Chapter 17: Actually fighting

Haruki: okay the secret to fighting is choreography!!!!

Haruki yelled dressed in a pink buttoned shirt with beach shorts.

They were standing outside the house, the time is 11:30

Hori: as in dancing?

Hori asked dressed in a white

T-shirt and black pants.

Haruki: that's right! Without choreography, fights will look lame.

Haruki: just imagine two guys duking it out with only punching and kicking!

Hori: but isn't that how fights normally are, haruki san?

Haruki: shut up!if fights were like that then no one would watch anime!

Hori: ah ANIME I've heard of that haruki san! although I've never seen one in real life before!

Haruki:.....

Haruki:....huh?

Hori: from what I've heard it's quite popular amongst children!

Hori said as if proud of her knowledge.

Haruki:.... what kind of Japanese kid hasn't watched any anime?

Haruki said with an insane look.

Hori was just too new to the modern era.

Hori: haruki san?

Haruki: okay, fuck training, were binge watching classics.

Haruki went inside the house and hori followed.

Hori: ehmmm haruki san... don't you think training is more important than watching cartoons?

Haruki:.... their not just cartoons.

Haruki: they teach important life lessons like friendship and trust.

Haruki: dazzling audiences with captivating and iconic moments.

Haruki said reminiscing his childhood days,he still watches them tho, but not as much.

He closed the windows and put a curtain over the wall... that was STILL fuckity fucking broken!!?

Hori: haruki san why are you closing the windows?

Haruki: it's for the right mood!

Haruki: so what genre are you into when it comes to cartoons.

Hori: ehm... I've never really... watched a cartoon before...

Hori admitted looking at her side.

Haruki:..... hori, where were you raised exactly?

Hori:*gasp*(oh no! I can't tell haruki san I grew up in the kantei!)

The kantei is the home of the prime minister.

Hori:(but,I feel bad lying to him again!!!)

Narrator: why don't you just say you grew up in the farms, there isn't much technology there.

Hori:(good morning narrator! and thanks for the lie!)

Haruki:(she sure takes a while to answer my questions, almost like she's thinking of a lie or something)

Hori:I grew up in the farms haruki san, that's why I'm not familiar with cartoons!

Hori said proudly on her successful lie.

Haruki:(I'm obviously not buying it, her grammars way too good for a farm girl, she probably just doesn't want to talk about her past, so I'll play along)

Haruki: oh really, the farms?

Haruki:no wonder you're new to modern life!

Hori:(yes!he believed the lie!)

Narrator: dear readers,good boys and girls shouldn't lie okay?

Haruki: Hmmm I wanted to start with classics like DBZ and the rest but...

Haruki: since we have only 4 more days till the Sabbath exams we'll start with a short fast paced series!

Haruki: we're gonna watch My Blade!

Narrator: My Blade is another series by William Obeya, haruki highly recommends it.

Hori:(whose William Obeya??)

Haruki: it'll teach you how to fight!

Hori: okay haruki san! I'm ready!

Hori said taking a fighting stance ready to tackle her first animation experience!

2 minutes later.

Hori:aahjhaahhaahsh!!!!!

Hori: this is so weird haruki san!!!

Hori: how is the tiny man moving in the screen???!!!!!

Narrator: hori has never watched any piece of media whatsoever.

Narrator: so seeing a character on screen for the first time... might cause panic, especially an animated one.

Hori: what do you mean panic?!!! this man is in a screen!!!

Hori yelled carrying a hammer about to smash Haruki's phone!!!

Haruki: woah woah woah!calm down!

Haruki: you can't tell me you've NEVER watched television before!!!

Haruki: that's just unrealistic!!!

Hori: I've seen a teli before but never have I see one show picture!!!

Haruki: WTF?! tv normally shows pictures!!!!!!

Haruki: so your telling me you've only seen switched off one's through out your childhood?!!???!!!!?!

Hori: father said it rots the brain so I always abstained from them!!!!!

Haruki: that's only when you watch too much tv!!!!!!

