The weather in June was still scorching hot. After finishing the entrance exams, there was a summer vacation lasting more than two months. Unlike others who either traveled or worked part-time, Sora had his own plan every year at this time.
Sora's room was on the second floor facing the courtyard. It was ordinary with nothing special, except it was still quite tidy.
Well, if it were just Sora himself, he definitely wouldn't have kept it this clean. But who told him he had a housekeeper-like little sister?! If he didn't listen to her, she would either sulk or threaten not to cook, and Sora would have no choice but to repeatedly submit to this queen-like sister's authority.
Taking down a purple-gold longsword from the wall, Sora gently stroked the blade engraved with mysterious runes that shimmered coldly, lost in thought.
His grandfather and Shizuka had told him this sword fell from the sky together with him eight years ago. Over the years, the sword often appeared in his strange dreams. Although there was no clear reason, Sora had an instinctive feeling that this sword was very important to him!
It was extremely sharp. So far, Sora hadn't found anything the sword couldn't cut. Hard rocks and steel were like tofu in front of it. He even once experimented by cutting with the kitchen knife at home, but the kitchen knife was like vegetables compared to this sword.
Even with his toes, Sora knew this was a good thing!
Snapping back to reality, he exhaled softly, put the sword into a cloth bag he had prepared, tied it behind him, and tidied his clothes a little in the mirror before leaving the room.
"Grandpa, Shizuka."
Seeing his sister Shizuka and grandfather Kusanagi Ichirou waiting at the door, Sora nodded and spoke.
"Oh my, Sora, you're going to train in the mountains again?"
Kusanagi Ichirou's voice was a bit mischievous in some ways, but he was indeed a kind and caring elder to his juniors and family.
"Yeah."
Sora nodded without denying it.
"Geez, big brother, you're never home during summer vacation. Here, take this so you don't starve on the road!"
Though complaining, Shizuka didn't try to stop Sora but handed him a cloth-wrapped box, probably a packed lunch and some provisions.
"We're together all the time, and we'll still be in the same school later, so there's nothing to miss."
Sora shook his head and took the lunch with a speechless expression.
"Sorry, if it weren't for me, big brother could have gone to a better school with his grades."
Shizuka's expression darkened as she said this somewhat sadly.
The entrance exams were over. This time, her dumb older brother finally remembered to write his name on the test papers, and the results were no surprise—nearly perfect scores that dazzled many.
Many prestigious schools nationwide invited Sora to enroll, but he rejected them all and chose to stay at Jounan Academy's high school division.
Though unspoken, Shizuka knew Sora's choice was because of her.
"Damn girl, what are you thinking about!"
"Well, if you really feel sorry, then cook me more delicious food in the future. If I weren't worried about you going to school alone, I wouldn't want to go to that crappy school!"
Sora lightly tapped the girl's forehead with the back of his hand, looking serious.
"Okay!!!"
Her face blossomed with a sunny smile again, feeling incredibly happy and sweet, she nodded vigorously.
"Alright, Grandpa, Shizuka, I'm leaving. Please take care of the house."
"Brat, remember to bring me back some mountain specialties, the kind that go well with alcohol!"
"Big brother, be careful on your way!"
…
Without further delay, under the watchful eyes of Shizuka and Kusanagi Ichirou, Sora leapt several times and disappeared into the distance.
"Shizuka, Grandpa has to go out, so don't wait for me for lunch."
Seeing Sora had left, Kusanagi Ichirou turned to his reluctant granddaughter Kusanagi Shizuka.
"Hmph, Grandpa is probably going to drink tea with Mrs. Haruno and the others again, right?"
With both hands folded in front of her chest, the young girl wore a cold sneer, staring at the other person with a scrutinizing gaze.
"My grandfather isn't an ordinary man either. He has very good relationships with women. Grandma used to tell me legendary stories about him—like how, when he was still a student, he dated a widow, stayed at a geisha's house, and skipped school for two weeks. In short, he had relationships with many women that went far beyond mere acquaintances!"
"Oh, don't say that, my little Shizuka. This is just a little pastime for us old folks," Ichirou said with a chuckle, his gaze drifting.
"Hmph, then go have fun with your old friends and never come back!" Shizuka's angry voice came from inside the room after she closed the door behind her.
"Oh dear, did little Shizuka become so 'cruel' to her own grandfather as soon as he left? Girls just can't be kept, huh…" Ichirou stroked his little mustache, completely unfazed, smiling to himself. Humming a little tune, he headed outside, ready to find his own springtime…
…
Location: Shrine
"Sorry to trouble you, Kaoru, for coming to pick me up," Yuri said apologetically to Kaoru, who stood before her.
Wearing a white kosode undergarment and a crimson pleated skirt of a miko's outfit, Yuri looked apologetic.
"Oh, it's nothing. It can't be helped. You're such a mechanical idiot who can't even use a cellphone, so I had to come here myself," Kaoru said jokingly, without any real blame.
Both were rare high-ranking mikos and had known each other for a long time, being close friends.
"Kaoru, I…" Yuri, who was very serious by nature but also quite innocent, blushed slightly and was at a loss for words at her friend's small joke.
"Alright, alright, just teasing you, Yuri."
"Are you ready? If so, let's leave now. We might never have the chance to train together again. I bet Ena is already waiting anxiously," Kaoru said, knowing Yuri's temperament well and dropping the joke to get serious.
"Yes, I'm ready to go now."
"I haven't seen Ena in a long time. I heard she's been undergoing special training deep in the mountains. She must be really strong by now. I'm looking forward to it…" Yuri said softly, gently clasping her hands.
With their gear packed, the two said no more and set off on their journey.
Neither Sora nor Yuri and Kaoru knew that they all set out on the very same day, heading in the same direction…