Prologue

Kyoto, Japan - Streets near Umekoji Park Handicraft Market - Morning.

A large wheeled vehicle with a blue striped line at the middle with a crowded seat inside, heading straight towards the roof covered bridged with a few random colored stripes next to a 6 2 Squared layered windows in the middle of the bridge above the street.

The bus gradually halts the motor as the weak sounds of tire screeching hits the gray surface in front of the white striped line where many people use to cross the highway. The driver folds the slowing door seals empty. One stands in an opened door carrying full black luggage tightly grips the handle stepping down the spiral pathway exiting the large-wheeled vehicle.

Then a driver folded the slowing door seals shut as the large wheels started to spin towards the white striped line moving through the roof bridge. A person carrying black-covered luggage appeared to be a teenager wearing a black round hat with a white band under the brim concealing his black short fuzzy but downy hair.

His outfit was wrapped with a black tuxedo underneath a white large polo, a black-tie worn in the interior, a belt worn on black slacks with one yellow detail in the middle, a black sock was covered with shiny black shoes. He is shown wearing eyeglasses while looking towards the surroundings as a person himself light browned skin sketching everyone's awareness with a shining purple gaze reflecting to be a 17-year-old teen.



Salcedo Alvarez, a person in black apparel who is intended for finding employment to be a considerable English Teacher. After his parents were slaughtered in the Aradama assault during his juncture in his region. His aunt adopted him but maintaining his last name palatable for himself only to get used to a household name he formerly was. Though his parents were on the other side of the earth he is encouraged to stride and became receptive to what comes next.

Weak tire sounds and loud engine whispering from far distance hits his right ear. Salcedo swivels his head and gazes a little at the yellow car dressed like a pedicab displaying Taxi above the roof heading towards the crossing line as Salcedo raises the right arm. Taxi slows the engine down and paused. He walks towards the front of the yellow compartment of the car gripping the handle tightly on his black jet luggage.

He leans downward peeking towards the back of the window, lifted his arms slowly then waves hello at the driver, implying driver to unlock the shaft. Creak sound coming from the compartment sense the trunk slowly unlocks itself giving Salcedo to lift the trunk open then moving the handle of the luggage to its concealing side moving it sideways.

He is holding up 7-pound luggage which almost unhurriedly clenching him back urging himself to indignant grunt. Somehow manage to fit the luggage inside the trunk and slowly slams the compartment shut. Salcedo opens the door leading to his backseat of the cab and calmly slams the door shut.

The whisper of the engine squeaks ignite the cab starts to move forward past the detailed roof bridge.

"Do you know the place called Ayanokouji Martial Arts School?" The tuxedo-wearing teenager asked melted away at his backseat.

"Yeah, I know the place." The driver simply answered.

Salcedo extends his functioning right hand holding a yen bill, giving it to the driver who extensively focused his sights on the road. "Take me there"

The driver takes the bill from his right hand then He placed his exhausted upper back against the seat tilting his head at upper left looking at the cities filled with billboards, large buildings, digitalized skyscrapers, people walking the pedestrian lane, a crowded vehicle, small establishments, streets, and alleyways.

Cold air releases from air conditioning in the front, giving it a cool refreshing plain scent, even without opening a window, plain music coming from a Japanese radio but hearing a talk show after a few minutes. While relaxing his body he tries reimagined in his complex mind speaking how he can speak fluent Japanese mixed with an Asian outlandish tone while asking a driver about the requested place.

But then he is watching the concrete jungle from the window while softening his unbroken physique from heavy lifting earlier. Waiting in the backseat until the driver stops the engine he glimpses 2 large dark gray-skinned 4 story buildings next to one another from the shady window.

Ayanokouji Martial Arts School

2 young girls especially from the middle or either high school branch with a uniform that combines the gakuran and the seifuku walked pasts the stationed taxi he went in gossiping, their uniform consists of a black inner blouse with a band collar, a white long-sleeved sailor-style shirt with a gray collar and black ribbon, and a long white pleated skirt.

