[Arc 1 Finale] Just Another Monday

For Izanami, it felt as if she awoke from a dream. It wasn’t pleasant, though not terrible.

Beep! Beep!

When her eyes opened, the room’s darkness had her stare at the ceiling for a good while. Nothing was said. Even Noktu stayed silent.

Beep! Beep! Beep! The sound of the distant alarm continued.

Is it getting louder and louder? thought Izanami.

As the sun rose higher, morning light shimmered the window. It cast a faint silhouette of the curtains against the bedroom wall.

She didn’t want to move an inch. The pillow beneath rested her head softly and the blanket kept her pleasantly warm. For some reason I don’t wanna get up even more. Every morning its like this… Moreover, her comfortable pajamas is an added bonus.

In the end, Izanami raised herself and staggered out of bed.

“So dark,” she complained, yawning while rubbing her eyes.

By the time she opened the curtains, allowing the sun to pass through, she grunted out of annoyance as it blinded her momentarily. Then right after, turned off her nonstop digital alarm.

Thanks to the alarm, she managed to wake up almost an hour early.

By the time she reached the bathroom door, she sluggishly opened the door knob before entering. She weakly brushed her teeth in a slow manner and did the same during a face wash. Ultimately, she had already used majority of the extra time.

Her eyes begged to snap shut, while her slow and groggy movement would increase. By that, you could tell she’s certainly not a morning person, but soon enough her coordination normalized as she changed into her uniform.

Walking down the stairs with little to no pace, she tripped and fell flat down on her face.

…I guess her sense of awareness is still slow.

She groaned with despair at the effect of her morning grogginess, the sound of a low and tired, rasping voice barely filled the quiet living room.

———᯽———

Before she knew it, a pen rested on her slightly opened hand; she barely felt the thing in her hand. While zoning out in class, the teacher boringly talked, but Izanami had no care in the world. Instead, she pondered while pretending to write notes, then to her side gazed at the window. Its raining.

Some time passed, then the bell rang.

“Alright class, class is over. Good job,” said the teacher.

The class president, a tall boy with short blonde hair, and just above average height, raised his voice. “Stand up!”

All classmates stood up and waited for the class president’s next call.

“Bow!”

They all bowed, for a moment staying silent, but only for a moment. Simultaneously responding to the teacher, “Thank you very much!”

In this school, after the usual standing up and bowing to the teacher before dismissal, the students must respond with gratitude. A posh rule which Izanami isn’t particularly fond of.

With the teacher leaving the classroom, everyone else started doing they’re own thing. Izanami immediately sat back down, resting her chin on her palm.

Ran came up to her. “Izanami, what’s up?”

“Ah…nothing really.”

Though said, Izanami didn’t attempt to hide it away. Ran could easily see through her.

“Hmm, how about we go get lunch then?”

“Seems alright,” she stood up from her chair. “What’s for lunch today?” She asked, while they head to the cafeteria; walking beside Ran.

But during their walk, Ran mentioned something. “You seriously don’t look okay…and you haven’t been checked at the infirmary at all since…then.”

Her rate of recovery is not human and Izanami didn’t want any normal person to find out her secret, especially her. So instead of avoiding her already growing suspicion, she directly deflects.

“I had medicine from the pharmacy after getting checked at the local clinic.” …That should be okay.

“That’s good,” replied Ran, smiling after her worry quickly vanished.

Izanami noticed Ran not persistently confronting her anymore, it means she trusts her; she knows that and takes it as a huge step forward going in the right direction.

Afterwards, Izanami spotted a machine to her side. “Oh, there’s a vending machine here. Wanna get a quick drink?”

“What?!”

Her tired voice contrasted Ran’s immediate shock.

“Yeah, even I’m surprised.”

“You don’t seem surprised…”

The reason why they’re surprised is due to these vending machines being almost a myth. The principal’s decision to remove majority of them across the whole school ground was a subtle change for the students. Of course they started to realize, but even then, it was unclear to why he did.

