Hey everyone, and welcome to this chapter. This chapter will focus more on character interactions and world-building rather than actual fighting, so it may not be as enjoyable as the previous chapter, but some small but essential moments will happen this time, so it evens out.
Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit fan-based parody. History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi is owned by Funimation and Syun Matsuena. Please support the official release.
"Shirou" Regular speech.
"Shirou" Thoughts.
SEIKUKEN Attack names.
(Shirou) Words said previously.
[Shirou] Words said in unison.
A Day At The Dojo
—
The day started at Koryuu High School during lunch break, where most students were spending their free time going about their usual daily routines, while others who were in clubs were spending their break doing minor club activities before class, which brings us to Kenichi.
Kenichi was currently walking his way through the campus while pushing a wheelbarrow that held sacks of fertilizer to the greenhouse where the Gardening club was. However, he was struggling to keep the wheelbarrow on a straight path.
"Why won't this stupid thing go straight?!" Kenichi angrily complained. "Gaaaah!"
BAM!
Unfortunately, Kenichi's lack of control made the wheelbarrow hurl forward at a great pace before it quickly shifted to the side, moving Kenichi along with it and hitting the wall, causing Kenichi to almost comically crash face-first into the wall of the school building. Kenichi then fell flat on his back in a daze.
"Uh…" Kenichi groaned.
Suddenly, he heard a voice that sounded nearby.
{Ah, how did she do that? Miu is so awesome.}
Hearing the name of someone he was all too familiar with, Kenichi looked to see a small window by the wall and looked through it where he could see the school's gymnasium. In there, he was able to see the Gymnastics club in the middle of practice, and the center of attention was Miu in her pink, tight-fitting leotard, who was twirling around a ribbon and showing off a routine of different moves.
"Oh! Yes!" Kenichi thought as he spied through the window, with a blush and a perverted grin on his face. "No matter how cute she is in her uniform—NOTHING compares to a leotard! Thank you, stupid wheelbarrow, for steering me toward this window. Ah man, she's an amazing gymnast too, and flexible!"
"It's not nice to spy, you know?"
"Ah!" Kenichi shrieked, and he jumped back from the window, fearing he had been caught.
He then saw that leaning against the wall a few steps from him was Shirou, who had an expression that said he somewhat expected this from him already.
"As a Disciple who aims to learn Martial Arts, you should have more integrity." Shirou told him while his eyes were still closed.
Kenichi immediately moved away from the window and prostrated himself on the ground. "Please don't tell Miu! I just looked out of curiosity!"
Shirou stepped forward from the wall. "Well, you know what they say: People who spend all their time looking through a peephole will spend all their time single."
"Is that true?!" Kenichi asked, sounding afraid at the thought.
Shirou shrugged. "How should I know? I've never looked through a peephole."
{Look out!}
"Huh?" After hearing the sound of an urgent shriek through the window, Kenichi looked again.
This time he saw a Gymnastics-baton hurling towards Miu, but Miu responded by using her ribbon, like a whip, and wrapping it around the baton before sending it upwards to the ceiling and letting it fall back down in her hand. As he catches it, she smiles and bows to the others. The rest of her clubmates gather around her in amazement while Kenichi looks in awe from the window.
—
Later the two of them are walking through the campus, and Kenichi is pushing the wheelbarrow again. Kenichi looked down and had a depressed look in his eye.
"What's wrong this time?" Shirou asked, noticing his depression.
"I'm just thinking about Miu." Kenichi sadly answered.
"Again?" Shirou asked, raising a brow.
"Miu is amazing at anything she does. It's like she doesn't even have to try. She's gotta be some kind of genius." Kenichi thought, upset by it. He then stopped walking. "But look at me. I can't do anything without six months of intense training first. I'd probably be dead by now if I didn't have Shirou. So why me?!" Now he had a troubled expression.
"Hey, why'd you stop?" Shirou asked before seeing his expression. "Now, what's wrong?"
Kenichi didn't answer. He thought back to the time he saw Takeda from Ragnarok shred a piece of paper in the air with a single punch. After remembering that, he grimaced and started to sweat.
"Do you know what a punch that fast could do to a human face?!" Kenichi inwardly shrieked. He then grabbed the wheelbarrow and ran forward in fear. "Why does it have to my face?! I really like my face!" He then screamed out loud. "Aaaaahhh!"
Shirou just watched him go and cringed. "That guy really needs to stop stressing out all the time." He then started walking away. "Wonder what he was so worried about?"
—
The following day it was a weekend, and thus they weren't in School. Instead, Kenichi was currently at home, standing in front of the rest of his family with a blank stare, almost looking like he was hypnotized or something as he spoke in an almost robotic manner.
"So that's the gist of it. To keep my face, I'll be staying at the Dojo on the weekends." Kenichi announced with an emotionless smile.
His father, Mototsugu—Who was currently wearing a suit to get ready for work—Slammed his fist on the table. "What does that even mean, 'Keep your face'?! Is this a respect thing?! Explain yourself!" He demanded.
"Well then, take care, everyone." Kenichi finished as he prepared to leave.
Honoka tried to stop him by clinging to his leg. "No, please, Kenichi! They're going to hurt you—I know they will! Please don't leave us!" She pleaded.
Shiori simply smiled and put a hand on her cheek. "Goodness, this is just silly."
Kenichi turned back and looked at her without a change of expression. "I have to become stronger as soon as possible; otherwise I—"
—Simply won't have a chance (By Akisame)
"—According to them, so there's no option." Kenichi declared as he continued to depart.
"Of course, there's an option; It's 'sit your but down!' Right now!" Mototsugu shouted but was ignored.
"Wait, Kenichi!" Honoka went after him.
She stopped in front of him as Kenichi was tying his shoes, then got up and had a hand on the doorknob as he turned one last time to face her.
"All right then, Honoka, I guess I'll see you on Monday."
With that, Kenichi walked out the door and left as his Sister gritted her teeth in frustration and ran up the stairs. Back in the kitchen, Mototsugu was having a usual freakout in front of his wife.
"Did you see his eyes?! That boy's been brainwashed!" Mototsugu deduced in horror. "This supposed Dojo must be one of those Doomsday Cults I've read about where they lure you in with the promise of Karate, but who knows what they're going to do! We have to do something to save him, Shiori!"
Shiori simply sighed at how dramatic he was being. "Please calm down, dear."
"Hey, Dad!" By then, Honoka had reentered the kitchen while carrying a piece of paper. "Look what I've got!"
"Yes, what now, go on?" Mototsugu looked up to see.
