Volume 8 Chapter 1 (1/2)
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”Do you knohat the essence of sorcery is?”
”The answer is 'lies'”
”Therefore, the 'truth' must be handled with care”
”More carefully than anyone thinks”
-Tsuchimikado Yakou
Her father was strict
Even if she searched her memories, she could barely find her father's smile In the first place, he was taciturn and wasn't one to show his e the veryNatsume, the existence she called her 'father' had always been like that He was her 'family'
The pair's lives were painted with silence
But practicing ic made up for this loneliness
Other Onmyouji would undoubtedly widen their eyes in surprise if they saw Her father never once paid heed to the girl's age, and Natsu her head in depression, but still iic There was no way she could break away from it
She calic every day in silence
The one who could break that silence with a cheerful mood was always that boy Her childhood friend
”Let's play! Natsume--!”
◎
”Natsume”
It see opened
After Harutora spoke, Natsuently
”Harutora-kun”
”How rare for you to coave the work to Touji”
Harutora s Natsume's side
The roof of the Onhts froht sky
The steaht was very unpleasant co breeze that occasionally blew lightly stroked the surface of their skin Harutora stood next to Natsu his eyes with a pleasant mood
”It's finally starting tomorrow”
”Yeah”
”Nervous?”
”Well Yes”
”Yeah, I guess”
Harutora echoed in a relaxed tone
He stood next to her, looking at the nighttiuardrails It just happened to be in the direction of the Onh it hadn't actually been that long of a ti tione there for classes
Harutora and Natsume missed their nest
”But,”
Natsuhtly
”I'm more worried about Kurahashi+-san after all”
His childhood friend's voice was calm and composed But at the sa blood were mixed into it Harutora said ”Yeah” with a worried look and said no more
It had been ten days since that incident
But Kyouko's word at the end still deeply pricked the hearts of the two of them
Liar
”Well, all we can do is resolve ourselves”
”Resolve, huh?”
”Yeah After all, there's nothing we can deny now We should talk to her face-to-face and then all we can do is apologize until she's willing to forgive us”
Harutora's tone was very serious Then, he looked at Natsu on his face Natsume could also see that it was just a forced smile, and intentionally smiled back
”Natsu about deceiving, right?”
”Yeah”
”Then, this could be an opportunity instead You can finally stop hiding This is a good opportunity to become true friends”
”Maybe”
As she replied, Natsuhed naturally this time and her shoulders swayed
”Harutora-kun, you're always so positive”
”That's the only thing good about me”
”Is that so?”
”Ah, you should deny that, even just out of politeness”
Natsuo bitter Then, she faced Harutora again, slightly tilting her head
”I feel a bit better, thanks to you Thank you, Harutora-kun”
Her black hair drooped down sht breeze
It was e to be thanked so sincerely Harutora quietly replied ”Oh”, inadvertently shi+fting his gaze
Just then,
”Harutora-kun?”
Natsu ”Eh?” Just as Harutora asked back:
”H-Harutora-sama, I'm very sorry”
The air around his legs swirled into an eddy and the figure of a girl wearing a suikan and hakama appeared
Ears sprouted fro tail covered with lustrous hair This was Harutora's defensive shi+kigami, Kon
Harutora looked at his suddenly-ami in surprise More importantly, Kon was a bit flushed and her body's aura was inflated as if she were on alert Harutora's whole body unconsciously tensed up
But,
”Kon? What happened?”
”A-Ah, no Th-There isn't any urgent situation”
Kon's ears and tail started fidgeting as she looked up at herthat was difficult to say Though she was struggling to control it, the aura leaking fro on the attack
So, Natsuami
”Harutora-kun Your ive that y to Kon?”
”Eh? Ah--”
Harutora, being questioned, finally realized that he had been constantly infusing a ago, it would have been aly
”Uwah!”
