The fiery illumination of the early rising summer sun blazed furiously as it marked the height of the season. It was said in the morning newspaper that it was going to be the longest day of the year. During this part of the calendar, dawn peeked out of the horizon at its earliest while dusk sunk later than most had supper. The summer solstice was already underway.
However, a certain individual who was currently lying under the shade of a slightly reddening tree was not looking forward to making dinner after dark. It was most especially so because this boy started his day with his partner before the sun even rose.
"This armor isn't built for this season at all. What a pain..", Seijurou thought about his modified Orcish heavy armor while he yawned. "It's so hot today."
Seijurou and Satsuki had been training non stop for seven hours. Noon time was considered as their first legitimate break, but it did not do them a favor since it was when the summer heat peaked at its highest. The merciless rays of the sun constantly scorched them whenever they went out of the shade.
"Sleeping.. quite a fascinating way of doing some training, Erida Seijurou..", Himiko said monotonously just as Seijurou was about to finally achieve the unthinkable, doze off quietly under the heat. After Seijurou finished his usual unnecessarily excessive surprised antics, Himiko began setting her cooking pot up to mix something with her enormous spoon like tool.
"Why do you keep appearing out of nowhere, Ba.. Himiko?..", asked Seijurou while rearranging his glasses with his fingertips. "And why here? I'm trying to steal a nap before Kinjou returns from hunting, you know."
"Have you seen all those trees around? This is the only place with ample shade for me and my equipment..", answered Himiko in her usual unfriendly manner. "It's too hot and humid inside the dojo.. and besides, you should be doing extra work yourself."
Himiko's words shot like a spear towards Seijurou's chest. He thought that their little witch was on point while he reluctantly stood up to do some shadow combat training. They only had two weeks left before the big quest in Shizuoka.
Nonetheless, being stubborn as always, Seijurou managed to blurt out an excuse. "I was only resting because I was waiting for what game Kinjou hunted. Only then I can start working on something to cook."
"As you can see I'm already cooking..", shot Himiko back, causing Seijurou to almost take a backflip. She was usually an outspoken little girl, but the moment she did open her mouth, her manner of speaking seemed to have a similarity with throwing daggers. After a few more moments of mixing something in her pot, she handed Seijurou a vial with a green substance inside, a stamina potion. "Too many excuses.. if you really think you're lagging behind, Erida Seijurou, then all the more you should push yourself. Here take this."
After taking the potion in, Seijurou still sighed in exasperation. "Even if I'm physically recovered, it's my mind that feels exhausted from all this training. But this helps somehow, Himiko. Thanks."
It was as if Himiko did not recognize any sense of gratitude from her teammate as she continued to stare at him blankly. "Then you're thinking too much. Unfortunately, I do not have a potion for easing one's mind. Just move your body and practice your movements."
Seijurou chuckled awkwardly as a response with a bead of sweat on his head. He knew very well that he was an incredibly argumentative stubborn person, but his witch teammate was on another level. "Don't be hard on yourself. I'm sure you can figure something out for brain recovery with your commendable alchemy skills."
Himiko only let off a sigh as she shook her head. "You were arguing with me, now you try to flatter me? I only know most of the basics.. making me look like a brilliant alchemist. But when it comes to crafting ingenuity.. I barely compare to yours."
A droplet of sweat rolled on Seijurou's head as he thought about Himiko's verbal counterattack. "Even in flattery, she has a quarrelsome way to shoot back."
"The Shield of Athena..", Himiko continued while focusing on her pot. "Have you figured out its enhancement?"
A little surprised with the conversational shift, Seijurou stopped his self training for a moment. "Still no idea, Himiko.. I think my alchemy skill level isn't high enough to learn it."
"I do not think that's the case, Erida Seijurou..", Himiko replied, somewhat stunning Seijurou. "I cannot exact the details, but it definitely has something to do with the way you fight."
"What do you mean?"
"Sadly, I have no way of telling you without facts..", answered Himiko plainly. "We can figure it out sometime in the future.. but for now, I'm going to need you to focus on things you're better than everyone else."
