[Gosha HQ: Medical Room]
The mage slowly opened his eyes, waking from a deep slumber. He felt refreshed, his body lighter and free of pain. He sat up, stretched the lingering tension from his limbs, and took a steadying breath. A new day for this young mage, and he got to make a proper good impression to these people. But also to make sure information about himself stay minimal. He doesn’t trust these Taimanins as there is possibility for them to use this information against him.
“Oh, you’re awake, Ryuji-kun?” Shiranui was also awake, though she seemed distant, her energy seems to be lacking.
This cause Ryuji to worried. “Are you all right, Shiranui-san? Not a morning person? You seem low on energy.”
“I’m fine. It’s just… this feeling is coming back to me.” She gives him a reassuring smile, though that isn’t enough to deter him.
“What feeling?” This has to be related to some kind of brainwash. The simple fact she acts normal after he used his flame on her is undeniable.
She decided to explain it to Ryuji. “When I was captured I was forced to undergo training, the brainwashing, the drugs, the way they manipulated my body, they did something to my mind. Like they have implanted something in my head. Even now, it whispers to me… urges me to do lewd things.”
Ryuji fell silent for a moment, struck by the bleak absurdity of it all. ‘Is every evil person in this world a horny bastard?’
“The only time the whispers quiet down,” Shiranui continued, her voice soft and fragile, “is when you touch me.” She looked at him with pleading eyes. “Please…”
“You don’t have to beg,” Ryuji sigh and give a simple smile. “I’d do it even if you didn’t ask.” He extended his right hand toward her. “Come on. Take my hand.”
Shiranui reached out, her fingers brushing against his. His palm was rough and calloused hand. ‘So rough…’ Then, a sudden warmth seeped into her skin, soft and steady. She gasped softly. “Ah!”
“Did that surprise you?” Ryuji chuckled lightly.
“Hmph…” She pouted, though her grip on his hand remained. The expression softened almost immediately, giving way to something quieter, more vulnerable. “Ne, Ryuji-kun… could you touch my cheeks again? Like you did yesterday… I want to feel that again.”
‘What…?’
The request, and the softness in her eyes, caught him off guard, stirring something unexpectedly warm and tight in his chest. ‘Get a hold of yourself! This isn’t the first time a girl asked for comfort!’
He lifted his hand, his thumb gently brushing her cheek, a faint, warm glow of his flame radiating from his touch. She leaned into it immediately, her eyes drifting closed as a blush warmed her skin and her whole body seemed to soften under his palm.
"Ryuji-kun…" Her voice was a soft murmur that startled him slightly. Then she let go of his hand. "Would you… pet my head, please?"
"Ugh…" He sighed, reluctant to do the act, but his hand moved anyway, fingers gently combing through her hair.
Shiranui was enjoying the moment, quietly amused by the face he was making. Yet she couldn't help but push further. She took his hand from her cheek and guided it toward her breast. “Ryuji-kun, do it here next.”
Instead of looking surprised, Ryuji fixed her with a deadpan stare. “Shiranui-san, I’m going to report you for sexual harassment if you keep this up.” He pulled both hands away, putting clear distance between them.
Shiranui hadn’t expected that reaction. Ryuji possessed a surprisingly strong control over his desires. Though it makes sense since he did resist the influence of the aphrodisiac during their fight.
‘KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.’
A sudden knock at the door broke the silence. Ryuji’s attention snapped toward it, his senses already reaching out. Through his Third Eye, he felt two familiar auras, one belonging to Asagi, the other to the doctor who had treated them.
His mind shifted instantly into planning mode. This conversation was critical, he needed to leave a strong, positive impression on the head of Gosha Village. Anything less, and he might be kicked out of the village, or worse.
The door opened, and Asagi entered with the doctor. "Good morning, Miyatake-san, Shiranui-san." They paused, surprised to see Ryuji already on his feet. “Oh, you’re already out of bed.” Asagi said.
“I tend to wake up with a lot of energy.” He replied. Just then, his stomach growled loudly. “And also an empty stomach.” This is not a good start to his plan.
Asagi just keeps smiling professionally while the doctor giggles. Himehagi then approach him. “Well, we can have breakfast, after we check up on your injuries.”
