After chatting for a while, Okita Souji parted ways with Ikki Kurogane.
Since Ikki was in the middle of his morning training, she didn't want to keep interrupting him. Even though, given his humble and polite nature, he probably wouldn't have minded.
She was tempted to spar with him, the sight of his pure fighting spirit replaying in her mind, driving her to repeatedly imagine striking with her blade. At times, she even had to shake her hands to suppress the urge.
Honestly, she feared that if she stayed any longer, she might end up drawing her sword without a second thought.
In fact, when his blade had brushed past her neck earlier, she'd come close to letting her own blade slip.
She knew he must have felt the same restlessness. After all, true "swordsmen" are troublesome creatures, drawn to each other like moths to flame.
The purer the swordsman, the harder it is to ignore another's "sword."
Swordsmen are greedy beasts, feeding on the clash of blades, the ringing of steel. They grow from it, they are satisfied by it. But satisfaction brings an emptiness that urges them to seek the next opponent, continuing until they can no longer lift a sword—or until death claims them.
Much like addicts, in a way.
Okita Souji could tell that Ikki Kurogane was a fellow swordsman. He probably sensed the same about her. Swordsmen are like magnets to one another.
But both of them knew this wasn't the right time.
Neither of them had brought bamboo swords for a sparring session, and even if they had, it wouldn't have been enough to satisfy them. Besides, the academy had strict rules against using their Devices without permission.
For now, it was best to cool their racing hearts, steady their heated blood, and calm their eager muscles.
The time to enjoy such a match would come soon enough.
Ikki Kurogane likely returned to the dorms, while Okita Souji resumed her interrupted morning run.
However, after meeting Ikki, she found it difficult to run with her usual calm.
"...Fine, I should just head back."
Scratching her head in frustration, Okita Souji realized she had wandered into a small wooded area.
Just as she turned to retrace her steps, her movement suddenly halted, her gaze sharpening.
"Really… can't you show a little understanding for someone struggling to keep calm? Even if you aren't a swordsman, sneaking around like that can make it hard to resist…"
She muttered softly to herself, puffing her cheeks in irritation before letting out a sigh.
Then, taking a few steps, she suddenly disappeared into the grove.
About five seconds later, a petite figure appeared in the spot where she had stood. The newcomer held a folding fan over the lower half of her face, glancing around as a large red ribbon tied at the back of her head bobbed gently with her movements.
"No way… she's actually gone."
Originally, she'd only followed out of curiosity after sensing the other's unusual aura, but this had turned out to be an unexpected surprise.
She frowned slightly, though her expression quickly softened.
"Oh well, not my problem. This sort of thing is Kurono's job to worry about."
She closed her fan, tapping it lightly against her palm, a knowing smile spreading across her face.
"Looks like this year's competition might be worth watching."
Turning away, she seemed to melt into the surroundings, vanishing as if she'd never been there. Only a playful whisper lingered in the wind:
"Right, I should ask Kurono for the student roster. At the very least, I need to know her name."
Meanwhile, after losing her pursuer, Okita Souji also decided to abandon her morning run and head back to the dorm.
Though she hadn't seen her stalker, Okita Souji could tell they were powerful—very powerful.
Not only that, but their tracking skills were impressive. She'd only sensed someone following her, without being able to pinpoint their exact position.
"This world really isn't boring. Powerful opponents who can stir my fighting spirit keep popping up."
Standing at her dorm door, Okita Souji fumbled around in her pocket for a moment before finally retrieving her key. She slid it into the lock, turned it halfway, and pushed the door open.
The moment she stepped inside, she noticed an unfamiliar pair of shoes by the entrance.
In the living room, a girl sat on the sofa, looking over at her, attracted by the sound of the door. Their gazes met mid-air.
The girl had an air of social awkwardness about her, her long blue hair cascading down to her waist, with her bangs covering her right eye, leaving only her blue left eye visible.
Wearing the same academy uniform as Okita—black dress with white sleeves—she was clearly a student at Vermilion Academy as well.
When Okita entered, she found the blue-haired girl holding a nearly empty plate of cookies, with a few crumbs clinging to her lips.
Upon closer inspection… wasn't that the plate of cookies she'd made that morning?
Realizing this, Okita Souji's amber eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze turning contemplative as she stared at the girl, who promptly flushed with embarrassment and a guilty look.
After a bit of explaining…
"So, you skipped breakfast, and when you returned to the dorm, the smell of cookies lured you in, and you just couldn't resist. Is that right?"
"Yes… I'm very sorry…"
The girl's apology was genuine. In fact, if Okita hadn't stopped her, she might have knelt on the floor to apologize.
Okita had learned her name, Ayase Ayatsuji—her roommate.
The name didn't ring any bells, but…
"Her voice…"
It was uncanny.
Talking to Ayase Ayatsuji, Okita could almost hear the voice of Gilgamesh's companion… or Enkidu.
However, Ayase lacked Gilgamesh's disdain for humanity and Enkidu's gentle impartiality.
She was just an ordinary girl—albeit one with a somewhat reserved personality.
"Oh, it's just a plate of cookies. You ate them; it's no big deal. I can always make another batch," Okita waved off the concern casually, adding with a grin, "Besides, I'm glad you liked them! If you want more, I can bake some for you anytime."
"Really?"
Ayase looked up at Okita, her eyes brimming with excitement, almost on the verge of tears.
"Of course, we're roommates, aren't we?"
Okita gave her a warm, carefree smile and extended her hand. "Let's get along from here on out."
Ayase blinked in surprise, then, with a growing smile, took her hand.
"Yes! Roommates!"
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Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check!
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