The sacret swordwoman version 1.22474487139...

Mitsuko searched the floor for her glasses, extending her hand. After some time, she found them. The vice principal stood alone in the bedroom, not uttering a word. She quickly surveyed Yuuko’s messy apartment with exaggerated disgust, exclaiming.

‘What a mess! And why am I half-naked?’ Mitsu grabbed her wrinkled uniform with a ridiculous expression. ‘I knew this was a terrible idea!’ That night could not be changed; time travel was impossible. With her dishevelled clothes, she headed into the bathroom; stretching her shirt and pants, discarding her underwear, and leaving her glasses on the sink before stepping into the shower.

Mitsu turned on the water, closed her eyes, and tilted her head toward the ceiling. The water cascaded over her body like translucent pearls. She soaped and rinsed, then left the shower. Mitsuko tidied herself up and wiped the condensation from her glasses before putting them back on. The vice principal returned to the main room, trying not to pay attention to her surroundings as she made her way towards the entrance. Mitsu’s hand touched the doorknob, but guilt drove her back to tidy and sanitise.

***

The deluge thundered on the roof of the sports pavilion. Fuyume rested on the padded benches while Ayumu sat beside her, a towel draped over his neck and shoulders. Hiiragi emerged from the changing room, already dressed in her uniform. The burgundy-haired girl glanced at Ayumu and tossed him a blue uwagi.

‘It’s the largest one they have. Well, it’s better than catching a cold,’ Hiiragi approached to them.

‘Thanks.’

‘You have things to clarify.’ Hiiragi turned serious.

‘It’s a long story.’

‘You’d better be good at summarising.’ Hiiragi glanced at her phone. ‘We have little time.’

‘Where should I start?’ Ayumu paused, trying to find the best way to summarise his story. ‘I don’t even know why I’m here. I was supposed to go to a regular high school in Kobe. And overnight, I find myself trapped in a battlefield with… rather peculiar girls. My teacher was supposed to help me, she said would come pick me up in the morning, hasn’t shown up. I’m afraid she got into trouble because of me.’

‘Wait,’ Hiiragi cut off his story. ‘Are you telling me you ended up here by mistake? And there’s a teacher who knows about your existence?’ She followed Ayumu’s train of thought. ‘Not to doubt your version, but it sounds strange… The Onmyou’s administration doesn’t make mistakes. They have detailed reports of every potential student even before they finish middle school; not to mention the family interviews and entrance exams. It’s hard for me to imagine them making such a grave mistake as admitting a boy.’

‘Believe me, I’m just as confused as you… uh, Miss…?’

‘Nakabayashi Hiiragi.’

‘The thing is, Miss Serizawa told me to stay in an abandoned dorm. She said she would come pick me up early, but she hasn’t shown up… at least not her.’ Ayumu paused briefly. ‘Unexpected visitors forced me to leave. Then I got caught up in a fight between two crazy, superpowered twins.’ Hiiragi couldn’t help but giggle after addressing Ayumu.

‘Crazy superpowered twins?’

‘That was terrifying. They nearly killed me, conjuring lightning and flame.’ Ayumu was overwhelmed just remembering it. ‘If it wasn’t for the other crazy girl…’ his story reached its climax. ‘Then I ran into that girl who also attacked me. That insane girl almost cooked us alive, and here we are.’

‘You’ve been through quite an odyssey, huh?’ Hiiragi’s tone was friendlier. Ayumu nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. The sound of rain faded away. ‘We can’t stay here forever.’

‘What do you suggest?’

‘You gotta take the bus if you wanna leave. If you miss it, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow, so we’ll save time and go there directly. Besides, staying around here exposes you to the risk of someone discovering you, like another crazy one. We can call the station to ask about Serizawa.’ Hiiragi’s explanation was stopped short by a yell close by. Ayumu recognised that girl’s voice.

‘You two are so annoying!’ Hiiragi put a finger to her lips. Hiiragi grabbed her bamboo sword and motioned for Ayumu to follow her cautiously. ‘I know nothing about it! I had just arrived there!’ Masami’s voice was cut off by Azu.

‘Well, if you know nothing, then why did you try to escape?! You were at the scene of the crime, you’re just as suspicious too!’ Masami angrily turned toward the other teacher, pointing at Azuki.