“Alright.” Well, it not a good start, but at least it makes a good impression towards one of them.
When Asagi turned to Shiranui, her demeanour shifted into one of grave focus. “Shiranui-san, there is something I have to say.” She paused, ensuring she had Shiranui’s full attention. “We may have to conduct brain surgery on you.”
The silence that followed was cut through by Ryuji. “Is it something related to brainwashing?”
“Oh, that was a good guess, Miyatake-san.” the doctor chimed in, her giggles momentarily subdued by curiosity.
“It was a simple deduction. Plus, Shiranui-san was actually suffering from the effects this morning.”
Hearing this, both women tensed with concern. “How do you feel right now, Shiranui?” Asagi pressed, her voice urgent.
“I’m fine now. It’s stopped. Ryuji-kun helped me.”
The doctor’s gaze sharpened with professional interest. “How did Miyatake-san stop it?”
“He gave me his wonderful touched.” A faint blush coloured Shiranui’s cheeks.
Both women turned their intense scrutiny toward Ryuji.
Despite their stares, Ryuji remained calm. They can’t possibly think he takes advantage of her in that state… right? “I used my flame to subdue the brainwashing effects. That’s all.”
This managed to calm the both of them. “Your flame?” The doctor leaned in, curiosity overtaking her suspicion. “Does it have healing properties?”
Here came his first obstacle. He wanted to keep his abilities secret, but they already knew something from the three. As long as the true nature of his power remained hidden, it would be fine. “When it comes to soothing the mind, it works well. But the effect is temporary, the flame’s influence fades over time.” Just keep it at a bare minimum, enough that they will satisfy for an answer.
“Oh… that very good when it comes to healing trauma and other mental illnesses.” Himehagi wants to continue further, but Asagi stops her.
“Enough Himehagi-sensei, we need to do his check-up then preparing for Shiranui-san surgery.”
“Oh right hehe.” Himehagi gave a little chuckle. “Come follow me, Miyatake-san.”
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[Himehagi Personal Medical Room]
The first thing she did was check the injuries Ryuji had sustained the day before. She was surprised by how rapidly his body had mended. After performing an X-ray, she stared at the results, her professional composure faltering for a moment. “Miyatake-san… your recovery rate is unusually fast.”
“I hear that from every doctor who treats me.”
“Well, let’s take a blood sample, shall we?” she said, her tone casually clinical as she prepared a syringe.
“Blood sample?” Ryuji’s eyes narrowed slightly. Ah, so this is one of their way of extracting information from him. Using his DNA to search his identity or find some secret to his power. He didn’t resist. He was confident they’d find nothing, he had no identity in this world to trace, and his power wasn’t rooted entirely in his blood.
After drawing the blood, the doctor moved on to his physical measurements. As she worked, her questions grew more pointed. “How did you acquire these scars, Miyatake-san?”
“The same way as the Taimanin does. Fighting monsters and criminals.”
“It’s just… some are rather severe. This one across your back, for instance, it looks like a blade strike.”
“That’s because it was.”
“Hmm.” Her hands paused near his temple, her voice lowering. Hoping he would give her a story on how he got his injuries, “And the gunshot wound on your head?”
“I got shot in the head.”
“Miyatake-sannnnnn…” Himehagi drew out his name, her professional composure fraying into visible frustration.
He sighed. Well, there was no real harm in telling this part. “It was a CIA agent.”
The doctor stay quiet and listen to his story intently.
“A few months back, news started spreading in my city about children going missing. I investigated and found the Yakuza were involved, but something didn’t add up, why would they take that risk? I managed to capture one and learned a foreigner was pulling the strings. I tracked him down, we fought, and I lost. He put a bullet in my head.”
“Hmm…” She still disliked his simple, vague explanation, but decided not to pry further.
“I survived, as you can tell, since I’m standing here,” he added with a dry, joking tone that drew a soft giggle from the doctor despite herself. “After I was released from the hospital, I decided not to do it alone. I gathered my friends, coordinated a raid on one of the CIA’s hidden base, and got my revenge. Put an end to their trafficking operation for good.”
“So how is the brain injury now? I hope nothing was permanently damaged.” Despite having pressed him for the story, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt.
