Chapter 87
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Aonia (6)
"...What should we do?"
Yoru asked from behind me.
Her voice was trembling—probably from embarrassment.
I couldn't help but worry how mortified a fresh young girl like her must feel after being misunderstood like this.
This whole thing made it seem like I was dragging my servant girl around with me.
"What do you mean? Obviously, we turn back."
"Oh. R-Right?"
"We're not even adults yet. There's no reason for people to misunderstand us like that. I don't want them looking at you that way either. So..."
"I-I'm fine with it, though?"
"What?"
What was that supposed to mean?
I turned around to find Yoru stammering on, her words halting and disjointed.
It wasn't like her usual lively, confident self at all.
That just meant she was that nervous and embarrassed.
The only surprise was that her shame wasn't headed in the direction I'd expected.
"It's not like we're going to do anything weird just because we're sharing the bath. We can just soak in the water. Right?"
"No. Hold on."
"If we just turn our backs to each other and look away, there won't be any problem. I'm right, aren't I?"
"..."
This was beyond forced logic.
A young man and woman bathing together?
Even if neither intended to cross any lines, it didn't feel like a great situation.
But Yoru's expression was utterly serious.
She was really mustering her courage to say this.
Wow.
What was I supposed to do here?
"...Fine, let's do it that way."
In the end, I caved and agreed.
Logically speaking, rationally, I should refuse.
But when a girl came at me like this, there was no way I could say no.
It wasn't like I hated the situation or anything.
"Th-Then I'll go in first. You come in later."
"Sure."
I headed back inside the building.
Something brushed past a few times, and soon enough, permission came.
"...You can come in now."
"Okay."
I debated what to say for a second before settling on a casual reply.
I had no idea why I was even in this situation.
Yoru was sunk deep into the opposite side of the bath, perfectly still.
Sweat beaded along the line from her face down to her collarbone.
Then our eyes met, and she whipped her head away.
'Ugh.'
Fine. Whatever happens, happens.
I stripped down and slipped into the bath.
We both stared off into shadowy corners, avoiding each other.
An awkward, blush-inducing silence.
Unable to bear it, Yoru cracked a joke first.
"...You're not gonna peek, right? You know that?"
"How would I even peek?"
"With that pupil power I taught you before. You could see with that."
"No way. I'm not even thinking about looking, so relax."
"That kinda hurts too. Are you saying my body's not even worth looking at?"
"You..."
Bantering back and forth like that eased the tension.
Yoru slipped back into her usual self, chuckling with a puhuhu.
Then she turned to me.
"Kline."
"Yeah?"
"Can you tell me? Why you're entering the Azure Dragon Tournament."
"You want to know?"
"A little. You've always been so open with me. Makes me wonder how serious it has to be for you to keep it secret."
"Well, it's not like I can't tell you..."
There was nothing I couldn't tell Yoru, really.
The issue with Mother's critical condition was delicate, hard to speak lightly of.
But Yoru was trustworthy. No doubt about that.
It was just—I didn't want to make her worry unnecessarily after she learned the truth.
"My mother's seriously ill."
I explained the situation in terms she'd understand.
How Mother had been recuperating in Aonia all this time.
How I'd visited recently and found her condition had worsened critically.
How the only cure was Azure Dragon Water, so I'd decided to win the tournament.
Having heard me out, Yoru gave a simple response.
"Whoa. Then I can't win."
"Why not?"
"You need the prize more than anything. I don't actually need it."
"Hmm."
I agreed that yielding to someone desperate to win made sense.
But it felt awkward to ask that of her outright.
Yoru had her own reasons for entering too, after all.
"Still... I get it. That's why you didn't tell me. Right, Kline?"
"Yeah. Didn't want you dwelling on it. Sharing everything doesn't always strengthen bonds."
"Yeah. True..."
Yoru sank lower, submerging further below the surface.
The water now lapped at her chin.
She pondered for a moment, then spoke.
"What about you, Kline?"
"Huh?"
"Aren't you curious why I'm trying to win the tournament? I never told you my reason."
"Sure, I'm curious. But I wasn't planning to pry."
"Why?"
"Figured it was something you hesitated to share openly with me. Same as me."
Yoru smiled at that.
Not her usual bright grin, but a wistful one.
"Yeah. Thanks. For saying that."
"So? Does that mean you'll tell me now, Miss Yoru?"
"...Sorry."
