Campione! Vol 5 Chapter 2
Chapter 2 - Another Chaotic School Day
Part 1
Tamaura Shrine was located in the section of Yushima^ closest to the
Kuramaebashi Street.^
Seishuuin Ena was greeting visitors on its grounds.
A few hours had pa.s.sed since her visit to Nanao Shrine, and it was already
evening.
"How do you do, Ena-san. Its been a while. By the way, if you need a
shrine, just pick any modest one you like..," said one of her guests,
Amakasu Touma.
He was a man in the late twenties, clad in a cheap business suit. He
usually ran errands for History Compilation Committee.
But that certainly did not make him an underling. Even amongst the
experts from the committee, he was working directly for the Sayanomiya
family in all of Kantou^
Facing him was Ena, who had already changed from her school uniform
into her miko outfit.
White robes and a red hakama; in her hands, a cloth bag concealed the
mysterious power of her broadsword.
"This shrine is fine. Those places with many people are a pain anyway,
and Ama no Murak.u.mo feels more comfortable here as well. Dont worry
about it."
"If thats so, feel free to stay. I will take care of the paperwork, so use it as
you like."
Ena nodded appropriately at Amakasus words.
She had already talked to the administrator of this place and gotten the key
to the shrine.
She intended to use it as she liked even without being told. The G.o.ds
enshrined here were Oinari,^ Yamato Takeru no Mikoto,^ and Oto
Tachibana no Hime.^
All of them had extraordinary compatibility with the girl and her partner.
There was nothing to criticize, for a temporary home.
"I heard the story from Yuri-san and the head of the Seishuuins. Yeah, how
should I put this..."
"Dont meddle?"
When Ena preemptively interjected with a smirk, Amakasu showed a faint
smile.
"You cant be that blunt now, can you? You actually do feel close to the
Committee, but since those feelings wont show this time..."
"Its what Grampsy said. Yeah, my sympathies..."
"Thank you. By the way, Ena-san, youve already come into contact with
Erica Blandelli and Liliana Kranjcar, havent you?"
As one would expect, the information had traveled fast. Not intending to
hide it, Ena admitted immediately.
"Well yeah. The idea of a.s.saulting Erica in her sleep last night came up..."
"And you left it at that? A wise judgment. The barrier that great knight of
the [Copper Black Cross] raised around her home should provide more
than just any normal defense. Although I would like you to refrain even
more from interfering with her if possible..."
"Why? Finally j.a.pan has its own king, and now some foreign girl is his
mistress? Isnt it better to chase her out?"
At Enas proposal, Amakasu shook his head as though he were
disappointed.
"Maybe so during the era of national isolation, ^ but the times have
changed. Whether its the [Copper Black Cross] or the [Bronze Black
Cross], they are both extremely powerful magic a.s.sociations. It might be as
you say if they were agents of riffraff organizations, but here..."
"Those girls are troublesome?"
"Yes. Its like laying hands on foreign diplomats. In the worst case it might
spark strife between our countries."
Ena understood those feelings well. But she had no intention of changing
her plans.
Politics and diplomacy were too complex for her. Fights were more fun
when they were simple. Matching blades and competing with true strength;
was not that enough?
"Uuuum, sorry. Granny and the others at my place had asked me to drive
those girls out, so I cant just stop now. Fighting it out with her also seems
like fun. Well, lets just leave it at that, okay?"
For the moment, Ena decided to apologize in advance.
Amakasu shrugged his shoulders at Enas frivolous apology, and her other
guest suddenly smiled.
"Your honored grandmother — the directions from the head of the
Seishuuins? And your guardian, the Old One, approves as well. Its unlike
him to hold an interest in worldly power struggles..."
They were the first words of the third party who had kept her silence thus
far.
Sayanomiya Kaoru. As the leader of the Tokyo branch of the History
Compilation Committee, she had authority over the Committee in Kantou.
"Thats strange. Any idea why the Old Man gave such an order?"
"Who knows? Theres no way Ena would know. But even if grampsy looks
heroic, he can be unexpectedly wicked. Maybe hes plotting something?"
While happily giving her reply, she showed Kaoru a wry smile.
Sayanomiya Kaoru had a graceful beauty and an aura of being lost in
some transient world. There was not an ounce of unnecessary fat on her
slender frame.
"You never change, Ena, never bothered about anything. Thats really like
you."
The expression was a bit affectionate. Her smile was clear and charming.
Her delicate and androgynous appearance defied reality. If you called her
a man, she could probably appear as a "gives off no feeling of reality"
pretty boy in a shoujo manga.
But Sayanomiya Kaoru had the same s.e.x as Ena. She was one of
Musashinos Hime-Miko as well.
After finishing the fruitless interview with Seishuuin Ena, they left Tamaura
Shrine.
As Amakasu Touma walked off, his superior Sayanomiya Kaoru followed
next to him.
She was not only the next head of the Sayanomiya family, but also a
candidate for the next leader of the History Compilation Committee.
It was fine that she was still a high school third year. There were no
complaints to be made about her abilities, either. After all, the problem was
her behavior — the crossdressing, for example.
She was currently wearing the boys uniform.
A white shirt with necktie, blazer and pants. Not a pleated skirt, but
trousers for boys.
"Still, I wonder why the Elders decided to increase the number of Kusanagi
G.o.dous lovers," Amakasu tossed the question out to his neither male nor
female superior.