"This is the place you asked for? Now beat it, kid. I don't get all day." The driver sighed, narrow his eyes got impatient.

"Please open the trunk for me. I got luggage there." Salcedo said, opened the door letting the driver unlock the compartment.

He went in front of the luggage using the few of his arm stability as he hauling his substantial bags from the yellow trunk. Managing to lift the handle of the luggage he slams the trunk shut seeing the Cab moving far away from a black suit passenger.

A few moments later after he entered the school campus, he takes a closer leer at the name board in front of the wooden door written named "Yuzuki Souraku" on the upper part. Upon checking the name he slams the finger against the wooden door repeatedly.

"Come in"

Upon hearing simple two words, the teen with a black outfit twisted the silver doorknob unlocking it. When gradually opens the door he slowly went to the office then close the door politely without rendering greatly audible disturbance within the hallway covered in white dye next to a veil.

Sketching sounds lift his ears from behind. Salcedo turns around, glimpsing the woman placing both arms against the wooden resin desk filled with papers, paper clips, books including textbooks lying at the table.

As he curiously checked his surroundings, decorated expensive vases displayed on a wooden traditional cabinet, a portrait hanged at the ceiling above the wooden plate. Carpets are placed on the wooden floor in the middle next to a soft brown-skinned chair with a metallic handle on the side and a desk that is used in front of the school president writing her documents.

Salcedo let out a deep breath then placed his feet and fold his arms next to each other and moving his upper body downward while looking against the floor closing his eyes.

"It is nice to meet you Souraku-Sensei"

"Take a seat" A woman ordered, leering at nothing but documents on her wooden office table.

When hearing orders, Salcedo takes a seat moving his upper body straight placing his hands against his lap looking at the school president writing her handwork lying on the wooden office desk.



Yuzuki Souraku is a fair-skinned woman with medium-length blue hair and bluish-purple eyes. She wears a simple deep grey business suit with an inner black turtleneck shirt and a necklace with a simple red round-shaped pendant. Wearing a black coat with a black dress underneath, dark brown pants including dark-colored shoes.

He sees her as a serious woman who has a dutiful attitude and she always speaks when necessary that she doesn't tolerate someone goes against the order, but she is not harsh on people at the same time.

"You must be Alvarez-San am I correct?" Yuzuki urged, moving her eyes at the textbook.

"Yeah. I just heard my aunt heard everything." Salcedo said, crossed his arms then relaxed his body against the chair.

"She told me the school needs a guy for the right job."

"Exactly and what does it take to get the job done?" Yuzuki polled the teenager

"It's just plain things I have in mind." He simply answered in one sentence

"It proved you can speak fluent Japanese but your tone went a huge difference" She replied, placing the paper on the stacked documents.

"What's wrong with my accent?" He normally asked in a plain attitude

"There is nothing wrong with your accent Alvarez-san. You are experienced in learning a 3rd language." Yuzuki answered, colliding both hands. She grabbed a textbook and flipped a few pages.

"I know you keeping a low profile after the incident in your country from many years till you grow up"

"That is what people want. Earning themselves a living. It's what everyone said." Salcedo shrugged

"Frankly. Your aunt told me you are applying for an English teaching job?" Yuzuki spoke, typing her computer interrogating a person.

"Commonly this school is only room for the tojis you see outside."

"My aunt didn't tell me that. Before she even leaves to work in her office." Salcedo moving his eyeglasses.

"Only she gave me a minimum wage helping me to pay for a taxi"

"You do have a driving license. I'm just asking a favorable question?" Yuzuki said, looking at the black jet teenager

"Just an international one. Nothing local you can see in this advertisement authorization" Salcedo answered, lift his pointing fingers moving back and forth.

"I can see now that you need money for living. Let me answer this question Alvarez-san why you want to earn it?" Yuzuki asked with a curious smile

"Earn enough currency as you live and enjoy your life to the fullest. It is what people tell me right?"

"You almost read my mind. Half-true false answer." Salcedo closes his eyes with a happy face.

"But it's a complexion depends on the situation."

