
"The name of one's self is Hikita Kohaku... The next year's student council president of the Sword Division!"
...Somehow this manner of speaking felt like déjà vu. Is this the swordsman version of Mio?
"The department is different, but are you also a first year like me?"
Kohaku faced Kazuki and politely bobbed her head down.
"I am Hoshikaze Hikaru. Second year in the Magic Division."
Hoshikaze-senpai also gave a self-introduction... but Kohaku didn't seem to give Hoshikaze-senpai any consideration, ignoring her and only poured her gaze on Kazuki.
Kazuki knitted his eyebrows. People in Sword Division that still held animosity against the Magic Division existed, this girl might be one of them.
She perfectly ignored Hoshikaze-senpai——but rather than getting angry, Hoshikaze-senpai laughed mischievously instead.
And then she encircled around to Kohaku's back and raised her katana overhead.
Kazuki was shocked. Kaguya-senpai said it before, but Hoshikaze-senpai had a strange kind of playfulness.
Hoshikaze-senpai swung down a single stroke in a complete surprise attack.
That instant——Kohaku perceived the killing intent and turned around while unsheathing a katana.
"Foolish thing-!" ——While shouting she drew her sword as she turned around.
Hoshikaze-senpai had already swung down her katana, that was why someone with average skill couldn't possibly make it in time. However with blue light of an Enchant Aura condensed into Kohaku's arm, it produced staggering acceleration.
'GIIIIN!' A loud reverberation rang out, Hoshikaze-senpai's surprise attack was repelled with a single stroke that should be called god speed. Kohaku immediately fixed her grip of the katana she already drew with both hands, turned the blade and swung it down. ——A perfect example of two stage Iai sword-drawing.
Hoshikaze-senpai barely stopped Kohaku's katana closely above her head.
"...If a child tries to measure his strength against a tiger, he will die."
Hoshikaze-senpai stared in wonder towards the point of the sword she barely stopped, "I underestimated you!" then she sheathed her katana and clapped her hand. Kohaku's mood became better toward the honest praise of Hoshikaze-senpai, then she turned back toward Kazuki with a proud expression.
"...Though in relation to Iai sword-drawing, one's self still cannot compare with Kazuki-dono."
"No, I saw that your skill was not average though... So, what kind of business do you have with me?"
That sword drawing technique, she wouldn't be able to achieve that kind of speed if she was not honing her body in sword discipline for most of her life. What kind of business did that kind of girl have to have to come into the Magic Division's site expressly?
Don't tell me that it is to challenge me for a duel...
"Kazuki-dono... I request you to [marry] me!"
"Please pardon me, currently I'm already sick and tired of [duel]!"
"You are already tired of marriage!? Kazuki-dono already has a history of divorce at this age!? How licentious...!!"
Kohaku was taken aback with utter astonishment, watching that Kazuki 'eh?' tilted his neck.
"What are you saying, licentious how?"
"Hayashizaki-kun, it is a misunderstanding because you heard wrong. What this girl said was marriage you know."
Hoshikaze-senpai corrected the confused Kazuki's misunderstanding from the side....Marriage?
"Wai——wait a minute! That is strange right!? We had just now encountered each other, so how could it turn into a marriage proposal so suddenly!?"
"Whether it is marriage or the first meeting, there is no relation between those two."
'DO-ON!' Kohaku declared with great pomp.
"Of course there are! Normally there are relations between those two in the extreme!! What were you saying so boldly!?"
"Rather than that kind of thing, more importantly... With our marriage the Shinkage-style succeeded by the Hikita household and the Hayashizaki-style that was succeeded by Hayashizaki-dono will be unified. With the unification of those two styles, the strongest school of sword-style will be born!"
"————The strongest sword-style? You want to marry for the sake of strengthening the sword-style, is that it?"
"Quite so. Both of ourselves inherited ancient schools of sword-style used in real battle that are almost extinct in the present Japan. It can be said that it is our duty as the successors to advance this precious art, couldn't it?"
What the... To suddenly be proposed out of nowhere, for that kind of reason.
Hikita household's Shinkage-style——I had heard that name. If I remember correctly it was an ancient sword-style handed down in Kyushu.
Kazuki had faced a lot of schools since his period of childhood, but he didn't have any experience against schools from such a distant place like this Shinkage-style.
