Disclaimer: I don't win Majikoi or its respective content and creators. I only have my OC.
Review Shoutouts
The embodiment of Weirdness – The others will get their turn just takes time. I think we all know when it comes to VNs, time and patience are a virtue.
The Storyteller993 – He still has a long way to go and still has a long prologue to go through so after the prologue you'll see his half-way mark you could say.
carriedfall51 – Good to know you still enjoyed it and let's hope my next fight scene with Nagamasa… whenever it pops up will have you on the edge of your seat or you enjoy to your hearts content as he shows his prowess.
King0fP0wers – Yep… who knows what kind of role Yukie will play in this version of events… who knows…
Prologue – Part 7
Spring's New Beginnings
April 27th, 2009, Monday
Kawakami Temple
"Zzz… Zzz…"
Once again, just as I begin to wake up I feel something breathe against my neck. Despite the fear coursing through my body I turn over to see the peaceful "sleeping" look of Momoyo looking back at me.
Why? Why is she doing this? Does she think since she can't mess with Yamato after school or during their meetings I'm her new toy or something? I don't know if my hear can take this…
Then I suddenly feel her scoot closer to me causing me to flip back over away from her.
"Mmm… Hau…"
I then feel Momoyo's sleeping body press against me, that includes her breasts as well being the biggest bust of all the Kazama Family besides Miyako. Her scent was soft and sweet as well.
"Ok… calm down… calm down… this is probably just her way of messing with me. Just ignore her and eventually she'll just get bored and wake up…" I thought to myself as I lay there.
"Hm… Fuu…" I could hear Momoyo lightly breathing on my shoulder.
I still just don't get it… why me? You know what… just live with it Nagamasa. Besides… it's not every day you sleep beside one of the Four Divas of Japan and the strongest among all of them.
"Mmmm…" Momoyo then seems to stir as I then hear her say, "Hey, Nagamasa… it's morning."
"Ah… Momo-senpai… G-good morning." I try to act natural as best I can.
"Yeah, morning." Momoyo says she stretches as she rises from my futon.
"Should I even ask why you were in my futon again?" I ask the obvious question.
"It's the start of spring, so as a gift I decided to give you the gift of my glorious image in bed. Tell me were you… aroused? ~" She tacks on the same sultry voice as before.
"Guh… No comment…" But I admit… I did like it a bit. Even though it still feels weird having her treat me like this.
"Ufufu, I guess that's a good answer for now. It was meant to be a surprise after all." Momoyo replies.
"Come on, let's get ready for morning training. We're doing something different today." Momoyo told me.
"Eh? What is it?" I asked.
"Well you won't know until you get up will you? Come on, hop to it!" She claps making me hurry about as I get ready. I see she's already left and as I head out to the courtyard I see Lu-sensei, Tesshin and Momoyo all outside.
"There he is. Now we can begin the next part of your training." Tesshin says.
"Yes, now then Azai-san. For the last week or so, we've been conditioning you physically for your transition to learn the Kawakami-style, but now we must test your mental aptitude as well." Lu-sensei explained.
"What do you mean?" I inquired.
"For today, you will be meditating our here in the courtyard with the other monks. To find your inner strength. The task is to empty yourself until you have truly found your center. You physical side is more then sharp enough, but without the mental fortitude to guide and temper yourself; you are little more than a child swinging a sword without reason." Tesshin continues.
"Not only that, but by doing this you might also have the potential to unlock your Ki energy." Momoyo reveals.
"Eh?!" Wait, I could unlock KI!? You mean the power like in Dragon Ball Z that let's people do crazy stuff?! Heck even some of the people here do crazy stuff like that too!
"Yes, there is that possibility. So for now, you will meditate from now until your daily run with Kazuko here in the courtyard until you have found your inner center of balance." Tesshin leaves off with that as he and Lu-sensei leave.
"Well now, it sounds boring. But this could go a long way in your training. Even I and Wanko have done this as well. So hop to it… you don't need some special stance. All you have to do is sit down, be still and empty yourself of all thoughts… only focus on yourself." Momoyo reiterated.
"I got it." I told her. Going off to join the rest of the monk's I quietly sat down and found an empty spot at the end of the line of monks I saw.
Sitting down, I crossed my legs. Inhaling for a few seconds through my nose, all while positioning my hands at my knees I exhaled as I became as loose but making sure not to slump.
As I sat there, I lightly breathed in and out as I began to slowly empty my brain of any and all thoughts, not focusing on the outside world at all. Even as the wing carried the chimes and the sounds of other monks training nearby didn't seem to faze me in the moment.
