On the other side
"Yuna, I'm heading out to work. Stay home and don't wander off."
A tired-looking woman stood at the entrance, changing her shoes as she gave instructions.
In a single-parent household, you always had to try a little harder.
Yuna hesitated. She was supposed to go out with everyone today.
Her mother didn't seem interested in listening.
Yuna was used to being quiet at home. Most of the time, whatever she said was met with "Mm," "Oh," or "Got it," before the conversation turned to: "Have you finished your homework? How are your grades?"
But today, Yuna was a little different.
She stood up, walked to the entrance, and as her mother bent down to tie her shoes, she mustered all her courage.
"Mom! I... I want to go out and play with my classmates today."
After saying it, she nervously clenched her little hands, anxiously waiting for the verdict.
"Play? Are your grades even that good?"
The tone wasn't exactly harsh but that matter-of-fact skepticism was more draining than any scolding.
They were... pretty good, actually. Yuna's grades had been improving. She might have lost some study time, but now she had tutors.
Shiraha, Raven, and Mei's private tutors, cram culture was huge in the Far East, and having a tutor really made a difference.
She wanted to explain, but her lips moved, and the words died in her throat.
"Stay home and preview your middle school material. Study enough, then watch some TV. Don't go running around outside, Nagazora hasn't been safe these past few days."
All because of that so-called Martial Arts Tournament. The city had been crawling with thugs and muscle-bound types lately.
Though public safety was still decent, ME Corp had clearly invested a fair bit in security.
Having said that, she didn't stick around to hear Yuna's reasons. She left the flustered child behind, better to just keep the kid home for now.
She pushed the door open.
The hallway wasn't empty. One big and two little figures stood right outside her door. The atmosphere stiffened for a moment.
Shiraha spoke first, his voice crisp: "Hello, big sister!"
Mei caught on a second later and also said politely: "Hello, big sister!"
The "big sister" they were addressing turned back expressionlessly to glance at Yuna, who looked even more nervous than before.
"Come in and sit for a while."
Her voice wasn't exactly warm, but it wasn't cold either. It was still early, she didn't have to worry about being late for work.
Shiraha glanced at Elysia beside him. She seemed to want to say something, but after a moment she just smiled, never mind, the "Omnipotent One" knew exactly who to imitate right now.
A few minutes later, the group was sitting on the sofa. Yuna's mother appeared quite polite, though her expression was a bit stiff.
"Auntie looks so young. Yuna always talks about you at school, but seeing you in person, you're even gentler than she said."
Shiraha sat obediently on the sofa. Elysia, taking advantage of being invisible to everyone else, quickly explored the surroundings.
She returned to the living room and whispered: "Looks like Yuna comes from a single-parent family."
Shiraha gave a slight nod, no wonder Yuno was so reserved at school.
Mei was curious about the decor around her, but she still managed to look composed and graceful.
"She probably complains at school that I'm too strict, right?"
Yuna's mother sat down nearby, and Yuna instantly tensed up even more, that was the power of bloodline.
"Not at all." Shiraha shook his head. "Actually, Yuna barely talks at school. Most of the time she's studying, and she rarely even goes out during breaks."
"The teachers all say Yuna has made great progress."
Yuna's progress had been significant, certainly more than Mei's, who'd been a bit too playful lately.
Mei thought for a moment: "Shiraha's right."
That softened Yuna's mother's expression considerably.
"Then when she comes home late after school, it's because she's in club study sessions with you?"
Shiraha paused: "Most of the time it's studying. Sometimes Mei invites her family elder to teach the Hokushin Ittō-ryū style, but I've never learned it myself, I'm naturally not very physically strong."
In reality, most of the time was spent practicing swordsmanship, with a little bit of play mixed in. Only around exams, or after bombing them, would Uncle Ryoma bring in a tutor... that is, Himeko, for cram sessions.
"Hokushin Ittō-ryū?"
Shiraha scratched his head with a shy smile: "I don't really know what it is either, but Uncle Ryoma is a modern-day menkyo kaiden (full transmission license holder). He takes it very seriously."
Mei chimed in: "Shiraha's right. Dad still doesn't have a true successor yet."
The mention that Uncle Ryoma was a modern-day menkyo kaiden instantly melted the sternness that had begun to creep back onto Yuno's mother's face.
