“Impressive,” Kanemitsu said. “You’ve lost your touch, yet you blocked it easily. But how would you have handled it before?”
“…?!”
Kanemitsu was right. Before, Yosho would not have even had to parry the attack. Even if Kanemitsu’s slash was that of a warrior’s, Yosho would have imperceptibly moved his upper body at a speed faster than what could be recognized. Fast enough to seem like Kanemitsu’s sword had passed through his body. He did not do that not out of carelessness, but because his focus had dulled. He knocked the sword away, moved back to a distance, and yelled, “Impossible. Are you the one who attacked Airi-senpai…?”
“Hey, you know my father serves Kasen. And the Amaki Family is related to the Imperial House Amaki. The answer is simple.”
He remembered the expression on the lecturer he ran into. That sneer had been in anticipation of what was to happen here. “I didn’t expect this kind of answer. That lecturer…”
“My contact. They’re excessively cautious when they contact me. He was giving me the orders from House Amaki, and I was giving my report.”
“Kanemitsu-dono! Are you sure you want to be saying these things…?”
“You’re concerned about a spy, now? I betrayed you.”
“I thought you didn’t have a choice, considering your father’s position…”
“Feh… I can see how Airi thinks you deserve a punch. Be more selfish!”
“You could ask Seto-sama to protect you and Kaneaki-dono…”
Kanemitsu abruptly punched him in the face. “You idiot! A Juraian warrior could never do that! What a disgrace! My dad and I haven’t sunk so low that you need to worry about us! You’re the one whose standing is shaky. It’ll be ten thousand years before you’ve come far enough to worry about me!!”
“But…”
“Don’t worry, he wouldn’t make me do anything important. Come to think of it, he never specified who the orders came from.”
“Are you saying it’s possible it’s not House Amaki?”
“Who knows? I certainly don’t care. It’s true that he kept mentioning my father.” Kanemitsu seemed to say this on purpose, but it seemed clear that it had to do with House Amaki.
“About Kaneaki-dono…”
“Dad isn’t that weak. He’s there through his own convictions.” Kanemitsu cut off Yosho.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t know this, but Dad is a well-known warrior… If I’m ever worried about him, he smacks me. ‘Worry about your own dang self.’ He even broke my tooth once! I’ll never worry about him! So don’t you worry about him, either. He said I’m no longer needed. He told me I’m free to do what I want, even if it was to tell you the truth. I failed to pull you apart from Airi, so there’s no more reason for them to keep me here… And you have other problems.”
“It’s not like I hadn’t thought about it before. House Masaki…”
“Well, it’s a real nuisance.”
“I’m sorry. But why did House Amaki try to separate me and Airi- senpai?”
“The underlings never understand what their bosses want.”
“I see. You would think it would be more convenient for them if I stayed with Airi-dono. It shouldn’t have been a problem to try to pull us apart openly rather than subversively.”
“Who knows? You know better than I do. I have no idea. But it means what’s at stake is more complicated than we could imagine. He told me to watch the others so they don’t harass Airi. So don’t worry about her.” Kanemitsu seemed to have gotten it all out of his system, reverting to his usual demeanor.
“I heard you wanted to get a master’s degree here. I don’t want to pry, but…”
“Then don’t. I was an idiot to depend on others. I appreciate your sentiment, as a friend.”
“Okay…”
“I’ll make them acknowledge me, one day. Like Utsutsumi-sama.” The head of House Kamiki, Utsutsumi, used to be a warrior, but he united the unaffiliated pirates and warriors with his superior skills and made people acknowledge the addition of a thirteenth army among the “Twelve Divine Generals” serving House Kamiki at the time. “He’s amazing. He married the woman known as Jurai’s demon princess… And he’s the father of Misaki- sama.”
Yosho’s cheeks flushed at Misaki’s name.
“Speaking of that demon princess… Someone wanted a lock of her hair. What’s the story behind it?”
“Is that what they said? It all started a long time ago, during the battle with the pirate’s guild.” That was the war where Seto had earned her nickname. “Seto-sama gave locks of her hair as good luck charms to the new recruits. And they all returned alive. That started the trend of carrying locks of hair from powerful or lucky people.”
“That sounds like Seto-sama.”
“Misaki-sama is the only one who won all seven championships of the Jurai martial arts. She’s especially popular among the warriors.” Kanemitsu looked at the clock. The time was close to roll call. “You return home tomorrow… You’d better get going.”
“I’m sorry I overstayed my welcome. We may be able to meet again on Jurai. Stay well until then.” Yosho held out his hand, and Kanemitsu reflexively shook it. At that moment, he transferred the invisible guardian summoning diagram on his to Kanemitsu’s. It was not likely that anything would happen to him, but there was no guarantee.
I’m sure he’ll tell me to butt out… He could not hand over a terminal to Funaho like he’d done with Airi, and though a lot inferior to a Guardian controlled by Funaho, Kanemitsu and his warrior strength would be able to handle most situations.
Kanemitsu saw Yosho out of the room.
“It’s roll call already. I didn’t get to see Airi-dono…!” He then remembered that there was one last place she could be that he had not looked yet, and instead of returning to the dorm, went to the space port. He boarded Funaho and ran to the Hall of Royal Trees. Airi was there.
“What are you doing…?”
There were an incredible number of puppies running around. Yosho approached Airi, who was in bliss, surrounded by those puppies. “Um…”
“Oh, there you are. Finally.” Airi’s tone was cold. “And here I thought that you would notice sooner. Right, babies?” She was the picture of a wife making a sarcastic comment to a husband too busy to pay attention to her… But Yosho, being thirteen (he’d aged a year while he was at the Academy) could not understand what she was trying to say, and Airi did not expect him to. She was enjoying a self-contained, grown-up joke against a younger boy.
“I’m sorry. Are these puppies Funaho?”
“Yes. I wanted to do this just once. You took so long coming here, so I figured this was the perfect opportunity.” Airi giggled and hugged a puppy hologram created by Funaho. Funaho reacted to her joy, and the puppies charged Yosho and Airi en masse. The two were covered in puppies.
“H-hey, Funaho!!”
“Ha ha ha ha ha!!” Bombarded by the soft, cuddly puppies and Funaho’s ticklish emotional wave, Airi was in a trance. In the middle of this puppy mob, Airi and Yosho momentarily touched, skin to skin. Airi vowed not to forget the feeling. I’ll make sure to remember until he comes back in six months.
“Yosho-kun… C’mon, Yosho-kun!”
“Hm… Airi-dono?” Shaken awake, Yosho opened his eyes slightly. “Are you awake?” Airi laughed and poked his cheek mischievously. “Please stop!!” He was now fully awake.
“This is the same as last time… It’s morning already, ha ha.” The sunlight shining through the bridge was hitting their faces…which meant that they had fallen asleep here again. Except it was more like they passed out. “I brought a change of clothes to see you off, so can I use the shower?”
“Then we’ll have breakfast in my room again.”
“Okay,” Airi answered with a smile, extended her hand, and grabbed Yosho’s. He would normally balk and protest, but just for this moment, it felt like the right thing to do.
He pulled her hand as he walked. “Let’s go to my living quarters.”