Since I moved into the West Wing, Lady Ayano’s been showing up all the ti.
I always see her getting chased around by guys in black suits.
Word is, she’s been ditching her magic lessons.
“Look, it’s Lady Ayano!”
“She’s so pretty…”
“So freaking cute!”
“Like a ray of sunshine~”
“A living saint!”
“We’d die for her!”
The Terminator candidates here are all between sixteen and eighteen. So whenever the pretty little Lady Ayano struts into view, they lose their minds like a bunch of idol fanboys.
“ow~ Ikaku, check it out! Transformation magic!”
Lady Ayano likes turning into a cat. Sotis she goes full feline to shake off her pursuers. Other tis she just pops ears and a tail to act all cutesy.
“Don’t you wanna touch my ears, Ikaku? Looks like you do!”
“Lady Ayano, please—stop pressing all that fluff on .”
“Don’t you wanna touch? Hehe!”
“Ah—no, Lady Ayano, no. Absolutely not. Please—ah—”
She tests my limits daily. Loves to tease with her saccharine “ow~s,” flaunting all that fluff like it’s a damn weapon.
Today, she’s back again.
I’m eating with a few senior candidates, trying to keep my head down and play the humble junior, when she flounces in.
“I’m borrowing Ikaku for a bit!”
The seniors freeze like they’ve seen a ghost and just nod like bobbleheads.
Next thing I know, I’m dragged to the basent shooting range.
“This is bad, Lady Ayano. They’ll think I’m your accomplice.”
“Accomplice in what?”
“I heard you’ve been skipping magical training.”
“Oh, that. I just prefer going at my own pace. Right now I’m in a gun mood, and I want you to coach . That’s the mood. ow~”
“Ah—no, Lady Ayano, please. This is bad… so bad!”
I can’t flat-out refuse her, so whenever she invites , I tag along.
Thing is, she’s already pretty good. With her custom sidearm, she can land nine out of ten shots on a stationary target from twenty ters. I’ve honestly got nothing to teach her.
Still, she keeps inviting .
And what happens?
“Hey, Ikaku. Getting cocky, huh?”
“Sucking up to Lady Ayano to climb the ladder? Eh?”
“She keeps ‘ow~ing’ at you and you just take it. Push back, man!”
“You failed Boot Camp but got in with connections, didn’t you? And now you’re using more connections to get into the Terminators?”
“Don’t you cheat the system, kid!”
Before I knew it, I’d beco public enemy number one.
Two weeks in the West Wing, and I was outcast.
“Dead weight with no mana trying to climb up by playing politics?”
“We should show the instructors how weak you really are.”
“This place is for the strong.”
“You don’t belong here.”
“Go get ‘ow~ed’ sowhere else!”
I end up snapping.
“I’m an outstanding Exorcist. I built myself from the ground up. That’s why I’m here. From where I stand, you seniors are about on my level. But not for long. You’re all so soft, I’ll be surpassing the lot of you in no ti.”
Denying myself would an spitting on Master and my martial brothers who recomnded . I can’t let that stand.
Though honestly, that’s just justifying it later. I don’t have the self-control to stay quiet when soone mocks .
After that little speech, I get challenged constantly.
“Ikaku, Applied Shooting Level 3. Let’s go!”
The seniors keep calling out.
“Perfect score. Twenty points. Thanks for the warm-up, Senior.”
“…”
I usually win without breaking a sweat. Even the top marksman among them never challenges above Level 3.
I usually train at Level 5. It’s not even close.
“You’re being ostracized, Ikaku. Aren’t you?”
Two months passed before Lady Ayano noticed.
She tilts her head, looking puzzled.
“You’re always alone, huh?”
“I train all the ti. No ti for socializing.”
“How stoic! That’s so you, Ikaku. ow~”
“Ah—no, please, this is bad—Lady Ayano—ah—”
I don’t change how I treat her.
Of course I’m worried. I thought about what would happen if Lady Ayano kept favoring . It wouldn’t end well. I wouldn’t make it as a Coral Terminator.
Even Master and my martial brothers were concerned.
“Lady Ayano seems quite taken with you, Ikaku… This may not help your career.”
“I understand, Master. But I’ve been thinking about what loyalty really ans. What it ans to repay a debt.
If I distance myself just to advance, I’d be betraying what I owe the Akai family. That’s not sothing I can allow.
Repaying that debt ans more than playing it safe. It ans being polite. Being reliable. Helping her stay on the right path. That’s how it should’ve been from the start.”
“You’ve made up your mind?”
“Yes, Master.”
“When the ti cos, you’ll leave the estate. You’re ready for that?”
“Yes. Two years and ten months left. After that, I’ll bow, give my thanks, and walk away. My fate isn’t mine to decide. All I can do is give everything I’ve got. The rest is up to the Akai family.”
“I see… Hahaha. You really are sothing. Straight as an arrow, as always.”
Master smiles, giving a deep nod.
“I’m just sorry, Master. Toward you, Senior Brother Ron, and Senior Brother Lee. You’ve all invested so much ti in .”
“What are you saying? Even if they don’t keep you, your Kung Fu, your technique, your wisdom and courage—none of that disappears. I just know you’ll make it as an Exorcist. When the ti’s right, co back with titles and trophies. The Akai family will welco you with open arms.”
With my masters’ blessing, I follow my own path.
I train harder. Sharpen my Kung Fu. Polish my weapon skills. Study everything I can.
And whenever Lady Ayano shows up at the West Wing, I deal with her fluffy antics and glare the bratty candidates into keeping their mouths shut.
And then one day…
“What?! Ikaku, you can’t use mana?!”
The truth I’d been quietly hiding—worried she’d see differently—slips out.
“I get checkups twice a year with Dr. Kobe, but nobody knows what’s wrong.”
“Then I’ll figure it out myself! I may not look it, but I’m a Viscount-rank mage. That ans I’ve got deep knowledge about mana! Co on, follow , Ikaku! This way! I’ll give you a special tour of my magic workshop!”
She leads toward the main building.
Candidates probably aren’t supposed to step foot in there. I know better.
But Lady Ayano is beaming, and I can’t bring myself to say no.
I follow nervously.
And run into a man.
Tall. Well-dressed in a string tie and formal wear. Movie-star handso. Holding a thick book.
“Big Brother! Look, look! This is my childhood friend, Ikaku Tanpakushitsu!”
“Lady Ayano? We’re not childhood friends… are we?”
“Oh… I just thought we were… Turns out it was one-sided… Ikaku doesn’t feel that way…”
“…Pleased to et you, Lady Ayano’s Elder Brother. I have the honor of serving as Lady Ayano’s… childhood friend. Na’s Ikaku Tanpakushitsu. Please excuse the silly na.”
“You’ve got so nerve, punk. Get outside.”
With a grim face, he tosses the book down the hall, grabs my collar, lifts like I weigh nothing, and hurls out the window.
Glass explodes around as I plumt from the second floor, crash-landing into the elegant courtyard fountain with a spray of shards.
Then he jumps down after , rolling up his sleeves.
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