Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]

Golden Time:Volume2 Chapter3

2012-11-12T10:00:15Z

152.160.38.240:

<noinclude>
{{Incomplete|percentage=11}}
==Golden Time 2: Chapter 3==
</noinclude>
===Chapter 3===
[[Image:Golden Time vol02 158.jpg|thumb]]

Tada Banri was trying on blue-jeans.

And now, this old second-hand shop's cramped changing room had an overpowering smell.

There was the characteristic, detergent-like fabric-softener-like artificial floral scent. But on top of that, the fully half-tatami-sized carpeted floor reeked of the soles of unwashed male feet. As if in answer to that problem, set in the corner of the changing room was a car deodorant strong enough to kill a person, smelling of Hawaiian coconuts.

Coming from the other side of the ventilation fan there was a smell as of lunch and tobacco mixed together, and beneath it a rather unusual presence was drawing near, making itself known. Was it water in the basement? Or was it sewage? A bathroom-like smell was hidden there.

Forming a perfect blend in the confined airspace, the stagnated smells violently invaded Banri's nerves and mine by way of the mucous membranes of our noses. Feeling like the time we had that awful car sickness, our heads hurting and getting dizzy, our stomachs squeezed out from top to bottom like cleaning rags. We could've thrown up, really.

Though it was bad for a customer staying only a short time, didn't the employees think about it at all? Were their noses broken and numbed already? No, they must've thought it stank, else why the Hawaiian coconuts? But this thing's sickly-sweet, strong smell was on the edge of being dangerous, and in fact was the worst offender.

Enduring all this in bad humor, anyhow I quietly stood in the corner of the changing room, watching Banri changing, not all that impressed.

Staying like this, motionless, in the upper corner by the ceiling, I felt as if I were being sucked, as if hypnotized, into that notably gloomy, dark-looking shadow. And then clinging to it, as if I'd become stuck there.

To say that I think of myself as a ghost, in short this place, is haunted...

"...Zzu! ...Uoe...!"

Pulling on the cheap, $25 blue-jeans, Banri looked down for a moment at the troublesome front buttons. He started to get nauseous from the overwhelming smell, which turned into a fit of coughing, and swallowing back something acid. It seemed somehow too much.

From the other side of the closed curtains, "How do they feel?", the store clerk was asking pointedly. In a panic, Banri fastened all the buttons, opened the curtain, and slipped on the shoes he'd left outside the changing room. He still wasn't wearing the New Balance shoes that Linda had given him. Today it was the same old Jack Purcells again.

Banri and I turned and left the narrow space together, taking the deepest breaths they could. I could not, since I am a spirit that people cannot see, but the store clerk was able to tend to the material Banri. Trying to be as quiet as possible, he was breathing desperately through his mouth.

The store clerk fawned over him, making little flattering noises as she squatted and fiddled around with the pant's cuffs appreciatively. Looking at Banri in a flattering way, her hostess-like done-up hair swaying, saying things like "Heeyy? Isn't that just right!? Look, the style looks good on you!", using no more volume than necessary for her compliments to be heard.

And yet, if I say so myself, the image of Banri in the mirror was certainly more than ever recklessly stylish. Even his legs looked longer and slimmer.

"Hey, you're right!" said Banri, slightly blue in the face, laughing foolishly as he turned around, confirming that his rear end was settling in nicely. It looked better than any other blue-jeans he had right now, so he muttered, "Why not go for this one?"

Banri, for the sake of the first-year's drinking party hosted by Oka Chinami tomorrow night, was out picking up some new duds.

Embarrassed to the breaking point, he didn't notice that the changing room mirror was one of those trick ones, reflecting only a narrow image.

The store clerk, making sure to not stand in front of the mirror (because the difference from reality would be revealed to the customer), immediately began trying to adjust the height of the bottom hem, rolling it up and down. When she told him that there was no need to bring up the hem, Banri said, "Well then, I'll go with this. I'll go take them off.", and once more closed the changing room curtain.

It seemed that he was completely decided to buy it. Well, the reflection in the mirror was good, and they were simple straight pants. Besides, what surprises would there be for $25? There wasn't too much funny stitching or extra stuff.

But that was often the case. He had spotted some blue-jeans that felt right in one of the used clothing shop's carts, but when he took them out and spread them, the upper legs had cheesy chinese-style tiger striped embroidery. The side seams were completely covered, from top to bottom, with some strange Tyrolean tape.

It was only through the magic mirror that he looked so stylish, but everything considered, you could call this a success. It's OK, Banri, go ahead and buy it. Through the mirror, I flashed Banri an OK sign.

Banri, looking pleased with himself, unfastened the buttons and was about to take off the pants, but suddenly he stopped moving. His underwear showing in the half-dressed style--- if somebody were to see him they wouldn't be pleased: the frozen figure of a young man bent over. It seemed he was looking at a seam between the legs, inside the taken-off blue-jeans.

Peeking from behind, wondering what he was worried about, at that moment, a shiver ran up my spine. This, for sure...

Right there, in the middle, around the stitching. Right between the legs, in the butt-crack, right in that area. Strangely the whole area, black perhaps, or maybe brown, a stain of a questionable color had not been fully removed.

At that spot only, for some reason or other... I don't want to say, for some reason... That, of course, to put it simply, what would you call it?

"What's this here?", he asked the store clerk from earlier. I myself thought, "He ought to point out how bad the damage is." If he could talk them into keeping it at the store and, without fail, removing the stain for him, that would be lucky for him. If that didn't work, then of course he could just stop, but that's OK, I think. It didn't need to be hemmed, and the style looked good even if it was a trick mirror.

However Banri was still looking motionlessly at the seam, thinking about something in a half-dressed style, in lack of movement thinking it through. "What's wrong? If you're worried speak up, otherwise stop it!", I nagged him from behind like that, but Banri didn't notice. He didn't move. He must've been confused as to whether to buy it as it was, or what. "If you're confused, stop it! Get it over with!", I kept beating him over the back.

Of course, Banri didn't notice it at all. Hmm... he frowned, his head tilted as he thought it through. He was completely silenced by the trap of the changing room mirror. "Stop it already!" It was at that moment that he was pushed rather hard on the back.

"Ah, ah, ah...!"

...By reflex, even if I was only a ghost behind him, I covered my eyes against the disaster.

It was a coincidence. Absolutely. I wasn't responsible for the push. Really.

Banri, unsteady on his feet, his balance destroyed, hopping on one foot, his rear exposed, jumped out from the changing room curtain into the bright store--- and said it. Said it completely. Whoa. Wh, ooaaaa...

...But, he was saved by there not being any other customers around. Still on one foot, he ran rather forcefully into the store clerk from before, standing nearby. As it was, supported by her as if in her embrace, at least he didn't fall down.

Excuse me... sorry... moaning feverishly, Banri, his rear exposed, ashamed, ran in his socks back into the changing room.

As a human being, so far, getting embarrassed, blushing and so forth, were things he seemed to encounter every step of the way. Banri, his face strangely darkened, took off the jeans in the blink of an eye. He took them off as fast as if they were on fire. Too quick to see, he gathered his stuff and went to the register. And then,

"This please! Do, ...does it show...!?"

With a terrible expression, he timidly asked the store clerk. He could see several security cameras watching over the store, protecting it from shoplifters. The clerk accepted his money as if nothing had happened, and gave him a receipt. While she folded the jeans with practiced hands, with a very small voice she said, "Eh? Black." Looking at him kindly, she smiled a bit and said, "I didn't see anything. Here you go." He had thought her a flattering salesperson, but then not understanding well what she said, his heart now thought of her as an angel. I'm sorry, store. Please excuse me, seriously. But the smell and everything else spoke thoroughly bad of you.

Taking the bag Banri bowed, and ran at full speed up the stairs to the store's open door. Going out to the street like that, he dashed even harder. He was fleeing. I saw that the strange things that had just happened had already disappeared from his brain.

At that moment his cell-phone rang, and he flipped it open as he ran.

"Hello, hellooo?", a woman's voice, sounding slightly nasal due to the telephone.

'You already done with your errands? As for me, right now I'm almost done at the hairdresser!'

From a different place in the same neighborhood, it was Kaga Kouko talking to him. After the third period lecture, Banri and Kouko met up at the same entrance as always, took the train and came here together. In order to tend to their various errands, they waved and separated at the crosswalk, the two of them to meet up again afterwards. Kouko to her favorite beauty parlor, Banri to the area around the second-hand shop that Mitsuo had shown him earlier.

"I'm done too! ...Some, some things happened... but anyway I'm done! You mean, you got your hair trimmed, perhaps?"

'No, just a treatment. Did you buy anything?'

"I bought some jeans! Well, I'm at the next intersection! See you shortly!"

Gasping as he said it, Banri stood waiting at the red light of a pedestrian crossing. Combing up his bangs, which had fallen to his eyes, he took a deep breath. Understood, I'll be right there too, she'd answered, breaking the connection.

Banri's cheeks were flushed red as if overflowing with blood, his temples, sweating lightly. In that corner of the twilit town, it looked like he was glittering.

<nowiki><~~11% Completed~~></nowiki>

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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter8

2012-11-07T09:35:07Z

152.160.38.240:

{{Incomplete|comments=pending TLC}}

==Chapter 8: Ellis' Determination==
===Part 1===

"Ah..."

As Kamito opened his eyes, the familiar ceiling of Claire's room came into his vision.

Warm sunlight was shining through the curtain.

''...Eh? I... Why was I sleeping?''

His memory had been in a mess.

He didn't know when his pyjamas were put on him, or when his bandages were wrapped on him.

Next to his bed, there was a cracked spirit stone that he believed was used for healing.

Kamito was going to just stand up for now—

"Hoo... Ah...!"

Burning like pain ran at the side of his abdomen.

When he took a look, the blood at the bandages wrapped around his abdomen had dried up and hardened.

''That's right, I—''

Due to that pain, Kamito finally remembered.

''I was pierced at my abdomen by that Spirit...''

It was the demonic mirror spirit that went out of control due to the power of the Curse Armament Seal.


The spirit that wounded Kamito was annihilated by Velsaria.

With overwhelming destructive force. Without even leaving any traces.

A spirit, which was thoroughly destroyed to that extent, could not even return back to Astral Zero.

It should have been completely eradicated.

"The Academy's strongest blade dancer— huh?"

Precisely because it was a sealed spirit the same as Est, that fortress was an abnormal elemental waffe.

She was becoming far stronger than the time at the Blade Dance three years ago.

''...With how I am now, could I defeat her?''

As he clenched his left hand which had been holding a jet-black demonic sword, he asked himself.

He had a blank of three years that he went embarking on the journey to find Restia.

There was also the fact that the spirit contract with Est was still incomplete.

If it was about the reasons that he couldn't win, he could come up with as many as he liked.

''That orphan of the «Instructional School» — Jio Inzagi had said that I've become weak...''

That was because Kamito was subconsciously protecting his companions.

If that was a weakness, then—

''... I have indeed become weak, heh.''

Enduring the pain like that of a terrible burn wound, he finally got up from the bed.

Kamito's uniform was hanging on a wall of the room. It was a mere shadow of its former self with all that damage.


It was probably decided that there would be no point in washing it now, so it was left there like that.

While he placed both hands on the wall, he started walking with shaky footsteps.

After he searched his uniform's chest pocket, he took out a present and a chocolate.

The chocolate had melted and been flattened, but it was something that Claire made with great trouble. So, he was going to eat it gratefully.

After making his resolve and tossing a bite-size piece into his mouth, sweetness instantly spread out inside his mouth.

"...Hn? This is surprisingly..."

Although there was still a bit of bitterness, it was properly made deliciously.

Compared to the coal she had been mass-producing, she had improved considerably.

''...She basically is a very hard working person, isn't she?''

Her erratics that went with her mood was her weakness, but as she was an honour student, she was fast at apprehending things.

If she was serious, her cooking should also certainly conspicuously improve.

"—Kamito!?"

Suddenly, the room's door opened.

The one who came in, was Claire holding crumpled bandages with both hands.

"Y-You, what are you doing!"

"Nm? The chocolate you gave me was made pretty well. You've worked hard."

"Eh?"


Kamito frankly praised—

Claire's face immediately reddened.

"I-Isn't that obvious? I-I've practised a lot after all... Eh, that's not the point. W-Why are you awake? Your body still isn't in a condition to walk, right?!"

"Ah, no, just walking isn't a problem, look... Ouch!"

Just by slightly moving his arm, pain ran through the side of his abdomen.

"...Haaa. You really are a fool, your wound opened again, didn't it? Come on, sit there. I'll put new bandages on you."

"Ahhh, sorry..."

Being softly pressed on his shoulders by Claire, Kamito was made to sit on the bed.

Under the gentle treatment from Claire that was different from usual, Kamito's heart ended up beating quickly.

"...Geez, you're a fool."

While Claire wrapped the bandages unskillfully—

She told Kamito what happened after he fainted.

The two, who reached out to the Curse Armament Seals, were found unconscious in the forest.

It seemed like they were arrested immediately after the arrival of the Knights and were moved to the capital. Laying their hands on the Curse Armament Seals did not mean that it ended with just breaking the academy rules. They would end up being charged for their crimes by the council that judged spirit contractors.


The actions by Velsaria, who got the general public involved, did not cause any deaths, and in addition, as a result of suppressing the casualties in the town to the minimum, she seemed to have ended up not being charged.

The one who issued the ruling was Greyworth, however— this judgement was probably pushed back to just before the Blade Dance and it —without a doubt— involved the speculation of the congress of the Ordesia Empire that there was no way they could punish the academy's strongest candidate.

After Ellis helped Claire move Kamito, she seemed to have stayed confined in her room.

It might be that she felt responsible as the Captain for the fact that she couldn't protect the town from destruction and that she couldn't prevent students from getting involved with the Curse Armament Seals.

"... How long did I sleep?"

"For almost a day. The Valentia Holy Festival ended a long time ago."

"Is that so..."

Kamito glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.

Since last night, more than half a day had already passed.

"Claire, I'm sorry for being late."

Kamito handed over the small box, which he took out of his uniform a while ago, to Claire.

"What?"

"Ah... Err, this is your present... For your birthday. Although it's already over."

"...!?"


Claire widely opened her ruby eyes.

"No way, why...?"

"Rinslet told me. Well, for an ojou-sama of a noble, this may not be something of high value."

"..."

Receiving the box, Claire untied the ribbon with fidgety hands.

Inside the box, a cat-shaped silver pendant was perfectly placed.

"T-This, isn't this what I wanted...?"

"Weren't you continuously looking at it that time?"

"U-Uh, but..."

Claire gently and preciously took out the pendant.

"This should be expensive. You aren't even a noble, how did—"

"I asked a big favour from Ellis, and got an advance on the remuneration from the Knights."

"...S-So... It was like that."

Claire tightly clasped the pendant, while she looked at Kamito with her eyes glancing upwards—

"...Th-Thank you, Kamito"

And said that shyly.

Kamito's heart spontaneously beat faster at her expression that she usually didn't even show.


[[Image:STnBD V03 193.jpg|thumb]]
''...T-This person, making such a face is criminally cute—''

He had been thinking that he would hear something like—"You're sensible for a slave at best".

He did not think she would express her gratitude that frankly.

"Sorry, Kamito... Err, I was at fault."

"Mn?"

With another unbelievable line emerging, Kamito doubted his ears.

"I-I'm saying that I was at fault... Err, for getting angry and chasing you out. You joined the Knights for the sake of earning money to gift me this?"

"Ah, no, that's—"

Just when he was about to say it, Kamito closed his mouth.

Although it wasn't entirely like that— it seemed better to remain silent at this point.

"Despite that I didn't even listen to your explanation and willfully got angry... Sorry."

Her red twin tails drooped down.

"No, I'm at fault, my words were insufficient at that time. Sorry."

"Kamito..."

"—Hey, are you people done?"

There was the sound of a cough.

"...!?"


The two turned away in a fluster.

"Fianna, since when were you here!?"

"From when Kamito-kun pressed on coercively, saying 'It's time for you to become more frank, even though you always say you hate it— the truth is you want to be messed up by me, right?'"

"Don't fabricate an impossible fact!"

"Y-Yeah! T-To be messed up... T-That's not allowed!"

Claire turned steamily bright-red and got angry.

"Hoho, I'm joking. Really Claire, what are you getting red for, I wonderr?"

"W-Wh-What did you come here for, Ero-Queen?!"

"As our opponent for the match tomorrow has already been declared, I came here to tell you that!"

"Our opponent for the match?"

"Yea, our opponent is the first-ranking —Velsaria Eva's— team~"

"...!"

Claire's expression became sharp.

"...The Silent Fortress', huh?"

As long as they kept on winning through, she was an opponent they would have to face one day.

Claire should have been prepared for this.

However, the power that eradicated two mighty high level spirits in an instant was—


"—No problem."

Kamito picked up the Elemental Waffe sword that was placed next to the bed.

"I will defeat Velsaria. I will take her on personally."

"W-What are you saying!"

Claire fiercely glared at Kamito.

"With that kind of injury, how will you be able to join tomorrow's match?"

"That person will not be defeated with just you and the others."

"T-There is always a way... Let's not speak of Velsaria as an individual, their team isn't mature enough. It was just formed by pulling people from the Knights, they haven't even completed their—"

"The Silent Fortress is a tough opponent you know."

"That is..."

Even if Claire had a very straight forward personality, as a Spirit Contractor, she also had the ability to calmly observe the situation.

Even with one reason, she wouldn't miscalculate the power difference between Velsaria and her.

But once the fighting starts, Fianna, who had the ability to do rituals due to being an ex-Princess Maiden from the Divine Ritual Institute, would be no different from any regular person.

While it was true that her knight spirit was strong, once you consider the inability to enter Elemental Waffe, the area of tactical fighting immediately lowers.

Additionally, in order to attack the flying fortress, a spirit that has long-range attacks was necessary.

The only thing that could attack air units in Team Scarlet was Claire's magic. But, it was impossible to only rely on magic to destroy the armor mounted on the fortress.

''But, if I were to be a forward, we could at lest adhere to five minutes.''

Towards Kamito who was making an attempt to get out of bed—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Squeeze squeeze* 

"Even if Kamito-kun's body is firmer and stronger, participating in tomorrow's match is impossible~"

Fianna used her soft chest to press him back.

Due to Kamito's blushing because of touching something really soft, Claire fiercely glared back.

"That's right~ the injured you would just give us more trouble."

"..."

Although he felt really unwilling, but he couldn't find any words of rebuttal.

Indeed, letting Kamito, who was seriously injured, join the battle would just be a hindrance.

"Then... is Team Scarlet forfeiting?"

"That—"

Kamito, who was asking it also understood that there was no other way.

Once you forfeit a match, as a punishment your ranking would significantly drop.

Knowing that, if they don't defeat the top team, the chance of getting their 6th place team to the top 3 would be almost 0.

===Part 3===

"..."

A heavy atmosphere filled the room, and at that moment—

"Fuu, I understand what you all are saying~"

An elegant voice came from outside the room.

Accompanied by her wavy blond hair, Rinslet entered the room.

Following closely behind her, was her maid Carol.

"Rinslet why did you come over here!?"

"Seems like my power is needed~"

Disregarding Claire who was actively protesting, Rinslet openly walked over.

After stopping in front of Kamito, who was still sitting on the bed, she elegantly moved her long hair.

"As long as it is me, I can definitely shoot down the flying fortress for you!"

"Ojou-sama is trying to say that she hopes to join Claire-sama's team~"

Carol simultaneously translated what Rinslet had said.

"Is that right, Rinslet?"

"...N-No! It's, just that..."

Rinslet, who was flustered, asked for Carol's help.

"Haha, ojou-sama really isn't good at expressing the truth~"
[[Image:STnBD V03 199.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
Using her hands to cover her mouth, Carol gently laughed.

"—Rinslet!"

Suddenly, Kamito stood up and grasped her shoulders.

Those slender shoulders of hers suddenly trembled.

"Ah!, w-what! You are too violent... I'm not ready yet!"

Her voice sharpened as she protested. But, Kamito did not let go.

"..."

"Ah, wha..."