"I snuck into Kenichi's room and the map of the Dojo he's been going to!" Honoka confessed as she held up the map while her body shook with anticipation.
"Hahahaha!" Mototsugu laughed with joy and pride. "Brilliant! Our daughter is a certified genius! Quick, calm, and cool, just like her Old Man!" He happily declared.
Then, all of a sudden, as if by some unspoken command, a large clay pot that was beside a piece of calligraphy on the wall moved to the side, and the calligraphy rolled up to reveal a rectangle-shaped opening in the wall. From it, a hunting rifle that was attached to some metal holsters was automatically released.
"RISE, SEBASTIAN!" Mototsugu declared before he gleefully took hold of the gun. "Hahaha!"
Mototsugu now stood in front of his wife as he held the hunting-Rifle and put on an outdoor hat.
"Well, I'm going for a walk and might drop by the Dojo to say hello." Mototsugu made up an excuse.
"With your gun!?" Shiori noted, clearly upset.
Honoka, on the other hand, looked very pleased. "Yeah, way to go, Dad."
"You told me you had to work this weekend!" Shiori reminded him, crossing her arms.
"Hahaha, oh dear, work is nothing compared to my family." Mototsugu happily responded. "But don't worry, I already called my boss and told him I was undergoing emergency surgery."
"Hurry up, Dad! Let's get going!" Honoka urged him.
"I'll return home with our son in no time, safe and sound." Mototsugu proclaimed, walking off.
Fed up with his actions, Shiori angrily picked up a wooden try and swung it upwards before swinging it down on Mototsugu's head, thus knocking him unconscious. A few minutes later, after Honoka got her backpack and was by the front door ready to leave, her mother went up to her and informed her of her version of what just happened.
"What? Dad's not coming?" Honoka asked, surprised.
"Once your father calmed down, he realized he had a very important meeting to go to." Shiori lied. She then handed Honoka a wrapped package. "Here, take this with you to the Dojo. And, please try to be polite to them."
Honoka then had a mischievous grin on her face and chuckled. "One question: Do they sell such a thing as a paralyzing drug?!"
"Now, being polite does not mean drugging them." Shiori told her good-naturedly before she closed her eyes, looked away, and placed a hand on her cheek. "She's definitely her father's daughter." She then smiled and said knowingly. "I know it seems strange, but I feel like trust this Dojo. If it was actually dangerous, then I'm sure Kenichi would have left by now."
Honoka then stood up and, for some reason, saluted. "That's not my take on it. I think he wants to leave, but they said they'd kill him if he did. He's never been able to say no to a threat unless Shirou was with him." She reasoned.
Shiori still seemed calm. "I know he tends to rely on Shirou in most cases, but I think he partly joined this Dojo because he wants to be able to look after himself without always needing his friend."
"Either way, I'll find out for myself!" Honoka declared.
"Just be careful." Shiori pleasantly reminded her.
"Roger!" Honoka waved as she walked out the door.
—
Meanwhile, at the Ryozanpaku Dojo. Kenichi had just finished putting on his training gi and was ready to begin today's training.
"Nobody thought I'd last for more than three days, but here I am!" Kenichi thought to himself proudly. "I've endured their training now for a whole month!" He then slapped his face and said out loud. "Willpower!"
"Hey, Kenichi." Shirou addressed him. "Quit wasting time mumbling to yourself, and let's go."
Kenichi looked sheepish as Miu entered, also in a gi. "So, are you both ready?"
Kenichi's mood immediately brightened when he saw her. "Sure I am. Let's do it!"
Shirou looked over at Kenichi's stare. "Normally, I'd give him a hard time for always checking her out, but considering the way Miu is, I don't think he's entirely to blame. At least he's snapped out of whatever funk he was in yesterday."
As they walked outside to the training hall, Kenichi went back to his thoughts.
"Well, some might think I've only held on for this long so I could be close to her." He then noticed the should of punching and looked. "There are a few peculiar things I've noticed while getting used to the Dojo."
"APA! APA! APA!" He saw that Apachai was punching and kicking against a punching bag.
"These Masters never go a day without training." Kenichi thought as he also saw Sakaki doing some Katas nearby. "They never stop. I'm starting to wonder if they even sleep at night."
Shigure was also outside as she put on a long overcoat over her usual outfit and sheathed her Sword. The others approached her.
"Hey, Shigure, are you going somewhere?" Kenichi asked.
"…Um, no…" Shigure stoically answered.
"Even though you have your coat, Sword, and look ready to go on some secret mission that you can't talk about, you expect us to believe you actually aren't going anywhere?" Shirou asked, tilting his head.
"…Yes." Shigure answered.
"Okay then." Shirou somehow accepted that answer.
Kenichi had an uncomfortable smile. "I've also noticed how quickly he's adapted to the Dojo and the Masters." Shigure then walks off. "Also, some people will just mysteriously disappear and not return for a few days."
Shirou stared as Shigure departed. "I'll find out where she always goes off to one of these days."
TAP!
While they were distracted, Kensei appeared behind them and patted Miu on her behind.
"Kya!" Miu shrieked at being touched.
"Stay sharp Miu." Kensei advised her.
"Good morning, Sensei." Kenichi awkwardly greeted him. "It's a nice day, huh?"
Shirou looked at Kensei with half-lidded eyes. "You know there are legal women in the Red Light district, right?"
Kensei then gets a shine in his eye. "Ah, but where is the fun in that?" He responded as he walked away.
"And there are a few people that I can't figure out no matter how hard I try." Kenichi thought as they continued their way to the training hall.
—
A few minutes later, they were inside the training hall, and Akisame met them inside as he prepared them for today's training exercise. While looking up at him, Kenichi continued his long train of thought.
"But time after time, this man has proven himself to be the most caring and empathetic of them all—" Kenichi thought.
"All right, Kenichi, it's about time for some serious training." Akisame declared.
"—At least that's what I thought."
"Um, Akisame-Sensei, what is this thing?"
Right now, Kenichi found himself strapped to a wooden device that had three leather belts tied around his waist and back as if it was meant to hold his posture straight up, while each of his limbs had two, and his hands and feet were strapped onto hand-sized wooden plates. The device looked like it was designed to push Kenichi's limbs outwards as if to forcibly split him apart.
"This device is a stretching machine based on my own design." Akisame explained as he tightened the belts. "I call it The Great Leg-Divide." He then finished strapping Kenichi in. "I'd love to teach you how to fight right away, but first, we need to loosen you up. It's a basic fact that flexibility is just as crucial to a Martial Artist as his strength; a stiff body is restricted within itself." He informed him. "And frankly, I've seen metal pipes more flexible than you."
