156　Summer Promise to the Glittering Stars

"Whoa!? "



　As soon as I came out of the hidden room, someone shouted in surprise.



"W-w-what? Oh, it's just Second…… You suddenly came out of the wall; I thought you were a ghost. Could you please not startle me? "

"Masamune? You came."



　The voice belonged to Masamune.



　Ohh……Then, does that mean...?





"Will you follow me to the continent? "



　I cut to the chase right off the bat.



　Then Masamune suddenly got into a bad mood. She puffed up her cheeks and stared at me glumly.



　Did I say something wrong?



"Sorry. I hope you didn't take offense."

"……It's okay. Just as I have my circumstances, you have yours. I was aware of that. But in the end, as expected, I ended up……"

"Ended up? "

"…………"



　Silence.



　No, I don't get it. It's difficult, this woman's heart thing.





"Masamune."



　If you don't know, you have to go forward in your own way.



　I took out my borrowed katana and wakizashi and offered them to Masamune.



　She then looked sadly at my hand for a moment, then turned to me with a smile.





"I'm glad I could be of help to you. I'm proud of that."

"Yeah, be proud with all your might. The katana you lent me is the one that defeated Miroku. There's no question about it."



　Masamune quietly accepted the swords.

　Both the wakizashi, and katana. One by one, with care, she equipped them.



"What about then?　Did you come up with any good ideas for the later turn? "

"If it came to me so easily, I wouldn't be struggling. Seriously."

"I suppose."



　That is certainly true. We couldn't help but laugh.



　However, Masamune's smile looked forced and awkward. A forcibly smiling, lonesome face. To me, her face looked somewhat as if she might cry.





"Come on, Second-kun. It's you anyway, you're leaving, aren't you?　Let me say my goodbyes. I want to send you off on a bright and sunny note."





　Masamune turned her back to me and said in a callused voice.





　……A lie. A clearly obvious lie. If you want to send me off on a bright and sunny note, why are your shoulders shaking so much?







"…………"



　I couldn't utter another word.



　That crucial word that would stop the shaking of her shoulders.



Just one thing, one "Follow me".



　But I know this girl's dream. I have come to know. I knew that the noble and virtuous tree of strong will and conviction, which sprouted from her harsh upbringing and could be called tenacity, was about to bear fruit.



　So, I can't say it. I must not say it.

　I can't just tell her to drop everything and follow me.



　The Benzai school. I must never let her, the root of her dreams, be abandoned.



　Just as I picked up and nurtured Silvia and Eko, it was a very worthwhile thing to do and a great responsibility.



　I see, she called it "circumstances".



　……I see. If that's the case……





"I don't need a send-off."

"……"



　A small voice escaped.

　A female voice. A faint, feminine voice. Even that slender back and gentle curves, though hidden, are still there.



　……As a woman, she must have feelings for me, like those a woman has towards a man, of love.



　Although she knew that this was unacceptable in her position.





"I promise."



　Therefore, I don't need a send-off.



　Instead, let me make you a promise.



"The umbrella."

"……Umbrella? "



　I think desperately.

　Words that will not hurt her heart or her dreams.



"I broke the umbrella."



　I know it's out of character.

　But for some reason, I just had to say it.



"It was so tattered that it would take months to repair it."

"That's terrible."

"Yeah, it's terrible. And I don't think I'll be able to give it back for the rainy season."

"Could it be that you……"



　Don't turn around.



　As I hoped so, I opened my mouth with a sigh to cool my heated face.





"When it stops raining, you come and get it. But I guess it will be a season when umbrellas are not so necessary. If you really must ...... I'm sure I can fix it up and wait for you."





　A moment of silence.



　Suddenly, Masamune's shoulders began to shake again. Or so I thought.





"Aha, ahaha!　Ku, fufufu!　Aahaahahaha! "





　She laughed!



　What a disgrace!　This girl, even though I took great pains……!