"Until now, they never had any complaints against your plan of leaving it to
Yuri-san alone, so it feels strange. It will only invite vain disorder, so Id
really like to avoid it..."
"Well, I think they have their own thoughts about this," Kaoru said
thoughtfully. At times like these she looked like a dangerously frail beautiful
boy, or maybe girl. Even though he knew her real gender, Amakasu still felt
that way. Strangers would feel the illusion more intensely.
"But if theyre increasing the number of lovers around the Campione,
wouldnt it mean its okay for all the families to offer their daughters and
start a debauched feast? But the Elders sent only Ena. I think thats gutsy."
"So the Elders caved in against pressure from the Seishuuin family,"
Amakasu grinned broadly.
That was impossible. While being convinced of that, he voiced the
complete opposite opinion.
Kaoru probably believed the same thing. As expected, she smiled back
evilly.
"Theres no way. Just like the Sayanomiyas, the Seishuuins are one of the
four families. Especially against the Old One, the Elders cant persist on
such selfishness."
"So its rather that the Seishuuins are being utilized? ...like adorning your
cat with a bell?"
"Or possibly sticking insects onto a lion."
The Elders probably wanted to provoke some kind of reaction from
Kusanagi G.o.dou.
Having matched their opinions, the boss and underling made their way to
the car in silence.
Part 2
Mariya Yuris mornings began early. She woke up before seven oclock
and went to the kitchen.
Both her parents were employed. Her father worked for a certain
restaurant chain (that being said, the proprietor was her fathers father, in
short her grandfather), and her mother lectured at a teaching school.
It was Yuris daily routine to make breakfast in her busy mothers stead.
Sometimes, she would prepare lunch boxes for herself and her little sister
Hikari.
But this morning she made one box too many and left home earlier than
usual.
The Mariya family lived in an apartment complex in Toranomon.^
Although their main house was in the Saitama prefecture, they used the
Toranomon apartment for easy commuting to work and school.
Getting on the Chiyoda line and debarking at Nezu Station was her usual
routine.
However, this morning she used the Ginza line and got off at Suehiromachi
Station. It was to meet Seishuuin Ena. She was informed the girl occupied
a small shrine in Yushima, so she would come to check up on her every
once a while.
With her face flushed red and facing downwards, Yuri rushed to the shrine.
When she opened the unlocked front shrine, she found Ena rolled up in a
sleeping bag, lying on the floor.
"E-Ena-san...!"
She hadnt expected her to sleep in the shrine.
While thinking how horrible that was, Yuri called out quietly.
"Hey, Yuri, morning-. That smells nice-, did you bring me a lunchbox?"
Ena suddenly opened her eyes. Her voice was so clear it did not sound
like she had just woken up.
"Y-yes. I brought your share, too, so if youd like..."
"Of course I do~. You really are sensible, you know-. Youre the number
one girl I want to make my wife. Good girl, good girl. My praises to you."
While bantering like that, Musashinos greatest Hime-Miko opened her
sleeping bag.
She got up, immodestly clad only in a tank top and shorts. She looked
thinner in clothes; while slim, her curves were amazing.
Yuri became embarra.s.sed, as the splendor of Enas body could easily be
seen through her thin clothes.
"B-by the way, were you already awake, Ena-san?"
"I was perfectly asleep. I just woke up when I heard the taptaptap of your
footsteps all the way here. You seemed totally hurried, what was up?"
Immediately waking up because she discerned who came from footsteps.
While amazed by Enas inhuman hearing ability Yuri quietly said: "U-um,
around this shrine there are so many strange buildings..."
"Ah, sorry sorry. Ena was also surprised when she came; it really is full of
dirty hotels, isnt it! Tokyo really is amazing-! But its convenient to have a
convenience store so close. And there are no bears."
Apparently for half a year, Ena had gone through training in a sacred
ground in the mountains.
Laughter born of a wild lifestyle made Yuri blush. They were in a quiet
residential area. But several hotels of a certain kind were erected around
the shrine.
"But you know, Yuri, dont you come to these places as well?"
"I dont! How did you reach such conclusions?!"
Yuri strongly refuted the idea.
However, Ena curiously inquired with a blank face: "Why?"
"I dont! G.o.dou-san and I are only friends! We have a pure relationship!"
"Ehh~? But your rivals, that Erica and Liliana, are foreigners, right? ... Im
not quite sure, but dont they make progress that way?"
"P-progress?"
After putting away the sleeping bag, the two Hime-Miko sat down across
each other in seiza.
Ena accepted the proffered lunchbox, quickly opening the lid and wolfing
down its contents.
"Yeah, your cooking is great as always. Lately Ive only had nuts, wild
plants and the like, so this is exceptional-."
Apparently she had abstained from all kinds of grains. Enas training was
harsher than the one for other Hime-Miko.
Polishing her sword skills, chastising herself again and again, emptying her
mind. Lately Yuri could not stay quiet without discussing this issue as she
worried over the girls body.
"...That is, does G.o.dou san... no, do men prefer a.s.sertive and sensual
women after all?"
"Uhm~, Ena doesnt really know either, but isnt it different-?" Ena said
while happily tasting the white rice.
She spoke frankly, but when sitting in seiza she looked terrifically beautiful.
Her way of eating and mannerisms were good and she sat upright.
Actually, in terms of being a young lady, she exceeded Yuri.
