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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter1

2012-02-13T08:44:14Z

Hayate90: /* Part 1 */

==Chapter 1: You are my spirit contractor==

=== Part 1 ===

In a quiet forest where the rays of the sun were shedding between the leaves' gaps.

"Paa--"

Suddenly, the rippling sound of water resounded in the air just like that.

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

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

Not only was she cute, but she was also a very beautiful female student. Her eyes were big and red like rubies, her cherry-red lips were bright and moist, 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--

Her twining red burning hair, which looked as sumptuous as handcrafted glass.

Of course, she was naked. Stark naked.

"......"

Kamito felt cold sweat on his back.

Not good.

It's really not good that she's naked.

......I should really go away quickly. Though he gave that rational advice to himself, his body wouldn't move. Actually, he continued staring, since a scene like this was lacking so much reality in it.

And at that time, the girl--
[[Image:STnBD V01 013.jpg|thumb]]
Her moist and beautiful eyes blinked, and showed herself in a completely naked posture to the intruder.

Tick.

The water drops fell from the young girl's bangs. The sound of the water rippled immediately woke up Kamito's counsciousness.

"Ah-that......"

Kamito coughed once, and removed his glance from the naked girl, who was standing there foolishly, and quietly moved out.

"How can I say it......it looks like an accident, right, to us this case is an unfortunate accident......"

At that time, Kamito made two errors that cost him his life. First was that the best choice was: Take advantage of the fact that the girl was standing there, and run away from the trouble immediately.

And the other error was--

"Even though it was an accident, I still looked at you in that situation, sorry, pardon me."

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

"Though, don't worry, no matter how you say it, I'm still a healthy boy, so I don't have that kind of interest. I......"

Looking at the young girl's small chest--

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

Looks like he stepped on a gigantic landmine.

"......"

The air suddenly froze and solidified.

The girl--remained silent, and lifted her twining red hair in a movement. Her shoulders were slightly shaking. But the reason wasn't because of the cold, but it seems that Kamito didn't pay attention to that point.

"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 hoisted.

"Haa!?"

As Kamito opened his eyes wide in surprise--

"Sixteen!? You're lying, right! How can you have such an incomplete chest--"

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

"......Unforgivable."

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

"D-Definitively unforgivable......you, youyou, you peeping demon, pervert, lewd animal!"

"How can I understand what the heck is lewd animal......" 

Kamito said that in a low voice.

"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--)

--- Guardian of Crimson’s blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!

--- In accordance with our blood contract, under my name I grant thee to hasten and join!

Came from the young girl's cute lips a smooth incantation in spirits’ language. At this instant, accompanied by the sound of an air blast, a scourging flame whip appeared in the hand of the girl.

(.....a Spirit Contractor!)

Kamito shouted in his head.

Spirit Contractor --- an existence from another dimensional layer’s of this world, the “Elemental Spiritual World”.

A Princess Miko who signed a contract with a fierce spirit from that place are called “Spirit Contractors”.

The Spirit Contractor can use different type of spirit, wielding its power freely.

It seems, the girl in front of him had a contract with a flame type spirit.

The young girl herself in her flesh was a Spirit Contractor, not something to be surprised about.

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

(.....Even it’s you, there's no way, you can use a spirit demon equipment)

The state of the spirit which are summoned into this world from the world of elemental spirits can be roughly divided into two types.

The first type is a massless, shapeless type that appears in its original state as a ‘Divine Core’. This is purely the summoning of a spirit's power, and was used as a vault of magical power for the spirit magic.

There is another type, the pure state of summoning a part of the spirit’s existence as it is. Because of the tremendous amount of power required and the difficulty of controlling it, it is said that only a tiny portion of the spirit contractors can do it until this extent.

Even so, the girl before his eyes is not just using spirit, but could use it to the extent of using the spirit as a most suitable spirit armor.

(.... it means that, eh? – Am I now in a life and death situation?)

The thought suddenly hit him, and Kamito pulled his cheek.

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

“You, you have guts..... “

The girl moaned with her trembling voice. She was having a red face, whether it was from anger, or her embarrassment.

“Rea-really, you have some nerve, to p-peek , while I, Claire Rouge, am taking my bath.....”

“Wai-wait, it’s a misunderstanding! Let me explain first!”

Kamito shook his head hastily.

“I will not listen to your excuses. You will be turned into ashes, you PERVERT!”

The flame whip ignited furiously in the wielder’s hand while the latter was speaking on the pond’s water surface.

“Oh..!?”

Kamito threw his body for mercy at this very instant.

Nearly at the same time, the flame whip brushed it's way over his head.

The idle red residue remaining from the trees which were cut off like a complete joke. The cut part of the tree trunk’s remains are unexpectedly clean, without any mark of being burned. So, in order to eaves the attacking speed, the flame didn’t need to spread itself to its surroundings.

Kamito’s hair on his forehead was fluttering down on his mouth while the back of his neck became chilly from the sweat on its surface.

(.....Um, are you joking? Me dying like this?)

Zing, biyutsu – a lightning speed crimson dancing slash inside the vast forest. While paying attention to his surroundings carefully, trying to forfeit from the battle by hiding himself, Kamito hurriedly rushed out.

“You wild beast, stay put and let me hit you!“

“ Nonsense, I’m not a pervert!“

Kamito cried out while the whip swings downward in his feet, a violent spark scatter. From the ground, the whip immediately springs up toward the direction of the forest woods which was ruthlessly severed. It was said that it’s a blessing in disguise, the girl - Claire's aim is less accurate. After all, one side of her hand is unfortunately hiding her chest from being revealed, while the most important part was being concealed in the pond in a bend down position. However, considering the ignorance of her position, and how she handles her whip, she was originally talented in using it.

“This, despite being a pervert, please obediently turn into charcoal!“

“As I am saying I’m not a pervert!“

Kamito begins to turn around and face the opposite direction – "in a manner that will" draw attention.

“Hey, are you sure you're hiding it properly? Between the gaps of your finger, you can’t hide it delicately.”

“......eh?”

Scowling in question. Claire’s facial expression froze. And-

“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!”

Deeply in red like a wonderful cute girlfriend screaming at its peak - she hide her chest quickly with both of her hands.

“Ah, idiot!”

Kamito involuntarily exclaimed.

Losing control of the grip of the flame whip in her hand, the tree behind the girl has been cut off. Slowly, the huge tree trunks came falling down at an angle. But, Claire didn’t notice it, her eyes were closed because of shyness,and looking at her chest while embracing it.

(Kusooo--)

In that instant, Kamito kicked the ground. Running with his whole strength towards the pond, he then jumped digging into Claire’s shoulder.

“Wha-!?”

Claire’s red pupils dilated widely. On the other hand, Kamito aggressively pressed her down in the water. Between the events, where Claire’s hand goes into the water, a gush of steam rose, and the flame whip disappeared. Immediately after, the big tree fell down, and the woods collapsed.

Duuuun!

A deafening sound which broke the ear. A magnificent large water column rose.

Absorbing the burning flame, a heavy rain descended neatly into the pond water with good acceleration.

..... With some few moments later.

“Um......“

With such a seductive rising voice, Claire slowly opened her eyes. Shocked facial expression, her eyes blinked in wonder. Kamito lying above Claire, while staring into her eyes. If someone pushes his back lightly, as a man his lips will likely touch, due to their sensitively close distance. The nape where the twining red hair is stuck. The wet cherry red colored lips. The brittle doll like perfect feature, before his eyes. One scowl ends it all, with an unintentional blush, hurriedly shaking it off.

“......Um are you okay? Are you hurt..”

Single mindedly, Claire nods. Somehow in a situation yet to be understood. Kamito sighed, then stands up into the hot weather.

Funyuu.

His hand under the water, touched something soft.

“Hwaaah!”

(What is it? Mud?--)

Funyu. Munyu.

“Hm, ya, hwaaa”

From her moist lips came a shallow sweet voice. Exploring Claire’s body soaked in the water, something pink bounced out in the water.

“Um ..this is?”

From here onwards, Kimito finally arrived in a certain male theory. Something......awfully terrible childish conclusion.

(No, let’s hope, calm down, maybe --- its different?)

It can’t be. There’s no such thing. While letting a flow of cold sweat, he deliberately tries to deny such expectation.

“Wh..wha.. wha..whattt .... are..you...do..ing”

Claire’s lip tremble from shaking involuntarily. Blushing face. Her eyes are in tears.

Apparently, it’s probably not.....a lump of mud which he picked up.

“You, PERVERT----!”

“Guwah!”

Considering him being hit hard by a knee kick in the stomach, Kimito collapse into the pond's water.

Gugugugugu....!

With the wobbling heat energy behind her starts to accumulate, Claire immediately stood up. In that time, the flame whip which is the incarnation of flame spirit was again grasped in her hand. The water in the pond with one scowl starting to boil and bubbles begins 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 a loud deafening sound which breaks the ear, Kamito’s body whirled highly into the air.

=== Part 2 ===

“.....Un”

Few minutes later. Kamito starts to recover his consciousness, before his eyes, a tree within the forest unfold.

Happening trying to rise---

Suddenly, he notices something which was coiled around his neck.

A leather black whip for torturing. (What is this thing…), while trying to remove it,

“Finally woke up, You Peeping Tom Pervert”

The thing on his neck tightens.

“Gweh!? Release me....”

Kamito coughed then looked upward-

Scarlet haired young girl – Claire, swing her hand to her hips. Keeping her slim eyebrow arc raised, her sharp gaze looked down to Kamito.

This time with no sense of protection, the girl is wearing her adorable uniform. The pattern of black line within the pure white, (Areishia Spirit Academy)’s uniform.

The ribbon tie which decorates the chest origin. Instead of a button, a talisman was sewn on it. Two smooth stockings sticking out brilliantly, in her slender beautiful legs. The tiny ribbon hanging her left and right blazing crimson hair. The so called twin tail named hair style. Looking in her still wet hair, it seems that he hasn’t lost consciousness that much period of time.

Claire while tightens the neck of Kamito, her small chest bent a little.

“Well, be grateful. I’m going easy and didn’t kill you”

“I lied. I will definitely kill you!”

“Why am I saying this? Because, I seriously want you to turn into ash”

..... Saying it in a terrible calm manner.

Incidentally, about the obliterated coal, a new fire which was extinguished will result into a soft charcoal.

“The coal which was gained from you will be greedily put into forgiveness. I will give you one last time to respond”

“Yeah, I’m a fair noble person, I’ll certainly listen and calmly evaluate. You are more than an average pervert, in a highly pervert way”

“My evaluation that you are a pervert after all will not change. I’m asking you high pervert, are you seriously more than an average pervert?”

“Wh.. Why.....did you try to help, ee..even, touch, my breast!”

Exerting more effort thinking about it, Claire suddenly shy face turns to red.

(What?)

A particular female response –

Kamito half considered it.

.....Our guy, by any chance a dense person?

“My, our gloomy princess, has a perverted hobby of having fun by whipping a man”

Teasing nonchalantly -

“What!? Wr, Wro, Wrong, I’m not such thing!”

In a sure quick immediately response. (Kaatsu)Shake one's head up and her ears are in bright red in irritation.

“He.. Hey, do you really like to whip that badly?”

“.....m! Wha... What.. are...you..sayi..ng?”

Twirling turning around eyes, a steam puff out in young Claire’s shining pair head. That time creating confusion to a certain degree.

(Oh, as I expected....)

Kamito in his heart smiled bitterly.

(This girl, is really easy to read)

Perhaps, this girl is not that special. After all, at Areishia Spirit Academy, they are gathering female scholars based with their spirit contract. The elemental spiritual world’s spirit can only communicate solely with a pure woman. Even among them which can summon a lonesome spirit, is holding a divine spiritual strength in a certain degree, Spirit Contractor’s connection blood strengthens through marriage of many generations, as a lineage of pure noble young woman.

To maintained, the female’s purity of mind and body, since childhood, they are kept away from males in a boundary as a strict education. The so called Spirit Contractor designated teaching area. However, the entire young women in this institute, which are not accustomed to man, are overly boxed into an elder sister ideal.

Knowing the girl’s unexpectedly weak spot, Kamito in that time is maliciously suffering in her weapon. In a knee standing position, looking up to Claire’s bright red face-

“Um, sometime ago, as am I saying to you deliberately ”

“......Wha, What are you, Pervert!”

“This angle, I can see your panties”

“Fuwah!”

Tears begun to float in her crimson eyes, Claire hastily pressed down her skirt with both hands.

“Did you see?”

“With a glance, you are unexpectedly quite daring. It has the same color of your hair”

“......The, The fuck, It’s not red, It’s White, White!”

“So, it’s white”

“......ha!?”

Being hit by a sudden realization, Claire bit her lips-

“U, uuuuuuuuuh~”

..... She let out a huge cry.

With the sudden reaction, Kamito panicked. “What a slut unladylike person, confessing the color of her own panties” and, still teasing her more....true summer came for the poor.

The chance given by Claire’s temper, the whip was fired unwinding his neck,

“My bad, that was quite fun. Sorry”

Standing up, and then hold the girl’s head, which his hand place above there. Claire in that time stops crying, and then her face shows up.

“I have seen your naked body while bathing, then your breast.... which I badly touched as well. But I will not move. Please believe me”

“Wha, What.....”

The truthfulness in Kamito’s eye, Claire in her eyes, is really genuine.

“....You, What is this. If you are not a pervert, then '''why are you here?'''”

Naturally she doubted. This forest is under the jurisdiction of Areishia Spirit Academy, known as “Spirit Forest”. There’s a principle that an elder sister can never meet any man inside the academy, in regards with her feelings.

In that place, illicit sexual relationship is against the moral code, which is strictly not to be violated by anyone.

“I was, called here by Greyworth”

“Greyworth..... by the academy director!?”

Claire became more doubtful in that given situation. Indeed, it’s not something, not to be doubt about.

“I’m not lying. Look, here’s the evidence”

Kimito shruged his shoulders, inside his burned coat’s pocket, he took out a one sheet withered letter. The letter’s writings are from the renowned academy director. Also, 5 big pure spirits appears in a form which symbolize as a rank badge seal pressed down on it.

“Is....that, the country’s obi number one rank badge seal!?”

Claire in her dismay, a shallow voice let out in her lips. A number one rank badge seal is an amnesty badge seal produced through a special method of sealing a spirit. The country’s obi distributed the rank badge seal to those who are worthy to be called inside, by the best highest position; the reply on it is in absolute secrecy and should never tell to anyone.

In a natural manner, fixing her gaze in his groin, the article on it is not some female thing that can contract a spirit, in a glance that’s the genuine thing in his hip.

“.....It seems the real thing. But, why would the academy director call a man here?”

“Well, that Old woman is my guardian Greyworth, I’m really confused about it”

“That.. that Old woman!?”

Just like that, Claire’s face draws closer.

The Twilight Witch – in her town, Greyworth is a spirit soldier which was sighted as an Elder Sister having an enraged personality. It was said that within the Orudeshia country obi, she was popular having a dance that rival the most powerful dance ever known. One of the twelve elite general which retired from the group of the most powerful spirit elder soldier, It was noted that a dozen of years later, gain a reputation as a legendary witch which was being feared and revered with respect by other.

(The truth is, lately, I’m having a nightmare about that person....)

In that time, when the letter writing has been tucked away. Kamito’s shoulders shrugged.

“With a little fortune from Greyworth, I have came all the way here. but, the academy ground is very large, so I have lost my way”

Areishia Spirit Academy ground is incredibly very vast. After all, the Academy City covers all the mountain range, also, spreading farther more into the Spirit forest owning the whole perimeter of it.

“Then, you were misled dumbfounded by the Spirit Forest, Is that it?”

“.....Yes, that’s it”

Claire puffs into laughter, while Kamito gently nodded.

In the peaceful large ground of the sunny spirit forest exists, the elemental spiritual world’s "Portal" which connects and threatens this world with stray soul. Mostly of the spirit, has no interest in the humankind, but they harmlessly loves to play pranks by deliberately misleading travelers into the puzzled forest. In any event a person was misled by the spirit into the forest; one should look for the academy road which will guide them out from the wilderness.

“Anyway, I’m really glad that I had met a person, in these difficult and horrible Spirit Forest. from here onward, how should I get in the academy?”

“Hey.....for your own information, I shall tell you, that there’s a two hours of walk from here towards the Academy”

“What, that far!?”

To avoid being misled by the spirit of the forest, one should walk away in such a pattern. The academy students here are females, and they are close in this vicinity, so they have thought a way around it.

(.....hmm? why are these people, bathing in this kind of place?)

From this plain forest, a sudden question arises. Certainly today is a very hot day, to come and take a bath and rest here, incidentally for a male to set foot inside the academy in such places. In any case, this girl is not the only girl in the academy, except that she was the one been put into shame.

Being asked, Claire dug her hands into her wet twin tail hair trying to comb it,

“I was here for the spirit fissure’s membrane. Brushing aside it, the spring water here, has the highest holy quality are there. And do you know that spirits like a woman which has a pure mind and body?”

“Spirit’s Fissure?”

He uttered a word then, a crack in his left hand’s leather gloves, Zukyu – a throbbing pain. Kamito face grimace, from the burning sharp pain.

“Going away from this place, there is an ancient holy sword in a certain historical shrine. Rumors state that there is a fierce and powerful “Spirit Seal” which holds something in that place, since the foundation of the academy. While no one can, a princess miko successfully place it. Likely, a highly powerful spirit can be found there”

Spirit Seal – is a medium that holds the demon spirit from the elemental spiritual world.

Since ancient times, some of powerful spirit contractor have sealed their spirits inside their arms and equipments. Mostly some of them are the one’s being feared by man that brings forth disaster in ancient society, such as, a demon god, rabbit god and etc.

Of course, it's the human spirit contractor can't deals with. Due, to the huge fear of ancient spirit contractor, they sealed them into the arms and equipment by lamenting them two times.

“You, there’s no way you can manage a sealed spirit?”

“It seems that you are saying something?”

“Stop, it’s too dangerous”

“Hmm, rest assured. It’s not that I’m well accustomed as a spirit contractor, nor I’m not that well aware of the danger of it, but, you know, I really want a strong spirit”

Claire muttered, bitten her tightly close lips.

In a serious facial expression, Kamito involuntarily shuts his own mouth.

“But, you, how about the pear amount of flame spirit sometime ago? That thing quite a powerful spirit, did you not raise that guy properly?”

A Flame Spirit, as the Spirit’s nature which is not that unusual. But, in a certain degree the spirit is a “Spirit Demon Equipment” summoned by a spirit contractor, that is not quite a handful in number inside the country obi. Besides, there’s a limit of quantity of pure spirit errand that a person can holds, it’s not the case that it’s not possible, but – spirit interference can deteriorate the balance of divine energy flow in the body, unless that someone has an innate talent to control it.

“'''Scarlett''' you're an important partner. But-”

“I want power”- and, Claire calmly raised her neck.

“I have only one goal. And that is, to have a strong spirit”

=== Part 3 ===

Fluffily swinging crimson twin tail on her back, Kamito followed her inside the forest. Claire in her leather shoe sandals, while having a hard time walking and expectedly having an accumulated secant of her spirit errand was walking in a light frivolous way.

“Here”

Then, suddenly her well proportion 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 ”

“I’m lost, and 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. Crake’s origin?”

Crake is a large harmonious country obi in the eastern region. The Orudeshia language and culture, largely differs in terms in the relationship of people with spirits.

“No, It’s not Crake. I was born in a far remote island minority group village”

Kamito intentionally obscure his own statement. Certainly, he was born in an eastern island country, but, larger half of his childhood life was not spent there.