Seijurou held his chin as if figuring something out. "You mean to say my defensive instincts?"
"And your alchemical skill..", Himiko added. "I'm not saying that those hard earned abilities of yours were the enchanted shield's effects. It is no conclusion but a hypothesis. We can start from there."
From arguing to discussing helping each other made Seijurou rather hesitant. But he still came to a realization that this was a big opportunity to get better presented by a teammate and classmate. With that, he steeled himself and uncharacteristically offered his "pinky" finger to Himiko. "You'll help me, right? It's a promise?"
"A pinky promise? Your stiffness in making such lame things still amazes me..", said Himiko with a blank face, which caused Seijurou to almost stumble backwards. But she still grabbed Seijurou's little finger with her own before he fell. "Though this mysterious ability you gained from the shield also amazes me.. so that is a promise, shounen no shunji (boy genius)."
Having the highest temperature of the year burning through Fujiishima did slow most of everyone's activities like how it did to Seijurou. Fortunately for him, a new objective of one's discovery of self gave him the inspiration to work more. Mastery of the abilities he may have learned or inherited was no longer impossible. Instead, with a witch apprentice Himiko helping him, the possibility of catching up to his childhood friend, Chizuru, and his arch nemesis, Jax, had become achievable. However, he was going to put a lot more effort as the two said individuals never actually minded the scorching of the summer solstice and pushed themselves even harder.
Jax most especially continued to break through his limits as he recalled the series of events during the Minami incident. Under the unrelenting gaze of Aele, god of the sun, Jax unwaveringly defied the laws of nature by refining his skill nonstop from the break of dawn. Thinking of having to be saved by the person he despised the most after confidently charging with his newly gained experience from the battle against the rebellion was his indomitable motivation to work himself to death.
"Owing my life to that otaku makes me want to vomit..", thought Jax as he charged towards Chizuru, avoiding and taking arrows. "I need to return that favor."
Even already looking like a human porcupine with all the arrows that continued to pierce his flesh, the "Berserker" in training charged at Chizuru with great speed. While constantly monitoring her teammate's health so that she would not accidentally kill him, Chizuru did not hold back and mercilessly shot her arrows in quick succession. "Oi baka-saru! You'll run Kasumi-chan dry of her healing magic if you continue like this!"
The "Priestess" in training Kasumi, who was jointly training with Chizuru's "Trinity", simply waved her hand cheerily while healing Kazuma. "It's fine Chizuru-tan! I still have lots of 'Magic Points'."
Kazuma grimaced and groaned in pain causing Kasumi to let off a muffled squeal in surprise. "Please keep your focus, Shinazugawa-chan. My wounds are reopening."
"I'm sorry, Kazuma-kun! I'll continue now..", Kasumi apologized as she placed both hands on a deep gash on Kazuma's leg. "But wow! You guys really train close to the brink of death."
"Well, not me though. I don't want scars to damage my looks..", said Kazuma with a sparkly smile. "But then again, it can potentially add to my awesomeness, right?"
Kasumi just awkwardly giggled as a response. She avoided a verbal answer by continuing to repair Kazuma's body. At the same time, she worriedly glanced towards the current sparring session between the two handed warrior and the sharp shooting ranger.
Kazuma also watched his teammates with worry. "Jax is close to losing all his health. But is he really going to try hitting Taneda-chan like how he did to me?"
Jax was dangerously low on "HPs", but he was within reach of Chizuru. With one fell swoop, he attempted a seemingly death bringing slice with his massive axe. It hit nothing as Chizuru avoided it flawlessly. However, he continued to have a go with more swings, effectively keeping his opponent from knocking more arrows.
Though Chizuru just kept doing more and more evasive maneuvers. "Too slow. And you're about to die. Let's call this a match."
"Not yet! Just one hit!..", exclaimed Jax while continuously swinging his axe from different directions. "I'm gaining more 'EXPs' with critically low vitals."
