Chapter 54
Saturday, February 4, 2023.
"Welcome back Senji-kun!" Returning from training, Chiyo greets me.
"Um..." I look oddly at Chiyo, who has her apron completely soiled, she has a little on her face too. "What are you up to?" I point.
"Oh my! I tried to prepare dinner but I completely failed, but don't worry I'll get there, what you taught me will come in handy!" She proudly explains.
"I see..." I sigh before stepping toward her. "Let's prepare it together, it'll go faster."
"You... Are you sure? You must be tired?"
"I insist."
"Okay! It'll be more fun with two of us!"
Entering the dining room, I see the mess all over the kitchen. I turn to her, only to see her looking away, whistling.
(...Here she is imitating Fuji-nee...)
I roll up my sleeves and start cleaning with Chiyo's help, then heat up some water. I ask Chiyo to take out some flour and put it in a large bowl. This done, I take the water and pour it into the bowl and start mixing by hand. When the dough takes the shape of a soft ball, I stop and set it aside. Chiyo takes out a white cabbage and cuts it into misshapen pieces, either too thin or not thin enough.
"There's progress, you can cut food properly now." I say.
"Yes! How fun!"
In a bowl, I put ground beef, sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar and chopped ginger, which I chopped at the same time as Chiyo was doing the white cabbage, and mix. Seeing that enough time has passed, I return to the dough. I flour a work surface, place the ball on it and flatten it with my hands. Then I take a round cookie cutter and cut about twenty pieces, flattening them again. Then I place them on floured baking paper.
With Chiyo following my instructions, we take a heaping teaspoon of filling into the center of the dough, then close it with another, pinching the sides together. Having finished, and seeing that the girls are about to return, Chiyo takes out the soy sauces and prepares the table, while I prepare the ravioli for cooking and peel a few potatoes, cutting them into quarters.
"Senji-kun? Have you always been passionate about cooking? You do it like it's in your blood." Chiyo asks me.
I stop cutting abruptly, searching for an answer to this question, but the memory sends shivers down my spine.
"The kitchen... it wasn't a place I carried in my heart."
"You still haven't prepared the rice bowls? What the hell are you for?"
"I'm sorry..."
"An extra mouth to feed means more food to prepare."
"Yes, I'm sorry about that."
"We're going to start running out of food because of you dammit!"
"I'm sorry."
"You don't need to help, just sit tight."
"Okay, I'm sorry."
"Most of the time I was sidelined, or an annoyance because I was a mouth to feed on top of it, so the kitchen was more a source of unhappiness than anything else."
"…"
"But today it's different, thanks to Fuji-nee, who accompanied me in learning and especially in overcoming this discomfort and now I'm satisfied to be able to cook for others."
"...Listen... I..."
"Anyway, that's all in the past. Now it's time to cook it all up and wait for the girls to get back, hopefully before too long." I look at the clock, seeing that we're approaching 8pm.
As I plunge the ravioli into a pan of hot water and put the potatoes in the oven, Chiyo remains silent, watching me, then stops me, taking hold of my right wrist.
"Senji-kun, you've cut your finger!" Indeed, without noticing, I cut my finger deeply.
"Indeed, it bleeds a lot. I think I put some bandages somewhere..." I bend down and open some drawers.
"How did you not notice that?" Chiyo asks me.
"It's like cutting yourself with a piece of paper, you can cut yourself without realizing it and it's only when it's pointed at you that you feel the pain. Where did I put these bandages... Ah, here they are. Hmmm, but I don't have any disinfectant, oh well." I take a bandage and open it, but Chiyo stops me.
"I've heard that a wound heals better if you put saliva on it... So will you let your girlfriend help you heal? I think it's the best thing to do to get it right." She says, looking me straight in the eyes.
"Huh?" I'm surprised by the proposal.
I stand speechless for a few seconds, before looking at the cut, still bleeding. I turn to Chiyo, who smiles. I take a deep breath and move my hand closer to her.
"I'm in your care..." I nod.
"Alright, here I go..."