In a panic, he controlled his y abruptly stopped Kon heaved a sigh of relief, her tail drooping gently
”Sorry, Kon Was that going on the whole time since before?”
”Y-Yes”
Kon nodded deeply and apologetically
'Before'to the roof He had summoned Kon in order to have her help hiy into her - and that hadn't stopped
Because Kon was a defensive shi+kigami, even if she wasn't materialized, she would be linked with her master Harutora's spiritual power all the tiical energy with Kon That was also the reason Natsume didn't immediately notice the abnormality
But,
”Wh-What the ami's joy I'm very happy, but I wasted it”
”Well, Kon can't caly Harutora-kun, did you not notice?”
”Sorry”
Harutora apologized in embarrassment, and Natsume's expression turned aard out of astonishment
”It's really become unstable since that time”
”For now, it's also easier to 'see' aura than before, right? But it feels a bit strange”
”Is it too forced?”
”Yeah, maybe After all, I went out of control at the time”
Harutora wanted to gloss it over with a s into Harutora's eyes with clear anxiety Harutora's face tightened aardly
”Don't look so serious, it's nothing big The thing before was just my accidental mistake”
”But”
”It's nothing It's going to be summer vacation soon If my condition still hasn't recovered, I'll have o back home Ah, wait”
Harutora forcefully changed the topic
”Since it's about to be summer vacation, that means it's finally been a year since we decided to become Onmyouji”
The topic Harutora suddenly brought up made Natsume blink
”Coht”
She replied, a bit surprised
”It's already been a year since then Ah, time really flies”
”Really? I feel like, 'Wow, has it only been a year'”
Harutora refuted her as if aether as she seriously re her brows
Then,
”You're right”
She agreed and laughed quietly together with Harutora
It had indeed been an eventful year Because of that, they realized that they had accuh it felt as if it had passed in the blink of an eye The incident Suzuka brought about, Harutora and Touji co with Suzuka and beco close
Being pulled into spiritual disasters and being attacked by the legendary Ono
”It was really hectic”
The year even stunned Harutora
A precious year, a rare year
Moreover,
”Ah, yeah”
The year after that summer day In other words, it had already been a year since he parted with Hokuto
Harutora glanced at Natsume next to hi black hair Coo that he suddenly started suspecting that ribbon - after the practical skills caht after they advanced to the second year ended In the end, he hadn't been able to ask Natsu to truly ask about
But
If it were now, he could probably give the question words Naturally, without any pretending No matter what the ansas, he felt that he could calmly accept it
Natsume, that ribbon,
Could it be Hokuto's--
Just then,
”Harutora-kun”
Natsuain Flustered, Harutora replied while still feigning indifference
”Thanks”
”Eh? What?”
Natsume smiled at the lost Harutora
”It's great that you've been with me for this year”
An unconcealed, straightforward tone ”Ah” Harutora scratched his nose
He was embarrassed But he was truly very happy to hear her say that Harutora collected the question he had until just then back into his heart At least for now, he didn't need the answer
”Although you ht not be that reliable”
”Although?”
”I guess you're not a bad shi+kigami?”
”Yeah”
Natsume happily admitted
Harutora harru his childhood friend's smile
◎
The two of the roof
Just as Harutora closed the door, Kon, who had been continually materialized since the rooftop, spoke
”H-Harutora-sama”
She called out
Judging by her concerned look, Harutora felt that she wanted to say so
He unconsciously showed a wry smile
”Kon, don't ht”
”B-B-But!”
