Volume 21 - CH 3(3/5)
"I'm using a fighting style that does not need to take off my jacket ... And for your part, Chiba-sempai, will it be okay in a skirt?"
Saburou's answer was not a psychological attack, he asked seriously. The skirt of the female school uniform not only of First High, but in general of all senior schools of magic gets to the knees, and you cannot say that it can be moved easily and quickly. But these words were superfluous.
"Hmm ... Do you think you have time to worry about me?"
Erika disappeared before the echo of the last letter "e" disappeared in her words. No, Saburou even caught sight of her silhouette. But, since the preparation for the movement was not read, his consciousness did not have time to react.
-Here. - Erika's voice came from the left. Saburou hastily covered himself with a shinai. Saburou's block delivered by the shinai blocked a powerful blow. Instantly squeezing the joints, he tried to repel the blow.
-It was a bad move.
However, the next moment Saburou felt a burning pain on his back and fell forward.
"Although it was a complicated technique, I think it is suitable for Yaguruma's battle style?"
Overcoming the pain, Saburou turned. Erika stood there with a shinai on her shoulder and looked at him.
-Will we finish on this?
-No, more ...!
The pain in the back has already begun to pass. Saburou thought that Erika had struck so as to only hurt, but not damage. In the training center of the Mitsuya family, he already had a similar experience. If it was a real fight with a real weapon, then that blow would knock him out. He would with a high probability even be dead already.
However, Saburou thought.
"Right now, my weapon is a shinai, the enemy's weapon is a shinai."
"Assumptions, like" If it was a real battle "are meaningless."
"I can still fight, only this fact is enough!"
Saburou rushed to Erika straight from the reclining position, without getting up beforehand.
-Jump !?
-No!
If you add meaning to the phrases of the people talking, they said: "Jumping magic?", "No, there were no signs of magic activation!". Besides, it was not a dialogue, they said it almost at the same time. Perhaps they thought about the same thing, accidentally creating the appearance of a conversation. All members of the kenjutsu club, both boys and girls, were able to analyze the situation and understand that "magic was not used."
As the high school students noticed, Saburou jumped at Erika with the help of strengthening the body of a type other than magic. Instead of hurling himself from above, from the prone position, he jumped horizontally along the floor, aiming at the legs. An unexpected attack on an area that is almost never attacked even in kendo and kenjutsu of the old style.
However, Erika easily laid him down. In a literal sense.
A short and Saburou with him were thrown to the floor. This blow of Erika made me wonder where in such a fragile body is such power. Erika's shinai did not touch Saburou's body. Leaving the trajectory of the jump, she just hit the top of Saburou's short shinai.
Struck in this way that the impact of the blow has spread not only to the hands, but even reached the chest. Saburou "dived into the floor" just because he stubbornly did not release the shinai from his hands. In any case, there was not damage from a direct attack. Saburou immediately tried to get up to continue the battle.
However, as soon as he lifted his face, immediately before him was a shinai. He walked past and hit the floor lightly. But the meaning of this was obvious.
- ... I lost.
Saburou interrupted his rising, and, bending his head to the floor, acknowledged his defeat. Erika led the shinai. Saburou stood up and bowed to Erika.
-Body control technique is very good. As if from heaven, Erika's voice came down. "But it's not good to use in combat."
Saburou looked up and looked into her eyes. These were harsh words. But Saburou had on his mind not a denial, nor disgust. He understood that the request for training came from him, because the opportunity to get advice from a strong opponent is very valuable. In a real battle there will be no guarantees to remain alive, having met with the enemy stronger than himself.
-Yaguruma, this is just a training session. You do not even understand this. Erika's conversion changed from "kimi" to "anta". [different versions of the word "you"]. Saburou felt that her attitude toward him had improved.
-Of course, it's important to always take the fight seriously. However, it is necessary to distinguish when to lose - normally, and when - it is absolutely impossible to lose.
-... That is, I was too fixated on winning?
-Looped on the duel.