“Your name is quite a rare taste and mine is, 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 face blushes, then suddenly change back to her former direction, and briskly walk faster than usual.

Claire Rouge ---- obviously a Pseudonymn.

Most of the students attending the Areishia Spirit Academy, in their young age learned to use the accumulated secant of their spirit, like today’s noble young girl is doing. But, Rouge residence is an unheard family name. For hiding a noble family name, she must have some reason for it, and finding more explanation about it is detrimental.

(.....Anyone, wants to achieved their own inner hidden desire)

Kamito with his eyes glancing in the direction of his decaying left hand inside his leather glove.

Even I -

Claire with her foot movement keeps advancing steadily. Kamito hastily chased the twin tail swaying in her back. Now, losing sight of Claire inside the forest will bring only trouble for him. The dangers of spending one night inside the “Spirit Forest”- is the thing Kamito being aware of.

“Is that dress the academy uniform?”

“Yah”

Claire while walking nods in a coldly manner.

Areishia Spirit Academy Uniform is a robust protective garment that acts as a guard, which undergone spirit’s protection, and sacred in nature which was improve surely enough to last long. The good thing is that a pear amount of spirits acts as a high ceremonial clothes.

“What, are you saying that I don’t harbor value on it?”

“No, it’s not like that. Honestly speaking”

Kamito shrugged his shoulder, and then honestly answer it. Bad mouthing knocking over someone’s – grandfather’s wardrobe, is the overall situation that anyone should avoid.

“Wha, Whatt, What are you saying! I, I’m not an Idiot!”

(Kaatsu) Claire blushes in deep red, while (Pyun-Pyun) waving her whip.

“Uwahh, Calm down!”

“You, you, are you trying to tell me to do a weird thing!”

“''I saying a weird thing?, I am just saying that - *in pain*, I know, I know, because, I’m in disadvantage one on one against your whip!''”

(....phew, it was necessary to tell her a battle strategy, unexpectedly to meet a chaperone princess here)

While dodging the whip which was swing downward in a paper width difference, Kamito sighed in his mind. The holy blade removing any markings on its way inside the forest, creating a gap in the place, then stopped in an arched way. Claire interfere by restraining the extension force with the tip of her fingers, unwinding its circulation in that place in just an ample of time, Kamito expression then calms down.

“From here onwards, it will be really dangerous, so, stay away from me by one meter”

“If you know that it’s dangerous, why not stop?”

“As am I saying, I need to have a strong spirit”

Claire calmly shook his head, when her pair of legs stumbles upon the small shrine.

Disregarding her warnings, Kamito followed her. As for coming about a necessity of battle strategy as his pretext reason, but the truth is, he was just worry about Claire.

After all “Sealed Spirit” are strong and in the same time has a wild nature. They prefer destruction and chaos, the possibility that they would murder that someone who employs them as a spirit errand would likely to happen.

The frightful hand of humanity can not manage to terminate it --- therefore, they have sealed it.

Sixteen years of age, Claire with such an innate talent of manipulating a spirit, and revered as a deity. However, by any chance, she would release a sealed spirit; she would fail to control it.

Accidentally, the girl encountered the thing we are talking about, but to be overlooked by her.

“Why did you follow me? Do you not understand the situation”

“You sure have the confidence that you will completely tame it”

“Of, Ofcourse!”

“If there’s any problem tell me”

Kamito shrugged his shoulder and, Claire facing him while not paying any attention.

“....Suit Yourself”

Inside the shrine is a dark gloomy misty atmosphere. Mingling in the air inside are tiny fumes of stinking odor, Claire somewhat frowning from disgust.

“......Flame, Bring Light”

Claire from her fingertip, a fire ball immediately starts to glow. The Fire Spirit’s power when summoned gives some basic fundamental spirit magic. The flickering light of the fire ball dimly illuminate the walls of the shrine.

And, from the innermost of the shrine --- It was severed.

“The.....container of the sealed spirit was severed?”

Kamito muttered, while Claire quietly nods.

Stabbed standing in a huge stone with its omitted severed body. A hundred century old seal grade framework severed disconnected in the broken rusty sashimi knife with its wholeness is missing. In its cut off belly, a delicate ancient red inscription dimly radiates palely.

“In this place lies our former beloved, Saint Severian Academy”

“Saint Severian? That was destroyed by Demon King Sulaiman?”

Demon King Sulaiman --- accompanied by his seventy two powerful spirit followers, demolished a major peace agreement which brought chaos in the world, and '''the only man in history that can control a spirit errand'''.

It was said that demon king destroyed the Saint Severian Academy.

“Idiot, there’s no way that’s the real thing”

Claire state being engrossed by it.

“In all the places within the country obi, why is that it is stabbed in this stone. This place used to be a village, I wonder why in a deserted village. Now, there’s no way it’s genuine from that severed thing as our lead, It’s reasonable enough because it’s not always the case where a sealed spirit is a strong one”

“.....Indeed. Certainly, It’s not like there’s no such place exist..”

Claire determined with her blade walks toward to him.

“Hey....”

“You stay back”

Approaching Kamito which hands are being restrained, Claire clenched the hilt of her holy blade.

“Don’t overwork yourself ”

“....Got it”

Kamito barely lightly reached the bag guarding the thing on it. The other person in his side which is reluctantly not motivated about the sealed spirit. In the first time, a mature serious silence atmosphere is between them.

“.....Move, Claire Rouge”

Claire breathing deeply murmured informing her own body. A voice meekly trembles from her. A truly complicated scene it was.

--- Thy Sealed Old Holy Blade, Oh Noble Spirit!

--- Wave, I as your master yields your contract, Grind as I wave your scabbard along!

A spell coming from her cherry colored lips, a yang spirit language, contract ritual. The red lotus filaments dancing in the air, inside the shrine a roaring wind vortex begins to accumulate. 　

Kamito gulps his breath, looking in her female appearance. The spirit whose recognized master is Claire, once exchange each other a contract, within her female body there should be a spirit carved seal engraved. A contract vow is a final seal agreement. In this moment, a gust of wind swept inside the shrine.

“......eh?”

But, Claire is unfazed. She calmly recite her contract vow.

---And, the female clenched the Severian’s holy blade, a blinding light released from it.

(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.

Because the holy blade was stabbed in the stone, she was hitting it while releasing a tremendous divine energy. If it was an average spirit errand, she would have already passed out.

“---Three times, I order to wave, wave, I grant thee to plunge!”

And, Claire’s vow reverberates inside the shrine --- in that instant.

Chaaaarge!

“Co, Come out, Come out!”

“.....What, seriously!?”

The blade came out of the stone then brandished it overhead, Claire exclaimed with joy. And then followed by a question mark.

The ancient system engraved in its belly; release a powerful intense brilliant light!

“......ha!?”

Claire involuntarily release from her hand the blade ---

The holy blade thrust into the ground, in that time, the light scattered into pieces.

“Kyaaaaah!”

A short shriek flew, then Claire collapse into the ground.

“Hey, are you okay!”

Kamito quickly run towards Claire.

“Wha, What? Ouch, What is....”

Claire holding her temple trying to get up, quickly stepped back then looked around.

“My, My sealed spirit?”

“No, I....can sense something terrible”

Kamito from the back of his neck, sweats are flowing intensely. A terrified facial expression, with his eyes in the shrine’s ceiling. In that place, '''swinging while floating in the air was the blade'''.

It's not the familiar loose broken blade in that place. But, It was a rough sharpness good quality steel blade.

“Is that.....the sealed spirit’s knife!?”

“Can’t you really not tell that’s a '''spirit sword''', rather it’s not time for that”

“The spirit errand is here, but why can’t it understand me”

“As I can see it can understand. Maybe, in its eyes, that thing just can’t comprehend which of us was his faithful master”

“.....umm, It seems like that”

Claire unusual obediently bows her head.

The floating sword slants pointing its tip in a downward direction, exactly motionless.

Then ---

“.....H, Hide!”

Kamito in that instant, push down Claire in the ground. A buzzing sound of an insect grazed contaminating the ear which can’t go away that far in one’s neighborhood.

“Wai, Waa, Wait, where are you touching me, I will turn you into charcoal!”

It was clearly that Claire’s face is deeply red in her carelessness, while in the other hand, Kamito’s heart is beating faster.

“Idio, Idiot, violent!”

Kamito quickly step aside her body, the spirit sword flew away, taking their attention looking on it with their both eyes.

A clattering sound, a flakes fragment of rocks falls down. The shrine’s ceiling was completely cut open cleanly.

“As expected, that spirit came to loose ---”

Claire scowled half opened eye towards Kamito.

“......umm the spirit, completely run wild”

“You, You’re Noisy. Fro.. From Here Onwards, You Will Be Obedient To Me!”

“YOU....”

Kamito surprised, now in a situation which he can’t even talked back.

The spirit sword releases a chattering noise approaching to them. Inside the shrine, it was moving freely swiftly in the air, without any restriction in its area.

Kamito grabbed Claire’s hand, trying to pull her to stand up. Touching each other soft skin, (Doki) a heart beat, then both of them regrettable turn’s each other face away.

“Hwaah”

“Always has a cute reaction. Let's flee”

“Wha.. whaa. whatt.. Cute.. what me, Kyaa!”

“Let’s run outside!”

Pulling Claire’s hand with his hand, while running towards the direction of the shrine’s exit basking with sunshine.

The spirit sword immediately chased after them. As of now it was not yet completely awakens. But later, the opportunity given by this may cause them not able to run away.

Outside of the shrine, the sword wavering tumble came out in a lightning speed in their front. The spirit sword let out a tremendous roar, the surrounding trees successively certainly knocked down.

“Crazy, What a shrewd Spirit, Let’s go somewhere safe my Princess”

“alwa, always, you’re noisy...”

In this time, an awkward atmosphere is between them, and then suddenly an uncomfortable cough breaks the silence, Claire stands up.

“What a rebellious child.....I will give you some proper training”

Her pair crimson eyes which was burning with a fierce determination, saying it in a way as if she was planting rice to be harvest later. Tearing off her Skirt, then took the leather whip which was coiled in her thigh, hitting it hard in the ground. And the other one looking in a shocked manner over the white underwear, it was Kamito -

“Are you insane!? You’re opponent is a high rank sealed spirit!”

“Easy victory, I’m not lower than an amateur like you”

“Where are you getting all of your confidence?, It’s better to run away”

Being grabbed in the wrist by Kamito’s hand, Claire repulses.

“No, you yourself escape. I will absolutely get this guy”

“You, for what reason --- do you need a strong spirit that badly?”

“.....You will never understand”

Claire in that time averts her eyes.

“I want...a strong spirit, not just a spirit but an unbeatable very strong spirit!”

--- Guardian of Crimson’s blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!

--- In accordance with the blood contract, under my name I grant thee to hasten and join!

Claire summoned her “Flame Spirit” by singing a summoning ritual. A crimson flame surges and she was engulfed by a hot air surrounding her.

“Here, In accordance with your seal descend, Scarlett!”

In the same time a typical young flame, there appeared – a Scarlet Red Hell Cat. Instead of a fur, it was a blazing scarlet red colored flame, wrapping the beast body.

(Is that the real form of her flame spirit!?)

Indeed, she really blurted out that thing here. To manifested a beast form, is a proof that thing is a high rank spirit. Stating Scarlett as a name with great affection, perhaps it was not really that spirit name, but a name with the same quality.

Claire wields her whip, and the hell cat growl a frightful roar, then rushed towards the sword spirit. A dancing sparks scattered. The atmosphere trembled and the beast roars. The floating spirit sword whistles, and all the trees from their direction was severely cut down.

“Scarlett, in accordance with your seal!”

In response to Claire’s shout, the hell cat jumps. There above in the sky where the spirit sword is flying, the sharp blazing claws swings down. A high pitched shrill sound. An intense sparks sprinkle, and the spirit sword dropped in the ground.

Claire runs at the same time. Without even a single scratch on it. The spirit sword rise and fly in a split second, rolling over drawing an arc in the air.

The flame spirit chased after it, trying not to loose it from its hands. Again a big jump, hindering it from rising higher.

Two times the rage, a spark scattered. Clare strikes hard the ground with her leather whip, attaching it into the spirit sword cornering it. Battling it with her leather whip in a tug of war, in that time she gave a signal to her spirit.

Scarlett fiercely attack, the spirit sword which was held from moving --- back and forth.

“Eat this, burning fire ball!”

Claire in her palm a huge fire ball was released.

Fire Ball – An ultrahigh burning fire which can terribly burn out anything as its target in the face of the earth, it was a high level spirit magic. The spirit magic’s power, determined by the spirit contractor’s own divine spiritual energy and the contracted spirit’s strength as a whole.

The released fire ball solitarily flew into the air, blowing up involving Scarlett. The after effect of the explosion in the area, causing every tree to be burned down, is like a scene from the blazing hell.

(What Power......)

At the same time carried by the winds are small stones, Kamito refusing himself to be wind up.

Sixteen years old girl can’t possible have used such powerful spirit magic.

Inside the swirling fire the hell cat figure shows up. Naturally, the hell cat can’t possibly be harmed by the blazing fire as its nature.

The spirit sword – in any case seemed to be quiet. It does not seem hurt waiting in that place. Regardless, Claire wants to bring down that thing with her high level spirit magic without any hesitation. But, the spirit sword is being cautious by pulling itself in that place.

“Scarlett!”

Claire exclaimed. The flame spirit clawed attacked the spirit sword in that place. Melting the iron steel with its scourging hot claws. In any case that’s your average spirit ones neighbor, it would be instantly eradicated. But, the spirit sword quickly turned around, and splendidly perceived by its steel sword body.

In an instant. A metal rubbing each other, strange sound reverberated in the trembling atmosphere.

“Wh...Why?....”

Kamito suppressed his both ears with his hands.

The sound properly received by Claire which has a distorted facial expression from pain, crouching in that place.

The spirit sword which released the strange sound - in such a manner, changed. Generally, it was the length of the sword, switching into a huge “long sword”.

In a flash.

“What!?”

Claire’s flame spirit unexpectedly strike, a huge swing one attack which was immediately countered attack. The body was severely cut down into two, and the flame wrapping on its body vanished in the empty lot.

In that one mistake, one can realized the strength which was about to lost in this world.

(....Damn, what a mistake. It seems that thing was waiting there to completely awaken.)

A curse from the bottom of her heart, Clare took a glance -

In the empty lot where the flame spirit is dying, the girl with her stunned blank eyes looked up at the same time.

The flame spirit which was attacked decapitated thrown away by the spirit sword, Clare aimed her determined sight on it.

From the huge long sword, a loud sound flew -

“Claire!”

Kamito shouted while running, with no such reason, his own body just moved before he known it.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Diving in front of Clair, the long sword stabbed its blade into his palm. It was not his left hand enclosed by the leather glove – it's his right hand.

(……I, I’m helpless ! )

--- Thy Sealed Old Holy Blade, Oh Noble Spirit!

--- Wave, I as your master yields your contract, Grind as I wave your scabbard along!

A huge amount of sweats is floating, it’s the second time the exchanging of spirit contract ritual was recited. Thrusting deeply into his hands, the tip of the sword breaks the leather surrounding his palm. The red blood gushed intensely from it.

(.....Gwaah, Gah!)

A fierce attack of divine energy, the soil and sands surrounding them are whirling up from the wind pressure. In his consciousness a sharp pain resounded. But, Kamito tried not to lose his consciousness, protecting Clare from his back no matter what happens.

--- Three times, I order to wave!

“.....No way, a Spirit Contract!?”

A surprised sound from Clare’s throat.

A mark from his sinking foot can be seen in the ground. And, the sound of his breaking bones resounds from his knee cap.

--- Wave, I grant thee to plunge!

Withstanding the terrible sharp pain, Kamito finished his last word of the contract ritual.

In that exact moment. The spirit sword’s blade palely radiates.

(What!?)

An intense flash and a roar filled his consciousness.

=== Part 4 ===

As he opened his eyes, Claire Rouge’s face was there. Hanging lower into his face was her twin tailed hair tickling his face.

It was a shout, but, it can’t be heard. A roar which can breaks one’s ear.

(.....It appears, I’m alive)

Weary lying on the ground, Kamito is breathing heavily. Lowering his head, it seems that he can’t believe himself that he had won against the spirit.

Raising his eyebrow, he grimaced from the torment pain from his body, raising his right hand slowly.

In his right hand which was stabbed -

Instead of a wound, a two sword crossing each other emblem was engraved on it.

It was the proof of the spirit contract vow - The spirit carved seal.

(Aah, this is....?)

Staring closely in the carved seal from the back of his hand, Kamito wondered.

A sharp sense of guilt gauged his heart.

Is that mean that female’s contract has been destroyed ---

But, Claire who has a relieved expression, in such situation she had failed.

Claire noticed Kamito who just woke up, with her hands in his nape and her face approaching him. A relieved sighed. With her clear crimson eyes, looking at Kamito. Her cherry colored lips weakly trembled.

“......Why ”

"Why, you’re a male, how can you contract a spirit!”

“......”

Kamito does not answer and slowly rise up. Being ignored, the annoyed Clare raised her eyebrows.

“My, My Sword Spirit!?”

“My bad. Just a moment ago, I had contracted on it”

Kamito sighed and at the same time he has shown to her from the back of his right hand, the spirit carved seal engraved on it.

“Wha, Whaa, Wha, Whaaaat!”

Claire stunned expression with her mouth wide open.

(Well, A natural reaction....)

A long sighed --- Kamito felt a faint ache in his heart. Of course, he could clearly understand such response. In a sense, that only undefiled maiden are the ones who has the privilege for --- the spirit contract.

The existence of a man which can simultaneously contract a spirit, through out the history, belongs solely to one person. And the one who brings chaos and destruction in the world, the so called Demon King spirit contractor.

The same spirit contract strength as the Demon King, Kamito was grabbed by the terror of his thought which he can’t embrace.

Kamito stands up and quietly turns back.

He does not regret. He had helped the girl, because this is the only way, he could think of.

“Wait, as am I saying Wait!”

Leaving away from that place, in his back a voice addressed him.

Turning around, Claire with her hands in her hips intensely glared to him.

"You stole...my spirit...you have to take responsibility for it!"

“Huh?”

Kamito conceal his frown. ....It does not make sense to him.

In such reaction of Kamito, Claire acting impatient with her twin tailed hair in her shoulder,

“I should have been the one who had obtained that spirit, as am I saying, you have to take responsibility for it”

“Re..sponsibility?”

From the unexpected word, Kamito has become more confused.

....What was the girl saying.

“Therefore....”

Claire wields her whip then she points her index finger toward Kamito.

"You have to become my contracted spirit!"

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| Forward to [[Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter1

2012-02-13T08:23:58Z

Hayate90: /* Part 1 */

==Chapter 1: You are my spirit contractor==

=== Part 1 ===

In a quiet forest where the rays of the sun were shedding between the leaves' gaps.

"Paa--"

Suddenly, the rippling sound of water resounded in the air just like that.

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

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

Not only was she cute, but she was also a very beautiful female student. Her eyes were big and red like rubies, her cherry-red lips were bright and moist, 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--

Her twining red burning hair, which looked as sumptuous as handcrafted glass.

Of course, she was naked. Stark naked.

"......"

Kamito felt cold sweat on his back.

Not good.

It's really not good that she's naked.

......I should really go away quickly. Though he gave that rational advice to himself, his body wouldn't move. Actually, he continued staring, since a scene like this was lacking so much reality in it.

And at that time, the girl--
[[Image:STnBD V01 013.jpg|thumb]]
Her moist and beautiful eyes blinked, and showed herself in a completely naked posture to the intruder.

Tick.