"Yesterday, you know, after I finally came back to Tokyo, I went for some
sightseeing. To Akihabara."
"Ahh, arent there many foreigners around there?"
"And then, after looking through most of the electric appliance stores in the
main street, I also entered the shops in the buildings and other places...
and it was amazing."
"Amazing?"
"Yeah. There were many small stores, all so strange and fascinating.
There are lots of shops that are, you know, completely pink, or like
skin-colored."
"Completely skin-colored...!?"
"Nirvana or Paradise, may be like that. Whether its to the left or right, in
front or behind, there are nude images all over the place. Hey, you know
the Mithuna reliefs- 9 - in India or somewhere? Like those, BAM, a wall of
pictures of naked men and women!"
"Im sure very pious people must have gathered there..."
She had not known Tokyo had such a sacred place for foreigners.
While embarra.s.sed by her own ignorance, she decided that one day she
would go there herself and study it.
"Maybe. Anyway, Ena understood that boys probably like these kinds of
things," Ena remarked as she gobbled down on the vegetable side dishes.
She was looking somewhere far away. Like there was a very sensational
scene going on.
"I think since Kusanagi-san is a boy, hes the same. In the end being naked
will work, definitely!"
"Youre saying too much! Its a bit doubtful at times, but G.o.dou-san
basically is someone diligent!"
"I wonder-. Yuri, youre too fastidious so he just might not be able to say
it."
Yuri was taken aback when her fellow Hime-Miko pointed it out.
On Sardinia, Lucretia Zola had thoroughly lectured her on boys mentality.
But she could not understand that profound theory in the least. Possibly,
the key for a smooth interaction with Kusanagi G.o.dou lay in that.
"By the way, you brought Enas lunch box, but did you properly make one
for Kusanagi-san? Although it doesnt look to me like you have that extra
baggage..."
"Ah, yes. Its just your share."
"You cant do that! Dont forget the shortest way to get close with an animal
is through feeding!"
"B-But there is no reason to. There is no reason to make a lunch box for
that person in the first..."
"Dont worry about that. You need to start acting first! First, need you to
approach him more forcefully, like by asking him to embrace you and
sneaking over at night."
"Sneak over at night!? Please hold it, how did we end up there!?"
"I think its easier to win his heart if you do. Hold nothing back!"
"Me, sneak over at night... dont the men usually do that? First of all, its
illegal nowadays!"^
"Youve got problems- — . Anyway, you need to do at least that much. Ena
will help out too, you see? For now, lets develop your relationship with
Kusanagi-san all across today. Okay?"
Yuri paled in response to Enas exceedingly unreasonable proposal.
"1-1 cant! Thats impossible!"
Part 3
Jounan Academy had segregated physical education for boys and girls.
Two cla.s.ses would take lessons together; then boys and girls would split
up. G.o.dous cla.s.s five was together with cla.s.s six.
The suns rays were still relentless and the temperature was high, too. It
was late summer, but the weather felt like midsummer. Therefore, the pool
was used during physical education.
Once again, the curriculum called for swimming.
But that was only for the girls. The boys had gymnastics in the humid
gymnasium
The feverish atmosphere was stuffy to the limit, and in the swirl of heat and
body odor, the male students did mat exercises or apparatus gymnastics.
"Gentlemen, dont you think this is wrong?"
Someone asked a forceful question.
The speaker was Nanami. He often made problematic statements like
"Actually, Im a sucker for miko."
But he was also an unexpectedly charismatic leader. Whenever people did
something as a group, he was usually found at the center of it all... as
good-for-nothing of a center as he may be.
"Segregated society. Lets think about the meaning of these words once
more, comrades. Gathered here are nothing but men, in a gray wasteland
of a world with neither warmth nor color. Is it fine to submit to this? Most
certainly not!"
Nanami was shaking the gymnasium with the heap of nonsense he was
loudly proclaiming.
Incidentally, the teacher in charge of physical education was absent. A few
minutes earlier, he had left, accompanying a student who had fallen off the
balance beam and apparently fractured a bone. Now they were in the
middle of self-study.
"So if this world is a wasteland, only those! Only those! Who follow their
ambitions will be able to change this place. We have to pry open the doors
of paradise ourselves!"
"Nanami... what you want to say is, in short, that?"
The one who asked was Takagi. He belonged to the Kendo club and, due
to his large build, he was quite able at it.
But he was a man weak to strange influences and easily led astray.
"At this very moment, we must aim for heaven!"
"Yeah. Currently, the place closest to heaven in this school is the pool. The
pool where our girls of cla.s.ses five and six are taking lessons together!
The sacred grounds we are forbidden from entering, the secret flower
garden where more than thirty girls are frolicking in the water and where lily
flowers bloom!^ 11 ^
"But the risk is too high..."
A cool voice poured over them like cold water. Sorimachi derisively
laughed.
The self-styled "Man with 108 little sisters in 2D." As ridiculous as it may
be, it was a weirdness only when carried to an extreme. At least he was
not an ordinary person.
"We boys from cla.s.s five and six number a total of thirty six. This many
people would act at the same time to appreciate the girls at the pool.
Certainly it is a charming idea but we only have forty minutes until cla.s.ses
are over. We wont even be able to make proper preparations in such a
short time. Feelings alone wont take us anywhere..."
Nanami stomped towards the speaker.
Bam! Nanamis fist struck home. Sorimachi sternly looked at the a.s.sailant
who had hit him on the cheek.