Saburou was not stupid enough not to understand what was meant. His last sudden attack was a rather desperate step. It was a kind of attack, looking for ways to survive in battle with a superior opponent. As he was told, this is not the technique that should be used in training, in which you lose to try to become stronger.
"Even if it was a real fight, your attack would not work." You are not using the full potential of your body.
- ... Sorry.
"You do not have to apologize to me."
Indeed, it was, but Saburou felt that he must somehow apologize. Saburou thought that it was necessary to start everything from the beginning. Honestly, he practically did not get anything out of this situation. Only I realized my weakness. However, having already shown his insignificant level, he did not have the arrogance to ask again "I want you to teach me how to become stronger."
"But it's quite an interesting material for work."
- Er?
Saburou was ready to bow again with apologies, but could not understand the meaning of the words said.
"Yaguruma, do you have any hidden power?" Depending on this hidden power ... Yes, you probably can become stronger.
The words of denial almost burst out of his mouth. Saburou certainly had skills that are not used by ordinary magicians. However, it was a really dirty force that can only be used for sudden attacks and murders. She was not what he needed - to defend her power. That's why he abandoned this force and focused on honing his body management skills *. [i.e. taijutsu, better known to us as "martial arts"]
"You want to become stronger, do not you?"
However, he could not resist the words of Erika, who had fallen into the vulnerable place of his mind. Tearing his thoughts of a bluff that "I'm not capable," was melted by these words and disappeared.
-Aizu-kun, please, could you train Yaguruma? I, too, will sometimes drop by to check the situation.
"It's natural for the president to look after the newcomers to the club, but ... it's so unusual for Chibi-san to take care of someone.
"It's a whim ... no, a little change in my state of mind." I have one rival to whom I want to make a surprise.
- This supposed contender - already in itself a trouble.
Aizu could not understand why she was training a beginner to surprise a strange opponent, but then he decided to convince himself that "this is Erika."
-Yaguruma-kun. - Having looked with a pitying glance, he turned to Saburou, who did not understand at all what the conversation was about. - In our school, a set of clubs will begin the day after tomorrow and last one week. However, this rule does not apply to those who have decided to join the club on their own. If you decide to join the kenjutsu club, we are ready to receive you today.
"I ... need to discuss this with someone at home."
Using this excuse, Saburou escaped an immediate response. Before the chance meeting with Erika on the roof, he was completely unprepared for something like that. And before discussing with someone, he wanted a little time to think things through.
"Then, today let's have a trial at the club."
"However, Erika did not care about Saburou's hesitations. "Let Aizu-kun teach you a little." Because, I think, for the current Yaguruma, of course, there are still many things that can be learned, instead of being engaged with me.
These words Saburou had nothing to protest.
- Okay, I have everything.
"Hey, wait, Erika!" How about a match against me!
- Next time.
Erika turned her back to Yayoi.
"Next time, you say !?" Great, we agreed!
Without looking back, Erika waved and left the gym.
? ? ?
Erika was not particularly aware that she was a beautiful girl competing in this for 2nd to 3rd place in First High . ... Not for the 1st to 2nd place, because there was one person in a special situation.
Naturally, it attracted the attention of the male part of the students. The rumors that Erika "staked out" the newcomer guy, dashed across First High .
"Onii-sama." Have you heard of Erika?
This was said even at the dinner table in Shiba's house.
-Yes. You're talking about the fact that Erika had a fight with Yaguruma-kun in the small gym No. 2? From the president of the club kenjutsu Aizu came an explanatory that "it was not molestation."
"Already?" Aizu-kun is so punctual.
Aizu Ikuo was not selected as a participant in the Nine Schools Competition because of his habit of using his favorite magic, but he was a famous participant in the kenjutsu tournaments, consistently ranked high. These two were naturally familiar, and Tatsuya to some extent also had an acquaintance with him through Erika.
-Really. If the Vice-President helps a little more, then he will be able to breathe a sigh of relief ...
Hearing Tatsuya mutter with sympathy, Miyuki showed a smile, behind which was a small giggle. Two members of the school board were also familiar with Saitou Yayoi. Tatsuya and Miyuki had not had much interaction with her, because problem children are the concern of the local disciplinary committee. Salvation(?) was still possible, because there were no malicious violations of school rules that are subject to control by the disciplinary committee.
