It was time for lunch, and the cafeteria was next to the Phoenix Hall.
“Most students prefer upper levels for the view, whereas I myself enjoy the tranquility of the ground floor.”
An attendant came to the table side, and Arashi informed the attendant that it would be a small portion of everything, so the new student could try things out.
(“Ah, Rin the highly efficient medical student... just like her. It would waste too much of her time to recommend items on the menu, whereas to inquire my preference and match it to what the cafeteria offers would be unreliable to guarantee desirable outcomes.)
Soon, small plates started being placed on the table, and the food looked appetizing and familiar.
The food was so familiar that Kagami wondered if this world would also have pickled herring in mustard sauce with orange and honey (senapsil med appelsine och honung), which was once Hitomi’s go-to comfort food.
[Hitomi’s mother was once a nurse working in the operation room in a Swedish hospital. When offered an opportunity to permanently settle in the country, however, she had to decline due to various family circumstances.]
“I take that you liked them all.”
“Yes, Arashi Oneesama. I love them all. Do you have favorites, please?”
“I don’t think I’m particularly selective in terms of food, though I like flower pastry for dessert, and I have a small amount of fruit wine when relaxing.”
That brought back memories for Kagami. When she was invited to visit Rin’s home, Rin served steamed pastry with laurel flower garnish, accompanied by a cup of plum wine (ume shu 梅酒). Kagami had an urge to tell Arashi that they were once in a different universe, and they had been dating for two years, so that Kagami could tell her all the things about Rin and all that they did together.
It was difficult being alone in a new world, for Kagami’s fear of uncertainty -- how would others treat her should she inform them of Hitomi’s world -- prevented her from opening up to anyone.
(“It’s difficult making friends when I have to pretend to be someone else.”) Kagami longed for the day when the ties between her and Arashi would become strong enough that she could feel safe confessing her past life to Arashi.
If a sense of “something is missing in the relationship” caused the rift between them in the previous world, to withhold an even larger piece of herself from Arashi would be unwise and counterproductive.
(“There is the risk of telling her too early when the relationship is not strong enough to endure such stress, but there’s also the risk of saying it too late when I cannot hold up my camouflage anymore; she might sever all ties to me before I get a chance to explain...”) Kagami went back and forth on the issue.
“Your mind is wandering.”
“Ah, sorry, Arashi Oneesama. I should be mindful at all times.” (“well, burdening myself with those thoughts on my first day is hardly helpful. Back to the Present.”)
Mini Theatre One
“Arashi Oneesama, I will not let my talent go to waste, nor squander my youth in idleness. I will strive and push myself beyond. I will one day stand shoulder to shoulder with Arashi Oneesama, and not be in anyone’s shadow. I will not relent until I surpass Arashi Oneesama. This is the promise that I make to myself.” Kagami knew what would please a teacher, and knowing Arashi’s zeal, she thought of earning some brownie points by displaying how inspired she was.
“I eagerly look forward to that day, the day when you officially challenge me with your sword.” Arashi’s eyes softened, and then she departed from Kagami, leaving Kagami standing by the dormitory.
Kagami stood there, until Arashi was out of sight, and hopefully, safely out of earshot, “Yay!” Kagami jumped up. (“Did you see that? Did you see! She had a shimmering warmth in her eye, a glimmer of a smile! Her facial expression didn’t change visibly, but she smiled at me with her eyes! Happy ending, here I come~~~ ”)
**********
Mini Theatre Two
Arashi’s eyes fixed on Kagami’s, as if she’s looking directly at Kagami’s soul, “you spent your entire life in a cave with other children and daycare workers, and yet your favourite story isn’t a children’s fairy tale. You have your favourite actress and singer, which also makes me wonder what luxury you must have enjoyed in that cave. Above all, you talk like an academy instructor. Explain yourself. I eagerly look forward to hearing your improvised reasoning.”
“Arashi Oneesama, you don’t sound like an eleven-year-old girl either. Do you know that? I’ve never heard of anyone ordinary who can make a sword sing for joy at age six, ever! So, Arashi Oneesama, what are YOU?”
“Damn You... Don’t you know how little I usually talk? I said all those words to you. Don’t you realize what it meant? Didn’t you see I had a faint smile on my face!”
Arashi stomped off, thinking, so much for starting a conversation for the first time in her life.