The Far East placed great importance on titles, especially in swordsmanship. Even a nominal disciple, as long as they grasped a bit of the essence, would generally receive some favor and support in the future.
"So what are you here for today?"
"Club activity." Mei answered first.
Shiraha added: "Honestly, we just wanted to invite Yuno out to hang out."
As for using a club activity as an excuse to go watch the so-called Martial Arts Tournament, Shiraha personally felt that might not sound reliable.
"A lot of people have come to Nagazora lately. Do you have an adult going with you—"
The words caught in her throat, because sitting quietly nearby was Yae Sakura, holding a katana, looking somewhat aloof.
Though carrying a sword in public was a bit risky, some special lineage holders did have sword-carrying permits. And Hokushin Ittō-ryū... Yuno's mother filled in the rest herself.
That was fine. Perfectly safe.
She turned to Yuna: "Yuna, don't play too wild. Make sure to come home on time, and don't forget to eat lunch."
She also handed Yuna some lunch money, quite a bit, probably considering Shiraha and the others as well, though she didn't think Yuna would end up treating them.
"Thank you, Mom."
Yuna let out a long breath. Good, she'd thought she'd be locked in the house again today.
Mei glanced at the scene but said nothing. Shiraha, however, added: "Auntie is really kind."
Then his head was ruffled, and her tone became fully warm: "Yuna is a shy kid. Please look after her at school."
Shiraha: ....
Me, the one being left out?
He was silent for a moment, then said with utmost seriousness: "I will!"
The four of them got on the elevator first. It wasn't until Yuna stepped inside that she finally fully relaxed.
She was just about to speak when Mei clenched her fist triumphantly: "Operation Rescue Friend, huge success."
What did you even do?
No one asked, but Mei answered herself in her head: Being able to claim your subordinates' achievements as your own with a straight face is also a skill a qualified leader should have.
Shiraha immediately fell in line: "Indeed, the Hokushin Ittō-ryū youth training camp has gathered once again!"
Then he looked at Yuna. Yuna tensed for a moment, then: "L-Let's go!"
"Let's go!" ×2
As for Yae Sakura, she wasn't going to play along with the kids right now.
She simply watched the little ones with a gentle gaze, occasionally glancing at the fox spirit with some concern.
Rin didn't look back at her.
The little fox buried her head in the crook of Shiraha's arm, ears pressed flat against her head, tail tucked between her legs.
A few minutes later, the group stood on a crowded subway car. Yae Sakura was about to shield the little ones behind her when Shiraha, showing great courage, stood at the very front.
Oddly enough, after a few minutes, the area around them actually opened up.
"How strange." Shiraha rubbed Rin's head.
"This means fate is always watching over us."
Mei raised her right hand high. Shiraha paused, deciding to mutter to himself instead of following along.
But
"Backing out now isn't what a good friend does, you know."
The next moment, Elysia grabbed his wrist and raised it high as well.
Shiraha paused briefly, then quickly locked eyes with Yuna. Yuna froze for two seconds, then raised her own right hand.
Perfect, a club should always stand together.
The Martial Arts Tournament venue was lively. After getting off the subway, there was still about a ten-minute walk.
But the three little ones ran ahead quickly.
"Will Mei's stomach hurt again today?"
Mei's face instantly flushed: "It's not like I can control that kind of thing!"
She still left herself an out, just in case she got scared again.
With that thought, she flicked her ponytail and stopped in front of a convenience store: "Wait for me here."
She was going to buy a few ice creams. After all, if her stomach was going to hurt, she might as well have something to eat, and that way she'd have more options.
This was preparing for an uncertain future. Definitely not because she wanted to eat them.
The fox in Shiraha's arms let out a series of muffled kyuu sounds, as if laughing. Mei tightened her little face, rubbed the fox's head, then ran off toward the store.
"Suddenly, life feels like it's settling down."
Elysia took the chance to speak, her tone light. She clasped her hands behind her back, her starry eyes curving.
Rin was still a ticking time bomb, but for now it seemed like she was subtly building affection, or using the excuse of waiting for news about the Elysian Realm to justify slacking off and relaxing.
Everyone else was nothing to worry about. The only curious thing was... Hua. How could Hua be an elementary schooler?
How was she even better at playing around than Elysia herself?
The most Elysia had ever done was tease elementary schoolers but Hua was out here playing one.
Shiraha looked up: "That's fine. It gives me a few stable years to grow. At this rate, in a few years I'll be able to steamroll everything."