It is true when "PCs" have critically low health, magic, and/or, stamina points, gaining "experience points" for specific skills and overall "PC" level becomes exponential. However, Chizuru decided she was having none of Jax's immature whining as she panned out a tactic to end the potentially fatal training duel.
Chizuru suddenly flipped backwards to a distance and spun to draw an arrow with her bow. It momentarily lifted her ranger's armor's skirt up causing Jax to freeze and explode in a nosebleed. As Jax blushed madly in place, Chizuru shot him with an immobilizing dart tied on the tip of her arrow.
Unable to move a muscle, Jax just dropped face first to the ground with still a little nosebleed. "That's not fair. Why'd you have to use that kind of tactic?"
Chizuru smirked smugly. "So that you realize you still need to work on that weakness instead of driving yourself to death..", replied Chizuru as she began dragging Jax by the foot towards Kasumi. "And by the way.. that wasn't my actual 'pantsu'. Of course I'm wearing short battle trousers underneath."
"Like it helps my imagination at all..", said Jax while having his nose bleed a little more. "Still.. I'm yet to beat you, Chizuru-san."
"First name basis, are we?..", asked Chizuru in a little bit of surprise.
"You've been calling me by my name for as long as I can remember..", replied Jax with a little smirk. "About time I call my teammates the same way. It's a sign of respect as equals in battle, you know."
"Are you trying to get out of this with flattery?..", asked Chizuru as she blushed a bit. However, she avoided the petty cackling and went back on her real concerns. "Your build is a bad match for mine unless you get really overpowered, Jax. What are you trying to achieve?"
Jax grumbled while being dragged as he thought of all the moments he was made a fool of by the person he loathed the most in front of the girl he likes. "Don't ask questions you already know the answer to."
Chizuru threw Jax to Kasumi causing him to whimper in pain. She sighed right after. "Give Seijurou a break for crying out loud. He's done nothing to you."
"I'm sorry..", said Jax while Kasumi began removing all the arrows pierced through him to heal him. He took deep breaths to ease the pain a little. "But I can no longer turn a blind eye on him, Chizuru-san."
Having both Jax and Kazuma heavily damaged caused Chizuru to call for a short break. Just like all the others who have trained since dawn, the three finally took a breather. It was as if all those who trained for the next big quest unconsciously made a decision to take turns with short recesses. While some stopped, some carried on. As Chizuru and her teammates halted, it was evident with all the gunshots from a distance that someone was still honing themselves.
And surprisingly so, these loud shots came from the barrels of Hayama's and Hanagawa's weapons. On the grounds of the backyard of Fujiishima, Hayama Akira evaded periodically Hanagawa Yuuji's shots while taking aim and having a go himself. Just when Hanagawa thought he had a clear and point blank shot at Hayama, two scimitars dangerously stuck close to his neck in a crisscrossed manner.
"You know I don't do blades, Akira..", said Hanagawa as he dropped his weapon and raised his hands in surrender.
Hayama sheathed his dual scimitars, effectively ending the spar. "Well, that's a shame."
"You can count on me with training just like old times..", Hanagawa said while putting his pistols back in his holsters. "But just like before too.. this was how you cornered me when we were still enemies."
"My swordsmanship still pales in comparison to him..", replied Hayama with slight disappointment. "That's why he teased me to shoot him instead that night.. but I still missed."
"Still going on about your old boss?"
"It's not that, Yuuji..", answered Hayama as he removed his sweat drenched shirt, revealing a chiseled back under the cover of an enormous koi fish tattoo. "I saw Hayai fight with the sword many times when I was still a pirate working for the Yakuza."
"That must've been a sight to behold..", chuckled Hanagawa. "But I did see him fight a few times during his younger days. I'd say only the 'Swordsman' can beat the likes of those, mate."
"And he still looks suspiciously young..", Hayama said almost immediately, cutting Hanagawa halfway through his sentence. "But what's bothering me the most was how he dealt with all of us in Minami. Those techniques of his were unlike anything I've seen so far."
Slightly with a skeptical expression, Hanagawa squinted at his old friend and rival. "You think he's using forbidden magic?"
