January 20, 557 E.R
A temple surrounded by a forest.
Wind blowing like a storm is on it's way.
Sound from 2 clashing blades.
Forest burning.
Two(2) individuals facing each other. One adult and a 11 years-old kid. Each are holding sword. The adult is holding a katana same goes with the kid.
"You're the Hiragi family's pride. I hope can survive this encounter.", said by the adult.
"Why? Why would you destroy our family's sword school?", asked by the boy who's panting. He sounded exhausted.
"Because there's no need for it anymore. Your existence is the reason.", the adult replied.
"How could you? How could you kill oji-chan?! I thought you, oji-chan and me are family?! Why?", the boy asked with tears on his eyes.
"...", the adult did not answered forcing the boy to charge in a really fast speed. He was able to get behind the adult in just a second, but his attack was blocked by the the man's katana. The boy stepped back away to pace his self again.
"I have no choice", mumbled by the boy. "Sword! Give me power!", the boy said as if the sword can understand him.
After asking the sword for power, the boy heard a voice.
"Are you sure you need my power boy? I will warn you though that lending you some of my power will cost you.", it looks like the whisper was from the sword and it looks like that only the boy can hear it.
"I don't care. Get anything! My left or right eye! Anything! I need to stop Otto-san!", the boy shouted while crying.
"Very well, I will grant you my power and the price would be a little bit of your memory. Know that if you consume more of my power, the more memories you lose.", the sword said then gave him power.
A dark aura surrounded the boy. He can feel power surging inside him.
"Be ready Otto-san. I will stop you right now.", the boy said while pointing his sword towards the adult.
"Very well.", said by the man.
And the two engaged into an hour length fight.
The adult is standing and the boy is laying down, panting, exhausted but still holding his blade.
"Compared to you, I am more experienced in fighting, my foolish son.", said by the adult to the boy.
"Why? I asked for more power but my sword won't give it to me.", mumbled by the boy.
After mumbling a blur memory flashed into his head.
A memory about a little girl talking to him in his mother's death anniversary. A memory where he made a promise with that girl.
"Let me guess, you remembered something that you can't completely recall, aren't you?" asked by the adult while standing next to the boy.
"I think your memories are not sufficient anymore for it to eat. It happened to me as well. My sword and your sword are similar in some ways. The difference is that your sword did not kill someone while mine killed hundreds-- no, thousands. I lost count. I guess you know what I mean?", the adult asked the boy.
"You lost count because your sword ate your memories.", the boy answered while stopping his tears.
"...", the adult could not reply.
"So you lost sight of what's right and wrong because you don't know what to believe anymore since you have no recollection of what's happening around you? I see.", the boy said with eyes full of sadness towards the man.
The man stood in silent. Tears fell down from his eyes down to his chin.
"One day, if I am consumed by my sword. Will you promise me one thing? Until then you are not allowed to use that sword's power or you'll forget this promise that you're about to make.", the man asked the boy.
"I understand", the boy answered while closing his eyes. The boy's answer says it all. He understood what the man asked and agreed.
The man then smiled gently. A smile of relief. A smile of being saved from something. "For now, you won't be able to kill me since my sword won't allow it. Make yourself much more stronger. Stronger than the current me at least.", the adult said.
"One last thing, go into the Kingdom's capital. I ordered my most trusted retainer to live there and take you in if something awful happen. That is the least that I can offer you for going through this harsh experience in such a young age.", the adult instructed the boy.
"Don't worry, He has a daughter with the same age as you. He swore to me that his family will serve you no matter what happens.", he added.
The boy starts to slowly lose his consciousness when suddenly--
"KINSHI!", they heard a voice approaching. Another adult arrived in a general uniform.
The adult that was called Kinshi stepped few meters away from the boy.
"Terrible, how could you let your own son experience something as terrible as this? Have you lost your mind? Is that sword acting on it's own again?", the man in general uniform said.
The voices slowly fading and another sound is slowly getting loud.
TINININING!! TINININING!! TINININING!!
With half closed eyes and an annoyed expression, Takashi woke up another day again.
"It was a dream again.", he mumbled.
August 8, 561 E.R
Wednesday
It's been five(5) days since Rikka and Lucio's duel. Lucio suffered a minor injury on his shoulder and ever since the event he is still in house arrest.
During homeroom period, Eru-sensei is talking about next week's event, the academy's foundation week celebration. The entire class 1 - C is still planning on what they should be doing as a class during the event.
In the furthest part of the room, near the window, is where Hiragi Takashi's seat. Leaning on his right arm, looking bored and keeps on sighing.
While the entire class is still planning, someone whispered beside him.
"H-hey, Taka-kun. You'll get into trouble if you don't participate you know?".
Takashi looked at the person who's the source of the voice. It was Hatake Shizune. It was a surprise for Takashi to hear her talk since she used to be a shy girl.
He sighed and replied, "But this is boring you know? What good will it give me if I took part of the planning?".
"Eeeh? But you're a student here you know? You're a part of this class such as myself and it's normal to socialize with your classmates and teacher once in a while. And this is a good opportunity to build relationship with your classmates and teacher. W-w-wait! You can't mean that you don't like working with others? You only have three(3) friends in this class you know? You should--" Shizune said but was interrupted by Takashi.
"You sure talk a lot this days.", Takashi replied.
"Eh? Really?", Shizune asked with a flustered expression.
Takashi nodded in response.
"Well, I-I-I am working hard to improve myself.", Shizune replied while looking down.
"And I forgot to tell you. About last week's events, nice shooting skill.", Takashi said while averting his eyes.