This feels nice…
To be at peace and enjoy the quiet…
Empty my mind…
And focus only on myself…
And so for the next few hour or so, I sat there not moving and simply meditating which really caught on.
A few moments later…
Eh? What's this… feeling?
It felt hot, this growing feeling… I wouldn't say it was burning but it felt like the sun was out and getting closer slowly but surely…
"This feeling… is it…?" My thoughts compelled me as this feeling began to course through my body and I felt like a new man.
I opened my eyes as I stood up slowly and stretched. I didn't seem any different, but I could tell that I was. I felt like brand new.
"I see. I see someone has finally begun his journey proper now." It was Tesshin walking towards me; the two of us being the only ones in the courtyard.
"Yes, I could feel something… while I'm not sure of what it is. I feel different for sure…" I replied.
"Good, even so continue your meditation exercises everyday. You must achieve balance if you wish to achieve greater goals. Now go prepare for your morning run and have fun at school today." Tesshin let me off with that as he walked off getting ready for the school day.
Eventually we all make our way to school as class begins…
"Here's today's announcement. We will be holding the first career survey this week." Ume-sensei informed us. But then she caught poor Kuma eating once again.
"Hey, Kumagai! Don't eat hamburgers during homeroom!" Ume-sensei scolded him as she whipped him once more. His cravings began to almost instantly overtake him.
"S-sorry. I was hungry…" Kuma apologized once more.
"Kuma-chan's personality really changes when his hunger is pushed to the maximum." Kazama points out.
"Is that from personal experience?" I ask him.
"Let's just say… you don't wanna know what he's capable of." Kazama warned me.
But with that taken care of Umeko continued, "Everyone is to turn in their desired career after the vacation. We will have individual career guidance in May based on what you wrote. Feel free to write any dreams you may have."
"Also some of the windows on the second floor of Building C were broken by someone last night. Even though it is a rare incident for us, please if anyone has any information tell me anything you may know about it when you do." With that she ended homeroom.
…
And just as quick as it ended. Kuma immediately pulled out his hamburger and returned to eating it.
"I got a little worried there Kuma-chan. But I guess we're alright." Kazama seemed placated seeing Kuma happily eating.
While others were worried about the current development as the career survey, "Career guidance, huh? I'm a bit troubled…" Moro said with a sigh.
"I'm going to be an adventurer. It's tiring to live for promotions." Kazama answered simply.
"Hmm, a real-life Indiana Jones aren't you?" I commented.
"Yeah! I live for adventure and thrill! Just that rush of blood and adrenaline is all I ever want to feel!" Kazma gets pumped up.
"I'm going to write that I'll be Ume-sensei's husband." Gakuto said.
"We have a hero here!" Suguru screamed excitedly upon hearing Gakuto's "career path."
"You'd be killed. Mentally, physically, and socially." Even Yonpachi was taken aback.
"I love older women, and she's at the right age to get married. Sipply and demand." Gakuto reasoned.
"Never mind the fact that said woman doesn't seem to have any interest in marriage, but good luck all the same I suppose." I commented off-handedly.
"Nobody asked you punk! Stay out of my dreams!" Gakuto said threateningly.
But I simply ignored him.
"But he does have a point. The probability of that happening is zero, so isn't it better to just dream about it?" Moro pointed out.
"The probability's zero if you think like that!" Gakuto countered. "You can't win the lottery unless you buy one."
So while those lot are off in their own conversation I looked around to see if there was anyone I could talk to about careers that would actually be interesting…
Let's see I could talk to Yamato, if I remember correctly he was still at least a bit more politically minded in his whole "Kawakami Restoration Plan" idea.
I could talk with Kazuko and Chris as well but knowing those two they'd eventually find something to argue and compete over…
Then there's Miyako, but unfortunately I feel as though she'd just ignore me unless Yamato were right beside me…
Then there were Mayo and Chika, but I always feel so out of place potentially talking to them. But you can't make friends unless take the plunge…
So…
I decide to talk it out with Mayo and Chika.
"Hello ladies. How're you doing today?" I greeted the class rep and the resident 2-F beauty.
"Oh, Nagamasa-san, it's good to see you. I don't think we've had a chance to talk yet like this." Mayo said.
"Yeah, it's mostly been one thing after another, but I guess the main elephant in the room is what kind of career have you thought about?" Chika asks.
