Chapter 11
Thursday, September 29, 2022
I leave the dojo sweating, feeling the coldness of the morning. There is a lot of fog so the air is very humid, I'd better go back as soon as possible, otherwise I'll catch a cold. In the middle of the garden, Haruko is training alone with her shinai.
"998... 999... 1000 !" Then she sits down on the open hallway. "Phew... Hmm?"
"Ah..."
"Oh..."
Our eyes meet.
"Hello Haru-nee." I walk towards her.
"Yes... Hi..."
An awkward silence settles in.
(She has to think about what happened last time. So she's still mad at me...)
"Is it always like this?" Haruko decides to break the silence.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you train like this every day?"
"Ah... Yes. If I want to become stronger, I have no choice, and besides the progress showed itself, during this fight, I managed to use my abilities without overreacting, which shows that I became stronger. But that's not enough, I must become even stronger to protect everyone."
"You must surely be thinking of Himegami-sama when you say that, right?" Said Haruko sarcastically.
She gets up and leaves, leaving me alone after this remark.
"What? Wait Haru-nee, what's the message you're trying to send me here?" I call out to her, raising my voice, getting tired of her bad temper.
She stops abruptly, then resumes her walk.
(It sounds like we're both pretty upset about this.)
A few minutes later, as I was getting ready in my room, a high-pitched scream was heard from the bathroom. Thinking it was just the result of a joke made by the girls, I picked up where I left off.
When I enter the dining room, Kodama and Inaho are watching TV, Sakura is reading a book, Fuji-nee is reading a newspaper and Haruko is cooking.
"Hello everyone." I said as I sat down next to Sakura.
"Hello Senpai." Sakura greets me with a wide smile.
"Hi." Said Kodama lazily.
"Good morning Senji-sama, did you sleep well?" asks Inaho.
"Hi Senji, I hope you're feeling good because I am!" Fuji-nee keeps it up.
As we gently start a discussion, Haruko serves us... a small miso soup, some carrots and a ridiculously small pot of rice.
"What's going on? What are these little portions? Is this rationing or what? Did you forget to go shopping Senji?" Kodama asks, looking at my plate.
Haruko takes the balance, puts it on the ground, then grabs Inaho and makes her climb on it. Inaho's face changes all of a sudden, seeing her weight.
"Hey! Ehhh!" She screams as if death is waiting for her.
(Ah, so that was the scream in the bathroom, Haruko had to be first.)
"Now you realize! These days we're eating too copiously I think, because of two foodies here..." Her gaze turns to Fuji-nee and me. "So I decided we wouldn't eat any more bento until our weight was regulated!"
"Because you're the one who decides?" I can feel the desperation in Fuji-nee's voice.
"Oh so that's it? Let me show you something." Kodama stands up and lands on the balance.
"Eh? Ehh!?" Inaho and Haruko can't believe it.
"You see! Unlike you, I don't gain a single gram, no matter how much I eat, despite everything..." Kodama grabs a breast from Inaho and Haruko. "I'm missing that fat there!"
I start to eat the little food then Fuji-nee stretches her hand towards me, and looks at me as if I was her last hope.
"Senji please make me something for lunch, I won't last otherwise!"
I look at her for a few seconds, then turn to the 3 girls who are arguing, then to Sakura, who is slowly eating her breakfast and smiles at me. Knowing that Fuji-nee and I need much more for the day.
"All right, I'll make you a nice meal." I get up to head to the kitchen.
"Wait Senpai I'll finish and come help you!" Sakura hurried to finish.
"Oh thank you both! I promise I'll make it up to you!" Fuji-nee prostrates herself.
"No need Fujimura-sensei. By the way Senpai, is Chiyo-sama still sleeping?"
"I guess so. Don't worry, she should be able to handle herself. I just hope I don't see the kitchen destroyed when I get home..." I said, half-joking.
"Based on our survey results, many clubs are asking us for a bigger budget!" Takaki begins to explain, "We need to discuss it with their representative if they are not satisfied with our monetary funds!"
In the Maken-ki club, everyone is present, talking about different subjects, but a problem is heard through the room, the belly of Inaho and mine, which are completely empty and ask to be filled.
"And then if they don't want to hear it, then let them figure it out!" Amato continues.
"Amaya-san and Satou-san will take care of the cultural and sports section, Shinatsu-san..." She is interrupted by the gurgling of our bellies. "You two there! Calm down!" She points at us, annoyed.
"Sorry!"
"I really feel ignored!" Takaki complained, placing her hand on her forehead.
"Senji-kun and Uru-chan, I have another mission for you two!" Amato takes over.
I raise my head trying to concentrate and forget the hunger.
"What?" Uruchi stands up.
