"Izuna, that's what I should be asking you."
I shook my head and narrowed my eyes, pretending not to know. "Why are you here? Is this the task your employer gave you?"
In truth, the moment I saw her appear, I already knew my earlier guess had been correct.
Confronting her face to face like this, however, was a decision I made on the spot.
Although this development was part of my plan from the start, I hadn't expected the timing to come so soon. I thought it would happen after I accompanied Izuna for some training.
Moving the sequence forward would certainly affect the plan, but opportunities rarely come twice. Besides, I believed the impact would remain within controllable limits.
Izuna answered my question honestly. "Yes, Izuna is following orders as a ninja!"
The moment she finished speaking, I questioned her with feigned anger. "So does that mean you approached me from the beginning just to draw me out?"
"Eh?"
I pressed on while she stood frozen in place. "Was everything a part of your plan? You told me you dreamed of becoming the greatest ninja in Kivotos and wanted my support. Are you actually an insincere delinquent?"
Izuna finally snapped back to reality and hurriedly denied it.
"N-no way! What is Shishou even saying! Izuna is absolutely serious about becoming Kivotos' number one ninja!"
"Is that really true?"
The little fox looked ready to cry. "Uu… Shishou, why don't you believe me…"
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the battlefield,
Shizuko flashed a triumphant smile at the battered enemies. "How about that? Don't underestimate our Festival Operations Department."
Pina reloaded her magazine while speaking in a deep voice. "All captured, as expected."
The remaining members of Street Mouryo, still struggling to hold on, compared the two sides and let out cries of frustration.
"S-so strong. Those two… why do they feel even stronger than before…?"
"It's because of that man's command. The Festival Operations Department suddenly changed their entire approach!"
"Tch, we have no choice."
The tengu masked girl from Street Mouryo called out toward us. "Princess Izuna! Strategic withdrawal for now!"
Izuna, still teary eyed, wasn't thrilled. "S-strategic withdrawal…? But Izuna still…"
"A skilled ninja must know when to retreat. I think I read that somewhere!"
Hearing that, Izuna instantly changed her attitude. "I see! If that's the case…!"
I took in her entire reaction, thinking that as expected, Street Mouryo and the mastermind behind them understood how to use her dedication to her dream.
"Shishou…" The little fox looked at me pitifully again. "Izuna really didn't lie…"
"Even so, we stand on opposite sides now."
I shook my head in quiet lamentation. "I never imagined I'd have to face the disciple I just accepted. Fate can be cruel. But being dragged into battles you never wanted is also part of a ninja's destiny."
"Uu… Shishou, I understand!"
Izuna looked at me with watery eyes. "To walk the path of a ninja, I must endure every kind of trial, even fighting my Shishou… I saw this on television! Next time we meet, Izuna will be three times stronger than now and prove her resolve to you. Now then… nin nin!"
She made several whooshing sounds with her mouth and fled at incredible speed. The others from Street Mouryo withdrew right after her.
Shizuko and Pina didn't give chase. They still had responsibilities as members of the operations committee and didn't have the time or energy to pursue them.
I let out a small sigh of relief.
For now, my second goal was mostly achieved.
By taking the initiative to question Izuna, even if she learned that I had accepted the Festival Operations Department's request and had been misled by others before forming her opinion, she would still feel the need to prove herself to me.
That would allow me to guide her without hesitation and help her gradually uncover the truth behind her exploitation.
After regrouping with Shizuko and Pina, we returned together to Momoyo Hall.
"Ugh, seriously, they got away again!" As soon as she sat down, Shizuko complained. "Ever since the cherry blossom festival started, Street Mouryo keeps causing trouble everywhere!"
I thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you know their background?"
Pina looked outraged. "They're a group that has been stirring up trouble in Hyakkiyako since forever!"
Shizuko immediately added, "They've always been problem children, but they only started acting so organized recently. It's almost like they're mobilizing specifically to ruin the Festival…"
In other words, someone had brought them together for a particular reason.
I began to suspect that behind Street Mouryo stood a real mastermind.
And their true purpose might not be sabotaging the festival itself, but rather something closely tied to it.
For example…
Undermining the tourism industry that supported all of Hyakkiyako?
If so, perhaps a rival academy had sent spies who funded these delinquents and instructed them to create chaos in Hyakkiyako.
"In any case, as someone aspiring to live by the code of honor, I can't look the other way!"
Pina's tone was sharp and unwavering.
"Ugh, seriously!"
However, Shizuko's emotions flared up again. "What is going on! We've managed to stop every incident so far, but they're happening more and more often. At this rate…!"
Momoyo Hall's poster girl trembled slightly. "If this keeps up and the festival ends up canceled, we'll get blamed from every angle! That would be terrible!"
I suddenly felt that Shizuko was cuter in her emotional outbursts than in her professional persona.
Though maybe it was the contrast between the two that made it so striking.
After venting, Shizuko quickly realized what she was doing and clumsily tried to hide behind a forced, cutesy act. "U-uh… just kidding. Shizuko is super scared, you know~☆"
I had no words. I simply looked away.
At that moment, Pina spoke again, worry in her voice. "Pina doesn't understand. Why would they want to disrupt the festival?"
"…This is only a guess, but maybe they're dissatisfied with something about the festival?"
A hoarse, sharp voice sounded from the shop entrance.
I turned toward it and saw a tabby cat in a black kimono stepping inside.