Downtown Battle at Early Twilight (IV)
Immediately, both Noa and Suzuran reentered battle stances, hands on the hilts of their swords. Suzuran relaxed slightly upon seeing who it was, however, she did not remove her hand from the hilt of her sword as Honami had her sword drawn and pointed at the duo. “Honami…?”
“Tch, our pursuer is from Osafune?” Noa mumbled, drawing her sword.
“Wa-Wait a minute, Noa-san! Honami is my best friend! The one I contacted yesterday!” she exclaimed. “What could you be doing all the way in Shibuya? It’s quite a ways away from Kamakura.”
“My Spectrum Finder detected an aradama and I was simply deployed to the scene,” she quipped. “It seems that you two have already eliminated it. This will be the one and only time in my life I will thank an aradama since because of it, I was led to you.”
Noa scoffed, “If you so claim to be Suzuran’s best friend, why do you have your okatana trained on her?”
“I am Suzu’s best friend,” Honami declared, entering utsushi. “As her best friend, I’m going to save her!”
Noa replied with her own utsushi as she prepared to fight while Suzuran blubbered, “Wa-Wait, you two! Please, just put down your okatana for a second!”
“I would if she’d do it but it seems she has no intention to.”
“Honami…!”
“Listen, Suzu. Principal Serizawa promised me that if I could have you come back with me right now, you wouldn’t be punished as severely.”
“…Suzuran, this is your chance. Go.”
“Principal Serizawa also has a condition. You must accompany us as well, Hiiragi-san!”
Noa refused. “That is the one condition that I cannot abide by. It seems that we have to resort to fighting after all.”
“Yes, of course. I will use force to make you come with me!”
“No,” Suzuran declared. She used jin’i to step in between the two girls that had charged at each other, her own utsushi up as she latched her hands on both of their sword arms, preventing them from clashing. Both girls struggled to break free but Suzuran was a tad stronger so she was able to keep them both sealed. “Stop fighting…! I am not abandoning you, Noa-san. As for you, Honami, I’m sorry but I cannot afford to go home yet. I must see through my duty of helping Noa-san to the end for that is how I live by my sword. Besides… I need to know the true identity of the Origami family head.”
““What…?”” the two girls mumbled as Suzuran let go, seeing as they both weren’t going to clash again.
“So you were able to see it…!?” Noa muttered.
“Yes, back when Noa attacked the Origami head, I saw her pull out two okatana from empty space… and in her hair, I saw something. I don’t know what it was but all I know is that it’s an aradama…!”
“An aradama!?” Honami stammered. “How is that possible…!? She’s the head of the Origami family and the great hero that vanquished the aradama fifteen years ago!”
“That’s false,” Noa asserted. “That thing is the aradama from 15 years ago in the form of Nanae Origami!”
“Then…”
“Yes,” Noa confirmed. “The Origami family, the Special Sword Administration Bureau, and the Five Traditions… They’re all under the control of an aradama.”
“In any case, Honami, I cannot leave Noa-san alone. Now that I know this, I cannot worm my way out of assisting her in uncovering the truth as I made the decision to help her escape. So please…!”
Honami closed her eyes as she dismantled her utsushi and returned her sword to its sheath. “Haah… It seems nothing I say will change your mind, will it…?”
“Yes. I’m sorry, Honami.”
“No, it’s fine. This is how you are, after all.” Honami rummaged around in her pocket and pulled out a fresh batch of baked cookies before handing it to Suzuran. “Here, you can have these.”
“Honami’s cookies! Yay!!”
“All of your other items were repossessed so I couldn’t retrieve them.”
“I’m sorry…” Suzuran hung her head before going once again going starry-eyed over her prize.
Honami then walked over to Noa and bowed to her. “Please, Hiiragi-san. Take care of Suzu for me.”
“…I will.” Noa turned around and walked away, followed by Suzuran who stopped and turned around for a moment, flashing a smile at Honami. She then returned her gaze forward and chased after Noa. The two girls disappeared into the evening sky, riddled with clouds but they didn’t manage to get very far when the sky opened up and doused them with rain. They quickly found shelter inside of a children’s playground and stayed there, waiting for the rain to let up; while their guitar cases weren’t waterproof, their suitcases were as both girls had planned for a situation like this.
Suzuran nibbled on the cookies she was given and with a sad smile on her face, whispered, “…It’s really good, Honami.” Suddenly, she noticed a white piece of paper inside of the cellophane bag. She reached inside and pulled it out. Noa leaned over to read the piece of paper as Suzuran opened it.
If you find yourself in trouble, call this number.
042-795-6229.