"I feel like these days there's an increase in violence in Kuoh..." Explains Takaki. "Only, the victims don't seem to have any memory of what happened to them!"
"The victims were only found unconscious!"
"But there was no opponent or referee who seemed to be involved, so these are not official duels!" Takaki approaches us and gives us a marble, with some disgust on my side. "Take this with you! Keep this carefully, in which case you would be in a bad position, pressing it would allow us to locate you! Now back to work everyone! Disperse!"
It remains only Uruchi and me, a heavy silence in the room reigns.
"Well..." I start to get up but Uruchi cuts me off.
"Senji Emiya."
"Yes?"
"Just so we're clear, I hate you!"
I watch her go away for a few seconds, then resume my walk nonchalantly.
(As if I cared.)
Outside, at one of the sites of the attacks, Uruchi and I inspect the scene and ask questions of passing students. While Uruchi asks questions to a student, I analyze the place with my magic circuits, trying to find some remains of magic traces or anything else, but nothing.
"But try to be helpful at least, you're not doing anything!" Uruchi, having finished on her side, comes back to annoy me. "See you next time!" she says to the student who leaves.
"Easier said than done I might add." I don't even turn to look at her and continue to survey the area. But my belly is acting up again.
"*Sigh* Well, the victims are there but on the other hand we still haven't unearthed a single clue!" Uruchi gets impatient.
The gurgling of my stomach is heard, annoying Uruchi even more.
"Ahh..." She stops, then looks at me. "For that, there's nothing we can do..." She pulls two wrapped sandwiches out of her bag and hands them to me. "Here, this should keep you on your feet for a while!"
I hesitate for a second, then let my appetite take over and grab the sandwiches.
"Thanks, I'll make it up to you." I said as I began to eat.
"No need, just do your job right after this." she said as she turned around.
I hurry to eat, and barely have time to finish when a person approaches us waving to follow her.
"Minaya-san," I nod toward the person waiting behind the building. "It looks like she wants to talk to us."
A very attractive girl of medium height with semi-long maroon hair that reaches the back of her neck with a few hair strands hanging over her face and red eyes.
"So like that you want to know who the troublemaker is?" she asks with some confidence.
Understanding at once, Uruchi and I retreat, ready to fight.
"Before that, let me introduce myself, I'm Amio Kumi, second year!" She pulls out a yo-yo of sorts from a pocket. "As for you, I guess you are from Kenkeibu."
"I'm a junior member of Shikkoubu, my name is Minaya Uruchi, he's just Kenkeibu's ball and chain!" She said while pointing at me. "Amio-san, we can discuss this in the council office."
"Oh, I remember, Minaya Uruchi and Emiya Senji, right?"
The moment she says our names, my legs become immobile, impossible to move them, and the same for Uruchi.
"What's that?" I take a closer look at her yo-yo, it's a maken, it emits a bright energy, we are caught in its trap.
"Indeed, she has just woven a web of energy around you." Ddraig explains.
"Shit!" I still try to move them, but no result.
"You can't move! As long as you are under my sway, with the calling of your names, the more you move your legs..." Amio is interrupted by a small arrow of light scratching her right cheek.
"I'm not interested in your maken! All I want..." Uruchi tore her right sleeve to reveal a large bracelet contained little arrows of light, her maken. "It's whether you're the culprit or not!"
She shoots three more arrows, coming at her in an arc, leaving her with little escape.
"Tch!?" She still manages to dodge, throwing herself to the ground.
With a finger movement of Uruchi, the arrows turn around and attack again.
"Go ahead and give up!" Uruchi prepares to attack again. "My power, as long as my arrows are lit, they will chase you relentlessly until they reach you!"
(No wonder she was chosen to join the Shinkkoubou, in this case there is no need to call for help).
I release the marble that I leave in my pocket.
"For a junior, you are strong but," Amio dodges the attacks better and better. "You should listen to the senpais all the way through when they tell you one thing!"
"What?!" Uruchi's body is completely still. "My hands..."
"Did you listen carefully? The more a prey moves in a spider's web, the easier it is to trap it!" Amio picks up his yo-yo and prepares to strike. "Whatever, it's time for your punishment!"
I hurriedly picked up a rock, then reinforced it and myself, throwing it like a bullet in her direction.
She narrowly dodges, surprised, then turns to me, impressed.
"Huh? Nice try... Oh he lost control of his body! You'll get your lesson later don't worry! For now look!" She throws her yo-yo at Uruchi's face, causing a thud.
(She's right, I can barely move, damn it, I'm not going to go that far? No choice but to use it).
With the little movement I can make, I catch the marble and get ready to press it...