The water drops fell from the young girl's bangs. The sound of the water rippled immediately woke up Kamito's counsciousness.

"Ah-that......"

Kamito coughed once, and removed his glance from the naked girl, who was standing there foolishly, and quietly moved out.

"How can I say it......it looks like an accident, right, to us this case is an unfortunate accident......"

At that time, Kamito made two errors that cost him his life. First was that the best choice was: Take advantage of the fact that the girl was standing there, and run away from the trouble immediately.

And the other error was--

"Even though it was an accident, I still looked at you in that situation, sorry, pardon me."

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

"Though, don't worry, no matter how you say it, I'm still a healthy boy, so I don't have that kind of interest. I......"

Looking at the young girl's small chest--

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

Looks like he stepped on a gigantic landmine.

"......"

The air suddenly froze and solidified.

The girl--remained silent, and lifted her twining red hair in a movement. Her shoulders were slightly shaking. But the reason wasn't because of the cold, but it seems that Kamito didn't pay attention to that point.

"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 hoisted.

"Haa!?"

As Kamito opened his eyes wide in surprise--

"Sixteen!? You're lying, right! How can you have such an incomplete chest--"

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

"......Unforgivable."

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

"D-Definitively unforgivable......you, youyou, you peeping demon, pervert, lewd animal!"

"How can I understand what the heck is lewd animal......" 

Kamito said that in a low voice.

"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--)

--- Guardian of Crimson’s blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!

--- In accordance with our blood contract, under my name I grant thee to hasten and join!

Came from the young girl's cute lips a smooth incantation in spirits’ language. At this instant, accompanied by the sound of an air blast, a scourging flame whip appeared in the hand of the girl.

(.....a Spirit Contractor!)

Kamito shouted in his head.

Spirit Contractor --- an existence from another dimensional layer’s of this world, the “Elemental Spiritual World”.

A Princess Miko who signed a contract with a fierce spirit from that place are called “Spirit Contractors”.

The Spirit Contractor can use different type of spirit, wielding its power freely.

It seems, the girl in front of him had a contract with a flame type spirit.

The young girl herself in her flesh was a Spirit Contractor, not something to be surprised about.

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

(.....Even it’s you, there's no way, you can use a spirit demon equipment)

The state of the spirit which are summoned into this world from the world of elemental spirits can be roughly divided into two types.

The first type is a massless, shapeless type that appears in its original state as a ‘Divine Core’. This is purely the summoning of a spirit's power, and was used as a vault of magical power for the spirit magic.

There is another type, the pure state of summoning a part of the spirit’s existence as it is. Because of the tremendous amount of power required and the difficulty of controlling it, it is said that only a tiny portion of the spirit contractors can do it until this extent.

Even so, the girl before his eyes is not just using spirit, but could use it to the extent of using the spirit as a most suitable spirit armor.

(.... it means that, eh? – Am I now in a life and death situation?)

The thought suddenly hit him, and Kamito pulled his cheek.

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

“You, You, you have guts..... “

The girl moaned with her trembling voice. She was having a red face, whether it was from anger, or her embarrassment.

“Rea-really, you have some nerve, to peek , while I, Claire Rouge, am taking my bath.....”

“Wai-wait, it’s a misunderstanding! Let me explain first.”

Kamito shook his head hastily.

“I will not listen to your excuses. You will be turned into ashes, you PERVERT!”

The flame whip ignited furiously in the wielder’s hand while the latter was speaking on the pond’s water surface.

“Oh..!?”

Kamito threw his body for mercy at this very instant.

Nearly at the same time, the flame whip brushed it's way over his head.

The idle red residue remaining from the trees which were cut off like a complete joke. The cut part of the tree trunk’s remaining are unexpectedly clean, without any mark of being burned. So, in order to eaves attacking speed, the flame didn’t need to spread itself to its surroundings.

Kamito’s hair on his forehead was fluttering down on his mouth while the back of his neck became chilly from the sweat on its surface.

(.....Um, are you joking? Me dying like this?)

Zing, biyutsu – a lightning speed crimson dancing slash inside the vast forest. While paying attention to his surroundings carefully, trying to forfeit from the battle by hiding himself, Kamito hurriedly rushed out.

“You wild beast, stay put and let me hit you!“

“ Nonsense, I’m not a pervert!“

Kamito cried out while the whip swings downward in his feet, a violent spark scatter. From the ground, the whip immediately springs up toward the direction of the forest woods which was ruthlessly severed. It was said that it’s a blessing in disguise, the girl - Claire's, aim is less accurate. After all, one side of her hand is unfortunately hiding her chest from being revealed, while the most important part was being concealed in the pond in a bend down position. However, considering the ignorance of her position, but how she handles her whip, she was originally talented in using it.

“This, despite being a pervert, please obediently turn into charcoal!“

“As I am saying I’m not a pervert!“

Kamito begins to turn around and face the opposite direction – “in a manner that will” draw attention.

“Hey, are you sure you're good in hiding it. Between the gaps of your finger, you can’t hide it delicately.”

“......eh?”

Scowling in question. Claire’s facial expression froze. And-

“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!”

Deeply in red like a wonderful cute girlfriend screaming at its peak - she helf firmly her chest with both of her hands.

“Ah, idiot!”

Kamito involuntarily exclaimed.

Losing control of the grip of the flame whip in her hand, the tree behind the girl has been cut off. Slowly, the huge tree trunks came falling down at an angle. But, Claire didn’t notice it, her eyes closed because of shyness, looking at her chest while embracing it.

(Kusooo--)

In that instant, Kamito kicked the ground. Running with his whole strength towards the pond, he then jumped digging into Claire’s shoulder.

“Wha-!?”

Claire’s red pupils dilated widely. On the other hand, Kamito aggressively pressed her down in the water. Between the events, where Claire’s hand was exposed in the water, a gush of steam rose, and the flame whip disappeared. Immediately after, the big tree fell down, and the woods collapsed.

Duuuun!

A deafening sound which broke the ear. A magnificent large water column rose.

Absorbing the burning flame, a heavy rain descended neatly into the pond water with good acceleration.

..... With some few sand later.

“Um......“

With such a seductive rising voice, Claire slowly opened her eyes. Shocked facial expression, her eyes blinked in wonder. Kamito lying above Claire, while staring into her eyes. If someone pushes his back lightly, as a man his lips will likely touch, due to their sensitive close subject separation. The nape where the twining red hair is stuck. The wet cherry red colored lips. The brittle doll like perfect feature, before his eyes. One scowl ends it all, with an unintentional blush, hurriedly shaking it off.

“......Um are you okay? Are you hurt..”

Single mindedly, Claire nods. Somehow in a situation yet to be understood. Kamito sighed, then stands up into the hot weather.

Funyuu.

Hands under the water, He touched something soft.

“Hwaaah!”

(What is it? Mud?--)

Funyu. Munyu.

“Hm, ya, hwaaa”

From her moist lips came a shallow sweet voice. Exploring Claire’s body soaked in the water, something pink bounced out in the water.

“Um ..this is?”

From here onwards, Kimito finally arrived in a certain male theory. Something......awfully terrible childish conclusion.

(No, let’s hope, calm down, maybe --- its different?)

It can’t be. There’s no such thing. While letting a flow of cold sweat, he deliberately tries to deny such expectation.

“Wh..wha.. wha..whattt .... are..you...do..ing”

Claire’s lip tremble from shaking involuntarily. Blushing face. Her eyes are in tears.

Apparently, it’s probably not.....a lump of mud which he picked up.

“You, PERVERT----!”

“Guwah!”

Considered being hit hard by a knee kick in the stomach, Kimito collapse into the pond's water.

Gugugugugu....!

Wobbling heat energy behind her starts to accumulate, immediately Claire stood up. In that time, the flame whip which is the incarnation of flame spirit was again grasped in her hand. The water in the pond with one scowl starting to boil and bubbles begins 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 a loud deafening sound which breaks the ear, Kamito’s body whirled highly into the air.

=== Part 2 ===

“.....Un”

Few minutes later. Kamito starts to recover his consciousness, before his eyes, a tree within the forest unfold.

Happening trying to rise---

Suddenly, he notices something which was coiled around his neck.

A leather black whip for torturing. (What is this thing…), while trying to remove it,

“Finally woke up, You Peeping Tom Pervert”

The thing on his neck tightens.

“Gweh!? Release me....”

Kamito coughed then looked upward-

Scarlet haired young girl – Claire, swing her hand to her hips. Keeping her slim eyebrow arc raised, her sharp gaze looked down to Kamito.

This time with no sense of protection, the girl is wearing her adorable uniform. The pattern of black line within the pure white, (Areishia Spirit Academy)’s uniform.

The ribbon tie which decorates the chest origin. Instead of a button, a talisman was sewn on it. Two smooth stockings sticking out brilliantly, in her slender beautiful legs. The tiny ribbon hanging her left and right blazing crimson hair. The so called twin tail named hair style. Looking in her still wet hair, it seems that he hasn’t lost consciousness that much period of time.

Claire while tightens the neck of Kamito, her small chest bent a little.

“Well, be grateful. I’m going easy and didn’t kill you”

“I lied. I will definitely kill you!”

“Why am I saying this? Because, I seriously want you to turn into ash”

..... Saying it in a terrible calm manner.

Incidentally, about the obliterated coal, a new fire which was extinguished will result into a soft charcoal.

“The coal which was gained from you will be greedily put into forgiveness. I will give you one last time to respond”

“Yeah, I’m a fair noble person, I’ll certainly listen and calmly evaluate. You are more than an average pervert, in a highly pervert way”

“My evaluation that you are a pervert after all will not change. I’m asking you high pervert, are you seriously more than an average pervert?”

“Wh.. Why.....did you try to help, ee..even, touch, my breast!”

Exerting more effort thinking about it, Claire suddenly shy face turns to red.

(What?)

A particular female response –

Kamito half considered it.

.....Our guy, by any chance a dense person?

“My, our gloomy princess, has a perverted hobby of having fun by whipping a man”

Teasing nonchalantly -

“What!? Wr, Wro, Wrong, I’m not such thing!”

In a sure quick immediately response. (Kaatsu)Shake one's head up and her ears are in bright red in irritation.

“He.. Hey, do you really like to whip that badly?”

“.....m! Wha... What.. are...you..sayi..ng?”

Twirling turning around eyes, a steam puff out in young Claire’s shining pair head. That time creating confusion to a certain degree.

(Oh, as I expected....)

Kamito in his heart smiled bitterly.

(This girl, is really easy to read)

Perhaps, this girl is not that special. After all, at Areishia Spirit Academy, they are gathering female scholars based with their spirit contract. The elemental spiritual world’s spirit can only communicate solely with a pure woman. Even among them which can summon a lonesome spirit, is holding a divine spiritual strength in a certain degree, Spirit Contractor’s connection blood strengthens through marriage of many generations, as a lineage of pure noble young woman.

To maintained, the female’s purity of mind and body, since childhood, they are kept away from males in a boundary as a strict education. The so called Spirit Contractor designated teaching area. However, the entire young women in this institute, which are not accustomed to man, are overly boxed into an elder sister ideal.

Knowing the girl’s unexpectedly weak spot, Kamito in that time is maliciously suffering in her weapon. In a knee standing position, looking up to Claire’s bright red face-

“Um, sometime ago, as am I saying to you deliberately ”

“......Wha, What are you, Pervert!”

“This angle, I can see your panties”

“Fuwah!”

Tears begun to float in her crimson eyes, Claire hastily pressed down her skirt with both hands.

“Did you see?”

“With a glance, you are unexpectedly quite daring. It has the same color of your hair”

“......The, The fuck, It’s not red, It’s White, White!”

“So, it’s white”

“......ha!?”

Being hit by a sudden realization, Claire bit her lips-

“U, uuuuuuuuuh~”

..... She let out a huge cry.

With the sudden reaction, Kamito panicked. “What a slut unladylike person, confessing the color of her own panties” and, still teasing her more....true summer came for the poor.

The chance given by Claire’s temper, the whip was fired unwinding his neck,

“My bad, that was quite fun. Sorry”

Standing up, and then hold the girl’s head, which his hand place above there. Claire in that time stops crying, and then her face shows up.

“I have seen your naked body while bathing, then your breast.... which I badly touched as well. But I will not move. Please believe me”

“Wha, What.....”

The truthfulness in Kamito’s eye, Claire in her eyes, is really genuine.

“....You, What is this. If you are not a pervert, then '''why are you here?'''”

Naturally she doubted. This forest is under the jurisdiction of Areishia Spirit Academy, known as “Spirit Forest”. There’s a principle that an elder sister can never meet any man inside the academy, in regards with her feelings.

In that place, illicit sexual relationship is against the moral code, which is strictly not to be violated by anyone.

“I was, called here by Greyworth”

“Greyworth..... by the academy director!?”

Claire became more doubtful in that given situation. Indeed, it’s not something, not to be doubt about.

“I’m not lying. Look, here’s the evidence”

Kimito shruged his shoulders, inside his burned coat’s pocket, he took out a one sheet withered letter. The letter’s writings are from the renowned academy director. Also, 5 big pure spirits appears in a form which symbolize as a rank badge seal pressed down on it.

“Is....that, the country’s obi number one rank badge seal!?”

Claire in her dismay, a shallow voice let out in her lips. A number one rank badge seal is an amnesty badge seal produced through a special method of sealing a spirit. The country’s obi distributed the rank badge seal to those who are worthy to be called inside, by the best highest position; the reply on it is in absolute secrecy and should never tell to anyone.

In a natural manner, fixing her gaze in his groin, the article on it is not some female thing that can contract a spirit, in a glance that’s the genuine thing in his hip.

“.....It seems the real thing. But, why would the academy director call a man here?”

“Well, that Old woman is my guardian Greyworth, I’m really confused about it”

“That.. that Old woman!?”

Just like that, Claire’s face draws closer.

The Twilight Witch – in her town, Greyworth is a spirit soldier which was sighted as an Elder Sister having an enraged personality. It was said that within the Orudeshia country obi, she was popular having a dance that rival the most powerful dance ever known. One of the twelve elite general which retired from the group of the most powerful spirit elder soldier, It was noted that a dozen of years later, gain a reputation as a legendary witch which was being feared and revered with respect by other.

(The truth is, lately, I’m having a nightmare about that person....)

In that time, when the letter writing has been tucked away. Kamito’s shoulders shrugged.

“With a little fortune from Greyworth, I have came all the way here. but, the academy ground is very large, so I have lost my way”

Areishia Spirit Academy ground is incredibly very vast. After all, the Academy City covers all the mountain range, also, spreading farther more into the Spirit forest owning the whole perimeter of it.

“Then, you were misled dumbfounded by the Spirit Forest, Is that it?”

“.....Yes, that’s it”

Claire puffs into laughter, while Kamito gently nodded.

In the peaceful large ground of the sunny spirit forest exists, the elemental spiritual world’s "Portal" which connects and threatens this world with stray soul. Mostly of the spirit, has no interest in the humankind, but they harmlessly loves to play pranks by deliberately misleading travelers into the puzzled forest. In any event a person was misled by the spirit into the forest; one should look for the academy road which will guide them out from the wilderness.

“Anyway, I’m really glad that I had met a person, in these difficult and horrible Spirit Forest. from here onward, how should I get in the academy?”

“Hey.....for your own information, I shall tell you, that there’s a two hours of walk from here towards the Academy”

“What, that far!?”

To avoid being misled by the spirit of the forest, one should walk away in such a pattern. The academy students here are females, and they are close in this vicinity, so they have thought a way around it.

(.....hmm? why are these people, bathing in this kind of place?)

From this plain forest, a sudden question arises. Certainly today is a very hot day, to come and take a bath and rest here, incidentally for a male to set foot inside the academy in such places. In any case, this girl is not the only girl in the academy, except that she was the one been put into shame.

Being asked, Claire dug her hands into her wet twin tail hair trying to comb it,

“I was here for the spirit fissure’s membrane. Brushing aside it, the spring water here, has the highest holy quality are there. And do you know that spirits like a woman which has a pure mind and body?”

“Spirit’s Fissure?”

He uttered a word then, a crack in his left hand’s leather gloves, Zukyu – a throbbing pain. Kamito face grimace, from the burning sharp pain.

“Going away from this place, there is an ancient holy sword in a certain historical shrine. Rumors state that there is a fierce and powerful “Spirit Seal” which holds something in that place, since the foundation of the academy. While no one can, a princess miko successfully place it. Likely, a highly powerful spirit can be found there”

Spirit Seal – is a medium that holds the demon spirit from the elemental spiritual world.

Since ancient times, some of powerful spirit contractor have sealed their spirits inside their arms and equipments. Mostly some of them are the one’s being feared by man that brings forth disaster in ancient society, such as, a demon god, rabbit god and etc.

Of course, it's the human spirit contractor can't deals with. Due, to the huge fear of ancient spirit contractor, they sealed them into the arms and equipment by lamenting them two times.

“You, there’s no way you can manage a sealed spirit?”

“It seems that you are saying something?”

“Stop, it’s too dangerous”

“Hmm, rest assured. It’s not that I’m well accustomed as a spirit contractor, nor I’m not that well aware of the danger of it, but, you know, I really want a strong spirit”

Claire muttered, bitten her tightly close lips.

In a serious facial expression, Kamito involuntarily shuts his own mouth.

“But, you, how about the pear amount of flame spirit sometime ago? That thing quite a powerful spirit, did you not raise that guy properly?”

A Flame Spirit, as the Spirit’s nature which is not that unusual. But, in a certain degree the spirit is a “Spirit Demon Equipment” summoned by a spirit contractor, that is not quite a handful in number inside the country obi. Besides, there’s a limit of quantity of pure spirit errand that a person can holds, it’s not the case that it’s not possible, but – spirit interference can deteriorate the balance of divine energy flow in the body, unless that someone has an innate talent to control it.

“'''Scarlett''' you're an important partner. But-”

“I want power”- and, Claire calmly raised her neck.

“I have only one goal. And that is, to have a strong spirit”

=== Part 3 ===

Fluffily swinging crimson twin tail on her back, Kamito followed her inside the forest. Claire in her leather shoe sandals, while having a hard time walking and expectedly having an accumulated secant of her spirit errand was walking in a light frivolous way.

“Here”

Then, suddenly her well proportion 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 ”

“I’m lost, and 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. Crake’s origin?”

Crake is a large harmonious country obi in the eastern region. The Orudeshia language and culture, largely differs in terms in the relationship of people with spirits.

“No, It’s not Crake. I was born in a far remote island minority group village”

Kamito intentionally obscure his own statement. Certainly, he was born in an eastern island country, but, larger half of his childhood life was not spent there.

“Your name is quite a rare taste and mine is, 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 face blushes, then suddenly change back to her former direction, and briskly walk faster than usual.

Claire Rouge ---- obviously a Pseudonymn.

Most of the students attending the Areishia Spirit Academy, in their young age learned to use the accumulated secant of their spirit, like today’s noble young girl is doing. But, Rouge residence is an unheard family name. For hiding a noble family name, she must have some reason for it, and finding more explanation about it is detrimental.

(.....Anyone, wants to achieved their own inner hidden desire)

Kamito with his eyes glancing in the direction of his decaying left hand inside his leather glove.

Even I -

Claire with her foot movement keeps advancing steadily. Kamito hastily chased the twin tail swaying in her back. Now, losing sight of Claire inside the forest will bring only trouble for him. The dangers of spending one night inside the “Spirit Forest”- is the thing Kamito being aware of.

“Is that dress the academy uniform?”

“Yah”

Claire while walking nods in a coldly manner.

Areishia Spirit Academy Uniform is a robust protective garment that acts as a guard, which undergone spirit’s protection, and sacred in nature which was improve surely enough to last long. The good thing is that a pear amount of spirits acts as a high ceremonial clothes.