She takes my hand delicately, sliding her slender fingers over my skin. She brings it to her mouth and puts the cut part inside. At first, nothing special, just the heat from her lips. Then her tongue runs over the cut, coating it with saliva, and she does it again and again, opening and closing her lips, as if she were kissing my finger. Suddenly, she puts my whole finger in her mouth, running her tongue over it and nibbling the bottom, all the while looking straight into my eyes, cheeks flushed. Taken aback, she moves closer to me and I step back, leaning against the work table, I can feel my whole body reacting, the heat, the sweaty hands, I can't take my eyes off the action.
She finally releases me, leaving a thread of drool between her lips and my finger.
"Chiyo...-san..." My heart pounds.
"Ahhh... So this is what Senji-kun's blood tastes like?" She takes her cheeks in her hands.
"Haa?"
"Fufufu... That was delicious!"
"What are you talking about?" I'm confused.
"We're home!" Haruko is heard from the entrance.
"Ah damn they're already here, Chiyo-san help me get everything warmed up." I rush to put the last ravioli in the water and turn up the heat.
"Look, the cut has disappeared..." She said.
"Huh?" I look at my finger to see that indeed my finger is as good as new. "Ah that's right... I always forget the influence of the fox demon..."
"Fufufu, what an airhead!" She said, messing with my hair.
"What's going on here? Are you getting intimate?" Kodama asks with a vicious grin.
"Nothing at all!" I exclaim. "Dinner's almost ready."
Sunday, February 5, 2023.
It's 4 a.m. and I'm walking alone through the empty streets to the beach. It's still dark, and my only company is the moon, the twinkling stars and my visible breath from the cold.
After several minutes' walking, I reach it. I step out onto the cold sand and put my things down. I stretch, preparing myself for the task ahead then head for the last remaining debris on the beach, a pile of scrap metal and other items.
"Given what's left and if I do well, this is the last time I'll be cleaning the beach... finally." I sigh.
I pick up several wooden crates and a tire, taking them near the entrance. Then some cans, a sort of cage, some doors, some scrap metal blocks. I dig up a fridge stuck in the sand, I take some pipes...
It's nearly 6 a.m. Despite the cold, I'm sweating and warm colors are beginning to appear, heralding sunrise. After removing and digging up a lot of stuff, there's only one thing left to mess up the beach. A small two-seater car, with open space in the back to store the items I've removed.
I get behind and start pushing. It's hard going, with the sand blocking my progress, but after a gruelling few minutes, I've finally collected all the last of the beach trash, heralding my success at last. I grab my towel and wipe my sweaty face before sitting down on a large metal can to watch the sun rise.
After the sun had risen, All Might finally arrived, parked in front of the beach access, got out of the vehicle and approached, amazed by the clean beach, apart from the heap to be thrown away.
"You've done it! You've crossed the finish line! Holy... Holy..." He suddenly takes on his heroic form. "Moly!"
"Hello All Might, I did it." I greet him, rising to my feet.
"And what an amazing job you've done here! All the more amazing from a teenager! We've only just begun to touch the road ahead of you, but your musculature is more than perfect!"
"I felt it too, the results achieved took effect before I'd even finished." I turn to the pile of debris. "And now that it's over, we can finally get down to business." I say with conviction, clenching my fist.
"That's right! Now it's time for your reward, Senji Emiya!"
"Yes sir."
"You know what they say, right? There's a difference between something you got by the simple blessed fact of your birth and something you acquired by busting your ass! Pucker up and be proud! This power, you got it fair and square, kid." Declares All Might, extending his hand towards me.
Without a moment's hesitation, I move my hand towards his and as we shake hands, a bright multicolored light covers our hands, then expands and moves towards me, crossing my arm. My magic circuits activate, sucking in the light as it disappears. I feel warmth and power surging through my body, and then nothing. I look at my hand and arm in astonishment, then at All Might, who just smiles.
"This power..." Ddraig whispers in my head.
(Do you know what just happened?)
"Well, that's that. All I have to do now is take this stuff back to the dump, do you want to come with me and then go celebrate? Wait, let me see the time... Hmmm, it might be short... After all, I've got my hero job coming up..."
"Don't bother, I'm just going to bed, I'm completely exhausted. But thanks for the offer."
"That's a good idea, after all you're still young, you need a rest, especially after this." He points to the pile of debris. "Go on, I'll take care of the rest, have a good Sunday young man, see you soon!" He bids me farewell before heading for his vehicle.