"Are you going to train Shirou with this device too?" Miu asked curiously.
Akisame shook his head. "No, fortunately, Shirou is already very flexible; that's why…." He walked over to the right. "We'll be working on something else."
Shirou's eyes twitched in annoyance. "So what's the "great" idea this time?"
Shirou was standing on two wooden logs and was in a leg-spread squat position as he had two heavy pieces of lead tied to his wrists and ankles while a piece of cloth was around his neck.
"I was thinking we would work on your muscular endurance today." Akisame informed him. "In order to fully take advantage of their strength, Martial Artists need to have tough and durable muscles that can withstand offense and defense." He then picked up a dumbbell. "So let's toughen you up."
Shirou narrowed his eyes at him. "I'm getting really tired of your shit, Akisame."
Akisame then took the cloth around his neck and tied it to the dumbbell. "To accelerate Kenichi's flexibility and strengthen your muscles, respectively, we'll strap him in and keep the two of you in these positions for about a day." After he was done placed the cloth around Shirou's mouth, and he was forced to hold up the dumbbell with his jaw. Akisame then turns back to Kenichi. "Go on, Miu, give him a push."
Shirou felt the pain in his lower body from having to squat with the weight around his legs and his upper body with the weight around his arms and the dumbbell forcing him to pull his head and back upward. "Gah! Feels like my body's on fire!"
Meanwhile, Kenichi looked unsure about his own predicament. "I don't believe this, but I guess it's a little late to question him."
"We'll start nice and slow." Miu sat behind Kenichi and pushed his body forward.
Immediately, Kenichi now found himself in a world of pain as he felt his limbs being pushed too far apart and couldn't handle the pain of being forcibly stretched. Though Miu didn't seem to notice, and Akisame didn't seem to care.
"Aaaahhhh! That's too much! I can't take it!" Kenichi cried out in pain.
As Akisame was about to leave, he turned to face both of them. "Oh, if it becomes unbearable, then one of you call out….…." He whispered the last word. "This will be our safety signal to set you both free."
"Is he trying to be funny?!" Shirou angrily thought through his pain. "As if I can speak in this position!"
"What was the signal?!" Kenichi said through his pain. "You said it quietly, so I couldn't hear it, didn't you!? WHAT WAS IT!?" He screeched.
"Oh, and Kenichi, your device is designed so you can't get out on your own until your legs are fully split." Akisame gave him that last bit of information before he turned around. "All right, Miu, don't let up no matter how much he screams."
"No problem." Miu happily replied.
"And if you hear a breaking noise, then don't be alarmed. It'll probably just be Shirou's spinal cord." Akisame added.
"Got it." Miu happily replied again.
"After this, you'll be able to split your legs a full 180 degrees, not to mention you'll feel like your muscles are made of iron." Akisame told them before he left. "And it should only take 16 hours or so."
With him gone, Kenichi and Shirou were left to their respective torturous training regimens with no one but Miu to watch over them, which might as well have been no one at all, considering how Miu didn't seem to notice the pain they were in.
"If it starts to hurt too much, just let me know, and I'll ease up on it." Miu told him.
"What do-What do you mean 'if it starts'?!" Kenichi snapped.
Then, suddenly, as Miu was pushing him forward, Kenichi could feel Miu's breasts pressing up against his back. Then, he was somehow able to forget the pain he was in and had his usual lustful grin as he enjoyed the pleasure of this feeling.
"More! More!" Kenichi shouted out.
"There you go. You got it." Miu didn't notice what was going on and just encouraged him.
Shirou was still struggling with his exercise but noticed what they were doing and became irritated at Kenichi. "Seriously? Sometimes I feel like I want to beat him up."
"Look at you. I'm surprised at how flexible you are." Miu praised him, and she then looked at Shirou. "Shirou, did you know Kenichi could do this?"
"I repeat, she's really not helping the stereotype that all blondes are stupid." Shirou thought the same thought he had a little while ago.
Outside the Dojo, Kensei was watching what was going on and put a hand on his chin. "Torture and ecstasy? No wonder Kenichi's confused."
"At this rate, you can make 180 degrees in just 13 hours." Miu noted.
Meanwhile, outside the Dojo, Honoka was standing on top of a trashcan and looking over the wall with binoculars to see Kenichi inside of the Dojo.
"How terrible!" Honoka gasped. "Those creeps have my Brother strapped to some kind of mid-evil torture device!" She then looks to the side to see Shiou. "Ho my Gosh, Shirou's there too! They must have stopped him from helping Kenichi and now have him in that mid-evil execution method!" She then jumped down and ran inside. "I've gotta stop them!"
Back inside the Dojo, Miu was still pushing Kenichi forward. "Just a little further."
"Aaaaahhhhhh!" Kenichi yelled in pain. "No! No! No!" He then felt Miu's breasts press deeper into his back. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Please don't stop!"
"Wow, not bad." Miu noted, impressed.
Shirou's body was trembling under the strain as he felt his palms starting to bleed. "I'm glad they're having fun because if I don't get out of this soon, my muscles will explode!" He shouted inwardly as he kept biting down the cloth with his teeth. "I just need to untie this knot."
"Let's try and take it all the way in one move." Miu suggested.
"GAAAAAHHHHH!" Kenichi screeched as he reached the limit of pleasure and pain. "GERONIMO!"
In that instant, Honoka burst in from the door and shouted. "You leave my Brother alone!"
Distracted by a sudden voice she didn't know, Miu turned her head, lost her balance, and fell forward on top of Kenichi. Pushing him all the way down as his arms and legs were fully split.
THUD!
Honoka gasped as Miu sweated a bit.
"Oops, I accidentally slipped." Miu whispered. "Sorry."
It was then that Shirou fully undid the knot of the cloth around his jaw. At the same time, Akisame walked back in.
"Am I hearing things, or did he just shout Geronimo?" Akisame asked, surprised. "That didn't take long. I'm just surprised he actually heard the safety sign—Ah!"
SMASH!
The moment Akisame walked in, Shirou lifted up the dumbbell by the cloth and held it in his jaw. He then rolled his head back and, with all the strength he could muster, hurled it at Akisame. The Judo Master barely dodged it as it missed his head and smashed a hole in the wooden door.
"Careful, you almost hit me with that!" Akisame complained.
"Just shut up and untie me!" Shirou snapped at him, obviously out of patience.
—
After a few short moments, both Kenichi and Shirou were untied and unstrapped from their respective training positions and were now taking deep breaths as they took some time to regain their strength.