"Nanami, you!!"
"I misjudged you, Sorimachi. I never thought you were such a boring man."
The one who struck and the one who was struck were facing each other,
one with anger in his eyes, the other with pity.
"Back then, youd never have used that as an excuse. You boldly faced
even the most difficult missions, a hero dedicated to victory. And yet,
youve turned into such a p.u.s.s.y!"
"What are you talking about, you a.s.shole!"
"About two months ago. On the day before the release of Saint Little
Sister Academy, you fought to see all endings of Together with Onii-chan,
where you have to clear four little sisters, and Imohare!, where you have
to marry seven little sisters. All that while suffering from a 38° fever and
diarrhea..."
"Tsk. You remember some unpleasant things."
Sorimachi looked away from Nanami who was talking about old times.
"Back then I said, Stop already. Just shelve it as c.r.a.p. Your bodys at its
limits. But then you replied..."
"Yeah. Tm a man with 108 little sisters. Im no useless brother who will
abandon a little sister once hes started capturing her. On that one day I
conquered all the endings, and on the next, I devoted all my power to
Saint ik Little Sister Academy..."
Flames were lit in the two boys eyes.
Flames inside their hearts that only lit up when two comrades with burning
spirits understood each other.
"Looks like I forgot my guts from that time. Thank you for reminding me....
This is my thanks!"
"Gun!"
"Hen. How is it. Did you feel it?"
This time Sorimachi did the striking. But Nanami smiled even as he was
sent flying.
His smile seemed to say, Have you finally awoken, you stupid idiot? Just
now, between the two of them, their fists had been words.
"That was a nice punch. It held your spirit. Youve got a hot fist..."
"Shut it. Im done hesitating. Lets fight together."
Sorimachi stretched out his hand and took Nanamis. Like that he pulled
him up. It was an emotional scene of two men deeply understanding each
other after a clash. However, finally getting fed up with it all, G.o.dou said
with a sober voice.
"Hey, guys"
The two comedians directed their stares full of enmity at him.
But G.o.dou kept going, not losing to the pressure.
"Theres so much I want to say right now, but first of all, can you not peek?
You know thats like a crime."
Foop (The sound of heaving a gymnastic mat)
"H-hey, what are you — "
Bam (The sound of said mat being dropped on G.o.dou)
WupWupWup (The sound of male students A, B and C jumping onto the
mat)
"Guha. H-hey, wait a sec, are you trying to crush me?"
Squashed under the bulky, stinking mats, G.o.dou complained.
The weight of the three students weighed down on him, so it was quite
painful. He barely managed to stick his head out from under the mat and
secure some oxygen.
"Dammit, hes alive. Well, killing him would be bad, too."
"If you like, I can finish him."
"Calm down. If we do it, we must do it carefully from where his legs cant
reach."
The three idiots Nanami, Takagi and Sorimachi said some dangerous
things.
G.o.dou loudly asked the other boys surrounding them.
"Do you guys resent me or what? Why the heck do you do this to me?"
"You ask why?"
Nanami glanced down with a cold look.
"Let me ask you then. Kusanagi, why can you say things like Dont peek?"
"Hiding at the school pool and peeking is a hairs width away from
committing a crime. Most of all, dont you feel bad for the girls? Dont ask
me such obvious questions..."
G.o.dou made sound arguments while silently praying for everyone to
quickly regain their senses. If they lost their way over a momentary whim,
in all likelihood they would come to regret it in the future. But that question
made most of the students in cla.s.s five and six go even wilder. Some were
even crying tears of frustration.
"You d.a.m.n hypocrite..."
"d.a.m.n it all. Youre looking down on us because you have no problems
getting girls..."
"Anzai-sensei, we want to see girls in swimsuits!"
"Everyone, calm down. Together with everyones anger and suffering, I will
do the talking. Ill teach this harem b.a.s.t.a.r.d who thinks its normal to capture
several girls at the same time about our pure hearts!"
Nanami took control of everyone present and looked down on G.o.dou once
again.
"Hey, Kusanagi, I like girls in swimsuits. Its no exaggeration to say I love
them."
"Well, I wont criticize your personal hobbies."
"Just shut it and listen. I like girls in swimsuits... thats right. In year one,
cla.s.s five and six, Arakawa-san stands out for having a great body, doesnt
she? And obviously the appeal of Miyama-sans small build and flat chest
strikes home with those enthusiasts. We can expect the swimsuit to bring
forth another kind of charm in the bespectacled Sawa-san, too. And
Nagasatos plumpness should turn into the characteristic soothing aura
that slender girls dont have. But, even so."
Nanami strongly clenched his fist. He probably was about to present his
good-for-nothing pet theory.
"Even if those girls are so fascinating, in terms of idol groups, they wouldnt
be in the front row. They are the second row, so to speak, reserve
members. So, whos the creme de la creme?"
"Hmm... I dont know."
He had an idea of the others emotions, but G.o.dou dared playing dumb.
"Erica-sama with her supremely gorgeous body. Mariya-san who makes
you wonder if shes hiding splendid sizes somewhere. And then there is
Liliana-san who became the Number One girl I want to put in a leotard
with her fairy body... You a.s.shole who monopolizes those celebrated
flowers will never understand what makes our blood boil. No, like youd be
allowed to know!"
