Advice

What is wrong with me?

Hoshina and the other cadets are received as heroes, paraded through the streets amidst cheers and praise.

But she can't even force a smile.

After the parade, there's a banquet. People swarm around her like flies to a corpse, showering her with praise—yet each compliment only dries her out more. Every word feels like a mockery of her failure. The fact that she doesn't dare reveal the truth only makes it worse.

Absent-minded the entire evening, she won't remember a single face she met today.

Later, she's summoned to a private meeting with some of the high-ranking warriors, including her father. Hoshina is asked to provide details about what transpired during the battle. She offers a few vague explanations, hoping that—

"Stop acting like this has nothing to do with you!" Mr. Kuruma's reprimand snaps her back to her senses. "We lost seven warriors including a veteran, you could at least pretend to feel bad about it!"

"But I do feel bad…" Wait, Kaji managed to kill seven?

"Most were beaten by a different enemy," adds a woman whose name escapes Hoshina.

"Who?"

"Supposedly someone capable of deflecting projectiles with a blade and dodging thunderbolts like—"

"That doesn't matter!" Mr. Kuruma yells. "The very least you should do is apologize for the death of my brother."

"Why?" Hoshina asks. "It wasn't my fault. And either way Mr. Hige is now enjoying the afterlife as a—"

"Are you mocking me, you brat!?" A gavel strikes, making a single, commanding sound that silences the room.

"You are not here to scold my daughter," Father says, setting the gavel aside. "You wanted her version of the story, and you got it."

"But because of her incompetence my brother—" Father silences him with a stare.

"This happened because we underestimated the enemy. Let's focus on taking better measures for the next battle, rather than pointing fingers at each other."

Another man raises his hand. Father nods, granting him permission.

"If I understood correctly, Miss Hoshina, you said you managed to defeat the man who murdered Sir Hige Fukuchou." Hoshina nods. "Then may I ask why you didn't kill him?" She freezes. "How did he escape?"

"H-he didn't exactly escape—"

"Then what happened!?" Mr. Kuruma interrupts.

"He was hard to kill." What am I trying to say?

"How so?"

"Kaji was… umm…" Her chest tightens, and breathing becomes harder.

"Alright, let's try a different approach." The woman says. "You said you won the fight, does that mean you were in a position to kill him?"

"Y-yes…"

"Then why didn't you do it?"

If she tells the truth, Father will be disappointed. But lying isn't an option either.

Every time she blinks, Hoshina sees Kaji again, along with the cane in her hands. She can't do it. Why is something as simple as pressing a button so hard?

"Miss Hoshina?" She's about to get up and run again, until...

"End of the session," Father says.

"What do you mean, Lord Kanchou?"

"I mean what I said. Everyone out."

"But—"

"Don't make me repeat myself." Everyone gets up and obeys. "Hoshina, follow me."

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

The wrought iron gate creaks as Father opens it, the sound of rusted hinges grating on Hoshina's mind like nails on a chalkboard.

The path ahead is choked with brambles, the tiles nearly hidden beneath them. Father moves forward with steady steps, unbothered by the grazes on his legs. Hoshina follows his example.

They soon come to a halt before an old arch, so overgrown with vines it's impassable. Father draws his staff and, with a smooth motion, slices through the tangle with a stream of water.

They emerge into a wide clearing within the thorned jungle. Dozens of eyes stare them down—all cold like the stone they are made of. Among the statues, Hoshina spots one she recognizes. She steps closer to study the face of one of the greatest warriors to ever live.

Father places a hand on her shoulder, startling her. He hasn't spoken since ordering her to follow, and Hoshina doesn't dare break the silence.

"When your enemy's life was in your hands, did you run?"

Time crawls as Hoshina's thoughts race. He'll be disappointed. Worse—furious.

I didn't just fail. I betrayed everything I was taught. A true warrior wouldn't have hesitated. So why did I? Why am I this broken freak—someone who doesn't understand others, offends without meaning to, and can't even express what she feels?

"It's alright if you ran."

"Huh?" It takes her a moment to process his words. "R-really?"

"Taking a life for the first time is never easy," Father says, eyes fixed ahead. "He struggled too, back in his day."

"Grandpa did!?"

He nods.

"You're allowed to make mistakes." He turns to her. "What matters is that you learn from them. Never stop, even if the path is lined with thorns. And if an obstacle stands in your way—tear it down. You're my daughter. You can do anything you set your mind to. So keep going. One day, you'll stand among the legends."

He looks back toward the statues.

A ray of light cuts through the leafy canopy—or maybe it's just Hoshina's imagination. Either way, something shifts inside her. If her father believes in her, then it must be true.

"I understand. It won't happen again," she says, her voice steady.

"You said his name was Kaji, right?"

"Yes."

"If you ever meet him again, you must kill him."

Dad places both hands on her shoulders. "Overcome your weakness—and become the great warrior I know you can be."

In that moment, he shines like the sun itself.

I'll live up to Dad's expectations—and honor Kaji's strength as a warrior. I won't insult either of them again by fleeing like a coward.

Then a thought crosses her mind. It's something she hasn't done in ages, but suddenly feels the urge to.

"Umm…"

"What is it?"

"Can I make a small request?"

"Go on."

"May I hug you, Dad?" He blinks. Oh no! Did I offend him?

"Alright." He pulls Hoshina into an embrace. His arms are firm, strong—almost intimidating—but also comforting. "And you can stop calling me things like Dad or Father. You're an adult now. Use my name."

Hoshina pauses, carefully choosing her words.

"Thank you, Mugen. This has helped me clear my mind."