"Alright, I think that's enough of a break!" I announce, clapping my hands together as I walk toward the two girls, still on the ground.
Zekka looks up, past Avi, and toward me, while said pinkette perks up.
"Oh yeah." The shrimp begins, as if remembering something.
Then, in the next instance, she pushes herself up onto her feet, using the poor girl under her as a springboard.
Or, rather.
"E-Eh!?" Zekka cried out in shock and alarm as Avi pushed off her chest to get onto her feet.
Avi didn't even flinch at any of that, though; she was too busy whirling around.
"You!" And pointing at me. "You jer-"
My hand came out before her ranting could even get off the ground, grabbing the entirety of the lower half of her face, right underneath her nose and down.
Avi's eyes widened comically as I sighed.
"Look, pipsqueak," I looked down at her, straight in the eye, "I was playing up a part to draw Zekka's fighting spirit out, so you better not start, got it?"
Avi blinked at me, unable to articulate a reply due to my hand covering her mouth and holding her jaw.
That was alright with me, though, I wanted what I was saying to settle first before she blurted out anything more.
So I gave her a second to let her brain matter process my words, then I let go of her face.
Well, more like I dragged my hand off her face, I figured, while I was at it, I may as well clean up the blood that was still there.
"Also, clean up after yourself." I added, matter-of-factly, holding up my bloodstained hand.
Fire quickly flashed across said hand, burning it all away into nothingness in short order, leaving it clean and pristine.
Avi looked at my hand, then back to my face, "Oh, yeah, I did forget about that, didn't I?" She said, slightly ashamed, yet amused.
I rolled my eyes, but before I could turn to Zekka, Avi abruptly continued.
"But where are my manners!?" She exclaimed, before promptly bowing to me, "I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner, Mr. Kusanagi! I will endeavor to be more perceptive in the future."
Now it was my turn to blink at someone.
Even her apologies are a bit over the top, huh?
Ah, well, at least they're sincere.
I patted the pinky on the head, and answered with a simple, "See that you do. Now!" I pause, turning my gaze to Zekka before continuing, "Before we go on with testing, Zekka-chan? I've got a question for ya."
"I will answer, to the best of my ability." She responded after a moment, her gaze barely meeting mine.
Oh, we'll see about that!
"Why didn't you use your Sacred Gear on me?" I asked immediately, Avi perking up under my hand, I could almost feel her mouth the word 'Sacred Gear' in shock.
That caused Zekka to look away, but not out of embarrassment, shockingly enough.
No, the normally dull look in her eyes grew past the point of lifelessness, if that's even possible.
"Ah." She began, though it sounded more like a sigh, "That's because, Nori-san, its powers wouldn't have affected you."
"...Because I'm a divine?" I tried, but Zekka merely shook her head.
"No, because you are a man." She answered, tired and sounding done with living.
What the fuck.
"Is, is it a sexist Sacred Gear?" I tried again, legitimately baffled, yet at the same time considering the possibility.
I mean, Cao Cao existed. His Subspecies Balance Breaker had an ability that exclusively fucks with women's powers.
So, yeah, could that just be her entire Sacred Gear's thing?
Honestly, that would just give proof that the big man upstairs is truly the most based of them all, considering he'd have to make the First Man, or Woman, have abilities that exclusively fuck with the other gender.
That would be incredibly based, wouldn't it?
By this point, Zekka's pink eyes have turned so dark they practically look like spirals into a dark abyss.
"N-No, it's because you, uh," she paused to gulp, as if her throat was as dry as a desert, her next words came out raspy and scratchy, as though she didn't want to say them, even on pain of death, "don't have…big o-oppai."
I'm sorry. What.
Then I recalled what Uzume said, talking about Zekka's ancestor, his obsessions with tits, and the sacred gear swords sharing them…
Oh my fucking me, the sword is like Issei, isn't he!?
["That is correct."] As if reading my mind, a new voice joined the dojo.
It was a man's voice, shocking smooth, majestic, and almost suave, with a pleasantly deep tone, yet at the same time…
It came from Zekka's chest.
Or rather, the golden glow now coming out of her cleavage.
Zekka didn't even seem to notice, not at first, the poor girl looks dead to the world in general right now, which is likely why he's stepping up.
Avi just stared, for once, so utterly and completely flabbergasted at everything going on that she couldn't.
