Loving You was my Sin

After learning from the Shogun that the villages I passed by was simply a dream, and my true journey started after I woke up inside of the cave of the dead samurai, I realized that Chiyo truly was the first ever person that I met in this new world.

To say that she and I are close would be an utter understatement… in actuality, our bond ran deeper than colleagues or close friends. After all, we are lovers.

Chiyo has always been kind, dependable and caring. These traits made her quite weak as a warrior during his days as the aide and Page of the Ayanami clan, but it helped her gain friends even in the unfriendly environment of the militant Shinka province.

And to be honest… that trait of hers is one of the reasons why I became attached to her… and made me eventually fall in love with her.

"Today is the last day before we will depart to Yamato province… I don't think I have to remind you anymore that you have to finish what you started in the next 24 hours."

"I know."

"Mm. I heard from my agents who are following you that you have already settled the issues you have with three of the women who became attracted to you… They even said that what you did back there could've been done a bit better."

"I-I know that… It's just that… I wanted them to understand that it wasn't their fault that I don't want to accept their confessions."

"Hm? Is that so?"

"Yeah… I just… don't want to leave them with more heartaches."

"I see…"

Before he headed to the Imperial Palace to bid his farewell to the Imperial family, Shogun Sora passed by to talk to me for a moment and reminded me that our trip towards the Shogunate capital will be happening tonight.

"I just… don't want to hurt them anymore that I already did."

"That's good… It means that you have gotten past your previous delusions and egotistical obsession about being the center of everyone's attention and affection."

"…"

"Keep that feeling in your heart and mind. That one single thing is what separates dependable and respectable real men from the spoiled man-children with no right to be respected."

"Thank you…"

"Although…"

"Although what?"

"I highly suggest that you ask yourself again if it is the right thing to sever your bonds with the last woman in your romantic life."

"That…"

"She's someone worthy to fight the entire world and die for… just like how you did before…"

I didn't understand what he said before he walked off, but now that I look back on it, I think it was for the better that all of it sounded cryptic to me.

After all, I don't think I will say what I ended up saying if I understood what he tried to imply back then with that statement.

"…Good morning, Iwasawa-sama!"

"Good morning too, Chi-chan."

That's right. Today is my last chance to end all of this… my last chance to ever properly correct the things I messed up along the way.

And today, I wanted to know if there is truly a future between me and Chiyo. I wanted to know if I loved her the same way as she loved me… and if she is willing to stay beside me through the hell-like challenges that await ahead of me.

"Woooow…"

"Haha… I'm glad that's your first reaction."

Our date started after breakfast as we met by the main city plaza of Hitachi city. From there, we walked to a place that I knew she would likely be very amazed to be into.

"Hiroshi! Look there!"

"A stingray, huh?"

"That fish is so big! And that one changes colors!"

"A sunfish and a cuttlefish? Wow, this marine park is quite diverse."

That's right. Our first date spot is the marine biology park at the port area of the city. Here, all kinds of aquatic creatures are being kept and presented in several big tanks, one of which has an underwater glass archway where the guests can literally pass below the fishes and other sea creatures as they swim along.

"Waaahhh!"

"Mommy!"

"S-S-Scary!!!"

"C-Chiyo?!"

While I was admiring the diverse collection of fishes in the tank overhead, I heard several shrieks, one of which sounded like hers.

"H-Hiroshi! Who is that?! Is that a human-shaped fish? A seafolk yokai?"

"Ohh… I-I see. It's nothing of the sort, Chiyo."

"E-Ehh?"

I was alarmed at first after I heard her and a few kids shriek and immediately went by her side, it was only then did I look up and saw an employee of the ocean park dressed as a mermaid and swimming around, probably as a type of attraction of the place.

"That's just a mermaid."

"M-Mermaid?"

"Umm… I think the simplest way to explain it is to call them as mythological half-fish humans living in the sea."

"A Ningyo (human fish)?"

"Umm… Yeah."

"Wow… they also have them here? How did they catch one without being bewitched by them?"

"Ah… Chiyo, I think you're mistaking them as real ones. Those are just employees hired to dress up like one and swim around."

After that scene, Chiyo looked at the group of mermaids again with some kids and when about 4 of them has entered the water tank overhead, the lights above the water suddenly dimmed and the speakers in the archway started to play a kind-of idol pop song.