"Nevertheless, it's unusual for Erika to take care of a particular person."
"So it is, but it does not seem like a frivolous interest" , - Tatsuya thought.
-Maybe she felt some special talent in Yaguruma-kun. "A special talent ...?" Did Onii-sama see anything in him?
Yesterday Tatsuya caught Saburou on unauthorized use of magic. Knowing Tatsuya's "eye", it was not strange for Miyuki to think that if he had an outstanding talent, he would have noticed him then.
"He's really well trained, but I did not notice anything outstanding, except for psychokinesis."
-Does Yaguruma-kun own psychokinesis?
-Yes. Part of the magic calculation zone is occupied by Movement Systematic-type Magic, intended for direct control. In this situation, problems arise with the use of other magic. As a person with the same flaw, I cannot suppress compassion.
-... Partially occupied?
-As far as I could see.
"... Compared to Onii-sama himself, who has the entire zone occupied, this is not such a problem."
Although Miyuki said so, even when this is only a part, there is no difference in incompetence with limited abilities.
- That's right.
However, Tatsuya agreed, without saying too much, to reassure Miyuki looking at him with worried eyes.
"Then, what could this Chiba-senpai notice in Yaguruma-kun?"
It was unusual for Minami to interfere with the conversation of the two, but she had no choice, and she did it to distract Miyuki from Tatsuya's shortage.
-With a skillful combination with taijutsu, psychokinesis can be an excellent weapon. Because of the additional "invisible hand", which increases the chances of winning in close combat.
Miyuki, it seems, did not quite understand the meaning, but Minami, who had undergone heavy training in the main house of Yotsuba, heard about the "extra hand", nodded heavily.
- I do not know how much Erika is aware of the psychokinesis of Yagurumai- kun. But this is Erika. I do not doubt that she feels something intuitively. "There is something in Yaguruma-kuna," she could feel and want to train.
This time, Miyuki also nodded confidently. She felt that the phrase about "Intuitively" was exactly about Erika. At that moment, as if waiting for the end of their conversation, a bell rang.
He did not report the arrival of the guest. I did not notify you of an incoming call or message. It was a delivery service signal.
- I'll take a look.
Minami stood up before Miyuki stopped her. Tatsuya and Miyuki for some reason stopped eating, waiting for the return of Minami.
- ...This letter. The recipient in the address is Tatsuya-sama and Miyuki- sama.
In times of actively progressive electronic information networks, paper letters were to disappear as a species. This was predicted by many experts, but at the moment, this prediction has not yet come true. As the logistics network developed as well as electronic networks, or even better than them, mail delivery occurred in less than 24 hours throughout the country.
Staff costs were reduced due to intensive automation. This allowed us to obtain a level that is acceptable for practical use in terms of speed and cost. The postal service has existed up to now as an active service mainly for ceremonial needs.
- Who is the sender?
After Tatsuya's question, Minami turned the envelope in her hands. Prior to this, according to the rules of decency, she did not look at anything other than the name of the recipient.
- It's from Juumonji-sama.
"From Juumonji-senpai ...?" Miyuki asked in a puzzled voice. Driven by this voice, Minami tried to give Miyuki the envelope, but Miyuki gave the command to her eyes. "Give it to Tatsuya." Minami, without showing any displeasure, handed Tatsuya an envelope and a paper knife.
They have not finished eating yet. Tatsuya was puzzled if it was worth discovering it now. However, seeing that Miyuki and Minami want to quickly find out the contents, he cut the envelope with a knife.
The letter did not say much. Quickly reading, Tatsuya briefly retold the text:
-It seems that Miyuki and I are invited to a meeting to discuss measures against the anti-magic movement.
-For a meeting to discuss measures against the anti-magic movement ... us? Not both?
The question posed by Miyuki was quite natural.
- It seems that this is a meeting for young people from the "28 Houses". In the future, it is planned to expand the scope beyond the "Numbers" and create something like the Youth Branch of the Japan Magic Association.