“Oneesama~ Please forgive me~~ I apologize~~~ Oneesama~~~~”
**********
And Mini Theatre is done!
My apologies for having to mentally translate sentences into English...
So many expressions don’t have fitting translations, *sigh*
I’m sorry and I do not have excuses. (moushiwake arimasen.) 申し訳ありません。
Hitomi
Chapter Five
Chasing After Footprints (Ato Oi) 後追い
After a delightful lunch, Kagami couldn’t wait to see the academy.
The dormitory was situated a short distance from the cafeteria. A brick-and-mortar building of four stories with ivy covering much of the southern wall, it emitted nostalgic charm of the old times.
(“Such a pity that students here don’t have roommates, otherwise I could add ‘becoming Arashi’s roommate’ to my list of goals.”) “Which floor is your room, please, Arashi Oneesama?”
“Top floor. The northeast corner.”
“May I find out where I’m assigned right now? What about uniforms? And learning supplies?”
“We will arrange your accommodation first. Basic clothes, learning supplies, as well as all other essentials will be provided. We don’t have a uniform, though. Once you become physically fit, you can apply to complete tasks on campus, and then you can take the pay, go to town, find a tailor, and either buy your own clothes or have some specially made for you.”
(“I really like uniforms; that’s why I wanted to join Aohiyama at first. What’s the point of isekai if I don’t get to enjoy stunning school uniforms?!”)
Arashi helped Kagami obtain all the necessities, and the two carried them into Kagami’s new home.
“Arashi Oneesama, please bring me to see my classrooms, if that’s acceptable.”
Arashi nodded and they went back to Phoenix Hall. Earlier in the day, the two of them, plus Akishi, ascended the grand stairs to visit the chancellor. This time, the two went to the side of the stairs, where a double door was located on either side of the grand stairs.
Arashi opened the one on the left.
“Both sides lead into the same lecture hall. This is just a habit. This lecture hall is for all introductory lessons in all three subjects. You will have all your current courses here.”
“What about your classrooms, Arashi Oneesama?”
“Do you see the doors at the end of the lecture hall, across from us? As well as the doors on both sides? They lead to the wings for each subject. Every morning, I will go through this lecture hall to attend advanced courses in the back wing, and Akishi will go to the side wing for her magic courses.”
“Does this mean I will only get to see Oneesama in passing every morning?” (“This is SAD. I get to be left behind and feel dumped every morning.”)
“That is the purpose. You get to see senior students go ahead of you, to their advancement. This will remind you not to sit in complacency, but to follow in our footsteps and catch up to us.”
“There will be more than just catching a glimpse of me every morning, Kagami. Every morning, a senior student will give a brief demonstration before the instructor arrives. You will get to see me every now and then.”
“Arashi Oneesama... This is a bit overwhelming for me. I am fortunate to have met Oneesama and Akishi Oneechan, but I am soon to be all alone again. I am not yet good at making friends, so may I interrupt you sometimes by asking to be with you for a few minutes, in order to ease my anxiety? Sorry to be a hindrance.”
“After dinner, as long as my light is on, you can knock on my door. I don’t usually have time earlier in the day.”
“I am truly grateful, Oneesama.”
“I suggest you take a walk around campus if you’d like. It’s a beautiful place. I will study now.”
“Thank you. I will. I will take my leave now, Oneesama.”
Arashi disappeared behind the door leading to the back wing, and Kagami went back to organize her room, before taking a walk prior to dinner.
As Kagami finished watching the sunset on top of the cliff to the west of the dormitory, she heard a voice calling out to her.
“Kagami-chan, enjoying the view?”
“Ah, Hi, Akishi Oneechan! Yes, Kageyama is a beautiful place.”
“Arashi showed you around?”
“Indeed. I am still nervous as everything is new to me. May I trouble Oneechan to tell me about things that I should know?”
“My pleasure. Let’s have dinner, and chat afterwards.”
**********
“What a delightful meal! Kagami, what do you want to know?”
“Anything about this world, really. But first I want to know what magic is like!”
“Magic is exciting. It makes me look forward to getting out of bed. Just like how holding a sword makes Arashi feel like she has meaning in her existence.
“Magic makes me feel that everything in this universe is a friend of mine. I can ask anything to lend me a helping hand, and know that the world is eagerly awaiting my call..
“Magic makes everything fun and interesting. Everything can be a fascinating toy for me to be immersed in childlike play.”