"Wait… is this…"

"It's Rikka-chan!"

"Hey guys! The special underwater concert is starting!"

"Uwoooohhh!!! I've waited for a long time for this!"

As the music started to become louder, I realized that this isn't just a normal show for the ocean park. This is a full-blown pop idol group concert. And the fact that a mixed group of young women and men immediately entered the glass archway with all kinds of pop idol paraphernalia confirmed my suspicions.

"Hiroshi! Lookie-lookie!"

"What? Awaah!"

"I wasn't used to it earlier, but now that I look at them, they're really cute and lovely-looking!"

"H-hey, Chiyo! This is a concert-"

"Yeah! Let's join in too!"

"Whaaaaa?!?!?!"

I'm gonna be honest, I'm not much of a concert-going person. Most people would think that any modern person would definitely have a favored band or idol group. A group or even an individual performer whom they look up to or follow as a way to entertain or even inspire themselves. However, I am not such a case.

You've got to understand though, that as someone who was born in the mid 2050's in my past world which had a long list of disasters in just the span of several decades, the entertainment industry wasn't much of a job for many of the survivors. Well, there are some outliers such as manga artists and singers who are supported by small-scale companies, but their reach and popularity wasn't as big or trendy as the ones during the 2000 to mid-2020 where a certain boy band can easily fill a five hundred thousand seater concert hall or arena for their concerts.

As such, my shock and the feeling of being out-of-place in the middle of these enthusiastic young men and women around me was justifiable.

"♩-Baby, baby… Kiss you! Kiss you!-♫"

"Waaahhh!!! Marry me, Kanon-chan!"

"♫-You are my darling! My dear, dear darling of the sea!-♫"

"♩-The prince of my heart! Please hear me!- ♩"

"♫-Let's dive into the blue! Live a love that is true!-♩"

"♩-Make my dream come true! Kyun! Kyun!-♫"

"I love you, Marin-sama!!!"

In just the blink of an eye from the start of the concert to the middle of the first song, the glass archway basically became crowded as about a hundred or so fans filled it, leaving only a two-meter walkway behind the crowd where the real visitors can pass through.

"Long live the Sea Maidens!"

"""Banzai!"""

The fans shouted praises as the four female idols gave them kinds smiles and waved their hands to them before swimming upwards for a moment to take in their breaths before the next song.

"They're really good, Hiroshi!"

"H-huh? Y-yeah… it's my first time seeing them, but they sure impressed me."

"Let's keep watching! I think I might become a new fan of theirs!"

"Ah… Ahahaha…"

I can only laugh dryly as Chiyo returned back into the fray as the next song played and they cheered yet again for the performance.

"Quite the pickle with your girl, ain't it?"

"Haaah… You can say that again… wait, you are-?!"

"Shh… We're here in disguise."

I thought I was just hallucinating, but as I snapped back to my thoughts, I realized why that voice sounded so familiar. I turned around and confirmed that the speaker was indeed, Shogun Amanogawa Sora.

"Since today is our last day here in Hitachi, I let my daughter and my wife to watch the special underwater concert. And now, it seems like your girlfriend has taken a liking to those girls."

"H-hey… I know that it would be inevitable that us Otherworlders would bring some modern things and ideas to this world, but why am I seeing a pop idol group here? Who is responsible for this?"

"Ask my wife. She owns those girl's talent agency."

"Huh?"

"She loaned the capital for it from me a few years ago and handled the rest of the work such as finding suitable young women and even going to guerilla concerts with them as their manager/producer."

"S-She did that…?"

"Heh… Don't underestimate a girl who wasn't able to reach her dreams because of a worldwide catastrophe."

"A girl… are you talking about your wife?"

"Yeah. Why do you sound so surprised? You think she married me and was already contented with being just that? She has a long list of stuff that she wanted to do, you know? One of which is to be an idol or be the manager of one. Another is to be a celebrity chef and a housewife-targeted variety show host. There are a lot more that she still keeps on reaching for to this day."

"Wow…"

"Honestly… instead of the usual dynamic of the girl having to fit into her husband's hobbies, I am the one who always gets dragged in her plans and shenanigans… Just look at this, we shopped at the souvenir shop earlier, but after hearing that her girls will be performing ahead of schedule in order to avoid the surge of visitors later in the afternoon, she told me that she has to be here to show her support and direction even if I have to stand here like a coat rack and holding the paper bag of our commemorative shirts and Kichi's huge dolphin stuffed toy."

