Disclaimer: I don't win Majikoi or its respective content and creators. I only my OC.
Review Shoutouts
The embodiment of Weirdness – Still got some big events to get through first. But it's all coming along.
The Storyteller993 – Yeah, caught that mistake should already be fixed.
Yes… Yes, he is.
Yeah, let's just leave it at that…
carriedfall51 – You're just fine my friend…
Yep, Nagamasa is certainly making impressions on his new friends, but with what's to come at the secret base, we'll see where things go from there.
As for the version of "Le Festin" that was it was Annapatsu's English version of the song.
King0fP0wers – Kind of a mistake on my part, but when they're together or when Nagamasa's checking his stats we'll get an update.
Again like I told someone else before, those guys and their routes will take some time; I can't just DO something immediately that would kind of be seen as too fast in terms of development, so for now it's all just a slow burn…
Prologue – Part 6
Sunday Shenanigans
April 26th, 2009, Sunday
Kawakami Temple
Lying atop one of Kanto's three greatest mountains and being well-known as an evil-warding temple in history since the Sengoku era as one of the many famous temples the Hojo clan and Tokugawa Shogunates support it became the namesake of the city that was built around it into the modern day.
The way of thinking around in this temple is that "to train oneself and ward of evil with willpower", and they're famous as well-known ground for some of Japan's greatest martial artists.
As usual, several training monks were practicing today. In the courtyard several practiced their meditation, in dojos they trained with weapons. For one young man, he was testing his endurance…
(Kumite Dojo)
"Haah!" I grunted as I grabbed one of the monk's shoulder and threw him aside to the floor.
"Guh…" He groaned hitting the mat below. Another of them charged me, getting his arm over my shoulder I slammed him to the ground.
"Aah!" The slam of the mat hitting his back reverberated as another tried to get me from behind.
Turning quickly, I blocked his arms, and then low kicked him causing him to fall. Another charged once again, grabbing his arm and shoulder with much strength I threw him across the room on the mat.
"Come on!" I exclaimed as the last of the 5 monks came at me, the last one came at swing, then I grabbed his arm as I pushed him with my shoulder and delivered a swift kick knocking him down.
"Haah!" I came to a rest as the Lu-sensei and the other monks stepped in to look after the others.
"Excellent, Nagamasa! For your first 5-man kumite I must say that I am impressed with how quickly you've already come along." Lu-sensei praised.
"Thank you, sensei!" I thanked him.
"Now that you're morning practice is over, it's time for breakfast everyone! Let's go!" With that we all headed for the mess hall, and we're greeted with the very energetic Kazuko serving everyone.
"Okay everyone. Stop for now; it's time for breakfast!" Kazuko announced as everyone filed in to eat. "It's time to eat, Assistant Master."
She could be seen carrying plates to everyone, along with me helping her about. As a new member this was one of my ways of giving to my seniors here at the temple.
"Breakfast today is rice, miso soup, natto, fish and omelets!" Kazuko announced.
"Sounds delicious just hearing it being described I got to say." I said.
"We may not have cooked them, but we did our best to carry it all here!" Kazuko said proudly.
"There's so much today as always! Thank you." One of the training monks said to Kazuko.
"You should always eat plenty in the morning to get the energy you need for the rest of the day." Lu-sensei explained still in his teacher mode. Oh, yeah forgot to mention that assistant Master Lu was also Kawakami's official Phys Ed teacher.
"But make sure to not east too quickly! It's still morning after all." Kazuko warned.
"Oh no, sensei! She even warned you!" I playfully scolded Master Lu.
"Oh no, I'm being scolded by a new trainee too." Lu played along.
"Does anyone want pickled plums? I'll put them in your rice for you." Kazuko said. "I hear they boost your appetite and helps relieve fatigue."
"You're always so concerned about food, Kazuko-san. Perhaps you could be the that makes the most perfect healthy meal for those training." A monk suggests.
"Eh, you mean like a doctor? But I mean you are right now that you mention it. Maybe it's just I've always wanted to be the best I can be. I mean your food affects your overall condition." Kazuko replied.
"Well if we want to have those same healthy effects we better get to our breakfast soon, Kazuko." I told her.
"Oh yeah, let's get our plates and dig in!" We did so as we sat with the other monks and after giving our thanks.