“Good enough for you? Kagami-chan?”
“That sounds enchanting and lovely, Oneechan. Would you please tell me how you were able to resonate with magic?”
“I was in class, and was looking at a spell on the board. It was one of those transporting spells. I was looking at it, and I felt it was also looking at me, and saying to me ‘let’s go see places, two of us, let’s go together, you and me’. It was not inviting everyone in the class, nor inviting some other student, but me. The spell was calling just me. Of all the people in the world, I meant something unique to magic, and magic is sending a personal invitation to me alone.
“I found my love, and my heart said ‘yes, let’s go’, and the spell on the board chimed in agreement. My instructor told me to go into the magic wing of the building the next morning, and congratulated me on the achievement.”
“That’s so romantic, Oneechan. Does everyone eventually find their own?”
“No. Less than half are able to find their own path. If a student still hasn’t found it by age 20, then working as service staff by becoming a trade apprentice is the usual outcome. Don’t be anxious. Magician or gardener, we all contribute to Kageyama, and Kageyama is the home to all of us.”
“Awww Oneechan, I feel so much better now. May I eat my meals with you if that’s acceptable?”
“Sure, Kagami! I enjoy having a little sister like you. Let’s have meals together from now on.”
**********
That concludes Chapter Five.
Thank you everyone!
Hitomi
Chapter Six
The precedence (kagami) 鑑
The next morning, Kagami gladly joined Akishi at the breakfast table. “Excited for your first class?” Akishi asked at the end of the meal.
“Slightly nervous but yes, looking forward to my first class.”
“You should be. Arashi will be doing the first demo of the semester, with your first lesson on swordsmanship to follow.”
“Really? Now I can’t wait! I apologize for taking my leave so early.”
“Go right ahead~”
Kagami could hardly keep her excitement contained when Arashi took center stage. Having run there to get front row seating, she didn’t want to miss any detail of Arashi’s demo.
Arashi drew a practice sword, and filled it with her spirit. Her eyes were filled with determination, and the sword resonated in excitement, letting out a sublime hum of purity.
(“About 220Hz.”) Noted the physics teacher in Kagami’s previous identity...
Then, an aura became visible around Arashi’s body and the sword in her hand -- an aura of sharpness, unstoppable strength, and invincibility.
Eyes wide open, Kagami could feel her palms sweating and heart racing. Even breathing had become more difficult.
And soon Kagami discovered that it was not an illusion. Previously invisible magic elements that had been floating around were lit up by this aura; they now resembled dancing specks of dust in the sunlight.
Moreover, the might of the aura was undeniably forcing the elements to orbit Arashi, who now stood at the centre of the storm of magic elements.
Being too close to Arashi, Kagami had to fight harder and harder in order to breathe air, which was being speedily carried away by the whirlwind.
Suddenly, Arashi attacked the empty space in front of her. Visible power gushed forth from the sword, and cut open the storm of elements. In an instant, all of the glowing magic elements were driven forward, along with all the rest of the magic elements in the room, to the walls of the lecture hall, like bullets being fired, like a shock wave after an explosion.
The walls took the bombardment, and reverberation echoed through the space. Suddenly, the lecture hall became devoid of magic elements. The air was refreshing and light, as if there was a cool breeze through a beautiful forest of cedar and spruce.
(“That was such a powerful impact! Skillful and well-calibrated, too. The energy only hit the walls, and didn’t take out my head along the way even though I am sitting in such close proximity...”)
Students stood up and bowed to express gratitude, and with a nod, Arashi left to attend her own classes.
A young gentleman assumed the center stage as class commenced. “We would like to welcome a new student to Kageyama.” He gestured to Kagami.
Kagami stood up, turned around to face the class. “Good morning, I am Kagami. I have a lot to learn, please take care of me from now on.”
The students smiled in return, gave a light round of applause, and Kagami resumed her seat.
“I will now give a refresher on the basics, and we will have volunteers bout on stage. I will then analyze and give suggestions for areas of improvement. This will repeat until the end of class.”
Kagami watched the instructor illustrate the basic sword techniques, and then two students volunteered to come on stage.
While Arashi’s personal sword was long, straight, and slender, reminiscent of a Renaissance rapier, the practice swords used in class reminded Kagami of military sabres, sturdy and reliable.
Watching the blades cut through air, Kagami knew that she was too weak.