“I can still function day-to-day, but…” He looked down, ashamed. He wouldn’t have been injured at all if he hadn’t been so arrogant. “I lost something because of it.”
“Miyatake-san?”
“It’s fine. Honestly, it feels a bit better to say it out loud. I’ve never told anyone how I got some of these injuries, not even some of my friends.” He met her gaze, his tone lowering. “I’d appreciate it if you kept this between us.”
Though, he doubted she would. They are searching info about him, and he had just handed her a piece of his past, albeit a poorly retelling one.
“Of course,” she replied, her voice carefully neutral. “Doctor-patient confidentiality.”
But the way her eyes briefly flickered toward Asagi, still waiting by the door, told him everything he needed to know.
He simply nodded and began buttoning his shirt, covering the map of scars once more.
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[Cafeteria]
Asagi led him to the cafeteria before excusing herself, stating she had other matters to attend to. He wasn’t left alone with just a plate of egg fried rice, however.
“Mou, why did Big Sis stick me with watching over this grumpy looking guy?” complained the girl beside him, a blue eye teenager with vibrant orange hair. Igawa Sakura, Asagi's younger sister. “I wanna go on real missions, not… this.”
‘Weird,’ Ryuji noted. In the visual novel, she’d been a teacher. Here, she was clearly still a student. “So, you’re Asagi’s little sister?”
“Yeah, I’m Igawa Sakura. And who are you, anyway? Why did she tell me to keep an eye on you?” She leaned closer, studying him with open suspicion.
He remained unruffled. “Simple. I’m Miyatake Ryuji, call me Ryuji if you want. I’m an outsider, she’s thinking of recruiting.”
“An outsider?”
“Yep. Ever since I help those three and brought back Shiranui, she offered me a place here.”
“Hmm…” She took a moment to think. “Oh, that mission where Yukikaze and the Akiyama siblings went to Yomihara. You know, Yukikaze was really happy when she came back after the mission.”
“Really?” He smiles a little.
“Yup, I wish I was there with them on that mission. Must be fun kicking ass there!”
‘You’re probably going to become a slave prostitute instead of fighting.’ Ryuji, thought, she seemed a bit naive on this. “Said have you been sent on a mission before?”
“Nope,” she grumbled, planting her face on the cafeteria table and wrapping her arms over her head. “She keeps saying I’m not ready yet.”
“How are your grades here at the academy?”
“My grades are fine! I ace every combat simulation.”
“What about the academic side? Math, science, English?”
This time she hesitated, her voice muffled against the table. “Well… those are… average.”
He didn’t press further, instead taking a spoonful of fried rice into his mouth. “It’s strange, though. How old are Tatsurou, Yukikaze, and Rinko?”
“Tatsurou and Yukikaze are sixteen. Rinko’s the same age as me.”
“That’s… weird. If Tatsurou and Yukikaze are already taking on missions, then there must be something preventing her to let you take on one.”
“I don’t know… but it probably has something to do with the Chaos Arena. And… with Kyousuke disappearing.”
“Chaos Arena and Kyousuke?”
“She never explained much about the Chaos Arena, so I don’t really know what happened there. But Kyousuke… he was my sister’s fiancé. Or ex-fiancé, now.”
“Ex-fiancé?”
“Yeah. They had a big fight a month after the Chaos Arena event, and after that, both Kyousuke and his younger brother left the village. No one’s seen them since.” Sakura’s expression softened with sadness at the memory. “My sister didn’t take it well. She became… desperate, searching everywhere for them. Then one day, she came back looking furious, muttering over and over, ‘They took them.’ It was… really scary.”
‘So a group took her lover.’ He’d need to note that. Earning her goodwill might come down to finding them. “Say, do you know which group took them?”
“Hmm… I don’t know, but I heard a new faction emerged a few months back. One made up of mages.”
A group made of mage. No different from his world. “Is there anything else you know about them?”
“Um… nope, don’t know anything about them!” There was a weird pause at the beginning of that.
Ryuji didn’t need his Third Eye to tell she was lying. Her averted gaze and the too-quick denial were more than enough. “You know, it’s not nice to lie, Sakura…”
“Guh, how did you know?”