"Ive got a proposal! Lets lock Kusanagi-san into the equipment room like
this!"
"Thats a great idea! Alright, someone go find the key!"
"Okay, now its time to pay the piper, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Muahahahaa!"
In response to Nanamis fervent speech, the boys voices strangely started
to well up here and there.
Thus the union of boys from cla.s.s five and six had locked Kusanagi G.o.dou
into the equipment room and started marching toward the paradise of
maidens frolicking in water.
Part 4
"If you think about it, this might be a good chance. Erica, let us finally find
out who is better through swimming."
"A swimming compet.i.tion? With you? No thanks."
Cla.s.ses five and six were having lessons together.
By the poolside, two girls were having a conversation like that.
Of course, they were Liliana Kranjcarand Erica Blandelli. Jounan
Academys swimming uniform was a one-piece with a daring hole in the
back.
The ones wearing it the most splendidly were these girls.
The girls were creating the illusion of the commonplace school pool being
an overseas resort. With their blond and silver hair fluttering in the wind,
they were attracting everyones stares.
"Heheh. Running from a battle is unlike you."
"But in swimming Ive never been a match for you. Our reflexes and
strength are almost the same, and yet... is it because the water resistance
is too different, as I thought?"
"W-what!?"
Liliana in her swimsuit was truly slender.
But being delicate alone should not lead to such results. The Eastern
European girl was so slender it seemed she would break if held too
strongly. And though she was so slim, she had wonderfully long limbs. Her
nape like a swan. Her well-arranged features like a fairy.
Her slenderness, fleetingness, all merged to make Liliana shine.
However...
Her artistic beauty might be of an Eastern European fairy.
But in terms of physical beauty in swimsuits, in sensual charm, Erica came
out on top after all. Skin toned light-brown on Sardinia. The swellings of her
b.r.e.a.s.t.s looking like large fruits. Her hip, inviting the sighs of onlookers. The
perfect curve of her a.s.s.
And the elegance that naturally showed off all of that.
There was no forced appeal. On the other hand, she did not hide it from
inquisitive eyes either.
Shining just by being there.
Erica Blandelli was that kind of girl. Seeing her standing there was dazzling
even for Yuri.
"Certainly, you have always been better developed than me! But that does
not mean I will take you calling me almost flat hands down!"
"Oh my, I only meant that you were lighter than me, Lily?"
Erica smiled impishly.
Enraged, Lily flared up.
One might think of these two as being fairly close, but at least the
silver-haired girl denied it. At any rate, Liliana seemed to feel no timidity
towards Erica.
It made Yuri envious. That said, Ena had told her before.
[Im not quite sure, but dont they make progress that way?]
Certainly not only the extravagant Erica, but also the straight-laced Liliana
was radiating intense self-a.s.sertion and positiveness.
Compared to those girls, she herself was... At this point Yuri was terrified.
(What was I thinking just now!? It was like I was competing with Erica-san
and Liliana-san over G.o.dou! No, that cant be true. G.o.dou and I are just
friends. A bit closer than usual, and there are just circ.u.mstances we cant
really tell people about, and...)
While she thought so, a curious emotion welled up in Yuris chest.
She felt a pain constricting her chest, a cold uneasiness nesting itself in
the pit of her stomach, a sweet and sour hope; all those feelings were
mixing inside her.
Haa. She sighed. When she did, someone talked to her from beside her.
"Whats up, Mariya-san? Do you feel bad? Should I call the teacher?"
It was the smallest girl in cla.s.s six, Miyama-san.
She was 145cm tall and baby-faced on top of it. Apparently she was often
mistaken for an elementary schooler.
"Ah, no, thats not it."
Taking her eyes off Erica and Liliana in a hurry, Yuri awkwardly smiled.
It truly was a j.a.panese insincere smile. In return, Miyama-sans expression
turned dark.
"Well yeah, even without asking I have my ideas... But, I think its unfair if
even you are bothered by that. You dont understand the troubles of the
less fortunate, or rather, your troubles are too luxurious... Anyway, its too
unfair!"
"Mi-Miyama-san? Just what do you want to say?"
Feeling the indignation in the rebuke, Yuri faltered.
At that point cla.s.s sixs cla.s.s committee member Sawa-san cut in.
"Yuri-san... Miyama-san wants to say, If they have no bread, let them eat
cake. Dont f.u.c.k with me, you see? How dare you complain if youve got
such excellent goods yourself."
Her red-framed gla.s.ses were shining.
Sawa-san was slender; her grades placed her at the top of her year.
Although she was a first year, the drama club entrusted her with a lead
role. That girl suddenly latched onto Yuri.
She grabbed Yuris chest from above the bath towel she had draped over
her swimsuit!
"K-kya!?"
"See? Whats with these nice b.o.o.bies? They spill out of your hands when
you try to fondle them. They have achieved the supreme balance between
neither too large nor too small. With miraculous tightness and softness and
a beautiful silhouette... In a sense, these are the best. The first-rate taste
limited to j.a.panese beef. Those tasteless foreign products cant hope to
compete! They are wonderful, Mariya-san. Come to the drama club with
me and lets aim for the top of the..."
"P-please stop, Sawa-san. T-take your hands off me!"
"You mustnt, Sawa-san, calm down! If you are like that, Mariya-san will!"
A few dozen seconds later. Although panting, for different reasons,
Yuri-san and Sawa-san had regained their calm.