(“To be able to avoid the blade with foot work requires a deftness that I would need years to train for. Indeed, my first task is to become physically fit.”)
Kagami also had a feeling that she might be asked to try the sword near the end of the class. Not wanting to be defeated in mere seconds, Kagami remembered what her granduncle had once taught her, back in the other world.
Hitomi’s great grandfather was planning on serving an important nobility from the House of Lords during the war, his Eminence the Honorable ?imikado. However, an imperial prince, his Highness Prince Takahito of Mikasa, was about to embark on a mission to investigate the true condition of war in Northern China, so Hitomi’s great grandfather was transferred to accompany the prince.
Prince Takahito went deep into the land, and found the war to be unsustainable for the empire, and morally wrong to begin with, despite lofty ideals used to justify it. Upon his Highness’s return, Prince Takahito petitioned the government to withdraw all troops and to pay damage to countries afflicted by Japanese invasion. Prince Takahito’s report met hostility and disbelief. Prince Takahito unsuccessfully tried to overthrow the government in order to end the war, and rescinded all privileges in protest of the Emperor’s inaction to put the country back on the right course.
The prince made meaningful connections during the investigation, and openly lauded the organization and morale of local resistance forces who took advantage of mountainous terrain to impede and to combat the mechanized Imperial Army.
As Hitomi’s great grandfather accompanied the prince on the journey, he learned about how the local resistance force was trained to be effective. The resistance soldiers were poorly equipped, under trained, and malnourished. They could not match up to the Imperial Army.
Resistance soldiers, on average having no more than three bullets per person to fire from poorly made rifles, more often than not tried to ambush the Imperial soldiers, and then quickly engage in close combat.
Being malnourished, the resistance soldiers could not let the fight drag on, and they focused on cutting the enemy’s head off as quickly as possible.
Simply put, when a Japanese soldier swung the bayonet, a resistance soldier was to use a great deal of force to knock the bayonet aside with the back of his sabre, which would then be ready to strike with the blade pointing directly at the enemy. In one continuous movement, the resistance soldier knocked the bayonet aside, swung the saber, and off came the enemy’s head.
Hitomi’s great grandfather called this style of using the sword ‘Enshuu HachiRo Ryuu’ [延州八路流], and passed it onto his youngest child, Hitomi’s granduncle.
(“Well,”) thought Kagami, (“ I’m weak, untrained, and uncoordinated. Perfect. Might as well try that.”)
As expected, the instructor asked Kagami near the end of the class if she would like to give it a try. Kagami nodded and went up to the stage.
Kagami felt the blade with her thumb, and indeed it was not sharpened, but polished to be smooth and round. (“I hope I don’t get badly hurt.”)
She held the sabre with her right hand, and finding it to be heavy, she used her left hand to hold her right wrist, for extra support. Kagami imagined the sword calling out to her, and said “Hi” to the sword in her mind. There was no response. She would not be able to recreate Arashi’s miracle.
A young boy around the age of twelve volunteered to be the opponent.
Seeing the shining sabre in the boy’s hand, Kagami lost her courage and could not carry out what she had planned. As soon as she saw the slightest movement from the boy’s left shoulder, Kagami instinctively pushed the floor with her left foot to get out of all possible danger.
“Very fast reaction... Which is good in itself. Relax a bit, and try confronting the opponent a little.” Said the instructor.
Kagami breathed deeply a couple of times, and tried to lower her sabre so as to attempt knocking the opponent’s blade aside.
(“Gagh, I’m too short! I won’t be able to reach anything when I swing the sword!”) Kagami had a face of despair. (“Being six is great for looking cute and not much else. Now I wish I hasn’t come up stage.”)
The young boy swung his sabre quickly but lightly, and had a gentle look on his face.
(“okay then, I’m safe with this nice person. I’ll try it. I’m gonna knock it aside and take a leap forward and swing it!”)
(“Gagh, it’s too scary! I can’t look!”)
There was a “knack” as the sabres collided, and time felt to have slowed down as Kagami took a leap. Her body froze mid way out of nervousness, and Kagami thought she was going to fall flat on her face.
After what seemed like an eternity, Kagami heard a faint “tap” as her sabre touched something.
Kagami waited a few more seconds, and opened her eyes.
The young boy kindly stood in place, almost ready to catch her should she stumble and fall. And there she was, crouched over in a very comical posture, with her sabre barely, but surely, on the young boy’s chest.