Being stared at by Kamito, Rinslet quickly quieted down.

Blushing, she nervously grabbed the corner of her skirt.

"T-This is troublesome... If I am being stared at like that, I-I will become strange..."

"K-Kamito, what are you doing!?"

"Kamito-kun, no matter how you explain yourself, this is too bold!"

Ignoring the shocked Claire and Fianna—

"Please, Rinslet. Join our team."

"Eh?"

Rinslet stood there, shocked. Claire also widened her eyes.

Rinslet's Elemental Waffe— "Freezing Arrow", was a long range weapon. In the situation where Kamito would be unable to enter tomorrow's match, they would urgently need her to join.

''If we left it to Claire, who is always arguing with her, to ask this ojou-sama, she would never put down her pride. ''

So, Kamito intervened and asked her himself.

Rinslet then—

"A-Alright..."

Like a bride that was getting proposed to, she shyly agreed.

"I-If Kamito-san says so..."

Blushing, she used her fingers to play with her hair.

"Isn't this fine, Claire?"

Claire sighed.

"Well this is, after all, the undefeated "Silent Fortress". And eventually we would need ranged support that has sufficient power."

"W-Wait, don't misunderstand. I only joined your team because Kamito-san requested it."

"Now, now." Carol slowly comforted the furious Rinslet.

''In any case, now we will be able to carry out anti-air attacks from the ground.''

''...Now that she has joined, our power will be more balanced.''

Claire seemed to have considered the same thing as Kamito.

"Now if only we could have another person take on the position as forward..."

She said with a troubled expression.

Just then, came knocking from the door.

"...?"

Everyone looked at each other... Having visitors come to this room was very surprising.

Claire went over and opened the door.

The ones who were standing outside the door— were two people who they didn't expect.

"Y-You!?"

Claire, who was holding the door handle, widened her eyes.

"Claire Rouge, there is something we want you to do..."

"Although we do not have the qualifications to ask for something like this."

They were Ellis' teammates who were still supposed to be in the infirmary, Rakka and Reishia from the Sylphid Knights.

===Part 4===

Inside the dark room where all the curtains were pulled close—

Ellis was crying alone on her bed, not caring for anything.

Staring at the memory that was sealed in the spirit stone.

Inside was a young Ellis, dreaming of Velsaria.

For the first time, she didn't attend the Knight's meeting in the morning.

What she wore wasn't the school uniform, but pajamas that were printed with polka-dots.

Her hair wasn't tied up as well, letting her long hair flow down in all directions on her bed.

—''You are not a knight.''

Velsaria's words echoed in her head.

''It may be just as what onee-sama said...''

Amidst the darkness, Ellis had firmly grasped the bed sheet.

''...It's the truth, in the end, I couldn't protect anyone.''

The people that were happily enjoying the festival.

The students that were transplanted with Spell Armament Seals.

And also— her important partner who was with her.

Kamito, who joined her out of kindness, had sustained serious injuries.

''Everything was because of me. If only I was more powerful, then nothing would have happened—''

The seniors who agreed to join Velsaria and left the Knights, they were also her fault.

No one would want to be with a captain that has no power, and would only speak of dreams.

"...I do not, have the right to call myself a Knight—"

"Yeah, the current you really doesn't have the right to be called a knight, Ellis."

"...!"

Ellis immediately let go of the bed sheets.

"Claire Rouge?"

"Sorry, but I melted the lock."

After saying that, Claire entered the room.

"W-Why are you here, and what do you mean that I had no right of being a knight!?"

"Heh~ So you still have the strength to get angry. I feel at ease now."

Claire stood next to the bed, hands on her hips, and lowered her head while looking at Ellis.

The normal Ellis would have stared back immediately, but—

She looked as if she was being forced and looked away.

"...H-Has Kamito awakened yet?"

"Yeah, he even said some weird things like he would like to join tomorrow's match."

"What—? With that kind of injury?"

"Yup. And our enemy is the Academy's strongest, 'Silent Fortress'."

"That's crazy, what are all of you thinking!?"

Ellis grabbed Claire and stood up.

"Don't you understand onee-sama's power?"

"Ah, she is a very powerful spirit contractor, but she is not invincible."

"What?"

Ellis frowned.

Velsaria Eva Fahrengart was the strongest in the Academy.

This was a fact everyone knew of.

"Three years ago, Ren Ashbell defeated her."

"But that's because— She is the strongest blade dancer. Their levels are too far apart!"

"True. But, our goal is to defeat Ren Ashbell."

"Wha—?"

To Ellis, who never thought she would hear those words, she was speechless.

''...defeat Ren Ashbell!?''

"How is that possible—?"

"It is possible. More precisely, we will make it possible~"

"..."

Claire was serious.

She was seriously thinking of defeating the strongest blade dancer.

"I will continue to win in the Spirit Blade Dance Festival, then I will make my 'wish'. Whether it is the Silent Fortress or the strongest blade dancer, whoever gets in my way shall be brought down."

Looking straight at Ellis, were a pair of eyes that were burning silently.

A small flame was ignited, inside Ellis' heart.

"M-Me too..."

"Ellis, will you bring that resolve and join the Spirit Blade Dance Festival?"

Claire seized Ellis' collar.

"Your dream of being a knight, is it only to this level?"

"—No!"

Ellis pushed Claire's hands away.

"I am... I am a knight of the Fahrengart!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Boom!*

A strong wind was formed in the room.

The bed sheet on the bed was blown away, the items on the desk were sent flying in the air.

The curtains were ripped apart, and strong rays from the sun were fired into the dark room, brightening everything.

"..."

After the wind settled—

"Looks like the wind has started blowing again~"

Claire smiled.

Then, she pointed at Ellis.

With her other hand on her hips—

"Ellis, join our team!"

"...W-What?"

Ellis asked, still shocked.

"Me... join Team Scarlet?"

"Correct. With you, we can win against the Silent Fortress."

Claire spoke with a serious tone.

However, Ellis firmly shook her head.

"Sorry, I cannot accept that. I already have companions to fight with—"

"—Captain!"

"?"

After hearing the noise that echoed in the room, Ellis looked over—

"Y-You guys!?"

Standing there, was a girl with short hair, and another with braided hair.

Her teammates Rekka and Reishia.

"...You escaped from the Infirmary?"

===Part 5===

They should still be recovering.

They shouldn't have been allowed to come out this far.

"Why...?"

"We hoped that Captain would appear in the Spirit Blade Dance Festival."

Rekka had said while painfully coughing.

Reishia nodded.

"We decided it ourselves. We already knew that we wouldn't heal before the festival... So—"

"You're... disbanding... the party?"

Having a stunned expression, Ellis looked at her two teammates.

"..."

"N-No, I will not allow that!"

"But, Captain—"

"Didn't we already promise! We had decided to appear in the festival together!"

Ellis didn't care about her appearance to others anymore and cried like a child.

"We can't fight anymore. So—"

"We want to be there, side by side... So carry our dreams with you."

"Rekka, Reishia..."

"Please, fight for us too."

"I would like to see Captain's blade dance. A blade dance that cuts everything blocking its path like a gale."

"..."

Ellis—

Firmly bit her lips and clenched her fist.

Both sides refused to give up— A heavy atmosphere quickly filled up the room.

The first person who sighed, was Ellis.

"...I understand. You win."

"Captain!"

The two girls squealed in happiness.

"—Claire Rouge."

Ellis looked back at the quiet Claire.

Not with the past face without any energy.

But with an expression that was filled with pride.

"I, Ellis Fahrengart, request to join Team Scarlet."

"Welcome, Ellis~"

Claire smiled happily and stretched out her right hand.

And Ellis replied by stretching out her left.

"I want to show that person, my honor."

===Part 6===

The strongest blade dancer— Ren Ashbell.

Three years ago, from the day they exchanged blows with their blades, Velsaria's life had changed drastically.

On that day, her pride was struck and shattered.

Before that day, Velsaria always had the pride of the strongest Knight.

To the girl that appeared in front of her, she didn't underestimate her foe that was two years younger than her.

No matter who it was, as long as it was an enemy, she would try her best to strike it down.

That was her belief as a Knight.

With her full power she had fought— But was defeated.

At that time, in her heart, Velsaria did not feel hatred.

But it was more like a yearning to her.

Velsaria was not an exception, she, like the other girls, was fascinated by Ren Ashbell's blade dance.

But what shattered her pride, was not the defeat itself.

It was the eyes that the strongest girl cast at the loser.

In her pitch black pupils, what was seen—

Was not hostility, nor was it disdain— There was no emotion.

In her eyes, Velsaria was not even recognized.

''...Unforgivable. What she had done was unforgivable.''

''I must defeat the strongest girl, and let her 'acknowledge my existence'.''
[[Image:STnBD V03 212.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
This was probably— in a sense, an emotion that was similar to love.

''Soon, I can fight her again in the Spirit Blade Dance Festival.''

''As long as I can do that, anything is fine.''

Midnight. Deep inside the "Spirit Forest"—

Velsaria was alone in the dark, trying her best to restrain her excitement.

At this moment, the bush behind her moved slightly.

"—You, you are there right?"

"Ha, as expected of you, you were able to detect my presence~"

A vivid laughter rang in the forest.

The one who appeared was— the Corpse Federation merchant, Vivian Melosa.

"You were perfect yesterday, because of you I was able to collect a lot of data~"

"I knew it, it was you who implanted those Spell Armament Seals on them."

Velsaria emitted a strong murderous aura that made the leaves around them fall.

"Yes, but, they were destroyed immediately. Even if it is the famed Areshia Spirit Academy, it is rare to find such a fine specimen like yourself!"

"Disappear. I told you to never appear in front of me again."

"Wah, you're pretty cold. I just came here to find out how the corruption rate of the 'heart' was."

"I have no intentions to support your research. The 'heart' can already be fully controlled."

Vivian Melosa laughed out loud.

"Don't stretch it. A 'spell armament seal engraved on a heart'— the only person who could possibly control it is the Dusk Witch. If you just leave it like that, you will die in a few years~"

"Not a problem. As long as I live till the Spirit Blade Dance Festival two weeks later, it is enough."

"That is troublesome to me though. You are actually a specimen I took a liking to—"

In an instant, Velsaria released her Elemental Waffe towards Vivian Melosa.

With the strength of the compressed Divine power, it blew apart the trees in the forest, and blasted away the dirt in front of her.

After the dust had settled, there was no one there. Only the dense darkness.

"...That damned witch."

Facing the empty space, Velsaria bitterly cursed.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Thump*—, the 'heart' started painfully throbbing.

<noinclude>{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter7|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter9}}</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume3 Chapter 1

2012-10-10T10:26:08Z

152.160.38.240:

'''Chapter 1 – Meeting underneath the moonlight'''

1

In the beginning of the New Year, a few days after the start of the new semester...

In the classroom of the sixth year, class two of the Metropolitan Cosei Elementary School, an event that already became the established afterschool practice, began.

“Ren-kun!”

“Ren!”

A short girl and a boy with an outstanding build each grab a hand of a boy so cute, you could mistake him for a girl. The girl and the large built boy exchange a sublime threatening glance for a second and right away avert their eyes, as if to say: “I saw something dirty.”

“Ren-kun, let’s go have tea on the way home.”

“Let’s go play games, Ren!”

The invitations were issued perfectly simultaneously.

“Ah...well...”
The bewildered cute boy – Kannagi Ren, twelve years old – inserts himself where these two’s glances scatter sparks.
The clash was inevitable.

“Which one do you think wins today?”

“That would be Kannon, right? Up until today she holds complete victory.”

“That girl, she doesn’t have leniency.”

“No, anytime now, Serisawa is going to get angry for real, don’t you think? Up until now, he was going easy on her, right?”

Although abnormal, their struggle is extreme. The boy and the girl trying to gain Kannagi Ren’s favor and his heart either can’t be called a standard primary school student.

Serisawa Tatsuya – 180 centimeters tall and a physique matching that height, the boy is endowed with physical strength.

Suzuhara Kannon – the girl has both cute looks suitable for a flower and a cruel, wicked personality appropriate for her artillery name.

The struggle between these two completely exceeds the primary school level. Fighting each other with a raging power, almost like a windstorm, and a devil-like heartless craft, class 6-2 is changed into a battlefield.
Towards the overwhelming heroicness, the pupils that happened to be present caused uproar but got used to it after three days. As for this ordinary one part thing nowadays, they are enjoying this pleasant exhibition.

“Serisawa! Don’t lose today!”

“No! If such a gorilla is his company, Ren-kun will amount to nothing!”

“Whether she likes it or not...Kannon’s opponent is pretty determined, huh?”

In the center of the pupils quarreling to their heart’s content, Kannon and Serisawa are only staring at each other. Not to overlook even the most trivial behavior, they are watching for an unguarded moment without even blinking. The class is overflowing with this tense atmosphere. The noisy pupils were engulfed in it and gradually lowered their tone.

“.......ts!”

Destroying the equilibrium, Serisawa ran, but not towards Kannon. His destination was the noisy boys –

“..........eh?”

Ren, completely left outside the event, stared in amazement at Serisawa rushing towards him almost like a bull. It seems that he abandoned the fight with Kannon, having the intention to withdraw from the battlefield after seizing Ren.
Serisawa thought this through! – if the students were to compare these two’s combat abilities, Serisawa overwhelms Kannon. And yet, in spite of this, until today why did his defeats keep piling up?

Kannon is weaker than Serisawa. At the very least, the teachers and parents don’t have a particle of doubt about that obvious fact. That recognition places great restraints on Serisawa.
If a young man, towards a delicate girl – and with a construction like Serisawa’s – were to exert violence, it’s been decided that the young man will be blamed, no matter the reason. To say nothing of the fact that the opponent is that Kannon. If she were to make a fuss, she is quite capable of obliterating Serisawa’s social status. Because he knew this, Serisawa can’t win without moderating at any cost his offence – contrastive to Kannon’s challenging, no-mercy attack – this is why he can only continue to repel it.

Therefore, he considered this.
To be able to accomplish his goal, he cannot knock Kannon down. Before the girl’s intention of acquiring Ren, there aren’t many obstacles to block his way. There is no need to fight directly. It’s okay to ignore her. Because, the person he is wishing for is right in front of his eyes.

“Ren!”

Serisawa faced the petrified boy and extended his big hand with all his heart.

“Fuuuuu....you can use your head a little, can’t you?”

On the other hand, Kannon was persistently calm. To begin with, something even Serisawa would think of, it would be impossible for her not to notice it first. Again, this time’s conduct was within her expectation. Without being disconcerted, she started running. She was faster than Serisawa. The way things are now, she can be shaken off. But, Serisawa’s aim is not just flight. It’s a withdrawal from the battlefield by taking back Ren. That’s why, at least the moment when he captures Ren, his speed will decline. Then, the capture.

This is not the result of luck of wishful thinking. After mutually understanding the motion, an adjustment of the relation between the locations of the three parties can be made –
When Serisawa moves, Kannon responds to that – all the pupils think so. But only Kannon knew. She was the only one perfectly grasping this setting.

“S-Serisawa-kun....”

Being pulled up against his will, as one would expect, Ren is resisting. From the impatient Serisawa’s awareness, Kannon’s existence vanished.

“I got you!”

Facing Serisawa’s turned back, using the hind foot, she takes the last step. And then –

Zudan!

Breaking into a rush by kicking the floor, a roar-like explosion can be heard. Simultaneously, Serisawa’s figure disappears from Ren’s field of vision. In the place Serisawa should have been a moment before, is now Kannon’s appearance from behind.
Something previously seen on TV, billiard techniques come to mind. This is stop shot.
The cue ball hit by the player hands over all the kinetic energy by clashing into the target ball and at the position where the target ball was, it suddenly stops.

Just like this.

Kannon lowered herself greatly extending her leg and pushing forward her elbow. That appearance, not really fitting with her one piece uniform, looked amazingly good.

“Th – the top back gate elbow move...”, someone muttered, almost groaning.
The Eight Extremities Fists – a form of martial arts that became well known because of a certain beat’-them-up game, among these, this is a technique especially well known. The Shin leg movement was effective, naturally being a certain kill hit.
The blown-away Serisawa, was for a second time buried between the desks. Unlike the previous time, there is no sign of movement.

This was a stupefying, perfect KO.

“........fuah,” Kannon let out a breath and straightened her pose. She tucked the hair on her cheeks back and slowly turned around.

“So, let’s go, Ren-kun.”

The atmosphere of violence from several days minutes ago left no traces. A glittery smiling face was there. Kannon gently took Ren’s arm, in fact with a vigor that doesn’t allow resistance – and forcibly dragged him along. A reckless enough person to obstruct it was already nowhere to be found.

2

When Ren was eventually released from Kannon it was already past 7 p.m. As a matter of course, during this time they didn’t just drink tea. Having been made to accompany her endlessly at shopping and karaoke and the like, Ren couldn’t run from Kannon’s devil paw (Serisawa joke) pressing closer with no regard for the public gaze, without concentrating all his power.

“.........I’m worn-out.”

The sun already set. While walking alone on the street at night, Ren let out a mutter packed with many thoughts.

It’s not like he hates Kannon. Rather, he harbors friendly feelings towards her. And in addition to that, if he were pushed to say it in less ambiguous terms, he can clearly declare those feelings as “like”.

However.

Ren’s like and Kannon’s like are completely different. Because he knows that, he can’t help but be troubled by it. He didn’t experience the emotion called “love” until now.

First on the list, among the members of the family there are a lot of people he likes. But, using an extreme argument, the emotion felt for them all is the same. The emotion is strong. There is also a priority. However, there is decidedly no contradiction between the affection felt for those countless people.

That hot emotion for that around the world one-irreplaceable person’s existence, he doesn’t know it.
For this reason, towards that girl trying to force that feeling onto him, he can’t help but feel perplexed.

''Actually, why is it me..........?''

Ren never thought he possesses that manly appeal. The girly features and a personality weak under pressure, he cannot think of nothing but “minus” ingredients for a man.

If it’s about a “fine man”, it must be a man undoubtedly similar to big brother.
Lately, he frequently compares himself with his big brother.

Yagami Kazuma

A well trained body. A shaped mind. Owning the unshakeable title of the absolute strongest man – Ren is considerably glorifying him. Nevertheless, the brother he met after four years, he seemed exactly like the ideal embodiment of the boy.

Someday, I want to become like big brother...

With a child-like innocence, Ren is yearning after Kazuma. Towards the inanimate nature of cutting everything down, without concerning oneself about it, for the sake of one’s important person, toward the man who thinks one’s gentleness is nothing but naiveté, a merit that ought to be learned can be felt.
The weight of the chosen act, the significance of cutting down everything, Ren didn’t understand it yet.

“.........huh?”

On the way returning home, it happened when approaching the entrance of a public park. Having a faint, uncomfortable feeling, Ren peered inside the park.

“...................a singing voice?”

It was a children’s park, established in a quiet, residential area. The place had a clandestine character because of a few people with a rude conduct and after dark the place was completely empty.
However, it seems there is an exception tonight. The singing audible voice coming from inside the shade of the trees was unmistakably human and, in addition to that, belonged to a young girl.

Being charmed by the firm, crystal-like soprano, Ren walked into the park. There was no need to search for it. At the moment he entered the park, an extremely violent compelling force bound Ren’s consciousness.

The jungle-gym’s highest step. The slender body standing on tip-toes on the pole, the figure of a girl sonorously singing.
In this cold weather she is wearing one white, thin dress. The wind is playing with her soft, wavy black hair stretching below her back, the girl is innocently singing.

In the sky is the close, slightly chipped circle of the moon. The descending white light shines on the young lady.

“....................”

From Ren’s awareness, the entire world lost its meaning. Reflected in his eyes are the sparkling moon and the maiden’s shape blessed by the moon.

Throb

The heart starts beating very loudly. A conspicuously great pulsation. Even without proof, Ren firmly believes he heard that sound. He can sense the blood running through the blood vessels.

Throb, throb

The all too excited blood flow makes his limbs vibrate. The heartbeats resound deafeningly in his ears. And yet the girl’s voice naturally penetrates into his hearing.
Is she offering her song to the moon or is she praying? That shape, sincere like a shrine maiden serving God is too pure, too noble.