To what extent did the real strength of this style reach ———— an eagerness to test it surged out inside. However,
"I can understand the talk about the school's sake but... to decide a marriage partner based on that is not good. Marriage is for the sake of staying together with your truly important person for your whole life after all."
Hoshikaze-senpai was nodding along beside Kazuki while saying "Yes, yes, just like that!"
"Prioritizing free love rather than the sword-style... Kazuki-dono is unexpectedly a modern youth."
It's not this side that was modern, but that side is the one that is mistaken in the present time, that was what Kazuki thought.
"Certainly Hayashizaki-style is as important as my life... However, we must not advance the path of swords at the cost of people's happiness. If we do that, you too will be hurt for sure."
"Hmm... If ourselves become husband and wife, one's self doesn't think that ourselves will become that unhappy but... if that is Kazuki-dono's sense of values then one's self will act in accordance with that. If one's self will wed with Kazuki-dono, then one's self needs to go through the wall of free love! That is a field that one's self is poor at, but there is nothing to be done other that!"
"Eh, you don't have any intention to give up?"
Kohaku gazed at Kazuki with eyes that looked like burning flames resided within. Even though those were not words that didn't seem like a girl, she said it sharply enough that it was engraved deep inside with a determined look.
{My King, there is no point even if you get along well with a woman that was not a Magika Stigma you know. }
Leme's voice echoed inside his head... This Diva, whispering into his head while calculating each and every thing. Of course I don't have any intention at all to have a love relationship with this girl though.
"Well then Kazuki-dono, setting aside the marriage how about forming a party with me?"
"Party? You mean a party for participating in a quest?"
"Correct. From the story I had heard, even though Kazuki-dono had formed party in Magic Division but you failed your quest. Rather than staying in that kind of party, won't it be better to enter one's self party instead? One's self doesn't want to adhere to Heaven and Earth Formation, but one's self desires to form a [swordsman only party]."
Ignoring Heaven and Earth Formation, a swordsman only party!?
"Hey wait, Sword Division students cannot challenge a quest by themselves though?"
Hoshikaze-senpai interjected from the side of the surprised Kazuki.
The students of the knight academy can challenge a quest through the reception desk called the Guild. However a party must have satisfied a certain requirement before undertaking a quest.
That requirement was——the party must include a Magika Stigma.
"Affirmative, just as you say. Therefore one's self party still cannot challenge an actual quest. That is where the [Magic Division Swordsman], Hayashizaki-dono's assistance will be imperative!"
"————In short I am not needed as a Magika Stigma, but you need my title as Magic Division while I myself am a swordsman, is it?"
That was a really rude way of talking. However Kohaku continued calmly.
"Affirmative. Even though all will be well as long there is a Magic Division student in the party, but one's self doesn't want to recognize a human being that doesn't follow the same path of the sword as a comrade. If Hayashizaki-dono is added into ourselves' party, I wish yourself won't use summoning magic at all. If ourselves can produce an accomplishment like that, surely it will become proof of a swordsman's true strength!"
"Why are you so fixated to raise accomplishments with only swordsmen that much? Even if you don't force yourself like that, the true strength of a swordsman currently is in the process of being recognized, isn't it?"
Because of the incidents that happened in sequence since Kazuki enrolled a few weeks ago, the true strength of a swordsman was re-evaluated and the distance of the Magic Division and the Sword Division had immediately shrunk.
Both the student council of the Magic Division and the Sword Division had combined their strength and formed the Student Council Party and [That is the strongest right?] became the topic inside the academy. The progress kept going, and parties that combined the strength of the Magic Division and the Sword Division continued to increase.
Of course, Magic Division students that were still looking down on swordsmen were still not few, however————.
"Certainly the attitude of the Magic Division's students toward the Sword Division's students has improved, but there is still a lot of inequality remaining in this Knight Academy. Even though this has not yet been improved, and yet they happily shake their tail, the other side has become conveniently domesticated hasn't it?"
"When you said inequality, was it the matter about how a swordsman cannot challenge a quest by themselves? ————But if a party that only consisted of swordsmen encountered enemies that have resistances against slashing attacks, it's checkmate you know."
Kazuki had experienced that himself, for example, enemies like the slimes.
"Of course one's self understands that. However a counter measure has already been worked out."
————Widening the width of tactics only by using swordsmen? How?