Upon hearing his compliment(?), Shizune's eyes widened while she looks at Takashi. Takashi noticed her eyeing him and looked at her. She then averted her gaze towards her desk. Takashi then looked at Eru-sensei who's busy with the class plans for next week's event.
"It's the first time someone other than my family compliment me. I feel relieved", is what she thought.
"Okay, I will now pick someone who's going to represent our class in securing the event's safety. Since Robert is our class' representative in the tournament. Hmmm--", while thinking about who to choose Eru-sensei is looking at each of the student's faces. "Okay, I choose you, TAKASHI!" , Eru-sensei said while pointing at Takashi's direction.
"Eh?", Takashi's reaction with an expression of a lost child while looking at Eru-sensei.
"You will be working with the school's student council and other class representativ--", Eru-sensei said and was interrupted by Takashi's objection.
"W-wait sensei! Why me? I mean--", Takashi stood up but his objection was cut-off by Eru-sensei.
"I won't take 'NO' for an answer!", she said while splitting her teaching stick into half and glared towards Takashi.
With a poker-face look, Takashi sat back like an obedient puppy.
"Very good!", she happily said while clapping once. "That concludes our meeting for next week's event. Always remember to support our class rep for the upcoming tournament, Robert Livingstone.", she added and ended the homeroom class.
The school's bell rang signalling everyone that it's time for lunch break.
Kotaro, Aoi and Shizune approached Takashi's desk and they chatted for a while.
"HOOOY! Shizune-san, you have a visitor.", a male student called out Shizune.
"Oh it's Rikka-san! Please Excuse me guys.", Shizune said to the group and walk towards the door. "Hello Rikka-san!", Shizune greeted Rikka with a cheerful expression.
"Hey, Shizune really changed since that day, huh?", Takashi said while looking at Shizune and Rikka.
Rikka noticed Takashi is eyeing them and glared at him. "Hoooo, scary!", Takashi said and diverted his sight away from them.
"Hahaha yes she changed, in a good way", Kotaro replied. "Though-- hey Taka-kun, did you do something to upset Rikka-san?", Kotaro asked with a curious expression.
"Eh? Why would you ask that?", Takashi asked back.
"Hoy dude, don't answer my question with a question. Anyway every time you and her cross paths, she has this look, I mean her eyebrows crosses path as well!", Kotaro asked with sweats on his face and looks troubled.
"Even I don't know what's the deal with that girl.", Takashi replied and yawned.
Takashi then stood up and headed towards the door. Aoi and Kotaro then followed him. While walking along the corridor, a group of senior with a noble in their center approached Takashi's group, blocking their way.
"How may I help you, senpai?", Takashi asked.
"Well we just need someone to look like a clown.", the noble answered
"...", Takashi turned silent and Aoi glared at the group who've approached them.
"You look like the best choice, Hiragi.", the noble said while reaching the paper bag his follower is carrying. In a fast speed he took something out of the bag and threw it towards Takashi's face. Takashi predicted what the noble is about to do and he knew what it is that he took out of the bag. It's a paper plate full of white cream.
Aoi tried to move but was stopped when Takashi blocked her using his right arm.
A sound like something is getting smashed towards something was heard in the entire corridor. Takashi's face is full of cream.
"Now, you really looked like a clown. HAHAHA", the noble said while laughing. His followers laughed as well.
Aoi is trembling in anger witnessing her master getting embarrassed in front of others just to be a laughingstock. Kotaro knew what was going on in Aoi's head. He also knew that Takashi purposely blocked Aoi and interpret it as Takashi telling Aoi to calm down. He then pulled Aoi few inches away from Takashi and the senior's group.
The seniors then stopped laughing as if they are already 100% happy of what they did. Takashi even heard someone said "That's what traitors deserved. Hahaha" from the group of senior.
Takashi then walks to the toilet's direction to wash his face. While he was walking towards the toilet, a mysterious figure from one of the building's window appeared. Looking at Takashi.
After washing the cream off his face, Takashi went out of the toilet. But someone is standing at the male's toilet exit. It's a girl. It's Rikka from Class 1 - A.
"Oh? miss prodigy. This is not the female's toile---", he said but was interrupted.
"You look awful earlier.", she said.
"Hahaha I always get that.", he replied.
"Fight back! At least show some resistance!", she said with a worried look on her face.
"Oh? Are you perhaps worried about me?", he teasingly replied.
Rikka gritted her teeth and turned around.
"IDIOT!", was all she said and walked away towards Shizune's direction who's waiting for her.
"Eh? What's wrong with that girl?", he mumbles.
While watching Rikka's back, he saw an image in his head. A girl's back walking away with her father by her side. Takashi's head ached upon seeing it.
"Tsk! What was that?", he mumbled while touching his forehead.
"Are you alright Taka-sama?", Takashi heard the voice of Aoi. He glanced towards the corridor and saw Kotaro and Aoi approaching him just outside the male's toilet.
"Ah, yes. Of course I'm fine. I'm used to that harassment", he replied.
"That senior! He will pay for this!", Aoi said with an angry expression.
"No, I'm okay. It does not bother me at all.", Takashi said.
Upon hearing that Aoi fell silent and looked sad.
"Well, let's just eat lunch, shall we?", Kotaro suggested with the hopes of easing up the atmosphere.
"Sure.", Takashi agreed. "Let's go Aoi", he called Aoi who's feeling down and Aoi silently followed.
[Translation: Oji-chan / Oji-san is the japanese term for grandpa and Otto-san is for father]
[Stay Tuned for the next issue! ^_^]
[Eron_Otaku]
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