by Yuu Miyazaki
“Ah, Kou. Welcome back.”
“Kou…?” Kouichirou appeared a little taken aback by Kotoha’s laid-back attitude for a brief moment but quickly cleared his throat, turning toward Kirin. “Ahem! Kirin, I need to have a word with you. Follow me.”
“Y-yes!” Kirin glanced toward Ayato, before doing as told.
“…” Meanwhile, Ayato continued to stare at the older man in silence.
“Don’t worry,” Kouichirou said, as if having sensed his unease. “I don’t hold it against you.”
“Huh…?”
The older man’s voice was calmer than Ayato remembered, devoid of the harsh edge it had once carried.
As they watched the two of them disappear down the corridor, Kotoha let out a light chuckle. “It looks like Kou’s finally come back to his old self.”
Kirin and Kouichirou had gone to a room deep in the expansive Toudou household.
“Starting today, it’s been decided that I’ll come back to the main house,” Kouichirou said over a cup of tea a student had brought in.
“Huh…?” Kirin opened her eyes wide in surprise at the unexpected announcement.
Kouichirou had decided to leave the Toudou family back when Seijirou had been selected instead of him to succeed as head, and he had essentially cut all ties with them. Perhaps he had had a change of heart, Kirin wondered, but even so, simply coming back after all that time wouldn’t be so easy. To begin with, there would certainly be conditions he would be expected to fulfill.
“Aunt Yoshino asked me directly. She’s decided to put me in charge of general management and the overseas branches.”
“Great-aunt did…?”
As the acting head, Yoshino’s word was more or less law.
“But what about your work at Galaxy?”
“I’ve already resigned. The handover took longer than I was hoping, though.”
“What?!”
Once someone secured a position at Galaxy’s headquarters, they entered the realm of the ultra-elite. No matter how strongly one might want to, it was all but impossible to step back from such lofty heights. The only way out was normally an ungraceful one, usually the result of in-house rivalry.
“Does that mean… Was it my fault?”
Kouichirou had tried to use Kirin as a tool for his own career advancement, but there was an advantage to be had from her perspective, too. She didn’t regret leaving his side, but if not for him, she would never have been able to advance all the way to the Festa, let alone emerge victorious, so she couldn’t help but feel as if she had somehow failed him.
“Don’t flatter yourself. You had nothing to do with this,” he rebuked her. “I simply realized my role in things and decided accordingly.” He paused there to take another mouthful of his tea. “And besides, I watched your performance in the semifinal. What on earth were you thinking?”
“I—I’m sorry…”
There was no mistaking that it had been Kirin who had secured her team’s victory during that match, but it was also true that her actions had left her so badly injured that she had been unable to participate in the final. The skill and power of her opponent, Xiaohui Wu, had exceeded her own in every respect, and he had been able to run circles around her until the very last second.
“Not only that, but you even managed to destroy the Senbakiri…”
“Ah…” Kirin had no response to that.
The Senbakiri had been passed down in the Toudou family for generations and possessed a value that couldn’t be measured in money alone. There was no one to blame for its loss but herself.
“Honestly, you’re still no more than a child. You won’t have any future waiting for you if you don’t stop and think about just how much danger that way of fighting put you in.” Kouichirou paused there, his expression remaining sullen as he reached for a large wooden box leaning against the wall behind him, before thrusting it toward her.
“Uncle… What’s this?”
“…” Kouichirou merely closed his eyes, not deigning to respond to her question.
All she could do was untie the cord wrapped around it.
“—! This is…!”
“The Hiinamaru, forged by the ancient swordsmith Kunikane Youkei.”
Inside the box lay a Japanese katana. The steel was clearly of an exceptionally high quality, terribly sharp and with a glowing polish, while the border between the hardened and unhardened portions was of indescribable beauty.
“It’s yours. Use it,” Kouichirou said brusquely.
“B-but this, this is…!”
The Hiinamaru was the Toudou family’s greatest treasure, and it had been given to Kouichirou to make up for the fact that his younger brother, Seijirou, had been selected over him to become head of the family. Kouichirou had taken it with him when he left.
“You’re the future of the Toudou style. And besides, I can’t hold onto that thing forever.”
Despite what he said, Kouichirou very well could have kept it for himself or sold it—or done literally anything else with it.
And yet, he was giving it to her.
There was meaning in that action. Kirin could feel the heat of his gaze upon her.
“…Thank you,” she said in a thin voice.
Kouichirou, seemingly embarrassed, averted his gaze. “Hmph.” He snorted. “So I’m finally freed from Dad’s ‘compassion.’ Talk about a relief.”
Kirin, however, could sense the hurt that lay beneath his words.
The guestroom to which Ayato had been shown was much larger than the one at his own house.
To be honest, he couldn’t bring himself to relax in it.
“So I spent the last New Year’s at Julis’s house…or palace, I guess. And this one at Kirin’s…”
He didn’t normally dwell too deeply on the turning of the years, but this time around, he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of unease.
What would the next one hold? Or the year after that? Or the one after that?
