When I did this chapter, it was the anniversary chapter of BNW in 2022. I wrote back then that I hoped 2022 would be better. Weirdly, the last few years have been worse than the two before that. But that is just me.
We started a new Arc on this fic. So there is that.
Started on 01/12/2021
Ended on 12/12/2021
Published on 04/01/2022
Beat the warning, the sound of the drums
Set the beacons afire for them all
Ichika woke up feeling refreshed and happy. Today was the start of his new life. He would be going to Teito High School. It was a goal for now. Forever indebted to Matsu, she had given him an opportunity to take the exam.
She also gave him a fake name: Nagisa Korida. He was lucky that his appearance was average, allowing him to blend in easily. If Matsu's confidence was any indication, the exam should be a breeze.
Contrary to what his sister and so-called "friends" believed, Ichika wasn't stupid. Could he compare to her beloved Ashikabi in terms of intelligence? No, but Minato was a genius, and Ichika was above average. He would come home with top scores in everything.
It was early, and no one else would be up just yet. Ichika wouldn't blame them; they had stayed up late last night, chatting for hours while he had gone to bed early. As quietly as he could, he tiptoed through the house and landed in the kitchen.
"Good morning, Ichika."
Miya turned around to see her latest tenant standing there. That smile—oh, Ichika loved to see her smile.
"Good morning to you as well, Miya. It smells great." Miya motioned to the seats.
"You can be assured. You're the only one eating now. My husband is a late riser, and I doubt that Minato and his flock will be up soon. So, don't miss your exam." Ichika shook his head and sat down.
Miya had prepared some hakumai (white rice), vegetables, and seasoned kelp. The fish was fresh, and Ichika found that she made excellent miso soup. The taste was incredible, and he ate greedily. It was fantastic to have this.
"I take it that you like it?" Ichika nodded to the woman who looked after him. She might be a landlady, but she would be a mother figure to him.
"Miya, you cook very well. I should be taking lessons from you." That surprised the Pillar. Well, with her disciple leaving, she could take another one.
"Perhaps so. But now, you best be on your way, Ichika. After your exam, you should come back." Ichika nodded to her, and with that said, he left the house. He knew the route beforehand and could quickly find his way.
He was also provided with a temporary uniform courtesy of Uzume.
Even if he didn't know the route, the hundreds of others going to the school made it easy. Ichika didn't stand out from the crowd, at least as much as he tried. The fact that he walked alone to school already raised eyebrows.
Not that he cared. He wanted to get through school, and friends could be made later. He knew where he was going. It couldn't be as bad as the ISA, that was for sure. Eventually, the school came into view. Ichika just walked through, ignoring the stares. At the entrance, an older lady was waiting. She reminded him a bit of his sister.
"Nagisa Korida?" Remembering for a second that it was his new name, Ichika nodded to her.
"That's me."
"I'm Tadai Ichiya. I'm going to be your homeroom teacher. Because of the circumstances, you will have to take the test in a separate classroom. Might I ask what your living situation is?"
"Living in a boarding house."
"Family?" That was the next question. Ichika bit back what he wanted to say.
"Orphan. Raised by grandparents." Matsu truly knew how to align good details. It was better than telling the whole truth.
"Very well. Follow me."
The place just breathed normalcy. Some might see it as dull, but Ichika craved that feeling of a place where things were every day.
His eyes were looking around. The place was a bit more relaxed, but he found more boys than girls everywhere. He nodded to older guys, keeping his head on a swivel. Ichika was prepared for a fight if it came to that.
Afterward, Tadai let him into an occupied classroom. A giant of a man stood inside. He had unruly black hair held back by a bandana. He wore a blue vest and sandals. Despite his appearance, Ichika was immediately put at ease around the man.
The guy had a hearty smile on his face, to which Ichika replied with a polite nod and smile.
"Ah, Miss Ichiya. Is this our last student?" The woman laughed uncomfortably and nodded to the man. She wasn't used to him.
"Yes, this is Nagisa Korida. Korida-kun, this is Narumi Saiga. He is going to administer your test. I'll leave you in his hands." And with that, the woman left while Ichika looked back at him.
Ichika didn't even feel the hand coming to his shoulder. He tensed up immediately but relaxed when he sensed no malice coming from this man. Ichika believed that even his sister would have a tough time fighting this man. Narumi clasped his shoulder, and Ichika held eye contact.
"Nervous?"
"A bit, yes, sir."
"Don't worry; I'm sure you will do great." Ichika sat down, and the test was handed to him. The teacher sat back while Ichika began to read over the questions. He could feel his heart pumping, and his hands were shaking a bit.
The questions were in order, and he just began to write on them. Meanwhile, the teacher started to observe Ichika. Some things about the boy intrigued him.
