Chapter 6

Yaaaaawn…

What, are you that tired, Nagumo?

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

Ah, a feeling well sympathized—Far too excited was I to sleep but a wink.

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

Verily! And yet we know not what may happen!

‘Tis wise to build shelter to weather any storm! For today I have prepar’d my sword e’en more perfectly than usual, down to the very oil which I used upon’t ♪

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

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

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.

I’d say that’s a wise choice. After all, if you want to hide a tree, plant it in the forest.

And fortunately for us, it’s a 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…?

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!

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

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

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

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.

That is indeed a sheath. But thou hast reminded me—he had asked to observe my swordsmanship…

Kiryu has a sword? But it’s not like he’s Kanzaki or anything.

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…

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.

Oh—Look there! Kiryu-dono is leaving! Make we no haste, surely we’ll lose sight of him.

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.

Gotcha!

……

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?

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 kindsa like, war vibes without a hitch.

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

Lo—! Kiryu-dono doth enter yonder store! I do believe it’s… a flour shop?

A flower shop…? 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.

…Do you think it’s like, an apology?

Huh? An apology…?

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…

I see. To worry for e’en the defeated… Kiryu-dono’s compassion doth inspire admiration!

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

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

Marry come up, we must be off! Quickly, quietly, as to fly!

Hey, can’t you guys wait up?!

Haah… Seriously, just calm down a second.

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.

Origami paper…? What would Kiryu be doing with something like that?

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

Be that not essential for such an apology?¹

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!

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

Kiryu 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.

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

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

Truly?! Pray tell, Hasumi-dono! Where could Kiryu-dono be going?

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

‘Tis a place I should know? O me, now that thou speakest thus, th’ end of this road leads to…