The Imperial Palace

The Tokyo Imperial Palace. Built upon the grounds of Edo Castle, the home of the Tokugawa Shogunate, it had been the residence of the Japanese royal family for over a hundred years. However, it now greeted Keitaro and Toko as its new masters.

The palace was unlike the one that Keitaro and Toko had known in their own world. It was built like a fortress and armed to the gills, yet was somehow even more opulent than the real thing.

But before they could properly move in, Keitaro the Black Knight and Toko the Black Maiden, the new rulers and champions of Tokyo and the Japanese people, were given a grand welcoming ceremony. Despite them being seemingly the worst possible candidates, they were still the stars of a parade, formally introduced to thousands in person and millions across the airwaves.

Toko was a wreck throughout it all, practically hyperventilating from the attention. Keitaro took it in stride. Although not only did he feel the dread of eventual combat, but also the guilt of knowing that these people had almost certainly misplaced their trust.

Thankfully neither was forced to give any kind of speech. That role was instead fulfilled by another familiar figure. Ieyasu Tokugawa.

Unassuming and professional, he introduced himself as the chancellor of Tokyo. Of course, Keitaro recognized his name as the third great unifier and the first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Ieyasu Tokugawa, Musashi Miyamoto, Tomoe Gozen… They were all famous Japanese figures. What they were doing here was currently beyond his own understanding, though.

Tokugawa gave a fairly generic speech where he welcomed the siblings and promised victory through the strength of the Japanese people and their leadership.

Unfortunately, it didn’t inspire any confidence in Keitaro or Toko.

***

With the formalities out of the way, a meeting was held to introduce the siblings to their new role. Gathered in a war room were Keitaro, Toko, Musashi, Tomoe, Tokugawa, and two new faces.

“It’s a pleasure to be acquainted.” Tokugawa bowed. “I am Ieyasu Tokugawa, the chancellor of Tokyo. My job is to run the city itself. Of course, whatever actions we take are solely up to your own discretion.”

“Yeah, it’s a real pleasure…” Keitaro scratched his face, his eyes drifting to the others at the table.

The next man was older, heavier, and had a buzzcut. Despite a rougher demeanor, he was as formal, bowing deeply. “My name is Tomoyuki Yamashita. I am the general of Tokyo’s armed forces.”

Finally, there was one man left. Laidback but with a dark look in his eyes, he casually introduced himself, “Souji Okita. I’m the director of the Public Security Agency and the Defensive Intelligence Bureau. Consider me your spymaster.”

More famous figures Keitaro thought to himself. “Anyway… It’s nice to meet you all, but… what exactly are we supposed to do here?”

“Your primary function is to defeat the other Knights and Maidens. If you two win then you’ll be the new rulers of Kosma. Of course, you’ll also be responsible for all of Tokyo in the meantime.”

Toko gasped. They couldn’t even run a takoyaki stand, now they were expected to run an entire city? As if a fight to the death wasn’t bad enough.

Keitaro rubbed the back of his neck. ”Just so you know…we’re not really experienced in any of this…”

“That’s perfectly acceptable. Planning, policy, strategy, budgets, it’s no easy feat. We’ll ease in you overtime. But remember, you two were chosen by destiny to lead us and we have full confidence in your abilities.”

Keitaro sighed. This was getting worse by the minute.

***

Legendary swords, powerful magic, beautiful princesses, a real Isekai adventure. That was what Keitaro had been dreaming about before he was rudely awakened by his bodyguard Musashi.

“Please, just let me sleep a little longer…” he hopelessly begged.

“Nonsense. We need to begin your training immediately to prepare for the battles ahead.”

Just a few feet away, Toko was still sleeping as Tomoe tried to gently wake her. “Lady Toko, please get up.”

Their bedroom had two beds and was massive, designed in traditional Japanese style with Western flair and conveniences.

“Please, Musashi… We’re not used to getting up this early…”

“Strength comes from discipline, my lord. If you are to win then you must begin honing your Ability now.”

“Hm” That last part caught him offguard. “My Ability?”

“Of course. We must learn how to best utilize your Ability in order to gain an edge over your opponents,” Musashi said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“What do you mean by ‘Ability’?”

Musashi looked at him like he was stupid. “You mean you don’t know?”

Keitaro had no idea what he was talking about.

“Sorry, sorry!” An all too familiar voice was heard. Turning to look, Nulla appeared out of nowhere. “I really did mean to come sooner.” They did a silly motion with their hands.

“Nulla.” Musashi said with almost malice.

“You know this kid?” Keitaro asked.

“No. Only of them.”

Nulla sat on the end of the bed and laid down. “I came here to tell you about your Ability.” They sat up. “I didn’t mention them back at the Black Palace because I felt it’d be better to keep it a surprise, but I kinda forgot to tell you. Your Ability is Destruction.”

“Destruction? Ability? What are you talking about?”

“Abilities are special powers that come from your Core. Everybody has a different one, and yours lets you destroy anything you touch.”

“Tch. Give me a break.” Keitaro dismissed it.

“Don’t believe me? Just try it. Focus and touch something,” Nulla urged.

With a sigh, Keitaro put his hand on a vase and closed his eyes, but without even much focus, it started disintegrating before his eyes, turning black and flaking away into nothingness. In shock, he pulled his hand away, stopping the destruction.

“Pretty cool, huh?” Nulla jumped off the bed and walked over to Toko who Tomoe was still trying to wake up.

“Get up!” They yelled.

With a scream, Toko jumped up.

“Good. You’re awake.” Nulla grabbed a porcelain teapot and threw it on the ground, shattering it into a thousand tiny pieces. Looking right into Toko’s eyes, they said, “Fix it.”

“H-how am I s-supposed to fix it!?”

Nulla sighed. “Why’d you have to sleep through the explanation? Look, just touch a piece and focus really hard, okay?”

“O-okay…” Toko cautiously got out of bed. Carefully touching a piece, the teapot started coming back together. “W-what…!?”

“Nice job! It’s called Rewind. Anyway, see ya later!” Nulla then walked out the door

Tomoe kneeled next to Toko. “The Ability to rewind time on objects… You manage to keep impressing me, Lady Toko.”

“O-oh, u-um… T-thanks…?” Toko was confused over the entire situation.

“I could’ve done without him,” Musashi looked at Keitaro, “but it’s good that we know your Abilities now. Your Destruction seems useful. Powerful and also more versatile than one might expect.”

Keitaro looked down at his hand. The Ability to destroy anything he touched. It’s something he wished he had back in his own world, but in some strange way, he did.