“What, are you saying that I don’t harbor value on it?”

“No, it’s not like that. Honestly speaking”

Kamito shrugged his shoulder, and then honestly answer it. Bad mouthing knocking over someone’s – grandfather’s wardrobe, is the overall situation that anyone should avoid.

“Wha, Whatt, What are you saying! I, I’m not an Idiot!”

(Kaatsu) Claire blushes in deep red, while (Pyun-Pyun) waving her whip.

“Uwahh, Calm down!”

“You, you, are you trying to tell me to do a weird thing!”

“''I saying a weird thing?, I am just saying that - *in pain*, I know, I know, because, I’m in disadvantage one on one against your whip!''”

(....phew, it was necessary to tell her a battle strategy, unexpectedly to meet a chaperone princess here)

While dodging the whip which was swing downward in a paper width difference, Kamito sighed in his mind. The holy blade removing any markings on its way inside the forest, creating a gap in the place, then stopped in an arched way. Claire interfere by restraining the extension force with the tip of her fingers, unwinding its circulation in that place in just an ample of time, Kamito expression then calms down.

“From here onwards, it will be really dangerous, so, stay away from me by one meter”

“If you know that it’s dangerous, why not stop?”

“As am I saying, I need to have a strong spirit”

Claire calmly shook his head, when her pair of legs stumbles upon the small shrine.

Disregarding her warnings, Kamito followed her. As for coming about a necessity of battle strategy as his pretext reason, but the truth is, he was just worry about Claire.

After all “Sealed Spirit” are strong and in the same time has a wild nature. They prefer destruction and chaos, the possibility that they would murder that someone who employs them as a spirit errand would likely to happen.

The frightful hand of humanity can not manage to terminate it --- therefore, they have sealed it.

Sixteen years of age, Claire with such an innate talent of manipulating a spirit, and revered as a deity. However, by any chance, she would release a sealed spirit; she would fail to control it.

Accidentally, the girl encountered the thing we are talking about, but to be overlooked by her.

“Why did you follow me? Do you not understand the situation”

“You sure have the confidence that you will completely tame it”

“Of, Ofcourse!”

“If there’s any problem tell me”

Kamito shrugged his shoulder and, Claire facing him while not paying any attention.

“....Suit Yourself”

Inside the shrine is a dark gloomy misty atmosphere. Mingling in the air inside are tiny fumes of stinking odor, Claire somewhat frowning from disgust.

“......Flame, Bring Light”

Claire from her fingertip, a fire ball immediately starts to glow. The Fire Spirit’s power when summoned gives some basic fundamental spirit magic. The flickering light of the fire ball dimly illuminate the walls of the shrine.

And, from the innermost of the shrine --- It was severed.

“The.....container of the sealed spirit was severed?”

Kamito muttered, while Claire quietly nods.

Stabbed standing in a huge stone with its omitted severed body. A hundred century old seal grade framework severed disconnected in the broken rusty sashimi knife with its wholeness is missing. In its cut off belly, a delicate ancient red inscription dimly radiates palely.

“In this place lies our former beloved, Saint Severian Academy”

“Saint Severian? That was destroyed by Demon King Sulaiman?”

Demon King Sulaiman --- accompanied by his seventy two powerful spirit followers, demolished a major peace agreement which brought chaos in the world, and '''the only man in history that can control a spirit errand'''.

It was said that demon king destroyed the Saint Severian Academy.

“Idiot, there’s no way that’s the real thing”

Claire state being engrossed by it.

“In all the places within the country obi, why is that it is stabbed in this stone. This place used to be a village, I wonder why in a deserted village. Now, there’s no way it’s genuine from that severed thing as our lead, It’s reasonable enough because it’s not always the case where a sealed spirit is a strong one”

“.....Indeed. Certainly, It’s not like there’s no such place exist..”

Claire determined with her blade walks toward to him.

“Hey....”

“You stay back”

Approaching Kamito which hands are being restrained, Claire clenched the hilt of her holy blade.

“Don’t overwork yourself ”

“....Got it”

Kamito barely lightly reached the bag guarding the thing on it. The other person in his side which is reluctantly not motivated about the sealed spirit. In the first time, a mature serious silence atmosphere is between them.

“.....Move, Claire Rouge”

Claire breathing deeply murmured informing her own body. A voice meekly trembles from her. A truly complicated scene it was.

--- Thy Sealed Old Holy Blade, Oh Noble Spirit!

--- Wave, I as your master yields your contract, Grind as I wave your scabbard along!

A spell coming from her cherry colored lips, a yang spirit language, contract ritual. The red lotus filaments dancing in the air, inside the shrine a roaring wind vortex begins to accumulate. 　

Kamito gulps his breath, looking in her female appearance. The spirit whose recognized master is Claire, once exchange each other a contract, within her female body there should be a spirit carved seal engraved. A contract vow is a final seal agreement. In this moment, a gust of wind swept inside the shrine.

“......eh?”

But, Claire is unfazed. She calmly recite her contract vow.

---And, the female clenched the Severian’s holy blade, a blinding light released from it.

(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.

Because the holy blade was stabbed in the stone, she was hitting it while releasing a tremendous divine energy. If it was an average spirit errand, she would have already passed out.

“---Three times, I order to wave, wave, I grant thee to plunge!”

And, Claire’s vow reverberates inside the shrine --- in that instant.

Chaaaarge!

“Co, Come out, Come out!”

“.....What, seriously!?”

The blade came out of the stone then brandished it overhead, Claire exclaimed with joy. And then followed by a question mark.

The ancient system engraved in its belly; release a powerful intense brilliant light!

“......ha!?”

Claire involuntarily release from her hand the blade ---

The holy blade thrust into the ground, in that time, the light scattered into pieces.

“Kyaaaaah!”

A short shriek flew, then Claire collapse into the ground.

“Hey, are you okay!”

Kamito quickly run towards Claire.

“Wha, What? Ouch, What is....”

Claire holding her temple trying to get up, quickly stepped back then looked around.

“My, My sealed spirit?”

“No, I....can sense something terrible”

Kamito from the back of his neck, sweats are flowing intensely. A terrified facial expression, with his eyes in the shrine’s ceiling. In that place, '''swinging while floating in the air was the blade'''.

It's not the familiar loose broken blade in that place. But, It was a rough sharpness good quality steel blade.

“Is that.....the sealed spirit’s knife!?”

“Can’t you really not tell that’s a '''spirit sword''', rather it’s not time for that”

“The spirit errand is here, but why can’t it understand me”

“As I can see it can understand. Maybe, in its eyes, that thing just can’t comprehend which of us was his faithful master”

“.....umm, It seems like that”

Claire unusual obediently bows her head.

The floating sword slants pointing its tip in a downward direction, exactly motionless.

Then ---

“.....H, Hide!”

Kamito in that instant, push down Claire in the ground. A buzzing sound of an insect grazed contaminating the ear which can’t go away that far in one’s neighborhood.

“Wai, Waa, Wait, where are you touching me, I will turn you into charcoal!”

It was clearly that Claire’s face is deeply red in her carelessness, while in the other hand, Kamito’s heart is beating faster.

“Idio, Idiot, violent!”

Kamito quickly step aside her body, the spirit sword flew away, taking their attention looking on it with their both eyes.

A clattering sound, a flakes fragment of rocks falls down. The shrine’s ceiling was completely cut open cleanly.

“As expected, that spirit came to loose ---”

Claire scowled half opened eye towards Kamito.

“......umm the spirit, completely run wild”

“You, You’re Noisy. Fro.. From Here Onwards, You Will Be Obedient To Me!”

“YOU....”

Kamito surprised, now in a situation which he can’t even talked back.

The spirit sword releases a chattering noise approaching to them. Inside the shrine, it was moving freely swiftly in the air, without any restriction in its area.

Kamito grabbed Claire’s hand, trying to pull her to stand up. Touching each other soft skin, (Doki) a heart beat, then both of them regrettable turn’s each other face away.

“Hwaah”

“Always has a cute reaction. Let's flee”

“Wha.. whaa. whatt.. Cute.. what me, Kyaa!”

“Let’s run outside!”

Pulling Claire’s hand with his hand, while running towards the direction of the shrine’s exit basking with sunshine.

The spirit sword immediately chased after them. As of now it was not yet completely awakens. But later, the opportunity given by this may cause them not able to run away.

Outside of the shrine, the sword wavering tumble came out in a lightning speed in their front. The spirit sword let out a tremendous roar, the surrounding trees successively certainly knocked down.

“Crazy, What a shrewd Spirit, Let’s go somewhere safe my Princess”

“alwa, always, you’re noisy...”

In this time, an awkward atmosphere is between them, and then suddenly an uncomfortable cough breaks the silence, Claire stands up.

“What a rebellious child.....I will give you some proper training”

Her pair crimson eyes which was burning with a fierce determination, saying it in a way as if she was planting rice to be harvest later. Tearing off her Skirt, then took the leather whip which was coiled in her thigh, hitting it hard in the ground. And the other one looking in a shocked manner over the white underwear, it was Kamito -

“Are you insane!? You’re opponent is a high rank sealed spirit!”

“Easy victory, I’m not lower than an amateur like you”

“Where are you getting all of your confidence?, It’s better to run away”

Being grabbed in the wrist by Kamito’s hand, Claire repulses.

“No, you yourself escape. I will absolutely get this guy”

“You, for what reason --- do you need a strong spirit that badly?”

“.....You will never understand”

Claire in that time averts her eyes.

“I want...a strong spirit, not just a spirit but an unbeatable very strong spirit!”

--- Guardian of Crimson’s blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!

--- In accordance with the blood contract, under my name I grant thee to hasten and join!

Claire summoned her “Flame Spirit” by singing a summoning ritual. A crimson flame surges and she was engulfed by a hot air surrounding her.

“Here, In accordance with your seal descend, Scarlett!”

In the same time a typical young flame, there appeared – a Scarlet Red Hell Cat. Instead of a fur, it was a blazing scarlet red colored flame, wrapping the beast body.

(Is that the real form of her flame spirit!?)

Indeed, she really blurted out that thing here. To manifested a beast form, is a proof that thing is a high rank spirit. Stating Scarlett as a name with great affection, perhaps it was not really that spirit name, but a name with the same quality.

Claire wields her whip, and the hell cat growl a frightful roar, then rushed towards the sword spirit. A dancing sparks scattered. The atmosphere trembled and the beast roars. The floating spirit sword whistles, and all the trees from their direction was severely cut down.

“Scarlett, in accordance with your seal!”

In response to Claire’s shout, the hell cat jumps. There above in the sky where the spirit sword is flying, the sharp blazing claws swings down. A high pitched shrill sound. An intense sparks sprinkle, and the spirit sword dropped in the ground.

Claire runs at the same time. Without even a single scratch on it. The spirit sword rise and fly in a split second, rolling over drawing an arc in the air.

The flame spirit chased after it, trying not to loose it from its hands. Again a big jump, hindering it from rising higher.

Two times the rage, a spark scattered. Clare strikes hard the ground with her leather whip, attaching it into the spirit sword cornering it. Battling it with her leather whip in a tug of war, in that time she gave a signal to her spirit.

Scarlett fiercely attack, the spirit sword which was held from moving --- back and forth.

“Eat this, burning fire ball!”

Claire in her palm a huge fire ball was released.

Fire Ball – An ultrahigh burning fire which can terribly burn out anything as its target in the face of the earth, it was a high level spirit magic. The spirit magic’s power, determined by the spirit contractor’s own divine spiritual energy and the contracted spirit’s strength as a whole.

The released fire ball solitarily flew into the air, blowing up involving Scarlett. The after effect of the explosion in the area, causing every tree to be burned down, is like a scene from the blazing hell.

(What Power......)

At the same time carried by the winds are small stones, Kamito refusing himself to be wind up.

Sixteen years old girl can’t possible have used such powerful spirit magic.

Inside the swirling fire the hell cat figure shows up. Naturally, the hell cat can’t possibly be harmed by the blazing fire as its nature.

The spirit sword – in any case seemed to be quiet. It does not seem hurt waiting in that place. Regardless, Claire wants to bring down that thing with her high level spirit magic without any hesitation. But, the spirit sword is being cautious by pulling itself in that place.

“Scarlett!”

Claire exclaimed. The flame spirit clawed attacked the spirit sword in that place. Melting the iron steel with its scourging hot claws. In any case that’s your average spirit ones neighbor, it would be instantly eradicated. But, the spirit sword quickly turned around, and splendidly perceived by its steel sword body.

In an instant. A metal rubbing each other, strange sound reverberated in the trembling atmosphere.

“Wh...Why?....”

Kamito suppressed his both ears with his hands.

The sound properly received by Claire which has a distorted facial expression from pain, crouching in that place.

The spirit sword which released the strange sound - in such a manner, changed. Generally, it was the length of the sword, switching into a huge “long sword”.

In a flash.

“What!?”

Claire’s flame spirit unexpectedly strike, a huge swing one attack which was immediately countered attack. The body was severely cut down into two, and the flame wrapping on its body vanished in the empty lot.

In that one mistake, one can realized the strength which was about to lost in this world.

(....Damn, what a mistake. It seems that thing was waiting there to completely awaken.)

A curse from the bottom of her heart, Clare took a glance -

In the empty lot where the flame spirit is dying, the girl with her stunned blank eyes looked up at the same time.

The flame spirit which was attacked decapitated thrown away by the spirit sword, Clare aimed her determined sight on it.

From the huge long sword, a loud sound flew -

“Claire!”

Kamito shouted while running, with no such reason, his own body just moved before he known it.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Diving in front of Clair, the long sword stabbed its blade into his palm. It was not his left hand enclosed by the leather glove – it's his right hand.

(……I, I’m helpless ! )

--- Thy Sealed Old Holy Blade, Oh Noble Spirit!

--- Wave, I as your master yields your contract, Grind as I wave your scabbard along!

A huge amount of sweats is floating, it’s the second time the exchanging of spirit contract ritual was recited. Thrusting deeply into his hands, the tip of the sword breaks the leather surrounding his palm. The red blood gushed intensely from it.

(.....Gwaah, Gah!)

A fierce attack of divine energy, the soil and sands surrounding them are whirling up from the wind pressure. In his consciousness a sharp pain resounded. But, Kamito tried not to lose his consciousness, protecting Clare from his back no matter what happens.

--- Three times, I order to wave!

“.....No way, a Spirit Contract!?”

A surprised sound from Clare’s throat.

A mark from his sinking foot can be seen in the ground. And, the sound of his breaking bones resounds from his knee cap.

--- Wave, I grant thee to plunge!

Withstanding the terrible sharp pain, Kamito finished his last word of the contract ritual.

In that exact moment. The spirit sword’s blade palely radiates.

(What!?)

An intense flash and a roar filled his consciousness.

=== Part 4 ===

As he opened his eyes, Claire Rouge’s face was there. Hanging lower into his face was her twin tailed hair tickling his face.

It was a shout, but, it can’t be heard. A roar which can breaks one’s ear.

(.....It appears, I’m alive)

Weary lying on the ground, Kamito is breathing heavily. Lowering his head, it seems that he can’t believe himself that he had won against the spirit.

Raising his eyebrow, he grimaced from the torment pain from his body, raising his right hand slowly.

In his right hand which was stabbed -

Instead of a wound, a two sword crossing each other emblem was engraved on it.

It was the proof of the spirit contract vow - The spirit carved seal.

(Aah, this is....?)

Staring closely in the carved seal from the back of his hand, Kamito wondered.

A sharp sense of guilt gauged his heart.

Is that mean that female’s contract has been destroyed ---

But, Claire who has a relieved expression, in such situation she had failed.

Claire noticed Kamito who just woke up, with her hands in his nape and her face approaching him. A relieved sighed. With her clear crimson eyes, looking at Kamito. Her cherry colored lips weakly trembled.

“......Why ”

"Why, you’re a male, how can you contract a spirit!”

“......”

Kamito does not answer and slowly rise up. Being ignored, the annoyed Clare raised her eyebrows.

“My, My Sword Spirit!?”

“My bad. Just a moment ago, I had contracted on it”

Kamito sighed and at the same time he has shown to her from the back of his right hand, the spirit carved seal engraved on it.

“Wha, Whaa, Wha, Whaaaat!”

Claire stunned expression with her mouth wide open.

(Well, A natural reaction....)

A long sighed --- Kamito felt a faint ache in his heart. Of course, he could clearly understand such response. In a sense, that only undefiled maiden are the ones who has the privilege for --- the spirit contract.

The existence of a man which can simultaneously contract a spirit, through out the history, belongs solely to one person. And the one who brings chaos and destruction in the world, the so called Demon King spirit contractor.

The same spirit contract strength as the Demon King, Kamito was grabbed by the terror of his thought which he can’t embrace.

Kamito stands up and quietly turns back.

He does not regret. He had helped the girl, because this is the only way, he could think of.

“Wait, as am I saying Wait!”

Leaving away from that place, in his back a voice addressed him.

Turning around, Claire with her hands in her hips intensely glared to him.

"You stole...my spirit...you have to take responsibility for it!"

“Huh?”

Kamito conceal his frown. ....It does not make sense to him.

In such reaction of Kamito, Claire acting impatient with her twin tailed hair in her shoulder,

“I should have been the one who had obtained that spirit, as am I saying, you have to take responsibility for it”

“Re..sponsibility?”

From the unexpected word, Kamito has become more confused.

....What was the girl saying.

“Therefore....”

Claire wields her whip then she points her index finger toward Kamito.

"You have to become my contracted spirit!"

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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter1

2012-02-13T08:15:26Z

Hayate90: /* Part 1 */

==Chapter 1: You are my spirit contractor==

=== Part 1 ===

In a quiet forest where the rays of the sun were shedding between the leaves' gaps.

"Paa--"

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

Kamito, he--opened his mouth wide and stood there.

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

Not only was she cute, but she was also a very beautiful female student. Her eyes were big and red like rubies, her cherry-red lips were bright and moist, 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--

Her twining red burning hair, which looked as sumptuous as handcrafted glass.

Of course, she was naked. Stark naked.

"......"

Kamito felt cold sweat on his back.

Not good.

It's really not good that she's naked.

......I should really go away quickly. Though he gave that rational advice to himself, his body wouldn't move. Actually, he continued staring, since a scene like this was lacking so much reality in it.

And at that time, the girl--
[[Image:STnBD V01 013.jpg|thumb]]
Her moist and beautiful eyes blinked, and showed herself in a completely naked posture to the intruder.

Tick.

The water drops fell from the young girl's bangs. The sound of the water rippled immediately woke up Kamito's counsciousness.

"Ah-that......"

Kamito coughed once, and removed his glance from the naked girl, who was standing there foolishly, and quietly moved out.

"How can I say it......it looks like an accident, right, to us this case is an unfortunate accident......"

At that time, Kamito made two errors that cost him his life. First was that the best choice was: Take advantage of the fact that the girl was standing there, and run away from the trouble immediately.

And the other error was--

"Even though it was an accident, I still looked at you in that situation, sorry, pardon me."

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

"Though, don't worry, no matter how you say it, I'm still a healthy boy, so I don't have that kind of interest. I......"

Looking at the young girl's small chest--

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

Looks like he stepped on a gigantic landmine.

"......"

The air suddenly froze and solidified.

The girl--remained silent, and lifted her twining red hair in a movement. Her shoulders were slightly shaking. But the reason wasn't because of the cold, but only that Kamito didn't pay attention to that point.

"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 hoisted.

"Haa!?"

As Kamito opened his eyes wide in surprise--

"Sixteen!? You're lying, right! How can you have such an incomplete chest--"

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

"......Unforgivable."

