Itsuki woke up from her bed with a long deserving yawn, she felt as if she slept for days in the ten hours she was asleep in her room. Kaede was still asleep on her bed with her tiny snore escaping from her mouth. Itsuki fixed the blanket covering her before washing her face and drinking her medicine the lead doctor gave her. Itsuki felt her body was still exhausted from the fight and using her magic to help Kousuke cool down during his recovery still waned her. She was still walking with crutches for the time being to help keep her balance till she was done with the physical therapy session she was scheduled for.
She looked at her phone to check the current time. It was afternoon at the moment. She slept in too much since she had stayed up late to comfort Kaede, who had been crying happily when Itsuki entered the room. Tsukikage almost tackled her in his normal appearance, seeing them enter as well. He was able to talk more with her now after the fight since his Guardian form was unlocked, giving him the ability to speak.
Itsuki wanted to relax her body badly in the hot spring to speed up her recovery process, she planned on it after visiting the physical therapist first before heading to the hot spring again. Hiro had a multitude of medicinal herbs put into the baths earlier for the guests, they would help with relaxing and healing their bodies. Itsuki hobbled her way to the therapist, the therapist looked kind to her even helping her lie comfortably across the table to massage her body. Unfortunately, that was just a warm-up to the real treatment.
"Now, Shirayuki-San, time for the special realignment treatment." The therapist said with a grin and devious aura.
Itsuki panicked feeling like something bad was going to happen. She tried to escape but the therapist pinned her down.
"Now now, don't be afraid it'll be over soon hehe." Itsuki's face turned pale, and soon a scream was heard outside the therapy room along with the sounds of her body being put through the ringer. The moves used on her felt like hell at first, the stiffness in her muscles and realignment in her bones were agonizing along with her pressure points for magic flow being touched to speed up her recovery of her used magic. She was biting on her towel the entire time trying not to let out a squeal from her pain anymore, the therapist took a slight insight into it as an offense to her.
Therapy was not gentle like she thought it would be, it was relentless, just her toes being popped felt like a thousand needles piercing her feet all at once. After nearly three hours of it she was cleared to leave, she didn't have to use the crutches anymore, though she still wobbled a bit in walking.
"Ugh, thank you god that's over. I felt like I was in hell in there, that woman is the devil where did Hiro find her to be on his staff?" She said quietly, mumbling to herself. "I can't wait to get into that bath now. After that nightmare I'm definitely need it."
Getting to the hot bath thankfully wasn't as bad as she thought, it was amazingly easier now. The therapist did a great job helping her body recover in mobility a lot more than she wanted to admit, making it easier with each step she took.
Itsuki made it to the changing room, she removed her clothes and wrapped a towel on herself again. Her hair was already tied up from the therapy cutting down the time she would have used to get to the bath, the doctors who had already put the herbs in the bath earlier left some bottles of medicinal warm tea and milk for the patrons to drink while bathing. The Yagami family always went above and beyond in getting the best of herbs and how to use them properly for common foods and drinks. Itsuki grabbed the hot tea bottle and a glass as she headed for the bath, opening the sliding door she saw another person in the bath as well soaking up the healing water. The one she saw was Rina, sitting quietly while she massaged her neck from the chokehold Einz put on her earlier. The markings on her were still visible even after she was treated. Einz's magic was stronger than the attendants realized, It was going to take time for them to disappear.
Itsuki didn't say a word at the moment, she figured Rina wanted to have some time to herself from how she looked taking care of her wounds. That and the sight of Kousuke carrying her back sent some mixed emotions.
"You can come sit with me I don't mind," Rina told her taking a minute to stop touching her neck and grab a drink from her tea.
"You sure?" She asked.
"It's fine. Not like I can do anything to you at the moment with how tired I am." Rina told her with a smile on her face.
Itsuki complied, she got in the water a inches away from Rina, pouring herself a shot of the tea, feeling the heat go down inside her. The tea was strong, her body didn't feel as bad as it was internally, and she was able to digest without problems.
She let out a breath of relief after finishing swallowing the tea, it was very bitter but still felt great to drink with the hot bath relaxing all the sore muscles in her body.
"Taste like crap but does the trick right?" Rina joked to Itsuki to get her mind off the bitterness.
Itsuki chuckled a bit at the remark, they both began to pour themselves another shot of the tea, sticking out their tongues after drinking it, trying to escape the aftertaste.