'Tense, but not too stressed. His body language speaks of a warrior. Or at least a trained person. He relaxed when he felt the hand. I wonder where he comes from. And from the way he writes, he isn't stupid.'
Meanwhile, Ichika breathed in and out while the time went by. Both ignored the bell and other distractions. Then, finally, there was a break between the tests, and Ichika asked to go to the toilet.
The teacher followed him, and while he respected the boy's privacy, there was a check to ensure Ichika did not cheat.
Then they walked back. Narumi found that Ichika was handling himself well.
'Serious but not aloof. Responsible without being stuck up. Yet, he is guarding himself.' He really wondered where this 'Nagisa' came from because his senses were tingling.
Something told him that 'Nagisa' was someone else. After they got back, Ichika sat down and continued on the second part of the test. When he was done, he handed it back to Narumi. The man just scanned over it and found that it was more than passable. But he couldn't tell Ichika that.
"Well, Korida, there is nothing more here. You can go home. We have your contact details to let you know if you pass the test or not." Ichika nodded back to him.
"Okay, good afternoon, sir." With that, Ichika left the place. He'd go back the way he came. Minato and the girls would be up by now, and they could spend some time together. Or help Miya out with some shopping.
Before he could go further, his cell phone rang. The number was unknown, but Ichika recognized it wasn't his sister.
'Some luck, I hope.'
"Hello, is this Korida Nagisa?" The voice was a bit rough, but he recognized the woman speaking. She wasn't one of the ISA, and they wouldn't know his real name for sure.
"Eh, yes. Who is this?"
"My name is Nanako Onodera. I run a sweet shop. You picked up an advertisement, and I was interested in hearing if you're interested in a job." Ichika remembered that one. Minato and Miya suggested that he apply to as many jobs as possible.
"You're right. I'm sure interested in doing that."
"Do you have any experience in making sweets?" Ichika found that honesty was the best policy. It was up to the lady to shoot him down.
"Not sweets, but I do cook at home, and I have been told I'm pretty good at it." The woman began to think about it. She could use a hand, and there was no need to worry about it after all.
"Very well. Can you come by now?" Ichika checked his watch. It was getting around noon now.
"I have a few appointments to do now. Can I drop by around 14:00? Oh, and could you send me the address? I have to navigate a bit in the city."
"Perfectly reasonable explanation." He heard back, brief and short.
"14:00. Onodera sweet shop. I'll be expecting you." Before Ichika could even say thanks, she hung up. She reminded him of his sister. If she was reasonable, things could work between them.
If not, he could find another job—there were plenty of part-time jobs in Shinto Teito. But from what he heard, things could get hectic. He would find his way home again.
Before long, Ichika saw the inn approach, and it felt like home. For some reason, this was something he could get used to.
"I'm back." Ichika opened the door, and before he could say something else, he saw Kusano looking at him.
"Big brother Ichika." He kneeled to her and ruffled her hair.
"Good midday, Kusano." Then he saw Minato walking. The older man gave him a hand and lifted him.
"Good midday, Ichika."
"Minato." Ichika greeted him, and the two walked back. Tsukiumi, Matsu, Musubi, and Kagari were already gathered in the room.
"Well, isn't this a welcome sight?" Matsu sighed as Ichika walked in.
"Midday, all," Ichika replied as the girls turned to him. Kagari offered him a seat, which he gratefully took, while Tsukiumi and Musubi honed in on him. Minato took the opposite seat and grabbed Kusano.
"So, how did it go?" The question was on everyone's mind while Ichika sighed.
"Went well, in my opinion. I just got back. Also, I got a call. Japanese sweets shop. Could work well for me."
The two more mature Sekirei already expected the other birds to drool. Musubi and Kusano were already thinking of the sweets.
"I don't have the job yet, so calm down." Ichika chuckled along with Minato. Looking around the place, he noticed that Takehito was working outside.
But first, he had to ask, "Where are Kazehana, Uzume, and Chiho?"
They shared a knowing smirk, and Ichika understood. He had enough information.
"Never mind." The knight said, and he walked out to the doctor.
"Hey, Takehito. Need a hand?" Grateful for the help, Ichika was handed a shovel. There wasn't much to be done, but the garden had to be kept up. Winter was coming, and working outside would be nearly impossible then. Following the instructions, Ichika worked with Takehito while Minato did his tasks.
They could move to the new place in a few weeks. There was a lot to take over, and Minato hoped they could spend Christmas there. Before then, snow and ice would make it too cold to move, but Ichika kept the time in mind.
When it was past one in the afternoon, Ichika changed his clothes and wore something a bit more formal. Luckily, he got the address from Nanako. It would be an experience to try out. After saying goodbye to the Sekirei, Ichika walked out again. The winter jacket might not be great, but he could use it now. A nasty wind had risen.
