Getting tired of passing each other the ball in this fruitless conversation, Ena took her eyes from the binoculars.
"Hmm. Alright, I decided."
"What would that be? Are you returning to the main house?"
"As if. I decided I couldn't leave it to Yuri alone. I should support her from now on. Seems more fun and all."
"Why do I feel like that's a really bad idea..."
Ena broadly grinned while ignoring Amakasu's impoliteness.
Magic had caused the wooden school building to collapse in a moment like it had deteriorated.
From that spell alone she could deduce Erica Blandelli's skill. That was the true worth of today's observations. She was great after all. An enemy worth fighting.
Ena nodded in satisfaction and reached for her metal partner on the floor.
It would be a satisfying battle for the sword, too. And they would be the ones winning.
Chapter 3 - Hime-Miko of the Sword
Part 1
The wind roared while the raindrops splattered furiously.
Had it been the earlier half of September, the landing of a typhoon would not be out of place.
However, this storm was different. For the past few days, there have been no reports of an approaching tropical depression.
"Yes, meeting the king today, because Ena can get along well with anyone, it will go smoothly for sure. Yes, of course that side will also progress well."
Wearing her miko outfit, Seishuuin Ena stood facing the school building in a corner of the sports ground in Jounan Academy's high school section.
She was soaked by the rain because she was not using an umbrella.
The phone she was speaking into was also drenched, but since this cellphone was waterproof, power was not interrupted this time.
"Erica-san doesn't seem like she will be easy to handle, this will be exciting. However, having obstacles will be very annoying, so if that's the case, it would be best to keep it one on one...yes, thank you, your assistance at that time will be appreciated."
The Hime-Miko of the Sword. This title of Ena's was due to the partner she had just stabbed into the ground.
Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi. The sword whose blade measured 3 feet and 3.5 inches.
The blade was simple in construction without any curves—just a straight sword. The metallic luster on the blade was like sunlight descending from the heavens.
An awe-inspiring longsword said to be the weapon of royalty.
"This looks fine. It's just the right place to set up preparations. Actually Ena had been trying to decide which part of the school to use as a battlefield, and this place turns out to be nice and wide open, with the bonus that Erica-san passes by every day. Yes, let's go with this."
Finishing her call, Ena pressed her right index finger onto the blade of the Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.
As the skin was sliced open, droplets of blood appeared.
Then Ena pressed that right index finger onto the wall of the school building in front of her.
"The many-fenced place of Izumo / Of the many clouds rising—To dwell there with my spouse / Do I build a many-fenced palace: Ah, that many-fenced palace!"[24]
Chanting the ancient lyrics in a low voice.
She wrote upon the school wall the same words that she spoke.
This enchanted song carried the Hime-Miko's blood and the divine blade's smell of rust. Washed by the rain, the poem written on the wall in fresh blood disappeared.
That was fine. It will serve its purpose later on.
The only uncertain factor was Yuri, who had very good instincts. To prevent that from being an issue, it would be best to deliberately create encounters with her in school as much as possible.
Then even when Yuri felt the presence of the divine sword within the school, she would not be suspicious.
Ena pondered as she ran along the school walls. After she completed the same task on seven walls, the rain stopped, and the violent wind calmed down.
It was still six in the morning, and no clubs began their activities that early.
"Good. This is it for the morning. One should get a change of clothes before greeting the king."
Ena murmured to herself as she gazed at her drenched body.
Even for someone as innocent and uncouth as Ena, the idea of meeting someone in her current state — especially a boy with whom she will soon develop an intimate relationship, proved to be quite objectionable.
"This job is so troublesome, grampsy. Hopefully next time he contacts Ena for a job, he picks a more appropriate time. Always assigning troublesome tasks every time."
Grumbling to herself as she slung her partner onto her shoulder, Ena left the school.
Part 2
The recent weather had been rather turbulent.
For the past few days, there were sudden gusts of wind and frequent rain.
Godou walked along the wet road as he looked up at the sky. The dark clouds of the sudden rainstorm had all been swept away.
The clear blue sky seemed much broader.
Though the calendar clearly indicated that autumn had arrived, the summer atmosphere was still heavy.
At 7:30am, Godou's usual task was not going to school but visiting Erica's home first to get her out of bed.
Walking along Hongou Street, he was nearing Erica's apartment.
Following this street that he took daily, Godou suddenly spotted an unknown girl approaching him.
She possessed beautiful soft black hair that was long and shiny, as well as an appearance of a quintessential Yamato Nadeshiko. She was wearing a uniform from some school, and slung over her shoulder was the kind of bag usually used for bamboo swords.
"Excuse me, are you Kusanagi Godou-sama? A pleasure to meet you for the first time, my name is Seishuuin Ena."
She walked before Godou and introduced herself.
What is going on? Though he felt the girl was very strange, Godou halted his footsteps.
"Our meeting must be fate. I am the servant girl who will stay by your side. We of the Seishuuin family would like to receive your blessing and set off together along the path of domination. Please accept my loyalty."