"Really? The safety word was Geronimo!?" Kenichi thought as he breathed. "It's a miracle!"
"Kenichi!" Honoka shouted as she rushed forward and hugged him.
"Honoka?" Kenichi noticed the presence of his Sister, but when she wrapped her arms around his body, he immediately felt pain and pushed her back. "Aaahh! Don't touch! It hurts too much!"
"Really?" Shirou asked sarcastically. "You didn't look like you were in pain while Miu was pressing against your back."
Kenichi then became sheepish and looked away nervously. "Ah-ha, you noticed that?"
Miu just looked at Akisame. "Akisame, I think I broke Kenichi."
Akisame walked up to him. "He should have listened to me. Oh well, this is what he gets for not taking the whole 16 hours."
"Don't try and shift the blame!" Shirou reprimanded him. "He would have been dead in 16 hours."
"Hmm, possibly, but I guess we'll never know now, will we?" Akisame asked, as though he didn't really give it much thought. "Anyway, there!"
He kicked Kenichi in the base of his foot, which made him cry out in pain again before he suddenly stood up and angrily grabbed Akisame by his collar.
"What'd you do that for?!" Kenichi snapped.
"What? It's not still hurting, is it?" Akisame questioned.
Kenichi then stopped and looked over his body as he immediately noticed that all the intense pain and sourness around his body had suddenly vanished as though it was never there to begin with.
"I have a bonesetter's clinic in the back. Kensei has an acupuncture station as well." Akisame explained. "I'm a certified professional when it comes to bonesetting." He then pats Kenichi on the head. "So no matter how many times you both get hurt, I'll just fix you up again." He finished with a laugh.
Kenichi cringed as he thought about it. "This man can break and fix me like some kind of toy. What have I gotten myself into here?"
"That's all well and good, but I'm pretty sure bonesetting can't fix this!" Shirou pointed out as he showed Akisame his palms, which were bleeding from the broken skin.
Akisame put a hand on his chin. "Huh, you're right. I do see the problem in training with damaged hands." He then put down his hand and nodded. "No choice then, we'll make today 'leg-day'."
"Are you absolutely sure you aren't blind?" Shirou questioned him with clear irk.
Instead of answering, The Judo Master looked to Kenichi. "Okay, Kenichi, let's try it again."
"Huh? Again?!" Kenichi repeated, obviously not wanting to repeat that process.
At that point, Honoka stepped between Kenichi and Akisame with her arms spread out in a protective manner. "What do you think you're doing to him?!"
"What's this?" Akisame finally took notice of her. "We have a guest."
"Uh, she's my Sister." Kenichi awkwardly introduced her.
"Oh, hey, when did you get here?" Shirou asked as if he had just noticed her presence.
"I've been here for a while." Honoka told him enthusiastically.
"Really? Huh, you're so small that I sometimes have trouble noticing you." Shirou noted nonchalantly.
"I'm not small. I'm fun-sized." Honoka corrected, almost proudly.
"Kenichi, you have a Sister?" Miu asked, looking as though she was charmed by Honoka's appearance. "Oh wow, she's so adorable."
"What?" Honoka looked over to who said that and gasped as she became hooked on Miu's voluptuous figure and form-fitting clothes.
"Aw, you have the same eyes." Miu noticed with a smile and a blush. "Just like Haruto is with Shirou."
"Yeah, that's kind of how siblings are." Shirou reminded her like it was obvious.
Honoka kept her focus on Miu and looked shocked at her before she put on a confident smirk. "Now I get it."
"Honoka, what are you doing here?" Kenichi asked her.
"Just stay back!" Honoka said loudly as she put her hand on his torso. "And keep quiet!" She looks back at Miu. "So, you got your nails in him, huh?"
"Oh, god." Shirou face-palmed.
Miu didn't seem to notice Honoka's negative feelings towards her and continued to gush over her. "She looks just like a little doll. You're so cute."
"Stop right there!" As Miu took a step forward and reached for her, Honoka halted her. "Keep away from my Brother!"
Miu just continued to smile as Honoka turned back to Kenichi.
"Don't you even realize?! This big boobed wonder has totally got you wrapped around her little finger!" Honoka accused.
Now Kenichi face-palmed in annoyance. "Oh yeah? Well, I'd like to wrap my fingers around your neck."
"But, technically, she's not wrong." Shirou pointed out.
"Who's side are you on?!" Kenichi snapped at him.
Shirou sighed before he looked at him. "At what point in my life have I ever done anything to make you think that I'd be on your side?"
Kenichi felt a blow go through his self-esteem as comical tears streamed down his eyes. "That hurt."
Miu kept her focus on Honoka. "She is just too precious, aw~" She coed.
Honoka clenched her fist at Miu. "I can't believe this! I thought Kenichi was in danger, but it's just this tramp stringing him along!"
Shirou wrapped his hands with bandages as he saw Honoka's expression. "I know that look. She's letting her imagination run wild."
At that point, the other Masters entered the room and gathered around the others.
"What's with the uh little kid?" Sakaki asked, confused.
"Apa pa pa pa?" Apachai added.
"She's Kenichi's younger Sister." Akisame informed them.
Kensei then appeared from under one of the floor mats. "Oh, younger Sister?! Just how young are we talking exactly?" He asked with excitement.
Shirou stomped down on the floor mat, but Kensei easily dodged and came up.
"Back off, man, don't make me call the FBI." Shirou warned him.
"Well, you don't have to be mean about it." Kensei complained.
Honoka shrieked at all the strange people that suddenly crowded her. "Oh no! I'm completely surrounded!"
"You're so cute~" Miu coed again. "What's your name?"
"Hey genius, you already heard her name." Shirou sarcastically told her, tapping her head. "Would you pay attention for once?"
Honoka took the opportunity to grab Kenichi's arm in a rush.
"Kenichi! Time to go!" Honoka decided as she dragged him off.
"Hey, wait, Honoka?" Kenichi resisted in confession.
"Hurry it up!" Honoka insisted.
Kenichi stopped, however, and freed himself from her grip, which made her stop as well and look back at him in shock as she started tearing up and began flailing at him.
"Are Big Boobs really that important to you!?" Honoka cried out. "Kenichi! I'm disappointed in you!"
"Hey, what are you saying?" Kenichi nervously looked away with a blush. "I don't know what the heck you're talking about. I'm here to learn Martial Arts, and that's it!" He insisted.
"Really? You don't sound too convincing." Shirou told him with his arms crossed.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of. A man can balance pressure and training just fine. That's what I do." Kensei consoled him.