"Sure, that's what it is to earn yourself a good job. But you need more than just talent to do like you're all talk Alvarez-san." Yuzuki narrowing her eyes towards Salcedo.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

Repeated knocking sounds lifts his ears from behind, lifting his head almost felt his heart race a little bit.

"Open the door" Yuzuki answered back.

The doorknob twisted itself came from the other side.

"Sorry for the delay Souraku-san"

A sharp toned feminine voice belongs to a middle-aged white faired skinned woman behind him. He slowly turns around and saw her normal attitude along with her appearance.



Yukina is a woman with purple hair arranged into a bun and purple eyes with a piercing glare. She is dressed in a red-and-black collared suit, with black hosiery and black pumps to complete her look. She wears a badge carrying the crest of Renpu Girls' School on her left collar.

"I have waited long enough to see the res--" Yukina's sentence cut short when she notices Salcedo sitting in front of Ayanokouji president.

"Who is this guy?"

"Who are you talking to?" Salcedo turned around and asked Yuzuki in a confused face.

Alvarez-san, I know that you want money for the living right?" Yuzuki smiled

"Well--"

Yukina aimed her gape towards Salcedo, causes him to leered back in an apprehensive expression.

"If you need another Imperial Guard recruit then perhaps you will need this guy" Yuzuki inferred, turning her face at Yukina, quivers her pointing finger directing Salcedo.

"Wait hold on-- What's going on here?" He stood up from his seat with his stuttering expression

"Because like I said before, just ask her. She'll take care of you." Yuzuki said, glancing at Salcedo.

"Like I had to work for her? Maybe there is something wrong with her." He directed his face then his pointing finger at Yukina.

"Like what's wrong with her?" Yuzuki questioned back

"You don't know her!? That's a Huge Bullshit you put into?" Salcedo shortly turns furious towards the academic president who sits at her desk.

"Don't ever question my decision if you want to become an English Teacher Alvarez-san," Yuzuki argued with the teenager, stood up from her seat.

"It's frankly out of order"

"Like what do I care?" He unravels both arms became upset.

Yukina suppressed a laugh squeezing her body like her tummy is aching, sputtering like an old water faucet.

"Like you can't handle a newbie like him? Like how do you call yourself a president of this school if you don't know what you are doing?"

Yuzuki looked away facing her computer, showing clenched teeth as her emotion inside of her couldn't handle such a burden, end up feeling herself become miserable.

"And you. Don't even think that she is going to help you fledgling." Yukina confided, widened eyes with narrowed eyebrows, revealing clenched teeth grinning.

"What is it to you?" Salcedo asked, narrowed his eyebrows

"Because she's pathetic, remind me of you" Yukina answered.

"So--" Salcedo's sentence cut off when Yukina frowned, gripped both of his arms like an uncontrollable handcuff.

"Be a good kid amateur, and hopefully you work for me. You want to become a teacher is that what you said?"

"You will find out soon enough" Yukina pulls her grip away from his arms. Salcedo feels his arms moved normally again, turns around only seeing Yuzuki looking away, felt became useless arguing forcibly long stillness in a miserable mood.

"Just go. I had other things to do." Yuzuki stuttered, still looked away from drama.

Salcedo placed both hands on waists directing stare on the floor, closing his eyes discharging a subtle sigh revealing a setback troubling him.

"You heard her. Now hurry up!!" Yukina ordered with a loud tone, then leave the office before him.

"It's your choice coward. I'll see you around. We are not done" Salcedo finishes his sentence then pressing a finger on the hesitant academic president wearing a gray coat and walks away with Renpu School president exiting the presidential room then left the building after.

High pressure strengthens the heat from above, Yukina couldn't help but raising her left arm wiping her forehead while Salcedo places one arm while dragging his luggage holding the handle as both walked past the wide rectangle of brown soil full of girls with white uniform holding a bamboo sword which it called practice katana. Salcedo doesn't mind walking past the heat due to his hat covered parts of black short hair which earns immunity from fervor.

Loud bamboo sword tapping, few girls grunting few times lifts his ears rendering his head-turning left towards the bamboo wielding females.