"...What?"
What was with these unusual words and honorifics?
Godou was troubled, but this Seishuuin-whatever girl, who had greeted him so strangely, smiled at him.
"Just kidding. Hey, can we not use honorifics? Yuri uses them all the time, but Ena isn't very good at them. Still, Ena will continue using them unless Kusanagi-san objects."
The image of a prim and proper high-class lady instantly dissolved.
Suddenly turning into an amiable girl next door, Godou did not know how to react. In any case, it would be best to agree first.
"I don't really mind. Do you know Mariya well?"
"Yes. We are childhood friends. Since Kusanagi-san knows about them already, Ena is also a Hime-Miko."
An unexpectedly shocking introduction of the one who called herself Mariya Yuri's companion?
That was certainly what she said, and she did have an outstanding refined air of a high-class lady.
"Kusanagi-san may not know, but there are actually a few dozen of these Hime-Miko like Ena. Anyway, the other related details can be gradually explained."
Ena smiled and said.
Like a cool breeze blowing under the scorching sun, the girl gave off an unbelievably refreshing and cool feeling.
"This morning, I received news that I was recommended and invited."
"Invited?"
"Yes, an invitation from Yuri, something like having tea with you together. Are you free after school today? You will receive the invitation card later."
The sudden suggestion greatly surprised Godou. However, if Yuri will be present then things should not go out of hand.
"Well, I'm okay with it."
"Is that so? Great, then. Let us continue with the details later, farewell."
The last words were chosen like a high-class
lady, but spoken with an outgoing and friendly tone.
Godou tilted his head as he watched the newly debuted Hime-Miko walk off into the distance. The strangeness of this person left him standing there bewildered for a while.
Of course, he could not have expected the doom and chaos that was about to befall him in mere hours.
Classes had finished... it was finally the end of the school day.
After the swimming pool incident yesterday, Mariya Yuri was rather gloomy.
She never expected Godou to have that kind of interest, but then again, as a healthy male it was only natural to have those kinds of desires. However, how should she handle this?
As Yuri pondered, she finally understood the reason why she was shocked yesterday.
Having these concerns made her seem like she was trying to further the intimacy of their relationship.
Back then, Yuri frantically ran away because she could not face such thoughts and behavior. Having regained composure overnight, she now decided to call Ena to discuss things.
'Just give Godou-san a hug. You're not a woman if you can't even do something like that.'
To think she was giving orders now.
"B-But why does it have to be like this?"
'You like that person, right? Then it is the only way. If you continue to tarry, then you will be left behind and distanced by Erica-san and the rest.'
"I-It's fine, after all, Godou-san and I are just ordinary friends."
'Really?'
"Y-Yes, really. Thus, to have to do something shamelessly lewd like Erica-san..."
Not long into the conversation, and Yuri was already stuttering.
For some reason, she could not bring herself to speak decisively.
'I see I see. This must be part of the deep intricacies of the internal tsundere struggle described by Amakasu-san. Well, no matter what, Ena will assist you to get onboard. I have already met him today—Yuri, do you have something to do right now?'
"Yes, today's tea ceremony club activities..."
Ending the fruitless discussion, Yuri made her way towards the club building.
Lunch on the roof with Godou and the rest had been a daily activity, but she did not go today. Probably because Yuri did not know how to face Godou.
Glad that school was over, Yuri walked to the tea ceremony club.
This was located in one of the rooms of the Japanese style building constructed between the high school and the middle school sections.
This building housed the activity areas of cultural organizations such as the tea ceremony club, the flower arrangement club, the Japanese dance research club, and others, and was commonly dubbed the "Japanese block."
Today was Wednesday. The tea ceremony club met every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for activities.
Yuri took off her shoes as she walked into the tearoom—and gasped in surprise.
"Ah, Yuri, it's been a day since we last met. As promised, I came to see you."
Seishuuin Ena was sitting right there.
Sitting next to her was the club president Hanabusa-san, who seemed relieved to see Yuri.
"Mariya-san, you came just at the right time. Someone you know has been waiting for you."
Tea ceremony club president Hanabusa Akari was a second year high school student.
A senior whose staid and gracious spoken mannerisms and benevolent facial expressions always left a deep impression on people.
"She wanted to enter the tea room and struck up a conversation with me."
"After asking students from other clubs for directions, they told Ena to come here. Since Yuri will be here sooner or later, I didn't mind arriving early."
Ena spoke leisurely.
Would the school staff not notice someone running about in the school wearing a different uniform?
Yuri felt worried, but Ena smiled mischievously.
"Don't worry, it seems like I wasn't discovered."
"I see... In that case, is it really fine for Ena's own school? It seems like you have not gone for the past few days?"
Yuri asked cautiously as the thought came to her mind.
"Ah, don't worry about it. I never went much in the first place anyway. If attendance will be a problem, my family already promised to handle it with the school, so I've been continuing my training in the mountains."