After he mentioned those, I finally noticed that he was indeed carrying a pair of paper bags with the ocean park's logo on it which I assumed has the clothes and hanging on his back was the almost life-sized dolphin plushie.

"Don't you have… like a bodyguard or servant to do that tiring thing for you?"

"What part of being "in disguise" did you not get from what I said earlier?"

"Huh?"

"What kind of person would bring a servant to a family outing like this?"

"Ah…"

"Even if I am the Shogun, I am a husband and a father first and foremost. I know how to separate those sides of me and why some things of my official life shouldn't be mixed up with my personal life."

"…"

"Why did you ask such a question anyway? Are you the type to have your bodyguards and servants following you around 24/7?"

"That's… for our security,"

"…Well, I guess I can't fault you in that."

He gave me a light scolding which I knew I deserved for assuming that he acts like a high-ranking person regardless of where he is. It also made me realize that I was the one who is overly protective of myself by having the Crows look after me at wherever we go to.

"Anyways, I think you should buy her a CD or something before you end your date. I'm not a die-hard fan of my wife's idol girls… but even I have to admit that they've got the real talent and skills to make it to the top."

"I'll keep that in mind."

After about half an hour, the concert finally ended as the four young performers sent flying (or is it swimming since they are underwater?) kisses to their fans and emerged together up to the top of the water tank. With that, their fans dispersed slowly, and I finally got to see Chiyo.

"Sowwy…"

"Huh?"

"I got so charmed with them… I forgot that we're in a date."

"…"

"I'm sorry, Hiroshi…"

And… Chiyo can't even raise her eyes to look at me. It seems like she became so smitten with the performance that she didn't remember that I was on a date with her.

"It's alright, really…"

"T-There's no need to be so kind, Hiro-kun! I am the one who's at fault!"

"L-Like I said, this isn't about me not caring about it. I am just not bothered about it."

"S-S-Still… I made you wait and probably… ruined the schedule you made for us."

I see… so that was what bothered her.

"Come here, you little tart."

"Eh? Ehhh?!"

"There, there…"

"I-Iwasawa- I mean, Hiroshi… this is…"

"I'm just hugging you. Yeah, some onlookers might think it's a bit much for a public display of affection… but I just want to make a point."

"…"

At one corner of a sparsely visited display room for fish skeletons, I brought Chiyo and hugged her tightly. This made her squirm in embarrassment, but I didn't let go of her and even tightened up my hug more.

"I'm not bothered in the very least about it… if it's really what you want to do, I don't mind waiting for you until you've enjoyed yourself to your fill."

"Hiroshi…"

"You've spoiled me lots and lots back in Kiko and our dates in Shinka and Kise… What kind of fiancée would I be if I can't do the same for you?"

"Muu…"

"What is it?"

"Why are you so sweet…? You're making me fall for you all over again."

As she wrapped her arms around my waist and sunk her face to my chest, I was reminded of just how precious she is to me… That this sweet, cute and calming young woman embracing me was indeed deeply in love with me.

And yet, that question still lingers above my head to this very moment…

Do I love her the same way as she loves me? And if so, can I really protect her when unspeakable suffering awaits me in the near future?

"A department store?"

"Yeah. Since we're in Hitachi, one of the most well-known places for fashion, I thought about buying some clothes for you that we don't have in Kiko."

"I see…"

Her unease with the mention of clothing stems from the fact that she isn't much of a fashion icon herself. While it's true that she is looked up to by many as a dashing, young woman, she's not the kind who would be approached by fashion designers and clothiers to endorse their products or show them off at a fashion catwalk. If I am the one speaking, I believe 80% of Chiyo's charm and fashion sense is due to the confidence she exudes regardless of what clothes she is wearing.

"Miss! Miss! Please try this kimono out!"

"E-Ehh?"

"This too! I think this kimono fits you quite well!"

"Ehhh?!?!"

"No! This dress is more fitting for her! Please try it out, miss!"

"H-Hiroshi! Help me out here!"

"Ehehe… Just try them all, let's take what suits you the best!"

One by one, the salesladies in the store mixed and matched outfits for her which she tried out one by one in the changing stall.

"H-How do I look?"

