Volume 5 Chapter 2 (1/2)
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Harutora joyfully sat in his tour bus seat
It had already been a long time since he had last experienced such calm freedo to the second year Harutora seeoodcherry blosso to the academy on the first day of the new term
Peaceful days were so nice Harutora carefullywith the bus
Harutora sat in an aisle seat, and Natsume sat in theseat next to hi the rare peace
Her expression wasn't bad and her eyes were energetic and crystal clear Her hair, tied up by a pink ribbon, had also regained its former color, and her cherry-colored lips carried a happy smile
The two of the - the school unifor the uniform in the other seats of the bus chatted noisily This tour bus that the On the entire class
As an Onmyouji cultivation institute, the Onmyou Academy didn't have activities like school trips Harutora and the others' current destination was a joint practical skills training camp held with the second and third years
”I didn't think the Onmyou Academy would also have camps”
”I coot before There weren't any in the first year”
”That's the best part! The 'first years' 'don't have any'!”
”Yeah This is coursework 'unrelated to the first-years'!”
Harutora and Natsume looked at each other and smiled with pleasant moods
In the Onmyou Academy, the first year focused on the classroom, and only the basics of practical skills would be explained But it was the opposite fro beca camp was a common curriculum between the second and third years It was held on the weekends with no regular schedule, and this time it was the turn of Harutora's class
All of the students in the On beginning in the second year was quite de Actually, the practical skills curriculum from April onwards would increase in difficulty as well as frequency Of course, this was also quite a difficult training camp
Even so, this still couldn't weaken Harutora and Natsume's excited moods
”Wow, I' forward to this camp”
”I' forward to this camp”
”Come to think of it, don't you feel very happy already?'
”Yeah How should I describe it - a feeling of breaking away from normal life?”
”Right, that's it! Escaping 'bother'!”
”Should I call it excitement, or joy--?”
”It's great!”
”It really is”
They were completely like elementary schoolers on an excursion They didn't feel any tension at all about the tough training ca
It was actually quite shameful for second-year students to feel extremely happy at the fact that the first-year students weren't here, but of course Harutora and Natsume didn't notice this point No, even if they noticed, they didn't care After all, they had frequently been 'called out' recently, even on Saturdays and Sundays, with no free ti caolden 'free' time Harutora and Natsume showed naive, brilliant smiles in unprecedented harmony
In the seat on the other side of the aisle, a girl with chestnut hair halfway tied up and a feisty personality happened to be looking at the two of thehter, Kurahashi+ Kyouko Kyouko tilted her knee sock-wearing legs, secretly peeking in the direction of Harutora and Natsume In the end, she seemed to finally lose her patience
She spoke to Mo next to her:
”What are those two doing?'
”Who knows?”
It seemed like Tened on the face of this good-natured boy, and the eyes beneath his glasses constantly blinked
”It's hard to understand Maybe if it were only that idiot Harutora, but even Natsume's”
”Yeah The two of the time”
”Soood probably happened”
”Yeah”
Kyouko and Tenma spoke in a voice that no one around the their doubts in a quiet whisper
This was indeed the first ti class in a place outside the acade It was inevitable that they would look forward to a long road trip with their classh Kyouko had originally only wanted to travel together with Natsu camp this time would be an extremely fun activity
Even so, this training camp was a form of coursework, and since they wouldn't have time to relax, there wouldn't be any recreational activities They would start the tough practical skills training as soon as they arrived, and they would return straight to Tokyo once it ended, that was it Also, the weekend, which should have been time to relax anyway, had been forcefully occupied In addition to Kyouko, most of the students in the class probably felt apathetic about this training camp
But they were in far higher spirits than expected, and evena clamor It was very reasonable for Kyouko and Tenma to wonder
”It's very possible that when they were in the Tsuchiulations forbade travel or vacations”
”And so they're ju for joy all of a sudden? No matter what, that kind of situation”
”Maybe the two of them weren't able to participate in any excursions or trips before because they were sick or injured--”
”Even so, it's”
Kyouko and Tenether
They thought long and hard, but looked at Harutora and Natsu:
”Ah, right Harutora Have some snacks”
”Hey, not bad It's good”
They had even started eating snacks How leisurely and comfortable
”I have senbei[1], karinto[2], and ningyouyaki[3]”
”Ahaha Natsume, you prepared too much”
”Harutora, you even brought playing cards”
”Hey, you have to bring playing cards to a camp”
”Then we can play oldforward to it!”
”Playing with sets intense!”
Unfortunately, only Harutora and Natsume were enthusiastic Kyouko and Tenma aardly watched the two Tsuchimikados
Just then, Harutora finally noticed the gazes of Kyouko and the others
”Huh? What's up, Kyouko Do you want some?”