When he got to the place, he noticed how it looked. It didn't stand out from the rest of the site, and Ichika found it had a friendly vibe. After waiting a while, he knocked on the door and opened it.
"Eh, excuse me." The place was tidy, with some decorations on the side and a few tables to sit at. There was also a counter where the sweets were displayed. In the middle was an older lady calling.
Her long brown hair was tied up in a ponytail. She wore a white vest over an apron and beige trousers. Simple, Ichika admitted, but she looked good. Her chocolate brown eyes landed on Ichika. She had a stern look, but Ichika just nodded to her.
"Nagisa Korida?" 'Nagisa' nodded to her.
"Correct."
"Ah, I was kinda expecting an older guy." Her eyes went over him. Ichika was a bit more relaxed when he closed the door.
"What are you, a high schooler?"
"First year, ma'am." 'Nagisa' answered, and the lady began to scrutinize him. She scratched her cheek. They were in a bind now, and she couldn't just kick the kid out.
"Ever cooked before?" Right to business, Nanako didn't waste any time.
"I usually cook at home. And I've been told that I learn quickly." Then he heard a noise.
"Mom, who are you talking to?" Out walked two girls. Ichika saw a hundred resemblances to them. Her daughters, most likely.
One was his age. She had the same hair as her mother but kept it to the left side. She had friendly eyes and wore an apron. She looked adorable in a navy blue dress with short sleeves.
The other girl was a bit younger. Her hair was a mess, with a pink hair clip allowing it to fall everywhere. The kimono was red and a bit more like a dress. A long black apron was next, and she seemed more hostile towards the young man.
"Kosaki, Haru. This here is Nagisa Korida. He applied for the job I posted a few days ago." The youngest girl jumped up when she heard that.
"Mom, what are you thinking? Letting a man work here? Are you out of your mind?" Ichika was about to turn and walk out. He did not trade one looney bin for another.
"Oh, is my little Haru worried about something happening? Is that what you think of when you see men?" The other girl walked up to Ichika, and for some reason, her presence relaxed him.
"Sorry, she doesn't like guys." Her eyes sharpened a bit as she looked him over. Ichika just raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry to ask, but do you go to Shinto Teito High School today?"
Ichika nodded to her. "Yep. I just did my entrance exam. From what I got, I should be good. Why do you ask?"
"I go to that school as well. I'm a first-year." The boy found that he could get used to the school if she went there.
"I'm also a first-year. I had to switch for personal reasons this semester." Nanako jumped up, realizing this guy could cook.
"Okay, young man. If you want to work here, can you show me what you can do?" Ichika was changed into a cooking outfit and found it easy to start cooking.
Maybe some daifuku. It was simple enough. Nanako watched him move around the kitchen. Her eyes liked what she saw.
He knew little about traditional sweets, but he had some experience. Kosaki remained quiet while she watched Ichika work. She was a bit worried, but she didn't want to dismiss him just yet.
Meanwhile, Haru seethed with rage as she saw Ichika cook. But in the end, it came down to their mother.
Ichika was relaxed. He reasoned that he could look somewhere else for a job if he didn't pass. But cooking was something he liked. So he began to sing a song in his mind, changing the lyrics a bit.
I close my eyes, Shinto Teito
And reminisce of those palmy days
I moon o'er you, Shinto Teito
As long as I breathe, I'll call you my home
He was determined to live his life here. So when he was done, he presented the sweets to Nanako. She looked impressed with the treats, and when she tasted them, she found herself facing a critical decision.
"Nagisa, right?"
"Yep." Ichika wondered what she would say.
"I think you've got yourself a job, young man. And if you come of age, marry one of the girls, would you please?" Ichika's mouth dropped open, Kosaki turned red like a tomato, and Haru fell over.
"You can cook damn well, and with this, you could make a great heir." Ichika recovered first. He turned to Kosaki, his blush setting in. He admitted she was cute.
"While I'm flattered, I think I need a few years first before I tie the knot. So how about we work out a schedule?"
Nanako worked things out with him. He would work three weekdays, having Tuesdays and Thursdays off, and while he could work on weekends, Ichika informed her that he had some friends in the city who were moving, so he would be helping them.
He also gave Kosaki his phone number. The night had already begun during the hours he was helping the Onodera's. It was dark, and Ichika had been cleaning the place.
"Hey, Nagisa, what is your living situation like?" A convenient lie (the truth in his mind) was the only thing he could say.
"I'm an orphan. I live in a boarding house with a guy I knew when I was a kid." As the words were barely spoken, the door opened. Ichika found a smile on his face.
"Hey there, Nagisa." Luckily, Minato remembered how he should call Ichika in public.