"Wonderful. The furisode kimono is already well designed with its prints, but seeing you try it out made it look more lovely."

"I-Is that so…?"

"Yeah. Try out the next one too."

One by one, she tried the clothes that was handed to her and after about 5 of them, she stepped out of the dressing room with a flustered face.

"Ahaha… Sorry, sorry. Was that uncomfortable for you?"

"It's… a bit embarrassing."

"For me though, it was quite worth it."

"Huh?"

"I feel like I've seen a lot of cute and gorgeous sides of you. It kinda made me fall for you again."

"Ah!"

After my honest comments, Chiyo raised the folded clothes over her face, hiding her embarrassed expression from me which just made her look cuter and cuter to me.

"So, which do you want the most?"

"I… I think I felt the most comfortable with that first furisode kimono and the white dress."

"A formal and casual wear, huh? That's very you, Chi-chan."

"Muu! You don't have to say it like that…"

After we brought the folded and packaged clothes to the cashier and stood at the line to pay for it, I saw something from the corner of my eye.

"Chi-chan. Can you pay for these by yourself? I just want to check out something back there."

"Huh? Sure thing. I'll wait for you outside."

I walked to the rearmost end of the department store where a small area lit by bright lights help show off the products of this specialty stall. Behind the counter are three women who are talking to customers who wanted to buy their products. However, the person that I wanted to talk to was a man sitting at a workbench behind the three.

"Nagoya Goldsmithing and Jewelry."

"…"

"So, it really is you, master Shinichi."

I can never mistake the name of this jewelry store and its owner… after all, the wedding ring that I prepared for Chiyo and I was made by him.

"…Let's not talk here, Iwasawa-sama."

"Why? Are you scared about your business?"

"No. I'm afraid that you will shame yourself if we exchange words right here."

"…"

The aged man stood up from his workbench, setting aside the golden necklace that he was working on to finally face me.

"Let's talk at the storage area… Let's keep this private."

"You better explain yourself properly then."

At the small storage area behind his stall, the old man raised his face and looked at me as if he's saying that I should speak first.

"When I ordered the pair of sapphire wedding rings from you, I was under the impression that you were driven out of the Imperial Capital by the Shogunate and sook refuge in my land out of necessity… so tell me, why are you back here as if it's the most obvious thing in the world?"

"…Because that was a lie."

"Huh?"

"If you are walking freely in Hitachi alongside Young Lady Aoyama, I believe it is safe to assume that the Shogun already explained what on earth is going on and how he isn't your true enemy, am I right?"

"…Yeah. He explained all of it to me. What now then?"

"Then I'll be telling you who was the real serpent who is after you."

"…"

"The one who sent me to Kiko was the Daigo family of Kise."

"-!"

"The Shogun must've already told you about their plans for you. And in my case, I was tasked by the Daigo clan to plead for asylum for you under the made-up story of me being driven out of Hitachi and to gain favor from you to the point that you will entrust the making of your wedding rings to me."

"And what would they stand to gain from that?"

"…Let's say that you chose to hunker down in Kiko and the two of you did end up being married almost two years ago… what would the people call such a day?"

"A… happy one?"

"You're right… that's why it was good that you chose to stay away and postpone your marriage with her to a later date."

At first, I didn't understand what he is trying to say, but after he said the rest of his statement, I understood how grave things could've been if I became selfish and proceeded with our wedding.

"Since those cultists worship the Underworld (Yomi), imagine how they would try to repeat the thing that permanently separated Izanagi and Izanami."

"You-!"

"Kh-!"

As my anger took over me, I grabbed him by the collar and pushed him to a wall, not caring if he is already at an old age.

"What are you trying to say? What do you mean about repeating that thing?!"

"…To them you are Izanagi. A god worthy of worship as the second great person who came from the otherworld. And since you love her, Lady Chiyo is Izanami… I guess you can trace the rest of it by yourself."

"Why…? What does this all mean?!"

"Only by the death of his spouse did Izanagi moved on with his life and brought into being the three great deities… our history started at that point. And for them, their greatness will start once that happens."

"No…"

"If you want to save her, let her go for now, defeat them till even the idea behind their cult-like religion has died and only then can you live a proper life with her."

After saying all of that, my grip loosened, and he placed his hands over my shoulders gently.

"Once I realized how heinous the rest of the plan was, I ran away to Hitachi, told everything that I know to the Shogun, and he let me live here under his protection… protection against the invisible hands of those monsters."

