Volume 2 Chapter 1 (1/2)
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Tsuchimikado Yakou had two retainers, to aid and protect him
One nayouki
She kneas hilance The moment she first saw him, she couldn't control her intense heartbeat
His handsome, proper facial features, a head of jet-black hair alirl's, and particularly that exceptionally concentrated aura He was independent, withdrawn, but it was hard to conceal his noble and stately presence
Each student at the Onic that they were talented at, but this person excelled at all of the the new students
The descendant of the great Onmyouji Abe no Seimei
The heir to the Tsuchimikado Onmyoudou family
The reincarnation of Tsuchimikado Yakou - as said to be the ancestor of ic community - Tsuchimikado Natsume
No one in the classroom knew his life story, so he had his fill of attention, but at the saet close to him, so his existence stuck out like a sore thu situation and his own position early on, so he deliberately stayed away fro to a snobbish attitude
He was always alone
Maybe it had been so in the past as well
”Yeah”
So, when she sat in front of him, she knew that every student in the classroom drew in a breath, but she didn't care Even if all of the students kept their distance from her later on, she would still accompany him She had decided this since the day they had proo
He noticed so at him, his s difference froed was the vague memories inside her own heart
Her heart thumped abnormally intensely
She s heartbeat
”I, It's been a while, Natsume-kun Do you still remember me?”
Doubt and caution showed fro as if he didn't renize her
She tried her best to suppress the anticipation and anxiety roaring in her heart, saying: ”I'm Kurahashi+ Kyouko, from the Kurahashi+ family”
She realized in her heart that these were already childhood h they were et, maybe he didn't feel the same
But she still prayed, hoping that he was the sa that he still remembered the events on that once-in-a-lifetime day
But the moment he opened his mouth to say 'Ah, its you--', for some reason his face was pale, and his tone was hasty, as if he were trying to ss over
His voice was abnorirl's
His voice suddenly changed from her memories
”Y, You're froht? So? What do you need from me?”
His tone sounded a bit fretful, even angry
He really had forgotten
She couldn't fault him for it She understood in her heart, but it was no saze he directed towards her like he was looking at an enemy
However long ago she had realized that he otten, this cold look and attitude was outside of her expectations Sheher mouth
The silence was like a knife's edge cutting through her skin
He was obviously distraught aaze to the side
”I, If there's nothing, could you please leave? I want - Let me be alone”
He stood up after saying this, leaving her as if he were escaping
She didn't chase after hiazes of the room's students, her mind totally blank
Before entering the academy, she hadn't even dreamed of this scene
But, this was the reunion she had dreamed of
”Huh, here? It's this building? Is it really here?”
”Yeah”
Tsuchimikado Harutora opened hisat the building towering before hiood friend Ato Touji showed a bit of curiosity fro from under his bandanna
The building's elegant and refined appearance clearly gave off a different style than the other buildings
The glossy granite brick outer wall of the building was original, the orderlyfraht scarlet to add a touch of beauty to the solid exterior, creating the overall i presented a concise modern style and displayed the solemn atmosphere of a temple at the same time
The institution developing a handful of National Onmyouji, the Onmyou Academy
The On in front of them
”I heard it was an 'Acadeht it would be very old, and more importantly, wasn't it a historic school”
”The Onmyou Academy has about half a century of history, but this is a new school building just completed last year”
”In other words, everything inside is new equipood, huh?”
”I didn't know that”
Cohtly shocked Harutora, Touji was just like always, replying indifferently
The two of the the same uniform
However, the uniforms on their bodies were quite different fro deep, dark unifore - es
They earing the uniform of the Onmyou Academy, and the two of them would be Onmyou Academy students from today onward
”I still feel like I'm an outsider”
”You better prepare your heart”
”I was prepared to becoo probably?”
”Didn't you just correct yourself?”
Touji coldly pointed out
It was unknohether Touji's body was better or the uniform was made for taller people, but Touji stood out the first time he wore the Onmyou Academy uniform
On the other hand, Harutora who still wasn't used to it fidgeted his body uncomfortably under his brand-new uniform
”Since I have the spirit-seeing ability and I'o Or maybe I should say I had no choice but to obediently accept my fate”
He unconsciously felt under his left eye as he said this
There was a pentagram under Harutora's left eye, as if tattooed It was the proof that he had sworn to becoami - it could be said that this was the mark of an incantation
Harutora and Natsume had both been born in a historic Onmyoudou family - the Tsuchimikado family The two of theami could be described as 'retainers' that served Onenerations was that branch faami to serve the main family
However, the branch family member Harutora didn't have any qualifications to become a practitioner, unlike the enius froe Because he had never developed the ability to see aura - the skill of spirit-seeing - he had naturally ignored the tradition that required hih school student studying in a h school instead
However, on a suo - Harutora had been pulled into soood friend In order to avenge his friend, he had becoami, and had decided to walk the path of an Onmyouji
As the main faraduating from middle school, but Harutora had only followed in Natsu the academy today
Having said that
”It was really busy back then After things ended, I frantically prepared for the entrance exam, and by the time I could actually enter the On felt like a dream”
”You seem scared to me”
”Can't you say it a bit more tactfully?”