"Will you guys just leave me alone!?" Kenichi snapped at them.
"Wow, so this must be what it's like to have a little Sister; I'm so envious." Miu noted, still smiling. "It's different than having a little Brother but it looks just as fun."
"Actually, most guys prefer a younger Brother because they're easier to get along with." Shirou informed her. "I guess a girl would prefer a Sister, though."
"Actually, I wouldn't mind having a younger Sister." Kensei admitted. "I just have an older Brother, though."
"Really?" Shirou asked, mildly surprised by this information.
"Apa! Apachai also have Older Brother!" Apachai admitted.
"I actually have an Older Sister." Sakaki joined in.
"I was raised as an only child." Akisame added as well.
"Huh, I love learning new things about you guys." Shirou noted.
"True, we should talk more often." Kensei agreed.
Meanwhile, Honoka was in the process of storming out. "I'll be back! Got it!" She yelled before she ran off.
"Oh no, you won't!" Kenichi shouted after her. "You little freak!"
"How sweet." Miu noted, holding a package. "I think she liked me. She gave me a gift."
"What did she say when she gave it to you?" Shirou asked.
"Well, she said her Mom wanted her to give me this." Miu then looked a bit confused. "But then she called me 'Top-heavy.' Wonder why?"
"Whelp, she's definitely Kenichi's Sister." Shirou commented.
"What?" Kenichi objected. "I am nothing like that freak!"
"Ha! You wish." Shirou chuckled.
Apachai poked the package and sniffed it. "Do Apachai smell sponge cake?"
"You guys are so lucky." Miu noted happily. "What I wouldn't give to have a younger sibling, especially a cute little Sister like Honoka."
"Don't you have any siblings, Miu?" Kenichi asked curiously. "Actually, I've never even met your parents."
Miu became silent after hearing that and quietly confessed. "Well, I barely knew my parents. They both passed away when I was little. And well, the only family I have now is my Grandfather."
Kenichi gasped in complete shock when he heard that news. Shirou also looked surprised but mostly kept his poker face.
Miu then nervously stepped back. "Uh, I've actually got a lot of chores to take care of, so I'll talk to you later, okay?" She then ran off. "Bye."
"Apa pa pa!" Apachai chanted.
"Ooohhh!" Sakaki made a comical sound.
Akisame just kept his chin down as Kensei scolded him. "So, were you born without a heart, or did you sell it?"
"Whaaaat?!" Kenichi looked immediately regretful. "Oh no! I had…No idea! Really! Please, believe me! I never would have said that!"
"Oh yeah?" Kensei went on. "Try telling that to Miu."
"Hey, don't say that!"
"Will you all SHUT UP!" Shirou yelled, silencing all of them.
.
.
.
Kenichi was the first to speak. "Hey, do you think I did something wrong?"
"Of course not." Shirou said truthfully. "She never dropped any hints or made you think that was the case, so how could you have any way of knowing? It was a question anyone who's curious could have asked." He then narrowed his eyes at the Masters. "What isn't cool is jokingly making it worse."
Kensei raised up one of his hands. "Alright, no more. I suppose it was in bad taste."
"He's right, you know?" Akisame addressed Kenichi. "It happened before she can even remember. It's the thought of memories she doesn't have that makes her sad."
Kenichi then looked upset. "Miu, you're so smart and beautiful and always smiling, and not only are you talented at Martial Arts, but you're an amazing Gymnist as well, but the truth is you've hardly been able to enjoy a normal life because you've been stuck here in this Dojo." He said to no one. "You've been forced to cook and clean for these annoying men in order to keep this absurd Dojo from falling apart." He then fell to his knees in dismay. "And you've never experienced the love of your parents. You do so much, but you receive so little."
Kensei nodded at Kenichi's every word in agreement while Akisame looked confused, Sakaki looked insulted, and Apachai looked sympathetic.
"Did he say 'absurd Dojo'?" Akisame asked with a bead of sweat.
"And 'annoying men'?" Sakaki asked with a tick mark on his forehead.
"You are annoying." Shirou told him with a shrug. "Can't help what you are."
"Poor Miu." Apachai said with a tear.
"Miu has lived a rather unusual life, to say the least." Akisame continued. "She spent most of her childhood traveling with her Grandfather, making pilgrimages throughout the country."
Kenichi looked surprised at that. "Making pilgrimages?" He repeated. "You mean she's been studying Martial Arts since she was only a child?"
Shirou, however, honed in on another part of that sentence. "Throughout the country?"
"You got it." Kensei confirmed Akisame's claim. "Elder knew her life would be tough without her parents, so instead of spoiling her, he chose to train her for all the difficulties she might have to endure."
Kenichi looked utterly taken aback by this information as it went completely went against what he had assumed about Miu up until now. He then looked to Shirou. "Hey, Shirou."
"What is it?" Shirou asked.
"Can I ask you about something?" Kenichi requested.
Kenichi then led him outside and away from the Masters so that they could talk. Kenichi then looked at him with a serious yet uncomfortable expression.
"So what is that's got you so curious?" Shirou questioned, wondering what he wanted to ask.
"It's about Miu, but it involves you as well." Kenichi started.
Shirou raised a brow. "Me?"
"I…I always thought that geniuses were great at whatever they did without even having the try." Kenichi admitted with guilt as he looked down at the ground. "That while you and Miu were so amazing and talented, I couldn't do anything without weeks of training, but was that wrong? Do geniuses actually work just as hard as ordinary people do?"
"What are you talking about?" Shirou asked with a frown, making Kenichi look up. "I can't speak for Miu, but I'm not some chosen one, or a Golden Child or anything like that, a genius? Sure, you can call me that, but the truth of the matter is this: there's never been a genius who was stupid enough to believe that their talent could carry them their whole lives." He explained to him. "I started at a higher level than most of my peers, yes, and I improve faster than others, true, but in both of those cases, that also means I have to work harder to keep up with my talent, or I'd just end up wasting all of my potentials." He then looked him straight in the eye. "That's why I devote everything to fighting."
Kenichi then placed a hand over his face in regret. "If that's true, then I'm an idiot. How could I just assume you guys are some kind of geniuses and not even consider how hard you've worked? I was too busy feeling sorry for myself." He realized. "I was just generalizing things because you always made it look so easy. It never occurred to me how much blood, sweat, and tears were split to reach that point."
"Well, to be frank, there are some prodigies like that." Shirou revealed, which surprised Kenichi. "They're ultra-rare, but people who are unfairly good without training do exist. They were just born for it and outshine everyone without working a day." He explained. "But honestly, people like that who think they can reach the top with just their natural-born abilities are always destined to fail at some point. It's just a matter of when."