"Why did you tell me this before? If so, I could've stopped them before all of this blew over!"

"If I told you back then, will you believe me?"

"-!"

"The Daigo clan is a family of serpents. They know what lie to tell and what to do to make people believe in them. Admit it, even the staged terror attack during your titling ceremony with Lady Kusanagi Kyoko convinced you to trust them wholly."

"Kh!"

"If you want to be with her, end this… end all of it. Only then can you get to safely have her beside you."

After saying that, he walked towards a locker in the room and opened it to take a familiar box from it.

"You have someone dear to you who is ready to give her all for you… even her life."

"…"

"Although noble, you should do your best to try and not let that be the case."

After handing the box to me, he returned outside, leaving me there as I opened the box and saw the pair of rings that I left to him after I showed it to Chiyo before I left Kiko.

"Someone dear…"

His words reminded me of something that I never thought about since earlier…

"Umm… Chiyo…"

"Yes?"

"It has been about one and a half year already since we last saw each other and talked, huh?"

"Y-Yeah… it's been a while."

"I was trying my best not to mention it earlier since I wanted our date to be free of heavy thoughts… but I guess I can't hide my worries from you."

While we are walking through the streets with the things we bought, I thought about finally opening up the thing that was weighing on my mind since earlier. When I mentioned it though, I noticed a small change in Chiyo's expression. From having a kind smile on her face, it became sullen and a bit worrying.

"I… I have done a lot of mistakes, you see. I believe you already heard about it from someone… the thing about me going out with Kyoko, Mitsuhide and Kotori the past few days..."

"I heard about it from my servants, yes. They said that you've turned them down and both Kyoko and Mitsuhide are trying to come to terms with it."

"It was abrupt, yes… But I don't regret cutting it off before they hoped to make it more than what it was."

"…"

"I'm sorry, Chiyo."

"…About what?"

"About saying and showing you that I love you… yet allowing those three to harbor feelings for me which I entertained and made them hope for more when I don't deserve it."

"…"

I knew it from the very start… I have no face to show to Chiyo after all of the things I did.

I love her very dearly, yes… but then, why would I entertain the feelings that those three other young women harbored for me if I truly love Chiyo with all of my heart?

This doubt in my heart is what makes me feel more and more concerned with whether I really love her or not… If, and I hope this wouldn't be the case, we became married and I never resolved any of the romantic strings that I left hanging around me, what kind of married life would await the two of us as I continue to entertain the feelings of those three who is just a rock throw distance away from us?

I hate cheaters. Especially when the person they are cheating on is someone that loved them from the bottom of their hearts. And I have made my point again and again about the extramarital crimes in my lands to the point that I made a scheme of hiring bandits to burn and massacre the pleasure quarters in Kiko before killing those bandits to keep everything a tightly guarded secret.

Being someone who came from a world that was absolutely destroyed by a disease that spread through the copious numbers of adulterous activities and use of prostitution globally, no one can truly fault me for doing as such and hating all of it.

Yet, as I travelled around and lost my hatred for it, I also found myself slowly sliding into doing the very things that I was prepared to kill for to not let anyone else to do back then. Slowly, I became the monster that I promised myself not to become.

"When I was ordered to lead the Kusanagi army's troops past Iso river, I knew that General Mitsuha just wanted to get rid of me in some way. And yet, I never raised an objection or took a step back to save myself… I knew that the soldiers who was attached to my command also knew that they would die as soon as they crossed the river."

"…"

"And because of that, I accepted my mission and crossed the river with my men, knowing full well about the ambush that was set in there."

"Why are you saying all of this, Chiyo?"

"Because it let me understand why those three became attached and fell for you."

"What?"

"As the captain of my regiment, I felt the same pressure of being a leader as Kyoko-sama… As a woman who had no hope in finding someone who is willing to stay beside me to sort my traumas and change it with me, I felt the same as Mitsuhide-sama did. As a woman who has trained for all her life to be a warrior to the point that I saw no end of it at sight, I felt the same misery and hopelessness as Kotori-chan."

"Chiyo…"

"All of them fell for you because of your kindness and sympathy for them at their lowest of times. I can say this because I too, am a recipient of it."