"And speak of the devil." Ichika grinned as he walked over to Minato. A hand hug was shared, and Nanako raised an eyebrow. So the Ashikabi of the North was her latest hire's friend. That was something.
"Brother, meet Miss Onodera, my employer. Miss Onodera, this is Minato. He has been looking out for me."
Well, that could make things interesting.
"Miya wondered where you were staying. We are having a feast tonight, and I was hoping you could come home."
Nanako found that was enough.
"Very well. To deliver him back to me later, though. I am not letting this guy go." Ichika went to the back to change into his usual attire. Nanako's eyes singled onto Minato, who just raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, full story. How do you know Nagisa?" That was the tone of a lady one didn't mess with.
"Short or long?" Minato asked back, and she reigned in her temper.
"Short."
"We lived next to each other when we were younger. I looked out for him, and we kept in touch. He had some tough patches, and I offered him a place to stay," Minato answered.
"His family?"
"Doesn't have any," Minato said back. In Ichika's mind, Chifuyu was dead and buried.
"So you look out for him. What sort of friendship do you have? Just friends or?"
"Brothers in everything but blood," Minato said back. Nanako saw the fire in his eyes. Her husband had that same fire when he talked about his best friend. She never understood the whole meaning but took her husband's words for it. So she did the same here.
Ichika walked out and changed into his clothes.
"Very well then. Nagisa, I'll see you in two days." Ichika nodded to her, and with that said, he and Minato walked into the night.
Nanako began to like what she saw. And she wasn't lying. She wanted Nagisa to become her son-in-law.
Scene skip
From there on, Ichika had an average but peaceful life. It took only one day before he got a call that he had passed with good grades for the school so that he could start high school there. When he got to the school, he was assigned to Tadai Ichiya's classroom.
The first morning, when he walked in, the same lady took him in. He had already become one of the familiar faces in the school. The door rolled open, and he walked into the classroom. His eyes shined when he saw a familiar face with brown hair and eyes. The same eyes shined at him as well.
"Okay, class. This here is Nagisa Korida. He just transferred to this school. He went through the same things you all went through. I hope you all welcome him to this class. Any questions for Korida?"
A few hands went up.
"Where are you from?"
"How old are you?"
"What do you do in your free time?"
"What do you think of this school?"
When most questions were asked, Ichika went over them.
"I was born in Hokkaido. I turned sixteen last September, and I like to train my body in my free time. I have nothing to remark on the school," Ichika answered while he nodded to Kosaki.
"Okay, that's enough for now. There is only one seat open, and that is right next to Onodera." Ichika nodded back to his teacher. The girl nodded right back to Ichika, who was happy. He could feel stares on his back but ignored them while focusing on the class.
Tadai was a lot easier than his previous teacher, and there was no extra complicated stuff coming his way. When they had a break, Ichika turned to Kosaki, who had the same smile on her face.
"So why do you act like you know each other?" The dry voice caused all moods to die just like that. They turned to see a girl with long hair in a ponytail. Green eyes behind glasses, and she wasn't tall if Ichika were to guess. Her face didn't betray any emotion.
"Korida, this is Ruri Miyamoto, a friend from middle school. Ruri, this is Korida; he is a current employee at my mother's place."
"Your sister wouldn't like that one bit," Ruri said while she eyed Ichika. The boy was respectful and well-mannered. He treated Kosaki with respect, and she liked the attention from him.
"I got a feeling that she doesn't, indeed. Kinda some luck that you and I are in the same class." Ichika answered while Kosaki nodded to him. Before long, Ichika listened to Ruri and Kosaki talk. They asked some questions about his life, and he kept as quiet as possible about that.
When Ichika went to take a leak, he also found that some guys were glaring at him, but a boisterous voice shouted at him before anyone could make a move.
"Korida, good to see you here!" Narumi Saiga walked over to him and clasped a hand on his shoulder. The rest of the guys kept their distance. Narumi could be rough on them all. He didn't play favorites as other teachers did, but his rough handling caused students to keep their distance.
"Good morning, Mr. Saiga. Glad that I passed."
The man placed a fatherly hand on Ichika's shoulder. He liked kids like Ichika, who stood firm despite being alone.
A soul that he could resonate with. There were only a few others that had that soul. He remembered a kid back then.
He was a couple of years older than Ichika, but besides that, he had the same look. Jonas moved to that city a few years ago. He hadn't heard from him, but he didn't blame him. Everyone gets busy.
"I see. How do you like this school so far?" Ichika shrugged at the question.
"Normal, but I like that. Just going around the place." Narumi nodded to the boy, his eyes shining with understanding.
"So, have you decided on any clubs? I do teach martial arts, and some clubs have asked me." The knight shook his head to refuse.
