Although it was still technically "club activity time," the afternoon had essentially shifted into after-school hours.
Koma Academy's schedule worked like most Japanese high schools: once all the day's classes were over, students were free to leave. The school simply allowed them to use the remaining time for personal interests through clubs.
In other words, the various clubs on campus.
Students weren't required to reconvene in classrooms after club activities to be formally dismissed. They could pack up and head home whenever they were done.
Those who didn't join clubs often left as soon as the last class ended. They had their own unofficial "club"—known as the Going-Home Club.
By now, it had been about half an hour since the final class ended. Club activities were just starting, and the ranks of the Going-Home Club had nearly all left campus.
The scene shifts: the sun was tilting westward, though evening had not yet arrived. At the school gate, where only a few stragglers remained slowly making their way home, a dark-purple-haired girl stood waiting beside the security booth, holding a sword bag. She gazed at the horizon, where clouds were beginning to glow red in the late afternoon light. Her uniform clearly belonged to another high school.
From the school's sports field faintly came the energetic sounds of club students practicing or competing.
Several minutes passed in this quiet stretch. Gradually, the sounds of measured footsteps approached from the direction of the field. Along with them came a familiar voice.
"Yo-ho~"
Hmm…?
Saeko Dokusima blinked, retracting her gaze from the horizon to look toward the approaching sound.
Walking toward her was Hanakaiin Tomitaka, having hurried from the old school building after receiving the call.
"Hello."
The kendo girl bowed politely, her serene face curving into a faint, calm smile.
"My name is Saeko Dokusima, a third-year student at Tokyo Jujutsu Academy. You probably know—I sent you a private message on the forum before."
"Oh, yes, I remember."
Tomitaka nodded.
"Hello, my name is Qin Shi Huang."
"…"
For a split second, Saeko's mind froze, like a loading bar stuck mid-progress. She had been slightly worried about misidentifying him; after all, messages on a forum could be anyone behind a screen.
But hearing him casually say "I'm Qin Shi Huang" instantly put her mind at ease. Only the real person could say that so lightly.
"…Heh. Tomitaka-kun, you really do love to joke around."
Saeko shook her head slightly, her voice still calm and unhurried.
"So… have your club activities finished for today? If so, I'd like to continue our discussion from last night's post somewhere else."
"Mhm, of course," Tomitaka replied immediately.
…
Ten minutes later, the two of them settled into a quiet corner booth at a nearby café.
Saeko ordered a cappuccino, while Tomitaka didn't hold back and got a chocolate sundae. He was a committed sweet-tooth; coffee might be tolerable, but it could never compete with a sundae.
Taking a big bite of ice cream, he spoke first.
"You know… when we met at the school gate just now, I had this vague feeling—have we met somewhere before, Saeko-senpai?"
"Have we?"
Saeko froze slightly.
It was a classic—perhaps slightly overused—opening line. She hadn't expected Tomitaka to start with something so old-fashioned. Though puzzled by the sudden question, she still tried to recall.
"I… don't think so. I don't remember."
"No, no, we definitely have," Tomitaka said, spinning the café spoon in his fingers as he tapped the handle lightly against the table.
"I remember… last year, at the National Junior High Traditional Martial Arts Tournament in Kyoto."
"Junior high?" That encompassed both middle and high school. Traditional martial arts included archery, kendo, karate, and more.
Saeko's confident expression faltered.
"Ah… that's right. Last year I competed in the high school kendo division at the Kyoto national martial arts tournament, and…"
"See?"
Tomitaka snapped his fingers, relaxed.
"Though I was there to support my sister in archery, I clearly remember seeing you on the podium during the awards ceremony. If I recall, you were the champion. That was impressive."
"Heh, Tomitaka-kun, you flatter me. I just happened to perform well that day," Saeko said with a small smile. She showed no trace of pride, only modesty.
"And it's because of my family—I've trained under my father since childhood. That gave me an edge in kendo."
"Family training?"
"My father is currently the head of the Dokusima-style kendo school."
Ah, that explains it.
Tomitaka's eyes lit up. The Dokusima style was considered a reputable kendo lineage. Not as famous as the major schools like Hokushin Ittoryu or Satsuma Jigen-ryu, but still respected for producing top-tier fighters. Any style that survived through the war-torn periods to today was no joke.
"But… if you're from such a prestigious kendo family, why become a jujutsu sorcerer?" Tomitaka asked, curious.
"That… is a personal choice," Saeko replied with a smile. "And my father supports it."
"Oh."
Translation: none of your business. Tomitaka wisely decided not to press further.
Saeko, seeing that casual chat was sufficient, got straight to the point.
"So, back to last night's post. The finger you photographed and uploaded, as I mentioned in my private message, is a top-class cursed artifact sealed by Tokyo Jujutsu Academy and the Jujutsu Association. Extremely dangerous. So, if possible, I'd like you to return it now."
"Uh… well, returning it isn't impossible," Tomitaka said.
He took another bite of sundae, put the spoon down, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small plastic bag containing dark brown fragments. Sliding it across the table, he added casually:
"Although… it seems I may have already broken it."
Saeko Dokusima: ???