The Tsuchimikado family had actually been the apex of national On since deteriorated by now, losing its forh his father was an Onmyou doctor, Harutora himself had lived a life separate from Onmyouji
Until half a ed
Now, he had transferred to Tokyo, wore the Onmyou Acade The sudden change in environardless of how much he had resolved
”It was really a long road to get here”
”But you just arrived”
Touji's reply was as harsh as usual, contrasting to Harutora whose feelings were mixed
But speaking of that, Touji was also transferring to the Onh his position was different from Harutora's
In the past, Touji had once been involved in a disaster caused by spirits - namely, a spiritual disaster - and because of the side-effects that he still suffered, he had to undergo the treatment of an Onmyou doctor as Harutora's father Affected by Harutora's decision to enter the world of Onside him, in order to be able to look after himself
”We're only standing at the starting line right now, so it's way too early to get scared Also, Harutora, you seeet your position at all If you're not a bit et 'eaten'”
”What? What do you et 'eaten'?”
Harutora frowned upon hearing those threatening-sounding words
Touji s a conceited smile
”Listen well Even if you're a branch family, you were born as a Tsuchi of students frooals are to become Onmyouji It's different from the school ere at before, and everyone will react i your name This place is probably already in an uproar frootten everyone's attention even before entering the academy”
”B, But, Natsume's here too Since even the main family heir entered the academy, even if a branch family member like me comes too now”
”Don't be naive!” Touji fir to the flustered Harutora
”Think carefully about it, what kind of position is the main family heir in the Onmyou Academy? She's the next heir to the Tsuchiy' Don't you think she would be known to all and much admired?”
”Uh, that, that makes sense”
”And now you, a branch family member rather than ato the One time In any case, no one in the industry doesn't know the Tsuchimikado name, and moreover the name is 'notorious', so the responses won't be too friendly Make sense?”
”Uh, but”
”There will be so pure curiosity towards the Tsuchimikado family, but there will be so their ability by defeating a Tsuchimikado, even idiots who try to attach themselves to you With that, there should be a few people with the thoughts 'since the enius is unreachable, I should try the branch faht?”
Harutora really wanted to deny it with a loud 'you're wrong', but not only was he unable to deny it, he even believed that there was an extreh chance
Onmyouji was a widely-known profession in the spiritual-disaster-ridden modern era
Even so, it was still a peculiar profession Due to quality requirely exclusive It wasn't li Onmyouji, but extended to students or trainees of this world, like Harutora and Touji ould step into this world from now on
Incidentally, Harutora had full confidence in his bad luck
”But I'm just an outsider!”
”What does that matter, since all they're concerned about is the name Tsuchimikado”
Touji replied calhtened, paled Harutora
This friend of Harutora had once been a juvenile delinquent His exterior was callous, but he was actually a good guy Harutora was confident that Touji would help hier
”Alright, no need to be scared, you'll definitely be fine, Harutora”
”This is the least convincing thing you've said this year”
Harutora stared askance at Touji The originally ignorant anxiety and confusion had all been turned into actual feelings of danger and tension by Touji's remarks
Even if he was Natsuami, it was actually just in naical restraints, so his spiritual power hadn't visibly increased He was still an outsider, just like the past
But--
”I can only endure it” Harutorabefore him
He had already promised with Natsume Also--
Wait and see, Hokuto
He muttered for the friend who had disappeared without a trace - but as still out there somewhere
”This uniform”
”Yeah?”
”I really wish I could wear it for Hokuto to see”
”I guess”
For so tiuilt, and a wry smile mixed subtly into his expression It seemed quite complex, but Harutora didn't pay attention
”Alright, no point in dawdling here, let's go!”
Saying this, Harutora and Touji walked into the acadeether
There were two sets of automatic doors positioned in the entrance of the On that rese rather than a school
But
”As expected of the Onmyou Academy, their security spells are top-notch” Touji suddenly spoke from in front of the doors, and Harutora replied with an 'indeed', expressing his agreement
Touji's words didn't ical security spell The basics of ic were to s The aura inside the Onreater than outside of the building Though he didn't understand how this was the case, it seeic
Natsu ability when she had inally spirit-insensitive Harutora into her shi+kigami, and therefore he was also able to feel the 'security spell' that Touji spoke of
”Right, Natsu”
”Yeah, never s nowadays are equipped with these security systeic, since there are always spiritual disasters in Tokyo these days”
Saying this, Touji walked through the first set of automatic doors, and suddenly and immediately stopped as the second set of doors opened
”Look”
”Komainu[1]?”