["You see,"] the voice of the man continued, ["oppai are life itself. My power is that of the dual breast sword. Thus, it only works on oppai. As you lack any whatsoever, then unfortunately, kami-sama, we would be a bad match up for you."]
…The fuck kind of nonsense did I just get spouted at me as though it were legit?
Zekka began muttering something, albeit she was too quiet to hear, but based on how her lips are moving…'1 Oppai, 2 Oppai, 3 Oppai-' hold the fucking phone, is she counting tits!?
I stared at the light, so earnestly dumbfounded that I couldn't find much to say to all that beyond.
"Huh." A pause, then I added, "So. Did you and your wife get stuffed in those blades because you guys got dropped on the head when He formed you, or…?"
Surprisingly, the first man merely gave a soft bark of laughter at that, ["No, not at all. We violated His Law, and that was it."]
Something about our conversation seemed to stir Zekka, though, as she stopped counting titties, and faced forward once again, "Wait, Tensei, what are you and Nori-san talking about?"
["...I can't say, but it sounds like he knows, so, go on ahead and ask him."] The man replied, making Zekka look pointedly at me, her gaze far more intense than I think I've ever seen it, beyond our spar anyhow.
"Then...what do you know, about Tensei?" She asked, her hands clenched slightly.
Wait a minute, hold on, does she not know who exactly is in her swords? Well, the one sword she has right now.
Why hasn't he…oh, oh. He can't. Right, probably because the big guy upstairs did something to prevent him from speaking about his past, like his time up in Heaven, in the Garden, all that.
"Well, for starters." I began, rubbing my chin, "Tensei probably isn't even his real name."
Zekka flinched back, as though struck, "What!?"
["That is correct, kami-sama."] The man picked up again, prompting Zekka to look down at the light radiating from her chest, ["My true name isn't Tensei, it's merely a nickname Musashi whimsically bestowed upon me."]
"T-That…" Zekka trailed off, looking completely and utterly lost.
"Saint of the Beginning." I snorted out, the meaning of his nickname, "With 'Ten' having a double meaning, 'Heaven.' Man, Musashi laid it on pretty thick, didn't he?"
The man let out a soft chuckle, ["...That he did, yes."]
"Then how did he name your wife?" I naturally asked in response.
["Ah, Shuusei."] His reply came fondly, as though he was reminiscing.
I nodded, a smirk crossing my face, "Saint of the Ending. Very thick indeed."
The First Man, the First Woman. The Beginning, and the End.
Now named, Tensei didn't seem to have any more to say after that, dude probably got lost in remembering his wife's tits or something.
Anyhow!
"With that out of the way," I continued, gazing intently at Zekka, "since you don't seem to know much, I can tell you what else I do know, if that'll help."
Zekka snapped out of whatever lost thoughts were clouding her mind, her gaze meeting mine, and mirroring it.
She nodded, "Please, do."
"First things first," I began promptly, "according to what we know, your gear has the potential to be considered a Longinus."
"P-Potential?!" Zekka sputtered.
I nodded in turn and continued, "Yup, Longinus. Though, probably not as it is now, without the lost second sword." I add, "I haven't exactly seen it in action, and don't know the sword's current powers myself, but I can't imagine that it's weak right now, is it?"
Zekka placed a hand on her chest, just above where the light was still dimly shining from her cleavage, and shook her head, "No, I wouldn't call Tensei weak by himself, either. Though I have to ask, i-if you don't mind?"
"I don't, ask away." I waved her concern off.
"What is this Longinus thing you're talking about?" Zekka asked honestly.
I blanked out for a moment.
Is this girl truly in the dark about everything?
I wasn't aware that was even possible when you had a gear like that!
Thankfully, Avi picked up my slack, interjecting as I blanked out to say with no small amount of awe, "The Longinus Class Sacred Gear, weapons powerful enough to slay gods…"
Zekka's eyes widened at her senpai's words, and it looked like she might stumble over standing still.
"Exactly." I managed to start up again, "You've potentially got a real powerful tool there, albeit a rather…eccentric one."
The light from Zekka's chest glimmered, ["Why thank you, kami-sama."] and Tensei's voice followed, amused yet earnest.
"A-Ah, well," Zekka gulped, "that certainly explains, a few things…" Before trailing off again, deep in thought.
