Volume 6 Chapter 2 Lady Perfectly？①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The day after the Practical Training Session Ambush.
In the guest room of the masterless Touma House, four people sat around a table to discuss their future course of action. These individuals included Kusurugawa Haruno, a ¹second-class exorcist and cousin to Touma Yukinojo; Kazuramichi Naoshi, a ²first-class exorcist and guest of the Touma family; his younger stepsister, Kazuramichi Ako; and Shiun Suzuri, a second-class exorcist’s daughter who had been cleared to return home that very day following her medical examination.
Each had a smartphone or tablet at the ready to reference data, though Naoshi alone sat flipping through physical paper documents.
”First, the problem is where, what, and when—right?” Haruno began.
A map of the Kanto region lay spread across the table, topped with four figures resembling shrines and temples. These markers designated the spiritual sites in Narita, Chiba; Ome, West Tokyo; Isehara, Kanagawa; and Omiya, Saitama, which served as the anchor points for the ³Capital Region Barrier.
”As for ‘when,’ it’s gotta be the full moon-ssu. Waitin’ for the new moon would be way too optimistic,” Naoshi said.
The new moon had occurred just last week; currently, they were simply watching the moon wax. Waiting for the next new moon would be far too late. Since their plans had already been exposed, time was no longer an ally to the enemy.
”I believe that is highly probable. Considering their initial move was yesterday, the full moon would provide the most effective timing,” Naoshi added, and Ako nodded in agreement.
”So, they’ve factored in the reality that information would leak from the assassins,” Suzuri noted. Despite having been defeated by a superior opponent who caught her off guard, Suzuri showed no lingering signs of distress. Naoshi offered a nod in response to her gaze, silently impressed by her resilient attitude.
”Well, if they seriously thought they could take Yuki-nii, they’d have just made their move today,” Haruno remarked, finding no reason to disagree. March 25th, the night of the full moon, marked the peak of ⁴ayakashi power, second only to the new moon. However, the same held true for humans. Exorcist blood was already so inextricably intertwined with that of the ayakashi that they could no longer be separated. Furthermore, the radiance of a full moon dispelling the nocturnal gloom was, in itself, an ally to humanity. Since time immemorial, humans have feared the darkness and labored to wipe it away.
”Now then, regarding ‘what’ they are—” Naoshi started.
”A mix of humans and ayakashi. I’m pretty confident in that too,” Naoshi continued.
”And the basis for that, Naoshi-san?” Haruno asked.
”Ayakashi alone would never get their act together-ssu. And doin’ it with just humans wouldn’t give ’em enough manpower,” Naoshi explained.
The other three nodded in agreement.
”Remember that little Tengu lady we ran into in Kabukicho recently?” Naoshi asked.
”Yeah,” Suzuri replied.
”I hear even foreign tourists go there to gawk these days,” Naoshi said.
”No way—” Suzuri muttered.
”It’s the perfect camouflage for holding a discussion. They seemed quite accustomed to human society, too,” Naoshi noted.
”But, wasn’t the story that some T-san born in a Kyoto temple was pursuing them?” Suzuri asked.
”There is a possibility that the Tengu’s opinions are not monolithic—Haruno-san, have you heard any such talk?” Ako asked.
The three of them turned their attention toward Haruno. The daughter of the Kusurugawa family, one of the heavyweights of Kanto and its strongest cousin, quietly shook her head.
”I don’t know the specifics, but I haven’t heard of any overt problems or conflicts. If a Kyoto ⁵practitioner was on the move, I doubt it’s completely unrelated, though…” Haruno said.
”I really should’ve squeezed ’em harder back then-ssu,” Naoshi sighed.
”Was the assessment that they were the Four Saints or someone related? They aren’t in a position to easily venture outside,” Ako said. As Ako noted, for a Kyoto exorcist, protecting the capital was the ultimate duty. Sending an influential figure all the way east, even with excessive protections in place, was a significant hint in itself.
”That guy’s face was just no good. He had those slit eyes that practically screamed he was up to no good-ssu,” Naoshi remarked.
”Are you perhaps saying that as a joke?” Suzuri asked.
”I think that part of you is wonderful too, Big Brother,” Ako added.
”His way of talking was that fishy Kyoto accent, too. It’s like he was beggin’ to be suspected-ssu,” Naoshi said.
”I think you’re pretty much in that camp yourself, Nao-nii…” Suzuri countered.
Naoshi raised an eyebrow at Suzuri’s remark.
”What, are you at that age where you just have to nitpick everything, Suzuri-chan?” Naoshi asked.
”Am I the one in the wrong?!” Suzuri exclaimed.
”The head of the Touma family likely has stronger connections, so I’ll ask later if there’s any new information,” Ako interjected. Naoshi nodded at Ako’s words and straightened his posture.
”I’m countin’ on you,” Naoshi said.
”For now, even if the Tengu themselves aren’t participating, can we assume there’s a good chance they mediated in some way?” Haruno asked. Naoshi and the others nodded. It was a realistic middle ground. Radicals within a group stepping right up to the line of overt hostility toward humanity—that was certainly a situation that had to be stopped.