"Thank you for the food!" We dug in straight away.
Justo outside Master Tesshin watches the young ones as he nods approvingly, "Yes, I'm impressed by Kazuko and even more so by young Azai-kun."
But at his feet lazily sitting about flipping through the pages of a manga was his granddaughter Momoyo, "In contrast… what about you Momo? Reading manga like that."
"Shut up, old man. I finished my morning practice." Momoyo annoyingly replies.
"You not only broke the bath, but you took some meat from the kitchen as well!" He scolds her.
"I did it to treat my friends. That should be alright." Momoyo defended herself.
"Well, I don't mind really, but you seem bored now-a-days." Tesshin pointed out the obvious feeling Momoyo seemed to be carrying.
"Yeah. It's fun to play with Yamato and the others, but everything else is boring." Momoyo said sounding disappointed. "Aren't there any challengers? I want to fight."
Tesshin was honest, "There are none right now."
"Have we not been able to find the person who beat one of the Big Four, Tachibana Takae?" Momoyo inquired.
"The only thing we know is that it's a person from the north, in Hokkaido." Tesshin explained.
"Take lost, so that means she would be stripped of her Big Four title, right?" Momoyo pointed out.
"Yes. The one who beat her will receive her Big Four title instead." Tesshin replied. "First she lost to you, and then to this other person. I'm sure she must be shocked. Defeat isn't a disgrace. I want her to recover."
"Fuh, I just hope the person who did is fun to fight against." Momoyo seemed anxious to learn about this new fighter.
"Momo, you're always about fighting…" Tesshin said slightly worried.
"That's how the Kawakami family's successor should be, right?" Momoyo simply pointed out. "First of all, I don't feel alive unless I beat people on a regular basis."
However just as she finished that sentence she felt a tap on her shoulder…
"Hah!?" She gasped and then grabbed the arm that touched her and flung the person across the walkway only to then gasp in shock at who it was.
Nagamasa crashed at the end of the hallway into the wooden wall as he attempted to get up others came into the hall to see the commotion that was going on. Immediately Tesshin and Momoyo were at his side.
"Nagamasa, are you okay?!" Momoyo asked him.
"Yeah… I think. I feel like somethings… in pain… Aaah." He groaned out.
"Someone get a healer for young Azai-san now!" Tesshin sent for a healing monk at once.
"For Momoyo to have such a violent reaction. But truly I sensed his presence, but she did not? Interesting…" Tesshin thought on the situation as Momoyo and now Kazuko watched over Nagamasa.
"To hide his presence from me… he can't be that already. It must've been a fluke since he's not used to ki and all that… But if I couldn't feel him at in that moment… Nagamasa… just how far have you come already?" Momoyo questioned the moment as she watched over the young trainee.
However a few minutes later, the monk who was watching Nagamasa gave him a clean bill of health and even allowed him to continue his training routine. Momoyo apologized profusely but Nagamasa insisted he was fine now.
And so the day continued as Kazuko and I were now in charge of cleaning just as the other monks were doing the same.
"Clean! Clean! Taa!" Kazuko exclaimed in joy as she swung her broom around like a naginata while still cleaning even getting into other people's work spots.
"K-Kazuko, this is my area!" I said slightly annoyed.
"It's good exercise to clean like this. So how about we see who clean it all up faster then, huh?!" Kazuko challenged.
"Ha, like I'd ever give up a challenge. Fine, you're on!" I took her up on her offer as the both of us raced across the temple seeing who would be the one to clean up the fastest.
"Haha, seeing those two go is quite exciting." One of the monks watching us said.
"Yeah, I think Kazuko hasn't been like this is ages." Another replied.
"Having someone closer to age to training alongside her I think has given her more opportunities to open up to her and young Nagamasa is quite the quick learner as well. I think this is the beginning of something for the both of them." Lu-sensei came in their conversation as he too watched the young pupils going at it.
Afterwards, we got ready for our run with even Momoyo joining us as well. We all push ourselves as we run along the riverbank together.
"Hey Onee-sama. Before you were talking about one of the Big Four up north with gramps right?" Kazuko asked.
