Chapter 64: The Eve of the Decisive Battle
"...If possible, I still hope you can spare Jixiang's life."
I originally thought that the other party would laugh at me for overestimating my abilities, but unexpectedly the uncle began to give me serious advice.
"He's a key figure close to Bishamon, the mastermind behind this series of events. We need to get some information from him."
I can understand that, but according to what you said, will he really reveal the information if he is caught?
Never mind, that's not my concern.
"Feel sorry."
After the two men left, Zhiwan was silent for a while and suddenly said something.
"Do you think you're apologizing to me too often?" I didn't look at him, spooning a piece of the ice cream sundae in front of me. "The conflict between Sanlang and me has nothing to do with you."
He shook his head: "It's more than that." Then he sighed softly, "Actually, I heard a little about you from my master."
“…”
The ice cream melts in your mouth, sweet but also cool.
"Will you leave?"
"I can't say for sure." The oatmeal on the sundae had been softened by the cream. I pressed it down with my spoon, burying it in the ice cream scoop. "Maybe I'll leave, maybe I'll stay. It's not something I can decide."
"So, I said the same thing as Master."
He seemed to be at a loss for words, opened his mouth and fell silent again.
"What else did you hear from Team Ichimaru, that guy Ichimaru Gin?"
"A lot." The young man held his forehead with his hand. "About your origins, what the master did in the past, and even... the time he left your friend to die without helping him."
Are you talking about the hazy moon?
The ice cream in the sundae was gradually melting, and the cereal and fruit filling in the glass were gradually being submerged. "Actually, what he said the other day was right. We are very similar in some ways."
"As for me, I used to work incredibly hard. I studied hard, and I worked hard to become stronger, because there was someone I wanted to catch up with."
If I don't make myself stronger and can't keep up with him, even if we are both lonely, I may not be able to truly understand each other.
"I don't want to just be protected by others. I don't want to hurt the people I care about because I can't control my power. So..."
The image of that person's face, seen through the crimson fire, flashed through my mind once again. My throat suddenly choked, and I couldn't utter a single word.
"so?"
"So, I killed myself."
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"In short, after killing her best friend, Homura committed suicide to prevent the monster that had fused into her body from recovering and harming the other team members."
The boy suddenly recalled the story about the past that the silver-haired man had told him casually.
"Well, it's probably because of my position. I do have some connection to the series of tragedies surrounding that girl. But I understand her approach."
"Didn't I say that? It's not a good feeling to be alone, especially to be left behind."
The girl was leaning against the window. Shimango couldn't see her expression, he could only catch a glimpse of her faint reflection in the glass.
"So, Zhiwan-kun, I actually made a vow in my heart."
"I will never make the same mistake again this time."
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. "I heard the Kanto Tournament is about to end?" In the end, he could only abruptly change the subject.
"Yeah, because of the rain last week, the last match was postponed to tomorrow." The girl turned around and picked up the sundae with almost melted ice cream as if nothing had happened. "It's the championship match between our school and Seigakuen. By the way, our captain also has surgery tomorrow."
"Huh?!" Zhiwan remembered the boy of the same age in the hospital. He had purple hair and was taller than him and Jiujing, but he looked very delicate and didn't look like the president of the sports club. "Is everything okay?"
"Although the success rate of the surgery isn't high, it should be fine." She said as she nibbled at her dessert. "Because they agreed to go to the national tournament together, I even had the swordsmen from Honmaru make amulets with me."
Although they are tsukumogami, the swords and amulets blessed by the Shinsengumi still have a certain effect in fulfilling wishes.
Thinking of this, Zhiwan also felt relieved: "Come on, tomorrow."
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Although many people around us sincerely hoped that our school's tennis club would win the Kanto Tournament, things didn't go as planned, and they ultimately lost. Of course, as runner-up, Rikkai University still qualified for the national tournament, which was packed with strong teams. But, to be honest, the atmosphere in the club seemed quite low during those days of losing.
The captain's operation went very smoothly, but everyone agreed that they should wait until Yukimura's physical condition stabilizes before telling him the results of the Kanto Tournament.
After a somewhat unfavorable start to July, I welcomed the full moon day when the monsters would fight.
A steady drizzle of rain had been blanketing Tokyo since early morning. Perhaps the recent gloom in the tennis club had rubbed off on me, but the sight of the rain had also soured my spirits.
"Oh, you're here early."
At the entrance of the izakaya in Araoenji, Mr. Benten, who came to meet me, was not very surprised to see me.
I didn't go to school today. 385 basically took care of everything in the human world. I went to Urahara's shop in the morning, finished everything I needed to do, and then immediately rushed back to Arae-enji Temple.
"……Hello."
The other woman scanned me from head to toe with her emerald eyes. "Tsk, I still can't believe that idiot Sanlang has a cousin like you who even has some common sense." As she spoke, the beauty combed her golden hair. "Don't worry, they haven't arrived yet. Cong Yun will be here soon. Come in."
"Excuse me."