(See you soon? Yeah, too tired to figure it out, off to bed.)
Monday, February 6, 2023.
"It's so damn cold!" Usui shivered in his coat.
"What did you expect in the middle of winter?" I patrol with Usui, who can't stop complaining.
"And what are we doing patrolling today?! Nobody wants to duel during exam days, it's tiring enough as it is, isn't it?"
"...It's our job to make sure that's the case."
"Raah... Only 4 more days and it's over... We can breathe... it's going to be fine... I can't take it anymore! Bu?!" Usui was abruptly stopped by a punch in the back.
"What the hell are you doing?" It's Kodama. "You're supposed to be watching, not whining like old men."
"Well, as you can see, it's complicated..." I can't take any more of Usui's tantrums.
"It's just that when you're freezing to death, you can't find the energy to work, you know?" Usui tries to explain. "Hmm?" His gaze suddenly turns to the roof of the building right next to us.
"Well, we have to keep patrolling... Usui?" I notice he's focused on something else.
"Shut up a minute! What a cute girl... How could I have missed her?" Usui pulls out a notepad, stands up and starts to walk away. "I'll control the situation on the roof! After visiting this beauty!"
"Hey, what are you playing at?! Huhhh..." He doesn't even listen to me.
"Well, you're not spoiled with a guy like him for a colleague. Now go and do your duty, Senji-kun!" Kodama said in a theatrical tone.
"Yeah... I'll do that. Usui, wait for me!"
We arrive on the completely empty roof, which I find a little irritating.
"Huh? What's that all about? There's nobody here." I take a second look to make sure.
"It's weird! I know I've seen her..." mumbles Usui.
"Hummm..." Hearing a voice behind us, we turn to see on the roof of the stairwell, a girl crouching just above us. "So what color... is it?"
"White..." Usui said.
Indeed, avoiding seeing what's under her skirt is rather difficult in this position.
"Kya!" Realizing the situation, she jumps up and lands next to us. "Huuu... It wasn't mine I was talking about... but what the girls at this school are wearing. I just wanted to know what the latest trends are among Konoha's high-school girls, but it's a shame you saw me without my shobu shitagi!"
"Um... Shobu Shitagi?" I repeat, not knowing what it is.
"I don't think I have any info on a blonde beauty in my notebook..." Usui flips through his notebook.
"Her name is Minevra." I say.
She has long sky-blue hair, not blond like Usui said. She wears a hat resembling a large beret, uses a cane to walk and closes her eyes for some reason.
"Oh Senji-kun you remember me!" She's delighted.
"Do you know each other?" asked Usui, confused.
"Yes, I'm a member of Venus! The others and I worked with Senji's adoptive father. We were inseparable back then, I still remember our little reading sessions before bedtime!"
"I see..." Usui said softly, looking at me strangely.
"Starting today, I'll be studying at Kuoh High School! It'll be for a short time, but I hope we'll get along well! Although I have no doubt Senji-kun will!" She winks at me.
"Speaking of which, why did it take you so long to join the others?" I ask.
"Hihihi, I was pretty busy. To tell the truth, I arrived not so long ago, but you were busy with a game so I didn't dare show myself too much, but now I'm officially enrolled!"
"So that's why they stopped... because they saw you..." I remark, remembering what happened when the pool opened.
"So there was another member?" Usui looks at us puzzled. "In any case, delighted to make your acquaintance... Could it be that you're blind?"
"Oh... No it's not that."
"Hmm?"
"It's not that I can't see... But there's a reason I keep my eyes closed... You see... It's because it makes me look more mature!"
"So that's why?"
(...Obviously he believes it...)
"So you were here Minerva!" The door opens to let in Akaya-sensei.
"Ah! Commander Akaya!" Minerva turns to him.
"I told you to stop by the Maken-ki office first and introduce yourself, didn't I? So I see you're still doing as you please, my kitten-chan!" He said, striking a pose.
"Sorry... it's been a while since I've been to school so I was all excited! Besides, I got to see a lot of things up there!"
"Hm, I can't really blame you, after all you wanted to see Senji again too. But besides, this is the first time you've been to a mixed school, isn't it?"