"Sorry, sir, but I have a part-time job. Gotta work to pay the bills." That surprised the teacher.
'Responsible, I get it. If he wants to talk, I'll ask more.'
"Really now? Where?" Before Ichika could answer, the bell rang.
"Sorry, sir. Gotta go." Ichika left. Narumi would ask more about him later, but for now, he had his class to teach.
Scene skip
While Ichika had his path now carved out, others in the city were hoping that he would fix his mistake and come back to her.
Cecilia flaunted her photo while Rin bit her handkerchief to pieces. They received unusual stares as they passed by. Their garments were indeed odd, but they were warm, and they could use that.
"Have you seen this young man?" Rin asked a couple of students who passed by. One of the boys took the picture from her hands and looked it over.
"Nope." He passed it on to his friends, and he also gave the same negative answer. Finally, when the last one wanted to give it back, he remembered something.
"Sorry, may I see it again?"
With a sigh, Rin gave it back while Cecilia looked around.
"I didn't see him, but I did hear something. My big sister told me she saw a guy working in a sweet shop matching his description. Onodera Sweets, if you want to know more, May I ask why you are looking for this guy?" Rin's glare turned murderous.
"No." And with that, she dragged Cecilia along. The rest of the guys looked at each other.
"Got a screw loose. I hope I don't bring that guy into trouble." And with that, they walked off. The rest of his friends stayed quiet.
Rin was glaring at Cecilia, who wasn't sure what she had done wrong.
"You still have those pictures? I don't understand what's wrong with using mine," Cecilia asked while Rin looked over at her.
"They have you on it. I don't want idiots to get the wrong idea."
"And what wrong idea would that be?"
"That Ichika is your boyfriend." Rin shot back while Cecilia just looked annoyed.
"It wouldn't be wrong. After all, Ichika's my dear classmate."
"He didn't choose you, and you have no right."
"I have every right."
They continued to bicker and argue instead of chasing leads.
On the other side of town, Charlotte and Laura were worried they would be dropped into the city without a good way to find Ichika. They had some leads to go on, and as they walked, they remained quiet. They didn't have much to say.
Thanks to Kanzashi, they only had to focus on the northern part. While the Izumo Inn could be quickly found, they had to find other leads on Ichika. Attacking the inn would be a last-resort solution.
They had to find Ichika somewhere out there. He would be going to school somewhere. But if she had to guess, he would change his name, making it tricky. Without information flowing in or only in the evening, Kanzashi couldn't do much.
Kanzashi had worked out most of their teams on a map while she also vetted their most significant threats. Tabane's help proved invaluable to the search. The Sekirei stayed indoors at the inn, and when the teams got too close, their phones would be set off.
Charlotte and Laura were moving well while Cecilia and Rin remained stationary, but Kanzashi would note it down and let Chifuyu deal with the mess. She wondered how the rest of the groups were doing.
Djibril was starting to wonder if her training could withstand this kind of torture. She knew how Airis was. The girl was never used to walking around in those shoes, and she felt how her body was dragging her down.
She complained, but Djibril kept her head up. She was a proud knight, and if she could be honest, the dark robes were better than what Maya had in mind. Unfortunately, they had no clue where to look. If she could be genuinely sincere, Ichika showed her something else.
Unlike Airis, who was rambling, Djibril kept her head on automatic and began to think about Ichika. She didn't have illusions. She was a trained knight, yet Ichika could hold his own against her, someone who had seen decades of training.
There was strength in him. But his strength wasn't meant to serve but to live free. She began to think about how Ichika fought and carried himself. The animal that she got from him was that of a wolf. It was fitting, though, that Djibril heard that men were like wolves. Young wolves needed older ones to look up to and learn from. And Ichika found that in Minato.
"And when he gets back, I'll make him love me, and I'll make him stay with me."
"Of course, a great plan, miss," Djibril said while looking at the sky. She was so glad this day was nearly over.
Houki was gritting her teeth at how Tatenashi moved around the boys. Even with her curves hidden, the girl still managed to make guys weak in the knees and rush blood to their lower heads. She was so irritating to be around. In some way, she reminded Houki of her sister.
Meanwhile, she tried to be serious and showed pictures of Ichika. Many of her age didn't even look at her or refused to talk to her. Damn, her sister and her obsession with weird clothes.
She began to wonder where Ichika would be. She had found him again, and she would never let him go. That was a promise to herself. He belonged to her! And Houki would get Ichika back.
Meanwhile, Chifuyu was looking things over. She knew where her former teacher lived, but there was no way to march in.
So they had to play this intelligent and low-tech because there was no doubt in her mind Matsu would discover them. Being a hikikomori wasn't in her brother's interest. There was too much pride in Ichika for that sort of life. So he would get out and find a life. He was carving out his path.