"... Is this what Juumonji-senpai says?" No, I do not think I'll say it rudely, but it seems to me that Juumonji sempai does not look like someone who will plan such things.
Tatsuya showed a bitter smile, because the word "plan" used by Miyuki seemed to him amusing. It seems that she too succumbed to the bad influence of the world of conspiracies and intrigues.
-There will not be decided any bad things. Perhaps this will be a place, exclusively as a forum for exchanging views.
"Planning" * was usually understood as a term used for adverse plans. Realizing this from this indirect explanation, Miyuki blushed embarrassedly. [For the word "plan", the Japanese have several different words. The word used by Miyuki has a meaning that is closest to the "weave of intrigue."]
"That's how ... Sempai may be trying to create a community of magicians who will be responsible for the next generation ...
-Although, this time, most likely, Juumonji-senpai does not plan anything.
-Well ...
"Well, Onii-sama," Miyuki wanted to say playfully, but stopped short. The meaning of Tatsuya's words penetrated her mind with a slight delay in time.
- ... It was not a thought of Juumonji-senpai?
"As you said, Miyuki." This proposal is not at all like the sempai. - Tatsuya picked up soft words, but his tone was confident.
- Then, who ...
"You can think of the Saegusa family, but, in my opinion, Mr. Koichi's methods are not like that." - Tatsuya did not show modesty in words about the head of the Saegusa family, who was of age similar to his father, because he was not here as an interlocutor. "Well, it's an arbitrary guess." There is nothing to check it, and there is no choice but to assume so.
Tatsuya gave Miyuki a letter ... that is an invitation. It meant "read?". Miyuki waved her head slightly.
"So, Onii-sama, what are we going to do?"
Regardless of what was written in the letter, for Miyuki it only meant "what will Tatsuya do."
"I will attend this meeting." - Answered Tatsuya without hesitation.
- You alone?
"It's better for Miyuki not to appear there."
Tatsuya did not explain the reason for this.
- I understand.
Miyuki also did not ask for an explanation. Instead, Minami had a person asking for explanation.
-The meeting will begin next Sunday at 9 o'clock. The venue is a branch of the Kanto Magic Association. On this day, Miyuki will stay at home. Minami, you remain an escort for Miyuki. I rely on you.
"Yes."
However, there were no objections to Tatsuya's orders. Miyuki and Minami responded synchronously.
? ? ?
Needless to say, the invitation from Katsuto was sent not only to the Shiba family. The letters moved at about the same speed, so Mitsuya's family in Tokyo received a letter from Katsuto almost at the same time as Tatsuya.
Shiina, who had six older brothers and sisters, did not have anything to do with this. Shiina was rarely attracted to official interaction with 28 houses. The eldest sister and the three older brothers who hurriedly gathered to give an answer, this time also did not include Shiina in the discussion.
Shiina was the only one among brothers and sisters, so distant in age. The nearest triplets-twins were 8 years older than her. Everyone is used to not taking her into account at such moments. The feeling of alienation was small, because this time it was not the only one left unattended.
After dinner, while enjoying free time (or simply speaking, sitting around) Shiina, decided to take up magical practice.
The mansion of the Mitsuya family and the still functioning Third Research Institute were at a distance from each other. Although the car ride would not take long, but the time was later, and instead of the Third Research Institute, Shiina went to the training hall of the mansion.
The Mitsuya family, which, together with the Mikazuki family, operates the current Third Magician Development Laboratory, also has the most modern training equipment in its mansion. Although this equipment did not have the latest experimental prototypes, its quality and equipment were no worse than in magic schools.
Needless to say, the training rooms of the mansion were used only by the inhabitants of this mansion. Of course, the priority was with the Mitsuya family. Many employees often preferred to use the Third Lab for training. As a result, the training hall was idle without use quite often. Seeing this vacant place, Shiina often thought that it was a waste, that such a wonderful equipment was worthless, but that night there was a visitor.
Saburou was falling on mats for practice.