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

"D-Definitively unforgivable......you, youyou, you peeping demon, pervert, lewd animal!"

"How can I understand what the heck is lewd animal......" 

Kamito said that in a low voice.

"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--)

--- Guardian of Crimson’s blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!

--- In accordance with our blood contract, Under my name I grant thee to hasten and join!

Came from the young girl's cute lips a smooth incantation in spirits’ language. At this instant, accompanied by the noise of an air blast, a scourging flame whip appeared in the hand of the girl.

(.....a Spirit Contractor!)

Kamito shouted in his head.

Spirit Contractor --- an existence from another dimensional layer’s of this world, the “Elemental Spiritual World”.

A Princess Miko who signed a contract with a fierce spirit from that place are called “Spirit Contractors”.

The Spirit Contractor can use different type of spirit, wielding its power freely.

It seems, the girl in his front has a contract with a flame type spirit.

The young girl herself in her flesh was a Spirit Contractor, not something to be surprised about.

After all, in this place the country's excellent Spirit Contractors are gathered together.

(.....Even it’s you, there's no way, you can use a spirit demon equipment)

The state of the spirit which are summoned into this world from the world of elemental spirits can be roughly divided into two types.

The first type is a massless, shapeless type that appears in its original state as a ‘Divine Core’. This is purely the summoning of a spirit's power, and was used as a vault of magical power for the spirit magic.

There is another type, the pure state of summoning a part of the spirit’s existence as it is. Because of the tremendous amount of power required and the difficulty of controlling it, it is said that only a tiny portion of the spirit contractors can do it until this extent.

Even so, the girl before our eyes is not just using spirits, but could use it to the extent of using the spirit as a most suitable spirit armor.

(.... it means that, eh? – Am I now in a life and death situation?)

The thought suddenly hit him, and Kamito pulled his cheek.

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

“You, You, you have guts..... “

The girl moaned with her trembling voice. She was having a red face, whether it was from anger, or her embarrassment.

“Rea-really, you have some nerve, to peek , while I, Claire Rouge, am taking my bath.....”

“Wai-wait, it’s a misunderstanding! Let me explain first.”

Kamito shook his head hastily.

“I will not listen to your excuses. You will be turned into ashes, you PERVERT!”

The flame whip ignited furiously in the wielder’s hand while the latter was speaking on the pond’s water surface.

“Oh..!?”

Kamito threw his body for mercy at this very instant.

Nearly at the same time, the flame whip brushed it's way over his head.

The idle red residue remaining from the trees which were cut off like a complete joke. The cut part of the tree trunk’s remaining are unexpectedly clean, without any mark of being burned. So, in order to eaves attacking speed, the flame didn’t need to spread itself to its surroundings.

Kamito’s hair on his forehead was fluttering down on his mouth while the back of his neck became chilly from the sweat on its surface.

(.....Um, are you joking? Me dying like this?)

Zing, biyutsu – a lightning speed crimson dancing slash inside the vast forest. While paying attention to his surroundings carefully, trying to forfeit from the battle by hiding himself, Kamito hurriedly rushed out.

“You wild beast, stay put and let me hit you!“

“ Nonsense, I’m not a pervert!“

Kamito cried out while the whip swings downward in his feet, a violent spark scatter. From the ground, the whip immediately springs up toward the direction of the forest woods which was ruthlessly severed. It was said that it’s a blessing in disguise, the girl - Claire's, aim is less accurate. After all, one side of her hand is unfortunately hiding her chest from being revealed, while the most important part was being concealed in the pond in a bend down position. However, considering the ignorance of her position, but how she handles her whip, she was originally talented in using it.

“This, despite being a pervert, please obediently turn into charcoal!“

“As I am saying I’m not a pervert!“

Kamito begins to turn around and face the opposite direction – “in a manner that will” draw attention.

“Hey, are you sure you're good in hiding it. Between the gaps of your finger, you can’t hide it delicately.”

“......eh?”

Scowling in question. Claire’s facial expression froze. And-

“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!”

Deeply in red like a wonderful cute girlfriend screaming at its peak - she helf firmly her chest with both of her hands.

“Ah, idiot!”

Kamito involuntarily exclaimed.

Losing control of the grip of the flame whip in her hand, the tree behind the girl has been cut off. Slowly, the huge tree trunks came falling down at an angle. But, Claire didn’t notice it, her eyes closed because of shyness, looking at her chest while embracing it.

(Kusooo--)

In that instant, Kamito kicked the ground. Running with his whole strength towards the pond, he then jumped digging into Claire’s shoulder.

“Wha-!?”

Claire’s red pupils dilated widely. On the other hand, Kamito aggressively pressed her down in the water. Between the events, where Claire’s hand was exposed in the water, a gush of steam rose, and the flame whip disappeared. Immediately after, the big tree fell down, and the woods collapsed.

Duuuun!

A deafening sound which broke the ear. A magnificent large water column rose.

Absorbing the burning flame, a heavy rain descended neatly into the pond water with good acceleration.

..... With some few sand later.

“Um......“

With such a seductive rising voice, Claire slowly opened her eyes. Shocked facial expression, her eyes blinked in wonder. Kamito lying above Claire, while staring into her eyes. If someone pushes his back lightly, as a man his lips will likely touch, due to their sensitive close subject separation. The nape where the twining red hair is stuck. The wet cherry red colored lips. The brittle doll like perfect feature, before his eyes. One scowl ends it all, with an unintentional blush, hurriedly shaking it off.

“......Um are you okay? Are you hurt..”

Single mindedly, Claire nods. Somehow in a situation yet to be understood. Kamito sighed, then stands up into the hot weather.

Funyuu.

Hands under the water, He touched something soft.

“Hwaaah!”

(What is it? Mud?--)

Funyu. Munyu.

“Hm, ya, hwaaa”

From her moist lips came a shallow sweet voice. Exploring Claire’s body soaked in the water, something pink bounced out in the water.

“Um ..this is?”

From here onwards, Kimito finally arrived in a certain male theory. Something......awfully terrible childish conclusion.

(No, let’s hope, calm down, maybe --- its different?)

It can’t be. There’s no such thing. While letting a flow of cold sweat, he deliberately tries to deny such expectation.

“Wh..wha.. wha..whattt .... are..you...do..ing”

Claire’s lip tremble from shaking involuntarily. Blushing face. Her eyes are in tears.

Apparently, it’s probably not.....a lump of mud which he picked up.

“You, PERVERT----!”

“Guwah!”

Considered being hit hard by a knee kick in the stomach, Kimito collapse into the pond's water.

Gugugugugu....!

Wobbling heat energy behind her starts to accumulate, immediately Claire stood up. In that time, the flame whip which is the incarnation of flame spirit was again grasped in her hand. The water in the pond with one scowl starting to boil and bubbles begins 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 a loud deafening sound which breaks the ear, Kamito’s body whirled highly into the air.

=== Part 2 ===

“.....Un”

Few minutes later. Kamito starts to recover his consciousness, before his eyes, a tree within the forest unfold.

Happening trying to rise---

Suddenly, he notices something which was coiled around his neck.

A leather black whip for torturing. (What is this thing…), while trying to remove it,

“Finally woke up, You Peeping Tom Pervert”

The thing on his neck tightens.

“Gweh!? Release me....”

Kamito coughed then looked upward-

Scarlet haired young girl – Claire, swing her hand to her hips. Keeping her slim eyebrow arc raised, her sharp gaze looked down to Kamito.

This time with no sense of protection, the girl is wearing her adorable uniform. The pattern of black line within the pure white, (Areishia Spirit Academy)’s uniform.

The ribbon tie which decorates the chest origin. Instead of a button, a talisman was sewn on it. Two smooth stockings sticking out brilliantly, in her slender beautiful legs. The tiny ribbon hanging her left and right blazing crimson hair. The so called twin tail named hair style. Looking in her still wet hair, it seems that he hasn’t lost consciousness that much period of time.

Claire while tightens the neck of Kamito, her small chest bent a little.

“Well, be grateful. I’m going easy and didn’t kill you”

“I lied. I will definitely kill you!”

“Why am I saying this? Because, I seriously want you to turn into ash”

..... Saying it in a terrible calm manner.

Incidentally, about the obliterated coal, a new fire which was extinguished will result into a soft charcoal.

“The coal which was gained from you will be greedily put into forgiveness. I will give you one last time to respond”

“Yeah, I’m a fair noble person, I’ll certainly listen and calmly evaluate. You are more than an average pervert, in a highly pervert way”

“My evaluation that you are a pervert after all will not change. I’m asking you high pervert, are you seriously more than an average pervert?”

“Wh.. Why.....did you try to help, ee..even, touch, my breast!”

Exerting more effort thinking about it, Claire suddenly shy face turns to red.

(What?)

A particular female response –

Kamito half considered it.

.....Our guy, by any chance a dense person?

“My, our gloomy princess, has a perverted hobby of having fun by whipping a man”

Teasing nonchalantly -

“What!? Wr, Wro, Wrong, I’m not such thing!”

In a sure quick immediately response. (Kaatsu)Shake one's head up and her ears are in bright red in irritation.

“He.. Hey, do you really like to whip that badly?”

“.....m! Wha... What.. are...you..sayi..ng?”

Twirling turning around eyes, a steam puff out in young Claire’s shining pair head. That time creating confusion to a certain degree.

(Oh, as I expected....)

Kamito in his heart smiled bitterly.

(This girl, is really easy to read)

Perhaps, this girl is not that special. After all, at Areishia Spirit Academy, they are gathering female scholars based with their spirit contract. The elemental spiritual world’s spirit can only communicate solely with a pure woman. Even among them which can summon a lonesome spirit, is holding a divine spiritual strength in a certain degree, Spirit Contractor’s connection blood strengthens through marriage of many generations, as a lineage of pure noble young woman.

To maintained, the female’s purity of mind and body, since childhood, they are kept away from males in a boundary as a strict education. The so called Spirit Contractor designated teaching area. However, the entire young women in this institute, which are not accustomed to man, are overly boxed into an elder sister ideal.

Knowing the girl’s unexpectedly weak spot, Kamito in that time is maliciously suffering in her weapon. In a knee standing position, looking up to Claire’s bright red face-

“Um, sometime ago, as am I saying to you deliberately ”

“......Wha, What are you, Pervert!”

“This angle, I can see your panties”

“Fuwah!”

Tears begun to float in her crimson eyes, Claire hastily pressed down her skirt with both hands.

“Did you see?”

“With a glance, you are unexpectedly quite daring. It has the same color of your hair”

“......The, The fuck, It’s not red, It’s White, White!”

“So, it’s white”

“......ha!?”

Being hit by a sudden realization, Claire bit her lips-

“U, uuuuuuuuuh~”

..... She let out a huge cry.

With the sudden reaction, Kamito panicked. “What a slut unladylike person, confessing the color of her own panties” and, still teasing her more....true summer came for the poor.

The chance given by Claire’s temper, the whip was fired unwinding his neck,

“My bad, that was quite fun. Sorry”

Standing up, and then hold the girl’s head, which his hand place above there. Claire in that time stops crying, and then her face shows up.

“I have seen your naked body while bathing, then your breast.... which I badly touched as well. But I will not move. Please believe me”

“Wha, What.....”

The truthfulness in Kamito’s eye, Claire in her eyes, is really genuine.

“....You, What is this. If you are not a pervert, then '''why are you here?'''”

Naturally she doubted. This forest is under the jurisdiction of Areishia Spirit Academy, known as “Spirit Forest”. There’s a principle that an elder sister can never meet any man inside the academy, in regards with her feelings.

In that place, illicit sexual relationship is against the moral code, which is strictly not to be violated by anyone.

“I was, called here by Greyworth”

“Greyworth..... by the academy director!?”

Claire became more doubtful in that given situation. Indeed, it’s not something, not to be doubt about.

“I’m not lying. Look, here’s the evidence”

Kimito shruged his shoulders, inside his burned coat’s pocket, he took out a one sheet withered letter. The letter’s writings are from the renowned academy director. Also, 5 big pure spirits appears in a form which symbolize as a rank badge seal pressed down on it.

“Is....that, the country’s obi number one rank badge seal!?”

Claire in her dismay, a shallow voice let out in her lips. A number one rank badge seal is an amnesty badge seal produced through a special method of sealing a spirit. The country’s obi distributed the rank badge seal to those who are worthy to be called inside, by the best highest position; the reply on it is in absolute secrecy and should never tell to anyone.

In a natural manner, fixing her gaze in his groin, the article on it is not some female thing that can contract a spirit, in a glance that’s the genuine thing in his hip.

“.....It seems the real thing. But, why would the academy director call a man here?”

“Well, that Old woman is my guardian Greyworth, I’m really confused about it”

“That.. that Old woman!?”

Just like that, Claire’s face draws closer.

The Twilight Witch – in her town, Greyworth is a spirit soldier which was sighted as an Elder Sister having an enraged personality. It was said that within the Orudeshia country obi, she was popular having a dance that rival the most powerful dance ever known. One of the twelve elite general which retired from the group of the most powerful spirit elder soldier, It was noted that a dozen of years later, gain a reputation as a legendary witch which was being feared and revered with respect by other.

(The truth is, lately, I’m having a nightmare about that person....)

In that time, when the letter writing has been tucked away. Kamito’s shoulders shrugged.

“With a little fortune from Greyworth, I have came all the way here. but, the academy ground is very large, so I have lost my way”

Areishia Spirit Academy ground is incredibly very vast. After all, the Academy City covers all the mountain range, also, spreading farther more into the Spirit forest owning the whole perimeter of it.

“Then, you were misled dumbfounded by the Spirit Forest, Is that it?”

“.....Yes, that’s it”

Claire puffs into laughter, while Kamito gently nodded.

In the peaceful large ground of the sunny spirit forest exists, the elemental spiritual world’s "Portal" which connects and threatens this world with stray soul. Mostly of the spirit, has no interest in the humankind, but they harmlessly loves to play pranks by deliberately misleading travelers into the puzzled forest. In any event a person was misled by the spirit into the forest; one should look for the academy road which will guide them out from the wilderness.

“Anyway, I’m really glad that I had met a person, in these difficult and horrible Spirit Forest. from here onward, how should I get in the academy?”

“Hey.....for your own information, I shall tell you, that there’s a two hours of walk from here towards the Academy”

“What, that far!?”

To avoid being misled by the spirit of the forest, one should walk away in such a pattern. The academy students here are females, and they are close in this vicinity, so they have thought a way around it.

(.....hmm? why are these people, bathing in this kind of place?)

From this plain forest, a sudden question arises. Certainly today is a very hot day, to come and take a bath and rest here, incidentally for a male to set foot inside the academy in such places. In any case, this girl is not the only girl in the academy, except that she was the one been put into shame.

Being asked, Claire dug her hands into her wet twin tail hair trying to comb it,

“I was here for the spirit fissure’s membrane. Brushing aside it, the spring water here, has the highest holy quality are there. And do you know that spirits like a woman which has a pure mind and body?”

“Spirit’s Fissure?”

He uttered a word then, a crack in his left hand’s leather gloves, Zukyu – a throbbing pain. Kamito face grimace, from the burning sharp pain.

“Going away from this place, there is an ancient holy sword in a certain historical shrine. Rumors state that there is a fierce and powerful “Spirit Seal” which holds something in that place, since the foundation of the academy. While no one can, a princess miko successfully place it. Likely, a highly powerful spirit can be found there”

Spirit Seal – is a medium that holds the demon spirit from the elemental spiritual world.

Since ancient times, some of powerful spirit contractor have sealed their spirits inside their arms and equipments. Mostly some of them are the one’s being feared by man that brings forth disaster in ancient society, such as, a demon god, rabbit god and etc.

Of course, it's the human spirit contractor can't deals with. Due, to the huge fear of ancient spirit contractor, they sealed them into the arms and equipment by lamenting them two times.

“You, there’s no way you can manage a sealed spirit?”

“It seems that you are saying something?”

“Stop, it’s too dangerous”

“Hmm, rest assured. It’s not that I’m well accustomed as a spirit contractor, nor I’m not that well aware of the danger of it, but, you know, I really want a strong spirit”

Claire muttered, bitten her tightly close lips.

In a serious facial expression, Kamito involuntarily shuts his own mouth.

“But, you, how about the pear amount of flame spirit sometime ago? That thing quite a powerful spirit, did you not raise that guy properly?”

A Flame Spirit, as the Spirit’s nature which is not that unusual. But, in a certain degree the spirit is a “Spirit Demon Equipment” summoned by a spirit contractor, that is not quite a handful in number inside the country obi. Besides, there’s a limit of quantity of pure spirit errand that a person can holds, it’s not the case that it’s not possible, but – spirit interference can deteriorate the balance of divine energy flow in the body, unless that someone has an innate talent to control it.

“'''Scarlett''' you're an important partner. But-”

“I want power”- and, Claire calmly raised her neck.

“I have only one goal. And that is, to have a strong spirit”

=== Part 3 ===

Fluffily swinging crimson twin tail on her back, Kamito followed her inside the forest. Claire in her leather shoe sandals, while having a hard time walking and expectedly having an accumulated secant of her spirit errand was walking in a light frivolous way.

“Here”

Then, suddenly her well proportion 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 ”

“I’m lost, and 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. Crake’s origin?”

Crake is a large harmonious country obi in the eastern region. The Orudeshia language and culture, largely differs in terms in the relationship of people with spirits.

“No, It’s not Crake. I was born in a far remote island minority group village”

Kamito intentionally obscure his own statement. Certainly, he was born in an eastern island country, but, larger half of his childhood life was not spent there.

“Your name is quite a rare taste and mine is, 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 face blushes, then suddenly change back to her former direction, and briskly walk faster than usual.

Claire Rouge ---- obviously a Pseudonymn.

Most of the students attending the Areishia Spirit Academy, in their young age learned to use the accumulated secant of their spirit, like today’s noble young girl is doing. But, Rouge residence is an unheard family name. For hiding a noble family name, she must have some reason for it, and finding more explanation about it is detrimental.

(.....Anyone, wants to achieved their own inner hidden desire)

Kamito with his eyes glancing in the direction of his decaying left hand inside his leather glove.

Even I -

Claire with her foot movement keeps advancing steadily. Kamito hastily chased the twin tail swaying in her back. Now, losing sight of Claire inside the forest will bring only trouble for him. The dangers of spending one night inside the “Spirit Forest”- is the thing Kamito being aware of.

“Is that dress the academy uniform?”

“Yah”

Claire while walking nods in a coldly manner.

Areishia Spirit Academy Uniform is a robust protective garment that acts as a guard, which undergone spirit’s protection, and sacred in nature which was improve surely enough to last long. The good thing is that a pear amount of spirits acts as a high ceremonial clothes.

“What, are you saying that I don’t harbor value on it?”

“No, it’s not like that. Honestly speaking”

Kamito shrugged his shoulder, and then honestly answer it. Bad mouthing knocking over someone’s – grandfather’s wardrobe, is the overall situation that anyone should avoid.

“Wha, Whatt, What are you saying! I, I’m not an Idiot!”

(Kaatsu) Claire blushes in deep red, while (Pyun-Pyun) waving her whip.

“Uwahh, Calm down!”

“You, you, are you trying to tell me to do a weird thing!”

“''I saying a weird thing?, I am just saying that - *in pain*, I know, I know, because, I’m in disadvantage one on one against your whip!''”

(....phew, it was necessary to tell her a battle strategy, unexpectedly to meet a chaperone princess here)

While dodging the whip which was swing downward in a paper width difference, Kamito sighed in his mind. The holy blade removing any markings on its way inside the forest, creating a gap in the place, then stopped in an arched way. Claire interfere by restraining the extension force with the tip of her fingers, unwinding its circulation in that place in just an ample of time, Kamito expression then calms down.