“Do I really have to explain?” She can’t be that oblivious, right?
“You… you won’t tell anyone, right?” She hit him with the puppy eyes, damn it, his one weakness. Though, he never plans on telling anyone to begin with. “My sister will get really mad if she knows this.”
“I won’t. Now come on, tell me.”
“Well, last year, Asuka and I decided to sneak off to Tokyo to hunt some demons. We wanted to prove to my sister that we were ready for real missions. At night, we went around taking down some lowlifes until… he showed up.” She shuddered slightly at the memory.
“Who?”
“Edward Black.” The name meant nothing to Ryuji, but judging by his name, he must be the final boss.
“Asuka just… snapped. She attacked him, but he beat her down so fast. I wanted to help, but he held her hostage. Just as the demons closed in, these two appeared out of nowhere. This guy in white armour charged Edward with a sword, forcing him to let Asuka go. Then a rogue Taimanin threw some kind of magical talisman, it exploded and used a magnetic pull to rip the weapons right out of the demons’ hands.” She sounded like a kid describing her favourite action heroes, her voice bright with excitement. “They were so cool! I tried to ask who they were, but they just said they were with a mage group. Then they left.”
There wasn't much valuable information in her story other than the two mysterious mage and Edward Black. Though, a rogue Taimanin? Was that the term for those who weren't part of Gosha Village?
Sakura looked at Ryuji. "You know… those mage guys. I don't think they're bad people. I mean, I heard they've attacked Taimanins on missions, but… nobody was killed, just injured. I—I'm confused."
Ryuji met her gaze with understanding. “I get it. Sometimes people you expect to be good end up doing bad things. And honestly, that’s normal, we’ve all done bad things once in our lives.” He leaned forward slightly. “Those mages probably have their own reasons for what they did. But if you want to understand them, you’d have to ask them directly.”
“But is it wrong to still think of them as good?”
“It’s all a matter of perspective, Sakura. Follow what you believe. Whether you see them as good or bad is up to you. I’m sure some people here would criticize you for thinking that group might be the good guys. But you’ve got me. I will understand, and believe in you.” Ryuji give her a reassuring smile. He hopes this answer would satisfy her.
Sakura blushed and giggled. “Hehe, thanks, Ryuji-kun. You’re actually a really nice guy… even with those intense, scary eyes of yours.”
“I get that a lot.”
Just then, a woman approached their table. “Miyatake-san, Lady Asagi, has requested your presence in the briefing room.”
“Oh, Murasaki-chan, can I come too?” Sakura chirped, talking as if they were close.
“Sakura,” Murasaki replied, her tone carrying a slight, threatening edge. “You will address me as sensei, not chan.” She paused, her gaze flickering toward Ryuji before adding, “Lady Asagi requested Miyatake-san only.”
“Buuu…” Sakura pouted, her disappointment obvious as she got up to leave. “Well, see you later, Ryuji-kun. Maybe I’ll see you around the academy.” She gave a parting wave.
“Yeah, see you,” he waved back.
“Follow me, Miyatake-san.”
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They arrived at the briefing room. Asagi was there, along with several others, who turned to look at him the moment he entered. Their stares were a mix of curiosity, assessment, and in a few cases, open hostility. Ryuji met their gazes steadily, already feeling the weight of the room. This wasn’t just a meeting, it was an evaluation. They would question him, probe his motives, his abilities, his past. Every word he chose from here on out would matter.
“Miyatake Ryuji.” Asagi was the first to speak. “Before we can accept you into Gosha Village, we need to know.” Her eyes sharpened, cutting through the quiet. “Are you truly committed to this?”
Ryuji, through his Third Eye, many remains neutral, but one of them emits hostility towards him. “I am,” he answered, his voice steady.
“I’m not convinced. While you’ve shown resolve in risking yourself to save our students and Shiranui, I still doubt where your allegiance lies.”
“Are you suggesting that I’m still working with the organization?” He decided to go directly to the cause.
“Didn’t you already admit as much to Rinko?” Asagi took a step back, gesturing to the large screen behind her. “This group of mages has been causing problems in Tokyo. They call themselves The Sovereign Mage Militia.”