“C’mon, we’re almost there.” However she halted right away. Her thinking more about it had her come to a quick conclusion. “…But if you do insist, why not.”

You’d be lucky to spot one, yet they did—and are still in doubt. Though I don’t blame them.

“Does the machine even work?” Izanami commented.

After getting closer, the two stare down the vending machine. Standing in the dim glow of it, it surely made it easier to see through—

“—I can’t see through,” said Ran, who narrowed her surrounding vision with her hands. She had to squint to barely see if anything is inside, even so close to the machine. “I can’t decide if I can’t pick.”

Izanami also failed on trying to examine her choices. But the two came quick to realize why its not see-through.

…

“Oh… It’s way darker then when I was further away…”

To confirm her theory, she showed Izanami, who watched in silence.

Ran backed away a few steps. “Now its clearer.”

Ran stepped forward, and Izanami continued to watch. “Now its darker.”

“I see,” said Izanami.

From what Ran said, the vending machine’s front panel may be a type of glass that is designed to hide the outside view, similar to a one-way mirror film.

“The closer the person gets, the more it masks the inside,” said Ran.

“Really?”

“…I think.”

Izanami sighed the next moment. Following that, they headed on they’re way to the cafeteria.

Screeeek!

Already far from the vending machine, they bothered to not turn back.

Screeee! Screeee!

As behind them, are workers taking that very vending machine away.

…Though they don’t realize.

After reaching the cafeteria, they joined the noisy queue. The cafeteria itself is bustling with 2nd years blending in with 1st years, and majority of 3rd years here in they’re own group.

Ran who’s in front of Izanami said, “Today is hella packed.”

“For real,” replied Izanami in a neutral tone.

“Really do, I wonder why,” Ran added. She shuffled forward in the queue, waiting for her turn to be in front of the self-serving spot—the dispenser.

Eventually, it became her turn. Excited, she waited for the dispenser to push her meal out. Finally, it came out; she picked up her steaming tray after the dispenser in front pushed it out.

Ran came out of the queue, holding her tray. The steam evaporated a little, so she can see today’s meal. “Oooo!”

Next, Izanami came forward. The dispenser pushed out her tray and she picked it up. Her tray was also immensely steamy at first. Honestly, I’m not that excite—“Ooo!”

Today’s meal contains a bowl of miso soup and a separate bowl of sliced fruit, with Izanami’s personal favourite—Onigiri. Rice balls shaped like a triangle. Preferably for her, rice balls with seaweed wrapped, and tuna & mayo filling.

They sat down at a table, which Ran was overjoyed on her meal. Izanami stared at hers—examining the rice balls, almost drooling. Seaweed wrapped, check. A little bulgy, check. Shaped like a triangle, check!

She couldn’t wait any longer. She wanted to find out now. So, with no more hesitation, she grabbed a rice ball and took a bite.

“Mmm!” Heaven. Absolute heaven.

Izanami felt bliss, truly.

Ran had already ate half her tray. Izanami, however, wanted to take her time. On her next bite, she dipped the bitten rice ball into her miso soup.

“Mmm!!”

The following bite, she decided to combine both the onigiri and miso soup. She picked up her chopsticks after deliberately dumping another one of the onigiri’s into the miso soup.

Ran’s eyes widened upon witnessing her action, she had almost choked. “What…”

Izanami halted to look at Ran. “? What?”

“Nothing, just continue eating, King…”

After Ran’s astonished, but quiet reply, Izanami took her next bite by using the chopsticks to break the moist onigiri apart.

“Mmm!!!”

———᯽———

“Ahhh, that was good!” said Izanami enthusiastically. She rubbed her belly, then patted for relief.

“Yeah, I can tell.”

Both strolling through the hallway, Ran had brought up a suggestion since it was still lunch time.

“Yo, wanna go to the club room?”

“You sure? I’m not a member.”

“Yeah, don’t worry. They allow almost anyone in. You’re with me so it’ll be fine.”

“Alright.”