Haruki: holy shit so you've NEVER watched something on tv before??!!??! Not even the news?!!??!!!!?

Haruki: that's just messed up!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hori: I read the News through news papers haruki san!!!!!!!!

Haruki: now you just sound like an old man!!!!!!!!!!!

Narrator: Some time after all the fuckin yelling, God my ears hurt.

Hori: wow, but who knew such devices projected imagery!

Hori: almost like magic!!!

Hori yelled, fearfully admiring Haruki's phone.

Haruki:(I'm sure she's the kind of person that thinks phones only make calls!)

Haruki:(this is way too weird, it's almost like she's some princess from a fantasy world!)

Haruki: but hori have you ever had a smart phone before? even just a cell phone???

Haruki asked with a worried expression.

Hori: I've never had a phone before haruki san, you see,I wasn't quite smart during my time being home schooled.

Hori: so father refrained from any source of distractions....

Hori:....like making friends,playing outside or having a cell phone.

Hori:*gasp* maybe that's why I've never seen a switched on "TV" before.

Hori said while scrolling through Haruki's phone in astonishment.

Haruki:....( I really don't know much about her....)

Haruki:(....such a strange girl...)

Haruki was staring at hori in astonishment.

Hori:oh but I do know that you make calls with a smart phone.

Hori: however I am more accustomed with the telephone!

Haruki:(now she just sounds like an old British lady)

Haruki thought with a sad face.

He squatted and patted hori's head.

Haruki:.....you've missed so much....

Haruki: no friends, TV or even school..... your life must've sucked.....

Hori: ah, I didn't mean to make my childhood sound bad haruki san!

Hori: I'm just not too familiar with technology that's all!

Hori said trying to stop haruki from pitying her.

Haruki: don't worry your still a kid, were gonna have lots of fun!

Haruki said with a smile, removing his hand from hori's head.

Haruki: okay now wtf were we doing?

Haruki:oh yeah, were gonna watch an anime!

Haruki layed their futon and placed his phone behind the wall.

Haruki: okay hori! let's start watching!

Hori:...yes!

She layed down beside haruki trying to hide her embarrassment,as her body pressed against his.

My Blade synopsis:

Yutaka kenshi, a famous and legendary swordsman from the sengoku era finds himself in another world! with the goal of perfecting his swordsmanship he embarks on a quest to slay the demon king!

Haruki:(something simple and easy to follow)

Hori:(a sengoku swordsman, this sounds interesting!)

Haruki:yh I don't usually like isekais but the creator tried to make this one unique.

Hori: what's an isekai?

Haruki:.... Let's just watch okay?

24 minutes later.

Hori: wow!!!!!!!!!!!! That was so... So.... So cool!!

Hori yelled punching air!

Hori: so that is an anime!!!

Haruki: wow I'm surprised you liked it.

Haruki: what your excited about is probably the impressive "animation" if it's done right it'll get you pumped!

Hori: wowwwwww!

Haruki: yeah everything you just saw wasn't real, their hand drawn images played in sequence, that's what an animation is!

Hori: no wonder everything looked.... Different, like a bright simplified reality!

Haruki: that's what anime is!

Note: haruki and hori are anime characters to you the readers, but in the context of the story they exist as real people, perceiving other pieces of fiction as "animated"

Note: so if they watch an anime despite being 2d themselves, they'll still see it as a cartoon.... it's best not to reason it too much and enjoy the story.

Hori: wow I have so much to learn!!

Haruki: you wanna watch the next episode?

Hori: so that's what their called! episodes! I'd love to watch the next one haruki san!

*Montage showing them enjoying the series*

Haruki:(this is so much fun!)

Haruki:(I've already finished the series years ago, but watching it again with someone is....)

Haruki:(so fun!)

3 hours later , the time is now 2:30 pm

Hori:*sniff*

Hori: Gora San...!

Hori: what an unfair back story!!

Haruki:*sniff*(why tf am I crying, I've watched this already.)

Haruki:(wait did she just use honorifics?! For an anime character?!)