"But you and Miu are nothing like that. You'll never have to worry about failing because you always work hard every day." Kenichi then turned around. "I've gotta find Miu!"
Kenichi was about to run off, but Shirou grabbed him by the shoulder. "And why do you need to find her?"
"I have to apologize to Miu!" Kenichi insisted.
"Apologize for what?" Shirou asked, rolling his eyes. "Are you going to say, 'I thought you were a genius who never works hard because I was feeling sorry for myself'? How would she even process that?"
Kenichi stopped and thought about it. "Well, when I actually hear it out loud, it does sound kinda weird."
"You don't have to apologize just for thinking something without knowing the facts, so don't make a big deal out of this." Shirou advised him. "It's better to just let this go and get back to training. I'm sure Miu's already over what you said a few minutes ago by now."
Kenichi then looked like he was more relaxed. "Yeah, you're right. Besides, instead of using words, I'll prove I'm sorry by training even harder! He said he was more determined than before. "Even if I'm not a genius, if I work harder than anyone else, I'll definitely become a great Martial Artist."
Kenichi then ran back inside with an eagerness to continue his training. Shirou put his hands in his pockets and walked back inside himself as he thought. "He probably could, so long as Akisame doesn't break him before then."
—
Hours passed, and it soon became nighttime at Ryozanpaku as Shigure arrived back at the Dojo and stood on the porch.
"…I'm back… Hello."
Following her stoic declaration, Kensei rolled over to her with a camera in hand and greeted her.
"Welcome home, Shigure." Kensei was snapping pictures as he spoke. "You're back sooner than usual. It's none of my business, but I can't help but wonder—Guh!"
Kensei grunted in pain as Shigure stomped on his camera and, in turn, his face.
"So… Are they… Still alive?" Shigure vaguely asked.
"Oh yes, they're still kicking." Kensei answered through her foot. "Though they probably wish they were dead. But they're alive."
"Oh…" Shigure muttered as she walked off.
As she left, Kensei rolled over again and continued snapping pictures with his camera as Shigure responded by hurling a throwing star at his camera's lens and thus destroying it, making Kensei gasp in dismay.
"Not the lens!" Kensei cried out.
Shigure then walks past the training hall and stops at the open door as she sees inside. Right now, Kenichi is training with Apachai, while Shirou is training with Sakaki. Sakaki kicks Shirou into a wall with a loud impact.
"Augh!" Shirou grunted as he fell to the floor.
"Come on, punk. Done already?" Sakaki taunted him.
Shirou stands up and glares. "I'm just getting started."
"Remember, no hands." Sakaki reminded him. "Just kicks this time."
At that point, Kenichi hit the floor, having reached the limit while training with Apachai as Apachai stood over him.
"Apa?"
Kenichi then looked over to the door and noticed the weapons Master. "Hey, it's Shigure."
Shirou looked and saw her as well. "Back already? It hasn't been a day?"
Shigure just looked at them without responding before walking away.
"…They're not… Dead after all." Shigure noted quietly.
Shirou looked back at Sakaki. "Alright, let's go again."
"Heh, you asked for it." Sakaki smirked.
As Shigure was walking away from them, Hayato appeared in front of her path and addressed her.
"So, Shigure, are you concerned about those two?" Hayato asked, stroking his beard as usual.
Shigure paused before answering. "…No."
Hayato watched Shigure continue her departure inside as he put on a pleasant smile.
"I really should be grateful to those boys." Hayato thought. "Their arrival has somehow managed to lift everyone's spirits around here, even Shigure's."
—
A little while later, training was done for the day, and everyone went inside, where they were all sitting around a large dining table. Shirou, Kenichi, Miu, and all the Masters, with the exception of Shigure, were present. The table had a large plate of chikuzenni, a big bowl of miso soup, a pot of potato stew, a pan of steamed vegetables, deep-fried pork, salads, and a rice cooker filled with steamed rice.
"Woah?" Kenichi was visibly impressed by all the food. "Really? You made all this by yourself, Miu? That's great."
"Stop it." Miu told him with a smile and a blush as she poured rice into a bowl. "Flattery won't get you any extra food." Her words didn't match her actions, as she gave him twice as much rice as everyone else. "Here, hope you're hungry."
Kenichi looked slightly surprised at her actions. "Um, yeah, thank you so much."
"So I guess flattery does work on her." Shirou noticed.
Apachai had a look of envy at Kenichi. "But that's not fair."
"Hey, don't worry about it, big guy." Shirou offered Apachai his bowl of rice. "You can have mine."
"APA!" Apachai cheered as he gladly accepted it.
"Are you okay with that?" Kenichi asked. "I mean, aren't you hungry?"
Shirou shrugged. "I'll just eat something when I get home. I called Haruto and told him I'd be home late. He knows what that means."
Kenichi nodded before he noticed something. "You know, come to think of it, where's Shigure?"
Shirou raised a brow. "You mean you just now noticed she wasn't here?"
Miu put on an unsure smile. "I don't know why, but Shigure prefers to eat by herself. She usually eats up in the attic."
Kenichi shrugged. "Heh, she's kinda strange, isn't she?"
"Speak for yourself, Kenichi. Is that how you always eat your food?" Miu asked, referring to the fact that he was holding his food close to him and kept an arm around it. "You're hiding it."
"Oh, well." Kenichi looked a bit nervous. "I guess I just—"
Before Kenichi could go on, Shirou hastily covered his mouth and whispered to him.
"Don't say it, don't give them any ideas." Shirou advised him. "If you give these psychopaths a chance, they'll do whatever they want, or do you want to go hungry tonight?"
Kenichi's eyes widened as he realized what Shirou meant and thus nodded his head as Shirou moved away from him.
"Hey, what was he going to say?" Hayato asked with curiosity.
"Nothing, just forget it." Shirou waved him off.
"Come on. Now we're interested. Tell us." Kensei insisted.
"Please, just pretend I didn't say anything." Kenichi nervously pleaded with a hint of desperation. "Let's just eat before the food gets cold."
"He's right. Apachai's already started eating." Akisame pointed out.
And with that, they all began enjoying their meals, and luckily Kenichi was able to dodge the bullet and avoid what could have been a disaster for him.
—
Once dinner was over, everyone retreated to their respective rooms, and Kenichi was lying down inside a sleeping bag on the floor of the training hall in the Dojo. While Shirou, who was just about ready to leave, walked up to him and noticed the depressed look on his face.
"Lately, it feels like every time I see you. You're depressed about something." Shirou noted.