Miyama-san was watching the two with worried eyes.
"I-Im sorry. I saw some nice raw material and just had to invite you..."
"N-no, I am terribly sorry for making you lose your composure..."
"Sawa-san sure turns into a beast sometimes. Ah, Mariya-san, I dont think
you need to be jealous of others. If you are bothered, what am I going to
do?"
Miyama-san murmured while looking down at her own figure.
Her limbs were childish and put badly, her build belonged in elementary
school.
Anyway, the one-piece did not suit her.
A childs swimsuit would be better. With that thought, Yuri was a.s.sailed by
pangs of guilt.
She realized just how rude her feelings before were. And beside her,
Sawa-san tried comforting Miyama-san.
"Hey, Miyama. There are also fellows like Sorimachi from cla.s.s five who
say But thats what makes it good! Dont give up hope!"
"This isnt funny anymore! Sorimachi of all those strange guys!?!"
Yuri suddenly noticed an unrest in her heart.
It was the moment she heard the name of that boy from cla.s.s five. Did not
that feeling resemble a revelation from her spirit vision? She looked
around.
In the pool. Several girls were swimming towards the other side.
By the poolside. Of course there, too, were nothing but girls. The
supervising teacher was a woman, too.
While she was looking around restlessly, Erica and Liliana approached her.
"Whats up, Yuri? You seem odd. Did you see something by any chance?"
"Did you pick up a sign of danger? My senses have caught nothing, but
you are far more sensitive than I am. If you like I can investigate."
"Ah, no. It didnt feel that important..."
Yuri briefly explained the circ.u.mstances.
When she was done, Erica turned once in a circle, checking the
surroundings and fixating at one point.
"Hey, Lily. If someone tried doing something bad close to this pool,
wouldnt that careless fellows most likely pick that place?"
Pine trees were planted beside Jounan Academys pool, facing the school
building.
That thickly grown line of trees shut out stares from those sides.
But the side without such a blind also had a building. The wooden old
school building that would apparently be demolished in a month. It had not
been in use for nearly ten years and been sealed...
That is where Erica focused her gaze.
"Hmm. You just want to make me investigate it, so dont act so inviting. Its
impudent."
Liliana closed her eyes while muttering.
Yuri felt a small amount of magical power leak from her closed eyes and
jump towards the old school building.
It should be wizardry that linked one of the five senses to a distant place.
She had probably made her "sight" scan the area.
"I found them. There are some worthless fellows there."
"Oh my, what bad people... so, how are we going to punish them?"
When Liliana gave her report, Erica maliciously chuckled.
Yuri watched uncomfortably when the two magi who could be called the
top of their generation in Europe took fighting stances.
Part 5
"Dammit! Doing whatever they please!"
In the equipment room, Kusanagi G.o.dou finally managed to escape from
under the mountain of mats.
The combined armies of boys from cla.s.s five and six had pushed into the
room, dragged all the mats over, stacked them on top of him, and then
tightly locked the room.
"Now all I need is to get out of here..."
G.o.dou glared at the door of the equipment closet.
It was locked. There were no tools or skills to break it. That only left
breaking through by ramming it with his body.
Destroying school property was bad. If there were other ways he should
take those.
G.o.dou reached that reasonable conclusion. But...
The moment he thought of it, a certain image floated up in his head. On
Sardinia he had seen Erica parading in her swimsuit on many occasions.
He had not seen Lilianas swimsuit, but it had to suit her very well.
...Those ill-bred idiots were scheming to appreciate that view.
For some reason anger built in his chest. And then he reconsidered.
Yeah, emergency situations require emergency measures. In such a
situation he did not have to take the safe route. On the contrary, that would
be a defense against negligence. Therefore, G.o.dou decided to force his
way through.
It was just when he had finished making s.p.a.ce in the equipment room and
gotten ready to charge against the door.
"G.o.dou-kun, you alright? Wait a sec, Ill let you out now."
He had heard that voice before. It belonged to Ono, a boy in his cla.s.s.
Clackclack.
He heard a key being turned and then the door opened and showed a
small boy with frizzy hair.
"Sorry, they hid the key so it took some time."
"Not at all, you really helped me. Thanks."
Ono shyly laughed when G.o.dou thanked him.
"Of course, not everyone went along with the three idiots. Including me,
about a third of us have stayed here."
"Still, the fact remains that two-thirds went with them. Thats rather more
impressive."
Urged by Ono, a shocked G.o.dou left the equipment room. Guided by
anger he decided that he would hurry to the pool as quickly as possible
and obstruct their plan.
"G.o.dou-kun, are you perhaps thinking of interfering with them?"
"Of course. How could I just let it go like this?"
"I see. Then... I wont say its for saving you, but could I ask you for one
thing?"
Embarra.s.sedly, Ono presented him a tiny digital camera.
Come to think of it, Ono was part of the photography club. Thinking that
must have been why he was allowed to bring such a thing to school,
G.o.dou inclined his head.
"Uhm, what do you want exactly?"
"Actually, I really like girls with gla.s.ses. Its no exaggeration to say I love
them. So I was wondering, if you go to the pool, could you use the
occasion to take a picture of Sawa-san in her swimsuit? Peeping is bad
after all, but if it happens while saving the girls, its that, isnt it?"
II II
G.o.dou suddenly turned his back on Ono who was staring at him like a wet
puppy.
"Alright, Ill be off. Thanks for getting me out of there!"