“I....what am I looking at?”

A guilty feeling as if peaking at a miracle swept over his heart. Nevertheless, he couldn’t take his eyes off it. Even to think about separation is unbearable. The things reflected in his eyes are the glittery moonlight and the figure of a maiden blessed by it...

“.........eh.......”

Is this real? Is she human? Or an angel or a fairy ... or else a devil?

“...........Hey..........”

''I don’t understand....I don’t understand anything!''

“I said hey!”

“Waah!?”

Because of the large voice shouted from overhead, Ren finally calmed down. Looking up, almost right overhead is the above mentioned girl. The jungle-gym was supposed to be more then ten meters away, it seemed he was stepping up to it from within his consciousness.

''This, this is bad...''

While fascinated by the seemingly puzzled young girl overlooking him, Ren was stunned from the bottom of his heart. The suspicious girl singing at night in an uninhabited park cannot be compared with his questionable self that was staring at her with an ecstatic expression.

Furthermore, the relation between both their locations was very risky. That angle, almost like looking up from right under...it was clearly perverted.

''I must say something''... from the mouth of the impatient boy, some very ordinary and regarding this situation, unsuitable words came out:

“Ah, err.......good evening.”

''What the hell am I saying!!!''

Ren rebutted himself loudly in his heart. But instead of screaming, the trusting girl returned the greeting with a smile.

“Good evening. It’s a lovely night, isn’t it?”

“...huh? Ah, yes, that’s right.”

“Could you please step aside just a little?”

“...........ugh, I’m – I’m sorry!”

With a bright red face, Ren jumped aside with force as if he was struck by a car. Watching that excessive response, the girl tilted her head on the side appearing curious and without hesitation jumped from the jungle-gym.

“Ah...”

Although the playground equipment was intended for children, from the top of it to the ground there are more than two meters. The landing’s impact was supposed to be considerable but without bending her knees, the girl got down lightly and easily.
As though the ground gently caught her.

“What’s the matter?”

“Ah, no, that is ...”

In front of the smiling girl, Ren mumbles. He doesn’t understand why but he is frozen solid. When looking at the girl’s face his mind becomes blank and he can think of nothing else.

On the other side, the girl doesn’t pay attention to Ren’s strangeness, looking up to the sky.

“The night sky is really fair........ I didn’t know the moon could be so large........”

''Fair.......?''

Ren looked up in doubt. Even if it was clear, this is Tokyo’s sky after all. With countless stars showing, the sky cut up by inelegant skyscrapers was narrow at best. The girl gazed innocently at that sky. Escaping the gravity’s binding she is longing to reach that place. But at the same time, it seem she understands that such a thing can never come true.

''So beautiful........''

For a second time, from Ren’s consciousness everything except the girl disappeared. He wanted wings – he strongly thought so. If he could fly into the sky, he would take her beyond the stars.

“Hey”
Abruptly she shifted her attention to Ren.

“W-what?”
To a Ren responding while being perplexed, she extended her hand quite naturally.

“Let’s play.”

That penetrating expression that sensed even God, present when looking at the sky, already disappeared. The one standing in front of his eyes was a charming but ordinary girl. She seemed to be approximately the same age as Ren. When he saw he was a bit taller, Ren faintly felt relief.

“...........”

Being too fascinated by her, he forgot to answer. Taking that for a refusal she made a completely lonely face.

“.........no?”

“No no. Of course not, let’s play.”

“Hooray!”

Showing a smile that bloomed openly on her whole face, the girl seized Ren’s arms with both her hands. Feeling the warm hands, Ren turned red up to his ears.

''...............warm?''

Ren suddenly felt the problem. In this cold weather she wore a thin dress....

“It’s not good being so lightly dressed in this weather. You’ll catch a cold!”

Rushing, he took his own coat and put it on the girl.

"I’m fine.”

“No! Wear it.”

Unusually forceful, Ren passed her arm through the sleeve of the coat. After buttoning it precisely with his own hands, he let out a long, relieved breath.

“Now it’s good.”

“...............”

With a bewildered appearance she stared fixedly at the coat forced on her. But, it didn’t seem she felt annoyed, moving her small body, checking the feel of the coat. Expressing a gentle and soft smile, she hugged her own body.

“So warm......”

“...........................ah”

When the girl smiled so happily, Ren felt a crash as if his head was hit. Just by thinking that smile was intended for him was enough to envelop him in a feeling of bliss that made him dizzy. Wanting to greet her, Ren realized he forgot a very important thing.

“S-say.......”

“Eh?”

“Can I ask for your name?”

“.........................”

Just like that her expression clouded. Assaulted by an unbelievable feeling of guilt, panicking, Ren took his question back.

“Ah, actually it’s fine if you don’t want to, but...”

The girl shook her head in silence and murmured, sighing:

“..............Ayumi.”

“Oh, it’s Ayumi-chan? How do you write it?”

“With hiragana.”

Her voice sank even deeper. The impatient Ren, trying to somehow enliven the situation, with a deliberate cheerful voice told her his name.

“Eh, my name is Ren. The Ren from Purgatory. Do you know it?”

“Yes, it’s a very cool name,” Ayumi nodded, slightly recovering her smile.

With just that, Ren foolishly lost his head, blushing.

“A-ha-ha – somehow I have a feeling I don’t live up to my name.”

“That’s not true. It suits you”

“Is that so?”

“Of course.”

Forgetting the awkwardness from just before, both their smiles harmoniously met.

“Let me see, let’s play. What do you want to play with?”

“The swings!”

Without wavering, Ayumi immediately replied at Ren’s question, pulling himself together.

“I tried it just a little bit but I couldn’t swing very well. As I thought, it has no meaning, only knowing the way to do it.”

“Then I’ll push you.”

While bewildered by her queer expression, Ren proposed that. But –

“That’s useless! I want to do it by myself!” Ayumi obstinately insisted.

Appearing full of surprising independence, she sat on the swing and started to push awkwardly by herself.

“That’s not good.”

Because the rhythm was completely off, the swing’s movement was instantly stopped. From the swing next to her, he showed a sample and lectured her carefully about the way of swinging.

“Like that, and now kick your legs.”

Appearing a quick learner, Ayumi instantly grasped the skill. The swing’s movement gradually became smooth and the swinging much larger. Ren judged there is no more need to show her the way and began swinging standing up.
He hadn't rode in swings for the last four, five years and swinging after a long time was pretty pleasant.

Wanting to show off to the girl next to him, his feelings also a part of it, Ren kicked out the swing inserting much more power.

“..................”

Staring at Ren’s posing back, Ayumi, bearing an antagonistic feeling, boldly challenged him by swinging standing.

“Eh, wait........”

When Ren tried to restrain her, the focused Ayumi didn’t notice. Uncertainly getting up on the board she sat down on until now, she swung by imitating what she saw. Becoming the victim of the height of her own learning ability, the swing Ayumi rode, instantly began inclining at an angle dangerous for a beginner.

"Ayumi-chan! Stop!” Ren cried in a big voice. But one pace too late.

Ayumi’s hand slipped and with force, as if shot from a catapult, was thrown diagonally into the upper air.

“Kyaa –”

“ – uh”

Faster than thinking, Ren’s body moved. Kicking the swing’s board with all his strength, he jumps at an angle close to horizontal. He seized Ayumi in the air just before she crashed into the ground. Without change, making sure that he embraced that small body, he landed on his back. Although he rolled on the ground to disperse the shock, because wanting to protect Ayumi was more important, he practically didn’t make any defense.

Although his back and head hit the ground bitterly, Ren held onto his consciousness with his fighting spirit and willpower.
After finally rolling on the ground for five times, Ren finally set free the shock of the fall. Ignoring the many stars twinkling in his field of vision, before everything else he confirmed Ayumi’s condition.

“Are you all right?”

“Ah, yes...”

Because he covered her very skillfully Ayumi didn’t feel any pain, not to mention injuries. In her pupils opened blankly, nothing but surprise at facing an unexpected situation floated.

“I’m glad...............”

Confirming Ayumi’s safety Ren stretched out on the ground exhausted. The crash caused by the fall thoroughly hurt his body, but because he didn’t budge, the feeling of being able to protect her well satisfied him.

“Ren? Does it hurt?”

Seeing Ayumi looking at him with unease, Ren shook his head laughing.

“I’m fine. But....” he continued including a slight rebuke in his tone:

“Because swinging standing can be dangerous, please stop it.”

“................Yes.”

Although nodding meekly, she immediately smiled pulling Ren’s sleeve.

“Hey, hey, next I want to ride that.”

She pointed at a simply made seesaw. Without being discouraged by the splendid blunder, staring with a bitter smile at the girl itching to play, Ren stood up and led her by the hand.

“Yes, yes. As the young lady commands.”

Joining hands cordially both of them ran up to the seesaw. Forgetting about the passing time they continued playing together. They rode in the seesaw, glided in the slide, played with sand in the sand-pit. Although it was clear Ayumi had burning aspirations of “completing” all the park’s playground equipment, Ren stubbornly didn’t gave permission for the horizontal bar. A beginner with a skirt shouldn’t be allowed to pull herself o the bar.

And now –

“Huh, .............it was fun.”

Sitting down on an ornamental animal with no purpose, Ayumi shows a blissful smile.

“This is the first time I played like this!”

“If you’re fine with me I can keep you company whenever you want.”

As nonchalant as possible but in fact including a once in a lifetime courage, Ren proposed like this. But in the act of it, Ayumi’s face clouded.

“Ah........yeah...........thanks, but.......”

“But?”

It happened when Ren was asking back.

“Eh?”

With a loud skid sound, a black station wagon came to the entrance of the park. The door opened before the car fully stopped and of course, men in black, rushed into the playground.

”W-what is........uaa!?”

Thrusting away a dumbfounded Ren, the black suits rushed to Ayumi.

“.....................”

Ayumi stared at them in silence. It does not mean she wasn’t able to react to the sudden situation. After understanding their true colors and their objective, she calmly received their actions.

“Ayumi-chan!”

In front of the shouting Ren, the black suits’s hands seized Ayumi. Without changing the force of the rush, they dragged and knocked down the girl with no mercy.

“.................kuu”

Because two people roughly applied torsion on her arms, Ayumi let out a small cry of pain. But even so, the black suits didn’t slow down.

“We captured the target. Yes. We’ll transport it immediately.”

A cold voice. Turning around, the man seeming to be the leader of the troupe, reported Ayumi’s capture holding his telephone in one hand. Thoroughly disregarding Ren’s existence, the leader jerked his jaw at the man who sized Ayumi.

“Do it”

The man on his left took out a rectangular something from his breast pocket. Pushing a switch, sparks scattered at its tip. After several people seized a non-resistant girl, will they go as far as using a stun gun, changing into total incompetents?
Even using such a method that surpasses cruelty, in regard for the black suits’ performance, there was no hesitation there. With a movement with no uncertainty, the stun gun was pressed to her back. And then...

While the black suits restrained each of Ayumi’s arms, Ren made his appearance with the speed of a thunderclap. Leaving an after print he pushed up his knee smashing most of the jaw and teeth belonging to the man trying to use the stun gun. Pushing up his right foot, Ren launched his left foot even more. Changing his body’s twist in a turning motion he spun using his right foot as an axis.

The back roundhouse kick’s unmatched accuracy shot the lights out of the man seizing Ayumi’s right hand. His head shaken with enough force to break his backbone, the man swooned silently.

“R...Ren?”

Returning a nod to Ayumi, staring at him in wonder, he stood in a position where he could protect Ayumi.

“Kid......who are you?”

Ignoring the black suits trying to overpower him, he pulled out a mobile phone from his breast pocket. Without hesitation he pressed down the buttons: one zero zero.

“Hello, this is the police. Do you have an emergency?”

From the high volume speaker a business like voice came through. The black suits caught their breath in silence.

“Hello? Hello!? What happened? Are you all right?” sensing an incident in the telephone’s silence the operator spoke with a serious tone.

“Well then...what are doing to do?”

At Ren’s question or maybe provocation, the leader took action. Inserting his hand in his breast pocket he took something out. The object that came out as a result of such spontaneous, breathing-like action was a boorish, black handgun. Aiming the gun point at a dumbfounded Ren, he pulled the gunlock without delay. The gunshot resounded over the silencer. The bullet shot at subsonic speed smashed the telephone.

“..................ku!?” Ren muttered at the impact knocking his right arm with all his strength.

''Does he usually just shoot?''

As one would expect such a direct response was strange. At the cruelty of shooting at children without hesitation, Ren was horrified. The man kept the gun up, pointing it towards Ren’s forehead. The flagrant murder intent made him feel an imaginary pain on his forehead.

“You’re an impressive kid,” the man murmured in admiration.

“Very skillful for your age. Your sharp reaction is also excellent. But we didn’t come here to play. We can’t just report we were repelled by a child so we’re running back home!”

“Ren! Please run away! These men are serious”

“Ah, yeah – it looks that way.”

Responding to Ayumi’s scream-like manner of speaking Ren gave her a small nod.

“Mercilessly shooting at women and children, huh? If that’s the case, going easy on you does not seem necessary.”

“Bullshit!” sneered the man, hearing Ren’s words.

“Stop your hero pretension, if possible. In reality it doesn’t go as smoothly as in the movies.”

“That’s true. Still, in this world there is a '''reality''' that exceeds any movie. ''That'', is what I’ll teach you.”

Responding to Ren’s will the fire spirits raised their voice in joy. The golden flame, blowing up, pushing away the darkness – being able to recognize that radiance eyes alone cannot capture, among the black suits there wasn’t even one.

“R-Ren....?”

Roughly at the same time Ayumi muttered his name, the fire spirits changed their embodiment. Without previous notice, the manifested blaze burned the point end of the man’s gun.

“What.....”

The special steel of the gun’s barrel helplessly melted. The silencer installed at the pointed end fell to the ground with a dull sound.

“Y-you – ”

Receiving the man’s hair-raising glance, Ren informed him in a low voice:

“It would have been better to melt somewhat closer to the center.”

What would have happened if the flame melted the special steel heated the gun powder, there is no longer any need to explain it.

“I’m not particularly well acquainted with weapons but what would have happened to the hand holding that particular spontaneously discharged gun, huh? Only the hand would be blown off? Or.....would the head blow up as well, I wonder?”

“E-Enjutsushi............” among the black suits only one whispered so, with a hollow voice.

“My name is Kannagi Ren. If you know the meaning of that name, quickly withdraw. Otherwise – I won’t show any mercy.”

“K-Kannagi.....”

The black suits’ voices were already close to screams.

Kannagi – among the flame manipulating Enjutsushi they are known as the strongest clan. All professional mercenaries have a common knowledge about that name. As the one existence you unconditionally must not oppose.

It is of course, only natural.

For beings that can turn humans to ash just by thinking of it, one would be hesitant to put them in the same category as humans. Being hostile to them meant a waste of time and a loss of life. Moreover, the power yielded by a direct descendant, someone who calls oneself by Kannagi’s name is in a different dimension – they were told they have by far surpassed the human level. The opponent wasn’t someone you could cross swords with, with only several armed men. The black suits prepared to flee at once.

They obviously stepped back. If the withdrawal sign comes down, they would leave the scene as fast as possible.

But among them, just one – the party’s leader didn’t lose his presence of mind. Casually throwing away the melted gun barrel, he faced Ren with a bold smile.

“By no means did I imagine I will have the honor to meet the young Kannagi prince in such a place. If that’s the case, the etiquette dictates we should also name ourselves” said the man proudly, in one beat.

“We are protégé of the Tsuwabuki. My name is Kayano. I serve as the leader of this force.”

“................Tch!”

Now it was Ren’s turn to be disturbed. The Tsuwabuki household, that is, a family of Chijutsushi, manipulating the spirits of the earth. If Kannagi are the strongest Enjutsushi, Tsuwabuki are the strongest Chijutsushi. Their influence is not inferior to the Kannagi clan.

“It appears to be some sort of misunderstanding but ''that'' thing originally belongs to the Tsuwabuki household. If Kannagi’s eldest son would steal ''it'', the consequence of such a foolish act I cannot imagine.”

“Kuu................”

Because he named himself Kannagi, Ren is no longer able to settle this business privately. Regardless of its authenticity, this would be played as if the Kannagi clan committed hostile acts towards the Tsuwabuki household.

''What am I supposed to do...?''

Although this was just a conversational exchange so far, for Ren the last ten minutes became a mental burden. His original character being gentle and weak to pressure, he is a boy with an unsuitable disposition to argue with others.
However, obediently handing Ayumi over was out of the question. From the black suits’ entrance until now, that option was never considered in his mind.

''“That”.......? “thing” you said? ............don’t screw around!''

Ren was angry. Deeply. Quietly.

Among the Kannagi clan’s natural color, the elitism, the idea of being part of a chosen people, he is one of those few exceptions maintaining a normal, healthy spirit. The arrogant ideology of confusing one’s abilities merits with the merits of the human nature, he doesn’t have it.

The person possessing a stronger ability than humans cannot help but judge oneself more strictly. His father’s, Genma’s teachings, certainly came to fruition inside Ren.

Therefore, as far as he is concerned, a person regarding others as objects, there is no use in arguing about it, he recognizes it as the lowest of trash. It was unthinkable of handing Ayumi over to those kind of people.

''Think...if this would be my big brother, at this time...''

The reason that Ren, who hated conflict, was able to banter easily with the black suits was because he kept in mind, 'What would Kazuma do?' and based his actions off that.

The provocative speech and conduct that taunts people, the precise timing for striking the opponent’s weak spot, it went smoothly so far, but because he took unsuitable actions for his disposition, he’s under a lot of stress. But...

''I’m almost there. I’ll pull it through...''

Ren instinctively sensed this is the critical moment. If he can get through this, the enemy will step aside.

The perfect imitation of Kazuma – wholesale slaughter to avoid future trouble – if he could do that, it is the very best policy to make them withdraw without being hurt. With relaxed shoulders, he faced the black suits with an innocent smile.

“If it’s like that, it can’t be helped.”

“I’m happy you understand,” Kayano replied superficially polite but rude in intent.

Sending a sign to his subordinates, he tried to continue Ayumi’s capture.

“Aaargh!?”

“Fireeeee!”

But the black suits instantly stopped their movements. Because the moment they started walking a golden flame appeared before their eyes.

“..................What is this behavior? I thought we reached an agreement?” Kayano asked, with an expression more polite than necessary. Of course, it was but an attempt to intimidate.

“That’s right, we reached an agreement. That is, there is no room for negotiation.”

“............Do you really understand? Our role as the Tsuwabuki household representatives – ”

“There is no need to repeat it. My hearing is not particularly poor,” Ren coldly interrupted Kayano’s words. In account of making double sure, he called out the flames.

At the dozens of golden will’-o’-the-wisp shining in the dead of the night, the black suits raised voices, trembling with fear.

“Well, now that the self-introductions are out of the way, we should start using force anytime now, right?”

The person standing there was by no means just a twelve year old boy. The golden radiance basking that body in light was the fire of a demon, clearly laughing. Only armed humans had no means of resistance.

“Th-this is not the end.”

“You people have two options,”

Completely disregarding the man’s words Ren announced.

“You will disappear from my face with your own legs or I will annihilate you. You have three seconds. Choose whatever you like.”

“Damn.”

After two seconds of indecision, the leader almost spit out the order:

“Return to the base.”

Of course nobody objected to that.

“........Sigh”

Seeing off the car leaving in a hurry, Ren finally relaxed his body. Turning around he confirmed Ayumi’s situation:

“Ayumi-chan are you all right?”

“Ah, yes.............” Still somewhat dumbfounded, Ayumi nodded vaguely.

“You are part of Kannagi..............”

“Surprised?”

“Yes, very”

Closing her eyes partly, intoxicated, almost entranced she was staring at the flames.

“The golden, purification flame – how beautiful...........”

“............................”

Ayumi’s face gazing at the flames, Ren was silently watching it in fascination. The way in which the golden flames shined in her large, black pupils was beautiful to the extent he involuntarily forgot how to breathe.