"I can't help it!" Kenichi comically complained. "It's just not fair! I have to sleep here alone on the floor of the Dojo by myself."
"What else did you expect?" Shirou asked.
Kenichi then blushed and had a grin. "Well… I was hoping for~."
Kenichi then has an imaginary sequence of him and Miu sharing a futon while Miu wears revealing sleepwear, and there is a sensual atmosphere in the air around them. Just imagining it makes Kenichi drool a bit.
CLAP!
Shirou claps in his face to snap him back into reality. His expression showed that he thought Kenichi was just being pitiful at this point.
"Look, man. I want you to answer me honestly on this." Shirou requested before asking his question. "Did you actually believe that was ever going to happen? Do you think it even makes sense?"
Kenichi paused as he thought about it, then just looked upset and let out a defeated sigh. "Okay, fine. It's just wishful thinking at best. But a guy can dream, can't he?"
"Yeah, but you dream so often you might as well be sleep-walking in the daytime." Shirou pointed out.
"You're right. I suppose this is reality, but why can't it collide with fantasy for once?!" Kenichi then laid back down. "Ah, well, at least some good things came out of today." He grinned again. "I got to eat Miu's home cooking. I always knew it would be great, and it tasted better than I imagined."
"Why were you imagining the home cooking of a girl you've barely known for a month?" Shirou thought with a cringe. "How desperate can you be?"
"Psst…"
Suddenly, both of their attention was grabbed when they heard that sound. They looked over towards the door to see Miu peeking out from the door and waving at them to follow her.
"Miu? What is she…?" Kenichi thought as he became hopeful. "Here's my chance to collide."
As Kenichi got up to follow her, Shirou decided to go. "Why not? Could be interesting."
When the two of them exited the Dojo, they saw that Miu was no longer at the spot she was in a moment ago. Instead, she is around the corner and edging them to follow her still. When they walk around the corner, they see that for a third time, she isn't there but now on the roof. Once they arrive on the roof, she finally stays there and greets them with a smile.
"Hey, you two." Miu greeted them.
"Miu." Kenichi admired the way she looked at night.
At night, Miu let her hair down completely and currently had thick golden locks that went down to her back and even covered her ears. Her pajamas were a long yellow pajama dress shirt with a ribbon tied around the collar, long sleeves, and black cat paw prints. It extends down to her thighs, making it hard to tell if she has anything underneath.
"Why'd you call us up here?" Shirou asked.
"Well, I thought we could talk alone for a bit." Miu explained. "The Masters are nice people, but they aren't very adept at social skills."
"Actually, I was hoping I'd get the chance to talk to you." Kenichi admitted before looking down a bit. "I'm sorry about this morning, reminding you about your parents and all."
"Oh, it's nothing to apologize for." Miu assured him, not upset. "Even though I never really got to know my parents, everyone here is my family." She then looked up. "And look up, how can I be sad with that view?"
When they all looked up, they saw that the stars were shining brightly in the sky, and not only that, the moon was shining right above their heads. Kenichi held up his hands as if to reach for it.
"It's almost like I can touch the moon." Kenichi realized.
"Right?" Miu agreed. "I know."
Shirou didn't look as impressed. "It's nice, but I've seen better."
"Yeah, well, not all of us have gone around the world, Shirou." Kenichi reminded him, almost amused.
Miu just kept her gaze on the moon. "I think this is my favorite place in the whole wide world. I've always dreamed of bringing a friend up here, someone to just sit here and watch the stars with me." She said wistfully.
Hearing her say something like that made Shirou go quiet for a bit before he looked up as well and let out a sigh.
"Well, since we're confessing things, I guess I'll say something too." Shirou started before looking at Miu. "It's not exactly the same as losing both parents, but when I was a kid, my Mother passed away."
Both Kenichi and Miu were taken aback by that confession as they didn't expect him to say that suddenly. Shirou went on.
"It happened before I met Kenichi. I was five at the time, and Haruto was too young to remember her." Shirou explained.
Miu looked sympathetic at him. "I'm sorry."
Shirou shook his head. "Don't be."
"How did she die?" Kenichi asked.
"It was just an accident, nothing groundbreaking." Shirou told him. "She tripped and fell down some stairs, and that was it." Shirou looked down. "That actually made it harder to swallow. She was fine and healthy like any other day, and then, in a matter of seconds, she just died. How was I just supposed to accept that?" There was clear frustration in his voice. "It felt like a bad joke."
Kenichi tried not to look sympathetic, so he avoided eye contact, but he felt sadness on the inside. "Back then, Shirou was always so carefree and energetic when we were kids. I never knew he went through something so sad as that?"
"The reason I brought this up is because of…." Shirou paused for a second. "Of something she once told me when I was a kid that I still remember to this day, and what Miu said reminded me of that."
"What I said?" Miu repeated, confused.
"That part about your dream." Shirou clarified. "Once, my Mom told me these words: Every young boy, at some point, dreams of being the Strongest In The World, but almost all of them end up forgetting that dream. However, those who don't forget usually end up becoming stronger than they ever dared to dream. They're the ones who become Legends who go down in history." Shirou recited, looking somewhat at peace. "That's how I never forgot my dream, by remembering those words."
"Whoa…" Miu uttered. "So your dream is to become a Legend?"
Shirou smirked. "That's right. I'll become the Strongest of all time, so strong that my name will echo throughout the world. My power will be legendary." He declared.
"That sounds crazy, but when Shirou says it, I can actually see it happening." Kenichi thought before he put on a smile. "Now that I think about it, I guess a larger-than-life dream fits him perfectly."
"That sounds like a pretty amazing dream." Miu told him before looking at Kenichi. "Kenichi, what's your dream?"
"Well, it sounds kinda silly, but my long-term dream is to someday become a novelist and win the Naoki Award." Kenichi confessed before he looked away with regret. "But my future seems to be headed off in a different direction than I expected."
"No! I'm sure you can!" Miu insisted, hoping to console him.
"Well, if you want to write books, then I'll let you write a book on my life story." Shirou told him with a brash attitude. "Call it Legend Of The Strongest Delinquent—Rise To Glory. It'll sell like hotcakes. You'll be flooded with awards in no time."
Kenichi had an unsure smile and chuckle. "Sure, I'll consider it." He then looked back at Miu. "What about you? What do you dream of, Miu?"
Miu then looked flustered. "Wha? I already told you, remember?"
"What the whole 'looking at the stars with a friend' thing?" Shirou chimed in. "We're not buying that. You hafta to have a bigger dream than that, some future you dreamt of since you were a kid."