The screen lit up with surveillance photographs of the group's members engaged in various activities. At first, Ryuji brushed the matching name off as coincidence. But then multiple familiar figures flashed before him; despite the masks and hoods obscuring their faces, their mannerisms and the way they carried themselves were unmistakable. Though three other individuals remained unidentifiable, one in distinctive white armour and two who had the clear bearing of rogue Taimanin, one male and one female, it was enough for him to reach a devastating conclusion. His certainty shattered.
The missing Tokyo branch of the Militia wasn't just lost. They were here, in this world.
Despite this shocking revelation, he still remains a neutral look. How should he answer this? Should he lie? No, they would probably don’t believe him. So he should tell them the truth, but not everything.
“You’re right,” he said, his voice steady. “I am part of this organization.”
A ripple of surprise passed through the room.
“But,” he continued, holding Asagi’s gaze, “I am not part of this branch. The group you’re showing me… they’re from Tokyo branch. I’ve never operated with them.” It was a lie, he’d assisted them a handful of times, but it was a necessary one to sell his story.
“I see,” Asagi replied, her expression unreadable. “Then please tell us about the organization you do belong to.”
“Where would you like me to begin?”
“Start with its history.”
Ryuji closed his eyes and took a slow, deliberate breath, sorting through memories and deciding which pieces to reveal. “The Sovereign Mage Militia was founded three years after the Miyatake Massacre and the destruction of the Miyatake Academy.”
“Miyatake Academy… Then that means.”
“Correct. My clan played a foundational role in forming the Militia, laying the groundwork for its creation. The Miyatake Academy was established by my clan with a singular purpose: to teach sorcery and magic to those wishing to advance within the supernatural world. But of course, such influence drew the ire of multiple enemies.
“First, there was Maho Village, a hidden community of sorcery and magic. The academy threatened its rigid traditions, as many of its youth fled to the academy seeking freedom. Then came the demons, who saw the academy as a direct threat, it had become the foremost producer of skilled anti-demon fighters. And finally, the government viewed us with similar hostility; like the demons, they feared an institution that nurtured powerful, independent mage who could oppose their control.”
He let the weight of the list settle in the room. “As you can see, my clan held… strong, rebellious ideals considering the enemies they had to face. And they instilled those very ideals into every student of the Academy.”
Murasaki was the first to break the silence. “Why tell us this? Your clan and the Academy are gone. What role could they possibly play now?”
“Because,” Ryuji answered, his voice low and steady, “those who founded the Sovereign Mage Militia were its graduates and students, the ones who survived. Despite the massacre, my clan became a martyr. Its ideals lived on, inspiring others to take up those ideals and carry them forward.”
“Young man,” an older voice cut in. A man in a tailored suit stepped forward, his gaze analytical. “I’m Yamamoto Nobushige. Head of Sector Three. When did this massacre take place?”
This was a problem as it happened in his world and not this one. So it is hard to put the right timeline. “I don’t know the exact year. I was born long after the massacre itself,” Ryuji replied, choosing his words carefully. “But based on the word of the current head of the Militia, it occurred before the founding of the Taimanin.” He met Yamamoto’s eyes, hoping the vague but plausible timeline would be enough to satisfy him.
Yamamoto nodded slowly, a trace of genuine regret in his expression. “A shame. They were ahead of their time. They would have made powerful allies.”
“I agree,” Asagi said, a note of respect entering her voice. “It is remarkable, that there were those who took a stand so early, long before Gosha Village or the government stepped in.”
He sighs internally, they managed to believe his stories, albeit with some sceptical. Still it not over yet.
“Say, Miyatake do you believe you could convince them to be our allies?” Yamamoto asked.
“I can.” He said it without hesitation, though some part of him doubted they would be willing, given the group’s anti-government stance. Even if his standing in the Militia was low, he couldn’t leave the Tokyo branch stranded here. In this place, they needed allies to survive just as much as he did. “But I’ll need to locate them first.”
“That will be difficult. We know they’re somewhere in Tokyo, but not their exact location.” Said Asagi
“Give me the areas where their activity has been highest. I just need to find one member.” Using his Third Eye, this will be easy to track them.
“Are you certain you can manage that?” Yamamoto doesn’t know much about Ryuji capabilities, but he is the only lead they have.