"How are you feeling?" Itsuki asked.
"Like a bag of smashed glass but I'll live. Yourself?"
"Bout the same. The therapy was worse than the fight. I'm just glad that's over with. I'm happy that Kousuke's ok. That's the worst so far I've seen him messed up like that." Itsuki's eyes looked depressed from commenting on it.
Rina looked down with heavy relief hearing he was ok. She too was worried he was far gone in the healing process after the fight with Einz and carrying her back to safety. She kept replaying in her head everything that went down with Einz, the ability to recreate the scene sent shivers down her spine from that chokehold and magic he used on her soul. Her skill, Memory Trace was perfect for assassination even if that's not what she wanted to use it for originally. She used it in helping her to figure out where she went wrong and how to find the solution in the future situation to avoid making a mistake that would make Lady Yozora punish her later.
Even if she looked back her stats would not have helped in any way at all. Her highest ones were her Stealth and Intuition Stats, she didn't have the proper ones to have fought better against Einz.
"Can I ask you something?" Itsuki looked over at Rina with a bugging feeling in her mind since Kousuke carried Rina on his back to the medical site. Rina looked over to her, she was wondering what she would ask since Itsuki never asked her any questions before.
"Do you, do you like Kousuke by chance?"
Rina figured she would ask that question sometime in the future.
"Don't worry. I won't be mad if it's you. He's mentioned he likes someone besides me. I know it's not Natsume, not a snowball's chance in hell he'd fall for her. And he doesn't talk to any of the other girls really at school. Plus, I had a feeling it was you. It's ok if you want to admit it, I won't be mad."
Rina was sure that Itsuki would be possessive, showing how calm she was and no signs of animosity were comforting in that her friendship didn't change after all like she was fired.
"If I said I was, would that discourage you?" Rina closed her eyes in asking. She was calm and assertive in her questions. Itsuki stared at her with confidence, she wasn't the type to back down on anything.
"Hmm, no way. Sorry, but I finally reached a point with him where I can't back down now." Itsuki looked at Rina puckering up her lips telling her she kissed Kousuke after all the back and forth they do with each other. She left out part of the tub and what they did in it, that was a private matter.
Rina looked at the kissing gesture, she fired back with her own reveal.
"I've done the same too. Actually, I probably was his first, beat you to it."
Itsuki looked at her, she thought Rina was lying, but seeing the calm look on her face said it all. Itsuki got flustered knowing this now, she gritted her teeth irritated he didn't mention that part. She held her fist up clenching tight with a vein bulging on it from frustration.
'That super dense beast boy! When we get back I'm yanking his fangs out for that. Maa, at least be honest with that bit of info next time, baka, baka, baka,baka, baka, baka!'
Rina couldn't hold it in but laughed at how Itsuki looked. Itsuki saw her and stopped with her tantrum, she pretended to cough to break the tension.
"Since you asked me that. I'll ask you one too. Do you by chance, love him, as in do you really love him?"
Itsuki heard it, she wasn't embarrassed, it was more that she didn't think that was the next question to come. She looked at her reflection in the water deep in thought, she wasn't offended by being asked about love. She had been thinking hard on the subject since he came back from military school.
"To be honest, yes, I do. I've known him since we kids. He's my best friend but also he's my first love. I feel safe when he's around, I feel braver at times too. I can't describe it in words and maybe it's better that way so I don't have to put labels on it. But I honestly can't imagine my life without him."
Rina felt the emotion coming from Itsuki. She felt the same as her, it was a relief that they were similar in the way when it came to him.
"I'm the same as you, I'm glad we're on the same page. But you know, you might win sooner than you think in being his girlfriend." Rina told her with strong regret in her voice. Even with her admitting her own feelings, the arranged marriage was not going away anytime soon.
"What do you mean by that?" Itsuki asked her, not knowing what was the reason behind those words.
"It's nothing. Just cherish the moments you have with each other when you do, you never know when something or someone can take that away from you." Itsuki felt great sympathy for Rina. She wasn't sure what she meant. It wasn't the time to be asking more questions, she instead made her way to Rina, holding her hand in support. Rina looked at Itsuki who gave her a warm expression.
"Rina, no matter what. If you ever need help, ask us. We're here for you. Don't face what it is in your life alone. You have people in your life that will be there for you if you need it."