The first to calm down was Ayumi. Standing up while brushing the dirt off her clothes, she bowed very deeply to Ren.

“Thank you, you helped me – but was that all right?”

“Well, I hope so.....”

Although his face became somewhat stiff, Ren showed a smile to give her peace of mind.

“If I can’t help a troubled girl, there is no meaning in having this power.”

“..........Thank you.”

Again speaking words of gratitude, Ayumi smiled softly. Just by looking at that smiling face Ren had a feeling that all the troubles so far and all the troubles that would come after this have been compensated for.

“And so.........errr.....”

Apologetically looking up at Ren, who was full of happiness, Ayumi boldly spoke:

“Maybe you will think I am shameless but....can I request of you just one more thing............?”

Apologetic but at the same time including seriousness in her wish the girl looked hard at Ren. To be able to refuse that gaze, it was impossible for him.

“You still haven’t found ''that'', Yuuji?”

Tsuwabuki Mayumi lost her temper at the man kneeling in front of her. The man – Yuuji lowered his head even more, letting the tyrant’s anger go past.

“Until now, that thing has not once put up resistance! What the heck is Kayano doing, unable to catch it?”

“I’m very sorry, my lady. It seems that thing made a Kannagi practitioner ally – ”

“Kannagi? Why are the Kannagi intruding on us?”

“No, it doesn’t seem the family consensus. The practitioner was involved by chance, without knowing its circumstance.”
While Mayumi folded her arms in irritation, she listened carefully to Yuuji’s report.

“Kannagi Ren? Although a child, he’s not the head of the family. He was properly seduced by that thing, huh?”

“That only speaks of my lady’s beauty.”

Yuuji’s words, intended to emulate, helped only to bring Mayumi’s wrath upon him.

“Don’t put me together with that thing!”

“P-Pardon me, it was inexcusable!”

Flattening under the abuse thrown at him, Yuuji deeply prostrated himself before her. The man, in the middle of his twenties deprecated in front of a girl, who was heads shorter. Maybe funny, also unsightly but the man himself was extremely serious.

Mayumi ordered in a rough tone:

“Try putting me in the same class as that thing, one more time! I will never ever exchange words with you again!”

“P-Please, permit me at least that much!”

While rubbing his forehead against the tatami mat, Yuuji begged for forgiveness in an exaggerated tone.

“I will, without fail capture that thing myself! Therefore please, please – ”

“...................”

Mayumi placed her foot oh Yuuji’s head. She mercilessly pressed her body weight against it.

“I wonder if you really understand. If we lose that thing, I will....”

“I won’t allow it!”

While his head was trampled down by Mayumi, Yuuji strongly pledged.

“I – I will protect my lady! I swear I won’t let anything hurt you.”

“..............humph?”

Bestowing upon Yuuji the same smile she would have given to a faithful dog, Mayumi removed her foot from his head.

“However imposing your determination, can you win? Although young, your opponent is a direct descendant of Kannagi – the top ranking Enjutsushi, you know?”

Yuuji quietly raised his face. Those eyes, looking up at his master, carrying an absolute self-confidence, replied to that.

“To those conceited fools thinking Enjutsushi are the strongest, let’s instruct them about reality.”

“Live up to my expectations.”

Lightly bowing her head, Mayumi’s wavy black hair softly flickered.

“ – Fuun”

Approximately at the same time Juugo hung up the receiver, from the other side of the sliding door Ayano's voice got through.

“Father?”

“Enter.”

Without introduction, Juugo asked his daughter upon entering the room:

“Did Ren return home?”

“Not yet,” Ayano immediately replied.

“Even though it’s already past nine o’clock; I wonder what is he doing? Aunt Miyuki is worried. She said his phone is turned off and she can’t call him.”

“.........I see”

“But I can’t understand aunt Miyuki. When Kazuma left home, she didn’t show any sign of being worried.”

“........well, it’s because Ren is still very young.”

Vaguely dodging the question, Juugo returned to the real issue at hand.

“I was contacted by the Tsuwabuki, you know.”

“Tsuwabuki, you say? Those Chijutsushi?”

With a grave nod, he informed her point blank of the shocking truth.

“It seems Ren plundered the Tsuwabuki household’s treasure and escaped.”

“Ha!? What is this!?”

“I don’t know the details but the other party says so.”

“.........................”

After a few seconds of silence, Ayano slowly opened her mouth:

“...................were the Tsuwabuki deceived or are the Tsuwabuki trying to deceive us – that ascertainment is essential.”

“We have too little information. It’s too early for a judgment.”

Although his response was reserved, Juugo didn’t reject Ayano's thoughts. For both of them, who knew Ren’s character very well, the report received from the Tsuwabuki didn’t appear to have any value, only nonsense.

For all that, in a certain way, the truth was just like that.

“So, what about those guys? They told you to take responsibility and that we should search for him too?”

“No, it seems they didn’t want us to get involved. Worst case, if Ren gets killed, we should consent to it, or so I was told.”
Upon hearing those remarks serving their own convenience, Ayano raised her eyebrows.

"What is that? Don’t tell me you accepted this?”

“Don’t be absurd!” Juugo promptly denied.

“Because I didn’t understand the circumstance with that alone, when I pressed them for a more detailed explanation they became evasive and cut the conversation.”

“What the heck is that!?”

Toward the exceedingly rude behavior, Ayano too revealed her anger.

“Generally, they were always a meaninglessly self-important bunch. Because they shoulder the protection of Mt. Fuji, I can’t believe they have the nerve to imagine themselves more excellent than other people.”

Mt. Fuji, by nature is an active volcano that didn’t erupt in the last three hundred years, being suppressed by the Tsuwabuki household. If the steamy mountain would have erupted – the capital and consequently Japan’s political and economic loss would have been extensive.

If you think about it this way, the achievements of the Tsuwabuki family are great.

However, using that as a foundation for looking down on people, the attitude with which they demand respect and admiration, Ayano cannot help but be irritated by it.

The power of the spirit technique users is only lent to them by the spirits. Thus, the spirits are assisting, expecting the practitioners to work in cooperation and the people granted a greater power, it’s only natural they must shoulder bigger responsibilities.

“One by one they became condescending of that fact – they completely fell out of rhythm.”

“Well, the fact that their mission is significant is the truth.”

“Something like that. At least significant enough to sacrifice a member of their own family each and every time,” Ayano declared bitterly from the bottom of her heart.

“In what way can you boast about offering human sacrifices for three hundred years? They had no intention of becoming a pagan group?”

“It’s because there was no other way.”

“Even so...” That prompt objection, Ayano kept it back with a tedious expression. Right now, that’s not what we ought to discuss.

“Anyway, it’s absolutely necessary to find Ren before those Tsuwabuki get to him. Did you get in touch with Kazuma?”

About the object being sought, there aren’t many superior Enjutsushi. To say nothing of the situation, Kazuma will unconditionally find Ren faster than the Tsuwabuki. Ayano had confidence in that fact.

“I can’t get in touch with him,” Juugo’s answer was ruthless.

“He doesn’t answer his phone, he doesn’t seem to be home. I have people searching for them as we speak.”

With a meaningful gaze, Juugo fleetingly looked at Ayano.

“You worked together with Kazuma today. Do you know where he went afterwards?”

'''“No, I, don’t”'''

With a rusty tone, as if steel frames rubbed together, Ayano let out the answer, inserting power in each and every word.

Although faltering underneath that strange intensity, Juugo asked again:

“Ugh.........are you sure?”

“The moment work ended we separated immediately. That is correct, without delay”

“.................is that so?”

The strength of her tone, not permitting any objection, made Juugo give up on the investigation. Putting the Kazuma issue aside, he promotes the conversation.

“If it’s like that, I have to request a search from the Special Data Arrangement.”

“From that woman?”

Seeing Ayano arching her eyebrows in dissatisfaction, Juugo was surprised.

“You don’t like Police Superintendent Tachibana? I thought such an independent woman would have gained your good will.”

“...........Well......I think she is splendid in that respect,” Ayano said with a bitter voice.

Tachibana Kirika. Leading the only public domestic demon repelling organization – the Special Data Arrangement belonging to the Metropolitan Police Department, a woman recognized by everyone as very capable.

Without flattery, Ayano thought it was a big deal. But, their first meeting was the worst.

Of all things, that woman, intimately linking her arm with Kazuma’s appeared from a love hotel (actually from the love hotel district).

From that moment, for Ayano, Kirika became the foe that cannot be allowed to live under the same canopy of heaven. She doesn’t really understand why, but anyway she dislikes that woman. Kirika’s figure, over-familiarly, coquettishly leaning against Kazuma and each time she thinks of Kazuma's stretched upper lip, she is furiously angry.

Why that is she doesn’t know but she can’t help but feel irritated.

“Nevertheless, just because you dislike her, don’t cut the connection with the Reference Room.”

“I know that.”

In reply to Juugo's pointing out, Ayano puffed her cheeks.

After the collapse of the Fuuga-Shu the Kannagi clan’s information network remained pretty much destroyed. Therefore Juugo had his eye on replacing the Fuuga-Shu with Metropolitan Police Department’s Special Data Arrangement.

The S.D.A had almost no practitioners with combat abilities but in exchange has a substantial sightseer system. Moreover, if you include the investigation ability of the normal police, their intelligence gathering faculty is without mistake the largest in Japan.

“I don’t mix personal feelings with work. Have you already made the request?”

“Uh. Make your preparations. You leave the moment you receive the information.”

“Understood.”

“Ah, and then – ”

To Ayano, leaving the room, Juugo added a secondary task.

“If it’s possible, get in touch with Kazuma.”

“........................Don’t ask for the impossible, Father.”

Turning her head around Ayano showed her father an amazed expression.

“If it’s impossible for father, it’s also for me. Did you forget? His phone number I got from you, Father, not him.”

“That may be true, but...how many times have you worked together with Kazuma? Haven’t you decided on some manner of contact during emergencies?”

“No.”

Hearing that plain declaration, Juugo was visibly disappointed.

“................Is that so?”

Pretending not to see her father’s drooped shoulders, Ayano left the room. Closing the sliding door from behind, she said in a sulky voice:

“.............I don’t get him, that guy.”

The vanishing whisper reached nobody’s ears.

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter6

2012-08-26T10:04:53Z

152.160.38.240:

Hi, this is translator speaking. An edit button exist at the top right side of the page, so correct any errors you see, thanks. Next, I hope you're not treating Baka-Tsuki like some free-novel website, that would be just terrible. If you really love reading light novels, the best plan is to learn Japanese.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Read [[Baka-Tsuki:About|this]] too.

I've been wanting to inform you that some character speech style is lost in the process of translation. —[[User:KuroiHikari|KuroiHikari]] ([[User_talk:KuroiHikari|Talk]] | ) 04:37, 24 August 2012 (CDT)

This went through some rush, hopefully not too much errors =/ —[[User:KuroiHikari|KuroiHikari]] ([[User_talk:KuroiHikari|Talk]] | ) 03:52, 26 August 2012 (CDT)

{{Incomplete|percentage=33|pages=17/27}}
==Chapter 6: Security of Academy Town==

===Part 1===

Members of The Knights formed units of two-men-cells or three-men-cells depending on their abilities.

For the time being, Kamito, the newcomer, had formed a unit with Ellis, the Captain.

Although, rather than Kamito being a newcomer, this was because not a single girl wanted to form a unit with Kamito.

The Knights' work covered a lot of areas, more than Kamito had anticipated.

There was the mediation of duels of academy students, the exposing of traders smuggling sealed spirits, the safeguarding of astray spirits, the negotiations between student organizations, the rescuing of stranded people— The most frequent quest was the subjugation of beasts and rampaging spirits that passed naturally occurring «Gates» in the spirit forest and came intruding from Astral Zero. Receiving a report that a large beast seemed to be rampaging outside the town this time as well, the two of them moved quickly to the scene.

Mowing down the trees of the forest, a large beast, wearing a gigantic shell, roared.

It was a beast like a spider cross-bred with a gigantic tortoise.

"What a pretty large prey, how big was the «Gate» that opened?"

"According to the Spirit Investigation Association's announcement, the size of the «Gates» appearing in the spirit forest seem to be getting bigger yearly. The reasons seem to be unknown."

Ellis nodded with a serious expression, and armed her elemental waffe «Ray Hawk».


It was his first time fighting side by side with Ellis like this but he knew her real ability.

Claire was more skilled in terms of her sense in flexible tactics, but in contrast with her, who would be moody and erratic, Ellis could fight in a steady way. With just the basics and without playing with shortcuts or tricks, she would force one to yield directly from the front. It was indeed an Ellis-like battle style.

"Now, Kamito!"

Matching up with Ellis attacking from the sky, Kamito plunged close towards the beast.

The shell creature's vital point was its soft abdomen. That's the same even for a beast.

Kamito kicked the ground with the elemental waffe sword in his hand.

At that moment, the beast's abdomen split vertically.

Appearing from its stomach was the head of a giant snake. Widely opening its mouth with sharp fangs, it swooped down at Kamito. The snake wriggling on the ground rolled up a large amount of sand and dirt.

"...What an absurd living thing, this beast is."

As Kamito dodged the beast's violent attack, he clicked his tongue.

Clad in the divine protection of her wind spirit and flying up in midair, Ellis released the blades of wind.

However, like some magic effect was running— the blades were repelled by its hard shell.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Don*. Ellis landed next to Kamito.

"What a nuisance, that shell seems to be strengthened by spirit magic of the resistance attribute."

"Spirit magic? Who on earth—"


"There is the possibility that this beast didn't come from a naturally occurring «Gate» and was summoned by somebody. In addition to the chaotic Valentia Holy Festival, they caused a disturbance outside of Academy Town and were probably trying to distract the Knights' attention."

Hearing this, Kamito got it.

"It's the Spell Armament Seal smugglers who had infiltrated into Academy Town, right?"

"There's the possibility."

Ellis nodded with a stern expression.

The beast mowed down the trees of the forest and roared like it went mad.

With Ray Hawk in her hand, Ellis took a stance for an attack.

"Kamito, we'll do a coordinated attack. Let's bring it down in the next attack."

"Ah, I got it."

The striking-like attack of the beast came.

Ellis recited the flying spirit magic at high speed, grabbed Kamito's arm and flew up.

Upon flying up right above the beast, she quickly released her hand holding Kamito.

"Let's go Est!"

Responding to Kamito's shout, the elemental waffe —Terminus Est— dazzlingly shone.

It was a nose dive attack from the sky. A technique that was Ellis' specialty.

Along with the force of falling, the silver sword pierced into the shell.


<nowiki>*</nowiki>Crack*— A dry sound was heard, and a crack had opened, traversing across the beast's hard shell.

Immediately after.

"Haaaaa!"

Ellis, who continued on and nosed dived, aimed at the crack that had appeared on its shell and thrust in her Ray Hawk!

"—Go and rampage, evil winds!"

At the moment she shouted the words of releasing.

The large frame of the beast greatly sprung up in a jolt, and it let out a roar of agony upon its imminent death and became silent.

The violent winds raging inside its body had sliced and ripped its internal organs into pieces.

"For our first time, it was a coordination of precise timing."

Kamito pulled out Est pierced in the shell as he said that.

"Ahh, I may have a good compatibility with you... th-this is only as far as battles are concerned!"

Ellis swiftly turned red and turned away abruptly.

===Part 2===

Even after the extermination of the beast at the spirit forest, the two of them were led around by incidents unexpectedly happening one by one.

Since there were many students out in town, due to the academy lectures being cancelled, trouble wouldn't seem to cease more than usual.

The part, where the number of Knights members decreased due to the headhunting this morning, also spurred on the business.


Time flew by while they were settling the unexpected incidents, and soon it was afternoon.

The Valentia Holy Festival began from the afternoon onwards.

As the mayor's speech seemed to be on the plaza's side, the townspeople's feet had been naturally going towards that direction.

"How dreadful, the Knights' work is."

As Kamito surveyed the state of the street springing with excitement in the preparation of the festival, he muttered.

"Still, it was special this morning. Besides, the part where the upperclassmen knights were headhunted, hurt. I've caused trouble for you right from your first day, I'm sorry."

Ellis dropped her shoulders, feeling dejected, and sighed.

She seemed to be depressed because of this morning's incident.

"Ellis, it's not that that was your fault, you know?"

"No, the fact that I couldn't restrain them is my responsibility."

Ellis slowly shook her head.

"Those four upperclassmen were Knights members from the time when Aneue was the captain. Most of the upperclassmen had resigned the moment I was selected to be the captain. Only they had remained so far, but— they ran out of patience with me, who lacks the ability as the captain."

"Ellis..."

"That reminds me, it was just a few weeks ago when you came here."

Ellis gave a talk about the Sylphid Knights from a year ago to Kamito.


The Sylphid Knights, when Velsaria was the captain, operated with iron rules and seemed to be an even-stronger organization as compared to now. They had the perfect efficient doctrine. The people, who violated even the group's rules, were punished right on the spot, and the academy students, who caused problems, were mercilessly beaten up with the armed power of the Knights.

Naturally, the academy rules seemed to have been kept well.

However, Velsaria's severe methods invited opposition from the academy students, who were highly-prideful noble girls, and before long, she had to step down from her position as captain.

Although she was the eldest daughter of the prestigious Fahrengart Duke Family, it might, after all, be the fact that she was no more than an adopted child of a lower class noble, or probably the cause of stirring animosity with the nobles, who honored their pedigree.

The one, who was elected to be that girl's successor, was Ellis of the same Fahrengart Family.

"In the past, Aneue was a splendid knight, whom I admired."

Ellis strongly bit her lips.

"She was a strict cold person, but she wasn't a person who would crush everything with power that way. Her current self is no longer the knight I aim to be."

Kamito remembered about the spirit ore he saw in Ellis' room yesterday.

The Velsaria in Ellis' memory had a completely different atmosphere as hers from this morning.

He felt it when he confronted her, that intimidating air that's even ominous.

''What on earth changed her like that?—''

Then, at that moment.


<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gyururu*.

There was the rumbling sound of a stomach..

"Ellis?"

"I-It isn't me!?"

Ellis turned bright red and denied.

Kamito made a wry smile.

"It's because we've been working since morning. The truth is that I'm also starving. Since, it's almost time to change shifts, shall we have lunch or something?"

"Gu... E-Even though I'm saying that's not it."

Ignoring Ellis, who puffed out her cheeks, Kamito looked around his surroundings.

As there was the Valentia Holy Festival, there were many confection stores, but there were also plenty of street stalls selling other food. There was fried bread covered with sugar, a certain cuisine —wrapped in pie dough with vegetables and minced meat and baked— and grilled meat on skewers. ...Even if Ellis' hadn't, his stomach would have probably rumbled.

"Are you going to buy something at the stall? Or, are you going into a restaurant somewhere?"

"Mm, no, err..."

Thereupon, Ellis suddenly began to fidget for some reason.

"T-The truth is... I've made something though."

"Uh?"


Then, out of nowhere, a demon wind spirit in the form of an eagle came flying over.

It was Ellis' {{Furigana|demon wind spirit|Simorgh|margin=12}}. It was holding onto a large basket in its claws.

"As expected."

Kamito was impressed.

To even make bento herself, she was truly a proper ojou-sama.

"Well then, I'm going to buy something at the stall."

"W-Wa-Wa-Wait!."

Ellis caught hold of Kamito's neck as he was about to walk off.

"Wh-What?"

"Th-There's also your share..."

"Eh?"

"S-So, I'm saying that I also made your share!"

"My share?"

"Y-Yeah, because whether I make one or two, the time taken doesn't change that much. D-Don't misunderstand, I only made it because it would be wasteful to have ingredients left over!"

"I thank you for that. Ellis' bento is something I could look forward to."

"Mu<ref>A sound made when someone is slightly annoyed.</ref>, if you look forward to it that much, I'll feel troubled."

"Ahem", Ellis' cheeks reddened as she coughed.


"Well then, shall we find some place we can settle down somewhere—"

Ellis looked around the vicinity, and—

"Ah, Captain, there you are, shall we have lunch together?"

"Wh—!?"

While waving their hands on the opposite side of the road, a group of three girls came running over with the sound of their light footsteps.