It wouldn't shock me if she had people already come after her for the sword, and she had to deal with it herself.
If she didn't even know what Longinus was, then she probably didn't understand completely just why they came for her, but now?
Well, now she gets it, good.
"Now, lastly, the name of your Sacred Gear." I began, drawing both girls' attention, "It doesn't exactly fit when you only have the one sword, but it's called Edens Dual."
Both girls gave me these stares that told me that the name didn't mean all that much to them, though Zekka at least looked appreciative.
I expected it from Zekka, but come on, shrimp! You're a demon! Eden! Like the Garden of Eden! Heaven! Big guy upstairs, His Angels, Genesis of Creation!
"Eden, huh?" Avi mused, "I wonder what that could mean!"
I facepalmed.
"Eh!?" Avi jumped, turning to look at me, "Mr. Kusanagi?"
I'm starting to question whether or not this girl paid any attention in her noble classes or not.
Or even had classes to begin with beyond the sword. She did mention she had brothers, right? I don't think she's the heiress of her clan, like Rias is to hers, so it's possible Avi had a different kind of upbringing.
Ugh, whatever? Honestly, at this point, I'm done with tonight. I can feel the position of the sun, and we spent a pretty decent chunk of the evening here talking, with only a bit of fighting.
Yeah, I think I'm ready to call it a night.
While I'm out and about in Kuoh, I may as well pick up something to eat to bring home.
My hand slides down my face as I look at the two girls in front of me.
I suppose since these two are already here, it wouldn't hurt to bring them along, huh?
Especially if I'm going to be spending more time around the two of them, I might as well get used to it.
Not that either of them is bad company, they just, well, Avi takes some adjusting to get used to, is all.
"I'm good, was just thinking about something stupid, is all." I finally answered the pinky, prompting the small girl to tilt her head as she eyed me, scanning for…something, before flashing a small smile and a thumbs up my way!
"Fire! So then, Mr. Kusanagi, it's my turn, right? How should we-"
I held up a hand, stopping her, "It is your turn, but how about we do your test tomorrow, yeah?"
Avi blinked several times before sputtering out, "Wh-Wha!? Why?!"
"It's getting late, there's wood chippings scattered across the floor, and food sounds nice right about now?" I listed out the reasons succinctly and clearly.
"Oh." Avi immediately stopped, making a sound as her mouth hung open slightly, "Alright, Mr. Kusanagi, that's fair!" She acquiesced fairly easily, "But! We get our match first things first tomorrow! When do club activities usually start! Deal?"
I chuckled, "Alright, deal."
"Yes!" Avi hollered, pumping a fist.
Zekka watched Avi on, the smallest of smiles across her face, before turning back to me, bowing the proper way, unlike Avi, "Thank you, Nori-san."
I had the idea based on the weight of her tone that she was thanking me for several things at once.
I didn't ask for details or say anything at all, instead reaching down and patting her on the head.
It took me until just now to realize, but her chest wasn't shining anymore. Not sure when Tensei retreated, but alright. I only bring that up now because there's a little bit of light flushed across her usually pale cheeks as I pat her on the head.
Cute~!
"Alright," I walk passed her, picking up my sword that was still bagged, and leaning against the wall, "speaking of food, why don't you two come with me?"
"A-Ah? I didn't, bring any money with me, so…" Zekka began to deny, but I waved her off.
"Eh, don't worry about it. I'm paying."
"And if he wasn't, I could too!" Avi chimed in, walking up to Zekka's side.
"Oh, well," She took a deep breath, "alright, let's go then. I haven't gotten time to explore the town, so…Avi-senpai, Nori-san, I'll be in your care."
Avi flashed the girl a thumbs up, while I merely gave her a reassuring smile.
Everything is going to go-
Haha, yeah, no, I'm not finishing that thought! Fuck you, Murphy, you sneaky bastard, but not this time!
~ A New Sun ~
I'm really glad I caught Murphy like the sneaky fuck he is.
Because so far? All we've had to endure thus far is the shrimp not being able to shut up for more than five seconds.
"Eh? Wait, hold on, Zekka-chan!" Avi piped up, hearing the latest answer from the girl to her most recent inquiry, "You live alone!? Don't you ever feel homesick!?"