"Oh yeah, if I remember you are one of the Big Four of Japan aren't you Momoyo-senpai. Some of the strongest fighters in not only Japan, but maybe the world. If you want to know who they are I bet they're enough to go toe-to-toe with you…" I say recounting the status of the Big Four or in some ways Four Divas of Japan since you know… women in this world are much more powerful then they are now.
Well… a select few of course.
"Yeah, I heard there's someone strong there." Momoyo said as she ran alongside us. "So I'm having the old man search for this person. I may finally have my first worthy opponent since my fight with Ageha-san!"
"But the person may be weak again, right?" Kazuko pointed out.
"I mean if this person beat one of the Four best martial artists that your sisters also apart of; I think it's safe to say that they've got a lot of skill, Kazuko." I reply.
"Yeah, like Nagamasa said, I'm sure this person's strong and I want to fight them." Momoyo casually confessed. "But yeah… I guess that's a possibility."
"Fufun! You don't need to wait for an uncertain opponent!" Kazuko said as she suddenly runs faster past both me and Momoyo.
"Hey!" Momoyo calls out.
Kazuko then replies, "You have me! I'll train more and more and become your rival! So please look forward to it!"
"Haha, if you want to be her rival then you'd have to get past me first Kazuko-san!" I then pick up my own speed as I begin to overtake her bit by bit. Seeing this Kazuko redoubles her efforts.
"Ha, I won't let you overtake me, Nagamasa!" Kazuko takes the bait and the two race off down the bank together as Momoyo watches them take off.
"So she wants to be my rival, huh?" Momoyo says to herself, "Fufu… I sure have a cute sister."
With that however, her thoughts turned to the young pupil that they'd taken in, "But that Nagamasa… to have so much potential in such a short time and to develop it so quickly. Maybe just training him in the basics won't be enough anymore… Nagamasa, I can feel your ambition wanting to burst out… all that fighting prowess buried deep within… Hurry, Nagamasa… I'm waiting."
Friendship with Momoyo – [15% of 100]
Friendship with Kazuko – [22% of 100]
"You know even though Momoyo and I haven't had many big moments together I really am bonding with her somehow… But why?" I question myself, but my lapse in judgement allows the younger Kawakami to overtake me.
"Haha, this one's mine to win!" Kazuko cheers.
"Not on your life!" I bring myself out of my thoughts and pick up the pace. At the end of it all, both of us had a photo-finish as we headed back to the temple.
After settling in, I had received a call from Yamato asking if we'd like to come again to the Shimazu dorm to hang out together. The Kawakami sisters were both going and not wanting to miss out I came along.
Eventually after waiting for the girls to finish we finally make it to the dorm just as Yukie finishes making the food and everyone's gathered in the living room.
"I-I hope you'll all like it." Yukie's nervous smile appears once more. We all look as the table is covered with food.
"This is quite the layout Yukie-san, you must be pretty good at cooking to do this." I praised her.
"Yeah, this seems like something, there's so much." Yamato pointed out.
"It's awesome that this is how you're thanking us for the meat. I'll gratefully eat it." Momoyo said.
I tapped Yamato's elbow getting his attention, "I think we know what she wants to eat, am I right?"
He covers his mouth as he chuckles with me, but Momoyo ever the careful one heard us, "Something you'd like to share pervy boys? ~"
"Kuh…" We both deflated.
"It looks like food served at a fancy restaurant. It's amazing." Moro said both amazed and overwhelmed.
"I can count on the taste from the looks alone. Let's eat!" Gakuto says excitedly.
"Let's eat!" Kazuko cheers giving thanks.
"Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump… Please let them find the food delicious. Please let them find the food delicious." Yukie says to herself as she watches everyone begin to dig in. With her feelings quite obvious on her face.
"Ohh, this sea bream sashimi is delicious." Momoyo praises. "It's flower shaped. The appearance is exquisite."
"I got to say, this octopus is amazing!" I reply. "It's about as melt in your mouth as American BBQ is sometimes; you've really outdone yourself Yukie-san!"
"This pickled spring herb is very tasty." Chris says as she's heard munching away. "And this fried butterbur sprout is crispy…"
"You've got a refined taste, Chris." Yamato comments.
"This is a sumptuous meal. Wasn't it expensive?" Moro asks.
"No, no, no. My father sent me these." Yukie panickily explains. "I grew up in the Hokuriku region, so we have plenty of seafood and farm produce."