Would Haruka be there with him?
As he was mulling over these questions, his mobile began to ring. The caller’s name was hidden.
A bad feeling had fallen over him even before he could open the air-window.
“Kee-hee-hee-hee! Greetings, Ayato Amagiri,” came a familiar dry, rasping laugh. “Has it already been a year?” That face in the air-window, with its droopy, upturned eyes and large glasses, broke out into a lopsided grin.
Ayato couldn’t say that he hadn’t been expecting this call.
“…What do you want, Magnum Opus?”
“I wanted to congratulate you on winning the tournament, of course, although I’ll admit I’m a little late.” Hilda broke into laughter once more, her eyes narrowing like a cat’s. “Exactly as I had predicted. You really were splendid—absolutely marvelous. I can’t tell you how delighted I am to be talking to the champion of not only the Phoenix, but the Gryps, too… Incidentally, how is your wish coming along?”
“So that’s what this is about. Are you in a hurry?”
“No hurry at all. I just thought that you might have reconsidered by now.” Hilda shone him a knowing smirk, almost as if trying to hint at something. “You’ve already heard from that creep of an executive chairman, I take it? I’m the only one who can wake your sister. So come now, unshackle me and I’ll give you what you want.”
“…You’re not the only option. Director Korbel might have found a way.”
“Kee-hee-hee-hee! There’s no need to play hard to get. If you’re willing to wait several decades, I won’t get in your way—but something tells me our dear friend Director Korbel doesn’t have a few decades left in him.”
Hilda, it seemed, already knew everything. Probably even Ayato’s own internal conflict.
“If it were me, though, I could have it done by tomorrow… Well, that might be a little optimistic, but soon, certainly. There’s only one obvious solution available to you.”
“I could destroy her chains with the Ser Veresta…”
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“Dear me. You of all people ought to understand just how dangerous that would be. To begin with, you could have already done that long ago. And if you break the seal through brute force, who knows what kind of recoil will affect the target? In your case, it was only your full power that was sealed away, but in hers, she’s sealed away her very life. I have to admit, I’m interested to see what the result would be, but I would advise you not to go down that path.”
“…” Ayato ground his teeth in frustration, unable to formulate a response.
“Well, if you still don’t like my proposal, I won’t force you. I’ll find another way to solve my own predicament. But are you okay with that?”
“…I’ll get back to you soon,” Ayato answered reluctantly.
On the other side of the air-window, Hilda clapped her hands in delight. “Wonderful! I look forward to your decision, Ayato Amagiri. Think it over well—for your sake and mine, and for your dear sister. Kee-hee-hee-hee!” Hilda made a theatrical bow, and the air-window snapped shut.
Ayato was left hanging his head in silence, unable to so much as let out a sigh of defeat.
Hilda had seen through his feelings, through the reality of his situation, through practically everything. On top of that, she was already certain that he would choose her.
But if asked how he himself thought about it all…
“Ayato? Can I come in?” came Kotoha’s voice from behind the sliding wooden door.
“Ah, of course. Please.”
The panel slid open smoothly and precisely, but no sooner did Kotoha see him than she tilted her head to one side in worry. “Oh my… Ayato, are you feeling all right?”
“Huh? No—I mean, yes. I’m just…”
She was remarkably perceptive.
“I know just the thing,” she said with a light chuckle. “Ayato, why don’t you take a bath?”
“Huh?”
“I’ve already prepared a change of clothes for you, and we’ve got plenty of towels. Nothing beats a nice, long bath when you want to relax!” She held the items all out to him with a beaming smile. “We’ve got a large open-air bath right outside the house. We normally let the students use it, but at this time of year, we keep it to ourselves, so you don’t need to worry about anyone dropping in. And the water’s drawn from a hot spring! Can you believe it?”
That did sound impressive.
He certainly was in need of a wash and a change of mood.
“In that case, I’d be happy to—”
“Here you go! Take your time!” she chimed, holding out the towel and fresh clothes.
Ayato made his way through the large building as Kotoha had instructed, when he realized that it was already eleven o’clock.
The year was almost over.
This must be it, Ayato thought as he came across a roofed passage leading out from the main building. It branched off farther ahead, no doubt leading to the dojos and student domiciles.
When he stepped inside, the space was much larger than he had imagined. The dressing room alone looked to be larger than even the guestroom where he was staying, resembling a public bath at an inn more than one at a private residence.
He didn’t know how many students there were here, but there had to be several dozen at least if this was anything to judge by.
He stripped off his clothes and opened the inner door.
This is…
The bath, made from high-quality cypress, was large enough to accommodate twenty people at least.
Even the washing area was unusually spacious, again resembling that of an inn in scale. The open-air bath looked to be farther in.
For the time being, he set about wiping his body clean before taking a nice, quiet dip in the huge indoor bath.
Kotoha had said that the water was drawn from a hot spring, but it was completely clear and odorless, though comfortably soft to the touch. As his tense muscles began to relax, he realized that he had been holding in more stress than he had thought.