"Okay, keep me posted." She was calling in as many favors as she could. Finally, she closed a phone call with some old acquaintances.
"Something you found, Sarashiki?"
"Not really, miss. The boots on the ground are quiet. They have a lot to learn. I did find something that might be interesting." Chifuyu walked over to the screen, and Kanzashi showed her something.
"I did some digging into schools. There were a few recent exams of students. It's not abnormal, given the fact that we have just started the second semester. It can always be late."
"Get to the point, Sarashiki!" Chifuyu didn't have much patience, and she already knew that the eight girls would be having a hard time that evening.
"Nothing stood out until I looked into the scores. Then, one guy blew it out of the park—nearly a perfect score on the test. That person was Nagisa Korida in Shinto Teito High."
"Why is that important? I don't know a Nagisa Korida." Kanzashi turned around with a defiant look in her eyes.
"Despite your claims, I doubt that your brother is as moronic as you make him out to be. I saw his summer homework. He blew that out of the water compared to others. And I doubt that Orimura-Kun would be using his real name in this city. Plus, Shinto Teito High is just two miles west of Todai. So that might be something big."
Chifuyu looked proudly at her student. It seemed that not all the girls she had taken along on this trip were idiots.
"Good work, Sarashiki!"
"I am not going to be too sure about this, but I have a good feeling. It's at least more compared to the boots on the ground."
Chifuyu agreed with her student. She would also go out today. The hours would come later, and she'd be looking for things.
Scene skip
If there was something of which Minato never grew tired, it was to hear and see how Tsukiumi could moan and gasp when he was fucking her. The Waterdere was so cute when she was worked up. They had a fantastic day at a swimming pool, and both had enjoyed their time together as just one couple. The other birds had allowed Minato some time off while he was focusing on her.
The signs were there that she was pregnant, but it was weird to see Tsukiumi as sexy as she was now. The entire day at the swimming pool, they enjoyed the warm water. It was clear how much they missed it and how good the water did to them while it was cold outside.
Now, Minato had gotten her up to the hotel where they would be staying. After a great meal, both had eaten to their hearts' content. It was more Western food, and she had an exquisite taste of the beef. However, Minato had forbidden her to touch the chocolate fountain. Unlike most, though, it was pretty disgusting, and when they saw three brats put their hands in it, both had gagged.
Tsukiumi would make sure that her Miziyo was in a better fashion than that. Minato had also eaten well. The number of mashed potatoes made that clear. It was an excellent meal. He and Tsukiumi had just enjoyed each other's presence while they ate.
The place was kid-friendly, and Minato guessed they would be coming moreover for this place. But they didn't waste that much time eating. Then, when both felt right, they moved hand in hand to their hotel room.
Tsukiumi had chosen more accessible clothes to wear. The dress was looser for her stomach compared to her usual skirt. When the door had closed behind them, she had pounded on Minato and refused to let go. Minato let his body go limp while he felt his air forced out from him.
Despite how she looked, Tsukiumi was never unsexy, and it had been apparent from her ministration that she had missed her Ashikabi's touch. Her hands messed with his hair while Minato felt his knees going weak. Yet, he remained standing while Tsukiumi got closer to him.
She was standing on the balls of her feet while Minato began to grope around. He was in love with how Tsukiumi was. His hands felt her up, and when they finally let up, Tsukiumi couldn't meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry." He had a kind grin on his face as he cupped her face.
"For what?"
"For needing that." Minato pecked her on the cheek.
"Tsukiumi, I needed that as much as you. So it's not bad." Her hands felt him up. Despite his trousers, it was clear how aroused Minato was. She was that as well. She grabbed the dress from the hilts and pulled it over her head. It showed her glorious body, but she was still wearing underwear that supported her growing chest.
For once, Minato got the message. He took his shirt and zipped down his trousers. His erection stood ready while she felt him up.
"You wanna do foreplay?" The look she gave him made that all too clear.
"Not needed." Kicking off his shoes, he swept the lady off her feet and carried her to the bed. She got placed down on it, and before she could see her bra even more, Minato began to feel her up. She was a bit more sensitive, and she wasn't sure what else to say. Minato unclasped the bra, and when the breasts came free, he began to feel them up.
"You don't want it, but I would like to test something out on you. Something that Ichika asked me to test out." Before even waiting for her to do something, Minato started on her.
His fingers sank into the soft flesh while Tsukiumi moaned and groaned. He sucked on the tits while he placed his head between them. They were so quiet. And he had some more ideas to use on her.
"Lay down." She heard the lines of Minato, and while she wanted to protest, his eyes were clouded with lust. They told her that obeying his wishes would grant her ecstasy.