"I had a less idea what are the girls doing there?" Salcedo placed his unoccupied hand against the crown-shaped round hat.

"They're doing some training because they are applying to be a learning combatant." Yukina asserted, moving her head in the direction of the girls.

"They are called toji."

"Toji? Ah, this was the girls Souraku-san spoke of earlier. But she didn't tell me the details." Salcedo mentioned

"Toji or sword users in English are shrine maidens, particularly those who are officially affiliated with the Special Sword Administration Bureau, who are given the duties of responding to the threats caused by Aradama. They are known mainly for using Japanese swords with a supernatural power called okatana." Yukina answered, walks away towards the exit

"Okatana. Yes. This must be the trend my aunt mentioned it earlier." He lifted his eyeglasses also heading towards the exit.

"Yes. But enough talking details. You have a job to do, right?" Yukina queried, glancing at the teenager in black.

"Then why we leaving?"

"Why, to find something you need to stay. That's what's what!?" She raised her voice a little bit.

"You have a driving license?"

"I have one. I ain't equipped with local consent." Salcedo tilted his head in an unhappy manner

"Then good. I don't have an ounce of energy to do it. You can drive for me instead" She smirked, narrowed her eyes at Salcedo.

"Like I drive the car that wasn't mine. I think it's very you young lady." Salcedo smirked back.

"Don't you disrespect me with that name you called me bitch head?" She insulted, pointing her finger at his face.

"I suggest you do the same too. I already have a name. Alvarez Salcedo. And you should tell me yours too." He insults her back as they heading towards the 4 seated crimson car next to a 5 story building.

"I tell you later when you take your stuff home." Yukina aims the remote towards the red car then pressed the button.

Few beeping scrapes emitting from the vehicle. Salcedo opens the front seated automobile, leans down his upper body under the front seat, checking if the switch that opens the trunk of the car, but under the front seat takes time due to a lack of light, tapping the floor until he felt his palms touching the lever realizing that he will pull the shift down.

One clank sound lift his ears coming from the compartment of the car, lifting his upper body pulls away from the driver seat leaving the door open. He drags the handle of the luggage heading towards the trunk and lifts the storage open. Luckily the trunk of the car is empty before Salcedo hides the grip then he lifts freely, putting away his luggage before slamming it shut.

"I don't know what's taking you so long Alvarez-san. Aren't you even that weak?" Takatsu crossing her arms clenched her teeth.

"It takes time." Salcedo looking at her face then heads towards the driver seat. Yukina heads inside the front, giving him the key to twist the keyhole into a diagonal direction. Rumbling and whining sound starts the motor. The smoke from under the trunk releases drastically.

"We're heading to the apartment," Yukina said, crosses her arms melting away against the seat.

"I understand." Salcedo gripping the gear stick switching to the reverse method. The car slowly moves left backward before facing direction at the white diamond-shaped line behind a white long stripe. The car started to roll forward driving in one direction.

An average time of driving reaches the intersection Salcedo turns the car left, upon gradually hitting the gas pedal he sulked in turmoil when he reaches Ebisugawa-dori streets he saw narrow freeways ahead between small establishments between 2 story houses, Large buildings, bikes parked near cemented walls, people strolling on sidewalks and small pedestrian lanes, he kicks down against the brake pedal, temporarily paused the vehicle.

"Why the hell are you stopping?" She scolded the teenager, her sharp but painful tone almost left his body flutter.

"Just imagine what if I killed anyone by accident on my first day?" Salcedo asked with an apprehensive utterance.

"Do you think it's because of the narrow path that only available for small vehicles such as bikes, people walking the streets, drivable toy cars?"

"So what if I didn't care!? Now drive!!" An impatient president yelled, slapping his shoulders like hitting him on the cheek.

Upon forcing him to ignore precaution, he had no choice but to push his right feet against the pedal, moving the car slowly forward, but luckily avoids hitting any bystanders, driving a few meters away next to the destination.

"Stop right here," Yukina ordered.

"What is it?" He asked, pulling the emergency brake.