"How unreasonable!　Do you want me to come and get it?　Even though I'm the one who lent it to you?　Aahaha!　Ahahahaha!　Ahhー, you're really interesting after all."

"Gugghgigh……! "



　Damn, my face is hot!　I shouldn't have said that!





　……For a while after that, Masamune laughed so hard that I thought she was harassing me.

　At first, I made excuses to hide my embarrassment, but I was getting more and more fed up and eventually stopped speaking a word.



　We did not see each other's faces, and we did not exchange words. What a strange atmosphere.



　Then Masamune suddenly said this.





"……Typhoon."

"What? "

"A typhoon! "



　What is wrong with a typhoon?



"I might need an umbrella."



　Oh, so that's what she meant.





"…………"

"…………"



　We both stood there in silence.



　We somehow understood each other and what the other wanted to say.



　But we could never say it straight: ...... Not then, nor now.



　Hence, we probed each other with poorly written analogies, without getting to the heart of the matter.



　It was strangely comforting.



　I wonder the reason.



　Masamune turned around with her biggest smile and said one last thing.





"The rain won't stop."





　A radiant smile.

　A promise of reunion.



　I couldn't see Masamune's back as she moved away from me, and I couldn't help but giggle as I took my gaze to the sky.



　A sky full of glittering stars.

　A winter night sky so clear that it seemed to go on forever.







　　＊　＊　＊







"Akaneko-sama, so you are going?"



　Dawn.

　At the Tobatsu-style dojo, Akaneko stood alone as a mentor in front of a lineup of students.



　One of the students muttered to himself as if he had been moved to tears.



　Now that Kenshin, the head of the school, had retired, the head of this school would be his only daughter, Akaneko.

　However, Akaneko was also about to leave the dojo.



　Among the students, there were no samurai who were skilled enough to take charge of the dojo yet.

　If this situation continued, the Tobatsu-style would cease to exist. The students seemed to understand this, and they all had anxious expressions on their faces.



　But that didn't make anyone want to hold Akaneko back.



　Why was that?





"We are confident that you, Akaneko, will reach even greater heights. "More than your father, no, more than the Bishamon."

"There is no better environment to learn the sword than under that man's guidance. You should by all means accept his invitation, and not worry about us."

"We are all cheering for you from the bottom of our hearts in this faraway land. Please have good luck."





　They were all Samurai to the bone.



　Having once seen the man followed by Miroku-sama, the one who defeated the heads of schools, one can't help but respect him. It was the nature of the Samurai.



　In fact, even they wanted to follow them.

　However, they lacked the ability to do so. They were not yet strong enough to take advantage of Second's Sword-drawing techniques. And they were painfully well aware of that, too.



　Therefore, they entrusted it to her.

　They put all the will and wishes they had into the star of their school, which was their hope.





"I will……"



　Akaneko opened her mouth quietly as all of the students looked at her.



　Her determination was firm.

　Subsequently.





"I will abandon the Tobatsu. I will never call myself Tobatsu again. I will also cut my ties with my father. And with you guys, too...... Can you guys still look up to me, even if I'm like this? "





　In a trembling voice, she asked.



　But their minds were also set.





"Of course!! "





　Not just from any one person, all the students answered in unison, their voices coming out of their guts.



　You guys are totally nice―― Akaneko gave one sigh and then continued speaking.





"My dream is to have fun. I enjoy betting my life on the match. I love Sword-drawing from the bottom of my heart. That's what I realized. I would be happy if you guys were, too. I want you guys to keep my dream alive. That's why, that's why……"





　At the end of the day, she couldn't hold it in.



　They might even meet each other again. But the paths they walked were getting further and further apart. She would leave this island where she was born and raised, and the samurai with whom she had shared her hardships and joys. Their paths will never cross again.



　It was, so to speak, a goodbye for life.





"Laugh it up, you fools!　Smile and send me off……! "






　It was a strange sight.