"Kusanagi-kun! The camera!"
Leaving the appealing voice behind, G.o.dou dashed off to the pool.
This is a story that G.o.dou heard later.
The boys of cla.s.s five and six under Nanamis command broke into the old
school building, which was slated for demolishing. There were about fifteen
of them.
The insolent boys broke through the sealed door and entered the old
school building.
Occupying the third floor, they steeled themselves to gaze at the frolicking
girls by the waterside without any kind of cover.
However, the pool was quite a distance away.
With their eyesight they could not see any details.
So they devised a plan to fulfill their desire to confirm the B W H
measurements exactly. Takagi remembered he had binoculars in his bag
for watching sports and rushed back to the cla.s.sroom.
During ten minutes until his return, all the others could do nothing but wait.
The unclimatized old school building was hot, dusty, and stank of the
sweat and body odors of the gathered boys.
And finally the desired item reached them, cooped up in that coa.r.s.e
environment. It seemed like the whole place was trembling in excitement
before the opening of heavens gates.
Then the old school building collapsed with a thunderous roar.
G.o.dou ran for his life and finally got close to the pool.
Where were they? Where were those idiots trying to appreciate the girls?
Restlessly looking around the surroundings, he tried coming up with a
guess. At that moment, he heard a terrible sound.
Looking in its direction, G.o.dou was shocked.
The wooden old school building was about to collapse with a thunderous
roar.
The walls, the pillars, the floor — all the building materials broke into small
pieces, got smashed up, and lost their form.
The sight was so spectacular, it seemed as though the strain of time had
made them wither in mere moments. With cracking sounds, the old wood
crumbled. And then, one could hear screams from the inside.
"WHAT THE h.e.l.l!?" or "The floor! The floor!"
"Dont mind me, save the little sisters on my hard drive!" or "I really was a
sucker for miko!"
Obviously, the boys of cla.s.s five and six were buried under the rubble of
the old school building.
Those guys had probably peeked from there.
But now, they were shocked by the sudden disaster movie they found
themselves in and struggled in their pain.
It looked like they were all going through some painful experiences.
Bruises, scratches — they might even have bone fractures. You could say
they got what they deserved, but he could not deny himself some pity.
Usually, such a supernatural phenomenon should not happen.
G.o.dou noticed the girls loitering near the old school building right away.
It was the usual three. Ericas scornful expression betrayed happiness over
the boys suffering, and Lilianas expressed righteousness served.
Only Yuri was worriedly watching the groaning boys.
All three of them were wearing windbreaker jackets or bath towels over
their uniform swimsuits.
"I knew it was you guys... now, whose plan was this?"
"Mine. I only wanted to use [Pulverization] magic for a bit. Looks like that
school building really has gotten old. Usually it shouldnt completely
collapse with the amount of magic power I used."
Erica composedly answered G.o.dou, who came running.
He had heard that she was good with magic that creates or transforms
stuff, but such a trump card was unexpected.
"I can mostly guess what happened, but didnt you overdo it a little?"
"What should I have done? The spell worked better than expected. ...and
isnt it fine? With this, punishment has been dealt. The original revenge I
had thought of was more complex."
Erica happily showed a devils smile.
Not of the usual devil toying with humans, though. It belonged to a devil of
the cruel, coldhearted kind.
"That is correct, Kusanagi G.o.dou. Punishment for sins, purification for
impurity. As a knight, I also intended to drop the hammer of justice on that
dirty undertaking."
Lilianas expression was stern.
It was the gallant, sublime expression of a knight backed by her ideals.
Erica and Lilianas expressions were polar opposites but, apparently, the
convictions in their hearts led them in the same direction.
While thinking that those two got along somehow or other, G.o.dou looked
at Yuri. Unlike the knights, she was the only one who looked like she
wanted to say something.
"What is it, Mariya? Something you want to tell me?"
"Ah, no. Theres only one little thing which has bothered me..."
Her bashfulness made her incredibly lovely.
With her upper body covered by a bath towel, Yuri was fidgeting — trying to
evade G.o.dous eyes and turning her face away.
"G.o.dou-san, is it possible that you, like those boys, want to see us in
s-swimsuits?"
"...eh?"
It was an unexpected question. That Yuri would actually ask him such a
thing.
Fl.u.s.tered, G.o.dou averted his eyes from the completely flushed red
Hime-Mikos swimsuit.
"N-no. 1-1 dont especially have such an interest..."
G.o.dou went for the harmless and inoffensive answer.
His words trailed off towards the end, maybe because he knew he was
pretending.
But what other choice did he have? Even inadvertently, he was living
surrounded by beautiful girls. He was in no place to be thoughtless.
"1-1 see. Thats right, isnt it! Im glad I asked you, G.o.dou-san. I was right in
believing you stood above such carnal desires!"
Yuris expression was obviously relieved.
Good. Looks like it hadnt failed. It was just when G.o.dou felt relieved —
"What a stupid thing are you asking, Yuri? Of course he isnt!"
"Although reluctant, I have to agree with Erica. She is absolutely right.
Mariya Yuri, our lord is the king among kings in lechery."
The two knights cut in with confident expressions.
"I havent forgotten the hot night I spent with G.o.dou on Sicily. At that time
G.o.dou he, he stared at my stark naked body and then it got really rough. I
wont let him say he has no interest in a womans naked body."