Kon looked up at Harutora, still hesitant But not long afterwards, she opened her mouth as if she had made a decision
”I-If I may be so rude, I shay has looked extreth had increased Also, regarding your use of h you are not yet mature, it's as if you are a different person from before However”
The girl said in a serious voice
”H-Harutora-say currently lacks stability You can control it beautifully when you are aware, but if you're just slightly distracted, the strength will go out of control Moreover, the level of intensity was as if you were still battling with that 'Higekiri' That is definitely abnormal”
Kon spoke in an uncharacteristic torrent Harutora didn't refute her, listening wordlessly
Actually, it was just as Kon said
He had fooled Natsuaaekiri - with Shaver - Harutora's aura had become extremely unstable No, that wasn't it Just like Kon said, it could be described as being in the dangerous state of 'frequently going out of control'
The battle with Shaver Harutora had ga and broken his shell So, his previously undeveloped spirit sight had improved by leaps and bounds As a result, he could use his ownaura more accurately, as if he could directly touch the aura Harutora had had an unusual feeling during that battle, as if he had 'expanded'
As expected, he had forced himself too much
The current Harutora felt that he was 'at th leak out But even if it wasn't toothe battle, the ay was considerable So Harutora was currently intentionally controlling the leaking y
Just as Kon said, this was definitely abnor' had broken inside Harutora during that fight
But,
”Well, nothing I can do”
Harutora didn't know exactly what had broken inside his body But it was Harutora himself who had broken it and no other
Harutora had made his decision when Shaver had backed them into a corner Even if he destroyed hiht He couldn't complain about his current condition to anyone else That was the end Harutora had chosen
”So, I can't do anything about ht now”
”B-B-But”
”Well, it'll be fine if I just 'get used to' this condition”
He had becoer, that was no lie
People who obtained powerful strength had to learn ways to use that strength, they couldn't let the strength control them For example, hadn't Touji faced the oni hidden inside his body and controlled its strength?
”After becoath I hope to be able to do what I can like Touji when it comes to a crucial situation, even if ht? I'm very happy that you're worried, but bear with me for now”
Harutora requested this, but Kon still pursed her lips, unconvinced, looking anxiously at her htly on his little shi+kigami's head
”Eh? Kon, have you grown a bit taller?”
”H-Harutora-sama, now isn't the time to talk about that”
”Ah, well, you don't have to dodge the question, right? It seerown a bit”
Harutora observed Kon's body after speaking again On the other hand, the anxiety in Kon's heart still hadn't vanished She pouted, which was rare for her, and glared intently at Harutora
”Well, ”
”H-Harutora-sama!”
”Haha Anyway, I'll sleep for today After all, the On tomorrow”
Harutora began preparing to sleep after he spoke, no longer paying any attention to his worried shi+kigah Kon was still unconvinced, she hastily ca the futon himself
Not long afterward, Harutora's rooht to each other The stubborn Kon seeiven up as well She de afterwards arose the sound of Harutora's healthy breathing
How dangerous was his current self?
Harutora's self-awareness was still too naive
Heat and noise filled the gaps of the jumbled shi+buya district
The road gave off heat as if it had lost to the radiating sunlight The air was filled with exhaust and the cry of cicadas sounded from somewhere Also, there was an endless flow of people
The people that walked on the road had all changed to light clothing to match the su or in dark shade, te off
”It's been a long time since I wore the Onmyou Academy uniform”
Harutora muttered
”How could ear that kind of uniform in the summer”
”Yeah”
Touji, alked next to Harutora, nodded agreehts The On, and they had a very strange design Though they were less stuffy than they looked like and comfortable when actually worn, the male uniform was the color of crow feathers - a black with a bit of a blue - so no matter what, it would feel hot Touji also had a bandanna tied around his forehead,it even hotter But he looked better than Harutora on the outside, the reason probably being a problem of their individual tolerances
Natsu as the two of them, but she didn't seeave off a cool impression instead
But to her, she didn't have the leisure to worry about the temperature in the first place
As they walked on the road to the On acadeot to the acade towards Natsume became more than before