‘What’s this? Good cop/bad cop? Or just is she foolish?’ Hiiragi cautiously advanced, taking a slight detour. Approaching the part of the forest next to the tracks, with Ayumu following her, Hiiragi saw Masami leaning against a tree, cornered by Azuki and Yuuko. ‘I’m Masami Sakai. You don’t recognise my surname? If anything happens to me, you’ll be out on the streets before I can snap my fingers.’

‘Look at this girl,’ Azuki mocked. ‘She thinks she can intimidate us, Yuu…’

‘Well, okay,’ the other tried to mediate. ‘Azu, let me handle this…’ Yuuko’s eyes fixed on Masami. ‘Look, I believe you. You’ve arrived at a very inconvenient time in a compromised situation. But we must still comply with procedure and report it.’

‘Miss Serizawa!’ Ayumu tried to peek out, but Hiiragi grabbed him, forcing him to remain hidden. Yuuko interrupted her speech, looking toward the spot where Hiiragi and Ayumu were hiding. Azuki also turned her gaze in that direction.

‘But what?’ Sakai was surprised by the abrupt interruption.

‘Two.’ Azu gave a discreet signal with her hand, something known only to her and Yuuko. ‘Flank,’ she signalled. Her partner furrowed her brow.

‘Civilians!’ she responded, using the same code. ‘I will not attack!’ Azuki was surprised to see the civilian symbol.

‘What do you mean, civilians!?’ Sakai grew increasingly confused. Yuuko let out a shout.

‘Students, you idiot!’ Hiiragi pressed against Ayumu, trying to take up as little space as behind the tree. He blushed, feeling her chest against his own.

‘N- Nakabayashi…’ Ayu tried to warn Hiiragi. ‘She’s so close.’ The boy swallowed.

‘Have we been discovered!?’ The burgundy-haired girl’s looked to her flanks, gripping her bamboo sword. ‘I should distract them and help him escape without drawing attention.’

‘And how do you expect me to know what you’re saying!?’ Azu responded, following Hiiragi’s train of thought. ‘You said civilians!’

‘Because there’s no sign for saying student, understand it from the context!’ Both of them confronted each other. Sakai looked away and slowly tried to disappear from the scene. ‘Do you think we’re done with you!?’ the teachers clamoured in unison, turning toward her. Masami froze in place. Yuuko shifted her gaze to the trunk where the other two were hiding. ‘Didn’t you two know eavesdropping is wrong?’

‘Come out of there!’ Azuki’s voice sounds authoritative. Nakabayashi pressed even closer to the boy as she pondered what to do.

‘Na- Nakabayashi,’ Ayumu’s voice trembling. She focused her eyes on him. They were so close. Their chests pressed against each other’s torsos. An uncomfortable silence hung between them. Hiiragi blushed and let out a scream. Instinctively, she pulled back. A magical circle surrounded the bamboo sword’s rods, emitting a pale green glow. The wind swirled around the blade, and without thinking, she swung her weapon toward Ayumu. The boy’s eyes glimmered again. He crouched down.

‘Lucky!’ The blonde girl resumed her escape plan, but Yuu jumped on her, throwing her to the ground. Azu stepped back. Something knocked down a couple of trees, effortlessly cutting through trunks and notching others. The invisible blade passed over the heads of Yuu and the blonde student, ripping Azuki’s clothing. She turned around, somewhat astonished, to see a blushing Hiiragi panting and holding her sword high. ‘Hey, what the…?!’ She was stunned as she saw the trees felled by a clean cut. Before they touched the ground, Azu faced Hiiragi. When Hiiragi snapped out of it, she could barely react and move her weapon. Azu was already in front of her. Her gaze reminded Yumiko when facing Fuyume. In a swift motion, Azu firmly grabbed Hiiragi’s right wrist and pulled it toward herself, extending her arm to the limit. She applied force, immobilising her, and placed her right elbow on her neck. Yuu and Masami turned around, the teacher exclaimed in alarm.

‘Azu!’ Azu stopped just before letting herself fall onto Hiiragi’s neck.

‘What the hell were you trying to do?! Kill her?!’ she objected to her companion. Azu released Hiiragi, who fell backward. The teacher nervously laughed and scratched her head. Masami turned pale.

‘What do you mean, kill her!? Who are these two?’

‘You’re an idiot!’ Serizawa reprimanded her. Azu straightened her back and bowed to Hiiragi.

‘I’m really sorry! It’s a professional defect, I suppose.’ She tried to excuse herself, but something caught her attention. She slowly shifted her gaze from the corner of her eye and was unpleasantly surprised…