"Don't... Don't do it!" Uruchi, her face swollen continues to face Amio. "I won't cause any more harm to my senpai! So, please..."
I immediately understand who she is referring to, which pisses me off even more.
"What the hell are you talking about, because you think taking the hits without saying anything is going to make her feel better, are you serious here?!"
"You wouldn't understand..."
"Yeah I know and to tell you the truth I don't care, I call them!"
"I see I should have known better... but unfortunately for you..." She swings her yo-yo at the marble, shattering it into small pieces and tackles my fingers in the process. "This will be of no use to you!"
(Shit I got carried away and lost time, what a moron! On the other hand, it's a good thing I strengthened my body, otherwise my fingers would have been broken... Well, no choice...)
I charge my magic circuits and make appear above me several swords, ready to plunge towards the opponent.
"Hmm, well let's pick up where we left off, before the reinforcements come in!" Amio doesn't seem to notice me, even with all the lightning around me and the light I emit. "Anyway, I don't think they'll come anyway..."
As she throws her yo-yo at Uruchi, I draw a sword, making the yo-yo ricochet towards her, then I throw another one, passing close to her. She stands still, shocked to see real sharp weapons.
"Don't make another move, and free us from your maken, or I won't miss you this time." I said, ready to take the risks.
"Senji, you're not going to..." Uruchi sees that I'm ready to kill her if I have to.
"Listen to me, even though you get on my nerves, and put me down every chance you get, you're still a comrade and Haruko's friend, so as long as I'm up, nothing will happen to you. I don't know what you're trying to prove to yourself, but letting yourself go without flinching or calling for help is not the solution, and I learned that in the worst way and that's why I'm going to stop you, so that no one goes through what I went through. Now Amio-san, do what I told you, or you will pay dearly."
(Actually it's a bluff, I can't move at all, and strangely enough, using my powers becomes much more difficult, if she keeps attacking, I couldn't stop her).
Suddenly, a shadow passes above us, we all raise our heads to see Haruko landing on the roof, and jumping towards us.
"Eh?!" The girls are surprised.
Haruko falls between Uruchi and Amio in an explosion of dust.
"Iyaa!" Amio steps back, losing her balance.
"Phew... sorry for the delay!" said Haruko, turning to us.
"It's okay about that..." Uruchi sighs with gratitude.
"Kuh...haha..." Amio comes to her senses. "A big piece just appeared! Amaya Haruko!"
Obviously, at the moment when she pronounces her name, Haruko also finds herself trapped.
"I'm so sorry senpai! I..." Uruchi gets stopped by Haruko.
"It's nothing... You did what you could!" Said Haruko with a smile.
"Sen...Senpai..." Uruchi starts to cry.
"And Senji-chan, is that all you can do?" Haruko yells at me.
"Are you kidding me? I'm just pointing out that I'm trapped too and the only thing I can do is to hurt her badly or even kill her!"
Haruko is surprised by my answer, she probably expected me to apologize.
"Amaya Haruko... Let's have a duel!" Amio doesn't care about us and focuses on Haruko.
"That's surprising, don't tell me you're the..." Haruko turns to her, understanding the situation. "Who knew someone like you could do this kind of thing... What is your purpose!?"
"M...My goal... Ugh..." Amio holds her head as if caught by a violent headache.
"Amio-san?" Haruko worries.
"Now I remember my goal... Since the Kenkeibu leaders won't accept my dueling requests, then I have no choice but to use another method to get their attention!" Amio prepares to attack. "Now vice president of the council... If you want me to release them... then fight me!"
Amio throws his yo-yo at Haruko, who parries it with a backhand.
"I didn't quite get it, but this is no longer a duel, considering you just hurt my dear kouhais!" Haruko puts her right fists forward.
She starts to accumulate energy, then chains appear in her fists.
(I don't feel any potency from her power, so what is this pressure?)
"Well, I never thought I'd see that weapon again." Ddraig seems to know this power.
"This maken has opened a door to another dimension! On the other side was sealed a magic sword containing incredible power! The weapon is about to awaken!" A disc placed between the chains begins to glow strongly. "Split the sky! Murakumo!"
A sword appears, still in its scabbard, taking the form of long and thin clouds and yet the aura that emanates from it is incredible.
"So this is it, the most powerful of eight legendary maken, the Murakumo maken!" Amio begins to shake. "Haha... how about I take your sword and get it over with as soon as possible!?"
"That's impossible!" Haruko answers immediately.
"Huh?!"
"The makens have their feelings... Which means that the seal can only be broken by a person of the same power! With you the sword is not likely to make any appearance!"
"Tss..." Amio seemed to take it the hard way. "Are you kidding me!?"
"But with my anger, I can use at least a small part of its power!" Haruko lightly opens the sheath, letting out an enormous amount of energy. "Hanatsu!"