But she shook her head.
She still couldn't share it.
"I'm not strong like you. I can't just casually reveal a secret I want to keep hidden."
"Hm."
"Someday... Someday, I want to tell you. You're the one person I hope will hear my story. That's the truth."
"Sure. Could be. Doesn't bother me."
I truly didn't mind.
I knew she was hiding something.
And that she wanted to tell me but held back.
Whichever she chose didn't matter.
I trusted Yoru.
"Do whatever. I trust you no matter what."
"...Really?"
"Of course. If your secret was gonna make me change how I treat you, you never would've met me in the first place. Right?"
"Yeah. Fair enough."
Yoru smirked, then suddenly moved.
Splash—splash—
She cut through the water toward me.
"Hey. Whoa. What're you doing?"
"Nothing. I'm not gonna do anything weird, so stay still."
"But..."
Did this girl even realize she was a girl?
Yoru sidled up close and extended a finger.
Her cute pinky.
"Let's make a promise."
"A promise?"
"Yeah. Someday, I'll tell you my secret. Since you trust me, I should trust you too."
"What? Sure."
It felt a bit overly dramatic, but whatever.
I happily hooked my pinky around hers.
A promise forged one night under the starry sky in the hot springs.
After arriving in Aosen, we'd holed up in the inn the whole time.
Submitting our special passes to the Azure Dragon Tournament committee midway through was a minor hassle.
Apparently Hiiragi's reach hadn't extended here yet—or with the Oni masks, we passed without much suspicion.
After that, the round of 128 kicked off right away, so Yoru and I had no reason to go out.
No sense risking getting chased by Hiiragi if we wandered.
Thus, round of 64, 32, 16...
Finally, on the day of the quarterfinals, we geared up to head out.
"Yoru. Once we're outside, what's the chance Hiiragi grabs us right away?"
"Eh, low. Even they wouldn't make a scene in broad daylight in front of everyone. They care too much about their reputation."
"Good."
Then we could relax a bit.
I grabbed the Oni mask to hide my face and change my hair color.
Yoru wore a black eyemask covering her eyes, just like me.
Last time we submitted the passes, I overheard someone mutter 'shady duo.'
Even I had to admit our getup looked suspicious.
Mine was for Hiiragi, sure—but what about her?
Did it tie into her secret too?
"Alright, let's go!"
"Yeah."
We left the inn together.
The tournament venue was a decent walk from there.
We had to pass through the crowded main street in between.
No shadowy alleys—wouldn't want to get nabbed by Hiiragi.
"Wow, tons of people."
"Yeah, way too many."
More than when we'd first arrived in Aosen.
Might be rising interest as the tournament progressed?
Felt like too much for that, though.
"Ah. Got it."
Then Yoru, walking beside me, narrowed her eyes—or seemed to, hidden behind her mask.
"Over there. Look, Kline."
"What? What's up?"
"Hiiragi's successor. Masato."
"..."
Yoru and I immediately slipped to the edge of the main street.
Not quite an alley, but out of sight.
Specifically, out of Hiiragi goons' sight.
As we kept pace along the sidelines, a horse-drawn carriage barreled down the center, owning the road.
"Out of the way! Hiiragi family procession!"
The coachman bellowed.
The carriage interior was curtained off.
But the boy's face visible through the window was crystal clear.
He frowned, brow furrowed.
Like he hated this situation but felt powerless to change it.
Even I, who already thought poorly of the Hiiragi family, found it odd.
Hiiragi Masato wore a strangely conflicted expression.
"Why the long face?"
"Beats me."
We whispered quietly.
Quarterfinals tomorrow—why so dour?
But looks could deceive.
That guy was no slouch.
"..."
Then.
Masato, lost in thought, suddenly looked up.
'Crap.'
Had we stared too obviously?
He turned toward us.
His eyes widened for a split second.
"Wait—"
He started to shout.
I scooped Yoru into my arms and shoved through the crowd.
"Eek?! K-Kline?"
"Stay quiet. He saw us."
I held her tight and forced a path.
—Young master. What is it?
—Wasn't there a masked boy over there?
—Pardon? Not sure. Too many people...
Voices searched for us from behind.
No intention of getting caught by Hiiragi yet, so we didn't look back.
Just one curious thing.
The look in Hiiragi Masato's eyes when he saw me.
Not arrogance or contempt, but something shaken. It was puzzling.