"Yes, and I haven't done anything yet!" She said, sticking out her tongue. "Like finding a man when I wake up next to me in bed! Having him walk around the room while I'm changing, being in a dorm where boys and girls share the same room... I can't wait to find myself in these kinds of situations!" She muses, resting her hand on her cheek.
"No chance at all here..." Usui and Akaya retort, waving their hands negatively.
"Except for the popular Senji-kun, isn't it?" Akaya turns to me.
"...No comment..."
"Oh really? I don't doubt it, after all Senji-kun is a real playboy!" Minerva is talking nonsense.
"Well, now that I think about it, Kuoh was a co-ed establishment to begin with, wasn't it? Why did it become an all-girls school and then go co-ed again?" I ask, changing the subject.
"You want to know, don't you? It's a long story so I'll tell you all about it on the way."
Akaya-sensei invites us to come down, so I hold Minerva's hand, helping her down the steps, while I listen to his story.
"There's probably no one left who remembers anything here. Kuoh was a place where people with special abilities gathered. Initially, Kamigari, an organization that protected the country in the shadows, was in charge. But when the time came to gather and train them, Kamigari became terrible."
"Yes, I remember Kiritsugu talking badly about this organization."
"You're actually supposed to be learning how to use things like maken, alter, different types of jutsu and many more. All this requires a mastery of the elements. For this, you receive training before you turn 20. As a result of your years of training, you'll be able to put into practice what you've learned and use these powers brilliantly as heroes or shinobi! If the gifted youngsters Kamigari met by chance were brought here and trained against their will... This organisation went even further by erasing the memory of those who refused their condition, so that many of these gifted people became totally ineffective..."
"Why did they erase the memory?"
"Kamigari doesn't really have the term disobedience in its dictionary, so as soon as the students became too opposed and there was fear of escape, they'd take them back to Kuoh at once with the memory erased. That shouldn't surprise you, we've seen other practices like that with Kiritsugu, haven't we?"
"Yes... but it still disgusts me so much to hear things like that..."
"I'd be surprised if you knew that, but it's just that in order to change the situation, Nezu-sama created a place about ten years ago and it's precisely the Kuoh Institute. An ingenious training program that allowed them to bring together people with abilities. Its existence was later revealed to the whole country. As a result, Kuoh became a special independent branch. Of course, Kamigari was totally against the idea of having a group out in the open. Three options were open to Kuoh's students. Either they asked to have their memories erased so they could leave, or they joined Kamigari, or they stayed in Kuoh, which was the third option. Subsequently, Nezu-sama ignored his opponents and turned Kuoh into a school. "You can enjoy the joys of sport and love". He always said he wanted to make this a place that could be called paradise. Of course, having power implies wanting to use it. Humans are evil by nature, and this is always a source of trouble. The teachers struggled to keep the peace, but they reached their limits. But despite the chaos, a group of talented students decided to rise up. The "Madou kenkei kikou". Better known as Maken-ki. Without boasting, thanks to us the problems began to diminish!"
"I can see that..."
"But something happened when we were in our third year. An incident that meant Kuoh would no longer be co-ed. An incident that involved a teacher and a handful of students savagely assaulting a student..."
"...What?"
"At first, all the blame fell on the male students. By making the school all-girls, it saved the institute from closing. The teacher involved in the assault disappeared and the students kept saying they didn't remember anything."
"It's the same as last time with Amio-senpai..." Usui remarks.
"And you couldn't stop them? What happened next?" I ask.
"...I still haven't forgiven myself for not taking action. I think you did the right thing. I'm talking about the time you interrupted the duel at the beginning of the year."
"It was only natural. After all there was an external attack."
"Was it the only reason? Wasn't it because of your aunt getting beaten by that dojo challenger that you were tempted to stop the fight?"
"?!...How did you know? Besides, it's got nothing to do with that. It's just... I can't stand to see conflict, especially when it's pointless..." I clench my fist.
"If you were anywhere else, this attitude would be noble. But you know very well now, in Kuoh this way of thinking is naive. As I said earlier, possessing power inevitably comes with the desire to use it. These duels allow you to let off steam while being supervised. And you know deep down that no conflict is pointless, whether you think so or not. Or are you saying that the discomfort or frustration of some of the students here is pointless, a sign of weakness? I didn't know Kiritsugu had taught you that kind of value."