“From here onwards, it will be really dangerous, so, stay away from me by one meter”

“If you know that it’s dangerous, why not stop?”

“As am I saying, I need to have a strong spirit”

Claire calmly shook his head, when her pair of legs stumbles upon the small shrine.

Disregarding her warnings, Kamito followed her. As for coming about a necessity of battle strategy as his pretext reason, but the truth is, he was just worry about Claire.

After all “Sealed Spirit” are strong and in the same time has a wild nature. They prefer destruction and chaos, the possibility that they would murder that someone who employs them as a spirit errand would likely to happen.

The frightful hand of humanity can not manage to terminate it --- therefore, they have sealed it.

Sixteen years of age, Claire with such an innate talent of manipulating a spirit, and revered as a deity. However, by any chance, she would release a sealed spirit; she would fail to control it.

Accidentally, the girl encountered the thing we are talking about, but to be overlooked by her.

“Why did you follow me? Do you not understand the situation”

“You sure have the confidence that you will completely tame it”

“Of, Ofcourse!”

“If there’s any problem tell me”

Kamito shrugged his shoulder and, Claire facing him while not paying any attention.

“....Suit Yourself”

Inside the shrine is a dark gloomy misty atmosphere. Mingling in the air inside are tiny fumes of stinking odor, Claire somewhat frowning from disgust.

“......Flame, Bring Light”

Claire from her fingertip, a fire ball immediately starts to glow. The Fire Spirit’s power when summoned gives some basic fundamental spirit magic. The flickering light of the fire ball dimly illuminate the walls of the shrine.

And, from the innermost of the shrine --- It was severed.

“The.....container of the sealed spirit was severed?”

Kamito muttered, while Claire quietly nods.

Stabbed standing in a huge stone with its omitted severed body. A hundred century old seal grade framework severed disconnected in the broken rusty sashimi knife with its wholeness is missing. In its cut off belly, a delicate ancient red inscription dimly radiates palely.

“In this place lies our former beloved, Saint Severian Academy”

“Saint Severian? That was destroyed by Demon King Sulaiman?”

Demon King Sulaiman --- accompanied by his seventy two powerful spirit followers, demolished a major peace agreement which brought chaos in the world, and '''the only man in history that can control a spirit errand'''.

It was said that demon king destroyed the Saint Severian Academy.

“Idiot, there’s no way that’s the real thing”

Claire state being engrossed by it.

“In all the places within the country obi, why is that it is stabbed in this stone. This place used to be a village, I wonder why in a deserted village. Now, there’s no way it’s genuine from that severed thing as our lead, It’s reasonable enough because it’s not always the case where a sealed spirit is a strong one”

“.....Indeed. Certainly, It’s not like there’s no such place exist..”

Claire determined with her blade walks toward to him.

“Hey....”

“You stay back”

Approaching Kamito which hands are being restrained, Claire clenched the hilt of her holy blade.

“Don’t overwork yourself ”

“....Got it”

Kamito barely lightly reached the bag guarding the thing on it. The other person in his side which is reluctantly not motivated about the sealed spirit. In the first time, a mature serious silence atmosphere is between them.

“.....Move, Claire Rouge”

Claire breathing deeply murmured informing her own body. A voice meekly trembles from her. A truly complicated scene it was.

--- Thy Sealed Old Holy Blade, Oh Noble Spirit!

--- Wave, I as your master yields your contract, Grind as I wave your scabbard along!

A spell coming from her cherry colored lips, a yang spirit language, contract ritual. The red lotus filaments dancing in the air, inside the shrine a roaring wind vortex begins to accumulate. 　

Kamito gulps his breath, looking in her female appearance. The spirit whose recognized master is Claire, once exchange each other a contract, within her female body there should be a spirit carved seal engraved. A contract vow is a final seal agreement. In this moment, a gust of wind swept inside the shrine.

“......eh?”

But, Claire is unfazed. She calmly recite her contract vow.

---And, the female clenched the Severian’s holy blade, a blinding light released from it.

(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.

Because the holy blade was stabbed in the stone, she was hitting it while releasing a tremendous divine energy. If it was an average spirit errand, she would have already passed out.

“---Three times, I order to wave, wave, I grant thee to plunge!”

And, Claire’s vow reverberates inside the shrine --- in that instant.

Chaaaarge!

“Co, Come out, Come out!”

“.....What, seriously!?”

The blade came out of the stone then brandished it overhead, Claire exclaimed with joy. And then followed by a question mark.

The ancient system engraved in its belly; release a powerful intense brilliant light!

“......ha!?”

Claire involuntarily release from her hand the blade ---

The holy blade thrust into the ground, in that time, the light scattered into pieces.

“Kyaaaaah!”

A short shriek flew, then Claire collapse into the ground.

“Hey, are you okay!”

Kamito quickly run towards Claire.

“Wha, What? Ouch, What is....”

Claire holding her temple trying to get up, quickly stepped back then looked around.

“My, My sealed spirit?”

“No, I....can sense something terrible”

Kamito from the back of his neck, sweats are flowing intensely. A terrified facial expression, with his eyes in the shrine’s ceiling. In that place, '''swinging while floating in the air was the blade'''.

It's not the familiar loose broken blade in that place. But, It was a rough sharpness good quality steel blade.

“Is that.....the sealed spirit’s knife!?”

“Can’t you really not tell that’s a '''spirit sword''', rather it’s not time for that”

“The spirit errand is here, but why can’t it understand me”

“As I can see it can understand. Maybe, in its eyes, that thing just can’t comprehend which of us was his faithful master”

“.....umm, It seems like that”

Claire unusual obediently bows her head.

The floating sword slants pointing its tip in a downward direction, exactly motionless.

Then ---

“.....H, Hide!”

Kamito in that instant, push down Claire in the ground. A buzzing sound of an insect grazed contaminating the ear which can’t go away that far in one’s neighborhood.

“Wai, Waa, Wait, where are you touching me, I will turn you into charcoal!”

It was clearly that Claire’s face is deeply red in her carelessness, while in the other hand, Kamito’s heart is beating faster.

“Idio, Idiot, violent!”

Kamito quickly step aside her body, the spirit sword flew away, taking their attention looking on it with their both eyes.

A clattering sound, a flakes fragment of rocks falls down. The shrine’s ceiling was completely cut open cleanly.

“As expected, that spirit came to loose ---”

Claire scowled half opened eye towards Kamito.

“......umm the spirit, completely run wild”

“You, You’re Noisy. Fro.. From Here Onwards, You Will Be Obedient To Me!”

“YOU....”

Kamito surprised, now in a situation which he can’t even talked back.

The spirit sword releases a chattering noise approaching to them. Inside the shrine, it was moving freely swiftly in the air, without any restriction in its area.

Kamito grabbed Claire’s hand, trying to pull her to stand up. Touching each other soft skin, (Doki) a heart beat, then both of them regrettable turn’s each other face away.

“Hwaah”

“Always has a cute reaction. Let's flee”

“Wha.. whaa. whatt.. Cute.. what me, Kyaa!”

“Let’s run outside!”

Pulling Claire’s hand with his hand, while running towards the direction of the shrine’s exit basking with sunshine.

The spirit sword immediately chased after them. As of now it was not yet completely awakens. But later, the opportunity given by this may cause them not able to run away.

Outside of the shrine, the sword wavering tumble came out in a lightning speed in their front. The spirit sword let out a tremendous roar, the surrounding trees successively certainly knocked down.

“Crazy, What a shrewd Spirit, Let’s go somewhere safe my Princess”

“alwa, always, you’re noisy...”

In this time, an awkward atmosphere is between them, and then suddenly an uncomfortable cough breaks the silence, Claire stands up.

“What a rebellious child.....I will give you some proper training”

Her pair crimson eyes which was burning with a fierce determination, saying it in a way as if she was planting rice to be harvest later. Tearing off her Skirt, then took the leather whip which was coiled in her thigh, hitting it hard in the ground. And the other one looking in a shocked manner over the white underwear, it was Kamito -

“Are you insane!? You’re opponent is a high rank sealed spirit!”

“Easy victory, I’m not lower than an amateur like you”

“Where are you getting all of your confidence?, It’s better to run away”

Being grabbed in the wrist by Kamito’s hand, Claire repulses.

“No, you yourself escape. I will absolutely get this guy”

“You, for what reason --- do you need a strong spirit that badly?”

“.....You will never understand”

Claire in that time averts her eyes.

“I want...a strong spirit, not just a spirit but an unbeatable very strong spirit!”

--- Guardian of Crimson’s blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!

--- In accordance with the blood contract, under my name I grant thee to hasten and join!

Claire summoned her “Flame Spirit” by singing a summoning ritual. A crimson flame surges and she was engulfed by a hot air surrounding her.

“Here, In accordance with your seal descend, Scarlett!”

In the same time a typical young flame, there appeared – a Scarlet Red Hell Cat. Instead of a fur, it was a blazing scarlet red colored flame, wrapping the beast body.

(Is that the real form of her flame spirit!?)

Indeed, she really blurted out that thing here. To manifested a beast form, is a proof that thing is a high rank spirit. Stating Scarlett as a name with great affection, perhaps it was not really that spirit name, but a name with the same quality.

Claire wields her whip, and the hell cat growl a frightful roar, then rushed towards the sword spirit. A dancing sparks scattered. The atmosphere trembled and the beast roars. The floating spirit sword whistles, and all the trees from their direction was severely cut down.

“Scarlett, in accordance with your seal!”

In response to Claire’s shout, the hell cat jumps. There above in the sky where the spirit sword is flying, the sharp blazing claws swings down. A high pitched shrill sound. An intense sparks sprinkle, and the spirit sword dropped in the ground.

Claire runs at the same time. Without even a single scratch on it. The spirit sword rise and fly in a split second, rolling over drawing an arc in the air.

The flame spirit chased after it, trying not to loose it from its hands. Again a big jump, hindering it from rising higher.

Two times the rage, a spark scattered. Clare strikes hard the ground with her leather whip, attaching it into the spirit sword cornering it. Battling it with her leather whip in a tug of war, in that time she gave a signal to her spirit.

Scarlett fiercely attack, the spirit sword which was held from moving --- back and forth.

“Eat this, burning fire ball!”

Claire in her palm a huge fire ball was released.

Fire Ball – An ultrahigh burning fire which can terribly burn out anything as its target in the face of the earth, it was a high level spirit magic. The spirit magic’s power, determined by the spirit contractor’s own divine spiritual energy and the contracted spirit’s strength as a whole.

The released fire ball solitarily flew into the air, blowing up involving Scarlett. The after effect of the explosion in the area, causing every tree to be burned down, is like a scene from the blazing hell.

(What Power......)

At the same time carried by the winds are small stones, Kamito refusing himself to be wind up.

Sixteen years old girl can’t possible have used such powerful spirit magic.

Inside the swirling fire the hell cat figure shows up. Naturally, the hell cat can’t possibly be harmed by the blazing fire as its nature.

The spirit sword – in any case seemed to be quiet. It does not seem hurt waiting in that place. Regardless, Claire wants to bring down that thing with her high level spirit magic without any hesitation. But, the spirit sword is being cautious by pulling itself in that place.

“Scarlett!”

Claire exclaimed. The flame spirit clawed attacked the spirit sword in that place. Melting the iron steel with its scourging hot claws. In any case that’s your average spirit ones neighbor, it would be instantly eradicated. But, the spirit sword quickly turned around, and splendidly perceived by its steel sword body.

In an instant. A metal rubbing each other, strange sound reverberated in the trembling atmosphere.

“Wh...Why?....”

Kamito suppressed his both ears with his hands.

The sound properly received by Claire which has a distorted facial expression from pain, crouching in that place.

The spirit sword which released the strange sound - in such a manner, changed. Generally, it was the length of the sword, switching into a huge “long sword”.

In a flash.

“What!?”

Claire’s flame spirit unexpectedly strike, a huge swing one attack which was immediately countered attack. The body was severely cut down into two, and the flame wrapping on its body vanished in the empty lot.

In that one mistake, one can realized the strength which was about to lost in this world.

(....Damn, what a mistake. It seems that thing was waiting there to completely awaken.)

A curse from the bottom of her heart, Clare took a glance -

In the empty lot where the flame spirit is dying, the girl with her stunned blank eyes looked up at the same time.

The flame spirit which was attacked decapitated thrown away by the spirit sword, Clare aimed her determined sight on it.

From the huge long sword, a loud sound flew -

“Claire!”

Kamito shouted while running, with no such reason, his own body just moved before he known it.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Diving in front of Clair, the long sword stabbed its blade into his palm. It was not his left hand enclosed by the leather glove – it's his right hand.

(……I, I’m helpless ! )

--- Thy Sealed Old Holy Blade, Oh Noble Spirit!

--- Wave, I as your master yields your contract, Grind as I wave your scabbard along!

A huge amount of sweats is floating, it’s the second time the exchanging of spirit contract ritual was recited. Thrusting deeply into his hands, the tip of the sword breaks the leather surrounding his palm. The red blood gushed intensely from it.

(.....Gwaah, Gah!)

A fierce attack of divine energy, the soil and sands surrounding them are whirling up from the wind pressure. In his consciousness a sharp pain resounded. But, Kamito tried not to lose his consciousness, protecting Clare from his back no matter what happens.

--- Three times, I order to wave!

“.....No way, a Spirit Contract!?”

A surprised sound from Clare’s throat.

A mark from his sinking foot can be seen in the ground. And, the sound of his breaking bones resounds from his knee cap.

--- Wave, I grant thee to plunge!

Withstanding the terrible sharp pain, Kamito finished his last word of the contract ritual.

In that exact moment. The spirit sword’s blade palely radiates.

(What!?)

An intense flash and a roar filled his consciousness.

=== Part 4 ===

As he opened his eyes, Claire Rouge’s face was there. Hanging lower into his face was her twin tailed hair tickling his face.

It was a shout, but, it can’t be heard. A roar which can breaks one’s ear.

(.....It appears, I’m alive)

Weary lying on the ground, Kamito is breathing heavily. Lowering his head, it seems that he can’t believe himself that he had won against the spirit.

Raising his eyebrow, he grimaced from the torment pain from his body, raising his right hand slowly.

In his right hand which was stabbed -

Instead of a wound, a two sword crossing each other emblem was engraved on it.

It was the proof of the spirit contract vow - The spirit carved seal.

(Aah, this is....?)

Staring closely in the carved seal from the back of his hand, Kamito wondered.

A sharp sense of guilt gauged his heart.

Is that mean that female’s contract has been destroyed ---

But, Claire who has a relieved expression, in such situation she had failed.

Claire noticed Kamito who just woke up, with her hands in his nape and her face approaching him. A relieved sighed. With her clear crimson eyes, looking at Kamito. Her cherry colored lips weakly trembled.

“......Why ”

"Why, you’re a male, how can you contract a spirit!”

“......”

Kamito does not answer and slowly rise up. Being ignored, the annoyed Clare raised her eyebrows.

“My, My Sword Spirit!?”

“My bad. Just a moment ago, I had contracted on it”

Kamito sighed and at the same time he has shown to her from the back of his right hand, the spirit carved seal engraved on it.

“Wha, Whaa, Wha, Whaaaat!”

Claire stunned expression with her mouth wide open.

(Well, A natural reaction....)

A long sighed --- Kamito felt a faint ache in his heart. Of course, he could clearly understand such response. In a sense, that only undefiled maiden are the ones who has the privilege for --- the spirit contract.

The existence of a man which can simultaneously contract a spirit, through out the history, belongs solely to one person. And the one who brings chaos and destruction in the world, the so called Demon King spirit contractor.

The same spirit contract strength as the Demon King, Kamito was grabbed by the terror of his thought which he can’t embrace.

Kamito stands up and quietly turns back.

He does not regret. He had helped the girl, because this is the only way, he could think of.

“Wait, as am I saying Wait!”

Leaving away from that place, in his back a voice addressed him.

Turning around, Claire with her hands in her hips intensely glared to him.

"You stole...my spirit...you have to take responsibility for it!"

“Huh?”

Kamito conceal his frown. ....It does not make sense to him.

In such reaction of Kamito, Claire acting impatient with her twin tailed hair in her shoulder,

“I should have been the one who had obtained that spirit, as am I saying, you have to take responsibility for it”

“Re..sponsibility?”

From the unexpected word, Kamito has become more confused.

....What was the girl saying.

“Therefore....”

Claire wields her whip then she points her index finger toward Kamito.

"You have to become my contracted spirit!"

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Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai: Volume7 School Festival Activity meeting

2012-01-11T07:00:33Z

Hayate90:

A few minutes later, Kobato entered the room with a nervous look on her face.

She was wearing her usual Gothic clothes, with a cross around her neck too.

I told her to thank everyone again. Even though her face was flushed bright red, she still managed a "T-T-Thank You..." as she bowed her head low.

This was followed by a "Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! Kobato-chan's such an angel~~!!!! Come let Onee-chan have a lick!!", as Sena leaped towards Kobato with a gleam in her eye. Yozora's flyswatter quickly cut her short, though, as the topic of conversation shifted back to the School Festival once again.

Six people sat around the table.

I was sitting right at the center, with Yozora to my right and Kobato to my left.

Quarely opposite me was Rika. To her right was Yukimura and to her left, Sena.

This was to ensure maximum distance between Sena and Kobato.

"Well then, anyone have any good ideas?"

Yozora asked us, the club members.

"Thinking back about it, the only activities we managed to come up with before this were a Maid Cafe, a Tarot Booth and... I think that's all."

The Tarot Booth was the spark that eventually led to us celebrating Kobato's birthday party.

"By the way, what kind of activities are considered 'normal' for a School Festival?"

"A Maid Cafe!"

Sena answered Rika's question almost instantly.

"Didn't we already do that!" Yozora shouted back hesitantly.

"In the Galgames I've played, the main character's class always opens a maid cafe for the school festival! There are other cafes too like Butler Cafes, Cosplay Cafes, Animal Cafes and the like!"

"I can imagine a Butler Cafe and a Cosplay Cafe but... What's an animal cafe?"

I curiously asked.

"A cafe where the waitresses cosplay as animals!"

"Isn't that just a type of cosplay cafe? For a moment there I thought there would be animals in the cafe."

"...... Kodaka, having animals in a cafe is unhygienic."

Yozora coolly said next to me.

"T-that's true I guess..."

At this moment, Rika butted in.

"Then again Yozora-senpai, Rika's heard of cafes where one pats cats or dogs while sipping tea. They seem to be called Kitty or Doggy cafes."

"Ah, I've heard of those too. There are indeed cats and dogs in the cafe, are we allowed to touch them?"

"S-such things exist...!?"

Yozora asked in shock. It seems that she had never heard of them before.

".... I see... So such paradise exists after all in this rotten world..."

Yozora mumbled to herself in a low tone, her face full of wonder.

"Yozora?"

"!? N-Nothing's wrong! I-I'll consider a Kitty cafe in the future."

"You still need to consider it?"

"S-shut up Kodaka!! A-Anyone else have any suggestions?"

"May I?"

Yukimura asked energetically. That's Yukimura for you.

"Yukimura?"

Yozora ushered Yukimura on.

"I would like to open a Sengoku<ref>Sengoku refers to the warring states era in Feudal Japan</ref> Cafe!"

"S-sengoku cafe!? Do they even exist?"

Yozora asked in shock. Yukimura tilted his head in surprise.

"... They don't?"

"How would I know!"

"They do~"

Rika answered coolly.