"... Saburou-kun, what are you doing?"
Hearing the voice of Shiina, standing up from the mat, Saburou froze.
- Look and you will understand.
He looked at her and quickly resumed the mysterious (for Shiina) movement. Leaping up, he fell on his back. Immediately standing up, he fell again, but after making a half-turn, landed on his stomach. At the time of the fall, a groan was heard, it seems, it was painful.
"... I do not understand anything at all." - Shiina immediately raised the white flag. She did not lag behind her childhood friend in eccentricity, and simply refused to think. Saburou stood up and sat on the floor, cross-legged, then looked up at Shiina.
"It's a practice of falling." Shiina was also studying aikido, and she must understand.
"Even if you say I was still in elementary school ..."
She studied aikido until she was ten years old, while she was still able to withstand sound without closing her ears. But with headphones on her head she could not engage in martial arts.
"Besides, Saburou-kun, was this really ukemi?"
[The technique of safe falling in martial arts, called ukemi, is used to get minimal damage from falling and grouped for further action.]
Although she had no experience at all, she often saw the training of her brothers and Saburou, so she knew such things. Saburou did not deny the remark of Shiina.
-It is not always possible to reduce the situation to ukemi. Using mats to avoid worrying about injuries, I'm studying how to reduce the damage from falling.
-Why did you suddenly start doing something like that?
To Shiina's astonished question, Saburou suddenly twisted the face in anger.
-Today I was trained by the president of the club kenjutsu, Aizu ...
Shiina thought that looking irritated, Saburou was really pleased.
-I was attacked, dropping to the floor, I did not have the opportunity even to think about a counterattack. The instructor also often said that in the open air the damage from shots is more than from punches and kicks, and today I realized it.
"Kenjutsu, then ...?" Sinyin muttered in a thoughtful voice. She was interested in the question "Does the kenjutsu club practice throws?".
Saburou knew that it was normal to think so, so there was no hesitation in his reply.
-Among the combat skills that use the sword, Iaijutsu * seems to contain a relatively large number of skills taken from advanced jujutsu techniques *. They say that the style of "Sekiguchi Shinsin-ryu" of the Tokugawa clan from the Principality of Kisyu is a school that unites jujutsu, kenjutsu and Iaijutsu. Given this, the use of throw techniques by members of the kenjutsu club does not look strange. In particular, President Aizu seems to be familiar with Iaijutsu.
[Iaijutsu is the technique of attack, starting from the position with the sword sheathed. Jujutsu is the original Japanese name for what came to us through America under the name Jiu-Jitsu.]
Saburou enthusiastically explained this to Shiina. But, unfortunately, Shiina was not very interested. For her, it would be sufficient only to deduce "shots for kenjutsu - it's not strange". Listening to Saburou's story, Shiina reflected on something else.
- Saburou-kun.
As soon as Saburou had finished, Shiina called his name, as if she wanted to ask something.
"Shiina, what is it?" - However, this important question was difficult to ask. Naturally, Saburou looked at the nervous Shiina for some reason. Is this something that's hard to say? Do not think about restraint for me.
The cheered Saburou, Shiina, gathered her thoughts and spoke.
-Is it true that you were sticking to Chiba-senpai and you had a date during club activities?
"... Ha?"
For Saburou, perhaps it was luck that he was sitting right on the floor. If he was sitting on a chair, probably he would have fallen off.
"No, no, wait, wait!" From whom did you hear this error? Did Shiina not spend all her time today after school in the school boardroom?
"Yes ..." She nodded. - Kasumi-san and Izumi-san were told.
She easily betrayed the perpetrators.
- ... These harmful little devil.
Saburou was also familiar with the twins of the Saegusa family across the Shiina. Presenting these two with a surreptitious grin, Saburou seized his head.
"Saburou-kun, do not talk about Izumi-san and Kasumi-san." They, if anything, are your seniors.
Saburou, in truth, wanted to say "Shiina, these two have deceived you!". But it was impossible to say such things. He knew well that Shiina, distant in age from her real sisters and brothers, was very attached to Kasumi and Izumi as to two other sisters.