“Well, congratulations on landing your first hit. I look forward to seeing your doubtless improvements in the coming months.”
The instructor then turned to the young boy, “Thank you for looking out for your classmate. This concludes the class.”
Kagami said thank you to the boy, and went down from the stage, her face was very red.
(“Too embarrassing!!!”) Kagami hid her face in her palms. (“I wish I had just stood still and lost. That would have been better...T_T”)
Chapter Seven
“Kagami-chan, how was your first class?” asked Akishi during lunch.
“Akishi Oneechan, I almost died of embarrassment!” Putting her head on the table, Kagami wailed.
“I thought I could do reasonably well on my first try despite my lack of experience and strength, as long as I thought things through and planned things out. Instead I wished I could just freeze out of nervousness and not be a hilarious spectacle in front of everyone.”
“You are not the first one, Kagami-chan”. Akishi patted Kagami on her head and gently caressed her hair.
“Ever since Arashi’s example, almost every student currently enrolled has tried something that got them embarrassed to various degrees one way or another.” Akishi said softly, “we all wanted to be just like her, or if one is older, to outperform her. Everyone here tried something silly.”
“But that’s not the main reason why we don’t laugh at you.” Akishi slowly lifted Kagami’s head up until Kagami was looking at her, and Akishi lightly held Kagami’s head with her hands, “the main reason is that Kageyama is not like other academies, where students mostly just graduate and leave.”
“Most students choose to stay after graduation. We become close, become friends, become family. We’ve seen each other’s blunders, and we hold each other up so no one would stumble and fall. Don’t be afraid to come to any one of us. Very few students come every year, so we all know each other well. Everyone here is waiting to become your Oneechan and Oniichan, and one day you will be a wise Oneechan, too, comforting those who come after you. Don’t burden yourself with anxiety.”
“Thank you, Akishi Oneechan. May I hug you?”
“Of course, and I’ll hug you, too.”
Hitomi had a few hobbies back in the days, and whenever her friends had special occasions, Hitomi made jewellery for them.
Kagami could think of no better way to express her gratitude than to make some jewellery as presents. She wanted to thank Arashi for inviting her to Kageyama, and even more so for Akishi, whose kindness helped her sustain the stress of a new life.
Kagami wanted to make a necklace for Arashi, possibly with obsidian, since she heard that Arashi wore black all the time; Arashi must really like black.
As for Akishi, since she already had a bracelet and a ring, matching them might be difficult. Kagami thought of making a cape with a golden brooch, possibly set with sapphire, which might look nice with Akishi’s hat.
Kagami kept these thoughts in her mind, and as soon as she could take on tasks, she would start saving toward buying the gemstones and other materials required for the project.
Days became weeks, which then became months. Kagami trained herself daily to be stronger, steadier and swifter. She also enlisted the assistance of a few classmates to help her overcome the fear of facing an opponent’s sword.
The instructor for swordsmanship was pleased to see measurable progress, and gave very detailed advice. “Your unique way of counterattack has very promising potential to be superbly effective. What you need to work on is to remove the hesitation from your slashes. We use dulled sabres for a reason. We learn swords not because we want to be performers acting on a stage.”
Kagami thanked the instructor and pondered his words while watching classmates practice. She vaguely remembered similar words when she was still Hitomi, studying in Northern Ireland.
“The First lesson of joining the Northern Ireland Police Department, is to use lethal forces lethally. The gun is a lethal force. You do not take out the gun if you want to deter, or to warn, or to immobilize someone by aiming for the thigh or the shoulder. The gun is a lethal weapon. You ONLY take out the gun if you have no choice but to shoot someone dead. And when you have to shoot someone dead, you aim at the head, or the chest. This is the first and foremost lesson of the police department.”
The sabre, Kagami thought, was indeed designed to be a lethal weapon, and its purpose was to cut the enemy in half or to stab the enemy dead. (“No wonder Arashi refused to take her personal sword out of the sheath. That sword has the sole purpose of killing, and Arashi respects that purpose. She and the sword understand each other.”)
With new clarity in her mind, Kagami entered contemplative trance.
“Akishi Oneechan!” Kagami exclaimed joyfully at supper, “I had my first trance! I will be able to take on individual lessons, and complete tasks to earn money.”
“That’s wonderful news, Kagami-chan. I guess you can’t wait to get better clothes for yourself.”
