Chapter 33

Some time passes and thus this school day ends without any big events. I did fight Kida in Weapons-class - and actually won against her since the weapon we used today were the very blades I so frequently use - but ultimately there was nothing too exciting.

What I am excited for though is the meeting I’m going to have with Iwata in a few minutes. I sit on my bed and look at the traditional blade I have taken with me. The blood on it is slowly becoming a fixed part of it, it seems. In the same way my hair just keeps the spots that were colored red by the blood of crushing the very hearts of my opponents. I am ultimately not more or less the same as my sword: The blood on my sword is drying up and becoming a part of it. In the same manner, the blood in my hair is drying up and colors my hair fundamentally.

I slowly stand up. I do not think I will need my sword, but I will come and get it if Iwata wants to finish a task together with me. I do not want to fight yet another fight without a weapon.

As I arrive at the field of sand I can already see Iwata and Okubo standing there. Okubo is wearing a black crop top and a pair of short jeans. Of course her beloved cap is also resting on her head. Iwata is wearing some sort of jacket and nothing beneath it, silently showing off his six pack. Instead of the commonly worn pants of the school uniform he is wearing a wide and baggy brown jacket.

“There you are. Kept us waiting long enough!” Okubo was not really pleased with me, but I did expect that much. Next to her beloved Iwata I would probably always look like a fool.

Iwata smiles a bit. “Okay, Isuri. Do you know who rules the world? Do you know who is the mightiest man in all of Japan?”

“Uhh… Emperor Sakuramachi, I’d guess?”

Iwata chuckles a bit. “Politically, maybe. But political power is not actual power. The mightiest person, the one who rules everything is none other than Phanes.” That name again. “It is because he is the strongest. Understood?”

“uhh… I guess, yeah?”

“I am the strongest student in this school. You know that much, right?” Well, after witnessing the fight he and Hibiki were having the other day I’m not so sure about that… but there’s no way in hell I would say something like that out loud. Especially not if Okubo is standing right next to him: If I were to call Hibiki the strongest Iwata would get mad on his own but Okubo would probably slaughter me on the spot.

“Uh… Yeah, I heard that much from the others.”

Iwata nods while grinning cockily. “Good. You know what Phanes does with those who threaten and doubt his authority? What he does to the yokai, the empire's enemy?”

“He… kills them?”

“Exactly! Good, good. You are not stupid… that helps.”

I don’t really know what he’s getting at.

“You know, there is one student. One student who is threatening and doubting my authority. You probably already know that pest: Hibiki!”

Okubo shakes her head. “Stupid bitch.”

I do now know what he is getting at… and I don’t think I like it.

“And you will help us defeat this traitor. All you need to do is bring her here.”
I hesitate. Hibiki wasn’t really someone I ever talked to and yet it seemed kind of wrong… Especially after Iwata made it sound so drastic.

“You will do that, right?” Okubo looks at me. I can see something in her hand. Resting peacefully in her hand is a long and thin knife.

Now, do not get me wrong. I was not scared or anything the like: I knew that if they were to attack me and seriously hurt me, I would not end up dying as my blessing would activate and I could thus easily kill them… However, killing them was not an option. And thus they would simply beat the shit out of me… which isn’t optimal either, is it now?

Thus, I decided to find a compromise - at least for myself. They do not need to know about it.

“Uh… yeah, okay. Which room is hers? Is she in her room?”

Iwata chuckles a bit. “She should be. That stupid girl has no friends anyway and doesn’t interact with anyone, so she is probably staying inside of her room at all times. Her room is number 3.”

I silently nod. “What should I say to her?”

“I don’t care… Tell her you want to train with her. Yeah, tell her that.”

I nod again, then I silently turn around. Before I can go I feel Okubo’s breath in my neck, then I hear her whisper. “She better be coming… or else…” I can feel the knife slowly sliding across my back. I nod and take another step forward. “Don’t worry about that.” And thus, I walk off.

As soon as I reach room 3, I knock against the door. It doesn’t take longer than 5 seconds until Hibiki opens the door. “Suri? What are you doing here?” Suri? Despite never talking to her before she has given me a nickname… Well, whatever.

“Uhh…” I look around me. I am kind of afraid of Okubo being nearby and watching my every step… But I honestly doubt that she would go away from Iwata.

“Iwata and Okubo want to meet you. They are currently at the sand-field of the training grounds… But I think they want to seriously hu-”
Without even listening to me Hibiki passes by me and closes her door behind her.

“-uuuuh?”

“Thanks for your concern, but those two are not a problem for me. If Iwata wants a revanche, he can have it.” She is walking past me stoically, without any emotion. Before I can even fully register it, she has already left.

I hurry to my room and grab my trustful blade. I don’t think Hibiki understands the seriousness of the situation… Thus, I will be the hero! I grab my sword and run off; I need to stop them.