All of them were Sylphid Knight members, who put on lightweight armor on top of their uniforms.

"Y-You girls, what about your patrol of the town?!"

"It's currently the time for Ryuska-unit to be responsible for the patrol. After that, I had thought of having lunch with everyone. Captain, how about having it together with us?"

"Err, I have a prior commitment with Kamito—"

"Ah, how sly. Captain, you're planning to take hold of Kamito all by yourself!"

"Abuse of authority—"

"Captain, you perv!"

The three girls criticized Ellis simultaneously.

"I'm not taking hold of Kamito all by myself or something!"

Ellis turned bright red and flared up.

"Isn't that fine? You know, I couldn't do a self-introduction properly this morning, after all."

"Th-That was so, but, however..."


Ellis sighed, and—

"...I understand. Well then, let's have lunch with everyone."

"Mu", she glared at Kamito with a reproachful-like look and nodded.

===Part 3===

Just like that, they ended up having lunch at a nearby park.

It was a lushly-green natural park near the plaza.

Only here was quiet within the busy town because of the Valentia Holy Festival preparations.

The Knights girls sat on top of the lawn, and opened their lunch boxes.

The three of theirs were sandwiches, but only Ellis' was different.

"Oh? That's amazingly extravagant."

"...I-Is that so? B-But it's nothing special, it's the same as usual."

Kamito raised his voice in admiration, and Ellis looked downwards as she was a little embarrassed.

There were potato-salad sandwiches, sausages, fried eggs, fruits that were cut into perfectly shaped sizes and more placed inside the slightly large lunch box.

"Lies, you usually only have peanut butter sandwiches, and yet."

"The apples are also cut nicely into the shape of Mr. Rabbits!"


"The sausages are also made into Mr. Octopuses!"

Being glared at motionlessly with scornful eyes by the three girls, Ellis ended up being overwhelmed.

"Y-You girls too—"

Dodging the question, she faced the three and thrust her index finger out sternly.

"Despite being afraid of Kamito this morning, what on earth is with this turn of events?"

"..."

As a matter of fact, that was also bothering Kamito.

The reputation Kamito had from being a male spirit contractor in an academy of boxed-in ojou-sama was extremely bad. There were things like pervert, licentious beast, demon king of the night... Cruel misunderstandings were being made.

Furthermore, although there were circumstances, he had even seen the girls changing clothes this morning.

His first impression was supposed to be the worst.

The three of them mutually looked at each other's faces, and made a bewildered-like face.

"U-Um... Honestly, I'm still a little afraid."

"When I saw Captain talking normally to him, I thought he isn't such a bad person or something."

"Besides, he opposed that Velsaria head-on, how amazing."

The three of them placed both hands on their cheeks, and their faces slightly reddened for some reason.

Ellis slightly and sullenly pulled her lips back and pouted at such an appearance of the three of them.

"It's nothing, I just didn't like her."


Kamito agilely picked up the sandwiches made by Ellis.

It was a ham-and-egg sandwich. The pepper was working, and it was a simple yet very pleasant seasoning.

"Delicious. To be able to deliciously make such a simple thing is proof of your excellent skills."

"R-Really? ...That's great."

Ellis took a breath of relief.

"D-Don't hold back, eat up!"

"Ah, well then, I shan't hold back—"

Kamito was about to toss the sandwich into his mouth, and at that moment.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nom*.

The sandwich in his hand suddenly disappeared.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nom nom*.

"...Est, what are you doing?"

Est had returned to her human form from the sword and was beside him.

"Kamito, I'm also hungry. Feed me please."

"...It can't be helped, come on."

Kamito made a wry smile as he reached out to the sandwich.

He tore it into small pieces so that it'd be easy to easy, and threw it into Est's mouth.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nom nom*.


Chewing the bread expressionlessly, Est was almost like a small animal.

"Uh, Kamito, Th-That's the sandwiches I made for you, you know."

Ellis puffed her cheeks out with a "hmph".

"Ah, Est-chan is cute～"

"I also want to feed her!"

"Eat my sandwich, eat my sandwich too!"

The three Knights girls presented Est with food one after another.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nom*. *Nom nom*.

"As I thought she's a great one revered by humans."

"...No, she's completely being fed like an animal, you know?"

"Fua..."

Soon, Est made a lovely yawn, and threw herself onto Kamito's lap.

When he thought that she would instantly be making sweet sleeping-breaths—

Her body turned into particles of light, vanished into an empty space and returned back into her original sword form.

"Ah, she turned back into a sword..."

One of the girls muttered, seemingly disappointed.

"She ate all she could eat and went to sleep."

As Kamito placed Est back into the sword belt on his waist, he shrugged his shoulders in exasperation.


[[Image:STnBD V03 143.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
Est, who was detached from her Astral Zero body, was different from other contracted spirits, normally she would be spending almost the whole day in a sleeping state. Once she fell into this state, she pretty much wouldn't wake up.

After that, he ate the sandwiches as the time passed quietly.

The topics that came to be were about the endless lectures and the books they read recently.

The Knights girls seemed tense about talking to Kamito but, a short while later, they had gradually opened their hearts. ...However, Ellis was making a face like she was not amused for some reason.

''Nevertheless—''

There was something Kamito suddenly noticed while the girls were talking.

"Even though you're in the Knights, all of you are normal girls?"

"Fue~?"

The three of them had their faces slightly reddened at the same time.

"Erm... N-Normal girls? Wh-What...do...you...mean?"

"Err, I certainly thought that you all would be like Ellis."

"Kamito, what do you mean by that?"

Ellis was sullenly glaring at him.

"Err, more strict, or rather, prim and proper or something—"

"It was like that before. People like us would be discharged after all."

One of the three girls muttered.



"Yeah, it was the time when Velsaria was captain, right?"

"She suppressed everything with power, honestly, the atmosphere in the academy wasn't good."

The other two also nodded their heads together. As they were members that joined after Ellis was inaugurated as captain, they seemed to be dissatisfied with former captain Velsaria's way of doing things.

"Was there no one, who would oppose Velsaria?"

The ones attending the academy were mostly highly-prideful daughters of nobles.

If they were suppressed by power like that, there should also be many people opposing her.

"—Of course, there were. Several people too."

Ellis cut into the conversation.

"However, even the most superior class upperclassman wasn't a threat to Aneue. In the end, the reason that Aneue stepped down from the duty of captain was because of the pressure from influential nobles."

"The ones, who rebelled against Velsaria to the very end were roughly those from the Raven Class. Especially hellcat Claire Rouge, even the Knights at that time seemed to have gotten their hands burnt."

"Well, but Claire Rouge is still a problem child now."

"...I see."

The confrontation between Claire and the Knights seemed to be something from the time before Ellis inaugurated as captain.

Suddenly, Claire's face from yesterday came into Kamito's mind.

''...Is she still angry?''


Listening to the current conversation, Kamito also reconsidered that his explanation wasn't sufficient.

Since there was such a discord, it was also natural that she got angry after hearing that Kamito joined the Knights.

The truth was that he thought of looking into her room in the morning, but he was so extremely busy with the Knights work that he couldn't meet her.

—Just at that moment.

"Hn?"

Something passed by near his field of vision.

Kamito blinked and squinted.

It was the main street of town that could be seen from the park.

A small red tail was in sight among the teeming hustle and bustle.

''...Is that Scarlet?''

Scarlet was skillfully slipping through the congestion, as it seemed to be making its way somewhere.

Claire wasn't seen beside it.

''What is it doing?''

Then, like it noticed Kamito's gaze—

Scarlet instantly stopped and turned around towards him.

After that, it immediately disappeared into the congestion.

''...Is it telling me to follow it?''


"What's the matter, Kamito?"

"Sorry, I remembered that I've got a slight errand to do. I'll come back quickly."

Chasing after Scarlet's tail, which disappeared among the hustle and bustle, Kamito ran off.

<noinclude>
==References and Translation Notes==
<references />

{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter5|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter7}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter1

2012-08-11T12:24:04Z

152.160.38.240:

==Chapter 1: You Are My Contracted Spirit==

=== Part 1 ===

In a quiet forest where the sun rays were shining through leaves.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Paa—*

Suddenly, the rippling sound of water resounded in the air.

Kamito, he— opened his mouth wide and just stood there.

A girl...In front of his eyes was a fully naked girl.

She was cute, extraordinarily cute. Her eyes were big and red like rubies, her cherry-red lips were wet and lustrous, her dazzling white flesh was as silky as milk, and on the surface of the water, her beautiful legs were slender and fine. Also, what caught his eyes more than anything was—

The hair that clings on her gorgeous fine glass work like body, crimson red like burning fire.

Of course, she was naked. Stark naked.

"......"

Kamito felt cold sweat on his back.

Not good.

It's really not good that she has been seen naked.

......I should really run away quickly. Even though he gave that rational advice to himself, his body wouldn't move. Actually, he was ''charmed''. The scene was so surreal that Kamito felt a bit detached from reality.

And at that time, the girl—

[[Image:STnBD V01 013.jpg|thumb]]

Her moist and beautiful eyes blinked, having found the unexpected intruder.
Staring blankly, she seemed yet to have fully grasped the situation.
She didn't even try to cover her still developing small breasts.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Tick.*

The water drops fell from the young girl's bangs. Kamito's consciousness came back at the sound of the water.

"Ah-that......"

Kamito coughed once, and removed his glance from the naked girl who was standing motionlessly.

"How can I say it......it looks like an accident, right? It is an unfortunate accident for both of us..."

At that time, Kamito made two fatal errors. The first, of course, was that he started to make futile explanations. The best choice was to take advantage of the fact that the girl was dazed, and run away from the trouble immediately.

And the other error was—

"Even though it was an accident, I have seen you in such a situation. Sorry, my apologies."

Until here it was still fine, but the last part......

"Though, don't worry. I'm still a healthy boy, so I don't have ''that kind of interest''. I......"

Looking at the young girl's ''still developing small chest''—

"I have no interest towards a kid's body."

Looks like he stepped on a gigantic landmine.

"......"

A frozen silence fell.

Silently, the girl raised her arm with red hair coiled around. Her shoulders were slightly shaking. However the reason wasn't because of the cold, but Kamito was oblivious to that fact.

"Sixteen—"

"Eh?"

The girl's delicate lips were mumbling something, and Kamito lifted his eyebrows.

"I-I-I AM ALREADY SIXTEEN-YEARS OLD!!!"

At the instant when she screamed that out, the young girl's red hair stood on end.

"Huuh!?"

As Kamito opened his eyes wide in surprise—

"Sixteen!? For real? How can you have such a pitiful chest—"

He quickly covered his mouth. But it was already too late.

"......Unforgivable."

The young girl said that in a low, cold voice.

"D-Definitely unforgivable......you-you-you-you peeping demon, pervert, lewd beast!"

"You know it well, words like lewd beast."

Kamito said that in a low voice with narrowed eyes.

"Hn?"

......At that time, he noted that the forest's trees were making a low whisper-like rustle.

''Is that the wind? No, that's—''

<center>''"—Guardian of Crimson Blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!"''</center>

<center>''"—Now is the time to abide the contract of blood, hasten to my side as commanded!"''</center>

From the young girl's cute lips came a smooth incantation in spirit language. At that instant, accompanied by the sound of an air blast, a '''whip of flames''' appeared in the hand of the girl.

''.....a spirit contractor!''

Kamito shouted in his head.

Spirit contractor— another dimensional layer of this world, the «Astral Zero».

Princess maidens that have signed a contract with a fierce spirit from that place are called «spirit contractors».

Spirit contractors can use different types of spirits, wielding their powers as their wish.

It seemed that the girl in front of him had a contract with a flame type spirit.

The young girl was a spirit contractor. It isn't something to be surprised about.

After all, this is the place where the country's excellent spirit contractors are gathered together.

''.....However, surprisingly she is even capable of using elemental waffe.''

The natures of the spirits summoned into this world from the Astral Zero can roughly be divided into two types.

The first type was a base form that appeared as a lump of divine power, which was massless and had an indeterminate form. This was purely the summoning of a spirit's power, and was used as a battery for the time spirit magic was used.


There was another type, the pure state of summoning a part of the spirit's existence as it was. Because of the tremendous amount of power required and the difficulty to control it, it was said that only a tiny portion of the spirit contractors could do it to this extent.

Even so, the girl before his eyes was not just using a spirit, but could use it to the extent of using the spirit as a highly optimized elemental buff.

''.... it means that, eh? – Am I now in a life or death situation?''

As the thought suddenly hit him, Kamito was stunned.

At the place where the flame whip touched the water's surface, a gush of white steam was rising from it.

"You, you have the guts..... "

The girl murmured in a trembling voice. Her face was red. Was it due to her anger, or her embarrassment?

"Rea-Really, you have some nerve, to p-peek , while I, Claire Rouge, am taking my bath....."

"W-Wait, that's a misunderstanding! Let me explain it first!"

Kamito shook his head in panic.

"I will not listen to your excuses. Please turn into cinders, you pervert!"

The flame whip ignited furiously in the wielder's hand and was moving as if it was licking the water surface.

"Oooooh..!?"

Kamito threw his body and quickly jumped into the dense bushes nearby.


Nearly at the same time, the Flame Tongue brushed its way over his head.

The idle red residue remained on the trees, which were cut off like a complete joke. The cut surface of the tree trunks' remains were surprisingly clean, without any trace of burn. The attack was so quick that the flames didn't even have the time to ignite the trees.

The hair on Kamito's forehead was fluttering down on his mouth while cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

''.....Um, that's a joke, right? I'm not going to die like that, am I?''

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Zing*, *biyutsu* – there was like an endless dance of crimson flash cutting horizontally and vertically in the forest. The bush was mowed down in a blink of an eye and losing his place of hiding, Kamito hurriedly dashed out.

"Don't dodge, pervert, I can't hit you!"

"That's nonsense, and I'm not a pervert!"

Kamito screamed out and at the same time, the whip swung downwards on his feet, causing a violent spark to scatter. Rising from the ground, the whip immediately sprang up in the direction of the forest woods, which got ruthlessly severed.

But fortunately among all the unluckiness, the girl - Claire's aim wasn't quite accurate. After all, one hand was hiding her pitiful chest from being revealed, and in order to conceal her most important part, she squatted down in the pond. However, considering how she handled her whip in such a position, she should be normally talented at using it.

"How conceited despite being a pervert, please obediently turn into cinders!"


"I'm saying that I'm not a pervert! By the way"

Kamito stopped and turned around.

'''He pointed out something that he had noticed for some time'''.

"You, cover yourself properly. The gaps between your fingers aren't able to hide them delicately."

"......eh?"

Instantly, Claire's facial expression froze. And-

"Kyaaaaaaaaaah!"

Blushing deeply and screaming strangely in a cute voice - she quickly hid her chest with both of her hands.

"Ah, idiot!"

Kamito involuntarily exclaimed.

Claire let go and lost control of the flame whip, and it cleanly severed the trees behind her.

Slowly, the huge trees came falling down right at her.

However, Claire didn't notice it. Her eyes were closed in embarrassment as she kept embracing her naked chest.

''Damn—''

At this instant, Kamito kicked the ground.


Running with his whole strength towards the pond, he then jumped while grabbing Claire's shoulders.

"Wha-!?"

Claire's red pupils dilated widely. Kamito ignored it and aggressively pressed her down in the water. The moment Claire's hand touched the water, a gush of steam rose, and the flame whip disappeared. Immediately after, the trees nearby fell down, and giant tree trunks collapsed down on them.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Duuuun!*

The deafening sound almost broke the ears, and magnificent large water columns rose.

Absorbing the heat of the burning flame, the warm pond water poured down like heavy rain.

.....A few seconds later.

"Um......"

Making a seductive voice, Claire slowly opened her eyes.

She had an expression of shock, and her eyes blinked in wonder.

Kamito was lying on top of Claire, and briefly he found himself staring into her eyes.

Their faces were so close that if someone was to push his back lightly, their lips would likely touch.

The crimson red hair clung closely to her nape. Her moist lips were cherry red.

Her delicate glass doll like perfect face was in front of Kamito's eyes.

For a short moment it looked like he had involuntarily fallen for her. Kamito quickly shook his head.

"......Um, are you alright? Are you hurt.."

Claire nodded. Somehow, it seemed she had not fully absorbed the situation yet.

Kamito sighed, then tried to stand up.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Funyuu.*

His hand under the water had touched something soft.

"Hwaaah!"

''What is that? Mud?—''

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Funyu*. *Munyu*<ref>These are sounds of touching and squeezing</ref>.

"Hm, ya, hwaaa"

From her moist lips came a shallow sweet voice. Claire's submerged naked body twitched for some reason.

"Um ..this is?"

Having come this far, Kamito finally arrived at a certain conclusion. A certain......awfully frightening conclusion.

''No, wait, calm down. This can't be it... right?''

It can't be. There was no such thing. While releasing a flow of cold sweat, he desperately tried to deny such a possibility.


''When I looked at it earlier, it wasn't so...''

"Wh..Wha.. Wha..Whattt .... are..you...do..ing"

Claire's lip trembled, shaking involuntarily. She was blushing with tears in her eyes.

Apparently, it probably wasn't.....a lump of mud that he touched.

"You, PERVERT——!"

"Gwah!"

Because he got hit hard by a knee in the stomach, Kamito collapsed into the pond's water.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gugugugugu....!*

With rising wobbling heat haze behind her, Claire slowly stood up. Before one knows, the flame whip materialized by the flame spirit was again grasped in her hand. The water in the pond instantaneously started to boil, and bubbles began to show here and there.

"No..No, it's a misunderstanding! Wait, I'm really gonna die....."

"Sh..Shut up pervert, you will die here!"

Together with an almost ear breaking deafening sound, Kamito's body whirled highly into the air.

=== Part 2 ===

".....Um"

A few minutes later. Kamito starts to recover his consciousness, before his eyes, trees within the forest unfold.

He tried to rise—

Suddenly, he noticed something which was coiled around his neck.

It was a leather black whip for torturing. ''What is this thing...'', Kamito tried to remove it,

"Finally woke up, You Peeping Tom Pervert"

The thing on his neck tightened.

"Gweh!? Release me...."

Kamito coughed then looked upward-

Scarlet haired young girl – Claire, stood with her hands at her waist. Keeping her slim eyebrow arc raised, she gazed sharply down at Kamito.

This time she was not naked. The girl has changed into an adorable uniform. It has the pattern of black line within the pure white, Areishia Spirit Academy's uniform.

A ribbon tie decorated the front of her chest. Instead of a button, a talisman was sewn on it. Between the gap of knee sock stockings and a pleated skirt, her slender beautiful legs stuck out brilliantly. The tiny ribbons tied her blazing crimson hair on both sides. This was the so called twin tail hair style. Judging from her still wet hair, it seems that he hadn't lost consciousness for that long.

Keeping the neck of Kamito bound tightly, Claire puffed up her small chest.

"Well, be grateful. I went easy and didn't try to kill you"

"That has to be a lie. You definitely intended to kill me. "

"What are you talking about? If I was serious, you would've been cinders by now. "

..... She just said something terribly frightening in a calm manner.

By the way, cinders are the soft ash residue left from incinerated firewood.

"I beg your forgiveness to spare me from becoming cinders. After all, I helped you."

"Yeah, I'm a fair noble, I'll give you credit for that. You are of a higher grade than an average pervert, so you are a high grade pervert."

"In the end the pervert designation doesn't change. By the way, isn't a high grade pervert even worse than an average pervert?"

"Wh.. What.....pretending to help, you ...you touched, my breast!"

Recalling what happened earlier, Claire's shy face suddenly turned red.

''Hmm?''

Seeing such a reaction from her, Kamito had an idea.

.....This girl, could it be that she is that kind of person?

"So it seems, that my lady is a pervert that has a hobby of whipping men."

Kamito teased her nonchalantly -

"What!? Wr-Wro-Wrong, I'm not!"

The response was immediate as expected. Claire shook her head, and her cheeks instantly became bright red all the way to her ears.

"Then do you enjoy being whipped?"

".....m! Wha... What.. are...you..sayi..ng?"

