Volume 2 Chapter 5 Fighting Daughters 1️⃣： Ready For Battle
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
In December, Shiun Suzuri, wearing winter clothes under her sportswear, visited the Kazuramichi house as usual. In the backyard, she saw a guy and a girl deep in conversation.
”Hey, Ako-chan, aren’t ya cold in that outfit? It’s freezin’ out here?”
Kazuramichi Naoshi, dressed in his usual student style, asked the girl who was only wearing a sleeveless blouse and shorts with a military-style jacket. She nodded like a little kid.
”I’m fine, I’m a snow woman.”
”Dang, that’s one wild claim.”
”But if my cousin warms me up, I wouldn’t mind.”
”Ah, let’s save the details for another time.”
”Okay. I’ll look forward to that.”
”Sorr-ee, shoulda just said no there.”
”Hehe, I got you to say it.”
Feeling her blood pressure rise from their exchange, Suzuri thanked the Kazuramichi family member leading her and walked confidently into the yard.
Her ponytail swayed side to side, showing her feelings.
”Nao-nii.”
”Oh, Suzuri-chan, you made it just in time, as always. Good job!”
”Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
”Huh? Oh, did you cut your hair?”
Even though she felt a bit let down that her crush noticed her change, she turned her gaze to the person standing next to him.
Of course, she remembered Kazuramichi Ako, a beautiful girl with silver hair and reddish-brown eyes.
The problem was the distance between the two of them.
She didn’t think they were on bad terms, but they seemed much closer than before.
It made her instincts ring alarm bells.
”Ah, right, Ako-chan. She just got back here.”
”Long time no see, Suzuri-san. Is it 3 years since we last met?”
”Yeah, it’s been a while.”
”Wow, it’s been that long?”
”Sure has. Back when you two were still a cute little high school girl, y’know?”
”Did you really just say that?”
”Are you trying to flirt in front of me again?”
”No way, we’re just chatting normal! Suzuri-chan, ya gotta stop nitpicking and enjoy yourself.”
”Stop with the harsh analysis. I might cry.”
”Go ahead, but don’t expect me to comfort ya.”
”This guy…!”
Naoshi’s usual cold attitude was even more intense today, stirring up Suzuri’s feelings.
She took a deep breath to calm herself and looked at the cause of her emotions.
”So, Ako-san, why are you here?”
”Well, I thought I’d ask my cousin for some training today.”
”Oh?”
”Don’t worry, I’ll train after Suzuri-chan’s session.”
”Got it.”
A sudden thought crossed Suzuri’s mind, and she smiled.
”But even if it’s you, Ako-san, if you want to fight Nao-nii, you’ll have to beat me first.”
”I don’t mind.”
”This girl… actin’ like some stock character…”
Naoshi’s exasperated words were intentionally ignored.
* * *
Sitting on a long bench in the yard, Naoshi watched his cousin and friend warm up with a complicated expression. He turned around when he sensed someone approaching from behind.
”Oh.”
Mibu Itsuki, who seemed to be about to tap his shoulder, laughed like a kid caught doing something naughty.
”Hey, you came!”
”…What’s this, Shiga? You got that much free time? Jealous over here.”
Dressed in a dark suit with a classic trench coat and covered in a dazzling number of magical tools, Itsuki still looked the same, but her androgynous beauty seemed softer than before.
Maybe it was because she had developed feelings, or maybe it was just because she was no longer hiding her ample chest.
”I have plenty of time here. I’m told to focus on urgent matters.”
”And by ‘urgent stuff,’ ya mean what, exactly?”
”Naoshi’s activities as a lover. Mainly making babies.”
”Shiga special, huh? What kinda nonsense is that?”
”We call it love activities for short.”
”Oi, that’s way too suspicious a way to shorten it!”
After laughing happily, Itsuki naturally leaned in and gave Naoshi a cheek kiss.
Then, Naoshi noticed that her scent was different from before.
Looks like changes aren’t just on the surface.
”Are you foreign or somethin’? Never had this kinda greeting before.”
”That’s good to hear. So, what’s this all about?”
”Ah, Ako-chan said she wanted to train with me, but Suzuri-chan decided I had to beat her first.”
”You’re really loved, huh?”
Saying that, Itsuki casually sat down next to Naoshi and intertwined their fingers.
Naoshi frowned a little, but in the end, he let her do what she wanted.
”Feels like I’m gettin’ dragged around by a bunch of excitable little cousins.”
”Yeah, I remember that feeling, but I really wish people would stop trying to climb mountains with me.”
”Couldn’t agree more.”
Naoshi and Itsuki were both tall enough to spark the adventurous spirit in kids.
The young men felt a strange sense of sympathy and nodded seriously.
”So, can we do this?”
”Not really. Wasn’t part of the plan to let you go at it now.”