"The fish is good. I see, the Hokuriku region, huh?" Moro points out.
"It's good!" Kazuko gives out her most simple, yet happy praise. "The nutritional balance is good too. This is very good! Uh, by the way, is the Hokuriku region referring to Aomori? Scallops?"
"Kazuko, when we get home it's geography homework for you." I scold her.
"Waaah… no homework please!" She cries for mercy.
"No, if you can't tell modern Japan from feudal Japan you'll fail history. Yamato and Miyako can only do so much." I say with a bit of authority.
"Mmm… fine. I don't Maro yelling at me anymore when he calls on me." Kazuko relents as she goes back to eating her meal as she perks up once more.
"I'm from Ishikawa prefecture." Yukie continues to explain her family past.
"You were close, Wanko." Miyako says.
"You're a real sadist for not correcting her on purpose." Moro points out Miyako's ploy as said girl smiles mischievously.
"Did you say Sado because of the Ishikawa prefecture? See, I'm smart too." Gakuto said trying to sound smart.
"No, you're just a perfect case of muscle for brains I've ever seen." I say poking fun at him with a smirk.
"What you say punk!?" Gakuto got mad.
"Um, um, um…" Yukie tried to speak up and correct Gakuto's mistake but couldn't find her voice.
Friendship with Gakuto – [0.4% of 100]
Something tells me this is going to be a joke for a loonng while.
"I know fully well that here are lots of o things to say back to what they're saying." Yamato says.
"But sometimes it's much more hilarious to just say it." I reply in kind.
"That too…" Yamato quips.
Friendship with Yamato – [12% of 100]
"I do have to say it's impressive how quickly Nagamasa picked up on teaching and taming her. I approve." Miyako says with a thumbs up.
"And so grows the list of tamers in this family…" Moro says.
"Eh? Does that mean Nagamasa is like Yamato?" Kazuko thinks for a moment; that if Nagamasa and Yamato are both teachers for her; wouldn't that mean she has to listen to the former as well?
"Yeah! From now on, Nagamasa is just as important as Yamato in teaching me!" Kazuko decided.
Friendship with Kazuko – [30% of 100]
"Woah… where did that come from?" I wondered.
"I have good muscles today too." Gakuto thought aimlessly as he listened to no one.
Miyako then goes munching on her own food but seems rather un-excited, "It's fatally lacking in spiciness, but the rest is ten points." Miyako gave it a good score.
"There it is Miyako's 10 points!" Yamato cheers. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves at the table as they all get seconds and even thirds of everything at the table.
"I-I'm so glad you're all enjoying it…" Yukie tries to smile but gets stiff again.
"Yukie, you're face…" I try to warn her.
"You're overreacting." Yamato joins in.
"You're so cute ~ Do you want me to kiss you? ~" Momoyo offers unable to withstand Yukie's cuteness.
With no time to reply, Momoyo takes Yukie into her arms, "Fueeee!" Yukie panics.
"Nee-san, you have me!" Yamato says trying to get her attention.
"Oh, are you getting jealous?" Momoyo seems to play right into it as she turns her attention to teasing her brother.
Of course he did this to merely take her attention off Yukie and not make things uncomfortable for her.
"Please eat to your heart's content!" Yukie declares.
And so after a while longer and Yamato being Momoyo's teasing target everyone seems satisfied as hot green tea is passed around and dinner ends.
"Phew. You're good at cooking. I ate too much." Gakuto says letting out a deep breath.
"Yes. My mother taught me how to cook ever since I was small." Yukie replied.
"Japanese food… It's certainly wonderful. I'm thankful for what happened today." Chris says gratefully. "Today would've been the greatest day if it wasn't for the accident this morning."
Wow I completely forgot this girl really knows how to hold a grudge. Though I can surmise where she got that feeling from…
"Did something bad happen?" Yamato played along pretending to be dumb.
"You little…!" Chris said angrily.
"Oh, how scary. You get mad even right after you eat, huh?" Yamato keeps egging her on.
"Kuh…!" Chris leaves the kitchen in a 'hmph.'
Kazuko can be seen dozing off on the table after all the food she ate. I have to admit that feeling is coming on for me as well as my stomach feels full.
