◇ ◇ ◇
Setting aside my katana, I wiped the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand. A summer breeze brushed against my skin as it passed.
The wind cooled my flushed body.
I loved summer.
I loved this time when, after a long day of training, I could stand and let the wind—heavy with the scent of sun-drenched grass—wash over me.
"……?"
As I stood there with my eyes closed, a faint sound caught my ear.
I activated my Ki to sharpen my hearing. The sound became much clearer.
(……Crying?)
It was a soft sobbing, so quiet it nearly dissolved into the rustle of the wind, but it was definitely there.
I parted the tall grass and followed the sound. Hidden in the shade of a tree, I found a young girl in a small miko outfit, curled into herself. It was Nagisa.
"What's wrong?"
Nagisa’s shoulders gave a start at the sound of my voice. She looked up at me timidly, her eyes brimming with tears that looked ready to spill at any moment.
"……Big Sis Fuuka……"
Realizing it was me, Nagisa scrambled to her feet and ran toward me, burying her face in the folds of my wafuku. I wrapped my arms around her back and gently stroked her head.
"Big Sis, I can't do it. It’s too much……" Nagisa’s voice cracked with a sob.
"……By 'can't do it,' do you mean the dance for next month's festival?"
"Yeah……. I just don't have the talent for it……. I can't possibly perform such an important role all by myself……"
In Kyokutou, a festival called the Reibu Festival is held every year in mid-August, with my family, the Shinonome House, and Nagisa’s family, the Asagiri House, playing central roles.
As a child, I hadn't been told the finer details yet, but I knew it was the most significant event in our country. Nagisa had been assigned a part this year, and she was expected to perform a dance during the ceremonies.
Clearly, her practice wasn't going well, but I couldn't blame her. The dance was a cornerstone of the festival. Expecting a girl who wasn't even ten years old to shoulder that kind of burden was absurd.
……Lately, I didn't really understand what the adults were thinking. Until recently, they would answer any question I had, but now I felt like they were hiding things from me. I couldn't explain why, but the feeling of being kept in the dark was deeply unsettling.
Nagisa was as precious to me as a real sister. If the adults were going to be like this, then I was the one who had to help her.
"In that case, do you want to do it together?"
"……Together……?"
Nagisa lifted her face from my chest, looking up at me.
"Yeah. If it’s too hard to do alone, I’ll dance right beside you. You can do it if I'm there, right?"
"B-but…… then your own role will……!"
"My part is just swinging a cursed katana; it’s simple. If dancing with me helps you give it your all, then I'll do it."
"Big Sis, thank you……. I can do it if you're there! I'll work hard!"
The fragile, broken Nagisa vanished, replaced by a girl with a bright, determined expression.
"It’s a deal then. Let’s start practicing immediately. I know the basics, but I’m far from perfect. It'll be a race to see who gets better first."
"Yeah!!"
That was the last promise I ever made to Nagisa.
And it was a promise I was never able to fulfill.
◇
Hot. Hot. Hot.
I used to love the summer wind and the scent of the lush grass it carried.
This should have been the season for it.
And yet…… why was it that the only things stinging my nose were the stench of burning wood and the wretched, metallic smell of blood?
Flames leaped into the sky, spreading until they threatened to swallow the very darkness of the night.
"How…… how did this happen……?"
"Run, Fuuka!"
Dazed and reeling from the sudden chaos, I let Haruto pull me by the hand as we sprinted through the forest.
Today was supposed to be a day of celebration. During the day, the air had been filled with the laughter of the people. Now, it was filled with screams and roars of anger.
And among those noises were the voices of many people searching for me. But they weren't looking for me to keep me safe.
——They were looking for me to kill me.
My parents were murdered the moment the uprising began. If it hadn't been for Haruto’s quick thinking, I would already be dead too.
"Dammit! Was heading into the forest a mistake? I can't use my Bird's-eye Vision properly in here—!?"
Haruto’s voice, sharp with panic, cut off as he gasped in surprise.
Standing in his path was an old man with a physique so lean and powerful it was impossible to believe he was nearly sixty.
"Master……"
His name was Kiryuu Tendou.
He was my sword instructor, Haruto’s grandfather, and the man hailed as Kyokutou’s Strongest Swordsman.
"I have finally found you, Princess."
Master approached us with a calm, gentle smile. Haruto glared at him with a gaze that could have pierced stone.
