"So, Wakamo-chan, you're 18? Should I call you Wakamo-san then?" Mash tilted his head, munching on a cream puff.
"That feels so… distant and formal. I'd rather you didn't," Wakamo replied, her fox ears twitching with a hint of displeasure.
"But my grandpa always said to use respectful language with elders," Mash protested, scratching his head.
"If you call me that, I'll stuff my clothes with rocks and throw myself into a ravine," Wakamo said with a dramatic huff.
"Whoa, okay! Wanna grab some cream puffs instead? I'm starving," Mash grinned, already reaching for another.
"Yes, please!" Wakamo's eyes lit up, her tail swaying.
And so, the day kicked off with a (sort of?) serious start.
Mash had a packed schedule, so he wrapped up his work early and polished off his cream puff.
"By the way… aren't you heading to Hyakkiyako Alliance Academy today?" Wakamo asked, brushing a crumb from her sleeve.
Mash's destination was Hyakkiyako Alliance Academy, a school famed for its vibrant tourism industry—unique cuisine, hot springs, shrines, temples, and festivals that drew crowds year-round, each with a distinct flair unlike any other academy.
"Yup. I'm meeting… uh, who was it? Kono Shizugo?" Mash mumbled, scratching his cheek.
"You mean Kawawa Shizuko, right?" Wakamo corrected gently.
"Oh, yeah, her! She invited me to this… Hyakuya Spring Cherry Blossom Festival or something," Mash said, snapping his fingers.
"The Hyakuya Spring Cherry Blossom Festival… That brings back memories," Wakamo murmured, her voice tinged with nostalgia.
"You used to be at Hyakkiyako, right, Wakamo-chan?" Mash asked.
Before transferring to Schale, Wakamo had been one of the Seven Prisoners, suspended from school for over a year. But prior to that, she'd been a student at Hyakkiyako. At Mash's question, her expression grew complicated.
"…Yes, well… it's an old story now," she said softly.
"What's the festival like?" Mash pressed, curious.
"Well… it's a gathering of all ages, lighting up the dark night with lanterns, lining the cherry blossoms with food stalls, and enjoying food and dance until dawn. Pretty standard, as festivals go," Wakamo explained, her tone matter-of-fact.
"Sounds fun! I've never been to one before. Wanna come, Wakamo-chan?" Mash's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"…I'll pass this time," Wakamo said, looking away.
"Really? Let's go together next time then. Just the two of us," Mash offered with a warm smile.
"…I'd like that," Wakamo replied, her voice softening as she returned a gentle smile, careful not to let Mash sense any deeper emotions or burden him with her past.
Mash muttered to himself, "A festival, huh…" His mind was already racing with anticipation.
For Mash, who'd grown up isolated in the mountains with only his grandfather, this "festival" was a dazzling, uncharted adventure that had already stolen his heart.
Let's set the stage again.
Hyakkiyako Alliance Academy
A thriving hub of tourism, built on gourmet food, hot springs, and festivals. The academy operates as a coalition of clubs and committees, each with its own rules, much like Trinity General Academy. However, unlike Trinity's Tea Party, Hyakkiyako lacks a formal student council, with the Yin-Yang Club serving as a temporary central authority. Though it appears peaceful and idyllic, its history is rumored to include a turbulent "Warring States" era of internal conflicts, not unlike Trinity's past or Gehenna's present.
(…These dango are delicious, Mash thought, skimming a festival pamphlet.)
Stepping into the district, Mash immediately spotted a stall selling sakura daifuku and bought a mountain of them, piling them into a towering stack on a plate. Balancing it effortlessly in one hand, he wandered the bustling festival streets.
(…The vibe here is great. Just being here feels warm, he mused.)
The festival's electric atmosphere and the joyous cheers of the crowd tickled Mash's senses. Though it was his first time in this place, he was already captivated.
(Oh, right! Shizuko said, 'I have something to discuss, so please come to Hyakuyado!'… Where's Hyakuyado, anyway?)
Scanning the crowd for the café called "Hyakuyado," Mash's attention was suddenly shattered by a piercing scream from ahead.
"D-D-Danger—!" a girl's voice cried out.
A figure barreled straight toward him. By the time Mash registered her, she was practically on top of him. He raised his daifuku tower high, planted his feet, and braced for impact.
"Ngh!?" the girl yelped, colliding with Mash's chest and crumpling to the ground, clutching her face. Her fox-like ears drooped, and her fluffy tail swayed limply.
She wore a sleeveless sailor outfit layered with a vibrant, floral-patterned kimono, one sleeve slipped off her shoulder, and a red scarf. A leg holster with a kunai strapped to her thigh hinted at her ninja flair.
Mash, barely fazed by the collision, kept his daifuku tower steady and crouched in front of her.
"Ow… What was that impact? It was like slamming into an iron wall…" the girl groaned, rubbing her forehead.
"Hey," Mash said gently.
"Huh!? Oh, I'm so sorry!" she gasped, scrambling to her feet. "Are you okay? No injuries!?"
"Totally fine. You okay?" Mash asked, unfazed.