"She moved a lot and ate a lot, so she's sleepy already huh? Fufufu." Momoyo chuckles watching her kid sister doze off to sleep.
"She's truly Wanko…" Moro says.
" I want to do something to her… Should we put BB pellets in her ear?" Miyako offers.
"No, that'll hurt her ears, besides who knows what'll happen if they actually get down deep in her ear canal." I point out trying to stop her.
"Actually that happened once, and she needed to be taken to the hospital to take them out." Moro points out.
"Why am I not surprised?" I say with a sigh.
"So, you have something you want to tell us, right?" Kazama sounds serious for a moment as he turns his attention towards Yukie.
"I-I do…" Yukie says with what resolve she has,
"You have those eyes. You look determined." Kazama points out once more.
"Are you suffering from insomnia? I can make you to go to sleep faster." Momoyo "offers."
"T-That's no it." Yukie dismisses Momoyo's offer.
"…! I see. But I'm sorry." Now came Gakuto's turn to interrupt.
"Eh?" Yukie seemed confused.
"If you want a boyfriend, I don't date girls younger than me." Gakuto declared.
"Are you that thick in the head?" I point out this obvious stupidity.
"You're so wrong, Are you stupid?" Momoyo joins in ridiculing Gakuto.
"He is stupid." With Miyako it makes three.
"You're both right. Hahaha." Momoyo chuckles.
Gakuto cries now ridiculed by both of the more beautiful girls of the group, "This is becoming a painful world…"
"I'm sleepy…" Kazuko is heard drowsily saying.
"Hey, you have to listen to what people have to say." Yamato tells her. He then puts some chapstick just below Wanko's eyes.
"Whoa, hey!? That stings a bit…!" Wanko begins crying due to the stinging under her eyes waking her up almost instantly.
"You guys are so merciless." Chris points out.
"What was the first clue?" I point out.
"We're friends, so we forgive each other no matter what we say or do." Yamato replies.
Just as a test Gakuto then says, "I'm sorry Yamato. The data for the portable game I borrowed from you got erased."
Yamato smiles, but you can tell there's some underlying anger, "Hahaha. You just need to recompensate me for the work I put in."
Chris seeing the obvious issue, "Hey! You people don't seem like friends at all!"
"I-I'm jealous!" Yukie then exclaims getting everyone's attention back on her.
"Of what?" Yamato asks.
"Are you talking about my charm? Am I going to get another mistress again?" The suddenly she's bonked on the head lightly.
"The world does not revolve around you." I scold her, for what it's worth.
"I just love this atmosphere…" Yukie says dreamily. "Um, um… Aww…" Once again it seems Yukie starts to lose what confidence she had as an embarrassed blush adorns her face.
"Go, Mayucchi! This is the decisive moment!" Matsukaze tries to pump her up.
"Okay. I'll go with Ishida Mitsunari's mindset." Yukie tries to regain her lost confidence.
"Why are you going with a losing mindset!? I'll become Kobayakawa and betray you because Tokugawa Ieyasu's urging me by firing muskets." Matsukaze begins trying to "scold" Yukie… I guess?
"Oh, I'm sorry. I lost my courage." Yukie says.
"Lost a lot more then that…" I say to myself.
"You shouldn't hesitate if you've decided that now is the time." Matsukaze said.
"Is she alright? She's talking to herself." Moro sees right through Yukie's ventriloquism.
"It's nothing new.:" Yamato points out.
"It's actually fun to watch. Let's watch her for a while." Kazama points out the entertainment of the situation.
Everyone obeys Capt.
"Yeah. It's like watching a small animal." Momoyo points out.
"Because she's adorable?" Miyako asks.
"She's adorable, and I just want to do whatever I want with her." Momoyo declares.
"That's dangerous." Yamato points out.
"Very dangerous…" I tack on.
Both Miyako and Momoyo smile as the latter continues, "You make it sound like it's not your business. I feel that way about you two sometimes."
"Wait, what? What did she just mean by 'two'? Yukie and Yamato? Or… Yamato and…" Naaah!" I dismiss that other thought I had immediately.
"That's really scary." But for Yamato she knew exactly what she meant and while he didn't like her constant teasing all there was still that slight tinge of jealousy that Nagamasa was starting to get Momoyo's attention.