Thinking on the moment for a bit, I think back to my normal life. I had been in college up until I was brought into this world. I was in the middle of my political science major and planned to continue my education later after getting some experience working for my local congressman, but that plan's been dashed.
But even still I had other fallback plans in case that ever went belly up…
"I think I'd want to take the risk and open up my own business. I know there's a big risk with that kind of investment be it big or small; but I'd rather do something I like and have control over then work a simple 9 to 5." I reply.
"Yeah, that's a good dream to have. Did you have a particular service in mind?" Chika asks.
"Yeah actually. I planned to open my own bakery. I used to help around with my cousin when she did custom orders for events like parties, conventions and even universities too! It was really fun and I learned a lot of cooking tips that I know now." I explain further.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to try some if you have the time." Chika asks.
"Me too, I'd like to try anything new." Mayo seemed excited at the prospect as well.
"Alright ladies, if I ever get the chance to bring anything you two will be the first ones to get it." I accepted.
I think I made a good first impression. What do you think?
Friendship with Chika – [10% out of 100]
Friendship with Mayo – [10% out of 100]
Well it's an interesting starting point, but these two are actually quite easy to talk to so I won't complain.
After our conversation was derailed by Suguru butting in and later on Chris and Yamato arguing once again it felt like just another day indeed at Kawakami Academy.
Which then led into a sports bet about who among Chris and Kazuko would hold a squat the longest.
"Seeing a blonde beauty doing a squat hold is too surreal." Yamato commented.
"Dude at this point, these two not challenging each other on a daily basis is probably going to be weird in comparison. Besides…" I whisper in his ear, "Like you said it made be too surreal but it's about to happen anyway."
"Guess we wouldn't be Class F without things like this." Yamato replied.
As others began taking notice of Wanko and Chris' challenge ever the man to make a quick buck Kazama immediately put a bet up for who would last the longest.
Once again putting my metaknowledge to work I betted as well, "Put it all on Chris."
Of course with so much gambling, the Class Rep was not happy, "Hey! I told you all not to gamble so much!"
And so despite her objections everyone once again began making bets even her best friend, Chika.
"Oohhh. Everyone's going through their rebellious phase." Mayo cried.
"Mayo. Don't be discouraged. Cheer up." Chika tried to assuage her friend.
"But you betted again too Chika…" Mayo pointed out.
"Ahaha. But this is just the way we are." Chika confessed.
"I just hope the class next door doesn't say anything about us being loud." Mayo pointed out.
"Oh please, those snobs could care less I think… and why should we care?" Chika ignored such concerns.
And so both girls held their respective position until lunch time here both of them agreed to have a break in order to have lunch in peace. Wanko even moves her desk next to Chris's.
"Yes, let's eat together. You too, Miyako, Nagamasa." Chris invites me as well.
"You don't need to tell me. I have red rice again today. It's so auspicious." Miyako says as he shows her white rice covered in her special hot sauce.
"More like red rice without the beans but 100 times the spice." I point out. "May I?"
"Yeah." She offers me some as I try it. It's got some kick to it, but it's not as hot as her tobacco sauce.
"Oh, that's something… how hot?" I ask her.
"Only 5,000. It's a special jalapeno sauce of mine." Miyako explains.
"Guh… Miyako's spice love alone was bad, now there's two…" Kazuko groans.
But we both take out our specially made bento boxes, Chris however seems to be enjoying her lunch, but I already know what's it over.
"You look happy with yourself. Did you bring your own lunch?" Kazuko notices Chris's happy mood.
"Fufu, take a look at this." As she uncovers her box as if showing us a new product, "Tadaa!"
"Oh, it's eight inarizushi." Kazuko points out.
"I'm really hooked on this right now." It's kind of cute seeing her gush over a simple fried snack. "Japanese culture sure is great. Let's eat!"
"Nagamasa and I have Kawakami Temple's specially made lunches! They tend to have lots of meat!" Kazuko was excited for her own lunch as well.
"I put chili pepper in mentaiko. Fufufu, I got the idea of putting spicy food into another spicy food from mapo curry." Miyako sowed off hers.
"Have you ever thought of using it in pastas or yakisoba?" I inquired of her. I used to do that all the time to get a kick out of any pasta leftovers I had from restaurants we visited.
"No. Although I suppose it would make a good sauce depending on the pasta and type of sauce already being used." Miyako wondered.
Meanwhile, Chris munched happily on her inarizushi, "Hmmm. It's so delicious! I'm so glad I came to Japan!"
Kazuko curious decided to "borrow" one, "You eat it like it's so delicious. I want one now."