“I’m confident in my abilities,” Ryuji replied, finding one won’t be a problem, convincing will be the hardest.
“Very well, Miyatake, though, if you can. Can you at least identified these members for us.” Asagi asked him.
In all honesty, he would have preferred to keep their identities and abilities a secret. But to gain the trust of the room, he needed to offer one of them up. So, he chose the most secluded member of the branch. “I know one of them.” ‘Forgive me, Oiwa-senpai.’ “Myouga Oiwa.” He pointed to the image of a man clad in all-black attire, a jacket shrouding his form, his face concealed behind a white skull mask.
“You know him?!” Murasaki closed the distance between them in an instant, her composure shattered by urgency.
“Uh, yes?” Ryuji replied, taken aback by her intensity.
“Murasaki, step back. Control yourself.” Asagi’s voice was firm, a clear reprimand. Murasaki withdrew slightly, though her eyes remained locked on Ryuji, burning with questions she was clearly holding back.
“R-right, forgive me, Miyatake. It’s just… I have a particular history with that person.”
“I see…” He may have chosen the wrong person to mention. “Well, he is Myouga Oiwa, also called the Dread Arcanist. Despite the title, he serves as the branch’s physician and researcher in dark magic. That all I know.”
“Does he possess healing abilities?” Murasaki pressed, her voice tight.
“Not exactly. His ability is to control and manipulate evil spirits.”
“So he is an onmyōji. I thought he was something more.” Murasaki’s shoulders sank slightly, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face.
‘They think he’s an onmyōji?’ He supposed it made sense, given the information that they have. But he wasn’t. He was something so much worse. Still, he wouldn’t tell them, unless they asked him directly.
“Is that all?” He decides to end this conversation.
“I wish to know more about him. But is that all you know, Miyatake?” Murasaki asked, searching his face.
“Yes.” No.
“I see. That’s a shame.”
“If that is all, then we can end this meeting.” Asagi said.
“Wait.” An old man wearing traditional Japanese clothing, a simple yukata, spoke up. While the others were dressed in modern attire, his appearance stood out, deliberate and rooted in another time. His eyes, sharp and unyielding, fixed on Ryuji. “Do you truly believe what he just said? Every word could be fabricated. For all we know, this could be an elaborate attempt to infiltrate the village. And are you all forgotten? The group he belongs to is anti-government!”
Ryuji met the old man’s gaze, his own expression unreadable. “If this is an infiltration, then I’d say I’m pretty bad at it.” Before the old man could respond, Ryuji continued, his voice level. “I’m eighteen. The only things I’m good at are fighting. If my organization wanted to plant a spy, they’d have sent someone far more suited than me.”
“That still won’t convince me, boy. Bring in Shinonome Nea. Let her read his mind.”
The demand sparked instant hostility in Ryuji. “No. I will not let my mind be read.” This was the worst possible outcome, he could see the consideration in the eyes of most people in the room. He had to turn this around, now. “There is another way to guarantee my faithfulness in becoming Taimanin. A soul-bind contract.”
The statement shocked the entire room into silence. Asagi’s expression turned stern, her voice sharp with warning. “Miyatake Ryuji! That is—”
“Dangerous? I know,” he cut in, his own voice low and unwavering. “But it’s better than letting every secret in my head fall into your hands. Forgive my bluntness, but I don’t trust any of you with them.”
Before anyone else could argue, Yamamoto stepped forward. “Very well. Prepare the contract, Miyatake.”
“Yamamoto!” Asagi couldn’t help but raise her voice, a flash of protest in her eyes.
“I want this group as our allies,” Yamamoto stated, his tone leaving no room for debate. “To do that, we need to secure the trust of at least one of them.”
“Thank you, Yamamoto-san.” Ryuji bowed his head. When Asagi had rejected the idea, he had been prepared to argue. He hadn’t expected Yamamoto to accept it. “I’ll need to create a gateway to the Sanctuary to retrieve the scroll. You don’t mind if I mark the door?”
Asagi sighed, relenting. “Very well. Take Murasaki with you.”
“Understood.” Ryuji response.