Yukie then took a deep breath and found her center," Alright, I'll say it. Please!" Yukie then suddenly prostrated herself before us.
"She's suddenly bowing her head." Momoyo points out.
"Please let me join your group!" Yukie asks as she begins to pour her heart out, "I want to play with everyone! Um, I didn't have any friends in my hometown… So… So… I came out here thinking that I'll make friends this time… But I still couldn't make friends. You all looked like you were having so much fun… And I wondered how fun it would be if I could join you… So, please! Please let me join your group!"
She then begins to list off everything she'd be willing to do, "I can cook! I'm good at cleaning! I have average physical strength!"
"Except for the skill of swordswoman that's on par with one of the Big Four…"
"So… So…" Yukie looks as though she's on the precipice of crying, and then that's when I turn to Kazama and ask him…
"Kazama-san, mind if I talk to her?" I ask the leader of the group.
"Eh? I guess if you want to." He gives his consent as I approach Yukie and kneel down to speak to her.
"You know Mayazumi-san. I was a lot like you a few days ago when I first came to Kawakami from America." I begin to explain.
"You came all the way from America?" She asks.
"My parents were born here, and I grew up in America. Heaven knows how many schools I came and went in, but all along the way I made friends not by sucking up to them, but by merely being myself." I answer her.
"Being… yourself?" She repeats.
"Yeah, despite what you may see I used to be very awkward and nervous around new people and environments I wasn't used to being in. But over time, the people I came to be friends with accepted me for who I am. And I think my short time at Kawakami here shows you just how I was able to do that!" I answer.
"Eh?" She seems confused.
"Do you think I'm the rambunctious, and outgoing person I am know because I snapped my fingers? No. I did because I slowly found myself and accepted myself for who I am. I think for now you'll probably still be a nervous wreck, but with time I think you'll make plenty of friends along the way. Besides; I think this group will tell you there's nothing normal about them. Right guys?" I turn to the rest of the Kazma family as they smile.
"I mean we have a skirt-chasing martial arts master here who gets bored easily." As I describe Momoyo.
"And I have no regrets for any of it!" Momoyo declares.
"An equally energetic and full of life little sister." Describing Kazuko.
"That's me!" Kazuko yells in excitement.
"A nerd who loves all things anime and games." Describing Moro.
"Show me anything and I'll give it a try! But if it's bad I won't show you mercy!" Moro says with a smile.
"A muscle head who can't stop being a pervert…" Gakuto gets angry.
"What the hell?!" Gakuto screams.
"Someone who just came here two days ago and seems to be adjusting fine to her new environs." Chris smiled.
"Yes, I have no regrets despite my moments here." Chris says with a sweet smile.
"A conniving tactician who won't admit he's a pervert." Yamato still smiles not denying a thing.
"I feel insulted by that insinuation." He replies, but still doesn't lose the smile.
"And finally an aloof archer who loves spicy foods to a deathly level." Miyako smiles as she giggles mischievously.
"Kukuku, And don't forget doggy trainer expert." Miyako tops it off.
"So you see, if you can get along with a lot as weird as us… I think you'll be fine. But I think the first step would be to speak to us as an equal, on equal footing first." I stand up as I put my hand out to help her up.
She looks at it and takes it softly as I pull her up, she smiles as she has slight wet tears in her eyes, "Thank you, Nagamasa-san."
"Hehe, you're a smooth operator Nagamasa. And with that I think it's official. Mayazumi Yukie can hang out with us!" Kazama announces to the group.
With that Yukie can't hold back the emotions as he tears start to flow as I feel her head burrow it's way into my chest as I hear her mumble, "I'm so happy… Thank… you… Especially you, Nagamasa-san."
Friendship with Yukie – [45% of 100]
With such a cute girl so close to me I can't help but blush, "N-No… n-not at all. I just wanted to help you get accustomed to everyone. That's it."
"But geez louise that's a big boost!"
As I comforted Yukie for the moment, Kazama explained to the others the same thing he probably had said about Chris and I in entering the group and how we'd be judged accordingly if we became an issue.
But hey I just realized… with my addition to the original group; this means it's all evened out. Five guys and five girls.
Oh boy… I can already feel how busy it's gonna be here soon enough.
"Well that was a fast decision." Yamato pointed out.