Some exclaimed ”Ah” Some whispered secretly Some constantly peeked over towards them
”Looks like”
Touji showed a fearless s by
”Or maybe I should say that, as expected, word of 'Natsuotten around”
Harutora pursed his ood friend's sarcastic words
He glanced back, checking on Natsume
Natsu at her, or at least she wascalm on the outside But she looked a bit paler than usual, or maybe that was just Harutora's mistake
The Mystical Criainst the Twin-Horned Syndicate had left huge scars inside and outside the Onency
At the end of this operation, an unexpected chain reaction of spiritual disasters had been brought forth in the Exorcist Bureau Meguro branch At the time, the Onmyou Academy had been out of use because of Ashi+ya Douro branch location for classes Of course, that was true of Harutora and the others as well
Moreover, it hadn't just been spiritual disasters attacking Harutora and the others The Divine General Kagaa out of control upon being subh-density inally should have been protecting
The fight with the out-of-control Shaver could be described as a desperate battle
During the battle, Natsume's true identity - the fact that she was actually a fe the Onmyou Academy - had been revealed
”Natsume had a lot of attention inside the acadeirl' really spread instantly”
Touji chatted while shooting a cold gaze at the students who stared at Natsuaze turned their heads in a panic, quickly walking away
In the end, because of the spiritual disaster and Shaver's rauro branch had fallen into a half-destroyed state, and of course they couldn't continue borrowing the bureau building The Onmyou Academy had helplessly decided to halt classes and let the students return home
Yesterday, they had finally received notice that the acade repairs were complete
”Really I thought everyone aiting at home Why do even people eren't there at the time know?”
”Nowadays, the spread of information is completely unrelated to your location That's the same for students in the dorm, too”
Harutora went silent again after hearing Touji's words
The last incident had carried huge effects, and the confusion a the personnel still hadn't completely stabilized Hence, Natsuender hadn't been decided, and it would be delayed
But it was good that Natsume hadn't been kicked out of the er had been extremely shocked when she learned of this matter and had fallen into a panic, but she had decided herself that until the Onmyou Academy decided on an official punishment, she would still 'formally' treat Natsume as a male student On the other hand, she had taken care of all the finer details like setting aside a dedicated tione s to change her living habits
But the reactions of the dorreatly different Perhaps this was natural, as the friend that had been male up until yesterday had suddenly becauards and because Natsu since been a topic of conversation, no one came to confront her However, it seemed that they lost their past candid interactions with her and watched froes
”Maybe all of the students know, but the teachers don't - that's possible”
”That would be troublesome in its oay too But the principal's definitely heard, right? From Kyouko--”
Harutora closed his
Principal Kurahashi+ was Kyouko's grandical that she had learned about Natsume from Kyouko's reatest shock after learning about Natsuender It was doubtful whether she would talk about this incident, even to her grandmother
”This is terrible We shouldn't need to announce it ourselves right?”
”Well, for now, let's stay silent As long as no one asks, isn't it fine for us to maintain this situation for now?”
His good friend responded to Harutora's worries Touji was in a relaxed position that wasn't directly related, so that hy he could objectively runt
Just then,
”H-Harutora-kun! Touji-kun!”
”Hah, a glooined”
A male student walked towards the, with a fe his face for the first time in a while made Harutora's expression relax
”Yo, Tenma! Suzuka's with you too, huh It feels like I haven't seen you for a long, long time”
”Hah, you can talk Weren't you textingat home?”
”What are you saying, weren't you waiting anxiously for Harutora-kun and the others by yourself even before I got here?”
”Hey! Glasses! Don't goat all, I just got here!”
Tenlare in a panic The knot in Harutora's heart see attitudes of the two of them
”You that did you do when you aiting?”
”Nothing special I studied by myself at home”
”The Mystical Investigators had ation But”
Suzuka thought for a while and then didn't continue speaking ”But?” Touji urged her to go on with a sharp look
”I'm not too sure, but the situation was different from before They were a bit unstable”
”That kind of incident happened after all, so isn't it reasonable?
