Human Souls
"...Good work."
"Your upper body strength is still lacking overall."
"Yeah. I haven't done any specific strength training."
"Regular weight training uses different muscles, and if you're not flexible enough, you'll just end up hurting yourself. I think you're better off like this for now."
"I see."
I could guess what he meant by getting hurt from lack of flexibility. Even just gripping the wooden sword tightly and swinging it made my joints ache a little. The weight was centered much farther out than when throwing a punch, after all.
After sitting for a bit, I picked up the wooden sword Hanasaki had given me again, feeling its subtle heft along with a sting of pain in my palm. This is gonna blister for sure. I'd braced myself for it, but damn, it hurt.
"That's enough for today."
"Got it."
"If you keep training blindly with blisters, they could burst, get infected. Be careful."
I see. The ointment from when my arm got bitten last time had been great—maybe I should swing by Hanasaki's for a quick fix. As I stared down at my stinging hand, Aoba's voice came from beside me.
"Oppa. Let me just disinfect it real quick."
She grabbed a first-aid kit from the corner—probably because it's a dojo—and smeared some ointment on my hand. After applying the famous chlorhexidine stuff and bandaging the bigger blisters, she met my eyes and spread her arms wide.
I had no choice but to give her a hug. She planted a kiss on my ear while nestled against me, grinned, and headed into the women's changing room. I made for the men's.
She's getting bolder by the day. What am I supposed to do with this?
Anyway, I changed and came out to find Aoba beaming and the dojo master with a slightly displeased look.
Ah. While I'm at it, maybe I can ask for that favor.
"Dojo Master, could you stand next to Aoba for a sec?"
"It's not a big deal, but why all of a sudden?"
"Just something I need to check."
From testing my eyes multiple times, I'd learned they show things based on the power I channel and my focus. I could perceive a living soul like Inuyama Shino's as a will-o'-the-wisp orb, or something like Fujiwara—just a soul with no body—as a human shape. So, if I wanted to heal Aoba or her mother someday, I'd need to recognize their souls' true forms. Comparing them to the closest example—my dad's soul—seemed like a good idea.
They stood side by side with dubious expressions, but I thanked them and focused my mind. Their souls came into view.
Pure human souls. To find the harmful thing attached, I adjusted the power in my eyes like zooming a camera, easing it in and out.
And there it was—a tiny wedge cracking only Aoba's soul.
"Hey, oppa. You okay?"
"...Huh? Yeah? Why?"
"It sounds crazy, but your eyes just turned gold for a second."
"I saw it too."
Oh? So using the power right causes visible changes in me too. I pondered how to explain, but the dojo master seemed to get it on his own and waved it off with his hand.
"Makes sense why they entrusted you with the wooden sword from Shinamori Shrine."
"Yeah, pretty much."
"No need to explain if it's hard."
He patted Aoba's head once and walked off.
"That's the spiritual power stuff you mentioned before, right?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Something to do with Shinamori Shrine?"
She thinks I'm keeping Hanasaki secrets? There are secrets, sure, but not the kind she imagines.
Anyway, finding the root of Aoba's curse didn't mean I could just yank it out. Operating on a living person's soul—more vital than any body part—without tests would make me a quack.
"Just wait a bit. I'll show you results."
Aoba's expression softened midway. This girl—she knew it was for her sake but was gonna play dumb.
"No pretending to sulk when you get it."
"Eugh."
I stretched her cheeks. With all my life experience, you think I'd fall for fake pouting?
Letting go, she grumbled with a sulky face.
"You won't even pretend to buy it."
"What'd be left of me if I fell for everything?"
"Wouldn't I be left?"
Good grief. I gently peeled off the clingy, coquettish Aoba and headed to the shrine to review today's gains—and check if my eyes really changed.
I'm just diligently doing my rounds, but it feels like I'm hopping from girl to girl. I'm innocent, I swear.
I sprinted straight to Shinamori Shrine, climbed the stairs, and spotted Hanasaki tidying the grounds.
"Hanasaki-san!"
"...Tsukino-kun. What brings you here so suddenly?"
"Something I want to check."
She eyed me hesitantly, tilting her head. Come to think of it, I don't visit first often.
As I approached, she seemed flustered, took a deep breath, and regained her composure.
"What would you like to confirm?"
"Could you take a look at my eyes?"
Her gaze wavered slightly. Probably embarrassed about whining in front of Menrei-ki last time. From my view, it was totally understandable.
"Your eyes... how?"
"Ah. Hold on."
Just like at the dojo, I circulated my spiritual energy slowly to keep the eye power at the right level. Once fully focused on her living human soul, I looked at her.
"...Impressive. This needs discussion."
"Right?"
Back to her calm self, she led me into the main hall.
Observing her there, her soul appeared as a distinct, core-like form—connected to Menrei-ki. So that's directly viewing a living human soul. Boosted by the shrine's sacred aura, my eyes felt at peak condition.
"Your eyes have turned gold."
"Yes. It happened at the Manatsu dojo, actually."
Mentioning Manatsu made her understand. I explained starting training there, my eyes turning gold, and finding the curse root in Aoba's soul.
"You've far surpassed ordinary spirit sight."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. Far beyond what I expected... maybe even greater feats are possible."
Her soul rippled with emotion. What did she mean by "greater feats"?
Ignoring my question, she moved to the hall's inner sanctum and beckoned me.
It was Shinamori Shrine's inner altar—the worship area. There, she instructed me to use my eyes.
"Ah."
I faced a massive three-legged crow, wrapped in power rising from the earth's ley lines. At the center stood something godlike—the deity enshrined here. It bestowed an orb upon me.
"Tsukino-kun. That's a fake soul. Similar to a soul, but lifeless."
"Why give it to me?"
"Like New Year's prayers. Ask for what you desire or need, and the god provides."
"So, practice handling human souls with this?"
"I dare not interpret the god's will, but... perhaps. Use it carefully."
I see. A fake soul. It reminded me of Sendo's robot maid story—she gained something soul-like. Were they compatible? What's the difference between a science-born fake soul and this divine one? The game doesn't say; I'd have to find out.
"Once practiced, you could make a shikigami with it. Treasure it."
"...Yes. I'll do my best."
With that, the crow deity vanished.
Now alone in the grounds, Hanasaki spoke to me holding the translucent fake soul.
"And... that."
Her soul brimmed with rising emotion, spilling over.
"Thank you for starting sword training. For my shameless request."
"No, I... Yes. I'll train hard."
"I'll await the day you save me."
I felt it. This flag's been raised. At least with Aoba, Inuyama Shino, and Hanasaki, things were irreversible.
Facing her emotionless face with the faintest smile at the corners of her mouth, I turned away, suddenly embarrassed.