"They say be fast like the wind." Kazama replied causally.
Yukie had let go of me by now and with a crooked smile, "I-I'm pleased to be your friend!"
"Your making a scary face again." Yamato said.
"I-I thought so." Yukie softened it. "My face tenses up when I get nervous."
"But there's another reason why you can't make friends." Yamato adds on.
"Eh? W-what's wrong with me?" Yukie asks.
"That thing you're carrying obviously keeps people away." Gakuto points out the elephant in the room.
"It's hard to know any girl who carries a katana everywhere she seems to go." Moro nervously points out as well.
"You see? You give off a scary first impression." Kazama joins in.
"Were used to the feeling in a sense, though." Yamato replies.
"But what about Nagamasa-san? He has his strapped to his hip." Yukie points out my katana now.
"Well, I guess in some way it makes more sense for him, but he's not making it front and center like how you carry yours." Yamato adds on.
"The sword I received from my father is the cause…?" Yukie begins to understand.
"Did nobody tell you about it before?" Moro asks.
"No… I didn't have friends, after all." Yukie sadly points out.
"Oh yeah…" Moro realizes.
"Isn't it normal in Japan to carry around swords?" Chris asks.
"Not really in Japan there's strict weapon laws regard both guns and swords. Only those with special permits are allowed to openly carry weapons. Like me and Yukie, I presume." I remember Yamato and Yuki's first encounter where she had to prove she was legally able to carry her father's sword.
"Haha, the three newest members we've got are such a dynamic bunch. It's kind of cute." Momoyo says.
"But still, I can't let go of my sword, though…" Yukie still seems hesitant to let it go. This is my soul as well." Yukie explains.
"We're not telling you to get rid of it" Momoyo replies.
"If anything it makes you more unique. I have to say. But yeah, maybe you shouldn't carry it ALL the time." I try to emphasize what we all mean to tell her.
"The sword being your soul is a wonderful phrase, but it's a mere figure of speech." Momoyo explained, "The true soul burns inside of you."
Yukie seemed moved by her senpai's words, "O-Okay, I understand… I'll do my best."
"Okay." Momoyo got closer to Yukie.
"*Ba-dump* *Ba-dump*…" Yukie simulated her heartbeat as once again Momoyo was so close to Yukie's face.
"Oh! Is she making a move on her!?" Kazama seemed excited at the sight.
"Hey, hey. Give us a break Momo-senpai!" Gakuto said exasperated.
"She tries to take the best part." Moro points out Momoyo's want to take the spotlight.
But things seem to get back to normal, "It's so lively here… I'm so happy Matsukaze."
Ther strap speaks, "I'm happy for you. That was a historic moment."
"So, what exactly is that?" Chris asks about Matsukaze.
"What do you mean?" Yukie asks perplexed.
"You seem to be talking to that cell phone strap you have." Chris pointed out the obvious.
"Oh, you mean Matsukaze. Matsukaze, greet them. Be firm and graceful." Yukie then held up Matsukaze for all of us to see in her hands.
"Yo, I'm Matsukaze. I'm Mayucchi's friend." The 'spirit' greets us.
"Matsukaze is a cell phone strap that my father made for me. He put his heart into it and made this for me in the anticipation of the time I would make friends and need a cell phone." Yukie explained.
"So since you haven't made any friends, the cell hone thing is…" Miyako edged on.
"Right. I never bought it because I never had any need to. Ooh…" Yukie began to tear up again.
"I feel sorry for you…" Kazuko simply said.
"You're too pathetic to have Wanko pity you." Yamato is straight and to the point.
"What does that mean!?" Kazuko screams feeling insulted.
"Why are you talking to the cell phone strap?" Kazama asks.
"I wanted someone to talk to when I was alone in my room. So I talked to Matsukaze. And one day, Matsukaze replied to me." Yukie explained.
"More like you replied to yourself honey…"
"A tsukumogami must've manifested itself within me." The spirit speaks again.
"That's the setting, huh?" Miyako still plays along.
"S-setting? P-please don't be so blunt about it." Yukie feels a little insulted by subtlety being called a puppeteer.
"It's something like ventriloquism, right?" Miyako finally points out the obvious word we've all been wanting to say.
But even Yukie seems to know the truth, "But if I admit that, Matsukaze won't be Matsukaze."