"Izuna's fine! I'm pretty tough myself!" she declared, puffing out her chest.
"Good to hear," Mash nodded.
The girl, Izuna, wasn't lying or putting on a brave face—she was genuinely unharmed. But Mash's pecs (Mike, as he called them) sent a warning: This girl's strong.
"So, why were you in such a rush?" Mash asked.
"W-Well… 'There she is!' Eek!?" Izuna squeaked as shouts echoed from the crowd.
"Hold it! You're not getting away!" a voice called.
"K-Kaede-chan, wait… huff, huff… You're too fast…" another panted.
"W-W-What!? She's already that far!? What do I do!?" a third voice wailed.
"…Hmm," Mash muttered, assessing the situation.
It was clear Izuna was being chased. Seeing her panic, Mash sprang into action, deciding to get her out of there.
"Pardon me," he said.
"Huh—kya!?" Izuna yelped as Mash hoisted her onto his right shoulder, his left hand still balancing the daifuku tower. With a single leap, he vaulted onto a nearby rooftop.
"W-W-What!?" Izuna clung to his head, wide-eyed.
"Let's head… that way," Mash decided, scanning the horizon.
With astonishing stability, he bounded across the rooftops, putting distance between them and the pursuers. Not a single daifuku fell, and Izuna, perched on his shoulder, barely felt a jolt despite the breakneck speed. They vanished from the scene in an instant, as if they were master couriers from a bygone era.
"Hey… maybe it's just me, but did you see someone zooming across the rooftops at insane speed!?" one of the pursuers shouted.
"I… think so? Maybe?" another replied, uncertain.
"Well, she got away… yawn… I'm sleepy…" a third mumbled.
"Don't fall asleep here! Ugh, next time, we're catching her for sure!" the first declared.
The pursuers gave up and retreated for now.
Having escaped, Mash leapt back to the street and set Izuna down. To refuel, he began scarfing down his sakura daifuku at lightning speed.
(…We moved so fast, and that balance… That speed, and not a single daifuku fell! There's no doubt—this man… This man is the one! Izuna thought, her eyes gleaming with awe.)
"Sweets are the ultimate fuel, right? Oh, sorry, I didn't catch your name. I'm—" Mash started, but before he could finish, Izuna slid forward and dropped to one knee before him, as if pledging loyalty to a lord.
Mash froze, unsure of her intent. Izuna's eyes sparkled as she introduced herself.
"I'm Kuda Izuna! Thank you for saving me!" she declared.
"Oh, uh, you're welcome," Mash replied, blinking.
"May I have your name, please?" Izuna asked eagerly.
"Mash Burnedead. I'm a teacher at Schale," he said simply.
"Schale's… teacher! I've heard of you!" Izuna gasped.
"My fame's spread this far, huh? Guess I'm kind of a big deal," Mash said with a shy grin.
"They say Schale has someone who solves every crisis in Kivotos with raw physical strength alone! No weapon or strategy can stand against him—an undefeated, invincible legend!" Izuna's voice brimmed with admiration.
"That's… a bit much, don't you think?" Mash chuckled, rubbing his neck.
"No, it's true! You're him—Mash Burnedead-sama!" Izuna exclaimed.
"Uh, yeah, that's me," Mash said, a little overwhelmed.
Izuna sprang to her feet, grabbing both of Mash's hands. Her eyes sparkled like stars as she beamed at him.
"Please, make me, Kuda Izuna, your apprentice!" she declared.
"Huh?" Mash blinked.
"Your physical prowess, your balance—that's the skill of an ultimate ninja!" Izuna gushed.
"…??" Mash's confusion deepened.
"Please, I beg you—teach me the secrets of ninjutsu!" Izuna pleaded, her voice trembling with passion.
"Uh…" Mash hesitated.
"Of course, I won't ask for free! I'll offer proper compensation, and I'll put everything I learn to good use—"
"Sorry to interrupt while you're all fired up," Mash cut in.
"Yes!" Izuna snapped to attention.
"What's… a ninja?" he asked, tilting his head.
"…Pardon!?" Izuna's jaw dropped.
Step right up, step right up!
If you're not in a hurry, stick around and enjoy the show.
Even if you are, take a quick peek.
What follows is a tale of dazzling youth and uproarious comedy.
A story of a ninja racing toward her dreams,
Of girls fighting to protect their festival,
And of a muscle-bound hero shielding them from evil.
Blossoming Muscle Festival Frenzy!
~Skyward Sparks, Grounded Ninjas, and Protein-Powered Training~
Let the show begin!
Blue Archive Whispered Rumors
The moment I heard "Izuna," my brain instantly thought of a certain ninja manga's legendary ninja's little brother. Forgive me.
Brother: "…Aniki, am I imagining things, or do Kikyo and Kazusa have some serious chemistry? Like, their vibe's intense and their distance is… off."
Everyone: "We're all thinking it."
As for Kikyo-san… seriously, isn't her vibe just too intense? And Kazusa-chan's closeness—what's with that short-haired energy? Are they married or what?
-------------------------------------------
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