And so Kazuko helped herself to one of Chris's rolls, "I'll trade you a sausage and a biled konnyaku for one."
However this immediately made Chris upset, "Oi! Don't take one without asking!"
Oh no…
However Kazuko continued to much on her own roll, "Got it… You're right, this tastes good."
"I wanted to relish every single one. How could you?" Chris seemed upset.
"Here, here. Then take some more of mine." Kazuko tried to make a peace offering.
"Then I think another sausage, konnyaku plus a tomato and egg as a much better trade." Chris said taking much more then Wanko gave before.
"Hey! That's nearly half my box! What kind of exchange rate is that?!" Kazuko complained while Chris looked triumphant.
And here I was stuck in between their arguing… a typical day at Kawakami Academy.
Chris did the same as Wanko did and enjoyed her 'food tax'. "These really are delicious."
"Kazuko, it's fine. Here just take some of mine." I offered.
"Oh, thank you Nagamasa!" She thanked me as she took some of the items she'd lost.
"Oh, Nagamasa would you actually like to try an inarizushi?" Chris voluntarily offered me one of her fried rolls.
"Sure, if you don't mind." As I bit into the fried tofu shell and made it to the rice I can see why this stuff is so popular as street food. The taste is overall sweet and savory. The tofu roll is soft and chewy like a pastry, yet the rice is still firm and fluffy almost like a sushi roll.
"Umm… this really is good!" I saw excitedly.
"See!? You have to see why I love them so!" Chris sounds excited as she sounds happy she has some to enjoy her love of inarizushi to indulge in.
Friendship with Christiane – [23% out of 100]
I think that's a fair boost all in all.
"I wonder though, did you and Kazuko-san make these lunches?" Chris asked us.
"No. We have professional chefs who make all the food at Kawakami Temple." Kazuko explained.
"I see. I was about to have a better opinion of you." Oh Chris, why must you phrase things like that?
Kazuko immediately gets upset at the underlying remark, "Oh, you're saying such things? I demand consolation!"
"I already gave you some of mine. Now quit it both of you! Kazuko, calm down and stop bickering. You too Chris, stop with the snide remarks it's rude." I chide Chris as well.
"Yeah, sorry Chris." Kazuko gives up.
Chris seems to ponder but seeing my hardened brow she relents, "Yes… I apologize for my comment."
"Now then, can we eat in peace please?" I ask as both of them nod in agreement we continue to enjoy our lunches.
"Chris. Would you like to try some of my lunch?" Miyako offers her own lunch as well to make up for some of Chris's loss before.
"But your lunch is so red that I can't tell what's what." Chris says as she notices everything in Miyako's bento is covered either in spices or some kind of red hot sauce.
"But this chili pepper rice has an addicting taste." Miyako offered.
"R-Really?" Chris curious tries some, but immediately regrets it.
"Oh! It's hot, hot, hot!" Chris says frantically as she stomps around the spice immediately kicking in.
Miyako can barely hold back a giggle as she offers what appears to be a bottle to Chris, "You're exaggerating. Here's a drink."
"No Chris don't…!" I try to warn her but she drinks from the container to her own doom.
"Thank you Miyako." Instant regret five seconds later, "This is hot too!"
"Here Chris, drink this spare milk carton!" I offer Chris as I tell her to swish the dairy in her mouth to try and contain the spice.
"I swear Miyako you're gonna send someone to the hospital one day. There's this thing humans have called a limit you know?" I tell the archer who only smiles mischievously.
"Kukuku, they merely can't accept that spicy food is the future of the culinary world." Ah, typical Miyako.
Eventually the intense spice in Chris' mother recedes. But I can't help but enjoy all of the girls' boisterous attitudes.
And so after lunch nothing else really special happens…
After school, I return to my training my meditation routine already feels normal to me as I continue to try and center myself.
As I do so I begin to feel the slight presences in the air. Mostly the falling leaves that drop with the cool breeze, the chirping bugs flying through the air, and…
Ah… what's this!?
"Who's there!?" I pick up a rock and throw it behind me where I felt the unfamiliar presence from just then.
"Ow! W-what's the big idea! I'm just training here!" An angry female voice reverberates as it approaches me.
"Huh? Another girl? But I thought the only girls here were Wanko and Momoyo?" I thought to myself.
As I thought a girl walks out of the bushes where she makes herself known. She's wearing the training Gi that Momoyo wears, and she seems to be carrying what seems to be a short yari spear. She has long brown hair, a slim yet athletic physique and quite moderate assets and hips to accentuate her body.