They had already watched half of season 1 which has 14 episodes in total.

Hori:*growl*

Haruki:are you hungry-

Hori: ignore it! I'm finishing this season.

Hori cut haruki off looking fiercely at the screen with determination in her eyes!

Narrator: wait wasn't this chapter called "actually fighting"?

Narrator: y'all are just watching anime!

Hori:(narrator,hush!)

Haruki: okay, you keep watching, I'm gonna make us lunch.

Hori: understood!

Haruki went to the store to buy food stuffs.

Hori was staring closely at the phone not to miss a single moment, she was hooked.

20 minutes later haruki comes back with lunch ingredients, they were having udon.

The time is now 3 pm

Haruki: you still watching?

He asked as he dropped the ingredients.

Hori:mhm.

She answered without looking away from the screen.

Haruki got to cooking.

Hori was changing positions after 10 minutes still watching, allowing the site to put the next episode after the previous one finishes.

Haruki: it's done!

Haruki: hori drop the phone, it's time to eat!

Haruki yelled carrying their bowls to the floor.

The time was now 3:30 pm almost evening.

Hori: I'm not hungry.

She answered still watching the anime.

Haruki: I'm gonna collect my phone! just eat up and continue watching-

Hori:*gulp*

She finished the entire bowl before haruki finished his sentence.

Haruki:....woah.

Hori went back to laying down to continue the anime.

Haruki:(hmph! She didn't even compliment the food!)

Haruki ate his own bowl in silence staring at the anime from behind.

Haruki:...(Hori's got a nice ass)

He said innocently staring at hori from behind, she was laying down and didn't even notice haruki looking at her.

Haruki:(I mean she works out, so of course her body will be attractive)

He stood up carrying their bowls

and cleaned the place.

Hori was STILL watching!

Haruki: uhhh, hori I wanna use my phone.

Hori:...oh, I'm sorry, I've been using it for a while!

She apologized handing the phone over to haruki.

He collected it and started scrolling through tiktok.

Haruki:.... ehmmm, what are you doing?

He asked hori, to his surprise she was sitting next to him!

Hori: oh I'm waiting till your done using the phone haruki san!

Haruki:yh I'm not giving you back now,I wanna relax with it.

Hori:...oh...

She answered with a sad face.

She went to sit on the floor in a corner, staring at the BROKEN wall, Jesus fucking Christ! when are y'all gonna fix that?!

About 20 minutes passed

Haruki noticed hori singing the opening song of My Blade.

Hori was really bored.

Haruki:...

Haruki:....*sigh*

Haruki: here you go.

He said handing the phone back to hori.

Hori:ah,don't you want to use it haruki san?!

Haruki: don't worry,I think I'll just sleep early today

The time was now 4:30 pm.

Hori: isn't it too early to sleep haruki san?!

Haruki: you want it or not?!

Haruki was getting annoyed.

Hori: forgive me for hesitating!

Hori bent down and collected the phone with gratitude.

She brimmed with excitement as she put the next episode to play.

Almost like a child seeing their favorite show!

Haruki simply smiled.

Haruki:...(What do I do now?)

Hori: come on Yutaka San! you can do this!!!

Hori was cheering for the MC of My Blade,he was in a serious battle.

Haruki was drinking olong tea behind her.

The time was now 8 PM

Narrator: holy cow, did you just spend the whole day watching anime?

Narrator: I think we're meant to change you guys genre.

Narrator: this isn't a shonnen series at all!

Haruki:*yawn*

Haruki: hori, I'm gonna sleep, charge my phone when it dies.

Hori: understood haruki san!

Hori was still watching, she was in the second season now.

About one hour passed.

[Battery in 15 percent, please charge]

Hori: gasp!

Narrator: you really gotta fix that habit.

Hori: Haruki's battery must be low,I need to charge it!

Hori carried the charger looking for a circuit.

Hori:(good thing haruki san showed me how to charge a phone!)

She thought, remembering the quick demo haruki gave her.

Hori: okay!