Minato moved to her body. He had taken off his shirt, and the trousers were next. While the boxer hindered his erection, he found a time and place for everything. Tsukiumi's pleasure came first now.
While she was captured between his legs, Minato looked around. This place had everything that he needed to work.
While the lubrication oil wasn't the same as the massage, he doubted that they could be used for her. However, his mind told him why else it could be used.
And he would not share his ideas. He hadn't done that with his Sekirei, so they wouldn't do the same with him.
Minato didn't hesitate. He placed his hands on the upper parts of her breasts. He encountered some resistance when he slid down from the center to the sides, and he worked for a circle when the hands separated. He would have loved to stay between the soft mounds.
But he had a job to do. So from the side of the tits, he moved back up. Again, the sensation was fantastic, and it was clear how sensitive Tsukiumi had gotten.
"Don't hold back. Just moan. I won't tell them." It was like he gave Tsukiumi the green light. The moans echoed through the room while Minato relentlessly teased her. A small portion of him was sadistic, and there was an appeal to hear and see Tsukiumi squirm. He brought her to a point where the release wasn't there but where she could feel the stuff working in her.
He loved that woman, and when his hands moved lower, his lips found hers. Tsukiumi just laid still while she let her lover work herself over.
"Now, there is also something to massage your rear. Would you like me to try it?" That teasing smile and his eyes were telling her enough.
"If you do not take me within the next moments, I'm going to tear you apart. Am I clear?"
Minato felt a certain thrill while she said that. But he wasn't going to test it out. Instead, he would seriously use that as foreplay again, but then on a Sekirei with more patience.
Pushing Tsukiumi down, he kissed her while he played with her hair.
She felt the hot rod on her lips. "Ready?"
"Please." He didn't want to be cruel, and if Minato could be honest, he wanted to do this as much as she wanted. It was easy enough to slide right in while she gasped. Minato could feel how her pussy, wet and sticky, clung to him. He buried himself deeper in her warmth. Tsukiumi felt accepting, and her greedy mouth attached itself to Minato.
The Ashikabi was all too happy to give her the kiss that she wanted. His tongue invaded her mouth while Tsukiumi wrapped her legs around his waist.
There was enough room between them to move his waist up and down. Tsukiumi found that it was enough to pump them up and down. Her hands touched his body, which had been growing. The guy did a decent job of building muscle. Meanwhile, his hands groped the breasts. She felt an inkling of pain, but most of it was forgotten.
The feeling of Minato in her, the amount of bliss she was receiving, was making her senses go into overdrive.
It had been too long for her, and she wanted to have Minato as much as she could indulge herself. But, funnily enough, the reason why they were fucking like rabbits was more to deal with the fact they didn't have enough on each other.
She wanted to give her sister wives as little ammo as Tsukiumi could, providing them with a lot. Her hips moved along with Minato, who found that he didn't have enough of her. Likewise, he couldn't get enough of Tsukiumi.
He had built tons of stamina, so it was more a question of just holding off until release became something that he needed. But now, he could indulge himself. His hands went from her tits to the face or back to their hips.
Tsukiumi giggled when she felt a tickle from the Ashikabi. However, the young man found that he needed to hear that a bit more.
So he continued to touch and tickle Tsukiumi, who couldn't help but laugh as he stroked her. It continued to build pressure on her while Minato enjoyed himself on the girl. His hands went over her breasts while Tsukiumi felt herself melting.
She wanted more of Minato like this, and nothing stopped her from this feeling. They had a long night ahead of them, and she wanted to have no sleep at all.
Once she felt the balls of pleasure building in her, Minato got her to the edge, but he kept her hanging there.
"Minato," Tsukiumi moaned.
He just continued with his administration of her while she got more erratic.
"Minato, please."
"Please, what?" The Ashikabi asked while he nibbled on the ear. Her hands were grabbing the pillows so tight that they got crumpled.
"Please, oh, for goodness sake, please end this!" He grabbed her mouth and gave a searing kiss on her as Tsukiumi received what she wanted. The moan echoed through his body. Man, he loved that feeling. Her pussy got so tight that he couldn't longer hold it.
It had been a while for him, so it was enough to fill her. Tsukiumi rolled her head back as she lay on the pillows.
"That was amazing." Her tongue hung out of her mouth while she tried to catch her breath. She looked down on him, and she pressed her breasts together.
"Do it. In here too again." Even that wasn't enough. Tsukiumi thought that she would be in control, but Minato was the one who would drive her insane the entire night.
Scene skip
From that point onwards, the days molded into something normal. Ichika went to school, and on the days he went to work, he joined Kosaki and Haru.