”I didn't say that at all!”
”Could it be that you don't like traditional snacks?”
”Ah, n-no, Natsume-kun! That's not it!”
Kyouko didn't kno to respond to the master and servant pair who seemed to not understand the at, helped out
”Well, Harutora-kun, Natsu caood to play around and be noisy with that kind of attitude”
Though he was trying to kill their etically
Even so, Harutora didn't seem to be affected
He”Don't be that serious, Ten to your words, aren't field trips and excursions part of school too?”
”B, But Isn't this sort of practical skills training caht not be able to keep up with the curriculuhtly”
”You don't get it, Ten now? Also, it's better to enjoy it or be relaxed than it is to be nervous”
”That's reasonable”
Harutora's words were probably correct, but it didn't see when he ht even
”Natsuoing”
Kyouko glared angrily at Harutora
”Also, why are you like this? Why are you s so happily? Isn't it weird?”
”Huh? N, No We aren't sht, Natsume?”
”Yeah, there's nothing in particular Think about it, I always liked Ons we'll do during the training camp”
”Also, isn't travelling with only your own class so that makes you extremely happy? It's 'only' the students from your class!”
”Right! It's s with each other than it usually is 'With everyone from the class'!”
”Though I would really welcos for each other with Natsume-kun”
He , but it seemed that Kyouko showed a complex expression as she watched the jubilant Harutora and Natsume, and her words were also quiet and unclear The face of Ten but didn't kno to say it
Then,
”Ah, right Hey, Harutora-kun Speaking of class tohappen?”
Tenht of this question
Actually, Ato Touji wasn't on this bus The hooing to 'come a bit later', but hadn't specifically explained the situation
Harutora laughed quietly
”Actually,to Tokyo this weekend”
”Harutora-kun's dad?'
”Yes My dad - he's Touji's primary physician The person responsible for the 'seal' on him After the Nue incident, Touji went back to the country to receive otten checked up since then, andto receive treat camp”
”I see”
After hearing Harutora's explanation, Tenma as well as Kyouko nodded with an appearance of comprehension
Touji had been involved in a Tokyo spiritual disaster about two years ago The phase three re' spiritual disaster had left behind residue in his body In General Onmyoudou, people who had become spiritual cores but who held on to their own consciousness were na spirits' Touji was one of these
The 'Type-Ogre' spiritual disaster in Touji's body had been sealed by an Onmyou doctor, who also happened to be Harutora's father The most important reason he had chosen to transfer into the On an Onmyouji was because he hoped that he could seal and purify the de in his body by himself
However, this March, he had changed hiswith the deether with Harutora and Natsume He hadn't sealed the deth
”After the Nue incident ended, Touji received training while watching his condition The treatment this ti The et it sealed”
”Th, Though I don't really understand, the seal's just being upgraded, right?”
”Actually, I'uy's getting more and more reliable”
Harutora spoke casually and Kyouko replied without a care
”I get what you erous for hi cae-scale adjustments?”
”He thinks that this is a 'Godsend', to be able to test out his own skills earlier”
”T, Touji-kun is really incredible”
”He really has self-confidence, that's definitely so he would say”
Tenreatly astonished
Kyouko was the eldest daughter of the famous Kurahashi+ family, and Tenma had also been born in one of the traditional faer of 'living spirits' better than a normal academy student In particular, Touji had once been consuree and had almost transformed into a demon
Even so, Touji didn't flee, but still had the courage to actively face the dehest evaluation for that point
But at the same time, they really couldn't suppress their 'anxiety'
Dealing with a 'deinal - was usually the domain of professional Onmyouji To try to control a deerous, it was also foolhardy It was natural for an academy student to have such a reaction
But, Kyouko and Tenma were currently already Onmyou Academy second-year students, and in the near future they would step into the world of professional On themselves every day in order to step into the professional world The difficulty Touji was trying to overcoht be an extres lightly
”We can't keeparound”
”Th, That's right”
They couldn't lose to their classhtly nodded his head in unison to express his agreement
On the other hand, Harutora didn't notice the psychological change in the two at all, leisurely handing out senbei
”Anyway, that's what's going on Since it's rare for us to coht as well eat Touji's share too”
”Didn't I say I wouldn't eat them?”
”I heard that senbei are good for your aura”
”Don't make up whatever you want!”
”Sorry, Kurahashi+-san, if I knew earlier I would have brought some snacks other than japanese snacks”
”That's not it! That's not what I meant, Natsume-kun, don't misunderstand!”