"That's for us to find out..", replied Hayama as he changed his shirt. "In the mean time, we keep ourselves honed for another go at him."
Hayama and Hanagawa continued to do mock battles that afternoon, joining the endless resounding clash of metal from throughout the city. With the fire works festival at the back of their heads just like their homeroom adviser, the first years took the two week break as an opportunity to improve themselves. The will to push themselves past their limits was already a given, knowing that the possibility of facing an opponent like Shirogane Hayai again was almost inevitable. The Shizuoka quest might sound like a simple sabotage quest, but learning from Seijurou and Satsuki's exploits gave everyone an idea of how ugly things could turn in an instant. And it was certainly so with the two partners as evident with their relentless clashing towards the latter hours of the afternoon.
Seijurou bashed Satsuki with the Shield of Athena, which resulted in a loud bang. Satsuki fell backwards, but she immediately composed herself and dashed forward again. However, the tip of her blade hit nothing but air.
Getting another opening, Seijurou bashed Satsuki again. "You're fast but predictable, Kinjou. Show me something else."
Satsuki did her sheathing and unsheathing technique in a quicker manner but was unfortunately blocked. "This is why I like training with you, Erida-kun. You never hold back like Masako-sensei."
"Oh really?..", Seijurou taunted as he avoided another death blow from his partner. "If it were Mama, she'd tell you to charge as if you were going to kill me."
"You know I can't do that to you, Erida-kun..", said Satsuki while she cocked back to have another slice.
Right before the tip of the Heiress' blade reached Seijurou's neck, Seijurou suddenly dropped his shield and stood straight frowning in disappointment. "Then let's stop this pointlessness, Kinjou."
"Eh?..", Satsuki stared with childlike confusion at Seijurou as she halted her stab which was barely an inch from his neck.
"I didn't come here to tire myself to death by just playing all day..", said Seijurou stoically. "If you don't come at me with the intent to kill.. I'm going home."
Satsuki gave her an uncharacteristically unusual frown. "That's going a little overboard, you know. I told you already. I couldn't even think of that."
"Then how do you plan for us to get better if we don't come at each other with all we've got?"
Satsuki looked down and avoided eye contact with Seijurou as a sad expression engulfed her face. "I.. I don't know."
A few moments of silence took over the two as the sun began its descent towards the horizon. The tinge of orange that magnified Satsuki's lonesome but beautiful face tempted Seijurou to drop the act. But he knew in himself that he had to push her further for a reason.
Satsuki clenched her fists suddenly and looked at Seijurou in desperation. "Why are you asking so much of me, Erida-kun? You're being mean.."
"It's because I'd like to be the best myself..", Seijurou's answer shocked Satsuki. As plainly as it was said, it amplified his resolve even more. "So that you wouldn't need to hold a sword anymore.. and I could just simply protect you all on my own."
Tears threatened to fall from Satsuki's eyes. Her mouth started to crumple as if she was confused if she wanted to cry or smile. But one thing was for sure. It was one of the happiest moments of her life that it renewed her resolve to get even better than she already is.
Just when a few droplets of tears dropped from her cheeks, Satsuki took a step back and sheathed her katana. She lowered herself for a strike while still holding the hilt of her weapon and the scabbard. Shaking her tears away, she flashed Seijurou her usual smile. "If that's how you want to put it, Erida-kun, very well.. Buki no Jutsu (weapon art).. Hitokiri (manslaying)."
With blinding speed, Satsuki charged and at the same time slashed through Seijurou. The technique resounded in a loud boom that it also caused a dirt cloud to erupt. When the dust settled, Satsuki walked forward to sheathe her blade indicating a successful hit.
"Don't sheathe your sword just yet..", all of a sudden, Seijurou stood confidently behind Satsuki while massaging his Orcish armguard. "You knew you hit metal and not flesh. Why are you sheathing your sword, Kinjou? We're just getting started."
"It's because I'm going to hit you another one of those..", grinned Satsuki while she brought herself back into attacking position. "Are you ready, Erida Seijurou-kun?"