While the oldest liked him quickly, only after Haru saw him at work did she begin to warm up to Ichika. Nanako wasn't joking when she said that Ichika had to become her son-in-law. The guy had a knack for cooking.
Tatsuya, the girls' father, and Nanako's husband, worked as a carpenter. One day, he came home early. When he saw Ichika in a cooking outfit, he got acquainted with the young man.
While he was like many fathers regarding their daughters, his eyes told him enough. He liked Ichika and enjoyed talking to him. And it was a good thing that Nanako forbade him from drinking with the young man.
Meanwhile, the Sekirei had their plans. Packing stuff was now a task, and they would be moving in small bits until they only needed to fill the essentials.
It didn't matter how slow they took. They would move eventually. Minato had also ensured that the mansion was equipped with everything needed (because if he were going to enjoy that MBI card, he would do it now).
Central heating, proper insulation, and rooms were made. If their children needed separate rooms, they could get them.
There was no idea what his children would look like or what their lives would be like. He would miss life at the inn, but it was another chapter in their lives. The Sekirei had gone back to the inn, but he had stayed behind. He locked up the door while the clouds gathered. They carried rain. Maybe even snow.
"Minato." He turned around to see Ichika right next to him. The uniform looked good on him.
"Hey, Ichika." A bearhug followed after Ichika lifted the man. Man, he got stronger.
"No work today?" Ichika shook his head at the question.
"Tuesday, I got the day off. Miya beeped me to tell me to go. We have some groceries to buy. I hear she's making sukiyaki." Minato's mouth watered when he heard that. Miya made that meal into a divine feast.
"Let's get those. You're going to love that feast." Ichika knew how good a cook Miya was, so he and Minato walked together through the city.
The two were silent, and Minato looked back at Ichika. The younger man seemed to be lost in his thoughts. He stood still on the sidewalk.
"Something wrong?" The Ashikabi walked back to the Knight.
"It's just that... I've been thinking about stuff." Ichika's head went up to the sky.
"What stuff?" Minato asked.
"I mean... I have been living here for a week, yet I haven't heard from the IS or seen my classmates or sister. Yet, I can't shake a feeling."
"I know. I have the same feeling. But even so, we can't stop. That is one thing that maybe no one understands."
Minato put a hand on Ichika's shoulder. It was nice to see that reassuring look again.
"I'll always have your back, brother." And with that, they continued their path. They got home just in time before a storm hit Shinto Teito. Ichika was sitting among the group of Sekirei, laughing with them while outside; the storm raged on. The wind blew through the trees.
Eight girls came back to their hideout wholly soaked and dripping wet, having been caught in the rain. Chifuyu scrutinized them.
"Did none of you find a trace of Ichika?" Before the girls could erupt in blaming and shaming each other, she crossed her arms.
"Enough." That word shut all of them up, and they turned to their teacher.
"I'm very disappointed in you. All of you girls have brought shame to the once-proud boarding school for the female gender, IS Academy." Then, pinching her nose, she began to understand why her younger brother left the ISA.
"Luckily, one of you isn't as useless." Kanzashi sat back with a content smile. She had never been so happy to be so often behind the computer as she was now. She was warm and cozy. The fight to the bathroom would be a shock.
"Some person called Nagisa Korida made an extraordinary score on his transfer test." The silence was enough to make her gulp.
"So?" Tatenashi asked.
"If Ichika is here, I doubt he'd be using his real name. I would take a few looks around the school. Also, it appears he is employed at the Onodera Sweetshop. I think that would be a good start tomorrow." Kanzashi went back to Chifuyu, who was at the end of her patience.
"That is useful. Now, all of you take a bath and go to bed. It's been enough." No one asked about dinner, which meant they would have to go to bed hungry. It was a good thing they were so exhausted; otherwise, sleeping would have been tough.
Ichika, meanwhile, slept like a log while feeling warm and fed. Minato didn't lie—Miya's sukiyaki was the best he ever had.
Scene skip
Dan and Kazuma are slowly recovering after they've experienced the horror of IS Academy.
"I just don't understand those girls at all," Dan wondered how the girls from this so-called man's paradise had turned into a nightmare. "You know what, I'm sticking to normal high school. It may not be perfect. But it has more good things than bad things."
"How I envy the winner of the Sekirei Plan?" Kazuma sighed. "If I had known it sooner, I would have gotten me a Sekirei or two to have a good life. Reality sucks."
"If our pal were to study abroad, then I'd start studying to earn the driver's license."
"It could be worse," Dan said. "At least we are still alive on our own accord."
With that, two of Ichika's male friends move on and press on to their respective new goals.
Three chapters in one session. I think that is one of the best that I have ever done. It also buys me some time now with the busy stuff in June.
I have three festivals, and I'll be glad they're over. That means I won't have to stress about them.
Saluut.