There were stone statues that looked like dogs or lions set to the left and right of the interior set of automatic doors, similar in shape and style to the kolance, this set of ko's modern style, but itlook
”Uh, this is pretty fitting for the Onmyou Academy environment”
”Don't touch theht bite”
”Haha, this is the On if they could move or talk”
”Yes, I can indeed move, and I can also speak”
The ko its body
Harutora unconsciously leaped backwards, and even Touji who had been joking around widened his eyes in surprise
”I, Itactually spoke!”
”Why are you so panicked, didn't you just say that it wouldn't be surprising if we could move and speak?”
The ko with the dumbstruck Harutora It spoke with a deep voice, and the other komainu nodded its head
Touji co: ”shi+kigami?”
”Correct, but don't think of us as any ordinary shi+kigami”
”We are high-level ic by the principal herself, nae of this post on our master's orders since the Onmyou Academy opened”
The two koh they looked from the outside like two stone statues, it seemed that they had the ability to flex and bend
”Which of you is Alpha, and which is Oa?”
”I am Alpha”
”I aa”
The koht replied to Harutora's question in order, so in other words the right-hand koa One could notice with a careful glance that there was a short horn growing out of Oa's head
Harutora shook his head blankly
”A, even Natsus”
”What are you calling things, child? Don't be rude”
”These kinds of shi+kigah they're the principal's shi+kigaht? Could it be that you were constructed like a mechanical-type?”
”Oh, you're quite knowledgeable However, having that e is natural since you are a student here”
The ko attitude, and though it used well-knit and arrogant language, maybe its personality was unexpectedly friendly
”I had thought I was co in for a company interview just now, but now it suddenly becaic”
”It sees here, pretty interesting”
Touji grinned at the Harutora as shaking his head
Then, Alpha corrected its posture
”We have already heard about your business, but we iven First, state your names”
”Ah, okay, I'm Tsuchimikado Harutora”
”I'm Ato Touji”
The two of them stated their full names in succession, and the two ko back into stone statues
But, that state didn't last long, and after a ain:
”The voiceprint and aura of Tsuchimikado Harutora and Ato Touji have been confirmed and recorded”
”Welcome to the Onmyou Academy Learn well from your fellow students in order to refine yourselves and become excellent Onmyouji”
Alpha's and Oa's voices were soleained entry into the school building's ic security system
”We have also recorded your shi+kigami, but next time you will have to state your name yourself”
But, Alpha added on those words
Harutora al backwards at Touji and checking whether he had heard wrong However, Touji shrugged his shoulders, also puzzled
Harutora turned back to Alpha
”Did you say ami?”
”Correct”
”My shi+kigami has already been recorded? What does that ami”
Harutora knew very well that he was an outsider, and it was practically a otten in to the Onami
”Harutora, ami?”
”Really? But that way of saying it is too strange Alpha, can you say it clearly?”
Alpha opened its mouth, about to reply to Harutora's question-- ”Wait” But Oa interrupted their conversation from the side
Ole bit just like before, as if its soul had drifted away, and thenwhile
In the end, it was a koe was visible in the expression on Oa's face
But it still informed Harutora and Touji in a carefully composed tone:
”Our master has notified us that you two are to head directly to the principal's office”
”Is it them?”
”It seems so”
He leaned against the wall, standing in a blind spot by the first-floor corridor that was invisible from the entrance, and watched the two students take the elevator with a genuinely interested gaze
”How boring-looking”
”Don't say that, let's watch what happens first”
A light sed on his lips, and then he pulled his body away fro
The principal's office was at the top of the acade
After leaving the elevator that they hadn't been able to hear any machinery sounds from, Harutora and Touji walked to the end of the corridor
This acade, simply decorated hallways that were a bit monotonic It seeht be cursed objects or ical tools On the wall, there were suits of armor, dirty pewter staffs, burial vests that see his attention
In addition, there wasn't a trace of dirt on the glass cases housing these objects, not a single speck of dust on the floor, and even the ornamental plants by the side had been meticulously taken care of
”Could it be that shi+kiga this place?”
”It's very possible”
After all, this building had the kouards Harutora felt very interested, iaht
”I thought shi+kigaon and the horse Yukikaze that Natsuators used had the same use, but could it be that there are actually do clothes and cleaning?”
”There are general shi+kigami sold on the market that have unliic requires considerable qualifications, or in other words, only specialized Exorcists can use them The price isn't cheap either, so if there were truly 'doami, I don't think there would be many people ould find the money to buy them”
”Excuse ic?”