Hori: now I just shove it in the circuit!

Narrator: Kyahhh! that sounds naughty!

As soon as hori plugged the charger in the circuit, they was a power outage!

Hori: what just happened?!

Narrator: hori grew up a rich girl, even though they hardly used technology like TV and phones.

Narrator: she had never experienced a power outage.

Hori: I see, so it's just a trip off!

[Battery percentage:10 please charge]

Hori: double gasp!

Hori: Haruki's phone will soon die!

Hori: what do I do??

Narrator: well the time is 9 pm so you should probably just sleep.

Hori:I know! I'll go look for where to charge a phone!

Narrator: nah, it's a bad idea for a 14 year old girl to go out by this time.

Narrator: something might happen to you.

Hori:awwn, narrator are you worried?

Narrator: pshh...no?

Narrator replied with an embarrassed voice

Hori: thank you, but nothing will happen to me.

Hori: according to haruki-san, I'm quite strong!

Hori sets out to find a place to charge Haruki's phone!!!

She was walking for some time when she saw a figure trailing behind her....

Hori:(this feeling!)

She turns to her back quickly!

Sinner of racism: for the wages of sin is death!!!

Hori: a sinner!

Hori: of racism!!

Hori: they can easily be identified because their skin is perfectly divided into 3, the 2 sides red and the remaining section black!!!

Hori: representing their ideology of a color of species is superior to another!!!!

Hori: that is wrong!!!!

Hori: all races are equal!!!!

Narrator:oh my God, hori stop yelling, it's past nine!

Sinner of racism: for the wages of sin is death!!!!!

It charges towards hori!

Hori: I'm sorry but I don't have time for you right now!!

*Fwoom!*she throws Haruki's phone in the air!

Hori:hmph!!

*Grab!*she holds on to the sinners hands, and BREAKS them backwards!!!

Sinner of racism: for the wages of sin is death!!!!!!

The sinner cried in pain,it seems that even they, feel pain!

*Catch*Haruki's phone finally lands in her right hand,as she held on to the sinners two broken hands from behind with her left hand.

Hori:oh goodness! only 5 percent left!!!

Sinner of racism: for the wages of sin is death!!!

It yelled trying to escape from hori's impeccable grip.

She has really strong hands.

Hori: what will I do with it!

Hori:I can't release it because it might eat someone...

Hori: and I can't kill it because I'm not a member of SHO yet!

Hori: come on inori, think!

Sinner of racism: for the wages of sin is death!!

Hori: Stop yelling, I'm thinking! plus it's late!

Hori was still wondering what to do when she saw an empty shack with woodwork supplies.

Hori: aha!

She snapped her fingers, she must've thought of something!

Hori dragged the sinner by hand to the empty shed, and picked up rope!

Hori: haruki-san taught me how to bind opponents I can't or don't want to kill.

She was smiling remembering Haruki's lessons.

Haruki: okay, you gotta make it tight so they can't wiggle away!

Haruki: also make the knot super complex so they can't loose it!

Hori: like this?

Haruki: hmmm make it tighter!

Hori: understood! Haruki san!

Hori: haaaaah, haruki san...

She smiled while tying the sinner.

Hori: Mr sinner, racism is wrong okay?

Hori:we should love and treat each other fairly.

Hori: try remembering that in your next life.

Sinner of racism: for the wages of sin is death!!!!!

Hori: ahh they don't understand Japanese.

Hori: there, all done!

She was finally done tying the knot.

Hori: what do you think narrator?!

Narrator:...it's pretty good....

Hori: hehe!

She grinned proudly.

Hori: Alright!

Hori: Time to continue searching for a circuit!

She pressed on! dragging the sinner on the floor with the rope!

Narrator: the streets in this verse are usually empty at night.

Narrator: you see, sinners as well as sins are more active during the night.... sometimes even rumored to be "stronger".....

Narrator:.....after all "Works of the flesh" are best done in darkness...

Hori: what an ominous message narrator, thank you for the heads up but I already knew that!