"You too, you old geezer?! The Tendou House is supposed to protect the Shinonome and Asagiri Houses! What the hell are you thinking, pointing a blade at Fuuka and her parents!?"
Master looked at Haruto, who was shouting while dropping into a combat stance, and looked genuinely impressed.
"Hoh……. They say a person's true nature is revealed when they are cornered. To think my grandson, who never showed the slightest interest in his duties, would be the only one to stand and protect the Princess."
"Shut up with the excuses! You traitor!!"
Haruto roared as he lunged at his grandfather. It was a blow backed by every ounce of his power, his Ki flared to its absolute limit.
Master caught the strike effortlessly with his katana still sheathed, not even bothering to draw his blade.
"……Hmm. I thought you had been neglecting your training, but this is worth a passing grade."
"Don't talk down to—"
"Calm yourself."
"—Gah!?"
Before Haruto could follow up, he was slammed into the ground. It happened so fast I couldn't even track Master’s movements.
"I did not come here to kill the Princess. I came to help her escape this country."
"Escape……?" Haruto rasped.
Master gave a firm nod. He turned toward me and bowed his head slowly.
"—Princess. First, allow me to apologize for failing to prevent this catastrophe. I am truly sorry."
"Why did this happen?"
"Information is scarce, so I cannot give you a definitive answer, but the Asagiri House has raised a flag of rebellion. My foolish sons and many of the younger generation have followed them."
"The Asagiri House……. ……! Nagisa! Is Nagisa safe!?"
In the chaos, I had forgotten about her. If she had been caught up in this violence……
"Rest assured. She is currently being held under house arrest at their manor, but her life is not in danger."
"House arrest……. I have to go save her."
I turned to head back toward the town.
"Wait, Princess. Your safety is a higher priority than Lady Nagisa’s right now, especially since her life is not threatened."
"Why? I can protect myself. If you’re with me, Master, we can save her!"
"If it were only the soldiers led by my sons, I could handle them alone. However, there is undoubtedly another power behind this coup. Until I can gauge the strength of those individuals, I cannot allow you to go there."
"No……"
"We cannot lose the Princess here. I promise you, by my life, that I will protect Lady Nagisa. So, though I know it is agonizing, you must focus only on survival for now."
"…………I understand."
"Thank you for listening to reason. A ship is waiting for you; continue toward the northern coast. ——And Princess, take this."
Master reached into his storage magic tool and pulled out a katana.
"This katana is……"
"Yes. The national treasure of this land, Hakuyou."
Hakuyou was a cursed katana that had existed since before the Fairy Tale Era. It contained a power distinct from both Ki and mana, and it was only ever drawn during the Reibu Festival.
"I believe you are the one who can master this blade in its truest sense. When the time comes for you to reclaim this country, this katana will be the power that carves a path through any wall in your way."
"When I reclaim the country……"
"Precisely. At this moment, we are too cornered to turn the tide. But as long as you live, the chance for victory remains. Endure this, Princess. Grow strong enough to take back what was stolen."
I took the katana from him, his words burning into my mind. My fingers tightened around the hilt as I looked him in the eye.
"—I will return. I will take back this country, and I will take back Nagisa. Until then, protect her, Master."
Master nodded with a soft, reassuring smile.
"I accept your command. ……Safe travels, Princess. I will be waiting for your return."
With that, Haruto and I began to run toward the northern coast. I could feel the wind, heated by the raging fires, brushing against my cheeks, but I focused on the other fire burning deep in my chest—making sure it would never go out.
◇
As the memories faded, the sun began to peek over the eastern horizon. A breeze passed by, carrying that scent of sun-drenched grass I used to love.
Years had passed since that night.
To take back Kyokutou, I had honed my sword skills to their peak.
To take back Kyokutou, I had tamed the cursed katana until it obeyed my every whim.
To take back Kyokutou, I had found reliable allies, with Orun at the lead.
"Soon. Very soon, I'm going back to reclaim Kyokutou."
I whispered, my fingers tightening around Hakuyou's hilt. My voice was thick with an emotion that surprised even me.
Thank you for reading to the end!
I have two announcements to share:
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As I’ve mentioned on X (Twitter) and in my activity reports—an anime adaptation has been greenlit! This is all thanks to the incredible support of my readers. Thank you so much! I’ll be sharing more updates on X as they come, so stay tuned!
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Volume 14 of the manga adaptation is on sale today! The cover features a beautiful illustration of Luna. It’s a fantastic volume, so please check it out!