“Oh, more than that, Oneechan! But do I need to be aware of any special etiquette when I go to town? Taboos? Social conventions?”
“The towns near Kageyama are very laid back. Don’t worry. Buying things is a pleasant experience. Just beware of people from Himeyama. They always wear white swinging sleeve kimonos. Be extremely polite with them, and just silently stay on the side until they pass.”
“Why is that, please?”
“All the other academies get their students from all over, only Himeyama has their own exclusive crystal cave. As a result, Himeyama does not accept outside students, and has a hierarchy based on lineage. To Himeyama, we are all worthless commoners. But Himeyama is extremely powerful in their political influence, and their students are similarly superior in ability. Himeyama and Kageyama are the only academies that teach the sword, magic, and potions, instead of trades, so they have a particular disdain toward us, thinking Kageyama is out of place, teaching noble subjects to commoners.”
“Is that partially the reason why Kageyama doesn’t have uniforms?”
“Yes. That’s to minimize the risk to our students when they have to leave campus.”
“How powerful are they? Stronger than Arashi Oneesama?”
“Himeyama has an elite group, the Five. They are still students, but due to their unusual talent, they can easily measure up to any instructor from Kageyama. Arashi can cut through magic, yes, and all of the Five specialize in magic, but Arashi’s range of attack is shorter than theirs.”
“I am now a bit worried. Could you please tell me more about them so I can do my best to avoid any contact?”
“The head of the Five is Yukari, and she’s very tall. Due to her lineage and status, everyone addresses her as ‘your highness’ when meeting her. Yukari thirsts for more power, and desires to subdue the entire world under her feet. She sees others as dust, or worms, or tools, depending on her personal preference, and shows no mercy to anyone.”
“If you encounter Yukari, her kimono has a trim with the colour of amethyst, you are too young to do anything. Just bow down and wait for her to pass.”
“The next is Midori; she is tall as well. Midori loves to play with a person’s mind. With a few words, she instills fear, or brings faux hope, or overwhelms someone with lustful thoughts, or plunges one into absolute despair. She has emerald trim on her kimono; avoid conversation with her at all costs.”
“Then there is Kasumi. She excels in analyzing people and situations. Give her one word, and she will deduce the entire book. Her hobby is conjuring up schemes and plans, and she rarely attacks, despite being highly skilled in combat. Light ruby trim tells you it’s her.”
“Yayoi is very dangerous to us. She has peridot trim. Yayoi’s magic is silent and invisible, and her speciality is turning people into puppets. One could walk by Yayoi, have her magic implanted, and not notice anything. Then years down the road, when Yayoi thinks the time is right, someone suddenly loses consciousness and becomes Yayoi’s servant and does her bidding, all because of her magic spell that was cast way back. Afterwards, one wakes up and has no memory of what was done, and has to face all the repercussions, as there’s no evidence that Yayoi is the culprit.”
“The youngest, and shortest in stature, is Ryō. She’s my age. Ryō has the most prestigious lineage, and due to her being the shortest and youngest, demands being addressed as ‘her highness’, just like Yukari. Ryō is only about as tall as Arashi. She is the least pleasant. Yukari’s opponents end up being a heap of bloody mess because of the immense power of Yukari’s magic, but she doesn’t make any unnecessary moves, probably thinking that nobody deserves extra attention from her anyway. Ryō’s opponents end up as a bloody mess because Ryō likes the result and enjoys the process. She will extract as much delight out of a battle as possible before her opponents finally die. As violent and bloodthirsty as she is, Ryō somehow has a cute appearance, and has rose quartz trim like a little girl would. Don’t ever say ‘little girl’ in front of her, okay?”
“I am afraid, Oneechan. How does anyone stand a chance? I feel Kageyama could be wiped out tomorrow morning...”
“They are scary. But Yukari heads the Five, and that keeps the rest of them at bay. Sounds depressing, I know. The deemed unworthiness of us in Yukari’s opinion keeps us safe for the day...”
“Yes, Oneechan. Only the strong can declare ‘enough fighting, everyone, disarm.’ The weak cries ‘stop’ and nobody listens.”
“That is why we all strive to be strong, Kagami. So that one day we can stand up to Himeyama, declare ‘Kageyama will continue her peaceful existence. Himeyama, stop antagonizing us’, and Himeyama will finally listen...”