”Tenma, do you want some? Here”
”H, Harutora-kun, I'rateful, but no thanks”
Harutora, Kyouko, and the others bickered back and forth Because Touji, as responsible for stopping them, wasn't here, it was noisier than usual
”Quiet down” Just then, a lazy voice sounded A man walked over from the front seats
He wore a pair of aged glasses on his face and wore a ru like a medieval pirate's He was Harutora and the others' homeroom teacher, Ohtomo Jin
”You're too loud, don't forget that this camp is also class”
”Sorry”
Kyouko's face reddened, and Harutora and the others also smiled aardly Ohtomo looked at the students with a helpless face
”You guys are really relaxed I don't hten you, but you should know that the caor, but I'y will start to deplete and you'll end up not being able to make it”
”Sensei, we're not relaxed, we're recuperating!”
”Whatever, being eloquent isn't a bad thing for a practitioner”
Harutora acted duained her calize out of trepidation ”We're very sorry We were too loud We'll eat a bit more quietly”
”In the end you're still going to eat”
”Huh? We can't eat snacks?”
”Uh, you don't need to be that surprised”
Natsu her like that, the wry smile on his face deepened
He reached his hand into the bag of senbei, taking a piece of senbei out of the speechless Natsume's hands
”Anyway, it's no use to be anxious, it's better to relax when you can You should take advantage of the present to properly relax” Ohto back to his own seat whilethe senbei Harutora, Natsume and others were confused and perplexed For some reason, they even felt a trace of sympathy from Ohtomo's look
”What does that mean?”
”I don't understand either”
Harutora and Natsu another senbei each
After the senbei, the bag of karinto had also been emptied when the tour bus reached its destination
★
The bus had driven for two hours fro Harutora's class to a camp near Lake Yamanaka, one of the Fuji Five Lakes of the Yamanashi+ Prefecture
The Lake Yamanaka area was a scenic summer resort as well as a famed attraction At the same time, due to the penetration of aura flow from Mount Fuji, the area was also known for its special aura Because of these relationshi+ps, this area hadfield' for first-class ic
The area the Onmyou Academy had chosen to be the location of the ca fields - Zokusho Shrine
This shrine was little-known Guessing froht be a shrine related to the stars The shrine was located on a precipitous hill, overlooked by Mount Fuji Underneath could be seen Lake Yamanaka, and behind it was a vast forest The shrine had been set in thedestroyed by humans
The tour bus drove to the foot of thestone steps, carrying their own luggage
They climbed up, short of breath and covered in sweat, and once they reached the top--
”Senpais, you're so slow~ When are you going to make me wait until?”
A s a pure white uniforainst an ancient stone torii She juolden-dyed hair tied up into twin tails ju around on both sides of her small face
She wore a sweet, bloo smile on her face Kyouko, Tenma, and other students couldn't help but let out surprised cheers
Harutora and Natsu heavily onto the ground
Ohtomo looked at the students ere in a joyful cla the petrified and duhed loudly
”Ahe Dairenji Suzuka-kun will join our class and participate in this training camp The first-year students basically don't have any practical skills curriculu ith her, everyone”
There was a large auditorium inside Zokusho Shrine with rooms for doubles The students who had come to the camp lived in this place
The third-year students ere also participating in the training cah they also had a training cahts as compared to the second-years, whose curriculuht The contents of their curriculum were also far more difficult than that of the second-years The two classes would only have class together on the final day As Harutora and the others arrived, the third-year students were carrying out '', and hence he wasn't able to see them
Once they reached the shrine, Harutora and the others put their luggage into the auditorium, then went to A the training camp curriculum
The first class was in the courtyard of the auditorium The contents of the curriculum were to prepare lunch - curry
”The ingredients and tools are all here Since we've finally co air, let's pretend we've come here to camp out”
Ohtoetables, and commercially available curry blocks were placed on the tables that had been prepared outdoors beforehand
Every single student was stunned and speechless, and he grinned again
”You can't directly touch these ingredients and tools It's not just the ingredients, you have to use a si on the fire and putting things on plates Understood? Reht? There's no time limit, but the next class starts in the afternoon, so you won't have ht even have to start class without having eaten lunch~”
Harutora and the others were divided into four or five person groups per table Each group had a set of ingredients and tools, and each person was given a new char curry
Almost all the students were flustered for a while because things were so sudden Maybe they had i camp curriculum beforehand, but for sure no one had expected them to be ordered to prepare lunch themselves
Harutora was also troubled and didn't act immediately
”Make curry with a siami Tenma, have you done this?”
”I don't think there's anyone that's done this However if it's shi+kigami that could act independently”
”I recall that this is a commercially sold charm Have we used it in practical skills classes?”
”Yeah, it's set with the most basic abilities”
Fortunately, Harutora was in the sa that Natsuroups It seeroups' strengths weren't too different
Harutora relaxed his breath for now since he had been put in a different group as Suzuka Though, it was just a short relaxation
”Uh, a siami In this instance, it's faster to ht?”