"Just as its name suggests, the waitresses dress like armored warriors. They usually greet their customers with 'Denka'"

"To think... They actually exist..."

Yukimura revealed the same expression as Yozora previously did.

"There are also similarly themed 'Princess Cafes', 'Little Sister Cafes', 'Tsundere Cafes', 'BL Cafes', 'Otoko no ko<ref>The kanji 男の娘 literally means 'A male girl'; it is a play on the phrase 男の子 which means 'little boy'. Both are pronounced the same, hence the pun. A general term would be 'Crossdressing Cafe' I suppose</ref> Cafes', 'Nun cafes', 'Reptilian Cafes', 'Gamudan Cafes', 'EXA Cafes' and so on. A lot of concept cafes exist in this world."

"Huh... How should I put it, these people are capable of thinking of anything..."

I said half impressed, half dejectedly.

"Since everyone seems to be doing Cafes, I think taste will determine the winner."

"Of course taste is important, but if we can't attract customers in the first place, we won't even get the chance to compete on that stage. 'As long as the content is fine, the packaging doesn't really matter', those are the futile words of an unrealistic dreamer. Of course, even if the packaging is superb, if the inside is horrible it'll all go to waste too."

"......We're talking about a cafe right?"

The conversation seemed to have taken a foreign turn for a moment there.

"If we want to focus on the concept, then the Neighbour's Club should put up a 'Friend's Cafe', don't you think?"

Yozora made a mysterious suggestion.

"F-friend cafe?"

I asked Yozora, unable to imagine what a friend cafe would look like. Yozora explained with unexpected confidence:

"Yes, a friend cafe. I just thought of it a moment ago. As its name suggests, we should serve the customers like friends. Anyone without friends would be able to experience the feeling of having friends here!"

"Hmm... A waiter who seems just like a friend..."

I tried to imagine how that would be like.

Waiter A: "Oh, if it isn't Kodaka-kun! What would you like to order, huh? Huh?"

Me: "Ummm... Ahh... I would like... erm... Coffee..."

Waiter B: "Seriously?? Coffee? Why don't you read the atmosphere!"

Waiter A: "Kodaka-kun, you're so hilarious!! (laughs)"

Me: "Er... Ahahaha..."

......

"... I don't think this will work."

"Although Rika's never heard of a 'Friend Cafe', in a nutshell its a cafe where the waiters are closer to you right? Such cafes exist too - cafes where the waiters talk to you casually."

"To be honest, anyone who went to such a cafe would just get pissed off even more."

Me, Rika and Sena admitted.

"Hmm... Friends are really precious, not something a cheap cafe could easily replicate huh..."

Yozora nodded, as if she abruptly understood something.

"Aside from a Cafe, how does a haunted house sound?"

Sena said.

"A haunted house huh, that might work..."

"Meat actually said something logical. The world's going to end tomorrow..."

"To think that Sena-senpai said something logical, aliens are going to invade the Earth tomorrow..."

"Sena-anego said something logical! Is this a sign foretelling a world-shifting disaster..."

Yozora, Rika and Yukimura's voices were tinted with a hint of real fear.

"I've always been logical all along! Listen up, a haunted house is a school festival staple! Going together with a girl into a haunted house, walking through a dark and creepy corridor! Suddenly a ghost jumps out in the middle of the road, scaring my partner so bad she comes running to me and embracing me tightly, causing my relationship with her to rapidly advance!! Kobato-chan, come with me to a haunted house would you!?"

"NO!!"

Kobato instantly turned down Sena's request with a hint of disgust.

"Meat is still revolting as always..."

Yozora facepalmed.

"...Even though it might work, the Neighbuor's Club can't set up a haunted house." I said.

"Why not, Kodaka?"

"We don't have a venue."

Even though Meeting Room 4 was quite spacious, it wasn't big enough to be modified into a haunted house.

"Places like the dojo which are spacious enough to hold a haunted house are likely taken by other clubs already. Plus, we don't have enough... manpower."

"Ah..."

It seemed that Sena realized as well.

Including our advisor Maria, the Neighbour's Club only had 7 people.

"We'll need someone by the entrance right? So that leaves us with 6 people. I don't think 6 ghosts are enough."

Just then, Yukimura said:

"Aniki, as long as you stand in a dark corner, you'll be able to let everyone feel the horror of a hundred vengeful spirits."

"That's not the kind of horror you would expect from a haunted house would you? Speaking of which that was really disrespectful Yukimura!"

"I am deeply sorry."

Yukimura bowed down and apologized, with a faint smile on his cheek.

... It couldn't be that Yukimura was trying to make fun of me, could it?

It was such a rare occurrence I couldn't help but be surprised.

"Hmm, if its the venue I might be able to think of something..." Sena said.

"Huh, really?"

Sena's eyes narrowed, as an evil smile appeared on her face.

"Heh heh heh... Kodaka, you know what wealth and power is right?"

... The daughter of the school chairman was terrifying indeed.

"Rika should be able to make animatronic models of ghosts too. In fact, they might even be scarier than normal human actors!"

Rika said enthusiastically.

"...It seems a haunted house might actually be plausible after all. Lets take a vote."

Yozora said as she wrote "Cafe", "Tarot Booth" and "Haunted House" on the whiteboard.

"Alright, any other suggestions?"

☺

An hour later.

All suggestions for the School Festival were listed on the whiteboard.

* Shrine Games (shooting gallery, ring toss, goldfish scooping etc)

* IQ Challenge

* Drama / Play

* Eating contest (Wanko Soba<ref>From Wikipedia, Wanko Soba (わんこそば?) is a style of Japanese soba noodles originating from Iwate Prefecture in Japan, particularly Morioka and Hanamaki. It consists of a small serving of soba noodles in a small bowl.</ref>, Buns, Huge Gyozo, Ramen, Meat)

* Endurance Test (Endure Hot, Endure Cold, Endure Scolding)

* Exhibition

* Band performance (Counter-point: No one knows how to play any instruments)

* Dancing

* Flea Market

* Doujinshi sales (Adult-rated BL Doujinshi preferred)

* Club book sales (Plus point: It's easier to sell to friends <-- Counter point: If we knew how to make friends we wouldn't be here would we?)

* Planetarium

* Comedy talk show

* Magic performances

Other suggestions included building a huge maze and underwater kibasen tournaments, but those were deemed too difficult to manage by the club alone.

A beauty contest was also suggested, but it was fiercely opposes by Yozora who soon veto-ed it.

"Hmm... I don't want to do an exhibition here too."

Sena said unsatisfactorily.

Speaking of which, Sena's class was doing an exhibition titled 'History of Tooyo City'"

Its said that Sena absolutely dominated the School Festival, so in order to prevent that from happening again the female students had banded together.

"The only reason I wrote it down is because it's actually quite doable. To be honest I don't like exhibitions either, they lack a sense of fulfilment present in real life." Yozora said.

"It's expected for an exhibition to be boring on the day itself, but everyone working towards a single goal preparing for the exhibition, isn't that an amazing thing?"

Hearing my explanation, Sena told me in frustration.

"Those kind of things only happen when everyone's motivated! The ones in my class are helpless."

To think that "Not letting Sena have her way" could produce such motivation...

"It depends on the context too no? If only they could get hyped up over NETA..."

"That's what I thought too, so I suggested the exhibition be themed 'The omnipotent omniscient goddess Kashiwazaki Sena-sama's photo collection'!! In the end all the female students were against it! Hnnnnnngh... Just thinking about it makes me angry, those idiotic group of female stand-ins...!!"

"You're the idiot."

Yozora spat out coldly.

"Maa, ignoring that idiot Meat, I don't think the exhibition will be any fun on the day itself, so lets cancel that."

Since the other members weren't too keen on an exhibition either, nobody opposed.

Yozora erased "Exhibition" from the whiteboard.

Looking at the whiteboard,

"Hmm, we can try these other backup plans here one by one. We need to visit the flea market and the planetarium once first before we make a decision."

"Ack, we're going to try all of them?"

I asked in surprised, as Yozora nodded enthusiastically.

"Of course. Since we don't know what we should be doing at the School Festival, its best if we expand our perimeters and try everything out."

"Even so this is a bit too much no? We only have a month left, by the time we finish experimenting a month will be over. It'll be best if we slash off a few others too..."

"Oh...That makes sense..."

Yozora once again looked at the whiteboard after listening to me.

"Heh."

She erased "Comedy talk show" without a second thought.

"Wait, why did you erase that first? Isn't that the most suitable backup?"

I protested in surprise.

By the way, I was the one who proposed the "Comedy Talk Show".

Doing a comedy talk show in front of everyone and expressing my humorous side, everyone would then understand I was a pretty funny guy, and dispel my image of being a delinquent. This would then pave the road for me to make new friends, it was absolutely the best plan ever!

""Hmm, it's definitely the best backup plan, erasing that..."

"...Was the right decision Yozora senpai."
"...I think it's a wise choice, Yozora-anego."
"...Kuh kuh kuh... It's the right choice..."

None of the members outside Yozora had any qualms about it.

"Heh, you guys seem uninterested in humour... Heh heh heh. I wonder if you'll be able to stay that way after listening to my latest joke 『The man in the red fridge』? Heh heh heh. It was when I was alone on the road..."

"If you continue I'll dismember you and stuff you in the fridge Kodaka."

.........

All the other members shot me cold stares, hence I had no choice but to give up.

Yozora continued

"Hmm... Ahh right. Lets remove all duplicates of anything our classes are doing too."

"We already removed 'Exhibition' right?" Sena asked.

"My class and Kodaka's isn't doing anything spectacular. What about Rika and Yukimura?"

"Who knows? Rika's never stepped into class once, so Rika wouldn't know."

"Our class is doing a choir."

"Namaste...?<ref>The original kanji used, 合唱 and 合掌, are both pronounced Gasshou. The former means Choir, while the later refers to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namaste Namaste], a salutation originating from the Indian subcontinent.</ref>"

A gesture to appease the souls of the dead, why would something like that be held in a school festival--- Ohh, Choir.

"A plan unrelated to the Neighbour's Club huh..."

The only one left was --- Suddenly I realized!

"Say Kobato, aren't there any problems with the School Festival over there in Junior High?"

Of course, St. Chronica Junior High would have a School Festival too, a week before Senior High in fact.

"Kuh kuh kuh... No problem at all..."

Kobato gave her usual laugh and replied.

"What are you doing for the Junior High School Festival then, Kobato-chan?"

Sena asked excited. Kobato went "Kuh kuh kuh" as she looked away.

... From the looks of it, it seems that she was doing "nothing".

"Kuh kuh kuh... My Kindred... You have no right to know... "

A cold sweat trickled down her forehead, as she avoided making eye contact with me.

Suspicious...

There was something off about the way she spoke. Thinking back about it, this was exactly how she acted when I asked her about her summer homework ("Kuh kuh kuh... No problem...") which she never did.

... To avoid it happening again in the future, its best I come straight with her now.

"If you don't tell me I won't cook Pork Ramen for you ever again."

"H-Hnngh... To think a low rank demon like you would dare threaten the Exalted Queen of the Night Leysis Vi Felicity Sumeragi... Foolishness..."

"There's still some leftover meat from yesterday in the fridge. I'll eat all of it."

"Hnngh... T-that's not fair..."

"Tell us straight then, what's your class planning to do?"

Faced with my questioning, Kobato made regretful "Uuu..." and lowered her head in shame.

"...M-movie..."

It was so soft it was barely audible.

"A MOVIE!?"

She managed to shock us alright.

Thinking back about it, as long as its not too complicated, a simple camcorder should be enough to shoot a movie.

"Heh... That sounds interesting."

"Hmm... A movie..."

Yozora and Rika seemed interested.

"So your class is doing a movie. What are you in charge of then, Kobato?"

"Kuh kuh kuh... That does not concern you..."

Kobato said as she tried to close the topic.

"If you don't tell us I'm forbidding you to play video games any more starting from today."

"What...!? T-that means I won't be able to complete my training before I enter the second Great war between Angels and Demons with the horrible Gods...!"

"Be honest with us then."

"Uuuu..."

Kobato covered her head in shame.

"...ine"

She muttered something softly.

"Huh? What?"

"...ine"

"What's an ine?"

Was it the name of a character? To think they already distributed the roles, that was surprising.

Kobato lifted her head, looked straight at me and shouted.

"I SAID!! HEROINE!! I COULD ONLY PLAY THE HEROINE!!"

"Heroine!?"

Sena and I yelled at the same time. Yozora and Rika wore equally shocked looks on their faces too.

"Heroine... You? You're the heroine of your class' movie?"

I asked again to make sure. Kobato nodded with an unreadable expression on her face.

"Kuh kuh kuh... Despicable primates... Why is it such that a noble like me must entertain these ignorant children of the day?"

"Being a heroine is great! That's a great improvement!"

I said ignoring Kobato's previous comment.

I was always worried that Kobato wasn't welcome in class... Could it be that she was secretly popular...?

Thinking about it, as we travelled around Japan, I never heard of cases where Kobato was bullied.

"I wanna watch! A movie where Kobato-chan's the heroine must be great! Lets all go watch!!"

Seeing Sena all fired up, Kobato sobbed "Uuu~~ I hate her..."

More importantly.

"Hey Kobato! Since you're the heroine, is it alright for you to be over here in a senior club?"

"......"

Upon hearing my question, Kobato looked away as a sweat trickled down her forehead.

This girl, she ditched her own class project to join us...

I let out a sigh.

"Kobato, since you were chosen as the heroine you should give it all you've got."

Kobato let out a "Muu..." unhappily. Looks like I need to start training her seriously.

"...In this world, there are plenty of others who don't get any roles at all in their class..."

"Uuu..."

Kobato let out a small whimper, and then looked at Yozora, Sena and me.

Yozora gave her a look that said 'well he's not talking about me' before looking away, while Sena let out a faint smile.

"...Right? This is a rare opportunity, make sure you work hard Kobato. A lot of people are counting on you right? That alone is something really amazing. You should only come help out here occasionally when you're free."

I said softly. Kobato stared at me silently for a while, before finally nodding her head with an "...Uhm".

I patted Kobato's head.

"That's good, now that's behaviour befitting the Exalted Queen of the Night Leysis Vi Felicity Sumeragi!!"

"An--An-chan!! Ummm... Kuh kuh kuh... Pat my head more, my loyal kindred... Ufufufu..."

As her face flushed bright red, Kobato's said so, a comfortable look on her face.

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Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai: Volume 4 Sisters

2011-12-30T00:53:32Z

Hayate90: /* Sisters */

===Sisters===

It was the day after our final exams had ended.

It was a weekday, but that didn't stop me from sleeping in until noon, and after eating lunch I spent my afternoon reading manga and playing video games in my room.

The way Chronica Academy works, is that after final exams we get the last five days of September off to recuperate.

I'm guessing the teachers are pretty busy grading tests, because they didn't give out homework like they did for summer vacation.

In other words, this was a true break from school.

I've spent the past few days completely focused on my tests, so I doubt anyone can complain if I take a day or two to just laze around and relax.

I sent a text out to everyone in the Neighbors Club letting them know I'd be staying home today.

By the way, Chronica Academy's middle school division and high school division have tests on the same days, so Kobato was with me here at home too.

I got so lost in my lazing around that it was almost dinner time before I knew it.

I felt a little bad that I spent the day doing basically nothing, even though I'd already told myself it wasn't a big deal.

I figured if I was this lazy all day, I might as well at least put some effort into dinner. So, I went out to the grocery store to buy some things to make dinner with, and was now standing in the kitchen.

I managed to find some chicken meat on sale today, so I guess we'll have that.

"Kukuku... I smell the aroma of some truly delectable blood in here..."

A short while after I'd started cooking, Kobato came into the kitchen with a string of drool hanging down her mouth, most likely lured in by the smell of the chicken being fried.

"I'm almost done with it, today's is gonna be good."

"Kukuku... I await an offering befitting one of my status..."

Kobato did that ridiculous chuckle again.

And, right after she did,

Ring ring ri~ng Ring ring ri~ng.

The intercom started ringing.

I wonder who it is.

"Hey, Kobato, go get the door for me. If it's someone asking us to subscribe to some newspaper just tell them we don't need it, ok?"

I had to ask Kobato since I can't just leave this chicken sitting here.

"Kukuku... It is no trouble at all to handle something of that level with great magic such as my own, kukuku..."

"Yeah, I dunno if you'll need magic or whatever, but just send them away."

"Ok."

In the time it took Kobato to head over to our side of the intercom, it rang three more times in rapid succession.

People really like to be annoying with doorbells, don't they...

As I thought that to myself and continued cooking, I heard Kobato yell,

"No thank you!"

Really loudly into the receiver.

So it was just a salesman?

However, he must not have wanted to give up, because a second later,

"No thank you!"

I heard Kobato yell the same thing again.

It's best if you can cut these guys off right away, but this guy must be persistent...

"No thank you!...... No thank you!...... No thank you no thank you!" 

"Are you deaf!? I said we don't want you here! Now go away!"

What the heck is she doing...

I went to look over at Kobato to see what was going on, and when I did,

"You moronnnnn!"

Kobato yelled into the receiver again all of a sudden, hung up in a hurry, and ran over to the front door.

"Hey, ehh!? H-hey! Kobato!?"

Going out there in person is just what he wants you to do!

I had no choice but to quickly turn off the stove, and chase after Kobato.

"Ah! Onii-chan!!"

When I arrived at the front door, Maria, who Kobato was trying to hold back, slipped past her, took off her shoes, and jumped at me.

"Maria!?"

"Ahaha, Onii-chan! Onii-chan's here! Ahaha!"

W-why is Maria!?

"Uuu, An-chan... I told her 'no thank you'! She came in even though I told her 'no thank you'! What kind of idiot comes in after you say you don't want them here..."

Kobato looked like she was about to cry.

Looks like Maria was the one Kobato was yelling at over the phone.

"...Hey, Maria, why are you at our house?"

I asked, still confused by the whole situation, to which Maria energetically replied,

"I ran away from all my material possessions!"

Material possessions? Does that mean she just joined the priesthood?

Or maybe she meant she's changing religions to Buddhism now...?

"Be more specific, what do you mean?"

"I mean I ran away from home!"

"Just say so in the first place then... Wait, you ran away from home!?"

"Yeah!"

Maria nodded with a big smile on her face.

"Why would you run away from home..."

"Because the old hag never shuts up about work!"

"The old hag... Oh, Kate-sensei?"

"Yeah! I told her Onii-chan wouldn't be a jerk and make me work all the time, and she told me 'Go and live with your precious Onii-chan then!'"

"...And you actually did."

"Yeah!"

What an honest answer.

Maria stared at me with sparkling eyes full of so much faith in me that she didn't think I'd ever turn her down.

But I can't go and let her just live here...

As I was deciding what to do, the phone started ringing.

"......Uhh, wait here a second."

I went back into the living room, leaving Maria and Kobato where they were.

I then picked up the receiver.

"Yo, it's me man. You know, me."

I thought about hanging up immediately, but stopped because I recognized that voice.

It was just the person I needed to talk to.

"If you don't mind, could you please stop with the stupid jokes, Kate-sensei?"

"Oh, ding dong~ It's Onii-chan's little sister, Kate-chan here~ Oh, you don't have to be so stiff with me either~ Talk to me like you'd talk to your little sister!"

It was Sister Kate on the other end of the line, aka, the person who told Maria "Go and live with your precious Onii-chan then!"

"Fine."

I decided to ignore the part about talking to her like a little sister, but it was clear I didn't have to talk to her like a teacher either.

She might talk like a weird old man, but she is technically younger than me.

"Anyway, more importantly, Maria came over to our house."

"Yeah, I know~"

"The heck, you knew? What do you wanna do then?" I asked.

