"So… Sensei came all the way to Hyakkiyako just to support Izuna's dream? Woof."
Izuna asked again for confirmation as she popped a small, crystal-clear confection into her mouth, a sakura blossom suspended inside the jellylike sphere.
Sakura Suikyo Shingen Mochi—another signature snack of the Cherry Blossom Festival.
After explaining my so-called true intentions, Izuna and I found a wagashi shop and sat down to talk.
"That's right," I said.
My gaze was pure and unwavering as I nodded without a shred of guilt.
From the moment I saw Izuna, it was inevitable I had come specifically for her!
The logic is as follows:
I came to Hyakkiyako because the Festival Operations Department invited me.
The Department likely invited me because the festival was facing some issue.
That issue most likely involved Izuna.
I wanted to get to know the adorable Izuna better.
Therefore, today I came to Hyakkiyako specifically for Izuna.
Perfectly logical. No flaws whatsoever.
"Hmm… it still feels a little unbelievable!"
Izuna sipped her juice through a straw, never looking away from my face, and asked with pure disbelief, "Does that mean… even Izuna running into Sensei at the beginning was part of Sensei's plan?"
I gave her a mysterious, profound smile.
"Izuna, why do you think that at the very moment you were about to run past me, I just happened to dodge in the same direction?"
Ha. Obviously because I failed to react in time.
"Oh, wow! T-that's amazing!"
Izuna's amber eyes sparkled. "As expected of Sensei! Just like the rumors say... no, even more amazing than the rumors!"
"Though I can guess the answer, I'll ask anyway."
I tapped my knuckles on the table. "What kind of image do those rumors paint of me?"
"Well, um, they say that in Schale, there's a super amazing grown-up who can solve any of Kivotos's incidents in an instant!"
Izuna stared at me with admiring eyes. "Appearing everywhere, resolving incidents quickly… it's like a ninja! That's why I boldly sent you that request letter back then."
Then her ears drooped slightly as she grew uneasy.
"B-but Izuna already cancelled the request… so why did Sensei still come for me?"
"Sorry, Izuna. You suddenly cancelled the request, so I was worried. After investigating a bit behind the scenes, I decided to visit you like this."
That "investigation" referred to asking Mimori on MomoTalk earlier while Izuna carried me on her back.
Izuna frantically waved her hands. "Sensei, I didn't mean it like that! Izuna is super happy that Sensei supports my dream! I just meant… why would Sensei still support someone who cancelled the request on her own?"
To her careful question, I simply smiled.
"Because I am your Sensei."
I looked at her gently.
"As a Sensei, how could I just stand by when an important student is in trouble? I at least need to confirm whether you truly needed help."
"Sensei…"
Izuna whispered my title with a touched expression.
Lying to someone this innocent, who trusted me again so easily after our earlier conflict, made guilt twist in my chest.
Even if gaining her trust quickly is necessary to uncover the truth behind her conflict with the Inner Disciple Club, and even if deception was unavoidable, the more I spoke with her, the more I felt I owed her a sincere apology once everything was over.
I lifted my cup and sipped the lightly sakura-scented drink, suppressing those stray thoughts.
"Well then. Before we begin planning your training, Izuna, I need to ask you an important question."
Izuna straightened up instantly.
"Yes! Please ask anything! Izuna will answer seriously!"
…At this point, if I asked for her height, weight, and measurements under the pretense of assessing her physical condition, she would probably answer honestly.
That was… dangerously tempting.
But looking into her clear eyes, I stuck to my original plan and asked seriously:
"Izuna, what is your ninja way?"
"My… ninja way…?"
Her fox ears twitched as she furrowed her brow, thinking hard. I waited patiently.
After a long silence, she finally said in a soft voice, "Izuna's ninja path is… not giving up on her dream and working hard?"
Simple. And why did she speak with a questioning tone while looking at me for help?
I shook my head. "That's just basic discipline for a ninja."
Izuna quickly added, "Uu, someone told me this before. If Izuna faithfully follows orders, then one day Izuna will become a cool ninja and meet a lord worthy of serving for life!"
Following orders…
I narrowed my eyes slightly and asked as casually as I could manage:
"Oh? Is that so? And who told you that?"
"My employer!" Izuna answered, and then suddenly jolted in realization. "Ah! I just remembered I haven't finished my employer's task!"
Just as expected, she had been deceived.
Even though I had suspected it, hearing it confirmed still made anger flare in my chest.
To exploit someone's dream, to trick my precious student, whoever her so-called employer was had already been invited for an ass-whooping.
Unless that employer happened to be a young, beautiful student themselves. In that case… perhaps I could consider something lenient.
In any case…
If Izuna is going to be deceived, she can only be deceived by me.
Just like right now.
"Sorry Sensei! Izuna has to go!"
"No rush. Sit with me a little longer."
I raised a hand, gesturing for her to stay seated. Looking at the snacks and drinks I intentionally ordered in excess, my tone left no room for refusal.
"At least finish these before leaving. I can't eat all this by myself. For an exceptional ninja, wasting precious food is disgraceful."
"Uu… that makes sense."
"And for a ninja, eating slowly to fully absorb nutrients is also important."
Izuna nodded obediently and sat back down, murmuring in awe,
"Incredible… Sensei even pays attention to details like that… Sensei really is like a legendary ninja…"
It was just some simple life advice forcibly rebranded as ninja principles.
"Izuna, to a ninja, the ninja way is not something so simple."
I sighed softly and looked at the little fox who was listening with full seriousness.
"It seems you're still lost. That's fine. In that case, let me tell you my ninja way first."