Rina felt the gentleness in her touch and words. She had lingering tears in her eyes that she tried to fight off. Both of them looked up to the stars in the sky enjoying their moment of peace, they took another sip of the tea, sticking their tongues out again in disgust at it.
"Itsuki, thanks for cheering me up. I appreciate it. But you know." She put her cup down as she took a deep breath to lock eyes with Itsuki.
"Even if I get taken away I'm not giving him up either. If I have to then I'll take you on. I won't give up my feelings for him for anyone. Even if it's a friend."
Itsuki looked at her back. She wasn't intimidated by Rin, nor was she mad. She knew what Rina was feeling and respected it. Course' she also wasn't gonna back down either.
"Wouldn't have it any other way." She responded back still keeping it friendly. Both gave faint laughs and looked up at the sky enjoying their peaceful moment for the time.
In the mess hall of the resort, the boys were eating their meals after getting their much-deserved rest. The meals were great and full-filling as usual, the only thing that disturbed them was seeing the ravenous eating display Kousuke did in front of them.
He ate everything from karaage chicken, onigiri, gyoza, spicy tonkatsu ramen, and BBQ ribs. His appetite was close to Megumi's like they witnessed at the arena, possibly more now it was before after all the energy he spent in his fight with Einz. Using a new second animal soul combined with the Oni Yobigoe burned massive amounts of calories he needed for healing. Using both took too much of a toll to his body, he didn't eat right away he would have suffered more from the pain. Megumi saw him earlier when he left for the mess hall, but she was silent to him. Disappointed he found the technique behind her back, she was mad with him but relieved he survived as low level as he was.
Kousuke finished off his seventieth course before Ryuji commented.
"Can you please at least eat like a normal human being? You already turn into an animal fighting as is now you eat like one."
Kousuke kept eating ignoring the comment, he was focused on regaining his burned-out energy.
"Bad enough he and Kuramori-Sensei eat with such bad manners. But everything with hot sauce on it really? Do you have to cover everything with that stuff honestly?"
Tatsuya chortled at the comment. He witnessed this at Kousuke's place at the Christmas party.
"Something funny?" Ryuji asked.
"Nothing. It's just he did the same during Christmas. We thought it was strange then too but we laughed it off. Do you really love that stuff Kousuke-Senpai?" Tatsuya asked him as well wanting to see his response.
Kousuke finished off a meat skewer first before answering.
"Eh, it's not that I love it, it's more so I'm stuck with it. Shishou made me put it on everything we ate during training for the calorie intake so now it's ingrained into my brain and stomach. At least I don't mix it with mayonnaise, that's her favorite combo."
The boys looked disgusted hearing it, that was weird even for them.
"Hmm, I see. What bout you Sakurai-Senpai?" Tatsuya asked Ryuji next.
"I don't use condiments on anything. My sister would wallop me on the head with a frying pan if I did." Ryuji tried to imitate his sister's voice and speech pattern when copying her old speeches. "Men don't need to disgrace their food with pitiful sauces. Eat it raw and brave or don't eat at all."
The boys laughed, it was a bad impression but it still made them feel good.
"That's admirable in a way, how bout you guys?" Tatsuya turned his attention to Ren and Hiro.
"I don't have a good palette. Sauces don't taste well for me. Soups and rice are the most I can taste normal" Ren replied trying to eat his miso soup in peace. He struggled a bit with feeding with his eyes still recovering. Hiro helped him by fixing his hand position when he would almost miss his mouth.
"I'm a spice connoisseur myself. My father used to have a chef make the best spices for our dishes. I carry a small jar for my meals when I travel." Hiro showed off his jar to the others and all the spices looked balanced to them.
"I don't think that's bad actually, good spices can add character to any meal. How bout you, since you asked everyone already?" Ryuji asked Tatsuya.
"Me? Hehe, yogurt sauce. Love the stuff. Especially garlic and curry sauce. Too bad I can't eat it right now till my throat's better." Tatsuya joked followed by a small cough.
Ryuji snickered at that, even Kousuke couldn't resist.
"This is nice though. We rarely talk at school as it is with how busy are schedules are. Feels nice for us to share things like this once in a while. Speaking of, did you guys get level-ups fighting those knights?" Tatsuya asked as he didn't receive one after all the fighting was over. He did get a skill after he woke up but wasn't too proud to brag about it.