Ena laughed heartily as she answered.
As expected of the Seishuuin family. Yuri sighed with admiration.
Contrasting with the Mariya family's impoverished state which persisted until the Meiji Restoration, the Seishuuin family's exalted prestige dated back to the Warring States Era and was unimaginably influential in all areas of society.
"Anyway, are you the one with the most authority in this club?"
Ena abruptly turned to Hanabusa-san's dignified face and asked.
"Ah, I guess so. I am the club president for now after all. But why?"
"Just instinct. Ena always knows who the most powerful person in a group is."
Ena gazed at the tea ceremony club president as she bowed deeply and said.
"Esteemed club president, I have a suggestion, no, a request. This tearoom, could you lend it to me for a little while? Don't worry, it won't take long."
A request accompanied by a cordial smile.
This completely unabashed request, however, felt like an irresistible command.
Ena had always been like this, doing things as she pleased. The kind-hearted Hanabusa-san had no choice but to nod under pressure.
What was she planning to do here? Yuri felt more and more anxious.
Part 3
At that moment, in the classroom of the First Year Fifth Class—
Kusanagi Godou was at his own seat, anxiously staring at the letter in his hands.
A private letter written on Japanese paper.
On it were the words "Please come to the tearoom for a visit after the conclusion of today's lessons." Written using a brush in extremely beautiful calligraphy, it carried the signature of Seishuuin Ena.
Was this an invitation? ...It felt very suspicious. Godou recalled the scene that morning.
At some unknown point in time, the letter had somehow slipped into Godou's desk.
Godou wondered how she placed it. Most likely it was magic. Godou really felt like scolding her not to engage in such suspicious behavior for the sake of trivial things like this.
However, Yuri did not appear on the rooftop for lunch, probably because she was avoiding him.
It would be bad if this awkwardness continued, and Godou felt that he really needed to have a good talk to clear things up. Though the matter of this letter was unpleasant, at least it would give a good pretext.
Erica had already gone outside with the girls in the class, but there was no need to get her to come along anyway.
Godou was going to visit the tearoom alone, until he suddenly thought of another knight.
"Hey, Liliana, I have something to do alone. Why don't you go home first?"
"Something to do? What is it?"
Greeting her neighbor in the classroom, Liliana resumed her usual expression of solemnity.
"A little visit to the tea ceremony club."
"The tea ceremony club? You have something with Mariya Yuri or your sister Shizuka?"
"Uh, I was invited by Mariya's miko friend. I don't really know what's going on, but I'll just be gone for a bit."
As soon as he gave that explanation, Godou realized his mistake. If he explained it like that, then she will insist on her knight's duty and come along. He should have just made up an innocuous story.
"This smells suspicious. If she is Mariya Yuri's friend, then it is extremely unlikely for her to be a normal person. I will accompany you, for I must protect you."
"Ah, yes. Though that sounds a little too exaggerated."
"Not exaggerated at all. Of course, I need to pay attention, especially when you are lacking in crisis management awareness. ...You are always one to make others worry."
And so, accompanied by the silver-haired knight, Godou headed towards the "Japanese block."
Jounan Academy's campus was quite large, especially the forest near the boundary between the high and middle school sections. It was like a small garden and even had ponds.
As the location representing the activities of the various clubs in the cultural department, the Japanese building was also located there.
"So this is where the tea ceremony club holds its activities. It is my first time here."
"I don't come here often either. The only time I came here was when the cultural department held its club introduction fair."
The Japanese block was constructed as a long and narrow single-story building.
Godou and Liliana took off their shoes and placed them into the shoe cabinet before walking inside. Not far along the corridor was the tea room which was roughly twenty square meters in size,[25] and there were already six occupants inside.
One was Mariya Yuri, and beside her was Seishuuin Ena, the one wearing a uniform Godou had never seen before. The other four girls sat a little distance away from them, and were all members of the tea ceremony club that Godou had never seen before.
—Uh, with one exception. That was his little sister Shizuka.
"Onii-chan? Why did you come to a place like this?"
It was quite common for cultural organizations like the tea ceremony club to have both middle and high school members in activities together.
It was probably expected for Shizuka to be surprised. However, she was not the only one surprised by the sudden intrusion, as Yuri also glanced over with doubt.
"G-Godou-san? Why are you here?"
"It's me, Ena, who called him here. Now that all the guests are present, let's start the tea party. It also seems like an uninvited guest has arrived, but welcome anyway."
Ena, the only person who was not wearing a Jounan uniform, suddenly spoke.
Hearing these exchanges, Liliana frowned unhappily. Just as Godou was about to speak, she had already bent down to sit in front of the two Hime-Miko. Surprisingly, she had taken the proper traditional Japanese sitting posture of seiza.[26]
Unlike Erica who never changed her ways despite any amount of nagging, Liliana was more disposed to learning local traditions.
"...Please be wary of this woman, for she was following Erica and me a few days ago."
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