Claire's eyes twirled, as a steam puff rose out from her head. She is surprisingly flustered.

''Oh, as I expected....''

Kamito smiled bitterly in his heart.

''This girl, is really really innocent.''

Probably, it wasn't only this girl that was special..

After all, this Areishia Spirit academy is a school building, where spirit contractor princess maidens were gathered.

Only pure maidens are capable of exchanging feelings with the spirits from Astral Zero. Among them, those who retain enough divine power so that they can command a contracted spirit, are noble girls from the family of kings or lords of ancient and honorable lineage, whose spirit contractor blood was strengthened through marriage of many generations.

To maintain the purity of their body and heart, these girls are raised in an environment that's completely separated from the males since childhood: the so called elite education for spirit contractors. Therefore, all the girls attending the academy are super boxed-in princesses who are unaccustomed to men.

Finding the unexpected weak point of the girl, Kamito had a slight desire to play a prank on her.

Keeping a kneeling position, Kamito looked up at the embarrassed bright red face of Claire.

"Wh- Then, there is something I have meant to say since earlier."

"Wh...What, you pervert!"

"I can see your panties from this angle."

"Fuwah!"

Tears began to float in her crimson eyes, Claire hastily pressed down the fringe of her skirt with both hands.

"You... You saw it?"

"Only a glance, you are unexpectedly quite daring. It has the same color as your hair."

"You... You lie! It is not red! It's white, white!" 

"So, it's white."

"......huh!?"

Realizing that she was tricked, Claire bit her lips-


"U-Uuuuuuuuuh~"

..... Somehow she started to cry.

At this sudden unexpected reaction, Kamito panicked. "No, you're the pervert, a dirty ojou-sama, who reveals the color of her own panties", he had planned to tease her more with such words..... but, as expected, he was starting to feel pitiful.

Taking the chance while Claire was still in disarray, Kamito removed the whip coiled around his neck.

"My bad, I went a bit too far with my prank. Sorry."

Kamito stood up and placed his hand on Claire's head. Claire stopped crying, and looked puzzled.

"It's my fault that I have seen your naked body while bathing, and I have .... have touched your breast as well. But those actions were not intentional. Please believe me."

"Wha-What....."

Seeing the truthfulness in Kamito's eye, Claire could not help but to avert her eyes.

"....What-What is this? If you are not a pervert, then '''why are you here?'''"

A question of matter of course. This forest was under the jurisdiction of Areishia Spirit Academy, known as the «Spirit Forest». There is no reason for the presence of a man in the academy where pure princess maidens are gathered.

Even if he was not a pervert, there was little doubt that he was someone suspicious. 

"I was, summoned here by Greyworth."

"Greyworth..... the Academy Director!?"

Claire suspiciously questioned. Indeed, it is only natural to doubt.

"I'm not lying. Look, here's the evidence."

Kamito shrugged his shoulders, and took out a letter from his burned coat's inside pocket. The letter was signed by the renowned academy director. Also, it was stamped with the emblem seal that symbolizes the five great Elemental Lords.

"Is....that, the first rank emblem seal of the empire!?"

Claire let out a voice of dismay from her lips. The first rank emblem seal is produced by sealing spirits with a special technique. It is rated as the highest among the emblem seals issued by the empire, and is said to be completely impossible to counterfeit. Of course, it is something that is rarely seen, but as a spirit contractor, Claire could certainly tell its authenticity. 

".....It seems to be the real thing. But, why would the academy director call a man here?"

"Well, for that you have to ask Greyworth, that old hag. It was troublesome for me, too."

"That... that old hag!?"

Instantly, Claire's face stiffened.

The Dusk Witch, Greyworth is greatly respected by the princess maidens who aim to become spirit knights. It was said that her popularity in the Ordesia Empire is neck and neck with the Strongest Sword Dancer Ren Ashbell. Even after a decade since she retired from the squad of the Twelve Knight Generals, the most elite force of the Spirit Knights known as the «Numbers», her legendary name as a witch is still being feared and revered to the highest degree. 

''Well, for me, she is nothing but a nightmare....''

Tucking away the letter in his pocket, Kamito shrugged his shoulders.

"Greyworth is an old acquaintance of mine. I came all the way here, but the academy ground is very large, so I have lost my way."

Areishia Spirit Academy ground is incredibly vast. After all, beside the academic town at the foot of the hill, it also includes the entire spirit forest that spreads around it.

"Could it be, that you were misled by the spirits in the forest. That's so lame."

".....Yeah, that's how it is."

Claire chuckled, while Kamito nodded, feeling a bit dejected.

Existing in various locations of the continent, the spirit forests are connected with Astral Zero through the GATE, and are inhabited by the spirits that have gone astray into this world. Most of the spirits have no interest in humankind so they are harmless. But there are also spirits who enjoy playing pranks, and they deliberately mislead the travelers who stray into the forest. As he was guided by the spirits' whispers and went deeper and deeper into the forest, he must have lost the way to the academy.

"Anyway, I'm really glad that I met a person. It is not very appealing to become a victim of the forest. From here onwards, which direction should I follow to get to the academy?"

"Which direction.....for your own information, I shall tell you, that it takes two hours to get to the academy from here on foot."

"What, that far!?"

If he was to walk for such a long distance, most likely he would be once again tricked by the spirits. Since a student of the academy was here, he had thought that the academy was much nearer than it was. 

''.....hmm? Why was this girl taking a bath at this kind of place?''

A plain question suddenly arises. Today is indeed a bit hot, nonetheless instead of coming all the way here, there should be showering facilities inside of the academy no matter what. Anyhow there are only girls in the school, there is nothing to be embarrassed about.

Being asked, Claire dug her hands into her wet twin tail hair and tried to comb it.

"I was here for the purification ritual for a spirit contract. Being a spring next to a shrine, the water here has the highest holy quality. Do you at least know that spirits like a woman which has a pure mind and body?"

"Spirit contract?"

The moment he heard those words, a throbbing pain came from the back of his left hand covered in leather gloves. Kamito grimaced from the burning sharp pain.

"A bit further from here, there is an ancient holy sword in a historical shrine. Rumor has it that a powerful «sealed spirit» is inhabited there. Since the founding of the academy, not a single princess maiden has successfully formed a contract with it. It surely sounds like a very proud spirit."

Sealed spirits – are not the spirits that reside in Astral Zero.

Among the spirits, there are those who were sealed into weapons or armors by powerful ancient spirit contractors. Most of them have brought about terrible disasters to the humans, and are dreadful beings called Djinn or Ifrit by ancient societies. 

Of course, they are not meant to be employed by the human spirit contractors. For that purpose, the ancient great spirit contractors sealed them in weapons or armor so that they will never be summoned again.

"You, do you plan to form a contract with a sealed spirit?"

"That's right! Do you have a problem with it?"

"Stop, it's too dangerous."

"Hmm, you seem to know it quite well, even though you are not a spirit contractor. I'm quite aware of the danger, but I need a powerful spirit no matter what."

Claire muttered, biting her tightly closed lips.

Seeing her serious facial expression, Kamito involuntarily shut his mouth.

"But, don't you already have a contract with the flame spirit from earlier? That is also a quite powerful spirit, won't it be fine if you raise it up?"

For its tribute, a flame spirit is not very rare. But, there are only a handful of spirit contractors who can control a spirit of such rank and even capable of «elemental waffe» in the whole empire. Besides, spirit contractors that have formed a contract with multiple spirits are so rare that they almost don't exist. Discordance between the spirits can cause deterioration of the balance of divine power. Without enough talent one can't control them.

"«Scarlet» is an important partner. But-"

I need more power— Claire calmly shook her head.

"I have a goal. To achieve it, I must have a strong spirit."

=== Part 3 ===

Chasing the back of Claire on which her fluffy crimson twin tails swung, Kamito followed her inside the forest. Although Claire's leather loafers looked quite difficult to walk in, Claire was a well trained spirit contractor after all, and her steps were light and frivolous.

"Here."

Then, suddenly her well proportioned feet stopped walking.

With her hands on her hips, she looked back with a half eye glare towards Kamito.

"Why are you following me? You pervert peeping maniac. "

"Without you, I don't know the way towards the academy. As I have said several times, I am not a pervert peeping maniac. It's Kamito, Kamito Kazehaya."

"Fufu, what a weird name. Kuina's origin?"

Kuina is an empire in the eastern region of the continent. It is said that its language, culture and the relationship of people with spirits largely differed from Ordeshia.

"No, it's not from Kuina. I was born in a far remote island minority group village."

Kamito intentionally obscured his own statement. Certainly, he was born in an island country in the east, but the larger half of his childhood life wasn't spent there.

"Your name also has quite a rare taste, Claire Rouge."

"Don't call my name in a friendly manner. Anyway it's a strange name."

"Really? But, I consider it a nice name."

"Wha-What are you saying, stu-stupid!"

Claire's face blushed, then she suddenly changed back to her former direction, and briskly walked faster than usual.

Claire Rouge —— obviously a Pseudonym.

Most of the students attending the Areishia spirit academy are surely young ladies of noble families who have been trained as spirit contractors since childhood. But Kamito has never heard of the Rouge residence. For hiding a noble family name, she must have some reason for it, but Kamito had no intention to delve more.

''.....Everyone has some secret they want to hide.''

Kamito glanced in the direction of his left hand covered by a leather glove.

''Even I have mine, too -''

Claire kept advancing steadily. Kamito hastily chased after her back where the twin tail were swaying. Now, losing sight of Claire inside the forest will bring only trouble for him. Kamito was well aware of the dangers of spending one night inside the «Spirit Forest».

"Is that dress the academy's uniform?"

"Yeah."

Claire nodded in a cold manner while walking.

Areishia Spirit Academy uniform are pretty sturdy and also serve as a protective garment, which have undergone spirit's blessing, and it has the effect of raising the sacred attributes. It could also function nicely as a high ceremonial dress for contracting with spirits.

"What, are you saying that it doesn't suit me?"

"No, it suits you gorgeously. Honestly speaking, I am charmed."

Kamito shrugged his shoulder, and then answered it honestly. Fine feathers make fine birds, Kamito planned to mock her with some caustic words, but it did fit her so perfectly that Kamito couldn't help but to compliment her.

"Wha-What-What are you saying!? Aren't you an idiot!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Kaatsu* Claire blushed in deep red, while *Pyun-Pyun* waving her whip.

"Uwahh, Calm down!"

"Wasn't it because you said some weird thing?"

"Me saying a weird thing?, I simply speak the truth - *in pain*, I got it, I got it, please stop waving your whip for every little thing."

''....phew, I need her as a guide, but what a bothersome princess.''

Dodging the whip which was swung downward at a paper thin distance, Kamito sighed in his mind.

The shrine that held the holy blade stood quietly in a clearing in the forest.

Claire easily removed the entry forbidding ward, then stopped her steps, and turned to Kamito.

"From here onwards, it will be really dangerous, so, as a commoner you should stay away."

"If you know that it's dangerous, why not stop?"

"As I am saying, ''I need to have a strong spirit''."

Claire calmly shook her head, and stepped into the shrine.

Disregarding her warnings, Kamito followed her. As for coming all the way, it was true that he needed a guide, but more importantly he was just worried about Claire.

After all, "sealed spirits" were strong and at the same time have a wild nature. They prefer destruction and chaos; given the chance they would even murder the spirit contractor that employs them.

They are not something that can be managed by humans— that's why they have been sealed.

Sixteen years of age, with such an innate talent of wielding a spirit, Claire might as well be called a prodigy. However, if by any chance, she was to release a sealed spirit and fail to control it, what would happen?

Although she was just a girl he met by chance, Kamito couldn't leave her alone.

"Why did you follow me? I can't guarantee what will happen to you."

"Don't you have the absolute confidence to tame it?"

"Of-Of course I do!"

"Then there's no problem if I come along. "

Kamito shrugged his shoulder and Claire turned away from him.

"....Suit yourself"

Inside the shrine is a dark gloomy misty atmosphere. Claire frowned slightly at the moldy smells mingling inside the air.

"......Flames, let there be light."

A tiny fire ball immediately started to glow from Claire's fingertips, a basic spirit spell drawing on the power of Flame Spirit. The flickering light of the fire ball dimly illuminated the walls of the shrine which looked like a stalactites cavern.

The sword was at the innermost of the shrine.

"That..... is the sword that the sealed spirit resides in?"

Kamito muttered, while Claire nodded quietly.

A naked sword was stabbed standing in a huge stone. Although without doubt it was an antique of hundreds of years old, it had no rust on its body or dent on its edge. Delicate ancient runes were engraved on its belly, radiating a dimly blue light.

"Existing here even before the academy was found, «The Sacred Sword of Severian»."

"The Sacred Sword of Severian? The one that slayed Demon King Solomon?"

Demon King Solomon— commanding seventy two powerful spirits, brought chaos and destruction to the continent, and '''the only male spirit contractor in history'''.

It was said that the one that slayed the demon king was the sword of Severian.

"Idiot, there's no way that's the real thing."

Claire stated like she was amazed.

"Sacred Sword of Severian stabbed into a stone can be found everywhere in the empire. Some remote villages even have one for the revitalization of the village. Anyhow, even if it is not the real deal, since it is a rune sword, there might be a powerful spirit sealed in itself."

".....Indeed. Certainly, the real thing would not be in such a place..."

Claire walked towards the sword determinedly.

"Hey...."

"You stay back."

Gesturing to Kamito who was coming close, Claire clenched the hilt of the holy blade.

"Don't strain yourself."

"....Got it."

Kamito decided to watch over Claire at the edge where the light barely reached. The sealed spirit might be provoked by the presence of other people. A heavy silence filled the surroundings.

".....Let's do this, Claire Rouge."

Breathing deeply, Claire murmured to herself. Her voice trembled a bit; it seemed that she was nervous after all.

<center>''"—Oh Noble Spirit Sealed in Ancient Holy Sword!"''</center>

<center>''"—Thou Shall Accept Me As Thy Master, And I Shall Be Thy Sheath!"''</center>

From her cherry red lips flew a fluent incantation for contract ritual in spirit language. Her crimson hair stood on its ends. A crashing wind started to swirl inside the shrine.

Holding his breath, Kamito watched her intensely. Once the contracts had been exchanged and the spirit recognized Claire as its master, a spirit seal would be engraved somewhere on her body. The contract vows entered its conclusion. In this moment, a dreadful gust of wind swept inside the shrine.

"......eh?"

But, Claire was unfazed. She calmly recited her contract vow.

—And, dazzling light radiated from Severian's holy blade in her hand.

''I can't....believe it, She was exchanging a contract with the sealed spirit!?''

Preventing being swept by the wind, astonished Kamito raised his voice.

From the holy blade stabbed in the stone came overwhelming tremendous divine energy. If it was an average spirit contractor, she would have already passed out.

<center>''"—Thrice I Command Thee, Exchange Vows With Me!"''</center>

And, Claire's vow reverberated inside the shrine— in that instant.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Clink!*

"Pulled-Pulled out. I pulled it out."

".....What, seriously!?"

Brandishing overhead the sword pulled out from the stone, Claire exclaimed with joy. In the next second—

The ancient runes engraved in its blade suddenly shone violently!

"......huh!?"

Claire involuntarily released the blade from her hand—

The holy blade thrust into the ground. With a flash, it blasted into bits.

"Kyaaaaah!"

A short shriek flew, then Claire collapsed onto the ground.

"Hey, are you okay!"

Kamito quickly ran towards Claire.

"Wha-What? What exactly has...."

Claire held her temple and got up, then looked around restlessly.

"My-My sealed spirit?"

"No, I....can sense something terrible."

Sweat was flowing intensely from the back of Kamito's neck. Wearing a terrified facial expression, he looked up at the shrine's ceiling. In that place, '''swinging while floating in the air was the blade'''.

It's not the shattered holy sword. But, it was a rough steel blade that looked very sharp.

"Is that.....the sealed spirit in the sword!?"

"So it was of the «sword spirit» class. Looks like it is rather irritated."

"How do you know so much? You are not even a spirit contractor!"

"It is plain to see. No matter how you look at it, that doesn't seem to be someone who pledges his allegiance to his master."

".....Umm, indeed so."

Claire meekly nodded uncharacteristically.

The floating sword slanted pointing its tip in a downward direction, suddenly it become motionless.

Then—

".....Get down!"

Kamito in that instant, pushed Claire down to the ground. A buzzing sound of an insect grazed the ear, in a flash it went far away.

"Wai-Waa-Wait, where are you touching me, I'll turn you into cinders!"

With her face deeply red, Claire beat on Kamito's chest repeatedly.

"Idiot, stop rampaging!"

Kamito quickly moved his body away, and looked in the direction that the sword spirit had flown to.

Fragments of rocks fell down with clattering sounds. The shrine's ceiling was completely sliced off cleanly.

"It is remarkable to release a spirit of such rank—"

Kamito glared with half opened eye towards Claire.

"......but the spirit has completely gone berserk."

"Shu-Shut up. The-The taming of it starts now."

"YOU...."

Kamito was stupefied, but he was in no situation to quarrel with her.

The spirit sword released a chattering noise while approaching them. Inside the shrine, they couldn't move freely, and even their range of sight was restricted.

Kamito grabbed Claire's hand and stood up. Touching each others' soft skin, *Doki* a heart beat, but he showed no vexed expression 

"Hwaah."

"Stopping making a cute reaction at every little thing. Let's flee."

"Wha.. whaa. whatt.. Cute.. what, me? Kyaa!"

"Let's run outside!"

Pulling Claire's hand, while running towards the direction of the shrine's exit that was basking with sunshine.

The spirit sword did not immediately chase after them. Maybe as of now it has not yet completely awakened. With this opportunity they might be able to run away.

The moment they were out of the shrine, the flash of the sword grazed in front of his eyes. Kamito's forelocks fell while dancing in the air. The spirit sword let out a tremendous roar, decisively knocking down the surrounding trees in succession.

"Crazy, what a wild spirit, just like a certain princess."

"Alwa-Always, you're noisy..."

Feeling slightly awkward, and Claire deliberately coughed, then stood up.

"What a rebellious child.....I'll give you a proper spanking."

Her pair of crimson eyes were burning with a fierce determination; somehow she said some lines of provocation. Rolling up the fringe of her skirt, she then took out the leather whip which was coiled in her thigh, hitting it hard in the ground. Kamito's heart beat for the brief sight of her white underwear, but he said -

"Are you insane!? Your opponent is a high rank sealed spirit!"

"Easy victory. Amateurs like you please stay back!"

"Where are you getting all of your confidence? Whatever, let's run away!"

Claire shook off Kamito's hand that was grabbing her wrist.

"No, you escape yourself. I will absolutely make this spirit mine."

"You, for what reason— do you need a strong spirit that badly?"

".....You will never understand."

At the same time Clair averted her eyes.

"I need...power, I need an unbeatable powerful spirit that will not lose to any other spirit!"

<center>''"—Guardian of Crimson's blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!"''</center>

<center>''"—Now is the time to abide the contract of blood, hasten to my side as commanded!"''</center>

Claire recited the summoning spell of her "Flame Spirit". A crimson flame surged and she was engulfed by intense heat.

"The hunting begins, Scarlet!"

Together with scorching flame – a Scarlet Red Hell Cat appeared. Instead of fur, it was blazing scarlet red colored flame that was wrapped around the beast's body.

''Is that the real form of her flame spirit!?''

Indeed, she was not all talk.

To be manifested in beast form is proof that it is a high rank spirit. "Scarlet" might just be a name of affection, perhaps it was not the true name of the spirit. Without doubt it is a high rank spirit that carries a true name. 

Claire wielded her whip, and the hell cat growled with a frightful roar, then rushed towards the sword spirit. Dancing sparks scattered. The atmosphere trembled at the roar of the beast. The floating spirit sword went against them, cutting all the trees in its way.

"Scarlet, go get it!"

In response to Claire's shout, the hell cat leaped. High above the floating sword it went, and sharp blazing claws swung down at the sword. With a high pitched shrill sound, intense sparks sprinkled down, and the spirit sword dropped to the ground.

Claire ran at the same time. It was not a fatal hit. The spirit sword rose and flew in a split second, rolling over while drawing an arc in the air.