Harutora's question
”I'et into the Onuidelines foric officially recognized as being effective”
Modern ic that the On truly effective, and the lower-class ory The ancient 'forbidden ed to the latter
Usage of ic required qualifications as an official Onmyouji, or more accurately, one needed to pass the First-Class or Second-Class Onency Harutora and the others were entering the Onmyou Academy in order to obtain those official qualifications
”As for first-class ae of Onmyoudou is extremely limited”
”Uh why is that?'
”The laere set that way”
Touji explained casually, his hands still stuck in his pockets
Touji had spent a long time interested in Onmyoudou since the spiritual disaster had left side effects on his body He relied on his self-taught knowledge, as compared to Harutora who lived without such cares but as used to hearing about these things
”I see, so in other words, the Onami everywhere?”
”In the end, it's a place specially established and designed to foster Onmyouji”
”Could it be that even the teachers are shi+kigaht?”
”I at least know that there are shi+kiga the students”
”Huh? Really?”
”Yeah, and he's even a fool”
Touji s his head When the foolish shi+kiga to, the two of them had already walked into the principal's office
There was a si on the plain door - 'Principal's Office'
Touji ignored Harutora who had begun getting tense again, cal on the door to the principal's office
No one responded
He raised his hand, about to continue knocking, when-- ”Come in” A response came from under his feet
Harutora cried out like a surprised child, and Touji stepped back fro his surprise A cat had approached the two of them at some time and now looked up at them from the floor
It was a supple-furred calico cat, and it showed a keen gaze as it looked at Harutora and Touji, lightly knocking on the door with its long tail
”The door's open, come in”
It see komainu
”Is this the principal's hobby? Or are Ono?”
”Hoould I know?”
Harutora asked tiredly, and Touji also replied with a bitter expression The cat arched its body with a bit of i them to hurry up and open the door
”Excuse us”
He called out to the principal's office As soon as he opened the door, the cat quickly slipped past their feet, running into the room without any presence
Huh?
Upon entering the principal's office, Harutora instantly mumbled quietly The atmosphere inside the room was extremely different from the corridor outside
A calic atmosphere floated inside the room, like a Taisho-era cafe
There were faded, light yelloalls, a deep red carpet laid out on the floor, and a lass room divider Behind the roouests, and within it were placed corner chairs and a tan-colored table
However, thetalls A surprising quantity of books was arranged neatly on the bookshelf, and one could tell at a glance that it had been organized There was japanese literature as well as foreign literature, with even some ancient literature and documents also kept on them
And deep inside the room
There was a big redwood table placed in front of a large glass , along with a s quietly on the chair behind it
Harutora and Touji looked at each other, as the two of them had both assu on the chair was an elegant old woman
The cat sat on the table, ni onto the old wohtly stroking the cat
Then, she raised her head, plucked down the glasses perched on her nose, and looked at Harutora and Touji
”Welco time for you two”
Her voice was exactly the same as the cat's
The hair reaching to her shoulders was gray, and though she was old, her sitting posture was quite upright, coe She wore a brown-colored kimono that suited her so well it seemed like a part of her body
”Tsuchimikado Harutora-san and Ato Touji-san hello, I am the principal here, Kurahashi+ Miyo”
”H, hello”
Harutora spoke a greeting, and Touji also nodded his head in respect Then, the two of them answered the old woman - Kurahashi+ Miyo's request and moved in front of the table
Maybe because he wasn't used to the uniforiven off by the roo a new unifor the principal for the first time
The principal's eyes gazed at the tithout faltering, and she suddenly beaestively
”So you are Natsuyouki”
”What?'
Harutora was surprised, asking hastily Touji quietly watched the principal, see over her intent
However, the principal quickly changed the topic with a warm smile
”I re mentioned before that you two didn't have the chance to touch upon Onmyoudou in your normal life”
Her tone was cordial as she stroked the cat on her lap
”You should have already a on the first floor In addition to theami Did they surprise you?”
”Uh, a, a bit”
”Then I'et used to it as soon as possible, because you will be living in 'this world' from now on”
The principal spoke, her gaze pointing at the two of them
”Ato Touji-san, I already heard about your condition from Harutora-san's father Your deterainst your side-effects” She first spoke to Touji
Then, she turned to Harutora
”Tsuchimikado Harutora-san, I have also heard your parents speak about you, and I have heard a bit from Natsume-san”
”Natsume? What did Natsume say?”
Harutora asked in surprise, and the principal s
”Yes, that child is quite polite After you decided to enter the acade the Tsuchiaency, so I had already heard things regarding the Dairenji Suzuka incident this summer”