”That's true, it's best to have the saredients Ah, but I haven't tried sharing taste with a shi+kiga”
”The steps are to first wash the vegetables, cut them, cook them with the meat, then add water and simmer, and then finally put in the curry blocks”
”Don't forget to cook rice We have to wash the rice and then steam it with a cooker Ah, and we have to make the fire first No, wait, we have to find firewood before we make the fire”
It was close to eleven in theThere would be a curry, but here there wasn't any spare time to dawdle At the saroups that hadto work
”Okay, let's startsiroup is probably me”
Harutora sized up Tenroup, unable to keep a wry s to practice his charm skills and techniques, but even noasn't very practiced with si it with fine movements
”Sorry, I'll take charge ofto everyone else”
”Okay, let's split up and get going”
Upon seeing Tenreement, Harutora quickly took his own charm
He refined his aura, turning it into y and infused it into the char to the previously setThe flat paper doll became a shadow puppet with thickness, which was the appearance set to the charm beforehand
”Hey, Harutora-kun, isn't your shi+kiga?”
”S, Sorry, but this size should be perfect forfirewood over Ah, no, we have to make a stone stove[5] first out of rocks”
The siredients by the table Harutora's giant shi+kiga a stone stove Fortunately, there were cement bricks in the courtyard -Harutora set the Then, he put the firewood inside it, cru the newspaper that had been prepared with theit under the firewood
Until now, everything had gone unexpectedly shter!” But, just as he planned on lighting the newspaper and hter because he hadn't properly controlled the shi+kigath
”O, Ohtohters--”
”Nope”
”No?!”
”Harutora-kun, you have to rely on your own resources to make up for your own mistake”
”How do I make up for this”
The possibilities Harutora could think of regarding nifying glass to focus sunlight, but of course, there couldn't be a lass here
He had no options, so he could only take the firewood axe and sharpen the tip of one of the pieces of firewood into so like the point of a pencil
The sia the other fireith it like a drill and trying tosparks
Of course, succeeding ina fire wasn't this easy
”Tch, no use, I can't make it!”
”Harutora-kun, are you alright?”
”I'ht at all, do I really have no other ways!”
Harutora frowned, continuing to desperately rub the firewood
Just then, a quiet voice entered his ears
”H-H-Harutora-sama, allow me to perform this task”
A girl's young voice sounded The voice caami as dematerialized and always by Harutora's side - Kon
”Oh, it's Kon Come to think of it, you can use fire”
”Yes,fire is an easy task if I use my foxfire!”
Though he couldn't see her figure, he could tell from Kon's tone that she was extreami, and foxfire was one of her several techniques Since she could use it without even , no one would be the wiser if he stayed careful
”But After all, this is a practical skills class, and sensei instructed us that we have to use sia the rules”
”H-H-However, why should this delay Harutora-sama's meal!”
”Uh Then let's leave it until later I'h”
Harutora rejected his shi+kigaoodwill, but he couldn't help but think that there were still Natsu himself a path of retreat
But, Harutora wasn't actually the only student to encounter setbacks during the process of cooking
”Hey! Why's this potato still have skin on it, go peel it cleanly!”
”There isn't even half of the potato left after you peeled it! Go tell your shi+kigami to be a little neater!”
”Hey hey, it's spilling! Don't pour the rice out with the water for washi+ng it!”
”I, I can't believe it, to think peeling onions could be this hard!”
Every group was falling into a bitter struggle So round, and soers while cutting vegetables Soers, and other shi+kiganited firewood There wereback into charms could be seen everywhere
It was a basic expectation for practitioners to be able to directly control siami maintain ical energy fro the shi+kigay instead The latter required ical energy couldn't break in the middle, and concentration couldn't waver
”Hey, Ten is actually pretty difficult?”
”Yeah As expected of the practical curriculum”
Tenreed with the opinion that Harutora casually put out Thinking carefully, because he noret done well if he were doing it with his own hands Now that it was being done by a sio smoothly
”Co once”
That roups - the condition of the groups that Natsuroups were flustered, and co the kettle black Every group had a sia the other shi+kigaaareat deal
For exaorously, as if it had its own vitality, but it was cutting the carrots into centi knife in its hands The shi+kigami's movements were very precise, but not only would lunchti all of the carrots so slowly, she ht not even aes, but it wasn't distinguishable whether the things that caetables that had been cut or food scraps Kyouko was undoubtedly the most reliable of the three, but she see newspaper while trying to light the firewood and received a
”Huh? Co us, right?”
Though he wasn't too nimble, Tenma's stats ell-rounded and he carried out the preparation work step by step When the other roup slipped up, he would try to help out as much as possible, and he was actually very trustworthy