　All of them were crying.

　All of them were laughing.



　As she departed for a distant place. They stared at the stars, which were too dazzling.





"Be strong!! "



　A goodbye――With that command, they bowed to Akaneko.



　They saw Akaneko off with a smile on their faces as she left.

　They sent her off, until and forever.





　Soon, the Tobatsu-style will lose its form. Despite knowing their fate, they still smiled sincerely.



　And soon, the sun rose. No more stars in sight――













"You...... look awful."



　The Kisshou-style dojo.



　As usual, Azami alone cleaned the spacious dojo, and Masamune dressed as a man as usual, wandered in front of her.



　Masamune knew that Azami hated her, but she always wandered over like this to check on her, was given a harsh remark, and then wandered off.



　But two things were out of the ordinary. One was Masamune's face. The other was Azami's response.





"Is it really that bad?"

"Those swollen eyes, you've been crying ...... good grief."

"Thanks for your concern."



　Older stepsister and younger stepsister. It had been more than a decade since these sisters, who had not been close since childhood, had had such a conversation.



"You, on the other hand, are looking great."

"Oh, my God, what? "

"It's like a curse has been lifted, maybe?"

"Hmmm……"



　Azami let out a muffled sigh and then removed her gaze from Masamune, propped her broom against the wall, and opened her mouth as she looked out over the garden.







"I always wanted to be a baker."



"……What? "





　A muttering too abrupt.

　Masamune was taken aback and asked her back.



"Do you remember?　It was when we were young and ...... didn't have any ties. The first time a peddler, guided by Toukichirou-san, visited this island."

"Yeah, I remember it well. Sister and I went to the store, where stepmother bought us a "cream bread" to take home."



　As she said this, Masamune suddenly realized.



"Oh, no way."

"Fufu, I guess so. I couldn't get that taste out of my head for the longest time...... Then I started sneaking out and asking for books on baking to be shipped in, and I studied steadily."



　Azami said nostalgically as she smiled.

　Seeing the softness, Masamune was a little surprised, but however, she remembered the same memory and smiled similarly.



"……That was delicious."

"Yes, it was delicious...... That's how I came to love bread."

"I didn't know that. I see, so it was like that……"

"Ufufu. You and I would sit side by side and eat while looking out over the ocean."

"Yeah. But back then, people called me in a more feminine way (kijyo instead of anata)."

"Exactly. That's right. Really, it's absurd. Truly……"



　Contemplating, they put the memories away in the depths of a box and lock it.





　Then Azami let out one sigh as if to say goodbye to the past, turned to Masamune, and spoke.





"I'm leaving the island."

"……I had a feeling that was the case."

"Oh my, you don't look surprised. Why? "

"I worry about you every day, I should at least be aware of the recent changes in my sister's personality."

"…………"





　I worry about you every day. There’s no way that she, as an older sister, wouldn't know the meaning of those words.



　There were, of course, parts that they would never understand each other. But there was certainly a time when the two of them were purer and knew not the slightest doubt.



　If only we could go back to those days―― The younger sister was not the only one who thought so.





"Hey, Masamune. If by chance, we meet over there, then this time……"



"The rain."



"Eh? "



"When the rain stops……I'm going to visit Azami-neesan's store."



"……Yeah, okay."





　When the rain stops, we'll see each other.



　Innocent words, with as much relish as a small child can muster for a promise of playing.



　Before long, such a simple thing had become impossible to do.



　As long as that childlike man doesn't destroy the adult world to pieces.





　They looked up at the clear sky and squinted at the glare of the sun.



　The sun shining brightly made the girls suddenly think.





　Summer doesn't seem that far away――



======



Thank you for reading.



Land of the Eight Swords, end of story.

Next chapter is an Idle Talk.