- ... In any case, this story is nonsense.
Instead, Saburou calmed down and decided to say only what was to correct the situation. However, unfortunately, this answer was unconvincing for Shiina.
-But you trained in the small gym №2?
-... It was not a "training", but a duel. And he coached me, as I said earlier, President Aizu-senpai.
Explaining Saburou looked away from Shiina. This behavior only fueled doubts. In this case, no matter how truthfully speaking, it will be impossible to convince.
"But is it true that you were there with Chiba-sempai?"
- ... True.
-And I heard that you came to the gym together. "... That was it." But it definitely was not a date!
As if noticing his stupidity in looking away, Saburou looked at Shiina, loudly denying this second-class hearing. A smile sprang up on Shiina's face, filled with the feeling that she had overdone a little.
"Well, do not get me wrong." I'm not against Saburou-kun's association with Chiba-sempai. I think it was too sudden, but, in my opinion, with proper rules, two years of difference will not be a big problem.
- I'm saying, you understood wrong ...
Saburou wanted to fall exhausted on mats. But if you surrender at this place, then it will be impossible to recover. He did not realize that it would be "impossible to recover," but this feeling in him somehow persisted. Gathering his willpower, Saburou looked Shiina straight in the eye. And now it's Shiina's turn to look away.
"... Then, why did it happen that you came to the gym with Chiba-sempai?" Saburou-kun, you should not have any connection with Chiba-sempai?
However, after this question Saburou again balanced on the verge of error.
-It's ... we met by chance, on the roof ...
-You were invited to a training session, just by accident?
-No, this is ...
A picture with a guy justified for treason before his beloved. The fact that it looked like that, did not notice not only Saburou, but also Shiina.
"It's not like the character of Chiba-sempai, who is being talked about in rumors."
Erika herself does not know ... or does not care, but after the Yokohama incident, the name "Chiba Erika" also spread far beyond the Chiba family. Erika's martial skill, which literally crushed the mechanized troops with a huge sword, backed by the reputation of the "daughter of the Chiba family", was highly appreciated by high-ranking military and security personnel who had access to the details of the incident.
On the other hand, Chiba's family, including the head Jouichirou, passively refer to Erika's fame, or even vice versa, make attempts to hide it. Therefore, among the people there were many half-joking rumors about Erika as the "secret weapon of the Chiba family", "Princess of the illusive sword of Chiba", etc.
The Ten Master Clans were also among "those who have access to the details of the Yokohama incident." Very fond of his youngest daughter (this can be said about any father) Mitsuya Gen shared some knowledge about Erika with the daughter entering First High . Saburou also listened to this story along with her, because he was expected to follow Shiina. In fact, it's Shiina who went there with him.
After all, Shiina's source of information was not only her father. She had the opportunity to listen to stories not only by Kasumi and Izumi, but also by Mayumi. Mayumi took care of Shiina as a friend of her sisters.
She also had interlocutors for close communication not only among the Ten Master Clans, but also among the Stam Semey. Although it looked like a departure from the formalities of high society, but in the conversational network of girls from the "Numbers", Shiina learned much more information than she heard from her father.
From the fact that Shiina heard about Erika, her temperament did not belong to the type, which itself will help junior high school students. This is the type that, pretending to be indifferent, finally agrees, if you rely on it.
- ... This I asked her.
Said Saburou, after which Shiina looked at him with a cold look, saying "I knew ...".
-But I did not stick to it! Knowing her skill, I asked her to train me!
-But after all, Chiba-sempai is quite beautiful.
-Well, maybe she is! But now we are talking about something else!
- Hmm ...
Saburou continued to despair, but Shiina's eyes remained cold.
? ? ?
Even after entering the third year, Tatsuya continued to visit the Yakumo temple almost every morning. In fights in which he always lost during admission to high school, at the moment the number of victories has reached 50%.
However, Tatsuya did not think that his skills were equal to Yakumo. Initially, the strengths of Tatsuya and Yakumo were different, and Tatsuya knew that in useful areas, such as gathering infor-->>