"I beg your pardon?" I feel anger rising in me.
"Commander Akaya? What is the problem? This isn't like you..." Minerva interrupts.
"What did you say bitch?!" I hadn't noticed but we got to the entrance and we hear someone arguing.
Hearing this, Usui runs to get out but suddenly stops, seeing that he still has his indoor shoes on. So he opens the door to hear what's going on.
"Say that again, goddammit!"
"Ho?"
"Oh boy... that doesn't bode well!" Usui comes back to us. "Leave the story for another time, come on Senji, let's go!" He says, changing his shoes.
"Roger." I do the same.
"Hm? Himegami-senpai!" Usui exclaims.
"Hurry up and go, you idiots!" Kodama orders us.
"You can admire Himegami-senpai as much as you like afterwards. Come on before it gets out of hand." I go out.
Usui greets Kodama affectionately before following me.
"I was going to introduce you to the Maken-ki but, wouldn't you like to come along?" Ayaka asks Minerva. "Oh... I forgot to ask you, by the way."
"Yes?"
"It's about our conversation, I was going to ask you before he decamped but what do you think of his emotions?"
"Well... there's anger, uncertainty... But the problem is that something is altering them... Does the fox demon have anything to do with it?"
"I've already told you! Who would want to see your fucking underwear?!" A student with a black-haired banana haircut insults a girl in front of him.
"Liar!" Retorts the little silver-haired girl under her parasol. "I've sensed perverse intentions coming from wandering eyes! Here's the perfect place to check out girls' panties."
Usui backs away slightly, feeling targeted.
"Isn't it? Even onii-sama thinks so, eh?" She turns to her brother.
"Yes..." He has the same hair color as her sister.
"Tch! This conversation is going nowhere! Let's settle it with a match, you slut!" Announces the guy. "If you lose, you'll kneel before me, then beg for my forgiveness a hundred times over!"
"And if you lose..." The girl puts a finger to her lips, thinking. "Yes... I might just gouge those perverted eyes out of you!"
"His eyes?!" I'm surprised. "It can't be, he won't accept..."
"That's understood!" He accepts anyway. "It's a foregone conclusion anyway!"
"Usui, just in case, bring a teacher or senior student."
"Fine, but are you going to be able to handle it on your own?"
"I'm kind of used to it because of you."
"...Yeah okay, I'll be as quick as I can."
As they leave, Usui and the girl's eyes meet, Usui's looking uncertain while the girl seems to know him.
"You really don't remember me?" The girl asks Usui, who is already out of range.
"Um..." I'm about to ask her a question when I'm interrupted.
"Hey! The ref! Hurry up and do the ceremony so we can get started!" The guy gets impatient.
"Yes. The two people who found themselves in a battle, one against the other..."
(Another completely useless match...)
"The harmony between the two..."
"Was it the only reason? Wasn't it because of your aunt getting beaten by that dojo challenger that you were tempted to stop the fight?"
"Or are you saying that the discomfort or frustration of some of the students here is pointless, a sign of weakness? I didn't know Kiritsugu had taught you that kind of value."
(What was he implying?)
"The voice everyone takes..."
"As heaven is our witness!" The two fighters finish.
The guy pulls out a glove and the girl pulls out a tray, floating in front of her.
"Kya ha ha! Just as I thought, your maken is as ridiculous as you are!" Scoffs the girl.
"Heh! What a mouthful! Say your prayers!" The glove begins to glow and suddenly the girl comes closer, arriving in front of the guy. "The power of my Kaesto resonates with the opponent's fists and draws him to me so that he's within my reach. It also intensifies my physical strength. It's too late to beg now, understand?" Explains the guy.
"It stinks..." Whispers the girl.
"What?"
"I said you had bad breath, could you stop talking? Banana head!"
"Eh? I see, you're the kind of person who only understands after a beating!" He swings his fist to strike her but stops, as if his body no longer responds. "What... is happening?! my arm... isn't moving!"
"Kya ha! I can't believe you're so stupid as to make my job so easy by bringing me to you!" Suddenly, a wooden doll resembling the guy appeared on the girl's tray. "You're such an idiot!" She grabs the doll's arm.
"What's going on?" I wonder.