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Cheat sheet

Stats details

＜Status Details＞

• HP　Hit Points
• MP　Magic Points
• SP　Stamina Points
• STR　Short range attack skill power, strength, physical power.
• DEX　Long range attack skill power, dexterity, hit rate.
• AGI　Quickness, avoidance rate.
• INT　Attack Magic skill power.
• LUK　Good luck, critical rate.
• VIT　Simple defense.
• MGR　Magic defense.

Types of combat skills

Named after shogi pieces (The word in bold is the one being used in this translation). From easier to acquire to harder.

1. Pawn/Soldier (Fuhyou)
2. Lance(Kyousha)
3. Knight (Keima)
4. Silver General (Ginshou)
5. Gold General (Kinshou)
6. Bishop (Kakugyou)
7. Rook (Hisha)
8. Promoted Bishop/Dragon Horse(Ryuuma)
9. Promoted Rook/Dragon King (Ryuuou).

List of Swordsmanship skills

Swordsmanship

1. 《Soldier Swordsmanship》　                  Normal attack.
2. 《Lance Swordsmanship》　                    Piercing attack.
3. 《Knight Swordsmanship》　                   Precision attack.
4. 《Silver Swordsmanship》　                     Strong single-target attack.
5. 《Gold Swordsmanship》                           Small-range attack to all directions.
6. 《Bishop Swordsmanship》                      Quick and powerful piercing attack
7. 《Rook Swordsmanship》　                      Rush piercing attack
8. 《Dragon Horse Swordsmanship》　  Powerful ranged attack in all directions
9. 《Dragon King Swordsmanship》　       Most powerful range attack, takes time to prepare

List of Shieldmanship skills

Shieldmanship

1. 《Soldier Shieldmanship》　                  Normal defense.
2. 《Lance Shieldmanship》　                    Piercing deflection.
3. 《Knight Shieldmanship》　                   Defense + knockback.
4. 《Silver Shieldmanship》　                     Defense +chance to parry
5. 《Gold Shieldmanship》                           Ranged guided defense + knockback.
6. 《Bishop Shieldmanship》                       Reinforced defense (Temporarily boosts VIT and MGR)
7. 《Rook Shieldmanship》　                      Rush attack
8. 《Dragon Horse Shieldmanship》　    ???
9. 《Dragon King Shieldmanship》　       Powerful shield attack, takes time to prepare

List of Archery skills

Archery

1. 《Soldier Archery》　                  Normal range attack.
2. 《Lance Archery》　                    Piercing range attack.
3. 《Knight Archery》　                   Precise sniping range attack.
4. 《Silver Archery》　                     Strong single-target range attack.
5. 《Gold Archery》                           Weaker range attack with added knockback.
6. 《Bishop Archery》                       Strong piercing range attack.
7. 《Rook Archery》　                      Very strong single-target range attack with scaling % damage.
8. 《Dragon Horse Archery》　    Powerful Area of Effect piercing range attack.
9. 《Dragon King Archery》　       Powerful on-impact range attack, takes time to prepare

Types of Magic skills

They use the “Form” or “step” system of martial arts. From lower to higher.

1. First Form　      　      Regular attack
2. Second Form　      　 Extended range attack
3. Third Form　      　    Strong single target attack
4. Fourth Form　      　  Strong extended range attack
5. Fifth Form　      　      Extremely powerful extended range attack

• Their cast time becomes longer in this order First→Third→Second→Fourth→Fifth.

Ranking of the skills

From lower to higher, then it changes to the “Dan” system of martial arts, which means Grade.

1. 16th class
2. 15th class
3. 14th class
4. 13th class
5. 12h class
6. 11th class
7. 10th class
8. 9th class
9. 8th class
10. 7th class
11. 6th class
12. 5th class
13. 4th class
14. 3rd class
15. 2nd class
16. 1st class
17. Grade 1
18. Grade 2
19. Grade 3
20. Grade 4
21. Grade 5
22. Grade 6
23. Grade 7
24. Grade 8
25. Grade 9
26. Title

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 ToC    

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