But of course, Suzuri was strong-willed, and Ako had that same strength as a Kazuramichi person.
With that thought, Naoshi shrugged.
”Well, Suzuri-chan’s makin’ such a big deal, I’d feel bad just lettin’ it slide.”
”Either way, there will be some bad feelings left behind. Maybe the womanizer is getting punished.”
”Why’s it my fault? I don’t remember flirtin’ with anyone!”
”Who knows──hey, how about I take on both of them?”
”Don’t. If you butt in too, it’ll just turn into a circus.”
”That’s too bad. I wanted to see how both of them do since they’re both promising rivals.”
Itsuki lightly tapped the hilt of her sword, and it was hard to tell if she was joking or serious.
Even if she seemed calm, someone who hates fighting can’t become a top exorcist.
Improvement comes from competition, and Naoshi knew that all too well, so he decided to ignore it.
”Fine. I’ll ref. Just don’t get carried away, yeah?”
”Just be careful not to get stabbed in the middle of it.”
”Is that comin’ from someone who’s slit throats before?”
”──Mibu-sama, I brought your drink.”
”Ah, thank you.”
”Well, I’ll watch, but behave yourselves, alright? No hecklin’.”
”Don’t worry, it’s not like Naoshi is going to do that.”
”Hmph.”
Naoshi snorted and waved his hand as he stood up.
Itsuki was left holding a steaming cup, along with the Kazuramichi family member.
”──By the way, Mibu-sama, who do you think has the upper hand?”
”Hmm? Well, I’m not saying this just because we’re in front of Kazuramichi people, but it’s Ako-san.”
”I see. Can I ask why?”
”Simply because of the difference in experience and skill right now. I think Suzuri-san will eventually become a top exorcist too, but… Ako-san still has a chance to rank up now.”
”Is that so?”
”And as far as I know, they probably don’t match well. I think Naoshi feels the same way, which is why he has that serious tone, right?”
”Sharp eyes ya got there. Impressive.”
That was a bit over the top, and Itsuki smiled as the 3 of them walked to the center of the training area.
Naoshi stood between the two glaring at each other and looked back and forth before speaking.
”Alright, let’s go over the rules. No limits on techniques or weapons. Basically, anything goes. Just don’t kill each other, yeah? Fight ends when one’s down, gives up, or I call it. Got it?”
”Yeah, understood.”
”Got it.”
The girls responded with enthusiasm, looking ready to go.
”I suggested this, but… I want to go all out, so Ako-san, please do the same.”
”Then, I have one thing to say. I’m not as nice as my cousin, so be careful.”
After hearing Ako’s words, Suzuri thought for a moment before speaking.
”So, you’re saying I’m basically a heartless killing machine, right?”
”That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
”Suzuri-san, do you really think that about Cousin Naoshi?”
Ako’s doll-like eyes stared closely at Suzuri.
Feeling a bit pressured, the girl stepped back slightly.
”Well, he can be really mean sometimes──”
”Takin’ on the bad guy role’s not somethin’ just anyone can do.”
”He keeps poking at me with his words…”
”Truth hurts sometimes. Ya only say stuff like that if ya care about someone.”
”He hits girls in the face and stomach and acts all proud.”
”That’s trainin’! And I’ve never seriously hurt anyone.”
”Nao-nii! You’re not brainwashing them, right?!”
”Quit makin’ baseless accusations!”
”No, other people are just seeing him through rose-colored glasses.”
”Itsuki!”
She raised her voice towards Naoshi, who was the same age but had a different perspective and relationship with the group.
After thinking for a moment, she shrugged her shoulders.
”Well, I don’t think many people would call Naoshi ‘kind’.”
”See!”
”Suzuri-chan, do ya actually like me or not?”
”Even if Nao-nii is a total loser, I still like him.”
”Wow… harsh much? Seriously.”
”Plus, Naoshi is the type who only wants to share that side of himself with people who get it.”
”And you, quit actin’ like you know everything from the sidelines, Itsuki.”
”You don’t need to be so shy about it.”
”Why’re you so annoyin’? Think you’re invincible or somethin’? And Ako-chan, quit noddin’ like you know it all without sayin’ a word!”
Naoshi scratched his head as the tension in the air disappeared quickly.
While it was good to avoid being too tense, being too relaxed wasn’t great either.
”Alright, enough muckin’ around. Let’s not make fools of ourselves and get hurt in this easy-goin’ mood. Suzuri-chan, Ako-chan, y’all good to go?”
”Yeah.”
”Yes.”
Suzuri got into position with her hand on the hilt of her sword, while Ako raised her fists in front of her face, slightly pulling her right side back but keeping her feet wide apart.
Seeing this, Naoshi thrust his right arm forward and shouted as he swung it up.
”Okay, let’s start!”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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