A bead of sweat rolled on Seijurou's head as he scratched his nape awkwardly. "Well, at least let me pick my shield up first this time, will you?"
Translation Notes:
Shounen no shunji – a moniker Himiko conceptualized for Seijurou meaning "boy genius".
Baka-saru – yet another wordplay from the name calling queen, Chizuru, she used for Jax. It means "stupid monkey".
Koi fish tattoo – a unique tattoo pattern imprinted on Hayama Akira's back. Its design simply describes a colorful fish native to Jihon. It also indicates that Hayama was once a member of Shirogane's Yakuza.
Honorifics Guide:
-ji – a shortened way of addressing someone as "uncle". Its complete way of using it is "oji-san". And it should not be confused with "jiji" or "ojii-san", which means "grandfather".
Monogatari Concepts:
Aele – the god who shares a seat in the "Revered Seven" with his twin sister, Danaya, as gods of continuity. But unlike his sibling, he is the complete opposite of her by being the sun god of the day and labors. He is believed to bring forth unwavering light by pulling the sun with his chariot, only that he himself pulls his carriage making him the patron of hard work. He was created by his father, the Almighty, with the sole purpose of illuminating the world by pulling a gargantuan ball burning of the "Eternal Fire". He did that to destroy the malevolent Youkai, whose existence was caused by the "Endless Night" from his sister's incursion of the Underworld. His actions formally concluded the "War of the Elders" by bringing the flow of time in a stasis with having to take turns with her sister to rule over the day.
At present, Aele is revered not only Jihon, but throughout the world. His sister summons the moon at night, which reflects his light, while he brings the sun during the day. His sister's feast day is the winter solstice, while his is the summer solstice. Those who have heavy burdens pray for his mercy regularly, so that he can carry those with them. With the horse being the animal symbol of labors, cavaliers patronize him as well. His sigil is a horse standing on its hind legs with the sun and its rays as a background.
Character Description:
Baba Himiko – she technically has her own mini description in the "Quest" chapter. But I still feel like elaborating more on this support character because so far, I think she has influenced a lot of the main ones lately. A rather mysterious character, she sort of stimulates my curiosity especially on how I will be able to develop her.
Baba Himiko is a witch, but don't get yourselves thinking about old hags with crow feathers (ahem.. what's that game again? The one that won game of the year in 2011?). She's actually particularly quite sensitive with her age. Her family name and witches being seen as only old women really tick her off causing her to misinterpret her name as a way of being called "granny" (Baba = obaa-san = granny = old woman). However, her looks are actually leaning towards the other end of the age spectrum. She looks much younger than a regular fifteen year old. Standing at 147cm and weighing a measly 39.5kg, she practically looks like a teen yet to hit puberty. Though she still looks adorable with her blue hair topping her pretty face and under an oversized witch hat, making her look like a doll instead.
When not discussing her age, Himiko is very cool headed. However, she's even more socially awkward than our beloved geeky protagonist and avoids conversations with others as much as possible. When talked to though, she has a tendency to be argumentative, but she means no harm. It actually indicates her intellectual capacity, which is proven by her being ranked fourth in class behind Seijurou, Kaguya, and Satsuki with regards to the academic side. And her talking to you also means that you interest her about something like how she constantly surprises Seijurou with small talks. But she usually uses a monotonous and unfriendly tone.
The probable reason why Himiko thinks social interactions are unnecessary is because of her dedication to "the craft". Coming from a long line of witches, she takes pride in her heritage greatly. Although not precisely explained how it went, she used her duel in the preliminaries as an advertising platform for her family's alchemical products. For someone who has problems interacting with people, that feat must've required a large amount of resolve and passion. When she's not doing school work, she's usually found tinkering on some enchanted gear and mixing potions in the Underforge. Besides having a very obvious but incredibly cute infatuation with Yanagi Shinsuke, her favorite things are her flying broom, her half of her size cooking pot, and her creepy looking voodoo dolls.