Most of that was undoubtedly mental stress.
He remained that way for a long while, before finally deciding to try out the open-air bath.
No sooner did he open the door than the cold, wintry air bit into his skin.
Ugh, it’s freezing…
The open-air bath was built in a rustic design, surrounded by rocks and boulders, and even larger than the indoor one. Ayato waded through the water toward a huge boulder located in the center of it, leaning back and taking a deep breath. The temperature was somewhat cooler than that of the indoor bath, so there would be no problem taking his time to relax.
When he opened his eyes, he found that the clouds had entirely cleared, leaving only the myriad stars peering down at him.
Staring up at them, thoughts of his sister, of Magnum Opus, of his father, Masatsugu, and his mother too, all ran through his head, but he forced them out of mind.
All he wanted to do now was rest his mind and body.
Before long, his exhaustion began to finally catch up to him, and he found himself drifting off to sleep.
As he thought to begin making his way back to his room, he heard the door connecting to the indoor bath slide open, and he lifted his head.
Someone else must have just come in.
There was a small splashing sound.
Ripples flowed through the water, and at their source—
“K-Kirin…?”
“Huh…?”
Indeed, it was Kirin whose snow-white body shone brilliantly in the starlight, carrying not even a simple towel to hide her naked figure.
CHAPTER 7
WHAT COMES NEXT
“Kirin, I think that’s enough for now.”
“Huh? But I still haven’t…”
Kirin was in the kitchen helping prepare for the New Year’s festivities the following day, when Kotoha made her way in through the side entrance.
“Why don’t we pick up where we left off a short while ago?”
“A short while ago? You mean…?” For a second, Kirin had no idea what her mother was talking about, but no sooner did she lay eyes upon her devious smile did she know. This was about Ayato. “R-right, Mom! What are you doing, talking about us getting e-e-e-engaged?!”
“Relax, relax.” Kotoha chuckled.
Kirin, all too aware that her face was turning red once more, tried to protest, but her mother merely took her by the shoulders and guided her toward the corner of the room.
“So how serious are you about him?” Kotoha whispered in her ear.
“What?!” Kirin blurted out, unable to move.
“I don’t need to look very hard to see that you like him. That’s why you brought him here, isn’t it?”
“N-no! I was just…”
“Just…?”
It was happening all over again.
Whenever she spoke with her, Kirin always ended up getting caught up in her mother’s peculiar way of doing things.
That wasn’t to say that she disliked her approach. Kotoha was uniquely skilled in helping bring out the things that were buried deep in her heart—particularly those feelings that she, reserved and timid, couldn’t give shape to.
“I just… I want to be Ayato’s strength.”
“In what way?” Kotoha asked as she stroked her daughter’s hair.
“Ayato doesn’t get along with his father very well… Even though they’re both worried about the same things… At this rate, it isn’t going to end well, and then…”
“I see.”
“But I’m no more than an outsider; it’s not my place to meddle… But I have to do something…”
“Hmm… In that case, why exactly do you want to be Ayato’s strength? Because he’s your friend?”
Faced with this question, Kirin found her mouth moving of its own accord. “Because he’s an important person.”
Of course, he was also a friend whom she had fought alongside.
He was the one who had come to her aid, who had shown her the way out.<
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And he was a swordsman worthy of her unreserved respect.
And yet—he was also important to her, in a way that went beyond all that.
“I see. That’s what I wanted to hear,” Kotoha said with a glowing smile. “So I guess I was right all along?”
“Huh?” Kirin looked up at her mother, blinking in surprise.
“There aren’t many people whom you would describe in that way, are there?”
Kirin found herself unable to respond.
“Of course, in the end, the only thing that matters is how you yourself feel… But don’t have any regrets, okay? You’ll be fine. You have your own way of facing these challenges. And there’s no way someone as cute and as charming as my Kirin could lose.” With this, her mother gripped her on the shoulders once more, before turning her around and nudging her toward the corridor. “Let’s call it a day. Why don’t you go and take a bath?”
“Ugh… Why is Mom always like this?” Kirin muttered to herself, having, in the end, done exactly as Kotoha had suggested and gone straight to the bathing area.
Thanks to her mother, however, she had been able to put her thoughts in order.
Not only her thoughts, but the reasons underlying those thoughts, too.
She kept going over them all in her mind as she quickly undressed and made her way into the indoor bath.
She started by tipping a bucketful of water over her head, letting its refreshingly cool touch wash away her worries.
The bathhouse in the girls’ dormitory at Seidoukan was somewhat larger than that of the Toudou residence, but it was all but impossible to have it all to oneself as she did now. She stretched out her legs, letting the warmth soak into her.
Only then did she truly feel as if she had returned home. There had been so much happening recently that she hadn’t even realized just how much it was all affecting her.
“How long has it been since I used the open-air bath…?” she asked herself.
She normally only used the indoor bath but felt a sudden sense of nostalgia for the one outside.
She opened the door, letting the familiar ice-cold air greet her as she made her way outside and stepped down into the water.
