The main objective had been achieved, and the rest of the day passed in relaxed conversation.
Before long, the school day neared its end. Even club activities had reached their closing hour. The sky outside had turned a soft orange, tinged with the glow of the setting sun.
"Tomorrow, the sword will be delivered directly to you, Akira-kun."
"Thanks for going out of your way."
"It's nothing. It's only proper."
With those warm words, Yukinoshita Akira left the kendo club room behind.
But from this mont forward, his na was destined to echo once more throughout the halls of Sobu High School.
Known as the "Ice Prince" among students and bearing the na Yukinoshita, Akira was already a familiar figure. Yet today, he had done sothing extraordinary—he had defeated Busujima Saeko, the captain of the Kendo Club, in a direct duel.
To the student body, it was as if two stars had collided in the sky. The impact would ripple through the school like a shockwave.
Yet Akira himself remained unaware of it all. And even if he knew, he wouldn't have cared.
He had refused the family chauffeur again today, insisting on walking ho on his own. Thankfully, his house wasn't too far from school.
As school closed and the streets filled with students heading ho, Akira walked alone—quiet amid the crowd.
Students around him traveled in groups, their laughter and chatter mixing in the air. But he walked silently, a solitary figure moving through the fading light.
His mind wandered back to the duel earlier.
Beating soone like Busujima Saeko had triggered sothing within him. He realized that defeating powerful opponents seed to improve his Template Inheritance progress.
Just like in the world of High School DxD, where even low-level Stray Devils would give him a small 0.1% inheritance boost upon defeat.
But this world was peaceful. Fights like that were rare—almost nonexistent.
And it wasn't just about picking random fights. His opponents needed to possess real skill and strength, like Saeko—at least worthy of being called a true swordsman.
The real issue was: how could he even find such battles in a world like this?
anwhile, parked silently by the roadside was a sleek black luxury car.
Inside sat a beautiful young woman whose face bore about fifty percent resemblance to Yukinoshita Yukino.
But unlike Yukino, who always kept her distance with a cold expression, Yukinoshita Haruno wore a dazzling smile that never seed to fade.
Today, due to this morning's unexpected incident involving Akira, Haruno had left her university earlier than usual.
She still kept an eye on her childhood fiancé, after all.
Though "care" wasn't the right word. It was more like... ownership.
To Haruno, Akira was amusing—a curious toy she hadn't grown bored of yet. Their marriage had already been arranged since childhood. No matter what Akira did, in the end, he would still belong to her.
But unlike her, who had long given up fighting fate, Akira resisted. He tried to sever all ties with the Yukinoshita family.
That defiance only made him more entertaining.
So for years, she had silently watched him from afar.
Perhaps, deep within her heart, there was a part of Haruno that longed to rebel as well—to live for herself, not under their mother's shadow.
But she couldn't.
Because if she stepped away from the responsibilities, all the burdens, all the pain… would fall on the one person she wanted to protect—her little sister, Yukino.
For Yukino's sake, Haruno had accepted the chains.
And Akira… was the one small spark of joy she allowed herself amidst the weight of that sacrifice.
But today, her favorite toy had started to change.
She didn't know how or why, but she knew one thing: people didn't change without reason.
So she began investigating.
Unfortunately, no matter how deep she dug, she found nothing useful.
Just when she was ready to give up, she received so interesting news that afternoon.
Her dear fiancé—the one who supposedly had no interest in family affairs—had not only ford a connection with the Busujima family's daughter, but had also defeated Busujima Saeko in a kendo match.
That, truly, stunned her.
Until now, she had never seen Akira show even a shred of interest in swordsmanship.
"Akira-chan… what happened to you? You've really piqued my curiosity."
Through the tinted window, Haruno watched as Akira's silhouette disappeared at the end of the street. A bright smile blood on her lips.
To her, mysteries were the most fun—because that's where surprises and excitent lurked.
For the first ti in her life, Yukinoshita Haruno felt genuine interest in the man she had been promised to since childhood.
"…Nee-san? What are you doing here?"
The car door opened, and Yukinoshita Yukino stepped in, taking a seat beside her.
Seeing her older sister, Yukino frowned. It wasn't the weekend. What was Haruno doing here?
"Of course I ca because I missed my sweet little Yukino~" Haruno cooed, flashing her signature smile.
Yukino's brow twitched.
She hated that side of her sister—the fake, overly cheerful persona she wore like a mask.
"Do you really think I'd believe that, Nee-san?"
"Aww, Yukino, always so cold and boring."
"Just say it. Why are you really here?"
Unlike Haruno, Yukino didn't wear a social mask. She spoke plainly, without false smiles.
"Oh, nothing major. I just wanted to ask… did you say or do sothing to Akira-kun? He called earlier, saying he wouldn't be going ho with you anymore."
"He's just too sensitive. Maybe the truth I told him was a bit too much for his fragile heart."
"I see… But it sounds like you haven't heard what happened to Akira-chan today."
"…What do you an?"
"You really don't know, huh? Hahahaha~"
Haruno's laugh made Yukino visibly uncomfortable.
Though Haruno often teased her, she usually knew her limits. She never truly intended to hurt her sister.
But this ti… it was hard to tell.
"Akira-chan visited the Kendo Club this afternoon."
"The Kendo Club? Is he interested in learning swordsmanship?"
"Not just interested. He fought the captain of the club in a duel and won. He's all over the school forums now."
"What? He beat Busujima Saeko?"
This ti, it was Yukinoshita Yukino who looked genuinely shocked.
As the second daughter of the Yukinoshita family, she understood all too well what the Busujima na represented.
And the idea that Yukinoshita Akira could defeat soone like Busujima Saeko… it just seed too unbelievable to accept.
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