Ignoring the startled G.o.dou, Erica kept talking. Meanwhile Lilianas face
turned bitter.
"The rumored affair in Zamparinis mansion? Had I been there, I would not
have permitted Erica to do as she pleased. Kusanagi G.o.dou, if your male
desires ever become too much for you to handle, please call me. A-As a
knight, I shall be of service without fail..."
"W-werent there intricate circ.u.mstances at that time? And Liliana, what the
heck are you saying!"
After shouting, G.o.dou looked at Yuri right away. Although he had finally
tricked her, after this topic it was all for naught. As he thought, her facial
expression betrayed her shock.
"No... no way. So G.o.dou is like the others after all, just like Ena-san said...
I-Im terribly sorry. I need to sort out my feelings, so please excuse me."
Fast-talking, Yuri excused herself and ran off.
Without the words to stop her, G.o.dou saw her off dumbly.
Part 6
"Oh, Yuri, running away-. Hey, Amakasu-san, what were they talking
about just now?"
"How would I be able to hear? Please dont ask me."
They were in a room on the seventh floor of an apartment building.
They had managed to slip into a room that happened to be open thanks to
Amakasu Toumas connections.
From its window, they could overlook the grounds and buildings of the
Private Jounan Academy.
"But, Amakasu-san, cant you read lips? Werent you a ninja?"
"Could you call me something else? That sounds like Im a fake... can you
at least make it spy? Also, I cant read lips, but I can understand the
conversation through deduction."
The two of them were sitting next to each other by the window, using
binoculars.
They perfectly showed the pool and the ruins of the former school building,
G.o.dou and the girls.
Right now, Yuri was running away from G.o.dou.
"Really? You rock-. No less from Kaoru-sans right hand man."
"Come on, as long as you have adequate knowledge and imagination, its
just basic reasoning. It probably went like this. Yuri said something like
Idiot! I dont like you or anything! I HATE you!, I bet."
"Eh? I dont think Yuris the type to say that-"
"I just thought it would be interesting and added my own hopes."
Getting tired of pa.s.sing each other the ball in this fruitless conversation,
Ena took her eyes from the binoculars.
"Hmm. Alright, I decided."
"What would that be? Are you returning to the main house?"
"As if. I decided I couldnt leave it to Yuri alone. I should support her from
now on. Seems more fun and all."
"Why do I feel like thats a really bad idea..."
Ena broadly grinned while ignoring Amakasus impoliteness.
Magic had caused the wooden school building to collapse in a moment like
it had deteriorated.
From that spell alone she could deduce Erica Blandellis skill. That was the
true worth of todays observations. She was great after all. An enemy worth
fighting.
Ena nodded in satisfaction and reached for her metal partner on the floor.
It would be a satisfying battle for the sword, too. And they would be the
ones winning.
References
1 . t Yushima: a neighborhood in Bunkyo Ward, Central Tokyo.
2. t Kurumaebashi Street: An important street in Tokyo, leading from
the Bunkyo Ward to National Highway 14.
3. t Kantou: geographical region of j.a.pan that centers around the
Tokyo metropolitan area.
4. t Oinari: also Inari Ookami, a deity (sometimes depicts as three or
five deities) of fertility, rice, agriculture, foxes, and industry; with pure
white kitsune foxes serving as messengers, inari often appears in
popular j.a.panese culture (and thus anime) as a fox spirit.
5. t Yamato Takeru no Mikoto: a legendary prince of the Yamato
Dynasty; his father Emperor Keiko feared his brutal temperament and
sent him on numerous campaigns, hoping for his death. But his aunt, a
miko of Amaterasu (j.a.panese sun G.o.d), lent him the Sword of
Kusanagi (also named Ama no Murak.u.mo, Enas sword here) to a.s.sist
him; nevertheless, he died tragically of an illness after blaspheming
one of the local G.o.ds.
6. t Oto Tachibana no Hime: consort to the prince, who sacrificed
herself to pacify the spirits of the sea during Emperor Keikos campaign
to take Kazusa province.
7. t National Isolation: since 1630s and prior to 1854 when
Commodore Perry forcibly opened j.a.pans doors, j.a.pan had a foreign
policy of Sakoku (Locked Country) where no foreigner may enter and
no j.a.panese may leave, under penalty of death.
8. t Toranomon: literally Tigers Gate, Toranomon is a business district
in central Tokyo.
9. t Mithuna: Mithuna is the tantric term for the union of
lovershttp://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Maithuna. The reliefs it refers to here
are probably the ones outside the Lakshman temple in the Khajuraho
Group of
Monumentshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khajuraho_Group_of_Monuments
10. t Sneak over at night... illegal these days: Yuri is referring to the
j.a.panese practice of
Yobaihttp://www.j.a.panfortheuninvited.com/articles/yobai-night-crawling.html,
where young men would silently crawl into a sleeping womans room
and sleep with her if she consented. In many cases, this was done by
a guy both the family/girl knows, and sometimes even with the consent
of the girls parents. There were similar practices in pre-modern Europe
often referred as climbing the window, usually done by lovers or
officially engaged pairs whom could not get married yet due to special
circ.u.mstances (e.g. guy was still an apprentice).
11. t Where Lily Flowers Bloom: As you may guess, its a Yuri
reference (the j.a.panese terminology for Girls Love/Shoujo-ai, not the
character), as yuri (Hn* ) literally means lily.