"…"

As she spoke about the things which I did that made those three to fall in love with me, I felt my heart ache a little… after all, what kind of man wouldn't feel pathetic if the woman that he loves speaks about the other women who got entangled with him?

"I would be lying if I said that I wasn't hurt after learning that there are other women who are vying to take you away from me… but that's what love is… if you don't want the person that you love to be taken from you, you have to fight and triumph above the others."

"Do you hate me for making you feel that way and making you fight those three for me?"

"…I do."

After hearing her reply, I knew that I screwed up big time.

"But…"

"But?"

"Knowing that I wasn't alone in harboring feelings for you made me realize how much I would be happy once we end up together."

"You mean…"

"Yep! I love the fact that winning over your heart is a challenge. Because if it isn't, I would doubt that what I feel for you is true love."

"That…"

Hearing her say those words reminded me of something…

["If it was just given to you out of the blue, it wouldn't bother you if you lost it… but if you worked so hard for it and it ends up being ruined, you may end up losing your mind."]

Those words came from my best friend in the past world… he told me those words after I told him that I will finally confess my feelings for the girl that I truly love. It had a hint of sarcasm and personal dejection from him as this was the same time period when I made him the legal guardian of my sisters since I can't take them with me to the dormitory of the new school.

Basically, he's saying that I can easily let go of them because my sisters were just there with me when they were born, I didn't have any choice but to have them around unlike the girl that I loved and chased.

But I understood that he also wanted to encourage me to do what I should do. I wholeheartedly loved that girl, and I must confess if I want to advance our relationship together. But as I have narrated again and again before, she died in my arms and shortly died afterwards as well.

"…"

That's why I became silent afterwards… because I am still unsure whether or not I am willing to do the same for her now that I was made to face the reality of my actions and decisions.

But as I began to feel some kind of self-pity for my pathetic self, I remembered the words of the old man earlier.

"Chi-chan… remember the promise I made to you before I left Kiko?"

"Huh?"

"About… being married after we are reunited?"

"Ah!"

Talking about this in the middle of the street might seem too intimate for the ears of the passing people, but with the surge of emotions in my heart and mind right now, I didn't care much about it anymore.

"I… I got our rings back."

"…"

"I was thinking about it earlier even before we talked about Kyoko and the others… About how the two of us would sort this out…"

"Hiroshi, you don't need to be stressed about-"

"It's not about me being stressed about this, Chiyo… it's more about whether or not we can still love each other enough to be with each other for the rest of our lives."

"…"

"As you said earlier, you hate the fact that I let them hope when the two of us are already in love with each other… but even then, it only made you love me more."

I took out the box and held it tightly in my hand, feeling that it isn't right for me to even bring this up due to my indecisiveness.

"And throughout my journey and our date today, my mind was filled with nothing but longing and my love for you… but I still haven't made up my mind whether I can continue on like this with you by my side."

"Listen here, you dum-dum…"

"?"

To my surprise, Chiyo slid the paper bag's hand laces to her elbow and cupped my cheeks, holding them gently as if she's touching an infant's delicate skin.

"Do you love me?"

"O-Of course, I do!"

"How much do you love me?"

"H-Huh?"

"Just say whatever comes up to your mind for an answer… tell me, how much do you love me?"

"Very much!"

"How much is very much?"

"Umm… As big as the sea! No… As big as outer space and beyond everything else!"

My answer might seem corny, overused and to some extent, childish. But I can't help it… being asked by someone you love about how much you love them isn't something that I am used to.

"Then that's enough."

"How…? What? Why?"

"You just said all of it… you love me as vast as the universe is. If any woman isn't contented with that kind of answer, I don't know what else would work."

"B-But…"

"And besides, you still have a promise with me."

After she mentioned that, I looked up towards her while my mouth hanged a bit in surprise. For her to remember it even after almost two years… does that mean that…

"It's all up to you when you'll be comfortable enough with our situation for us to be married… You and I are already of age, and I don't think anyone would really mind learning about our true relationship at this point. But as your fiancée and someone who has learn how to understand you as your future spouse, I will respect your decision about such a thing."

As she said, she is giving me as much time as I want to sort myself out and feel confident enough to formally inform others about our true relationship. I can ask nothing more from someone that I would be with for the rest of my life.

She gave me time. She gave me enough to think things out and better myself.

"There he is!"

"KYAAAA!!!"

"Knife! They've got a knife!"