"You see that building on your right?" Yukina asked, points her finger at the empty driveway with metal bar fencing on the left side, the folded fencing on the right that which left open for the vehicle to park inside but the vacant space finds a little bit shady and the door closed on the middle.

"Yeah, what of it," Salcedo said.

"This is your apartment from now on," Yukina replied.

"This thing is supposed to be my living?" He fretted in a confused tone

"Ain't she beautiful, huh!?" Yukina sneered, moved her face near closed to Salcedo.

"Now get out of my car and move your luggage away!!"

Salcedo turned off the ignition putting out a rumbling engine noise silent then unlocks the door open including the compartment of the vehicle. He lifts the car open then grabbed the luggage from the trunk before he slams it shut. He briefly leaned his head upward as he sees 2 story lodgings with 2 windows on each floor then entering the driveway twisting the doorknob, knowing it was already unlocked.

Apartment

When he reaches the 3rd floor after seconds of climbing the step ladder he tries twisting the doorknob, finding the entrance still unlocked, slowly moving the door open.

Upon checking every room, modest, free space, empty wardrobes next to a large bed that he see one open window in front of him, small living rooms avail with 2 small brown but tainted sofa and cheap Television that already plugged into a socket placed into the deep left corner. The table is placed in the middle above the carpet then the unused remote placed in the middle of the wooden table and a garbage bin placed into the corner below the calendar placed into an empty wall.

There Is no kitchen accessible to prepare food due to a small room or apartment where he can put luggage to its safe storage at the wardrobe while checking the comfort or bathroom is usable. Space is much narrow barely completing setting up his place to stay.

Loud beeping sounds preys on his right ear then another beeping car sounds that horns like a loud pitched trumpet which also screeching his right ear, signals the sign he knew the impatient president still waiting for him to finish fixing empty narrow area of the 3rd-floor apartment.

Salcedo leaves the building, then returns to the front seat where Yukina crosses her arms gripping her clothes in her elbow clenching her teeth like a very angry person.

"Again!! What's taking you so long!!?" Yukina yelled in a grimacing face, narrowing her glare towards Salcedo

"You don't have to be ao impatient. I know what I'm doing." He focused on keeping an eye on the road constantly.

"Do you have any idea how almost the time you already wasted? On the first day of your Job!!?" She angrily faltered

"Whoa, you don't have to-- alright let's go back to the school we came from." Salcedo ignites the engine then switching gears into 2nd number before hitting the pedal with his right feet driving the car a little bit faster to deter coincidences. He keeps driving a straight narrow path 2 kilometers away reaching the highway then steer the red car into the east path.

Salcedo gear shifts to engine a little bit faster when he takes more minutes driving at the highway seeing more cars, taxis, and trucks around him driving in forwarding location. Just when he reached the intersection next to a white striped line In front of the car waiting for the traffic light to turn green he moved his steering wheel deep right heading on a narrow path.

Ayanokouji Martial Arts School

After reaching toji school when entering the building on the 3rd floor, reaching the principal's office. Yukina ahead with Salcedo walking next to her circling the doorknob with her left hand then slowly moving it open then entering the room but Yuzuki wasn't sitting at her desk but they find a book sitting on the table including pens, notebooks, bags, and other stuff.

"I just thought she is going to do her job. It doesn't matter anyway." Yukina smiled looking at the book.

"Grab the book and get out of this office!!"

Without holding back, Salcedo grabs the stuff Yuzuki left before leaving the room, leaving shortly felt like this is an emergency. Yukina slammed the door shut leaving the banging sounds creaks someone's ears.

"Perhaps your job is immediately started being an amateur teacher Alvarez-san. Just you remember you're paying for the vacant room you own. NOT ME!! And from now on you work for me!! Don't expect Yuzuki-san to help you with your homework because all she wants to do is doing nothing!! Capiche!!?" Yukina shouted, reminded the rookie teenager.

"I already saw her mood like she never changed at all. After all the years in the New Year disaster aftermath. And I haven't got any money yet. Geez." Salcedo spreading his arms seeing her leave like treating everyone unnoticed.

Next chapter.