She uses the open part to destroy the yo-yo that was coming towards her, freeing us from its grip. Seeing this, Amio panics but too late. Haruko runs towards her and strikes a blow with the handle in the ribs, making her lose consciousness.
After having leaned her against the wall, Uruchi runs towards Haruko.
"Senpai... Sorry!"
Haruko grabs Uruchi in her arms. I stay at a distance leaving them alone.
"Ah... It's over now, you don't have to apologize! With this sad face, we don't even see your wounds so much you look cute! We're going to go see Aki-sensei so she can osculate you, okay?" Said Haruko, drying Uruchi's tears, then she turns her gaze to me
"Senji-chan, are your fingers swollen?"
"Hmm?" I look down at my fingers, which are starting to swell. "Ah yes, I've taken a hit, I'd go see Aki-sensei too." I move closer to them.
"And... sorry about earlier, and the other times, I must have been really insufferable right?"
"Huh, well I guess we both have some things to blame apparently."
"Yes!"
It is 7 p.m., the time of the classes is finished since a moment. I leave the occult research club, having completed the work entrusted to me by Rias-senpai, while passing the entrance of the establishment, I see Haruko, sitting on a bench, the phone in her hand.
"Haru-nee, what are you still doing here?" I walk over and call out to her.
"Ah! Senji-chan?!" I startle her. She gets up with a start and puts her phone away. "Are you done now?"
"Um yes?"
"Okay good, you were planning on doing the shopping weren't you?"
"Indeed, why?"
"Well, I wanted to make a big meal tonight, to apologize for this morning and also... I wanted to help you, with your bandaged fingers, it's going to be complicated."
"I admit I didn't think about it."
"See, so I volunteer to help you!"
"Okay fine, let's go then."
In the small shopping street, Haruko and I choose the different foods for tonight, and after a little hour, as the night falls, we are finally finished and all along, Haruko really seemed to have fun.
After being back and a small sermon of Fuji-nee, as we should not return too late, well it is especially because she is hungry, we attack the kitchen.
"Ah Senpai, are you cooking with Haruko-senpai?" Sakura asks, confused.
"Ah yes, maybe I should have warned you sorry."
"Ah no that's okay." Said Sakura as she turning her gaze to Haruko.
"Excuse me Sakura, I know you like to cook with Senji-chan, but can I take your place tonight please?" asks Haruko.
"Um, yes no problem..."
"Thanks Sakura, you can go relax, we'll make this quick!" I tell her, preparing the kitchen.
After about twenty minutes, the table is finally filled with a large buffet, rice, salad, meat etc.. and in large quantities.
"What is this? Is there something to celebrate or what?" asks Kodama.
Inaho and Fuji-nee seems to be in heaven.
"Don't worry! Eating too light is also bad for your health! Right everyone?" Said Haruko, bringing the last dish.
"It is sure we will eat well there! Enjoy your meal everyone!" Chiyo is the first one to serve herself.
Haruko sits next to me and seems satisfied. When I turn my head towards her, she smiles at me.
Friday, September 30, 2022.
"Eeeeehhhh!"
While I am preparing breakfast with Sakura, I hear a high-pitched scream coming from the bathroom.
"Oh, again?" I think out loud.
"Fufu~ I feel that some will regret last night's meal, too bad, it was really delicious." Said Chiyo, playing cards with Inaho.
"Oh no, good thing you're at the stove Senji, I don't want to go through that again!" Fuji-nee clutches her journal tightly in frustration.
"I hope these days continue like this for a long time..." said Sakura, looking into the distance.
"Yes, I hope so too." (I'd do anything to.)
Tuesday, October 4, 2022.
Snow. As I return from the occult research club, and night has fallen, the snow keeps me company. It falls slowly, but the city of Fuyuki is already covered with this cold blanket. The mixture of the dark sky, the warm light of the city and the snow falling in slow motion gives a magical atmosphere. Taking a road along a hill, I can observe Fuyuki in all its splendor. Then at the edge of the cliff, I see a young woman, she has short brown hair, a pale skin, and black eyes, like a clear void. She is dressed in a very high quality kimono. She too, observes Fuyuki, completely still.
"Good evening, Is everything okay?" I stop and ask her.
She turns her head towards me, looking at me without really doing so and smile. Then she leaves, in the opposite direction, without saying a word.
Hello everyone, thank you for reading chapter 10 and 11. Senji is finally in good shape. After the previous chapters, I think it was time to show what he is capable of and above all it's time to level up. Just to say that after chapter 12, I'll make a little break, just one week. I'll say more next week. On that note. Thanks again for having this chapter and see you next Monday.