"Mayucchi. You're so kind." The spirit was thankful.
"She's praising herself right there, right?" Wanko pointed out.
"Thinking about it that way, she had some guts. Interesting!" Kazama said excitedly, a fire behind his eyes.
"Well you can talk to us without reserve from now on." Momoyo said.
"Thank you." But once again Yukie's "smile" was on the fritz again.
"Even Momo-senpai sure likes Mayucchi." Kazama pointed out.
"M-Mayucchi!?" Yukie was surprised by Kazama's casual use of her nickname.
"It's your nickname. Is that bad?" Kazama wonders.
N-No, no! No, no, no! It's good!" Yukie corrects him.
"Then you'll be Mayucchi from now on." Yamato proffers.
"I'll call you Mayumayu." Momoyo declares.
"You're pretty strong, right? I like that." Momoyo shows a bit of interest.
"No, no! I still have a lot to learn!" Yukie tries to play off her praise.
"I'll lightly attack you with punches, so try to dodge them." Momoyo said seriously.
"Eh?" Yukie was confused.
But true to her word, Momoyo began her attack. "No rebuttals. Here, here, here, here." She punched repeatedly at Yukie who dodged punch after punch thrown at her.
"Oh… splendid!" Chris watched in awe at Yukie's graceful dodging despite being taken off guard.
"I-I see. S-She's pretty good." Even Kazuko was impressed by her.
"I could see all of the attacks, but I don't know if I could dodge them all." Miyako watched the exchange and I guess even with an archer's eye that doesn't mean you can move in time either.
"You're a bit weaker then Kri right now. And I bet even Nagamasa could take you too." Momoyo gave her review of Yukie's potential after their brief exchange. "At least in her current state."
"I still have a long ways to go…" Yukie said once again.
"What are you saying? You're the daughter of the Eleventh-dan Mayuzumi." Momoyo pointed out the title of Yukie's father. One of many.
"Do you know father?" Yukie asks excitedly.
"He's the Sword Saint who was to obtain permission from the country to carry swords." Momoyo pointed out.
"A brand-new, big-name member. The daughter of the legendary eleventh-dan master… this are going to be interesting." Yamato commented.
"Alright. We'll introduce ourselves to Mayumayu." And as such all the girls introduced themselves to and what they believed they stood for.
Momoyo, favorite word: Honesty.
Kazuko, favorite word: Courage
Chris, favorite word: Justice
Miyako, favorite word: Love
Then Mayuzumi, favorite word: Respect.
"Oi, Nagamasa you too. You're just as much a warrior as the rest of us." Momoyo told me.
"Me? Well then if you insist. I'm Nagamasa Azai, second year. I use a katana as well. But I value conviction." I spoke from the heart.
And then Momoyo began to simply list of the guys in a rather… funny way. Guess I got the good end of the stick.
To say the guys felt deflated after hearing me be included and them being left out led to an interesting… rest of the night.
Let's just say I was allowed to live in peace for the rest of the night, while the boys had their hands full.
And so with the night sky in the air, the sisters and I head back home to sleep and await the next school week.
I got to say this was all fun. And to finally be together with all of them was a treat. But seeing Yukie like that really reminded me of myself in my past life. I know how hard it is to make friends when you seem to be the weird one to people. But like I told her, it takes baby steps.
And besides… she's got all nine of us now!
As I head to bed, I fall asleep peacefully as another day of bonding with the Kazama family ends with a success!
AN#1 – Well here's the sixth part of my prologue to my Majikoi story, I'm NOT a Samurai, Seriously! Today is once again another day of bonding as the Kazama Family grows into the double digits with the addition of Chris, Yukie, and our hero Nagamasa.
And despite the hiccup in the morning, it seems that Nagamasa's potential is much more potent then even Momoyo or Tesshin expected, so who knows what kind of training he's in for in the future.
But for now, it's back to school tomorrow…
What's up next for our hero, Nagamasa? Stay tuned, for Prologue – Part 7 – Spring's New Beginnings
AN#2 – I hope you guys are enjoying this rewrite. So please don't forget to leave reviews and also follow and favorite as well too!
AN#3 – Remember I wouldn't be here without you guys! Remember to Favorite, Follow and Review! :)