On the other hand, it wasn’t really alright. Reaching the room for the club that plays Go was fine, as the real issue lies in the fact that an important someone isn’t here.

“Ichika?”

The name Ran called was the 3rd year girl that asked her to get the boards, which was right before the impending incident.

This 3rd year—Ichika, was the club president, and the most active member of the entire club’s history. History wise, the best player who was 2 school generations before Ichika, only had a club attendance of 98 percent. Potentially, Ichika has the chance be the successor of the club’s previous 9-dan professional, as no one after her ever has.

Though an unknown player in the space, she inspired Ichika to pursue Go at her absolute best ability. She recognizes her as the world’s strongest Go player, though that belief in itself would be seen as delusional to other professionals.

“Huh. She’s not here,” said Ran after pausing momentarily.

Well, the two greeted the other members that are present anyway.

Ran waved at the two other members, who are 1st years. “Yo!”

“Oh! Hi, senpai!” replied the 1st year in a energetic manner.

The other bowed. “Senpai, welcome back,” and replied in a calm and polite manner.

“My kohai! To long have I been gone!” shouted Ran dramatically at the energetic girl as she raised her arms in the air.

The energetic girl dropped to her knees dramatically. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”

Ran placed one of her opened hands on the humbled, loyal servant. “My servant, I shall bestow the Divine Protection of the Sword Saint. By His Will; My decree.”

She softly and humbly replied, “Gramercy, my Liege. I am forever in thy debt.”

Simply being inside the room was a whole entire different vibe to it than the first time Izanami was here. Glad I can forget about it.

They all laughed at the ridiculous role play that was put on, Your Majesty and Servant included.

A short while later, they all had sat down at a table. Ran faced the two juniors while Izanami had sat beside her. She started the conversation with the random vending machine she and Izanami saw. Fleshing out the story, she said, “That vending machine was faulty! I mean, even the front view where you choose your snacks was dark to the brim, unless you stood further away. Like, I can’t decide If I can’t pick!”

“Ran…you failing English really damaged your language,” commented Izanami.

“I wasn’t even speaking English.”

“Your failing Japanese too…”

The two juniors stayed silent.

“—”

“—”

“Well… I…”

Izanami also said nothing. “—”

Ran had almost turned to stone because of the sudden call out.

“W-Well, anyways! H-How about you guys introduce herself.”

Ran’s desperation to change the subject was obvious, but luckily for her they went along with it.”

“Y-Yes, sure. I’m Ishida Kaho. A 1st year student. My favorite snacks are choco pies. Nice to meet you, senior.”

“Favorite snacks?” Izanami questioned.

“Yes, Ran told me to always mention it when introducing myself.”

Upon hearing that, Izanami glanced at Ran momentarily before focusing back on Kaho. Hesitating to respond, the energetic girl introduced herself right away.

“Hi! Hi! Kawano Akiko here! Favorite snack; pocky—!”

“The good ones,” Ran nodded in acceptance as she commented.

“—Nice to meet you, senior!”

Izanami faintly smiled and nodded. “My name is Isa Izanami. Favorite snack is onigi—milk cake. N…Nice to meet you.”

“Alright now that introductions are over, lets play a match of Go!”

Ran’s idea kind of perplexed Izanami, thinking she’s not fit for a player—She instantly said so out loud.

“Wait, I never played Go.”

“That’s fine! Right guys?”

“Wha-”

“—Yeah!”

“Yes.”

Izanami having no choice to go along with it, a short while later, the game was set up. Its simple—an empty board is placed between the two players, one player takes the black stones, and the other takes white.

“Okay, since your a beginner, the board is a 9x9,” said Ran.

“So we can finish quicker and at the same time I can learn the game on practise?” Questioned Izanami.

“Exactly, spot on. Its less overwhelming too, so you can easily build confidence.” Ran continued. “Key rules: stones are placed on the intersections of the lines, not within the squares. Once placed, stones are not moved, only removed if captured.”

The sudden silence made the room intense.

Izanami nodded.

Ran faintly smiled.