The flame spirit chased after it, trying not to lose it from its hands. Roaring loudly, it made a great leap again.

Violent sparks scattered once again. Claire struck hard at the ground with her leather whip, slowly pressing forward against the sword spirit. It looked like the leather whip was not meant for battle, rather for signaling instructions to the spirit.

At the fierce attacks of Scarlet, the spirit sword's movement stopped— At this instant,

"Eat this, '''Searing Fire Ball'''!"

Clair released a huge fire ball from her palm.

Fire Ball is a high level spirit magic which uses ultra hot flames and can terribly burn up any of its target, leaving it traceless. The spirit magic's power is determined by the spirit contractor's own divine spiritual energy and the contracted spirit's strength as a whole.

The released fire ball drew an arch in the air, then exploded in a blast that even Scarlet was caught in. The shock wave of the explosion knocked down the trees in the surroundings and fallen tree trunks radiated from the explosion center.

''What terrible power......''

Shielding himself from the flying stones coming at his head, Kamito wrapped his tongue and marveled.

Such power was nothing like what a sixteen years old girl is capable of.

Inside the swirling fire the hell cat's figure showed up. Naturally, the hell cat can't possibly be harmed by the blazing fire because of its fire nature.

The spirit sword floated motionlessly in the air. It seemed that it had not received any damage either. Naturally, Claire didn't think that she would bring down a high rank spirit with spirit magic. But she should be able to get its attention.

"Scarlet!"

Claire exclaimed. The flame spirit's claws attacked the spirit sword again. Its scourging hot claws could melt the iron steel. If its opponent was an average spirit, it would be instantly eradicated. But, the spirit sword quickly turned around, and the attack was stopped by the steel edge of the blade.

In an instant, the strange sound of metal scratching each other reverberated in the trembling atmosphere.

"Wh...What?...."

Kamito suppressed both his ears with his hands.

Receiving the full impact of the sound, Claire's face distorted from pain and she crouched down there.

The spirit sword released a weird sound - and then, transformed. Its shape changed from an average long sword to that of a huge bastard sword.

In a flash.

"What!?"

Claire's flame spirit took the unexpected strike and couldn't avoid the big swing. The body was severed into two, and it vanished into the void together with the flames wrapped around its body.

With only one hit, it had lost the strength to manifest in this world.

''....Damn! Isn't it in a completely different league? It seemed that it has completely awakened.''

Kamito cursed, then took a glance at Claire -

Claire had collapsed on the ground, and her stunned blank eyes were fixed upward at the void where the flame spirit had disappeared.

Having finished off the flame spirit in one swing, the spirit sword aimed its next attack at Claire. 

The huge bastard sword flew with a bursting sound -

"Claire!"

Kamito shouted, and started to run. Without reason, his own body just moved before he knew it.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Diving in front of Claire, he thrust his palm toward the bastard sword. Not his left hand enclosed by the leather glove – it was his right hand.

''......No choice but to do this!''

<center>''"—Oh Noble Spirit Sealed in Ancient Holy Sword!"''</center>

<center>''"—Thou Shall Accept Me As Thy Master, And I Shall Be Thy Sheath!"''</center>

Sweat rushed down from his forehead, he started to recite the incantation for spirit contract ''that he had sworn to never utter again''. The spinning tip of the sword pierced the skin of his palm. Red blood gushed intensely from it.

''.....Gwaah, Gah!''

Crushing amounts of divine energy knocked on him, the soil and sands surrounding them were whirling up from the wind pressure. He almost lost his consciousness from the sharp pain. But if Kamito fainted here, Claire who was behind him would surely be cut in half.

<center>''"—Thrice I Command Thee!"''</center>

".....No way, a Spirit Contract!?"

A surprised sound came from Claire's throat.

Kamito's heels sank into the ground. And, the sound of his breaking bones resounded underneath his scalp.

<center>''"—Exchange Vows With Me!"''</center>

Withstanding the terrible sharp pain, Kamito finished his last word of the contract ritual.

Instantly, the body of the spirit sword radiated a pale blue light.

''What!?''

Intense flashes and thunderous sounds filled his consciousness.

=== Part 4 ===

He opened his eyes, and Claire Rouge's face was there. Hanging lower onto his face was her twin tailed hair tickling his face.

It seemed that she shouted something, but he couldn't hear it clearly. Probably the sound blast had messed up his ears.

''.....Looks like I'm alive.''

Wearily lying on the ground, Kamito let out a breath of relief. The chance of success against a spirit of such rank was very low, but it looked like his gamble had paid off.

Raising his eyebrow, he grimaced from the torment of pain from all of his body and raised his right hand slowly.

In his right hand which was stabbed -

Instead of a wound, an emblem of two swords crossing each other was engraved on it.

It was the proof of the spirit contract - The spirit seal.

''Aah, I did it....''

Staring at the carved seal on the back of his hand, Kamito murmured.

A sharp sense of guilt bit his heart.

He had broken the promise with ''her''—

But, to save Claire under such a situation, that was the only method.

Claire noticed that Kamito had woken up, with her hands in his nape and her face approaching him. So close that he could feel her breath. With her clear crimson eyes, she stared at Kamito. Her cherry colored lips weakly trembled.

"......Why?"

"'''Why? You're a male. How can you contract a spirit!?'''"

"......"

Kamito did not answer and slowly rose up. Being ignored, the annoyed Claire raised her eyebrows.

"My-My sword spirit!?"

"My bad. Just a moment ago, I contracted with it."

Kamito sighed and at the same time he showed her the back of his right hand where the spirit seal was engraved.

"Wha-Whaa-Wha-Whaaaat!"

Claire wore a stunned expression with her mouth wide open.

''Well, a natural reaction....''

A long sigh— Kamito felt a faint ache in his heart. Of course, he could clearly understand such a response. Originally, a privilege that was granted to no one except pure maidens— the spirit contract.

The existence of a man which could contract a spirit, throughout the history, belonged solely to one person. And the one who brought chaos and destruction in the world, the so called Demon King spirit contractor.

It is natural to fear him, who carried the same power of spirit contracts as the Demon King.

Kamito stood up and quietly turned around.

He did not regret it. To save the girl, this was the only way he could think of.

"Wait, wait I say!"

Kamito was about to leave, but a voice called him from the back.

Turning around, he saw that Claire with her hands on her hips intensely glared at him.

"You stole...my spirit...take responsibility for it!"

"Huh?"

Kamito frowned. ....It didn't make any sense to him.

At such a reaction from Kamito, Claire impatiently brushed her twin tail.

"I should have been the one who had obtained that spirit, as I am saying, you have to take responsibility for it."

"Re..sponsibility?"

Because of that unexpected word, Kamito had become even more confused.<ref>Normally while using the Japanese language, when a girl tells a guy to take responsibility it carries the implication of marriage. Hence Kamito's confusion.</ref>

....What was the girl saying.

"Therefore...."

Claire snapped her whip, then she pointed her index finger toward Kamito.

"You have to become my contracted spirit!"

<noinclude>

==References and Translation Notes==
<references />

{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Illustrations|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter2}}</noinclude>

Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai: Volume 3 Sealing Technique, Release!

2012-08-11T10:16:33Z

152.160.38.240:

==Sealing Technique, Release!==

One day at the end of July, we were still in the midst of a big heat wave, and the air conditioner for our living room broke.

The hot-water heater just broke the other day too, but I guess time was up for the AC too.

And so, today I didn't go to club and instead went on my way to pick out a new air conditioner.

I don't really know what makes an air conditioner good or bad, but I doubt I can pick one worse than the several decades old one we had.

When I went to the shop I had the salesman show me a few of the choices they had, and then made my choice based mostly on how much power it'd use up and how much it'd cost.

However, I guess it takes 3 days at best for them to come and install it for us.

Three days huh...

Well, I do have an air conditioner in my room so it's not like I can't put up with it, but the living room is where the TV is.

I don't really watch much TV myself, but my little sister Kobato has spent every day of her summer break thus far sitting in the living room watching TV or reading her manga.

When I got home after going to the electronics store and buying groceries on the way back, I found Kobato in the living room watching TV.

"I'm back."

"A-An-chan!"

Kobato lit up upon seeing my return.

"The AC! Did you buy us a new AC!?"

"Yeah, I bought one, but it'll take 3 days to get here."

Kobato's face turned to stone after hearing the news.

"T-three days...... Kukuku... Damn useless humans... But, this is interesting... I suppose I shall entertain myself with this purgatorial feast for a short while, kukuku... I am Leysis Vi Felicity Sumeragi... even if my body were to be placed in a 20,000,000 degree heat, a Queen of the Exalted Night such as myself would have no problems with it..."

Her usual exaggerated ramblings.

"...Why don't you change into some lighter clothes?"

A suggestion I've made more times than I can count.

Which Kobato refused, as usual.

"Kukuku... This dress is not normal clothing, it is the material form of my power of darkness... it is not something that can be easily changed..."

"Yeah yeah."

I sighed and walked into the kitchen, and put the food I bought into the fridge.

I then took out a cup of cold barley tea and drank it.

Ahh man, this is the stuff.

"Kobato~ want some barley tea?"

I peeked into the living room holding the barley tea and a cup in my hands.

There was a girl on the TV wearing a red dress that looked like a somewhat simplified version of Kobato's, and a girl in a frilly white outfit that screamed "magical girl" (I'm guessing she's the protagonist) who were fighting each other with magic in the sky.

It had a fast feel to it with magic and explosions everywhere, which made it interesting even if you didn't know the story.

Kobato was entranced by their battle scene.

The fight looked like it was at the climax, and the girl in the red dress got hit by the protagonist's magic and fell to the ground.

It looked like that was the end, but the girl in the red dress emerged from the cloud of smoke.

She looked up at the protagonist girl in the sky, and showed her a smirk full of confidence.

"Kukuku... Not bad for you to push me this far. As a sign of my respect for your valiant efforts, I'll show you my true form...!"

A red light enveloped the girl as she yelled,

"Sealing Technique, release!"

The girl's red dress burned up, and she was naked while being surrounded by the red light.

"Magical powers, unleash!"

A new flame rose up from the girl's naked body, and turned into clothes.

When the light stopped flashing all over the screen, the girl appeared again wearing a completely different outfit than before.

She was in a weird looking leotard with two little openings in the back and in the middle of her chest, and an excessively short skirt. All in all it was a very revealing set of clothing.

"Kukuku... this is my true form...!"

The girl proclaimed, while wearing a bold smile.

The only thing that changed was her clothes, her face didn't even change or anything, but the protagonist magical girl said, "So this is... your true form..." with a look of astonishment on her face.

After that line the ending credits started to play.

Looks like they're going to leave the battle with the true form for next time, I guess. After the ending and preview of the next episode ended, Kobato turned off the TV.

Then, she stood up all of a sudden and ran over to the stairs.

"Ah, Kobato, barley tea..."

She's not listening...

I could hear Kobato's "thump thump" as she went up the stairs and into her room.

...Whatever.

Anyway, I put the tea back in the fridge, and went to the kitchen to get started on dinner.

But, I heard another loud set of thumps and Kobato reappeared on the first floor.

"An-chan!"

Kobato had a skirt and some other clothes in her hands for some reason.

It wasn't her goth loli stuff either. If I remember right it was the sleeveless T-shirt and mini skirt she used to wear back when she was in grade school.

Kobato brought the clothes she was holding in the kitchen and put them down on a chair.

"...?"

As I was wondering what it was she was trying to do, Kobato yelled,

"Sealing Tek, Tek... Sealing Te...chnique, release!"

Right as she finished saying that, she got to wildly taking off her clothes.

...?

Well whatever, I'll get back to my dinner prepa-

"A-An-chan! You have to watch!"

Kobato said to me, who had already turned around.

I turned back around to appease her, and she then took off her headband and ribbon, as well as her big frilly dress and drawers.

She then moved to taking off her knee socks, but they were sweaty and stuck to her legs, which made taking them off pretty difficult.

"Hyah!"

Ah, she fell.

While sitting on her butt, Kobato continued to take her knee socks off.

[[Image:Boku_wa_Tomodachi_ga_Sukunai_Vol3_Ch05_Img01.jpg|thumb]]

"Kobato, make sure you put that all in the laundry basket."

"Ah, okay."

The stark naked Kobato picked up the clothes she just took off, and carried them to the laundry room.

She came back with a new pair of panties in hand.

"Magical powers, unleash!"

She yelled at the top of her lungs, put on the panties she brought with her, and put on the T-shirt and skirt she left on the chair earlier.

"Ha!"

Kobato finished changing and let out a little breath.

Kobato, who had now changed out of her goth loli outfit and into lighter clothes, said the following to me along with her standard chuckle:

"Kukuku... This is my true form..."

"...So, you're a copy-cat now?"

"I-I am not a copy-cat!"

Kobato's face went bright red upon having me point out the obvious.

If I had to guess what she was trying to do... Basically, she probably thought of a good excuse to change clothes without breaking her character after seeing that anime.

"Kukuku... To think I would release my true powers like this... This hellish season is not to be trifled with I suppose..."

"...Well, it's fine with me."

Since I don't have to do as much laundry this way and all.

I then realized,

"Hey, Kobato. Those are your clothes from grade school, right? Or am I wrong...?"

"Fueh? Yeah."

Kobato nodded, and I carefully continued talking,

"...If you can still wear your grade school clothes, even now that you're in 8th grade... does that mean you've stopped growing?"

"Fuehh!?"

Kobato let out an utterly shocked yell.

She then slowly went and patted her chest, checked the waist of her skirt, the sleeves of her shirt, and then looked at me with a face that looked like she was about to cry.

"...Whado I do, An-chan... Am I not gonna get any bigger?

"........."

I silently averted my eyes.

It's too painful to look at her...

There are kids who grow up quick and look pretty old when they're still in grade school, but I guess Kobato is the opposite of them huh...

"uu~..."

Kobato's face was petrified from the shock she just received, but she quickly went back to being Leysis and chuckled, "Kukuku..." 

"...Kukuku... Now that I think about it, I am a Noble of the Night who possesses eternal life... My body will never wither away into a dekepit husk... It's only normal for me to be this way, yeah..."

"I-I see... good to hear you won't wither away and become dekepit."

By the way, it's not "dekepit", it's "decrepit", Kobato.

"Yeah... Me too..."

Kobato smiled, still seemingly on the verge of tears...

 The summer day our air conditioner broke.

Kobato swapped out her goth loli clothes for lighter ones, and started to drink milk instead of tomato juice. 
 
<noinclude>
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| Back to [[Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai: Volume 3 The Silent Phone|The Silent Phone]]
| Return to [[Boku_wa_tomodachi_ga_sukunai|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai: Volume 3 Saint VS Vampire|Saint VS Vampire]]
|-
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</noinclude>

Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai: Volume 3 The Silent Phone

2012-08-11T09:42:33Z

152.160.38.240:

==The Silent Phone==

The third day of summer break.

"Hey, you guys. Why didn't any of you come yesterday?"

I, who had just arrived in the clubroom around 3 o'clock, asked my fellow club members.

By the way, today both Yozora and Sena got here earlier than me.

"Kodaka-senpai, were you lonely because you weren't able to meet Rika?"

Said the girl wearing a white robe over her school uniform with a little smile on her face for some reason.

Rika Shiguma, Freshman.

She's apparently a genius, though you'd never guess it by how crazy she is about ero doujinshi... especially how she acts like an insane person when it comes to mecha x mecha stuff.

She's one of the members of the Neighbors Club.

Yukimura was also in the room.

Kobato was being a hikkikomori as usual, and Maria wasn't here.

"I wasn't really lonely or anything, just wondering..."

"Hmph, I had things to do yesterday."

Said Yozora unconcernedly.

"Stuff to do huh... Guess there's no helping that..."

Next was Sena (whose eyes were bloodshot for some reason) who said something.

"I was really busy yesterday too."

"Busy?"

"I figured I'd reach the ending soon and then go to the clubroom, but it ended up taking four more hours than I thought it would. It was a really moving ending though, so it evens out. That scene where Mikan scores a goal was just so..."

Her eyes started to water up, and she sniffled her nose a bit.

I'm not really sure, but I guess she got so involved in her game she didn't come here.

"I'll lend it to you sometime, so you better play it Kodaka. You'll be wasting your life if you don't."

"...Sure, if I feel like it."

Now that I think about it, I got the Masaru (the protagonist's guy friend) end in that "Tokimemo" game she lent me (made me take home) and never played it again.

"Also, the theme song is super good. We should make it our national anthem! When you start the game again after finishing once you can totally feel how it connects to the last scene, and-"

"B-by the way!"

I quickly tried to change the subject, since if I don't stop her now who knows how long I'll have to put up with her going on and on about her galge.

"What."

Sena made an annoyed look on her face.

"Hn?"

Yozora looked over here too (as she put on a face that looked like she thought Sena's ramblings were annoying as all hell, and quietly reached out for her fly swatter).

Rika and Yukimura both looked over at me too.

"To make sure nobody ends up coming here and killing time when nobody else is going to show up, I think we should come up with a way for us to know when everyone else is coming."

"...Hmph. You may be right."

Yozora gave her approval of what I suggested.

"Not a bad idea considering it's you, Kodaka." said Sena.

"So, what specifically should we do?"

"Eh? Hmm, I'm not sure..."

I didn't really think it out farther than that.

"What about using a BBS on the web? We can get one for free, right?"

I threw out the first thing that came to mind.

"Rejected." "No way."

Yozora and Sena said at the same time.

"You hardly even thought about it!! Why can't we use one!?"

Yozora and Sena both made faces that showed a deep disgust from the bottom of their hearts.

"...It's my personal rule to not use the internet for anything other than researching things and shopping."

"It is?"

That was kind of unexpected, but at the same time maybe it wasn't.

"That's how I do it now...... I'll never do that again."

Yozora said, with a sad little look on her face.

"...I won't bother asking what exactly it was that you did."

"...Thank you."

Yozora gave me an honest thanks.

She must really regret whatever it is that she did.

"I've had bad experiences with them before too."

Sena said.

"...Ahh... Just remembering it pisses me off! Those guys... that damn 'Yasuo' and 'Parko' and 'rikiya' and 'Mai-tan(*´Д`*)HaaHaa'...! I hate that damn moderator who banned me from that one fansite because he thought I was a troll too! Those assholes can all go die!"

"...Did you get into a fight with them on some BBS or something?"

"I had to, those damn morons called my lovely Natsumi a dumbass muscle-brain! Like hell I'd let them get away with that! You know, Natsumi might seem like that, but she's actually really delicate!"

Sena was getting louder and louder.

I don't have a clue what you mean if all you tell me is "she might seem like that".

The one thing I can say for sure is that it's some character from a galge.

"Well, people are going to have their own likes and dislikes. Not much you can do about it..."

"Haa? That's fine if you keep it to yourself, but if you're gonna make fun of Natsumi in front of a fan of hers like me, that's the same as a declaration of war! If someone does that, then all I can do is get them to shut up and admit how stupid they were, or die trying!"

It's not like I don't get where she's coming from, but she gets angry way too easily.

"...My battle still isn't over with those damn morons... If I ever meet them in real life I'll kick the crap out of them!"

"A-anyway, BBS's are a no go, right!?"

I interrupted Sena who was quickly reaching critical levels.

"Then how about that thing... nixi. We can send messages to each other without any worries that way, right?"

nixi is a social networking service, and you can use it to write stuff that other people can read and comment on... At least, that's what I think it's like anyway.

Since you can keep the things you write limited to certain people, it'd be a good choice for us all to use to communicate with each other... I think.

"Eh, Kodaka you're on nixi? Then give me an invite." said Sena.

nixi runs on an invite-only system, and thus you can only join if an existing member invites you.

"No, I'm not, but..."

"Hmph, like hell I'd ever join that site."

Yozora looked me in the eyes and gave a reply that was full of pride for some reason.

"Rika isn't on that site either~"

"Neither am I."

Rika and Yukimura both said.

That makes sense, nixi is based on the assumption you have friends to invite you after all...

"So we can't even join nixi..."

A heavy atmosphere filled the room.