"S-sorry for that. I felt an unfamiliar presence so I got a bit jumpy. I'm…" But the girl interrupted me before I could say anything.
"W-wait! You're that new guy that Tesshin-sensei brought in. You're Nagamasa Azai aren't you?!" The female student sounded… excited to see me?
"Who are you? I mean don't you think it's a bit rude to just yell suddenly at them?" I retort.
"Eh? Oh sorry, guess I did jump the gun there. The name's Toshimaru Saito, descendant of Toshimitsu Saito, nice to meet you!" She introduces herself with a bow.
"I'm Nagamasa Azai. But I guess you already know that." I introduce myself again.
"Yeah! When you joined us you were practically the talk of the temple! It's an honor to meet you really!" Toshimaru replied happily.
She really is energetic isn't she? Kind of reminds me of Wanko a bit.
"I-I'm nothing to write home about. I'm still learning just like everyone else." I try to remain humble.
"But even so… your progress has really been kicking off. I was there at school when you dueled Kazuko-san." She tells me.
"Wait, you go to Kawakami Academy?" I ask.
"Yeah, I'm in class 2-A. You're in Kazuko-san's class right? Aah, I'm envious of you…" Toshimaru replies dreamily.
Wow, if she's in Class 2-A I'm assuming she's got some skills and brains behind her to just be a class behind 2-S.
"So why're you here? Why're you training here at Kawakami Academy?" We both transitioned to the stone steps as we continued talking.
"Well… you see my parents used to have their own training dojo here in Kawakami, but they thought there was only so much I could learn from them that they recommended I come here to better my training." Toshimaru explains.
"I see… that's an interesting backstory." That really is something. To be recommended to train at the very place that the two greatest martial artists are at is quite the deal.
"So I'm guessing you're training to be the best huh?" I ask her.
"Not only that…" She softly replies as she then looks to the night sky above as the stars shine, "I don't have some crazy goal to be like a member of the Big Four, I just want to be known for my own achievements. I know, I know… beating someone like a member of the Big Four would be something right? But I want to be known for something that I do. I want to be remembered for what I left behind."
"Huh, that's an interesting goal." And it's unique as well.
"So, what's your dream? Why're you training here, do you have a goal you want to achieve?"
"Hmm…" I ponder as I bring my fingers to my chin.
Goal huh? Since I've been here I feel as though even as my training has already given me great advancements on my physical condition and even with Principal Tesshin's underlying offer to one day challenge Momoyo, I still honestly didn't know what kind of goal I had.
It's both frustrating, but even then I suppose it's natural when someone has to start something new.
"I… don't know really. I've been getting better since I got here. But I feel like it's not being channel towards anything. Like I have a straight path in front of me, but I haven't met that fork in the road that'll lead me to my destination." I reply.
"I see… then how about we clear our heads with a spar?!" Toshimaru offers.
"Eh, a spar this late?" I point out the time.
"Oh come on, it won't be that long. Besides, I have tons more experience on you. This'll be over before you know it…" She replies proudly.
Tch, this one's a little uppity isn't she?
"Alright then, let's go…" I accept her offer.
"Alright. Just don't come crying after I've sprawled you out on the ground." Toshimaru declares.
And so on the training field, we stand a fair distance apart as we ready our weapons waiting on each other as the soft breeze carries out hair and the leaves flow with the wind.
As a dying leaf softly falls… and then lands…
"Haaaah!" Both Toshimaru and I charge the other as we begin our spar…
"Hehehe, I think I needed this…"
AN#1 – Well here's the seventh part of my prologue to my Majikoi story, I'm NOT a Samurai, Seriously! Today is once again just another day at Kawakami Academy for our heroes, yet another day at school.
But after school, Nagamasa makes a new friend in a fellow trainee there, Toshimaru Saito, I wonder what their new friendship will lead too? Who knows?
As for Toshimaru's role going forward, I just want to preface by saying that she will NOT be a love interest to Nagamasa, but she will be a sort of close friend/'advisor' to Nagamasa as the story goes on.
Think of her also as Nagamasa's version of Azumi, as someone who watches over him. Kind of like how Toshimitsu Saito was Mitsuhide Akechi's chief retainer and main advisor during the Sengoku era and was his most loyal and stout-hearted companion.
What's up next for our hero, Nagamasa? Stay tuned for Prologue – Part 8 – Nagamasa's Debut! Yamato vs. Aoi!
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! :)