Chapter 36: Squad 3 Motto ; Connections

Soujin stood there, frozen. His mouth opened but no words came out. He looked at the floor, then at the wall, then at Cera. He had the perfect blend of confusion, fear and disbelief on his face.

“Cap,” Cera drawled, dragging his eyes back to her. “Oi, don’t tell me you’re seriously thinking about it?”

Soujin blinked. “Uh…I mean…what do you want me to say? You just said—”

“I was joking, you idiot!” Cera interrupted while lowering her eyes slightly. “C’mon, Cap, do I look like someone who wants you to go pick a fight with the Head freakin’ Captain? Like, really?”

“Honestly?” Soujin muttered while scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah, you do. Kinda.”

Cera huffed and threw her head back against the pillow. “Damn, Cap, you’re dumber than you look.” She shot him a glare and spoke sarcastically. “I mean, yeah, sure, go ahead, put your life on the line for me. Makes total sense. It’s not like you’re my boss or anything, responsible for the rest of the squad or—oh wait. You are. What a concept.”

Soujin groaned and ran a hand down his face. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“And you’re hopeless,” she fired back with the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “Relax, Cap. I’m not actually asking you to go out there and get your ass handed to you by Will.”

But Soujin wasn’t buying it. He studied her closely…too closely.

Cera caught his eyes studying her and shifted her gaze to the ceiling with the faintest sign of a blush creeping in. “Seriously, Cap. Don’t do anything stupid. I can handle myself. You know me, right? Cera doesn’t lose.”

“Cera…”

Her hand twitched again. “I don’t need saving, okay?”

Soujin’s eyes narrowed. He crouched down slightly and rested his elbows on his knees He spoke softly but held a firm tone. “You always do this, Cera. Act tough. Act like you don’t need anyone. But guess what? I’m not buying it this time.”

Cera stiffened but she didn’t look at him. Her gaze stayed fixed on the ceiling. “Cap, seriously. Don’t start. I’m fine. Just a little road bump. I’ll get over it. No need for the whole ‘I’m your savior’ routine.”

Soujin shot back sharply. “I’m responsible for the squad. Don’t think for a second that I’m gonna walk away and let them execute you because you’re too damn proud to admit you’re scared.”

Cera’s jaw clenched and her hands gripped the edges of the blanket tightly. “I ain’t…scared.”

“Bullshit,” Soujin replied bluntly.

Cera flinched.

“You’re scared,” Soujin said while dropping speech to a near whisper. “I can see it in your eyes, in the way your hands keep twitching. You want me to save you, Cera, but you’re too stubborn to say it out loud.”

“Shut up,” she muttered.

Soujin leaned in closer. “You don’t get to push me away. Not after the things we’ve been through.”

For a long moment, there was nothing but silence between them. Cera’s breathing was shaky.

Finally, she spoke. “You really think you can save me? You’re willing to go that far?”

Soujin’s face softened. “I don’t know how, but I’ll figure it out. Even if it means going up against Will.”

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Dead serious”

Cera chuckled, though it was more bitter than amused. “You’re a goddamn idiot, Cap.”

“Maybe,” Soujin said with a small smile. “But I’m your idiot. And I’m not giving up on you.”

Cera stared at him for a moment longer. Then she rolled her eyes and huffed. “Fine. Do what you gotta do. Just don’t expect me to write you a eulogy when Will wipes the floor with you.”

Soujin smirked and tilted his head. “Who said anything about charging in headfirst? There’s more than one way to go about this, you know.”

Cera raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? Like what? You gonna beg? Cry? Bribe him with a lifetime supply of those stupid snacks you like?”

“Ha, ha,” Soujin deadpanned while crossing his arms. “You think I’m just some grunt with no options? I’ve got connections.”

Cera barked out a laugh. “Connections? Cap, the only connection you’ve got is that noodle shop guy who gave you a free bowl once out of pity.”

Soujin spoke with smirk. “My connections are solid. You’ll see. I’ll pull a few strings you didn’t even know I had. All you need to do is sit tight and let me handle it.”

He turned to leave with his hand hovering near the doorframe. He was ready say something else but he hesitated for a second. He decided to step out instead.

Before the door could fully close, Cera’s cut through speaking quieter than usual.

“Yo...Cap?”

Soujin paused mid-step and glanced back over his shoulder.

“...Thanks.”

He smiled but said nothing while now walking away.

Cera watched the door click shut. Her half smile left after saying those words now faded into a thoughtful gaze “Connections, huh...”

Soujin closed the door behind him and leanded against the wall outside. He exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. The confidence he’d shown inside drained out of him like water from a cracked jug.

‘Connections, ‘he thought while grimacing. ‘What the hell was I thinking? I don’t have connections! Who am I kidding?’

His mind started racing. ‘Ryojin? Barely knew the guy, and besides, the man was colder than the northern peaks when it came to bending rules. Not happening.’

‘Miko? ‘Soujin let out a bitter chuckle. ‘She was the textbook definition of a rules shark, the kind of Captain who’d slap him with a lecture before he even finished explaining.’

‘Muffet, ‘he thought next with a flicker of hope sparking…only for it to be extinguished just as quickly. She wasn’t even here. She was off in some other dimension chasing Lycans or whatever it was she did. ‘I hope she’s alright, wherever she is.’

Soujin groaned. This wasn’t looking good. He pushed off the wall and started pacing.

‘Think, Soujin. There’s gotta be someone—‘

And then it hit him.

“Mirumaru,” he muttered under his breath..

Soujin owed the woman a favor. Mirumaru covered up Soujin’s leave with a report and even got Miko to stay silent and what she wanted in return was to go on a date with him. He still wasn’t entirely sure why.

