Akira's House
Akira's house stood modestly, blending into the serene, traditional Japanese landscape. At first glance, it seemed like a simple, unassuming home made of aged wood and tatami mats. But there was more to it than met the eye. The wood used for its structure was no ordinary timber—it had self-cleaning properties, automatically repairing itself from any damage, and was soundproof. No matter how loud the noises inside were, the world outside remained silent. The house was also built to withstand even the fiercest of typhoons for an impressive ten years.
Inside, Akira lounged comfortably, watching his favorite anime. The soft flicker of the screen filled the quiet room, but his mind was elsewhere. Through the system's group chat, he could sense the presence of Shinobu and Mitsuri. Both girls were out hunting demons in nearby regions to gather system points, which they often used to purchase things like cosmetics, clothes, food, and other essentials from the system shop. Their routine had fallen into this steady rhythm for the past two weeks.
Two Weeks Later — At Sunrise
The sun rose gently over the horizon, casting a soft golden glow across the landscape. Inside his house, Akira was already awake, training diligently. He worked on his gravity control, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he pushed his body to its limits. Once satisfied with his progress, he stepped into the bathroom, the soothing sound of running water echoing through the house as he freshened up for the day.
After his bath, he enjoyed a simple breakfast and decided to visit Shinobu. As he stepped outside, breathing in the crisp morning air, something caught his eye. A man with white hair and a peculiar mask was walking toward him. Akira immediately recognized him—Tecchikawahara Tecchin, the master swordsmith who had forged the blades of both Shinobu and Mitsuri.
Tecchin's presence was striking, his craftsmanship known far and wide. The swordsmith approached Akira with purpose, his mask hiding most of his expressions, but his voice was steady.
"You must be Akira D. Kanahe." Tecchin said
"Yes, that's me." Akira replied, curious about what Tecchin had in store for him.
Tecchin eyed Akira's silver hair with interest. Silver was a rare color, often signifying something special. He was particularly curious about what color Akira's sword would turn once it bonded with its master.
"Are you the one who forged my sword?" Akira asked.
"Indeed," Tecchin said, as he handed Akira a beautifully crafted nichirin sword. "Touch it. If you possess sufficient skill, the blade will reveal its true color."
Akira hesitated for a brief moment before gripping the hilt of the katana. The light blue blade shimmered before shifting into a striking combination of light blue and black. The transformation was mesmerizing.
Akira's eyes widened as he inspected the blade more closely. 'Why does it have a sun symbol? Is it because of my Sun Breathing technique? But why light blue instead of red?' Akira thought
Tecchin was equally surprised, observing the sword's unique design and color. He had never seen anything quite like it.
"This is amazing!" Akira said excitedly
"It's a unique blade, that much is certain." Tecchin glanced at the sky, noticing the time. "I must leave now. I still have swords to deliver."
Akira nodded, noticing the familiar shapes of Shinobu and Mitsuri's swords strapped to Tecchin's back.
"Thank you!" Akira said as Tecchin took his leave.
As Tecchin disappeared down the path, Akira quickly opened the system shop and bought a phone. He took a picture of his newly revealed katana and shared it with the girls through the group chat.
Moments later, Shinobu and Mitsuri were on their way to Akira's house, eager to see his sword in person. Their footsteps echoed as they approached the house, where Akira stood gazing up at the sky.
"Akira!"
Akira turned, smiling as he saw the two girls approaching.
"What's up?" he asked, amused by their excitement.
Shinobu proudly pulled out her sword, and Mitsuri followed suit.
"Look! These are our swords! Aren't they beautiful?"
"They're incredible," he said, nodding with admiration.
Shinobu's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Akira, how did you show us your sword through the group chat?"
Akira grinned, pulling out the phone. "I bought a phone from the system shop. Here." He handed them each a phone. "You can charge it using system points. There's a manual that explains everything when you open it. It's super convenient."
The girls' eyes lit up as they held the phones, clearly excited to try out this new technology.
"I've got a lot to do today, so you two should head out and explore your new gadgets."
Shinobu and Mitsuri nodded, knowing Akira didn't want to be disturbed. They thanked him before heading off, chatting excitedly about what they could do with the phones.
Once the girls left, Akira looked back at the sky, enjoying the peaceful moment. However, the peace was short-lived as he spotted a crow flying toward him. The crow landed beside him, its sharp eyes fixed on him.
"Akira D. Kanahe, head south to the village where people have been reported missing."
The crow's message was clear and direct. Without waiting for a response, it flapped its wings and took off into the sky, disappearing into the horizon.
Akira stood there, watching the crow fade from view, already preparing himself mentally for his next mission.
To be continued...