"I did I'm at level 45 now, kinda wish I got another skill out of it but I'm happy my Skill evolved to a True Skill when it did. I think I'll like using the Full Armored Jacket from now on." Ryuji said with brimming confidence even with everyone laughing at him for the bad name. He didn't like that so he hardened his fist to intimidate them to be quiet.
"Hehe, so you're happy with that one huh? Guess you don't mind eating rock and metal than for it."
"Urusai!!" Ryuji snapped back. The boys couldn't stop laughing again because of the requirements for his True Skill. "It's not like I have to eat those all the time. I can absorb it by touching or have it touch me toonumb nuts."
"Hahaha my apologies, Yeah, my Osbourne was like that too originally. It was a minor Extra Skill at first for heightened hearing and voice manipulation like changing my vocal range but I worked hard on it over the years for work and voila it became what it is now. Took me forever to control my voice though I almost blasted a BMW across the street when I was twelve. I think by the time I was level 17 when I turned fifteen I got the hang of it." Hearing he did that at such a young age made the others nervous about how much pain he must have been in as a kid.
"Tatsuya if you didn't have a big mouth now I shudder to think how bad it was when you were a kid." Tatsuya laughed at Ryuji's remark then coughed again trying to keep a straight face.
"I got two from fighting that lead knight. I haven't named a True Skill yet, I'll wait till I find something that suits me best. My level rose high because of that Prime Caliber exclusive skill. Currently it's at level 205 fighting the Ghasts made it rise quicker, the Skill doubled the level numbers during that final battle. Not sure if I'll get that kind of opportunity again, feels too much like a bonus event I got lucky with."
The boys were shocked hearing that, it made Kousuke look too much like an OP character now more than ever.
Mentioning True Skills from his conversation, he knew the ones he got were rare ones he earned fighting Einz. Whenever anyone wanted to have a Skill that was perfect for them, they could either upgrade a preexisting one like Tatsuya and Ryuji did, or earn it through conditions like how Kousuke and Ren got theirs, being perfect for their personalities and fighting style.
The boys finished their meals, save for Koutsuke who was still eating. He was thinking of Rumi and her skill now after all the talk they had about them.
"Hey can I ask you guys something, can a Skill be so valuable that you would do anything to own someone who has it?" The boys stopped leaving when he asked them. They weren't sure where this was coming from, it sounded like a bad plot to a manga to them.
"Never thought about it honestly. I don't think there's a Skill that valuable that someone would try to own a person like a slave to have it." Ryuji commented.
"It could depend on the Skill. Even rare spells a Caster has mastered are highly sought after that anyone would do anything to have that person in their employment." Ren said.
Kousuke wouldn't say the whole truth but he gave hints to it. He mostly wanted an idea on how to handle keeping Rumi safe after they got home.
"What if the Skill continues to evolve you? Like say, makes you smarter and stronger over time without fighting or leveling up?"
"I've never heard of a Skill capable of those conditions far as I've studied. It must be a very rare inborn one. But if it does exist there probably won't be any methods someone won't stoop to get their hands on that individual. If it's named as well then having that individual under their control would be beneficial to them. But again I've heard of no such Skill at the moment. Why do you ask?" Hiro wanted to know why Kousuke asked them on the subject.
"Huh, oh nothing. Just thought it to be good to know for future reference. Better to get someone's opinion on the matter right?" The boys looked a little confused but left it as is. It was then maybe a case of curiosity that was just itching in the back of the mind.
They bid each other goodbye to go back to their rooms, Kousuke was left looking at his bowl of ramen in thought.
'What should I do? The Major said Rumi has to go back since I'm not the legal guardian. Those mothers want her just for her skill, they won't give her the love she deserves or the family she needs. What I am supposed to do? Do I keep her hidden for now like a fugitive or send her back and break her heart? I don't want to make a mistake and make things worse I don't have the connections to fix any of this except the Major who's already working hard by herself to help me out. The best thing to do is send her back till the Major wins the legal battle for me. But still?'
Kousuke buried his head in his arms as his face lay on the end of the table. He was angry that he didn't know what to do except the option to return her till the matter was settled. Even so, he didn't want to give her up either, she was the last family he had. He didn't want to lose her now after everything she gave him.
'I don't want her to go. I want her to stay. I don't want to lose another piece of my soul again.' He said to himself with breaking voice trying to fight back the tears in his eyes. He wanted her to stay more than anything. Rumi was his hope now, and he didn't want to lose that, not after everything he had been through.