Zekka shook her head, taking a sip from her drink bottle, which she got from one of the many shops littering the sides of this street, one of the main market streets running through the center of the town.
"It's alright, I exchange letters with my grandmother often."
…Letters? Huh, maybe I ought to send mail, but use like, sun arrows or something?
"Ohh~! Fascinating!" Avi exclaimed in awe, "And old-fashioned! Maybe I should also communicate with letters! Maybe attach them to arrows and the like?"
I now feel ashamed that I was thinking something similar to the pipsqueak.
"You better not, you'll get arrested…" Zekka tried to sway her otherwise, of course, but Avi had long since moved on.
"Well, what about you, Mr. Kusanagi!" Avi points to me with a plastic spoon. She had a cup of something at one point, but I'm not sure where the long-since-empty cup went.
I'm also especially not sure why she still has the spoon.
In any event, I sigh, "You know I don't live alone, shrimp, Schwert's lives there."
"Well, yeah! Duh!" Avi rebukes, "But it's not just her, right? I doubt that!"
"Her mentor lives there with me, as does a Nekoshou." I give, to which Avi simply nods.
"What a combination of people, huh…wouldn't normally expect that! A god, a nekoshou, and two walkure…it's like one of those jokes!" Avi points out.
Well, alright, when she puts it like that, it does seem kind of silly, doesn't it?
"Nekoshou? Cat, girl…" Zekka trailed off before her face abruptly flushed a bright red.
Oh yeah, I did tell her I fucked a cat girl, didn't I? Guess she just made the connection.
We were walking along the street, just like that, when someone passed us by, walking in the opposite direction.
I stopped, as for lack of a better term, my sword, which was still in its bag and slung over my back, pulsed its power.
Specifically, its dragon slaying power, for some reason.
It wasn't enough to be sensed outside of the bag, but I felt it nonetheless due to my connection with the sword.
"That girl…"
That wasn't my voice; that one was Zekka.
I turned, looking to my side to find Zekka had also stopped, nearly at the same time as me, but she was turned, looking back and watching the girl walk away.
To the other side of us, Avi spoke up, curious, "Huh? Did you know her?
"...No." Zekka answered, almost absent-mindedly, clearly deep in thought.
"Huh, well." Avi rubbed her chin consideringly, "She was pretty tall, and she was blonde…foreigner?"
Zekka didn't answer, so I chipped in.
"Anyone is tall next to you, shrimp."
"Eh!? Neh!" Avi stuck her tongue out at me before grumbling and marching away.
"Her look from behind, and that blue, blue…" Zekka trailed off all of a sudden, almost as soon as Avi was away.
She sounded like she was on the verge of remembering something, but couldn't quite connect all the dots.
I turned and gave the girl walking away a look over.
Her face wasn't visible, but judging by her height, she might be a little older than Avi and Zekka, possibly a first-year high school student. She had bright, golden blonde hair, which was tied up into twin tails with a pair of blue ribbons.
Wait, blue ribbons? That's what's catching her attention?
"Zekka-chan~!" Avi abruptly came back, and I turned, seeing her with a pair of…croquettes?
Huh?
Zekka flinched, hearing her name being called so loudly, and did the same.
"Here, croquettes!" She held one out to the girl, still steaming hot.
"I…why croquettes?" Zekka asked, flabbergasted as she slowly took the one on offer.
No, Zekka, the better question is how croquettes! I wasn't even aware you could get those around here!
"I got them at the butcher's shop! Freshly made!" Was Avi's response.
We are in Japan. So once again, I ask, how!?
Also.
"Oi, wait a minute," I piped up, "where's mine, huh?"
Avi smirked and gave me a side eye, "Over there!" She pointed with her now free hand.
She was pointing at an alleyway.
A very small alleyway, where only a short person could squeeze through.
My eyebrow twitched before I looked back at her, as she was once again sticking her tongue out at me.
"Good luck, heh! Om~!" She bit into her croquette, and almost as soon as she did, she exaggeratedly exclaimed, "Tasshhttyyy~! Itsh sho tasty!"
Brat.
I will have my revenge!
I turned back to Zekka, only to find her looking away once more.
I followed her gaze to the nothingness it led to.
Where, before, that nothingness hosted the blonde girl from before.
Ah.
I reached behind, giving my sword a slight nudge through the bag.
Nothing.
Still, that bodes well, doesn't it?