Chapter 5: Abrupt Change

When the practice bout was over, Riochiro and I leaned against an ivy wall near where we finished fighting.

 I pulled out some absorbent towels for the two of us to wipe off the sweat. Riochiro simply reached out his hand and in a charming way thanked me and smiled.

 Wait...

 Riochiro smiled....

 I've never seen him do that in the 3 years of training we've spent together, not by any stretch of the imagination had the corners of his lips turned up like that.

 When Riochiro wasn't wearing his unbearable depressed face or had a vacant expression or sometimes expressed anger or annoyance. It was as if he was always in an altered emotional state. Although most of the time he would spend most of the time with a serious expression, showing no emotion whatsoever.

 When I saw him smile, even if it was only for a few seconds and then he looked away, I saw his face full of vitality and joy, as if Riochiro had come back to life.

 To top it off, his smile is very charming, like that of an angel. To tell the truth, I had not thought of Riochiro as a charming person until this very moment.

 I was paralyzed with surprise.

 Riochiro looked at me again, although this time he looked a little more serious, returning to his initial expression, a pity that his best expression had been so ephemeral.

 -Teacher, the day before, Mr. Kawashima came again and told me that my sister had awakened her Skill, is that true?

 At that moment I cursed inwardly, trying to keep a neutral expression so as not to arouse Riochiro's suspicions. That's because I was trying to hide that from her so she wouldn't get discouraged, since it's been 3 years and Riochiro hasn't awakened her Skill.

 -It's true," I said with a hoarse voice after thinking for a while.

 -Well, that's good. I'm glad to know something about my sister after years without hearing anything about her.

 To my surprise the albino boy reacted contrary to everything I had thought, rather in his eyes I could see a certain spark of freshness and joy. Today I have to admit that he is acting unusual for Riochiro.

 After a few moments, he turned his body suddenly towards me, while he remained seated in Seiza position, and quickly took my right hand between his two hands, while staring at me with his red, almost vampiric eyes. For some reason, I felt like he was piercing me with his gaze, not in the bad way, it's as if he was drawing my gaze to his, trapping it between his glistening irises, which resembled a ruby.

 -Teacher... No," she replied, "Rikka, I know I'm not allowed to see my sister, or go near her. But if you can, just tell me what she's done, how she's been doing, if she's asked for me...-Riochiro looked away, with a melancholy expression on her- The waiting is killing me. I haven't seen her in years and I know it will be much longer before I can see her face, so please...-She squeezed my hand a little between hers, her palms were cold to the touch.

 -I let go of my hand and looked away.

 I know you're going to ask, Grandpa, yes, I blushed a little, but not in the way you think, just.... I felt nervous and strangely embarrassed. It was the first time he had made a personal request to me in that way and it was also the first time someone my age had approached me in that way- BUT WHAT THE HELL AM I THINKING?!

 Notes from your grandfather: Oops, oops, oops, oopsyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy~~~~~ I knew you were going to fall for it sooner or later. 

 Rikka's note: As of this moment Kisaragi Ryuugamine's rights to write in this notebook are taken away, every word he writes will be erased and outraged by the ink of my pen.

 Anyway. Given what happened, I ended up telling Riochiro things about his sister, about all the details of the awakening of his Skill. Riochiro, who was already very attentive to my explanations, seemed more focused than ever.

 I also added several conversations I was having with Kyouka herself, that well, at first it was a little difficult to talk to her because of how hostile she was with all of us for having separated her abruptly from her brother.

 Although, as time went by, the anger was passing and we became friends little by little. Cambien told Riochiro that Kyouka is keeping her hair short so that when she came out of the labyrinth he could recognize her, a very nice detail in my opinion.

 Grandfather, I know that you have talked to Kyouka and Riochiro every time you have returned from a meeting, maybe that's why they have such a relaxed attitude.

 And if so, is it thanks to you that now the twins are relaxed, did you teach them some manners and good humor, did you tell them your old stories, just like you did with me before I went to sleep, did you tell them your old stories, just like you did with me before I went to sleep?

 I still have more questions to ask, but I also have no doubt that part of this joy they have is thanks to you.

 November 2nd (3rd Year).

 Today we focused more on reviewing the basics of combat, so I took a table out of Riochiro's room, which was already full of books, it even smelled like a library, being in this place reminds me of when I'm in your study grandfather.

 The smell of ink and dampness between the books pierces your nose. To people who are not familiar with this, maybe the atmosphere is strange, but ironically, every time I come in here I feel strangely at home. Well, I'm practically at home, but you know what I mean.

 Riochiro helped me carry the table outside, which didn't weigh much, but between two of us, the transportation of the table is much more bearable and I also know that you would have been angry with Riochiro if he didn't help me carry things.

 "That's not what you'd expect from a gentleman." You'd say after giving him a smack upside the head.

 Note from your Grandfather: My dear granddaughter knows me well. By the way, is it just me or do I notice that you miss me very, very, very much...

 Note from Rikka: GRANDPAAAAAAA!!!! Don't embarrass me!

 After Riochiro and I pulled out the table and chair, I positioned myself in front of where Riochiro sat, so that I could watch if he hesitated to answer any questions.

 Normally this process did not fail as Riochiro learned everything by heart, although here, he rambled on.

 -What are the two styles that vary from the Sword-Martial art," I asked Riochiro with an analytical look at Riochiro.

 -Without a second's hesitation, he began to speak. "There are two styles that vary from the Sword-Martial art itself: One is the style of 'The Edge', while the other is called 'The Flow'. While The Edge is normally used with devastating and precise attacks, it is a style of combat that mainly requires analyzing the enemy and hitting his weak points when he makes an attack, so it is a very slow style. While "The Flow" is a more frenetic combat style, oriented to make your attacks directly influence the enemy, seeking to unbalance and overwhelm him in equal parts, although as it is a very fast combat style, this is less precise than its twin brother."

 After Riochiro had described the combat styles I continued with the other question asked in this type of review.

 -So which is the stronger fighting style between those two?

 The answer was simple: "Neither." The two styles complement each other and cover each other's rough edges and disadvantages, thus through this combination of techniques, the art of Sword-Martial was formed.

 But Riochiro's answer was....

 -Dragon style," he said as a certain spark of emotion appeared in his eyes.

 -The style of what...? I tried to look as confused as possible to make him realize my bewilderment.

 -I said: The Dragon Style.