Narrator: for the love of,I wasn't talking to you!

Hori: hmmm, all the stores are closed...

Hori: would it be impolite to knock on someone's door and ask to burrow their circuit?

Narrator: that's not impolite it's straight up creepy!

Hori walked for some time and saw the store where haruki and her always shopped at.

Hori:ah cashier san!

Cashier: hori chan?! what are you doing so late???

The time is now 10pm

It's that store owner hori saved from a robbery!

Narrator: you sure have a lot of old friends.

Hori: cashier san, it's good to see you!

Hori said with a warm smile.

Cashier: hori chan please call me tengokyu.

Hori: ah, tengokyu means heavenly in English! what a lovely name!(Why couldn't I think of that?!)

Tengokyu:aww shucks, HOLY FUCK,IS THAT A SINNER?????!!!!????

The old man widened his mouth upon seeing the sinner of racism hori had tied and was dragging around.

Hori:ah that is correct tengokyu san,I didn't know what to do with it so I tied it up.

Tengokyu: what are you doing????

Tengokyu: get that thing away from here!!!

He yelled backing up.

Sinner of racism: for the wages of sin is death!!!!

Hori: but... If I release it, it might end up eating someone.

Hori replied with a sad face.

Tengokyu:ugh... and we can't call a priest for a single sinner....!

Narrator: priests don't usually show up for ONE sinner, so people still end up getting eaten.

Narrator: think of it like calling the cops for loitering.

Narrator: but, in this case, loitering kills people.

Hori: excuse me tengokyu-San, will I be able to charge this phone?

Tengokyu:ah yes, the stores still open, just look for a circuit in the back.

Hori: thank you very much!

Hori: okay now you stay here!

Hori tied the sinner to a strong rod.

Sinner of racism: for the wages of sin is death!!!!!

Hori went to charge the phone and came back outside to were tengokyu San was sitting.

Tengokyu: that is a sinner of what? I wasn't privileged enough to study "Tsumibito"

Narrator: since the curse is a global problem.

Narrator: countries have included "Tsumibito" as an official subject.

Narrator:it teaches children and citizens every thing they should know about sins and sinners, what to do and what not to do when encountering one.

Narrator: kinda like safety drills to prevent deaths.

Hori:(I did not know that! father never included Tsumibito in my home lessons!)

Narrator: since your the daughter of FATHER JIRO I'm sure he found it pointless in teaching you about sins and sinners.

Narrator: thinking you might never encounter them, but too bad! you got disowned!!!

Hori:....

Tengokyu: uhhh hori-chan?

Tengokyu:I was asking about the sinner.

Hori: ah it's a sinner of racism notice the uneven colors on its body?

Hori: it's for representing its ideology, that a specific color of race is superior!

Tengokyu: wow you sure are smart hori chan! real sharp kid!

Tengokyu complimented hori while drinking from his canned beer.

Hori: hehe, it's nothing impressive tengokyu-San,my dad was a priest that's all.

Hori: so I usually read his books about sins and sinners.

Narrator: what do you mean dad was a priest?! FATHER JIRO is the head of SHO Japan!

Narrator: and currently the strongest being alive!!!

Hori:(narrator,I can't tell anyone that!!!)

Tengokyu:wow so your father was a priest? what happened to him?

Hori:ah.... ehmmm, he died.

Hori:(better yet,I should say I'm dead to him)

Hori remembered father jiro's words.

Tengokyu: I'm so sorry to hear that!

Hori:...mhm

She sadly answered bending her head.

Tengokyu:... about that pretty boy,who is he?

Hori:oh that is a good friend of mine, haruki

Tengokyu:... friend??

Hori:...?

Hori: yes friend!

She answered innocently tilting her head.

Tengokyu: but you two aren't living together right?

Hori: oh we are!

Tengokyu: *pfffhhhh!*

He choked on his beer

Hori: tengokyu San?!

Tengokyu:*cough!* You *cough!*

Tengokyu: this generation sure is different *cough!*

Tengokyu: just be sure not to get pregnant or anything.