”Then let’s go with that. Lastly, though…” Haruno began.
”Where, right?” Naoshi finished.
The four of them stared at the map on the table once more. Suzuri was the first to speak up.
”Based on the location, wouldn’t Ome or Isehara be the obvious choices?” Suzuri asked. Although the two shrines served as hubs and were accessible as tourist spots, they were located deep in the mountains, away from the city. That was precisely why they were the linchpins of the barrier, but they could also be seen as a type of fortress built within the domain of non-human entities.
”Well, that’s one possibility,” Naoshi said.
”Yeah. But that’s exactly why we’ll have to allocate more personnel there from the start,” Haruno added. Because it would be more difficult to send reinforcements there after an incident compared to other locations, they had to be well-prepared from the beginning.
”This applies to all four locations, but these two in particular are prepared with the assumption of being isolated. Putting all our eggs in one basket seems like a risk,” Ako added. Suzuri groaned and checked the data she had been given.
”I can’t even imagine a large-scale attack on Omiya…” Suzuri muttered. After all, it was within walking distance of a Shinkansen station. Even if green spaces remained around the approach and the shrine, the surrounding area was a completely developed urban district. If one were to trace the path of the ayakashi, the closest would be the river flowing a bit to the east, but even that wasn’t very large.
”The usual front line seems to be further west,” Ako observed.
”A bit further north along the Arakawa River, maybe. It’s the closest to us, and I go there often. In terms of sheer numbers of nearby exorcists, this might be the best-guarded spot,” Haruno explained.
”Which is exactly why it might be the dark horse-ssu,” Naoshi noted.
With that ruled out, their eyes turned to the remaining one: the anchor placed in Narita, Chiba, to the east.
”……”
Everyone fell silent for a moment. It was located somewhat apart from the other three sites, sticking out to the east. It was close to the city, yet to its east, green spaces remained despite human intervention. To the north flowed the Tone River, and further north lay the waters of Lake Kasumigaura. While not as close as Isehara, the sea was also nearby. Domains untouched by human hands spread out across the territory like moth-eaten holes.
”How are the defenses for the airport-ssu?” Naoshi asked. Most importantly, there was Narita International Airport. It might be the most vital facility located outside the Great Barrier.
”They’ve got that covered, of course. Even if it’s outside the Great Barrier, it’s right under the nose of Mount Narita,” Haruno answered without hesitation.
”Furthermore, if they lay a hand on Narita Airport, the matter will no longer be contained within the realm of exorcists,” Ako added. Even at the point of the training session, it was already a tightrope walk. Unless both sides recognized that they didn’t want things to escalate, it would be a powder keg. If they were involved in an attack on an international airport—
War. Such a word was by no means an exaggeration. However…
”It’s scary to rely on that, but maybe that’s why they’d focus on the east-ssu?” Naoshi wondered.
”If we start talking about the reverse of the reverse, there’ll be no end to it,” Haruno sighed.
Naoshi chuckled at Suzuri’s tone, which seemed to suggest they should just put full effort into everything.
”What about temporarily increasing the barrier’s output?” Suzuri asked.
”For a barrier of this scale, I don’t believe that’s realistic,” Ako replied, shaking her head.
”And even if we did, I’m a li—ttle worried about the aftermath,” Haruno followed up. An excessively strong and perfect barrier would create distortions in the surrounding flow of ⁶reiki. Just as the overemphasis on protecting the capital in Kyoto back in Naoshi’s hometown of Kansai had resulted in pushing the debt onto other regions.
”We don’t know where or how it would burst-ssu,” Naoshi said.
”So what are we going to do in the end?” Suzuri asked.
”Well, Yuki-kun and the others are probably discussing the broad strategy. Everything from personnel allocation and so on-ssu,” Naoshi said casually.
”Wh-what…?” Suzuri dropped her smartphone at Naoshi’s nonchalant remark.
”Th-then, what was this discussion for?!” Suzuri demanded.
”It’s not a waste for us to align our understanding beforehand,” Ako comforted her.
”Exactly! It clicked for me much better than thinking about it alone!” Haruno added.
”That may be true, but… Nao-nii?” Suzuri looked at Naoshi, whose eyebrows had lowered from their sharp angle as he wore a mischievous grin.
”Well, even if Kanto is a free-market economy, you can’t rely on outsiders before the fight even starts-ssu.”
”Even so, there’s always a ‘what if’,” Ako said.
”There’s a huge difference between feeling like it’s someone else’s problem and being prepared just in case. Preparedness makes you happy, right-ssu?” Naoshi asked.
”I see,” Suzuri nodded, seemingly convinced by his words. She was not a girl who shied away from battle by nature.
”So, Haruno-chan. What’s the reality of the situation-ssu?” Naoshi asked.
For the past few decades, the Capital Region Great Barrier had repelled ayakashi invasions. During that time, there must have been more than one or two wicked human plots. Particularly before Naoshi and the others were born, at the end of the last century, there were many dangerous incidents of a different nature than now due to increasing social unrest.