"I'd like it if you could let her stay there a day or two. If she's too much of a pain you can just throw her out though~"

"She wouldn't really be a..."

Pain, is what I was about to say, but then I heard her and Kobato yelling back and forth at the front door.

"You sure she won't be a pain?"

"...Well, I don't see the problem in letting her stay while we're on break."

"Thanks Onii-chan! I love you!"

"Shut up."

Ca-lick.

Anyway, that's how Maria ended up staying at our house.

☺

I finished making dinner about 30 minutes after Maria arrived.

Uohhhhhhh~~!!

Maria let out a shout of joy with her eyes bugged out after she saw me line the food up on the table.

As she frantically looked back and forth between me and the food, she said,

"Why!? Why why why!? Ehhhh!? Whyyy!? Wh- Wh- Why why!? Uohh!?"

I don't know why she keeps asking "why!?", but she certainly seems to be excited.

"...Shut up, stop saying 'why' you moron."

Kobato said as she sat in her chair with a frown on her face.

Our table was a long one, but it was a little tight since all three of us were sitting on the same side (Maria was on my right, and Kobato on my left).

Kobato usually sits across from me, but she brought her chair all the way around once she saw Maria sit down next to me.

By the way, tonight's dinner consists of chicken patties, fried chicken, chicken rice, and chicken salad.

As I said before, I got a lot of chicken meat for cheap, so I based dinner around that.

The demi-glace sauce on the patties is a secret weapon I developed over the years, but I think they'd be good even without the sauce, and it goes good with either bread or rice too.

I was thinking we could just eat the leftovers tomorrow, but now that Maria's here it should be just enough for three people.

"Ahaha! Why is there so much here!? Is it Christmas!? Onii-chan is today Christmas!?"

Maria said while her eyes darted around, looking at all the food lined up on the table.

"How could it be Christmas in September?"

I did put more effort than usually into dinner tonight, but it's not that special.

"This much and it's not even Christmas!? Uwahh, why why why!?"

"Hmph... What an irritating pawn of God... This is exactly why you commoners are so troublesome..."

Kobato glanced over at Maria before she picked up her chopsticks and started to reach out for some food.

"Heyyy!"

"Fgyah!?"

Maria reached out all of a sudden and smacked the back of Kobato's hand.

"Wh... what'd you do that for ya' retard!?"

"We have to pray before we eat dinner!"

Maria said something very sister-like for once.

"Kukuku... We are a clan of the darkness... We do not pray to something as trifling as God..."

"Kobato. Not praying is fine, but say 'thanks for the food' like you're supposed to."

"Uu~"

Kobato pursed her lips at my scolding, and mumbled "...thanks for the food," before sticking her chopsticks out to grab a piece of fried chicken.

"Ehe~"

The second she took a bite of it, that frown she'd had on her face this whole time melted into a happy smile in an instant.

She finished it off in no time at all, and reached out for another one.

"Ah! That's not fair! Let us pray. Bless us, O Lord, and these, Your gifts, which we are about to receive from――"

"Munch munch munch munch"

Kobato devoured the fried chicken as Maria offered her prayers.

And the second Kobato stuck her chopsticks out for the piece right in front of Maria's eyes,

"Gyahhh poop Amen!"

Maria cut herself off mid-prayer, quickly stuck her chopsticks into a piece of the fried chicken, and shoved it into her mouth.

"Uhoooo! Sho goood!"

Maria happily yelled with her mouth full of fried chicken.

"Ya' didn't even finish your prayer!" Kobato complained.

Then, as she grabbed a new piece of fried chicken, Maria said,

"I-it's fine! I'm saving the poor fried chicken from getting taking by an evil vampire!"

"Ya' big cheater!"

"I'm not cheating~!"

Thus, they began devouring dinner like it was some kind of competition.

The fried chicken were disappearing before my eyes, and they were eating the salad pretty fast too.

As for the chicken rice, rather than scoop some onto their plates like a normal person, they were hovering over the big plate it was on, practically butting heads as they ate.

I'd put a chicken patty on each of our plates, but for some reason they ended up stealing each other's rather than eating their own.

It looked like I wasn't going to get to eat at all at this rate, so I quickly said my 'thanks for the food' before securing some chicken rice and friend chicken on my plate.

[[Image:Boku_wa_Tomodachi_ga_Sukunai_Vol4_Ch09_Img01.jpg|thumb]]

But, as I did, the living room phone rang.

After telling Kobato and Maria, "Hey, you two, mind your manners while you eat," I stood up and went to grab the receiver.

"Haa haa... O-Onii-chan, what color underwear are you wearing right now?"

"Just tell me what you want."

I coldly said, since I didn't have the time to go along with her stupid jokes. It was Sister Kate who'd called again.

"Ah, well, it's nothing big really~ Did you guys already eat?"

"Yeah, we're actually eating right now."

I answered, while glancing into the dining room. I really need to get back to the table before those two little beasts eat everything.

"Oh, would you mind telling me what you're having?"

"What we're having? Umm... Fried chicken, chicken patties... chicken rice, and chicken salad."

"I see. Make sure you tell Maria to eat her vegetables too, ok? Onii-chan."

"Sure."

I then hung up the phone.

Looks like it really wasn't anything big after all.

...By the time I'd hung up the phone and returned to the table, the fried chicken had already been annihilated.

Even the pieces I'd put on my plate were gone.

"...Who ate my fried chicken?"

""She ate it!""

All I could do was sigh at the two of them, pointing at each other with their mouths full of food like two little hamsters.

☺

After we finished eating, Maria kept on following me around as I washed everything, looking all around the kitchen and dining room.

"Hey, Maria, you having fun?"

I asked, a little curious, to which Maria replied "Yeah, this is fun!" with a big fat smile on her face.

Well, if she says it's fun then I don't really mind, so I continued washing the dishes.

"Oh yeah, Maria, how'd you know where I live? Actually, how'd you even get here?"

I asked, realizing how weird it was that she made it here.

It's pretty far from our house to St. Chronica Academy. I have to ride the train and the bus to get there. I don't think a 10 year old little girl could find her way out here that easily.

"I rode the train and the bus!"

Maria answered, full of energy.

"Oh...? I'm impressed. You didn't get on the wrong bus or anything?"

...Incidentally, there's a guy who got on the wrong bus and was late the first day in this very room.

"It was fine, since the old hag came with me!"

"...That's quite the original way to run away from home."

What kind of runaway leaves with somebody from the same house they're running away from...?

Just then, the phone rang a third time.

I turned off the faucet, and walked into the living room.

The caller was Kate, yet again.

"You guys done eating now?"

"Yeah."

"Did that little weasel eat her vegetables?"

"She chomped 'em up."

She ate the salad, the meat, the rice, and my food too.

"I see~ That's fine then. Talk to ya' later~"

She hung up.

I don't get why she keeps incessantly calling me to check up on Maria when she's the one who brought her here in the first place.

By the way, Maria was looking up at me the whole time I was on the phone just now.

She kept following me around, even after I went back into the kitchen.

I finished the dishes while thinking that having her follow me around like a little puppy was kind of fun.

Right after I was all done with that,

"Kukuku... Fellow clansman... You shall join me in my merrymaking..."

Kobato, who had been watching TV, said to me after walking into kitchen.

She was holding the case for one of her video games in her hand.

"What, you wanna play some games together?"

Kobato nodded at my question.

"OK, that's fine with me."

I didn't do anything else today, and it'd be nice to play some video games with Kobato too, since I haven't in a while.

"Yay! ...Kukuku... Watch as I mystify you with my beautiful techniques..."

Kobato happily put the disc into the PS2, and started up the game.

The game was "Kurogane no Necromancer Magical Hyper Battle 3"―― It's the previous game in the series to the one I played at Sena's house.

"Kukuku... An-chan, you shall use controller two..."

Kobato handed me the controller, and sat on the sofa with her own.

After the company logo came the title screen filled with a bunch of different magical girls, along with the voice of one hyper-energetic girl saying "Kurogane Necromancer~! Magical Hyper Battle~!" as she read the title out loud.

"Ohh, I know about that! This is one of those eroge!"

Maria said while looking at the PS2 and TV.

"I-it's not an eroge!" Kobato said, blushing.

"It's not!?" said Maria, looking at me.

"Yeah, this is just a normal game. Where did you even hear about erog-..."

I stopped myself halfway because the answer was obvious.

"So this is different from the ones Sena and Rika are always playing in the clubroom?"

"They are. They're completely different."

"Oh!!"

"Wanna try it out, Maria?"

When I held out the controller to Maria, who was brimming with curiosity, she happily replied "Yeah!", before taking the controller from me and sitting down next to Kobato.

"Mu... No mere foolish human is fit to be my opponent..."

"What was that!? You don't know until you try!"

"Kukuku... Very well, then tremble in fear before my great powers of darkness..."

Kobato picked her character once the selection screen came up.

"Hmph, I'll beat you to a pulp with my holy power! Onii-chan, how do you use this thing!?"

Asked Maria, who seemed to have no knowledge whatsoever about video games, while staring at the controller curiously.

☺

Kobato and Maria began their battle after I taught Maria the basics on how to play.

"Uohh!"

"Kukuku..."

.........

"K.O.! Perfect!"

As for the result, Maria was, naturally, annihilated by Kobato, who's been playing the game for a long time now.

Her opponent had never even held a controller before today, but that didn't stop Kobato from beating the crap out of Maria.

She's so childish, I swear...

"Fueh? I lost? Did I lose?"

"Kukuku... Behold my power..."

Kobato gleefully laughed at Maria, who was still confused.

"Ughh...! One more time!"

"The result will be the same no matter how many times you try... You would do well to lament your own weakness and fall into the depths of despair..."

Maria picked a different character, and Kobato met her with the same one as before.

I watched a few matches between Kobato and Maria (Kobato won them all) before leaving the living room and getting the bathtub ready.

"Hey~ Time to take a bath..."

"Kuhahaha, allow my special attack to send you into an eternity of darkness!"

"Gyahhh! That move's not fair!"

...They didn't look like they were gonna be done any time soon, so I took my bath first.

☺

They were still going at it when I got back from my bath.

"Darkness Requiem!"

"Kyaaa!"

It looks like they just finished a match. Kobato's character, the Magical Girl of Darkness, Gernica, just fired a blast of magic at Maria's character, The Knight of Light, Carol, who let out a scream as she fell.

"Kukuku... yet another victory for me..."

"Grrr, I almost won too..."

Maria groaned in frustration at Kobato, who had just beaten her.

I looked at their HP bars, and saw that Kobato's was down to about half.

Ever since the first match that I saw, Kobato had been getting near-perfect wins every time, but it looks like Maria's been getting better while I was away.

Anyway, that aside,

"Hey~ It's time for you two to take a bath. Who wants to go first?"

I said, causing Maria's eyes to open wide as she turned around.

"A bath!? Ok ok! I'll go! I'll go in with Onii-chan!"

"I already went in."

"Ohh... Then I'll go in next."

Maria said, putting down the controller, but Kobato stopped her.

"...Hold it... You would do well to know your place, pawn of God... It has been decided that I shall take my bath before the likes of you..."

"It was decided?" "No, it wasn't decided or anything," I said.

"Then I'll go in first after all! I'll go in before that vampire!"

"Ugahh! I'm going in first you retard!"

"...Decide with rock paper scissors."

I said, since it looked like they were about to get into a fight.

They both played rock paper scissors, and Maria won.

"Yay~! I get to use Onii-chan's bath~!"

Maria ran off to the bathroom while throwing her clothes off.

I picked up Maria's sister uniform and underwear she left spread on the floor, and as I was putting them in the changing room, I wondered,

"...Is it ok to put these in a washing machine like normal clothes?"

[[Image:Boku_wa_Tomodachi_ga_Sukunai_Vol4_Ch09_Img02.jpg|thumb]]

I have no idea, since I've never washed a sister uniform before.

I left them in the laundry basket for now, and went back to the living room.

When I got back, the phone rang again.

I picked up the receiver, wondering if it was Kate again, and sure enough, it was.

"Ah, Onii-chan. What's Maria doing right now~?"

"She's taking a bath."

"I see~... alone?"

"Yeah."

"Tell her to make sure she washes everything. Also, do you have pajamas she can use?"

"She can use my little sister's."

"Oh, ok..."

She sounded a little disappointed.

"Are you that worried about her?"

"W-what!? I-it's not like I'm worried about her!"

Ca-lick.

Her voice was obviously flustered before she quickly hung up on me just now.

"Yeesh..."

I sighed while bringing Kobato's spare pajamas into the changing room.

I could hear Maria in the bath going "Hmmm~♪ Hmm Hm Hmmm~♪" happily humming some song.

"Maria! I left you a change of clothes in the basket out here! Oh, and make sure you wash everything!"

"Ok! Ahaha~!"

I went back to the living room after hearing her energetic reply.

Kobato was playing her game in single player mode, so I picked up the other controller to give her someone to play with.

I'm pretty sure I was able to put up a good fight back when we played before, but she must've gotten a lot better since then, because I ended up losing every match.

"...What's the matter, my clansman... That can't be your true power... Remember it... Remember how we fled through that frozen night together..."

Kobato said, looking a little disappointed.

...I think I'll do a little practice later.

As I told myself that and continued losing to Kobato,

"Hey~ Hey~ Onii-cha~n."

Maria came into the living room.

Naked.

She was holding Kobato's pajamas in her hand.

"What's the matter?"

I turned around, and then Maria said, with a troubled look on her face,

"Onii-chan, these are a little too tight!"

"Eh, tight?"

Those should fit Kobato though, so why...

"Yeah! ...It felt tight on my chest when I tried putting it on. I won't be able to sleep well in this."

"Then don't sleep at all! Moron moron moronnnn!"

Kobato started yelling all of a sudden.

"Ghhh..."

She was trembling in frustration with tears in the corners of her eyes.

Oh, I get it... Her chest...

Kobato and Maria are about the same size, so I figured Maria'd be able to wear whatever Kobato can, but Maria's chest is a little bigger than hers now that I think about it.

Well, this is a problem... If she can't wear Kobato's clothes then we don't have anything here that'll fit her.

"Hmm..... Wanna try wearing my T-shirt for now then?"

I can't let her get sick or something from being naked all night.

"Onii-chan's shirt!? I'll wear it!"

She didn't seem against it, so I grabbed one of my T-shirts and had Maria put it on.

Obviously, it was really baggy on her and looked more like a short one-piece, but,

"Uwaa! Onii-chan's T-shirt! Ahaha! Onii-chan's T-shirt~! I combined with Onii-chan! Ahahahaha!"

I don't know what's so great about my T-shirt, but Maria seems happy about it, so she can just wear that for tonight.

"Uuu~..."

Kobato seemed upset as she groaned.

☺

After that, Kobato took her bath, and then spend the rest of the night playing "Magical Hyper Battle 3" with Maria.

I laid out a futon for Maria in the living room, and read a book while glancing at their game occasionally. Maria was getting better and better, and she was starting to put up a good fight against Kobato.

However, Maria started moving sluggishly around 9:30, leading to a series of perfect wins from Kobato.

Maria's eyes were drooping, and she looked like she was already half-asleep.

"Hmph... You have no value as an opponent to me in your current state..."

"Zzzz..."

At the same time Kobato turned off the PS2, Maria flopped down sideways on the couch, and fell sound asleep.

"Guess this is proof that kids who sleep well grow well, huh."

I said with a wry smile as Kobato stared at Maria's chest with a sullen expression.

"I'm going to sleep too!"

She said, and went up to her room.

I carried Maria onto the futon I laid out for her, and started to relax by reading my book, when the phone rang again.

"...It's already 10 o'clock."

I wearily answered the phone.

It was Kate, as I'd expected.

"Sorry for calling you so late at night Onii-chan. Is Maria asleep already?"

"She is."

"I see. She brushed her teeth, right?"

"Ah... now that you mention it, she didn't..."

"What were you thinking Onii-chan!? What if Maria gets a cavity!?"

"I'll make sure she does an extra good job in the morning..."

"No! Have her do it right now!"

"Fine fine... Hey... Are you a siscon by chance?"

"W-w-w-who are you calling a siscon, huh!? Anyway have her brush her teeth for me!"

She hung up.

"Haa..."

I sighed, but woke Maria up anyway, and had her brush her teeth while she was still half-asleep before letting her go back to sleep in her futon.

Nearly the second after I did, Kate called again to see if she finished brushing her teeth.

She hung up, and I thought I could finally relax for real as I started reading, but the phone rang again just past 11 o'clock.

"Tell her not to eat anything after she's brushed her teeth, ok?"

"I told you she's already asleep."

Click.

She hung up, and I confirmed that the normally aloof Kate was, in fact, a siscon.

After that, right as I was about to go to bed around midnight, she called again, telling me to make sure Maria was asleep, and that she didn't kick the futon off of her. She then kept calling about every 15 minutes, asking about the exact same things until I finally unplugged the phone and went to sleep.

I really need to get Maria to go home as soon as possible...

☺

"Ok, I'll go home! Because I'm a teacher, and an adult!"

The next morning.

When we were eating breakfast I asked Maria, "How about giving up on the runaway thing?" to which Kobato added, "Kukuku... Running away from home is what children do..." which had Maria quickly agree to give up and go back home to the church.

Behold, The Obedient Good Girl!

"Haha, I'm proud of you Maria."

While still feeling surprised at how easily she accepted, I patted Maria on the head, prompting an "Ehehe~" and a happy smile from her.

Now that siscon sister should calm down too.

I plugged the phone back in after we finished eating breakfast, and the phone rang immediately.

"Woah!?"

I was taken aback for a second before I quickly picked up the receiver,

"MARIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~~"

and cringed after being greeted by a screech so loud it could've made the whole house shake.

"W-what are you yelling for..."

"Uoah!? O-Onii-chan!?"

Kate came back to her senses, and asked in a panicked voice.

"Maria said she's giving up on running away and is going home, so come get her. See you later."

I hung up after telling her the bare minimum I had to.

15 minutes later, Kate arrived at our house in a taxi.

Holy crap was that fast!

...Maybe it was just me, but it looked like the taxi driver was shaking...

"Come on Maria, let's go home~"

Kate said with a weird face caused by her desperately trying to hide how relieved she was to see Maria.

"Hrmm, yeah I guess I have to..."

Maria said, looking a little unsatisfied, before putting on her shoes and walking out the front door.

Looks like our Takayama wasn't homesick in the least, and would've been just fine staying here.

"Maria, tell Onii-chan you're sorry for being such a bother to him," said Kate.

It took all I had to restrain myself from saying "You were infinitely more of a bother than Maria was."

"Ehh?"

Maria turned around and looked at me.

"Hey~ Onii-chan, can I come over again?"

Maria asked in a pleading tone of voice, to which I replied,

"Yeah, come over whenever you want." 

Which was followed by Kobato, who had come out to the front door, yelling

"Don't ever come back, Moronnnn!"

"Shut up poop vampire! I'm definitely coming again! Thanks Onii-chan! The food was really good!"

Maria gave a little bow before turning around and getting in the taxi with Kate.

I watched Maria leave in the taxi as she waved to me saying "Bye bye~!", and then went back inside with Kobato.

Kobato turned on the TV and PS2 immediately after we got into the living room.

"Hey now, you're gonna start playing games this early?"

After I'd said that, Kobato grabbed the controller and did her standard "Kukuku..." chuckle before adding,

"...I must strengthen my magic in preparation for an assault from that foolish pawn of God... I shall have her prostrate herself before my overwhelming might next time she comes, kukuku..."

...Next time she comes, huh?

I smirked at Kobato, who couldn't wait for Maria to come again despite telling her to never come back.