Hori: pregnant? But that is between husband and wife tengokyu San!

Hori: although I am not sure how it comes to be....(maybe I'll ask Shuntaro san)

Tengokyu:( what a strange girl....)

Tengokyu: but if he ever does anything to you be sure to tell me!

Tengokyu: you see, his quite popular amongst girls in this area.

Tengokyu: so if anything bad happens, your old man will knock him flat!

Tengokyu: I've got a daughter so I'm really protective about girls.

Tengokyu declared proudly.

Hori: that is so reassuring tengokyu San!

Hori: but haruki-san is not that kind of person.

Hori: even when I'm bathing or in the shower, I notice him sitting outside the house.

Hori: he's very respectful of women.

Hori said with a warm smile looking at the night stars.

The time was now 10:50 pm

Hori:... but tengokyu San, is it not lonely staying alone at the store?

Hori: I haven't seen any employees.

Tengokyu:... it's very lonely,I miss my children,I have 2 boys and a girl!

He showed hori the picture on his phone.

Tengokyu: the girls the first, her name is Shina.

Tengokyu: she'll be giving me my second grandson this year!

Hori:...

Hori: wowwwwww!

Tengokyu:(what's with that pause?)

Hori: your really old tengokyu San!

Hori said with astonishment looking at the old man.

Tengokyu:(I can't tell if she's mocking me or not...)

Tengokyu: that reminds me, you sure are strong hori chan.

He said remembering how hori decimated those poor robbers.

Hori:oh, haruki san and I plan on participating in this year's Sabbath exams!

Tengokyu: seriously?!

Hori: yes! Haruki san has been training me ever since!

Hori:I guess I've gotten a little bit stronger.

Hori said admiring Haruki's efforts in training her so far.

Tengokyu: be safe out there.

Tengokyu:I heard the Sabbath exams are tough.

Hori nods appreciating him for his concern.

Hori and the old man sat there gisting about whatever.

The time is now 11:00 pm.

Tengokyu stood up.

Tengokyu: you should start going home hori chan,I want to close for the day.

Hori:oh of course hori stood up and ran to unplug Haruki's phone,it entered 32 percent.

Hori came outside and untied the sinner,they were about to leave.

Hori: but tengokyu San, is it not dangerous staying out this late?

Tengokyu:(your one to talk)

Tengokyu:... there's this thing I heard, that sinners don't just eat anyone.

Tengokyu: unless their very hungry of course.

Tengokyu: some people say they have "preferences"

Hori: preferences?

Tengokyu: to put it simply,a sinner of theft will most likely eat someone who steals a lot

Tengokyu: then you just apply that logic to every sinner.

Hori: wowwwwww!

Hori:I didn't know that!

Tengokyu: so it basically means the more pure of heart you are, the more likely you'll survive in this cruel world.

Tengokyu: so that sinner of racism was definitely just starving, cause I'm sure your not a racist hori chan.

Hori: I would never discriminate a race!

Tengokyu smiles and was about locking the shop.

Tengokyu: be sure to pass the SABBATH EXAMS and show me your cross.

A cross is a form of licence used to identify priests.

Tengokyu: I'll make sure to give you something, kids love snacks right.

Hori brimmed with excitement!

Hori: I'll do my best tengokyu San!!!

She waved the man good night and finally went home.

Narrator: I'm surprised you know your way back.

Hori: haruki san and I have come here many times,of course I would have memorized the road by now.

Sinner of racism: for the wages of sin is death!!!!!

Hori: shhh!

Hori reaches the small forest where her and haruki were living.

She tied the sinner to a tree and went inside.

Hori:I can finally continue watching!

Narrator: wait your not going to sleep?!!?

Narrator: the time is 12 in the night!

Hori:why would I sleep?if I was going to then I wouldn't have charged haruki-sans phone!

Narrator:...I guess that makes sense...

Hori: now where was I

Hori relaxed behind a wall and put the next episode.

3 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE SABBATH EXAMS.