"And then there is one more thing that is unfair to swordsmen, ownership of Sacred Treasures that swordsmen discovered is not recognized!"
Sacred Treasures——That was an item that was originally a man-made tool that contained spillover magic power from Astrum and transformed.
They were treasures that would rarely appear when searching the Haunted Grounds.
"Many of the Sacred Treasures have the form and nature of [weapons], and if a swordsman uses it then it's possible that we can surpass Magika Stigma! However, because those Magika Stigma were scared that their position would be threatened by us swordsmen, they won't distribute Sacred Treasures for the use of swordsmen! Of course it's not only applied to Sword Division's swordsmen, but even the Knight Order's swordsmen are not allowed to use Sacred Treasures. The Sacred Treasures are only kept in storage and left to waste!"
"Utilization of Sacred Treasures is prohibited because, on top of its nature to consume magic to display its power, the possible influence caused to its user's mind is regarded as dangerous."
Hoshikaze-senpai explained it like that but Kohaku shook her head obstinately.
"Taking that kind of official stance even though there are no clinical experiments performed, do you think there is any persuasive power in that? If you insisted on that, then do you have any actual proof that the contract with Solomon's 72 Pillars doesn't have any negative influence on the mind?"
——Certainly, that kind of thing might also be possible————.
The top brass of the Knight Order had been solidified around Magika Stigma, Japan's government and its citizens had also regarded Magika Stigma as heroes, using that view as political measures to guard the stability of the nation's public order.
Restricting the swordsmen from using Sacred Treasures was a nation-wide conspiracy——it might not be such a wild story after all.
If it was Kaguya-senpai then [If another country used Sacred Treasures fully, and they came to attack then it will be too late for us! They are such peace idiots!] the talk will be furious.
"Thus one's self advocated these points, acquirement of Sacred Treasures' ownership, the treatment of swordsmen during quests, and the abolishment of various inequalities with other divisions in budget allocation!"
"So the first step to achieve that————is by adding me to a swordsmen only party, is it?"
Aiming for the elevation of the swordsman social status by achieving a result with a swordsman only party and becoming heroes.
"Correct, and then please marry with one's self someday."
However with that grand marriage proposal, suddenly all strength spontaneously left Kazuki.
"Sorry, but no matter how just Hikita-san's cause is, in the first place I have no intention to leave my current party. Because it is a party of only two people with a very precious person."
"I see————One's self will respect Kazuki-dono's sense of values. In short if one's self become even more important than that very precious person then everything will be fine right! And then we will enter a love relationship and marry each other! Love and the like is a field one's self is poor at and doesn't really understand it well————However, there is no other way than to do it! I will do it!"
"Eh, that's not it, I want you to obediently give up there though————"
"I won't give up! This unworthy Hikita Kohaku is ignorant of the subtleties of the heart of a gentleman, but I will [conquer] Kazuki-dono's heart without fail, I'll show you!"
Kohaku grandly straightened her chest and proclaimed to Kazuki. That's not a nice thing to say, to [conquer] ————!
{For you who must conquer the girls of the Magika Stigma, conversely to be conquered by a swordswoman————! A weird girl has come approaching——!!}
Even Leme's shocked voice had reached Kazuki's mind.
"Well, it's fine if we are on good terms with each other but————can you stop using such polite language?"
"————Do you mean calling with casual language and saying name without honorific to a gentleman, even though ourselves are not spouse!?"
Kohaku who owned a wild, beautiful face. However, she was unexpectedly refined and hesitated.
"I don't feel that we can get along well if you are so formal despite being classmates."
"It, it can't be helped then if it's needed for the sake of getting along————Hayashizaki————no, it will be easily mixed up with calling Kanae-kaichou without honorific so————Kazuki————"
Kohaku's face became bright red while she fidgeted when she called Kazuki's name.
"Well, even if we get along well as friends, I still don't have any intention to abandon my current party or enter a love relationship though. If that's fine then let's become friends."
"One, one's self is troubled with that! But, I'm fired up against such a huge obstacle! That being the case, I'll show you that I'll conquer Kazuki's heart! ————Kuh, somehow it's suddenly become embarrassing!"
Suddenly————a black shadow sneaked up behind the spirited Kohaku.
"Ko~ha~ku! You little———— what are you doing in this kind of place!?"