Kaho—the nice and polite junior—announced, “Then, are you two ready?”

“We don’t need the polite sayings since this is a friendly match. Good luck.”

“Thanks, you too.”

The player with the black stones is Izanami, while the white stones are Ran’s.

Each player typically starts with roughly 180 stones in a bowl.

Ran took a white stone from the bowl and hangs it over the board momentarily.

“Because you don’t know how to start, let me show you as an example. Watch carefully.”

“Okay.”

Traditionally, the stronger player takes white and the weaker takes black. Ran has no reason to lose to Izanami, its self-evident. Even so, she most likely will go easier on her. For Izanami’s sake of learning this board game. And to actually have fun, thought Ran.

For that reason alone, Ran (the high-rank player, in this case) only took one white stone, but pretended to take a handful, concluding with her closing her hand. She held her closed hand high-up.

Immediately, Kaho and Akiko narrowed their eyes.

Ran tells Izanami (the beginner) instructions, so she follows.

“I grabbed a handful of white stones,” she narrowed her eyes. “Now guess if the number of stones in my hand is odd or even.”

If Izanami thinks its odd, then she takes one stone. If she thinks its even, she takes two. Following that, they open their hands and they check.

So, with some hesitation, Izanami—“I…” She thought a little more. She’s so serious, I can’t tell what she’s thinking.

Then, Izanami spoke. “Even.”

With that, they both placed their shrouded stone on the board. Right as the sound of landing rocks hits everyone’s ears, no further discussion was needed.

“Wrong.”

—It wasn’t many rocks landing on the board, it was two: one black and one white.

Ran had won the coin toss.

Its inevitable that I’m going to lose… Its pretty much set in stone.

Because Ran won the outcome, she gets to decide if she wants to play the first proper move as black or play second as white.

“I’ll play my first move as white, so I’m second.”

“Ah, I see.”

After Izanami’s reply, Ran moved her white stone a little down, towards herself.

To compensate for the advantage of Izanami moving first, Ran with the white stones is given extra points, called Komi.

Izanami plays her move, placing her black stone on an empty intersection, she chose a spot below-middle.

From there, the game progressed less as a match and more as a demonstration. Ran strategically carved out massive territories while rendering Izanami’s scattered stones. Within four minutes, Izanami was staring at the board with quiet, stunned acceptance as Ran’s diligence counted her the fast, overwhelming lead. But that’s just the surface.

What everyone couldn’t see, but Ran could…

Because, they have reached the end of the match. With Ran obviously winning, she still admired Izanami’s willpower. Her resolve to keep going even after being in a tough spot reminds Ran of the Izanami she likes to see come out. Its just like before, thought Ran, faintly smiling.

She said, “Good game.”

Izanami replied with a smile. “Good game.”

At that moment, the bell rang. Lunch time had ended.

“Have a nice holiday, Izanami-senpai, Ran-senpai.”

“Bye! Bye!”

And with that, the freshmen hastily exited the room after saying their goodbyes.

“…Wow, now we have to tidy up all this,” said Ran in a disinterested manner.

“It is what it is, I guess.”

Having cleaned up the table and even the room, they exited the club room.

Ran breathed in her nose and exhaled with sound. “Isn’t it a bit too quiet now?”

“It was like that ever since we finished eating.”

“Really?”

“Yup.”

“Soooo, they’re gonna fix the broken windows, right?”

Ran and Izanami head on they’re way back to class to take they’re bag and coat before leaving the school building. Cracks of glass are heard by every second. The amount scattered all over the floor made it so they both step on them continuously.

But hey, they got used to it.

Shattered glass on the floor, stepping on them constantly, and the fact that they are planning to leave the building when lunch just finished? Its odd, except what’s even more odd is the whole 2nd and 3rd floor windows, and a majority of the class rooms ruined.

Yup, that day caused this. The larva spirit that did it all. And speaking of spirits, one finally stepped out of the shadows to speak out.

So you dealt with this the whole day ignoring all this damage?

Yup, pretty much.