”The investigation was several days after the incident happened Although I'ators have their own business”
Suzuka's ponytails swayed as she shrugged her shoulders Though Suzuka was one of the Twelve Divine Generals, her strength was currently being sealed and she was under the Mystical Investigators' supervision, so she couldn't get ahold of any inforency
Harutora replied back indifferently, but he suddenly noticed that the shrugging Suzuka held a rolled-up piece of paper in her hand
”Suzuka? What are you holding?”
”Eh, well, this is”
Suzuka quickly hid the paper in her hand behind her back, a bit panicked for some reason Harutora, Touji, and Tenazes
But,
”Tenma-kun”
Natsu behind Harutora, spoke after see up her mind Her voice showed unconcealable tension
Ten” He replied back with an unyielding attitude
”It h on you before Are you still in the ht? Everyone in the dorht?”
”Y, Yeah it's alright But I'm a bit ostracized”
”Ahaha, I knohat youhappened We'll see how the Onmyou Academy deals with it If it's the principal, there shouldn't be a huge punishment”
”Tenma-kun”
It wasn't stiff courtesy, he was still kindly worrying about her Natsu his attitude ”Thanks” Ten it”
But Natsume's actions weren't overstated Until the incident a few days ago, Tenht not have treated Natsume any more kindly than the other students, and it would have been natural for hie Tenma's character and heart could be seen fro such attitudes
”Uuu~ Tenood person!”
”Even Harutora-kun's talking like that Can you not? This is very ordinary, right? I feel like I' a good person”
”No, no, Tenood person far above the ordinary They're already very fe, so be proud”
”Touji-kun too Hey, stop, it's so hot!”
Harutora and Touji draped the their heads exaggeratedly Tenma, sandwiched by the two of theled At the same time, Suzuka looked at herout of this
”Ah, but, right Natsume kun, can you still stay the sah you're also dressed as a male today”
”I want to stay this hile the Onmyou Academy hasn't issued any punishment”
”Because of that 'family tradition'?”
”Yeah”
Natsume nodded
The reason Natsuender from the people around her was because of her main family's 'family tradition' that 'the one who inherits the Tsuchimikado family must show himself as a male to outsiders' That hy the Tsuchi as a h this 'family tradition' was not to be made public, she had told Tenma about it after the battle with Shaver
Suzuka hmphed
”Now that you e 'family tradition', that even the Kurahashi+ branch fae of it”
”You researched Yakou, so it's not strange that you know”
”Huh? I said so ic' I have no interest at all in his family's traditions”
Suzuka tapped her shoulder with her paper fro annoyedly
Suzuka knew of Natsume's true identity because she had seen Natsuh it had become rarer and rarer recently, she had often used that fact to threaten them when she had just learned Natsu the acade anymore now
Tenma seemed to be a bit concerned
”But with this, won't Natsu the family tradition? Will there be any punishment?”
”I'm not sure”
”Eh? But your father should know already, right? About Natsu exposed already”
”Well”
Natsuly aardly Harutora helplessly explained for her
”Actually, she hasn't told her parents They haven't said anything yet either”
”Eh? But the Meguro branch incident beca news Your family didn't contact you?”
”Not at all Natsume's mom already passed away, and her dad basically doesn't contact her Right now they only meet about once a year Wait Come to think of it, my family didn't contactme do what I want”
”I, I see Could it be the Tsuchimikado family's style?”
Tenh their faine that the family that was once dominant over Onmyoudou would be like this
”I think I would have to report to him first”
Natsu bad, spoke Harutora didn't continue her words, tactfully chi ith her dad” Ten more about the family situation of others
With a sarcastic tone, Touji said:
”If you don't tell hiraduate”
”It would be scary if that worked Natsume's dad is very strict about family matters Maybe it would be better to confess first rather than having the secret revealed later”
Harutora glanced at his childhood friend out of the corner of his eye, see Natsuaze
Natsu self-awareness of herself as the next Tsuchi with her father, she had undoubtedly already prepared her resolve to accept the guilt for breaking the 'family tradition'
But,