Chapter 6

Tetora: Yaaaaawn...

Keito: What, are you that tired, Nagumo?

Tetora: Sorry ‘bout that. I barely got any sleep last night. I couldn’t stop thinking about whether this is really happening today... yaaaaawn...

Souma: Ah, a feeling well sympathized: my nerves did not let me sleep but a wink.

Keito: Hey. We’re here to stop Kiryuu. Don’t go talking like we’re his reinforcements.

Souma: Ay! And yet we know not what may happen!

‘Tis wiser to build shelter so to weather any storm! For today I ha’ prepared my sword even more perfectly than usual, down to the very oil which I used upon’t ♪

Keito: Hey, Kanzaki. Can you at least try not to get any funny ideas here? Kiryuu’s giving me enough of a headache already.

Anyway, Nagumo. You’re sure Kiryuu’s going to come through here?

Tetora: Based on what Taishou said yesterday when I was trying to get info outta him, he should be here soon!

Actually, what I really wanted to do was set up a tent in front of Taishou’s house for a stakeout, but that kinda woulda been too obvious.

Keito: I’d say that was a smart decision. After all, if you want to hide a tree, plant it in the forest.

And fortunately for us, it’s the weekend. There are so many pedestrians around, it’ll be difficult for him to notice us tailing him.

Although, there is still the possibility that he’s figured out our plan and fed us false information. What should we do in that case...?

Tetora: I’m sure it’ll be fine!

I figured out what time Taishou should be leaving and called his house. His sister confirmed that he’d already left!

Keito: Really now? That’s pretty thorough of you. I assumed you would be so panicked you wouldn’t be able to do anything.

Tetora: Of course not! Today’s the one day I can’t afford to mess up!

Souma: Let not your minds be led astray by the idle gossip of your mouths; look yonder! Kiryuu-dono draweth near!

Tetora: Oh! It’s Taishou! And he’s carrying a long stick-looking-thing again today. I think it might be a sword, actually... Yesterday he was swinging one around behind the school building.

Souma: That is indeed a sheath. But thou hast reminded me: he asked to observe my swordsmanship...

Keito: Kiryuu has a sword? When did he turn into Kanzaki?

Tetora: Is the guy too strong to fight with just his fists? Or maybe it’s a big group, so he can’t win unless he has a weapon...

Keito: Even if it were something like that, I always thought that he was the type of guy to fight with just his hands until the bitter end.

Souma: Oh—look there! Kiryuu-dono is leaving! Haste, haste, lest we lose sight of him.

Keito: Right. This is no time to be pondering hypotheticals; we have to move, now! We’ll find our answers if we follow him, I’m sure of it.

Tetora: Gotcha!

Kuro: ......

Keito: Hm. Just looking at him, he seems normal.

If he were really riding off to battle, you’d think he’d have a more bloodthirsty aura... How can he just act like everything’s normal?

Tetora: I know, right? Maybe it’s impossible for someone like you or me, but Taishou’s so strong I’m sure he can hide those kinds of, like, war vibes or something.

Keito: You think so? But no matter how you look at it, it just seems as if he’s enjoying himself downtown...

Souma: Lo—! Kiryuu-dono has entered yonder store! I believe it’s... a florist?

Keito: A florist...? He’s just... buying a nice bouquet of flowers? Hey, what the hell’s he doing? No matter how you cut it, this is too strange.

Tetora: ...Do you think it’s like, an apology?

Keito: Huh? An apology...?

Tetora: Y’know, ‘cause he’s about to go beat up that person he’s got beef with. So I guess apologizing with some flowers is like, the least he could do...

Souma: I see. To care for e’en the defeated... Kiryuu-dono’s compassion inspires admiration!

Keito: What person in their right mind would do that?! No matter how you look at it, none of this makes any sort of sense?!

Tetora: Oh! Taishou’s coming back out! We gotta follow him!

Souma: Marry, we must be off! Swift and clandestine, as a bird would fly!

Keito: Hey, can’t you guys wait up?!

Keito: Pant, pant... seriously, just calm down a second.

Tetora: Huh? He’s going into another store? This one looks like it’s for stationary.

He’s buying something again too. It looks like... origami paper? There’s a whole lot of it too.

Keito: Origami paper...? What would Kiryuu be doing with something like that?

Souma: Ho! I see now! Were those flowers an apology, then surely this be for a thousand paper cranes!

Be that not essential for an apology?^[1]

Tetora: Ohhh, you’re totally right! Taishou’s seriously the nicest guy out there if he’s even gonna wish for a speedy recovery for the guy he beat up!

Keito: ...Hang on, you guys need to calm down. Something’s not right about this. Like I said, this is all too strange.

Kiryuu doesn’t look like he’s about to go fight anyone, and the things he’s buying along the way are so far from disturbing it’s laughable.

And besides, the only thing at the end of this road is...

Oh, I get it now. So that’s what it was.

Tetora: Huh?! Hasumi-senpai, did you figure out where Taishou’s headed? But we’ve already gotten to the residential area around here...

Keito: Mm, I’m not sure what Kiryuu’s planning on doing, but I do have an idea where he’s going.

Souma: Truly?! Pray tell, Hasumi-dono! Where could Kiryuu-dono be going?

Keito: Don’t tell me you don’t recognize this road, Kanzaki. I’m sure you’ve been here before.

Souma: Is it a place I should know? O! now that thou say’st it, the end of this road leads to...

jp proofing: Valentines0eve
eng proofing: Soph