Chapter 100: Let's Go on a Date
"I know… some things just won't change no matter how hard you try."
Keni stared down at her own chest and gave a bitter little smile. Whether it was strength, figure, or anything else—she couldn't compare to Shigure-sensei or Miu-san. She hefted her simple luggage bag; unlike the struggle when she first arrived, now she could carry it effortlessly. Reaching the rear yard of Ryōzanpaku, she tossed the bag over the wall first, then hopped a few times to loosen her legs. With one powerful leap she grabbed the top of the wall and pulled herself up using pure arm strength.
"So dark… not a single light."
Keni had chosen to sneak away at half past midnight. Tonight the wind was strong and the moon hidden—perfect "pitch-black, can't-see-your-hand-in-front-of-your-face" weather. Relying purely on her familiarity with the yard, she felt her way to the top of the perimeter wall… only to freeze when it came time to jump down.
Gritting her teeth, she hurled herself off anyway.
And unexpectedly landed in a warm, powerful embrace.
She jolted in shock and immediately started struggling—until a low, amused voice spoke right beside her ear.
"Yo. Waiting like a hunter really caught me a little rabbit."
Takumi!
Keni went rigid. The arms around her slowly tightened, drawing her closer until she could finally make out his face in the gloom. He was grinning, pure mischief in his eyes.
"Where do you think you're going, young lady?"
"I… I…"
"Oi oi, after just a few days of three-legged-cat kung-fu you already want to graduate? Even Shaolin demands you pass the Eighteen Bronze Men array. At Ryōzanpaku you should at least earn a black belt first—otherwise how can you justify calling this place a martial arts holy land?"
Keni fell silent. After a long moment she mumbled,
"I don't want to learn anymore. There's still over ten days of summer break left… and I haven't finished my summer homework."
"Ohhh? I seem to remember asking a certain girl how her homework was going. She told me she finished everything back in July."
Busted. Even in the darkness Takumi could clearly see her face flush scarlet. She squirmed in embarrassment and annoyance.
"None of your business! Let me go!"
"If you actually think you can break free, I promise I won't stop you."
As if. She'd secretly studied him for the past ten-plus days. He looked lean, but the moment he took off his shirt the body underneath was monstrous—every muscle seemed to radiate explosive power, fibers twisted together like multiple steel cables. The sheer density looked like natural patterns forged into pure steel.
"Go back. Stop throwing a tantrum."
Takumi's tone was gentle. Tears immediately welled up in Keni's eyes.
"I don't want to go back… Ryōzanpaku doesn't have a place for me at all."
Ignoring her protest, Takumi simply scooped her up with one arm, grabbed her luggage with the other, and leaped back over the wall into the compound. He gave a small nod toward the darkness. Though Keni's skill was too shallow to notice, her attempted escape had actually alerted everyone. They simply let Takumi handle it and stayed out of sight. In the direction he nodded, Shigure's silhouette soundlessly melted back into the night and vanished.
He carried the silently weeping girl straight to her room and set her down gently.
"Stop crying. How could Ryōzanpaku not have a place for you? Isn't this your room right here?"
"You… you don't understand anything!"
Keni burst out. Takumi only chuckled.
"How don't I understand? You and Miu have gotten really close—you've been working hard to learn cooking from her. You get along great with Apachai-sensei too; your Five-in-a-Row skills are so terrifying he's always suffering. The first time you praised Ma Kensei it wasn't for his martial arts or his medical skills—it was for his photography. Unlike the rest of us who assumed he only takes embarrassing shots of girls, you recognized real talent, and that made him ridiculously happy. After you learned Akisame-sensei is a master of calligraphy and painting, you started begging him to teach you during the little free time you had outside brutal training. You knew Sakaki-sensei loves drinking, so you secretly bought him sake a few times and even learned hangover remedies from Ma-sensei just to make special snacks that go with alcohol, right? In just over ten days you've done things that a battle-junkie like me—who only trains, eats, and sleeps—could never manage. You've already completely blended in here. So why leave?"
Keni froze. She had thought Takumi only cared about training, or going on dates with Miu, or doing special night sessions with the masters. She never imagined he had noticed every single quiet effort she made. A strange, warm feeling flooded her chest. The tears kept coming, but now they carried a thread of pure joy mixed in.
Takumi reached out, gently cupped her small face, and wiped the tears away with his thumb.
"Keni is a good girl. Everyone knows it, and everyone sees it. We all realize you have basically zero talent for martial arts… yet not a single person here wants you to stop training and leave. And even if you really want to accomplish something in the martial world—it's not impossible. Even a lump of ordinary clay, after being carefully shaped and fired by so many masters, can turn into porcelain that shines like a jewel and holds real value."
"Uuu… uwaaaah…"
Keni threw her arms around him and sobbed into his chest.
"Why are you being so kind to me? You already have Shigure-sensei and Miu-san… Don't you know how cruel it is to be too gentle to a girl without ever giving her hope?"
"I know. I'm not one of those dense harem-protagonist losers from dating sims. How could I not feel your feelings? You've just been avoiding me too much. So tonight I'll say it loud and clear—I like you too. I hate tragedies and I hate seeing girls cry. I only want to see your smiles. Call me a womanizer, call me shameless—I don't care. I like you. I like them too. And I'll do everything I can to make all of you happy. That conviction was forged when I died once. Everyone's feelings are heavy… but my body is the one thing that's never afraid of weight. So—if you're willing—let's date."
Keni's eyes flew wide. His words hit like a meteor. She raised her hand as if to slap him across the face… but at the last second it turned into the softest caress against his cheek. Fresh tears spilled over as she cried,
"A normal girl would slap you right now, wouldn't she? So why do I only feel happy? Have my values already gone crooked? But I can't lie to myself… I'm so happy. Really, really happy. I guess I'm just a bad girl who's fine with being the third one…"
Takumi said nothing. He simply leaned down slowly and kissed her.
A long, gentle kiss. When their lips finally parted he scooped her up again and carried her toward his own room. Keni clung tightly to the front of his shirt—nervous, frightened. Was he going to… eat her right now?
Inside his room he set her down gently and pulled out a light-purple yukata, offering it to her.
"This is a present for you."
"A yukata…?"
"Yep. Tomorrow is the summer night festival. Let's go on a date."
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