This was my second time at this izakaya, but the crowd from last time was gone. A sign said "Ready to Go" hung outside the door, but inside, no one was there. Only the owner and I sat at the bar, staring at each other.
"Are Mr. Qianliang and Mr. Black Rose not here?"
"That stupid cat is coming with the witch. Bai Baihe's family has a base in the demon world." He lit a cigarette and looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "You really don't know anything about demons."
"Huh? Are you two the only ones here?"
At this moment, accompanied by the sound of sliding the door, a light voice came from the door.
At first glance, I saw a particularly eye-catching light purple hair. It was Konnosuke, one of the four giants whom I had met once before.
"Long time no see, Sister Jiujing."
"Wow, here comes the playboy." Mr. Benten complained as he placed a glass of water in front of my desk. "Don't be fooled by that bastard's appearance."
"That's too much. I just felt that I had a connection with Sister Jiu Jing, so I just wanted to say hello."
"We've only met once, what's the point of talking about fate?"
It feels like these two people are very familiar. By the way, Mr. Benten said all the complaints I wanted to make!
Mr. Konnosuke's shop seemed to be just downstairs. He very skillfully approached the bar and started to join in the conversation: "So, will my sister go on patrol with Murakumo later?"
"Um."
"Hey - it's very dangerous for girls to go to the front line. You really don't want to stay here?" But thanks to him, the awkward atmosphere at the beginning completely disappeared.
"Uh, no." After all, Saburo, Zhiwan, and even Miss Yunmu were all here, which was too embarrassing. "If necessary, I will rush back."
"I see."
Unlike Benten, Konnosuke-san is dressed in a trendy, masculine outfit, yet he holds a pipe. It's a strange blend of retro and modern, a harmonious blend.
"So, Saburo did it, NTR."
ah?
"Pfft! Kuron! What are you talking about?!"
For some reason, Mr. Benten, who was standing at the bar, reacted particularly violently and almost pulled Mr. Konnosuke's collar across the table.
"Huh? Doesn't Benten know? We smelled sister-kun's scent and blood on Saburo before."
"You can't say it so bluntly! And how is NTR—" He suddenly got stuck and turned his head sharply to look at me. "You have a boyfriend?"
How should I put it? In this scene, I didn’t want to say anything, so I just nodded.
"I heard from Black Rose-kun that he's a handsome young man, and very promising. I remember he's the captain, which squad is he in?"
"...Team 10." Why did he sound like he was gossiping? "Does Konnosuke-san know anything about Shinigami?"
He smiled, holding his pipe in his mouth and taking a puff. "Well, I've lived long enough, so I've met him quite a bit. Let me think, who was it... Um, that captain in the colorful kimono? I had some acquaintance with him a long time ago."
Eh! Isn't that Captain Kyoraku?! What did he do in the human world before?!
"Wow, he looks really disgusted."
"Oh, do you know him, sister?"
"Very familiar, he's my senior brother." I said, moving my chair a little further away. "Are you close?"
"Yeah, we seemed to get along pretty well back then—wait, why are you suddenly so distant from me?"
"Oh~ You get along well with Konnosuke, so this man sounds pretty dangerous." The beauty also moved away a little, and then whispered to me across the bar. "Now you know this guy is no good."
"Yes, I understand. Thank you, Mr. Benten."
"Hey, hey, even Benten said that. I'll be very sad!"
Mr. Konnosuke narrowed his eyes. He was already very handsome and cute, and even if it was fake, his sad face looked a bit pitiful.
However, as someone who has seen a lot of ups and downs, I will not waver!
"Well, since none of you want to listen, I'll change the subject. It's a legend I heard a while ago. Do you want to hear it, little girl?"
Legends and anecdotes?
Anyway, there was no one in the store and Mr. Congyun didn't come either. I had nothing to do anyway, so I started listening with Mr. Benten.
"Hmm... Let me think about it. This is a story that a certain Onmyoji heard from the villagers while traveling."
The story takes place in Japan about a thousand years ago. At that time, the scattered people did not understand the weather and natural disasters. They just prayed devoutly to the gods, hoping for good weather and good health for everyone.
"Well, since there are gods of death and monsters, gods certainly exist too. Because everyone's hearts were sincere, a 'son of the gods' was truly born in that small village nestled in the mountains."
My heart skipped a beat.
The young man took a drag on his cigarette and slowly exhaled a thin puff of white mist. Through the smoke, his upturned eyes looked at me, narrowing slightly.
"However, the gift from the gods brought unexpected disaster to that small village."
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The author has something to say: Hi, Konnosuke, a fox spirit with a white and furry appearance but a dark heart. According to the original setting, he ate the flesh and blood of a demon and turned into a monster. He should have been an Onmyoji in the past.
I met Kyōraku while drinking in the red-light district. He happened to be investigating the real world at that time. (Distant view)
Telling this story was intentional, the foreshadowing was what he said when he first met Homura: "Life is sometimes more dramatic than drama", because when he saw Homura for the first time, he knew what she was.
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