After marking the door, Ryuji entered and held it open for Murasaki. When the portal opened, many in the room were surprised by the vista revealed beyond, a sunlit field of grass and a distant, house-like structure. Once Murasaki stepped through, he closed the door. Now, they had to wait.
“Yamamoto-san, why did you accept his proposal?” Asagi decided to start a conversation while they waited for their return.
“Didn’t I already answer this? We need to gain their trust. I wish to make them our equals. If they learned we had subjected one of their own to a mental probe, do you think they would ever trust us?”
The old man in the room scowled, frustration clear on his face. “I still object to this decision to bring him in and make him a Taimanin. He is an outsider. He cannot be trusted. If we want to gain their trust, why not offer them money or resources? Send that Fuuma brat to negotiate with them.”
Asagi sighed, the memory a heavy weight in her voice. "We already did. It didn't end well."
They had sent the Taimanin Task Force to initiate talks. It took them days to locate the group, finally finding one member engaged in combat with a demon horde. At least, they had thought he was one of them.
He had lured them into a trap. Multiple fighters had sprung from nowhere, and the confrontation had been brutally one-sided. It would have been the end of the task force if the individual in white armour hadn't intervened and saved them. But their spirits had been broken by the event. It had taken a full month for the team to recover.
Even though she doesn’t have a good opinion of the group, she is very grateful for what the individual did. They try again, sending a different one but the same problem persists. Locating them.
Then the two of them returned from the Sanctuary. “Alright, this is a blank soul-bind contract,” Ryuji said. “We write the conditions, then seal it with a thumbprint in blood. Break the contract and your soul will violently rip out of you and be sent into the afterlife.”
“Very well,” Yamamoto volunteered. “I will be the one to make the contract with you.”
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The discussion took about fifteen minutes, surprisingly quick to Ryuji, who had expected it to last much longer. After they finished writing, he was taken aback by how few conditions the contract contained.
“Is that really all? I expected more stipulations.” Ryuji said, unable to help his suspicion.
“Think of it as me placing my faith in you.” Yamamoto told him.
“That’s a great deal of faith to put in a stranger like me.” A faint smile touched Ryuji’s lips. “I appreciate it. I won’t let you down.”
With that, they each pricked their thumbs with a knife and pressed them to the contract, sealing it. A soft, resonant hum filled the air as the ink briefly glowed, and Ryuji felt a subtle, irrevocable thread draw taut within his chest. Now, their souls were bound.
A moment of heavy silence followed, the weight of the covenant settling over the room.
“Well, with that concluded, we can end this meeting,” Asagi said, her voice measured and formal. “Thank you for your patience, Miyatake-san. Tomorrow, you may begin attending the academy. Murasaki, please escort him out.”
“Yes, Lady Asagi.” Murasaki replied, stepping forward to guide Ryuji from the chamber.
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[Outside the Academy]
When he stepped outside and Murasaki returned to the academy, he found Yukikaze and her mother waiting. He approached the pair.
“Have you been waiting for me?”
“Duh. Who else is going to show you where our house is, idiot?”
“You’re right. I am an idiot. Can’t even make a simple guess about the obvious.” He stuck out his tongue playfully, a reaction Yukikaze hadn’t expected, leaving her momentarily flustered, then shifted his attention to Shiranui. “How are you feeling after your surgery, Shiranui?”
“It went very well,” she replied, a note of quiet relief in her voice. “It feels like I’m finally free from hearing those voices.”
“Well, that’s good to hear.”
“So, what took you so long in there?” Yukikaze asked, regaining her composure.
“Oh, that? I had a surprise interview. Seriously, I was nervous the whole time, they kept asking questions.” he said with a playful shrug. It wasn’t entirely a lie, but it neatly glossed over the gravity of the soul-bind contract and the tense questioning. He’d rather carry that weight himself than give them any reason to worry.
“Well, you are an outsider, so I guess that makes sense,” Yukikaze conceded. “Let’s just go home. I’m tired after the treatment.”
The three agreed and made their way to the Mizuki home. As they walked, Ryuji kept his demeanour light, but internally, his guard remained up. Passing the interview, or rather, gaining their trust was the first step. He was going to be here for a long time. As the evening settled around them, he let one quiet hope surface. That the Tokyo branch had made progress, real progress, in finding their way back home.