Soujin frowned. What the hell did someone like her see in someone like him? Mirumaru was…well, she was stunning. She had this graceful beauty that made people stop in their tracks. And him? He was just a swordsman with a knack for getting into trouble.

But maybe…just maybe, he could use this.

Soujin scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin tugging at his lips.

“Alright, Soujin,” he muttered to himself with a smirk forming. “Time to find out if playing prince charming for someone like Mirumaru works out… If I don’t get this right, I might be the one getting handed a death sentence.”

Soujin woke the next morning with a sense of urgency gnawing at him. He had spent most of the night tossing and turning, trying to come up with a plan that would make this whole mess with Cera work. But now, staring out at the cloudy morning sky, it all felt more complicated than ever.

He stood from his bed and soon realized a problem.

‘Mirumaru’s squad... ‘Soujin frowned while trying to recall the specifics. Her stunning presence, the way she could charm the room with a single glance—he could remember all of that but the number of her squad? That escaped him completely.

He muttered to himself. "She never told me that part…or did she…”

Why couldn’t he remember if she did or not?

Soujin paced back and forth in his quarters while rubbing his forehead in frustration. Where would she be? He could guess, but guessing was a quick path to more problems. Maybe he could ask Head Captain Will… but that could raise way too many questions. The situation with Cera was delicate and making more waves would only drag him further into a mess.

His mind then shifted. ‘Miko.’

He groaned. The Captain of Squad 2 wasn’t exactly the person he’d choose to ask for help but if anyone knew how to get to Mirumaru, it would be her. Miko’s squad was more disciplined than any other and she would likely know all of the Captains. Her strict sense of order was a pain but it also meant she had eyes on everything happening in the Society.

Miko might not be thrilled to help him but he didn’t have many options left.

Before that, though, Soujin had one last thing to do. He needed to make sure Priya and Pufima were set for the day.

With that in mind, he quickly left his quarters and made his way to the front of the Squad 3 building. He found the two girls chatting quietly under a tree.

“Hey, you two,” Soujin called. “You’re both heading to the training grounds, right? Cordelia’s likely gonna be waiting for you.”

Priya nodded. She looked up at him with a soft smile. “Yeah, we’re ready. We’ll get through it, don’t worry.”

Soujin returned her smile, though it was brief.

Pufima grinned. “I’ll be slicing through training like it’s nothing! Right, Priya?”

Priya just sighed, though the smile remained. “Right, Pufima. Let's go.”

While the two girls headed toward the grounds, Soujin started heading to Squad 2’s Division quarters. His mind was on Miko now. He didn’t have much of a choice.

With one last deep breath, Soujin approached the entrance to Squad 2’s building. He knocked before stepping inside.

Soujin stepped into the Squad 2 Division quarters, his eyes scanning the room. It was strangely quiet. There were no recruits sparring, no team chatter. The room felt almost abandoned with only the faint rustling of papers and the soft sound of objects being shifted around.

Then, he spotted her.

Miko was carefully adjusting a stack of training schedules on a table. As soon as Miko caught sight of him, her movements halted. Her gaze flicked over him with look like a hawk sizing up its prey. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

“Well, well,” Miko said with a raised brow. “You actually look... decent. Nothing out of place.” She paused for a moment, then added with a small, almost teasing grin, “Except your Divine Blade uniform. A little scruffy there, Soujin. Maybe you should take a moment and wash up. Or have you been training all night?”

Soujin instinctively looked down at his outfit. His cloak was a bit wrinkled with parts of the fabric creased where it usually stayed pristine. He scratched the back of his neck.

“Yeah, I guess it’s not my best look,” he muttered. “But that’s actually not why I’m here.”

Miko’s eyes immediately sharpened. Her look was replaced by a professional demeanor that was all too familiar to Soujin.

“What brings you to Squad 2 today, Soujin?”

“I’m trying to find something out… about someone.” Soujin took a deep breath before continuing. “Do you know where Mirumaru’s squad is?”

Miko crossed her arms over her chest.

“Mirumaru?” She raised an eyebrow. “You’re asking about her? Interesting.” She gave him a pointed look. Then her face relaxed a little. “Alright. I’ll tell you but don’t go making any foolish moves, Soujin. She doesn’t like to be bothered unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

Miko led the way through the Divine Blade headquarters. Soujin followed behind her. After a few turns and a couple of flights of stairs, Miko stopped in front of a large set of wooden doors. Her hand rested on the handle but she didn’t open them right away. Instead, she turned to Soujin with an amused look.

“Here we are,” Miko said.

Soujin blinked,. The large double doors were finely crafted with ornate carvings of swords and armor adorning the wood.

“I don’t understand,” Soujin muttered while folding his arms. “I thought Will was in charge of this squad or something?”

Miko shot him a look that was both incredulous and slightly smug.

“You’re really that clueless, huh?” She leaned against the doorframe. “Will’s the Head Captain. He doesn’t command individual squads. He oversees the entire Divine Blade Society. You’re a new captain but you should know at least that much by now. In fact, I’m going to tell you about all of the things you should know right now so you don’t forget it.”

Soujin felt the blood rush to his cheeks. Miko was about to start a lecture and Soujin could already feel the weight of it coming.

But he wasn’t about to sit through a lecture right now. Not when he was already running out of time.

“I—uh, I really need to see Mirumaru right now,” he said. “The lecture can wait, Miko. This is important.”

Miko raised an eyebrow. For a moment, Soujin feared she might push him further into the dreaded lecture territory but instead, she sighed and gave him a sharp nod.

“Fine,” she muttered. ““Mirumaru should be in there. Try not to make her want to throw you out the moment you speak.”

Soujin swallowed upon stepping past Miko into the room. He had to make this count.

The door closed softly behind him. He then said, “Here’s to hoping I don’t make a complete fool of myself…”