”Hmm, honestly, I don’t know. I don’t think the situation is that bad right now, but we don’t know what or who we’re up against,” Kusurugawa Haruno pointed to the four bases in order, her cheerful beauty distorting slightly in concern.
”But if they’re coming for real, I think it’ll be a simultaneous saturation attack on multiple bases,” Haruno concluded.
”Ooh, and why’s that-ssu?” Naoshi asked.
”Because no matter how strong Yuki-nii is, he can’t handle all the Umeda at once. Wasn’t the force recon at the training session originally for that?” Haruno suggested.
”That’s a plausible theory,” Ako agreed.
”Makes sense,” Suzuri added.
”As expected of Haruno-chan. You really are Yuki-kun’s cousin-ssu,” Naoshi praised.
”Isn’t that a weird way to compliment me?” Haruno cleared her throat, acting a bit embarrassed by the praise, and turned her gaze straight toward Naoshi.
”Well, that’s why I’m grateful Naoshi-san is here. Please help Yuki-nii when the time comes,” Haruno requested.
”Whoa, if you put it like that, I can’t just stand by and watch-ssu,” Naoshi joked.
”You’re joking; the workload we were asked to do wasn’t for a spectator,” Ako pointed out.
”In fact, Nao-nii would probably charge in unless someone stopped him,” Suzuri added.
”Heheh… You guys sure are harsh-ssu,” Naoshi said jokingly, and the tension in the room relaxed.
”Oops, excuse me,” Naoshi said, picking up his smartphone. The girls watched as he quickly finished a reply—a rarity for him. He then looked up and spoke with an almost exaggeratedly refreshing tone.
”Alright. Now that the strategy meeting is over, let’s have some free time tomorrow to recharge our batteries-ssu.”
”Wait, who was that message from?” Suzuri asked.
”Step-brother?” Ako questioned.
Suzuri and the others suddenly became animated, and even Haruno, who said nothing, narrowed her eyes.
”Suzuri-chan, even if the doctor said you’re okay, you hit your head, so be careful-ssu,” Naoshi deflected.
”Could it be… another new woman in such a short time…?!” Suzuri gasped.
”Could you please explain? I’m about to lose my cool a bit,” Ako demanded.
”Now, now, don’t sweat the small stuff-ssu,” Naoshi said.
”Nao-nii?”
”Step-brother?”
”Alright, alright. That’s enough, you hot-blooded young ladies. It’s nothing-ssu,” Naoshi insisted, exercising his right to remain silent against the girls’ interrogation.
—
Summary:
Following the ambush, Haruno, Naoshi, Ako, and Suzuri gather to strategize against a predicted upcoming attack during the full moon. They analyze the four key anchor points of the Kanto barrier, identifying Narita as a high-risk target due to its proximity to the international airport. Naoshi reveals that Yukinojo is already handling the main strategy, but emphasizes the importance of their own readiness. The meeting ends on a lighter note as Naoshi suspiciously deflects questions about a mysterious text message.
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Character Insight:
Naoshi demonstrates a careful balance between his ‘shady’ persona and his genuine competence as a first-class exorcist. While he uses humor and a fake accent to keep the atmosphere light, his strategic insights and emphasis on ‘preparedness’ show a man who is deeply invested in the safety of his comrades. Haruno shows her growth as a leader in the Kanto region, providing sharp tactical analysis that earns Naoshi’s respect. Suzuri, despite her recent defeat, shows remarkable resilience, though she remains easily riled by Naoshi’s antics.
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Behind the Scene:
The mention of ‘social unrest at the end of the last century’ refers to the turbulent period in the series’ history where the balance between humans and supernatural entities was particularly fragile. The ‘Umeda’ mentioned by Haruno likely refers to a specific type of threat or entity Yukinojo has faced before.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Kusurugawa Haruno – Female. A sharp-tongued individual with a strong presence. She has a slender build and often wears elegant attire. She is an acquaintance of Naoshi and has a teasing relationship with him.
• Touma Yukinojo – The head of the Touma family, a prominent exorcist clan from Kanto. At just 21 years old, he is regarded as the strongest exorcist in Japan, known for his exceptional swordsmanship and mastery over fire. He is also referred to by the title ‘Ice Blade’, which scatters spirits, and is noted for possessing the ‘Divine Eye’, a unique ability that further enhances his prowess. Yukinojo is described as a handsome young man with the blood of a snow woman.
• Haruno – A cheerful, talented exorcist close to Yukinojo, related to Naoshi; confident, proactive, and supportive of her friends. Touma Yukinojo’s cousin. A second-class exorcist and daughter of the Kusurugawa family, one of the influential figures in Kanto.
• T-san – Tall, slim build, slender face, narrow eyes, and black hair with neatly trimmed bangs. Dressed in a dark brown kimono with tabi and Yuki footwear. Resembles Naoshi but with darker hair. A mysterious figure from Kyoto, likely associated with the Onmyō Clan. Introduced as ‘T born in a temple.’ Skilled in martial arts and spirit energy manipulation.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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