"But, you know, nixi isn't the only SNS out there! We just have to pick one that doesn't need an invite!"

I said, but then Rika stopped me.

"Hold on Senpai. If Rika asks her acquaintances in the game industry, I think we can get an invite to nixi."

"Really? Then let's do that..."

"That's fine with me, but..."

Rika said, with her head tilted in confusion,

"But why can't we just use our cells to talk to each other rather than going out of our way to use something else?"

Yozora, Sena and I all stood shocked.

"Cells... Are you talking about cell phones?"

I asked, still stunned.

"Huh? Well, yeah."

The wild idea that a cell phone could be used for anything other than calling home hadn't come within a mile of my thought process.

"...I see, cell phones... Rika... You really are a genius... That's an amazing idea."

"Yeah... I never even considered doing that... So cell phones aren't just for looking up karaoke shops... Rika Shiguma... it would seem I have no choice but to recognize your genius..."

[[Image:Boku_wa_Tomodachi_ga_Sukunai_Vol3_Ch04_Img01.jpg|thumb]]

"...It's nice to hear you all think my idea is so good."

Yozora and I showered Rika with praise, calling her a genius and stuff, but Rika looked like she was a little creeped out by it.

"Anyway, why don't we exchange addresses for now?"

Rika took out a cell phone from her lab coat's pocket.

I followed her lead and opened my bag, taking out the cell phone buried within its depths.

I bought it when I got into high school. It's a folding type that doesn't have any particularly amazing functions to it.

By the way, both Kobato and I have had cell phones since we were in grade school, and I'm currently on my 3rd one (I bought my 2nd in middle school).

I gave a quick look at my call log, and every call and text I got was from "Home" and every one that I sent was to "Little Sister".

"Here, I took mine out too."

Yozora hesitantly showed her phone to me.

There wasn't a single ornament or strap on it; it was just your run of the mill black cell phone.

By the way, it seemed like Yozora's phone was at the bottom of her bag too, so it took her a while to take it out.

"Okay, send your infra-red rays this way please."

Rika said, and started casually hitting buttons on her phone.

"Eh- I-infra-red rays???"

Yozora confusedly stared at her phone's LCD, as did I.

What's she talking about?

Is she really trying to say these little phones can shoot out infra-red rays?

"...I do feel like I've heard people talk about how more recent phones are able to exchange data via infra-red rays... So that was all true... Hrmm... W-which is it?"

Said Yozora as she furled her brow while hitting buttons on her phone.

"You're kidding me... When did phones get that advanced..."

Rika looked at me and my astonishment as though I were some kind of Neanderthal.

"Here you are."

The one who said that and turned their phone towards Rika was... Yukimura.

"Yukimura...!?"

"Ah, thanks Yukimura."

Rika and Yukimura pointed their phones at each other for about 2 seconds and pulled them back soon after.

"Yes! Yukimura address get!"

"I have confirmed yours as well."

Said Rika and Yukimura.

An utterly shocked expression rose on Yozora's face.

"I-it can't be, you're done already...? That quickly...?"

"Oh man... Kids these days are something else... I can barely keep up..."

"Ahh... So this is the virtual generation of this digital world we live in... I hear everything is like a game to them..."

"...This must be what people mean by children who don't know the meaning of hard work..."

"That's quite a lot to say considering you're only a year older than us, Senpai..."

Rika made a pitiful face at the three of us shaking in awe...

"People like Aniki who only rely on their own strength don't pay heed to things such as cell phones, do they?" Yukimura said.

...Actually, high-tech girl Rika aside, the fact that even Yukimura can easily use infra-red rays was simply shocking.

I figured he was the type to be bad with technology.

Though, now that I think about it, he didn't seem to be confused at all when we were all playing that "Romancing Saga" game...

"Arghh.... I don't get it! Besides, it's weird for people to know how to use this machine when they don't have any friends! Kodaka! I'll just have to do it normally so tell me your address."

Yozora finally gave up on the infra-red rays.

"Okay. I'm pretty sure that'll be faster for me too."

Uhh, my address is............ about 30 seconds later, I managed to pull up my phone number and e-mail address on my phone's screen.

"Here." I said as I showed it to Yozora.

"Hm.........Ah, went too far. Mu..."

Yozora clumsily fished her way around her phone's buttons, trying to enter my address.

"...Hrmm... This is a pretty complex address you've got here..."

"Yeah, it's because I never changed it since I bought my first phone..."

"......Hm... where are the special characters..."

..................

............

After a full two minutes, Yozora finished entering my e-mail address and phone number.

"Phew..."

Yozora wiped her forehead, and let out a sigh as though she'd just completed some insanely difficult task.

"O-okay... I'll send you something now Kodaka. An e-mail. An e-mail using my cell phone."

"O-okay...!"

Yozora nervously pushed a few buttons, and then hit send.

About a second later, the words "Receiving Mail" popped up on my screen.

Then, 2 seconds later it went "Ding di~ng" as the default ringtone played.

"I got it!"

"You got it!?"

Yelled Yozora in a happy voice.

The e-mail was titled "E-Mail" and "E-Mail" was written in the message itself as well.

Uhh, I guess this is Yozora's e-mail address.

eternalfriendship2@codomo.ne.jo

I went and added "Yozora Mikadzuki" to my contacts list.

"Ohhh... My first address from someone other than my family...!"

This is almost like, some kind of momentous occasion or something!

Yozora made a surprised face after hearing what I just said.

"I am? What about the addresses of the people from the schools you were at before...?"

"...I never put them in. At the farewell party there were some guys who said "Gimme your address later," but I never did end up exchanging addresses with any of them..."

"........."

Yozora had a look of sympathy in her eyes, and then murmured,

"Oh, I see... so I'm your first non-family address..."

A tender smile rose to her face for a single moment.

And then she said, triumphantly for some reason,

"By the way, I've never even added my own family's addresses before. You're the very first ever, Kodaka."

...I don't know what you want me to say to that, Yozora.

"Muu~. I wouldn't have minded teaching you how to use the infra-red rays, but when Rika sees you two having so much fun it feels like we're the ones who lost here..."

Rika said with an unsatisfied look on her face. Then, all of a sudden,

"Hmph, it's just a stupid cell phone."

Said Sena, who had been unusually quiet up until now, as though she were spitting the words out.

"...? What are you mad about?"

"I'm not mad!"

Said Sena, who seemed to be in a bad mood.

"If you say so... Anyway, come on, give me your address too."

I said, which only made Sena look even more angry.

"...ave a..."

She mumbled with her lips pursed.

"Eh?"

"I don't have a cell phone!"

Sena yelled at the top of her lungs, which startled Rika and Yukimura.

"O-oh, you don't have one..."

Sena glared at me and said,

"Just so you know, I'm not jealous of you or anything!! It's not like not having one is a problem for me, and even if I did have one it wouldn't do me any good! Cell phones are what those annoying retard girls in my class use! A noble like me doesn't have any use for one!"

"...Uh-huh... O-okay. Yeah, there's plenty of people who say they don't need a cell phone, right?"

"Exactly! Forget a cell phone, I don't even need a normal phone. No matter where they are or what they're doing, lowly commoners should be able to gratefully accept the angelic voice of a goddess like me!"

"Uh, that's a little bit..."

as I started talking,

Ring ring ring... all of a sudden the phone in my hand started ringing.

"Eh!?"

I fumbled the phone around and saw a number I didn't know on the screen.

I figured I might as well answer it.

"...Hello?"

" 'It's me.' "

I heard a voice from the phone and from behind me.

I turned around and saw that the one who called my phone was Yozora.

" 'Enter my phone number into your contacts.' "

"Ah, yeah okay."

Talking on the phone with somebody right in front of you is so weird.

Yozora kept on talking to me over the phone like that for some reason.

" 'Since we just got it all set up, let's talk over the phone for a while.' "

"Eh... Sure, I guess."

" 'Good. Then let's talk about dinner last night. What did you eat, Kodaka?' "

"Uhh, what did I eat..."

As I was thinking I happened to look over at Sena again, who looked even more pissed off than she was before to the point I could almost see her veins popping out.

"Y-you two! Who gives a damn about what you ate yesterday!? Why do you have to go out of your way to talk about that over the phone now!?"

" 'Shut it, Meat. Can you not even shut yourself up while people are trying to talk on the phone?' "

Said Yozora, waving her hand at Sena telling her to go away.

"Khhhhh!"

" 'Still, these cell phones are quite handy. We can even talk when we're not together.' "

"Then use them when you're not together!!"

Yozora completely ignored Sena and continued,

" 'We can let everyone know when we're coming to club with them. Also, let's talk about all of our plans via e-mail from now on.' "

"S-sure..."

"Ghhhhh..."

Sena was about to burst into tears.

Yozora still kept on talking too, although this time it was with a much quieter voice that you could barely hear.

" 'By the way, about my dinner last night, I had meat. Specifically, it was curry with chicken meat, and the meat was incredibly tender and tasted so good.' "

She carefully made sure to only say the word "meat" at a normal volume.

"Uu~... What are you talking about...!?"

" 'Something that has nothing to do with you Meat. The store I went to didn't have just chicken meat, but also had pig meat, cow meat, and a bunch of other stuff that was so cheap I think we should all meet up there sometime. I'm sure you'll all love the meat they have th-' "

"Gaaaahh! Shut up, stop saying meat!!!!"

Sena roared all of a sudden, and took my phone away.

"Hey!!"

Sena brought my phone to her mouth and then yelled at the top of her lungs,

<div style="font-size:250%">"Idiot! Jerk! Retard!!!"</div>

"Kh!?"

Yozora cringed and pulled the phone away from her ear.

Sena shoved my phone back into my hands, and told Yozora "Go die!" before running out of the clubroom.

"...God damn, stupid piece of meat..."

Yozora ended the call while holding one hand to her ear.

"You really know exactly what to do to piss Sena off, don't you..."

I have to admit, I was a little impressed by it.

<div style="font-size:250%"><center>☺</center></div>

On the bus and train ride home, and even after I got home, I kept opening my cell phone and looking at my contact list.

After Sena ran out, I exchanged addresses with Rika and Yukimura (I even learned how to use the infra-red rays).

Up until now I've only ever had home, Kobato's cell, and Dad's work phone in there, so my contact list easily doubled today.

Crap... I can't stop smirking...

That night, I went to sleep in a good mood,

but...

Ring ring ring...

The phone ringing woke me up.

The phone that was ringing wasn't my cell, but rather our home phone.

I checked the time using my cell I left near my bed, and saw that it was just past 2 in the morning.

"...Who the hell is calling at this time of day..."

I thought about ignoring it, but I figured it might've been one of dad's overseas contacts so I got out of bed to answer it.

I headed downstairs while rubbing my sleepy eyes and picked up the phone.

"...Hello, this is Hasegawa speaking."

It felt like I was being a little quieter than usual.

<div style="font-size:250%">"H-HEWOO!!"</div>

A voice that sounded like the person talking held the receiver right next to their mouth and yelled as loud as they possibly could rang through my ears.

I reflexively pulled the phone away from my ear and cringed.

W-what the hell...!?

As I thought that,

Ca-lick!

.....They hung up.

"...What the hell, a prank call...?"

Still pissed off at the annoying person who'd make a prank call in the middle of the night, I went back to bed. However, right as I was about to fall asleep again, the phone rang again.

I'm ignoring it.

I told myself that and closed my eyes, but the phone didn't stop ringing even after 20 seconds had passed.

Oh yeah, I never set the answering machine...

Annoyed, I got up again and went downstairs to pick up the phone.

"...Hello."

Even I could tell how pissed off I sounded.

"Eek!?"

I heard a shriek from the receiver.

Huh, where have I heard that voice before...

"...Hello?"

I asked again, and then heard someone gulp and say,

<div style="font-size:250%">"U-umm! T-this is Sena Kashiwazaki, i-i-i-i-is Kodaka, I mean, Mr. Kodaka available!?"</div>

She was obviously nervous, talking as fast as she could.

"...Eh, Sena?" I asked.

"H-huh? Is this Kodaka?"

"Yep."

I could hear Sena breathe a sigh of relief over the phone.

"You idiot! Geez, don't scare me like that you idiot! Your voice is scary idiot!"

Not holding back on the insults are we?

...This doesn't even make any sense.

"Do you have any idea what time it is right now...?"

"H-hey, more importantly, Kodaka!"

Sena rambled on, perfectly ignoring my complaints.

"What kind of cell did you get?"

"...What kind? It's just a normal one..."

I answered, unsure of what she was asking.

"That. Is. Not. What. I. Meant! It's gotta have the name of the company or a serial number on it somewhere!"

"Eh... The company is ∀Ｕ. I don't know what kind it is."

"Then find out."

"Huhh?"

"Just do it!"

"...Fine, wait."

I put down the receiver and went back up to my room and flipped on the lights.

I took my cell in my hands, and found something that looked like a model number.

"Uhh, it's a M61b, I guess."

"An M61b by ∀Ｕ?"

"Yeah." I could hear her writing something down.

"Okay, I got it. See you later."

Ca-lick!

Announcing the end of her business she quickly hung up.

Just what in the world...

<div style="font-size:250%"><center>☺</center></div>

The next day.

Just before noon I got an untitled message from Yozora that said nothing other than "2 o'clock." so I sent a mail to Yozora, Rika, and Yukimura, my own mail titled "Today", that said "I'll be there around 2 o'clock too."

After I finished lunch, I left home so I'd get there around two.

While I was on the bus, I got a mail from Rika titled "Waiting Naked" which said "I'll be waiting for you naked, Kodaka-senpai♥ Ah, you just imagined Rika naked didn't you? Senpai you pervert♥"

"...Is she retarded?"

I gave her a quick reply of "retard".

A few minutes later yet another mail from Rika came.

The title was "Ass"... pushing the line with that one.

It read: "By the way, Yozora-senpai is totally naked too (*丿丿)kya~ As proof, I've attached an image of Yozora's cute little butt for you."

"Wha!?"

I let my voice slip in surprise, but after taking a good look at it I could see it was just a picture of her elbow.

...How old is she? 12?

Right after that, I got a mail from Yozora that said "That was Rika's arm just now." in the title field and nothing in the actual body. She must've been flustered when she wrote it. I also got another weird mail from Rika that came at nearly the same time as Yozora's with the title "Iyan♥" that said "Yozora-senpai hit Rika's butt with her fly swatter, Rika can't take it anymore s-stop itttt~~♥"

I sent Yozora a mail that said "I know." and ignored Rika.

I then got another mail, this time from Rika's laptop, with the title "The Truth" that read "Eh? Yozora-senpai, why are you taking Rika's panties off? Ahn~ I can't stand it, this is too embarrassing! Ahh, Don't lick me down thereee! I can't stop twitching each time I feel it! Yozora-senpai then whispered into the moaning Rika's ear, 'Here? Do you want it here? You dirty little girl.' She then gently blew on Rika's ears which caused Rika to lose all the strength in her body and (etc.)" I was reading her stupid mail, but the bus reached the school so I got off without finishing it.

Today was as hot as ever.

I entered the clubroom, where Yozora and Rika (who were obviously not naked) and Yukimura were waiting.

Yozora looked exhausted as she lay on the sofa.

Yozora pointed at Rika, and turned only her face to me as she said,

"Watch out Kodaka... she's, a freak..."

She barely managed to get even that out.

"Yeah, well... I already know that." I said.

As for the freak in question, she was currently typing away on her laptop.

It looked like she was writing a novel.

"Ah, Kodaka-senpai! Rika just recently discovered that yuri might not be all that bad! Rika thinks she might be okay with anything as long as it's erotic!"

"You're sure full of energy..."

I sat on the sofa, pitying Rika who seemed like she was about to launch herself into space.

"I have prepared tea."

Yukimura handed me a glass of barley tea.

"Thanks!"

I thanked Yukimura and happily took the drink from him.

Glug glug... I gulped the whole thing down at once.

...It wasn't hot or cold, just lukewarm tea.

"Would you like another?"

"Eh? Yeah, sure."

I took another glass of tea from Yukimura.

...It was warmer than before, but I still gulped it down pretty quickly.

"Here you are, Aniki."

"Thanks. Ah! That's hot..."

The third cup of tea was very hot, and not something I could just gulp down.

I looked at Yukimura, who was looking at me as though expecting something.

He was probably trying to imitate how Mitsunari Ishida gave Hideyoshi Toyotomi a cup of warm tea, then a slightly hot cup, and then a relaxing hot cup of tea to drink.

"...Umm... Mitsunari was a pretty thoughtful guy."

"It is an honor to receive your praise, Aniki."

I praised Yukimura, and he smiled bashfully.

"...But I still think cold barley tea is best. I won't let that one go."

"Is that so..."

Yukimura got a little depressed.

While relaxing and slowly drinking the hot tea from Yukimura, the door to the clubroom flew open all of a sudden.

"Heh heh, so you're all here, lowly commoners! Your goddess has come to you!"

It was Sena who opened the door.

"Ahh, hey." I said while sipping my tea.

Yukimura was stone faced, as usual.

Even Yozora, who'd usually make fun of her, only gave her a little glance as if to say she couldn't care less.

"You're letting the cold air out, can you close the door now?"

Rika coolly said, while still typing on her keyboard and not even looking over at Sena, to which Sena replied "Ah, sorry..." and quietly closed the door.

"I'm gonna get some sleep."

Yozora crossed her arms and closed her eyes.

"Uuu... W-why are you all so lifeless!?"

Sena ground her teeth, annoyed, and then said,

"I wonder, will you be able to stay like that after you see this!? Here, look at it Yozora!"

Sena quickly walked over to Yozora and held out a cell phone as though it were Mito Koumon's seal case.

"Heh, what do you think now? I asked Papa yesterday and he bought it for me!"

Sena said with the face of a delighted child.

"Hmph..."

Yozora opened her eyes a little, and then closed them again, uninterested.

"Huh, isn't that the same as mine?"

Sena's model matched the one I had. It was even the same gold color as mine.

"O-ohh... it is? W-what a coincidence!"

Sena's face turned a little red.

"Uh, no, not really..."

You called me in the middle of the damn night and asked me about it... before I could say that,

"...the same as Kodaka's?"

Yozora angrily said, and glared at Sena's cell phone.

"Hehe." Sena chuckled as though she'd just won some battle.

"Anyway, come on let's exchange addresses! Come on, hurry!"

"Eh? Okay..."

I took out my cell phone.

Yozora groaned as she looked at and compared our phones.

I got ready to use the infra-red rays I learned about yesterday.

"By the way, do you know how to do it this way?"

"Of course!" Sena said triumphantly and pointed her cell at me.

We quickly exchange addresses.

Sena had a big grin spread across her face as she stared at her phone's LCD.

"Haha... Here Yozora, I'll even do it with you."

"I have no need for your address."

Sena got caught off guard by Yozora's refusal.

"Hey! I went and bought one so just tell me your address!"

"...Do you want my address that much?"

"I-it's not like I want it or anything! I don't want to know it at all, but I figured I'd let you exchange with me since we're in the same club! You should be grateful!"

"I see, thank you. I'll make do with your feelings alone."

"I can't call you using my feelings alone!"

Yozora looked at Sena with her eyes full of disgust.

"...Hmph, making such a greedy face... look at this bitch. If you want it so badly then prove it to me."

"Prove it...? Ah, I'm not going to lick your feet, got it~? Uuu~ Fine, forget it, stupid Yozora!"

Sena ran out of the room with a few tears in her eyes.

"...She gives up so quick..."

Whispered Yozora, who looked just a little bit sad.

After Sena left, Yozora and I began reading like we always do.

About 15 minutes later, I got a message on my phone.

...it was from Sena.

"I'm gonna send that idiot Yozora a bunch of spam mail so tell me her address (^_^)"

"...So this is the first mail you send me...?"

And on top of that, Yozora, who was sitting next to me, peeked at it.

"...That stupid Meat..."

A smile found its way to Yozora's face for some reason.

"...Kodaka, let me see Meat's address. I might as well just tell her what mine is personally..."

...It was roughly 30 minutes later when Sena came running back into the clubroom, half in tears, to talk to us about a bunch of mails from an unknown address she kept getting that simply said either "Death" or "Curse".

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