Miu became nervous and looked away. "T-That's a secret."
"No, that's not how it works." Shirou narrowed his eyes at her. "Why told you ours, so you tell us yours."
"Yeah, tell us." Kenichi wanted to know as well. "Why's it such a secret?"
"It just is okay?" Miu insisted.
"Now I want to know even more." Kenichi went on.
"You're not getting off this roof until you tell us." Shirou told her.
"My dream for the future is—"
Miu gasped when she and the other two heard a familiar voice nearby and looked to see Shigure sitting on the roof as well and reading out loud what was written on a piece of paper.
"—To one day get married and have a big beautiful wedding. Signed Miu Furinji, Class 1-D, Eighth Grade."
"Uuwaaaaa!" Miu shrieked and dove at Shigure.
Shigure jumped and dodged Miu's desperate assault as she somersaulted away, leaving behind the paper that Miu grabbed in embarrassment.
"Uwa! That wasn't very nice, Shigure!" Miu cried out.
"Has she been sitting there this whole time?" Shirou wondered.
Kenichi just seemed happy when he heard about Miu's dream. "Well, that's kinda a relief to hear. It's good to know at least Miu's dreams are normal."
Miu stood up. "Kenichi, I'm gonna good back in from the other side. If my Grandfather catches the three of us together, he'll kill you and use you as punching bags." She warned them. "I'm not joking."
Kenichi looked terrified at the thought of that, but Shirou didn't seem worried or afraid.
"I thought I made this obvious. I'm not afraid of the geezer." Shirou informed her. "Besides, there's something I want to talk to you about."
"Talk?" Miu asked, surprised.
Shirou nodded. "Meet me outside the gate. This is important."
"Oh, okay." Miu accepted.
Kenichi frowns at them. "No fair. I wanted to talk to her alone." He then slumped. "But not as much as I want to keep living."
As he was about to climb down the roof, Miu called out to him. "Wait, Kenichi."
"What is it?" Kenichi asked with haste. "Hurry up and tell me. I kinda don't feel like dying tonight."
"I hope we can stay good friends for a very long time, okay?" Miu told him with a bright smile.
Kenichi smiled back. "You mean always?"
"Yeah, forever." Miu added.
"So does that mean we'll always 'just' be friends no matter what?" Kenichi asked, hoping to be wrong.
Sadly, his hope was unanswered. "Yeah, we'll always be good friends."
"You know, I think she just told me I'll never have a shot at being her boyfriend?" Kenichi thought, his smile hiding his disappointment.
Shirou cringed on the sidelines. "Ouch, that was brutal."
—
Meanwhile, back at Kenichi's house, Mototsugu had just arrived back from work and rushed to speak with Honoka.
"Honoka!" Mototsugu called out. "Honoka!"
With a yawn from having just woken up, Honoka came up to him in her pajamas and while carrying a stuffed toy. "Welcome home, Dad." She said, half-asleep. "What's going on?"
"Tell me, what's happening at the Dojo?" Mototsugu demanded to know. "It's an evil cult, isn't it?"
Honoka rubbed her eyes. "No, it's just that big-busted…." She trailed off.
"What do you mean?!" Mototsugu asked agasped. "Who's busted?! Kenichi?!"
—
After Kenichi went back inside, Shirou and Miu stood right outside the front gate of the Dojo.
"So, what was it you wanted to talk about?" Miu asked curiously.
"Miu…" Shirou looked at her seriously. "Are you the girl from 10 years ago?"
Miu went quiet and blinked. "What are you—?"
Shirou cut her off. "10 years ago, me, Kenichi, and another boy who was our friend went to a candy store, which is where Kenichi got his Yin-Yang badge, which he got after trading it for a Cat badge to another girl the same age as us." He brought up. "Shortly after, that same girl who was only a child beat up a trio of grown men who were causing trouble at the store, using Martial Arts." He looked straight at her. "That girl was you, wasn't it?"
For a moment, Miu didn't respond. Then she smiled at him. "When did you figure it out?"
"The first time I saw you fight." Shirou answered. "In all these years, I never forget how light and smooth that girl's attacks were, you moved just like her, and you looked like her. But I only became absolutely sure when I saw Hayato. If he was your Grandfather, then you had to be that girl."
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense." Miu acknowledged. "Does Kenichi know, too?"
Shirou shook his head. "I'm pretty sure he's pretty much forgotten everything about that day. Of course, he doesn't know."
"Good, then please don't tell him." Miu requested. "I want to tell him myself when I feel like it's the right time."
Shirou shrugged. "Well, alright. But why?"
"Because the truth is, I recognized the two of you as well." Miu confessed. "The Yin-Yang badge that Kenichi was wearing and how he got it. When I heard that, I knew who he was, and I recognized you because of your White-hair. I wanted to wait until I told you two who I was because I wanted to surprise you." She then rubbed her head. "But you already found out, so I at least want to surprise Kenichi."
"Well, makes no difference to me." Shirou then turned to leave. "Anyway, see ya."
"Wait." Miu stopped him from leaving and went over to the gate as she picked up something wrapped in a cloth. "Take this with you."
"What is it?" Shirou asked as he took it.
When he opened it up, he saw that wrapped in the cloth were two hand-made riceballs. "You didn't get to eat as much as the others at dinner, so I decided to make you a snack."
"You know I have food at home, right?" Shirou reminded her.
"Yeah, but I just wanted you to have it." Miu reasoned, still smiling.
"Well, I can't exactly say no since it's already been made." Shirou decided as he wrapped it back up. "Later."
With that taken care of, Shirou walked away and left the Ryozanpaku Dojo behind as Miu went back inside. With the events of today done, Shirou made his way home through the silence of the night. He decided to eat one of Miu's riceballs as he walked, and after taking a bite, he said to himself.
"Meh, I've had better."
—
And that's the chapter. This chapter had a lot of dialogue and really took a while to finish. That said, the events of what happened were pretty simple and close to the original, so it wasn't that hard to put together. The parts at the end were what I really wanted to work on. However, we learned more about Shirou, and the three of them were able to become closer as friends. (Which is entirely a good thing if you ask Kenichi).
And the last scene where Shirou confirms that Miu is the girl he remembers from the past. Now, both of them know what should have been expected, considering neither of them forgot the events of that day, and they're both keeping it a secret for now. Anyway, next chapter, we'll be back to see them face Ragnarok, which means more fighting, which is something I enjoy.
Anyway, thanks for reading; hope you enjoyed. If you want more, leave a review. If you liked the story, click the follow/favorite, and as always, have an awesome day.