Not yet, but in a few more years, the only thing he couldn't handle, Schicksal, wouldn't be a problem.
He could push things now, especially with Rin around, but winning now would cause too much damage and even if he won, it wouldn't really be his victory... which was unacceptable.
"Speaking of which, why isn't Mei back yet?"
Shiraha was a little worried. He took Yuno's hand and headed toward the store.
Inside the convenience store, Mei had just paid and was giving an extra glance to a nun sitting in the corner.
Nuns weren't common in the Far East, but they did exist, though this was the first time Mei had seen one. It reminded her of Rin, who claimed to be the world's greatest hacker but couldn't even fix her own computer when it lost internet connection.
"Long time no see, Mei."
Fu Hua's eyes were deadpan, but she quickly put on a reasonably warm expression.
Mei blinked, sizing her up: "Oh, Fu Hua."
She recognized her, the young lady Mei's social circle rarely missed any of the oddballs in her grade.
Theresa looked up at Fu Hua.
Fu Hua kept a straight face, ignoring her gaze.
"You guys are here for the Martial Arts Tournament too?"
Watching the tournament required tickets but participating didn't.
Fu Hua shook her head: "I wanted to watch, but I couldn't get a ticket."
She actually had gotten one, but since she was with Theresa, it wasn't convenient to walk with Mei.
Mei looked a little disappointed, but the next moment she pulled two tickets from her pocket: "Here you go. No need to thank me."
The young lady was generous like that. If asked why, she was laying the groundwork for her middle school clique.
Fu Hua was the top student in the other class. In the future, she, Shiraha, Yuna, and Fu Hua would all be placed in the advanced class together.
Fu Hua was silent for a moment.
Theresa smirked: "Perfect I was just wondering where to find scalper tickets."
She glanced at the seat numbers, VIP section too: "Fu Hua, let's go. This'll make scouting for talent way easier."
Fu Hua subtly stepped back two paces. She realized meeting up with Theresa had been a terrible move.
"Mei, are you still not—Fu Hua?"
Fu Hua sighed, another familiar face, as expected. During non-school hours, Shiraha was inevitably by Mei's side.
Theresa also looked up at the group, then lowered her head again, already fantasizing about discovering great talent and poaching them right under Ryoma Raiden's nose.
But soon, a pair of hands grabbed her cheeks and forced her face up: "Kallen?"
Yae Sakura spoke softly, her voice uncertain.
Before she could confirm further, Shiraha had already rushed over and grabbed her arm: "Sorry, sorry Rin-nee's head isn't working too well. Sorry for the trouble."
Shiraha apologized quickly, sneaking a glance at Theresa, what was she doing here?
Yae Sakura's eyes softened as she looked at Little Shiraha beside her, and she stopped making a scene: "Sorry, I must have mistaken you for someone else."
But Theresa didn't just laugh it off: "Did you just say 'Kallen'?"
She wasn't an idiot, Theresa knew her own origins. She was well aware that the human part of her came from the saint of 500 years ago.
Yae Sakura stirred with emotion, but the next moment her eyes shifted color. Rin lowered her gaze, her tone flat: "Yeah, aren't you cosplaying as the Kallen from Kallen Fantasy?"
Then she pulled Shiraha close, not letting him notice that the little fox in his arms had vanished.
Shiraha put on an obedient smile: "You really look like her, big sister."
Theresa: ....
"Let's go. Time to watch the matches."
Yae Sakura returned, glanced at Theresa, sighed, and gently released Shiraha.
True, she'd played Kallen Fantasy too. She knew the game was set 500 years ago.
Five hundred years, oceans turned to fields.
It wasn't unthinkable that Kallen had descendants.
Rin, through their special connection, sneered: "Her descendants have lasted 500 years, and you're still hung up on her?"
Yae Sakura opened her mouth as if to speak, but in the end said nothing, lowering her head in silence.
She looked at the little fox in Shiraha's arms, the fox seemed to be mocking her.
She was silent for a moment. Then, just as Shiraha would pick up the little fox, she picked up Shiraha.
Shiraha froze. The little fox in his arms let out a kyuu, whether from being squeezed or something else.
"Let's go. Let's watch the match."
Let's hurt each other, fox.
You like this child so much, don't you? But you don't even have a body of your own.
Shiraha struggled for a moment, but couldn't break free.
Elysia: ....