"I guess as a referee, you have a right to know." The brother steps toward me. "My sister creates a field with her maken, it only takes 10 seconds to generate a link and create a doll of her opponent. The doll reproduces only one hundredth the power of the original person."
"Gyaaa!" As he explains, the guy falls to the ground, his arm right broken.
"Kya ha ha! For a guy as manly as you, you're pathetic when you scream!" Scoffs the girl. "That should be just enough to break your arm!"
"It's useless in a situation where the winner has already been decided! Enough is enough!" I call out to him but am stopped by the brother.
"No way, as long as she's in contact with the doll, the link can't be severed, which is why there's no point in stopping them."
"If I did, what would happen to me next?" She places her fingers on the doll's head. "Maybe I should try to break his neck too." She says, panting heavily.
"Useless? It seems to me that I'm the referee." I pass the brother and walk over to the two fighters. "The duel is over! One is no longer able to fight!"
"What's the big deal? For me it's not over..." She turns to me. "Are you trying to get in my way? If so..." A doll resembling me appears in her hand. "I'm going to make a doll of you..."
"Guh!" Suddenly my body doesn't respond, I feel myself clenching, my arms sticking to my body. "Ku..!"
"Why don't you just stand there and watch?" She said, laughing.
(Huh? I feel some resistance... how... Ddraig?)
"...How does a poor little girl expect to control the body of a draconic host?" Without doing anything, his aura poured out, moving towards her.
"Hm? What?" She notices her doll moving. "The doll, why is it shaking so violently?!"
"I said, the duel must end!" I step forward, little by little, towards her.
"If... if you come near me again I'll...!" She stops, petrified with fear.
Two enormous reptilian eyes look down on her, like huge flames dancing above her, everything around her goes black, only Senji and this pair of eyes are visible. Their aura is so imposing that she shakes.
"I strongly advise you to stop your toy, or my host will be happy to do it for you, but it will be considerably more violent..."
But before anything can happen, Yan Min arrives like an arrow and kicks her tray, sending it tumbling and making the two dolls disappear.
I turn to see Usui back with Akaya, Minerva and Yan Min.
"Easy Senji, you're going to make her pee herself, so you can stop." Yan Min puts her hand on my shoulder.
I take a deep breath, and stop Ddraig's aura, under his displeasure.
"What?! What do you think you're doing?" For someone who was petrified with terror, she quickly regained her bad temper.
"Fuu... Thank you Yan Min, it's been a while hasn't it? Otohime-ojou"
"Akaya... Kodai." She said.
"Are you okay?!" Minerva asks the guy.
"Ugh.. Ah..."
"Even if there was a 1 in 10,000 chance of something bad happening, what are you going to do after that?" Akaya asks.
"You know, I was just having a little fun! I've heard rumors about this school, that even the dead will come back to life. So there shouldn't be any problems, should there?" She explains.
(What's she talking about?)
Akaya made a strange face, as if he knew what she was talking about.
"But more importantly, please begin your work in earnest. If you slack off, then I might report you to Grandpa, the leader of Kamigari!" She threatens, picking up her parasol again. "So it would be better for you if you didn't have to be reminded!" Then she leaves, closely followed by her brother.
"Ah... thanks for the helping hand." I turn to the Venus members.
"You really lack composure! You'd better be grateful!" Yan Min scoffs, nudging me.
"Hmmm, sorry we intervened, you seemed to be in control, but given the aura you were giving off, we'd been afraid of the damage." Akaya explains.
"No problem, it wasn't really controlled..."
"In any case, no matter who did what, a small mistake can lead to a dangerous situation. From what I can see, this time it was the guy who was in trouble and not the girl, but you still couldn't tolerate it." Akaya remarks.
"The fight was already over with such injuries, obviously I intervened." I reply.
"...If you say so." A slight smile appears on Akaya's face. "You know, I'm not asking you to answer my question from earlier right away. I mean, I can wait for the right moment. I don't know if what's driving you to act is what you think is right or if it's your traumatic memories that you keep deep in your heart but... You already know where you want to go, but it's going to be a foggy road to get there, and you're going to keep fighting and suffering. Prepare yourself for that!"
I froze, his words echoing in my head. I know he's right, that my goal is already set and that to get there I'll probably have to go through some tough times, so why... why do I get the feeling there's more to it than that?