"Killing intent!?" Kohaku used an Iai sword-drawing simultaneously with the voice while turning back."OWA-!" The one who raised a scream while avoiding the sword was——the senpai called Yamada Torazou. A male student of Sword Division's student council.
"Don't just abruptly slash from nowhereee!"
"What————Torazou huh. From the presence I thought it was something like a beast."
"Don't call a senpai without an honorifiicc! It's improper!"
"Torazou is weaker than one's self so I won't use honorific language."
"Really, you are————. Yo! Kazuki and Hoshikaze-san!"
Torazou-senpai's eyes met with Kazuki then he approached while waving his hand with a cheerful smile.
"————What were you guys doing with that kind of appearance? Has Kazuki taught Hoshikaze-san sword techniques?"
"Fufufu, Yamada-kun, have a rematch with me now. I have received the instruction of secret measures just now."
Hoshikaze-senpai who was poor with men nonchalantly hid in Kazuki's shadow even while saying that.
"Spare me this time, I don't have a feeling that I could win no matter how many times we fought....Rather than that Kohaku, what are you doing here even though you were absent from the student council meeting?"
"Torazou, one's self won't go anymore to student council okay! I withdraw my application as an apprentice!"
"What the heck are you saying. It's disgraceful in front of Kazuki and the others. ————Even though until just a while ago I somehow made the president to consider you. Yet suddenly you become rebellious in this place."
Torazou-san talked like he was explaining while ignoring the stare of Kazuki and the others.
"Certainly one's self was respecting Hayashizaki-kaichou. But currently she is degraded as the pet dog of the Magic Division's student council! Wagging her tail to the Magic Division's student council, one's self doesn't have any intention to follow such a Sword Division's student council! Farewell!!"
Kohaku turned her back toward Torazou-senpai in a flash, then blue light of body reinforcement shined in both her feet and she left with violent force. The three people could only see off that back in a dumbfounded manner.
"So Kohaku is a member of the Sword Division student council?"
"She was an apprentice as a promising first year. The same position like you huh. But well————she only creates trouble because of that kind of personality. I was her superior, but."
Torazou-senpai held his head tiredly while he breathed a sigh.
"————Your elder sister and the vice-president in my student council are strong in battle but they are good-for-nothings, so normally I was the only one who did most of the practical work... Both the president and vice-president are capable, and the first years are also respectful... I'm envious of the Magic Division's student council——"
"Ahaha, our student council was praised? That's because Hayashizaki-kun and the others are our prided first years."
Hoshikaze-senpai clapped her hand on Kazuki's shoulder. It was an unconscious action based on pure good will toward Kazuki, but as soon as she realized that she touched a male she got startled.
Kaguya-senpai and Hoshikaze-senpai too, both were very good senpais.
The atmosphere around the Witch's Mansion was really like a family——it was really embarrassing to speak of when all the other members were girls, but once again, Kazuki thought that he really liked this student council.
It was the story of a different student council, but seeing a first year defying her senior felt painful.
"It is a really shameful story, but there are still a lot of guys in the Sword Division that hold a grudge against the Magic Division."
"It's the same thing in the Magic Division. There are still many people that look down on the swordsmen."
"This is a matter that won't be able to go quite smoothly right off the bat huh....Well, see you guys later."
Torazou-senpai left the area, and Hoshikaze-senpai slipped out a chuckle while seeing him off.
"Hikita Kohaku-san. She is a somewhat strange child right? That kind of rashness is cute."
Certainly a charm of wildness was hidden inside her calm demeanor, impudent and yet modest, bold but also somewhat shy... a girl that left a mysterious impression.
"I wonder what would happen if Hayashizaki-kun fell into her temptation and parted from Mio-chan."
"There is no reason that would happen. Because Mio is a very precious partner to me."
"————Actually today there is a request we want to ask from your party, so in the unlikely event that your party broke up because of things it will be troubling."
"A request? For us who don't have any success with quests?"
"Yes, but it's really not something too troublesome. Rather, it could be the solution for your trouble... Well, I think you will hear the story from Kaguya after school so just wait. Fufufu~"
A small storm had just passed... However, a premonition of trouble in the future once again came from Hoshikaze-senpai's manner of speaking.
"Okay then Hayashizaki-kun, let's take a shower and do the morning preparations okay!"
————Wait, of course, there was no reason to take a bath together though.
| ← Ch. 024 | Ch. 026 → |