Chapter 91: Rendezvous in the Autumn Mountains?

  “You want to take a part-time job?”

  After dinner, while Miu was clearing dishes in the kitchen, Takumi pulled Sakaki aside in the hall and expined his pn.

  “Yeah. My training’s showing results, but I still ck real combat experience—so some fights would help. But most importantly, I want to buy Miu a present. That means I need money.”

  “Hmm. Not impossible. But if I introduce you to work, my jobs are pretty dangerous.”

  “That’s fine. If a martial artist is scared of danger, might as well go home and farm.”

  “Haha! Well said. Perfect timing—I’ve got a job that’s so boring I don’t wanna do it. You take it.”

  Ryōzanpaku couldn’t survive on dojo fees alone. They ran a small Chinese medicine and osteopathy clinic in the back alley—handled by Kensei Ma and Akisame. Apachai occasionally fought underground matches for cash. Sakaki had no steady income; he took on extremely hazardous jobs and made a big payout once in a while.

  Essentially a bounty hunter. Clients were usually government agencies. In a world where martial power existed, criminals with that power often outmatched regur police—so they hired experts. As a respected white-path martial sanctuary, Ryōzanpaku cooperating with authorities was only natural.

  “What’s the job?”

  “Hunting down a worthless martial artist. He raped and murdered seven girls. Even after being shot, he killed three cops and broke out of the encirclement. He fled into the mountains near the next town over. The two towns’ police are searching jointly, but manpower’s short and the guy’s a karate expert—so they want us to catch him. I hate scum like that and would rather just execute him on sight, but sending an army after one guy? Boring. The bounty’s generous—150,000 yen. As usual, half goes to charity, thirty percent to Ryōzanpaku, and I keep twenty for drinks. Since you’re doing it, split it however you want.”

  “Got it, Sakaki-sensei. Leave it to me.”

  “I’ll set it up. One thing: the guy hasn’t reached true mastery, so no big threat there. But he stole a police handgun. That’s dangerous. Even ki users who aren’t master-level can get dropped by firearms easily—that’s why fewer people train seriously these days. Of course, that’s for rookies with zero combat experience. I took bullets back in university; it’s not the end of the world. Go find Shigure—have her drill you tonight. You can head out tomorrow.”

  “Understood. Thanks, Sakaki-sensei.”

  Takumi vanished from the hall in a fsh and headed to Shigure’s room. He’d only been there once. It was stark: just a straw mat and a cushion. Shigure often slept on the ceiling beams—like a certain Little Dragon Girl. But unlike her, Shigure had far more human warmth; she hadn’t grown up truly cut off from the world.

  “Waaah…!”

  Before he even entered, a familiar scream rang out. Takumi grinned and pushed the door open.

  Keni was kneeling perfectly straight—seven apples banced on her body.

  “Shigure-sensei, are you sure your aim is good?! Can we not do this?!”

  “Don’t worry… it’s just training to overcome fear… probably.”

  “Probably?! Waaahhh!!”

  Shigure drew the tachi from her back. The bde fshed across Keni’s body—horizontal, vertical, decorative cuts—turning every apple into sixteen perfect slices. Then she reached for a new basket.

  “Next: shuriken.”

  Keni looked ready to burst into tears. That’s when Takumi stepped in. She lit up like he was her savior.

  “Kouichi, help! At least—let sensei turn on the lights! Throwing shuriken at apples in the dark like this—seriously?!”

  “Young man. Perfect timing.”

  Shigure stowed the shuriken and approached him.

  “You went… on a date. With Miu. Today.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Can I… cut you?”

  “Hah?! Shigure-nee, please don’t say terrifying things in that super casual tone!”

  “You said… when a woman is jealous, she can cut people.”

  “I absolutely did not say that!”

  Cold sweat poured down Takumi’s back as the razor-sharp tachi rested on his shoulder. Shigure’s face remained bnk.

  “Young man. You said it.”

  “Okay, fine, my bad! Shigure, please don’t cut me!”

  Takumi wisely surrendered. Shigure spoke again.

  “No cutting… if we date.”

  “Deal! Tomorrow I’ll definitely take you out.”

  “Tonight.”

  “Now?”

  “Now.”

  “Ahaha, sure! Night market sounds fun too.”

  Takumi ughed nervously. The next second, Shigure grabbed him like an eagle snatching a chick and hauled him away. Keni stared bnkly for a long moment before colpsing in relief.

  “I’m saved…”

  Unlike Kensei’s focus on building stamina, Shigure had spent the st two days training Keni’s courage. “Martial arts begin with guts,” after all. Last night she’d dragged Keni to the top of a dozen-story building in town center and made her jog along the edge. A few near-falls—rescued by whip—hadn’t built courage so much as given her acrophobia. Today: circus-level apple-slicing with a sword. How long would this nightmare st?

  “But… Kouichi has that kind of retionship with Shigure-sensei too? Is this the legendary two-timing? I totally misjudged him.”

  Keni sighed, gncing down at her own chest.

  “Do all guys just like big mammals…?”

  Takumi, carried by Shigure, had no idea how long they traveled—until they reached their destination: the autumn mountains. He’d assumed night market, but here they were in the hills at midnight. Was Shigure pnning another hot-spring session?

  “Uh, Shigure… you want to have a nighttime mountain date?”

  “No good?”

  “It’s fine, but… what’s fun up here?”

  “Hunting. Fishing. Hot springs. Skinny-dipping. All interesting.”

  “Got it. Then you lead the way. How about we start with the hot springs?”

  Takumi remembered st time: the titjob in the springs that had overwhelmed him so much he’d passed out from the combo of stimution and newbie hot-spring shock. He still regretted it every time he thought about it. A chance to make up for it? Perfect.

  “Hot springs… I already soaked before dinner.”

  “Then…”

  “Follow me.”

  Shigure fshed forward. Takumi hurried after her. Soon they reached deep in the woods. The sound of rushing water grew louder—then a wide river appeared before them.

  Without a word, Shigure began stripping off her ninja garb.

  Takumi’s eyes widened. His throat went dry with anticipation.

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