"Iwasawa-sama! Duck!"

"Urgh!"

I wish the same could be said about her after this incident…

"W-What-? Chiyo!"

"Stay behind me, Iwasawa-sama!"

"Che! Kill her too!"

Suddenly, I saw three men wearing the ever-familiar green hood over their heads, wielding knives and ready to pounce on us at any moment.

"How did you guys find-"

"RAAAAAHHHH!!!"

"Get down, Hiroshi!"

*TING!*

The three men surrounded us, trying to find a weak spot where they can plunge their blades to us. Suddenly, one of them charged into the fray, but had his knife blocked by Chiyo.

"NOW!"

"HAH!"

"I won't let you!"

*Ka-pak-!*

With my katana taken by Chiyo, I had no proper weapon to use. But as muscle memory took over me as two of the attackers lunged forward towards Chiyo, I loosened my belt to take the scabbard of my sword and used it to parry their downwards slashes.

"I-Iwasawa-sama! I told you to stay-"

"Shut it! I'm not letting you be the only one in danger!"

"-!"

"HYAAAA!!!"

"Urgh!"

"Ack!"

After securing my feet on the ground, I placed my weight forward to push the two attackers whose knives I locked to my scabbard.

"Die! Die! Die!"

"You do that yourself!"

Chiyo too, broke her blade lock with her attacker and both of us matched our moves to get control of the situation.

"Switch!"

"Yes!"

Our backs on each other, I and Chiyo switched places and who we are facing. With my scabbard, I blocked or parried their knives while Chiyo tries to pry their guard and finally cut them down.

"Do it, you fools!"

"We can't get near them!"

"We're going to get surrounded at this point!"

After hearing the urgency in their voices, both I and Chiyo understood the two ways how this thing would go. We would either be able to defeat all three of them, or we can bid our time until the Shogunate's police officers get to the scene.

"Do it!"

"HYAA!"

"GAAH!"

Finally, the desperate all-out attack came which I and Chiyo was waiting for.

"Chiyo, now!"

"Understood!"

Suddenly, I squatted and used my right foot as a swivel to perform a circular slash on their knees.

"Kuh!"

"Ahh!"

"What on-"

And for Chiyo, she jumped over the squatted me to perform a similar circular slash around us that slashed our enemies' throats.

"KAK-KAH-!"

"GUAUAH!"

"NO-!"

In just a moment, the place around us was covered in their blood. Even our clothes were sprinkled a bit by it as we drew in our breath to calm ourselves down.

"C-Chiyo… are you alright?"

"Y-Yes! How about you?"

"Still got some tingles because of the sudden fight, but I am alright…"

As we turned to each other to check for injuries, I noticed that some blood was spilled in Chiyo's face.

"Don't move for a bit."

"H-huh?"

"…"

Using my sleeve, I wiped the blood off her face and slowly, reached for her hand to take my sword back.

"You scared me back there…"

"I'm sorry. I already sensed that they were following us, so my instincts kicked in when they did charge towards us."

"It's alright… it's good that we are both safe."

Moments after we killed our attackers, the whistles of the police echoed around as they seem to finally arrive to the scene.

"Chiyo…"

"Yes?"

"I was doubting myself earlier about whether or not we can go back to how things were back then… you know, being a couple and loving each other intimately."

"Ahh…"

"But just now… I realized that I was stupid to even think about such a thing."

I knew that there are proper places to do these kinds of things… and a scene of a recent murder by self-defense is at the very bottom of that kind of list. But as the emotions in my chest swelled more and more, I ended up giving her a peck on the forehead.

*CHU*

"Ah!"

"…I think I really do love you so much, Chi-chan."

"Muu… Why do you always go for my forehead?"

"It's a gesture of mine for deep love, you should already know it at this point."

I love her. I want to always be with her. Just like how he told me before, now that I have no other person weighing on my heart, I can now dedicate myself to the one and only person that I truly love.

"To think that even a surprise attack became a failure… you really are a difficult pawn to bend into obedience, O Second Saint."

"That voice-!"

"Hiroshi! Move!"

Everything went into a blur after I attempted to turn around to find the source of that voice and Chiyo pushed me aside.

"Daigo… Shizuka!?"

"Just as planned…"

"-!"

"Goodbye, O beloved goddess."

*BYAK-!*

That day marked the beginning of the war between two former sworn friends.