Although it was technically still club activity time, it was essentially after school hours.
Kuoh Academy's management system, like most high schools in Japan, considered the school day over once all scheduled classes were finished. Students were simply allowed to use school resources for a certain period after classes ended to pursue their hobbies and interests.
These were the various clubs on campus.
Furthermore, the school didn't require students participating in club activities to return to their classrooms for a final dismissal by the teacher. They could pack up and head home directly afterwards.
As for students not enrolled in any clubs, they could leave right after their last class ended.
Students like these had their own dedicated club at school, known as the——Go-Home Club.
Right now, about half an hour had passed since the last afternoon class ended. It was precisely the time when club activities were just officially beginning, and the legions of the Go-Home Club had just about finished departing the school grounds.
Thus, the scene shifts. Though evening hadn't quite arrived, the angle of the sunlight already slanted westward.
At the school gate, where only a few straggling Go-Home Club students were slowly making their way out, a girl with long, dark purple hair stood quietly beside the guard booth, holding a sword bag. She gazed at the clouds in the distance, gradually tinged with red, wearing a uniform clearly belonging to a different high school.
From the direction of the sports fields within the school grounds, the faint sounds of enthusiastic competition among sports club students could be heard.
Several minutes passed like this. Suddenly, footsteps mingled with the sounds from the fields, their rhythm steady, neither fast nor slow, drawing closer from afar.
Accompanying them was a young man's nonchalant voice.
"Yahallo~"
Hmm...?
Saeko Busujima retracted her distant gaze and turned towards the source of the voice.
Walking towards her was none other than Hanakain Fubuki, who had just rushed over from the old schoolhouse after receiving the call.
"Hello."
The kendo girl bowed slightly, a faint smile gracing her calm, water-like features.
"My name is Saeko Busujima. I'm a third-year student at Tokyo Jujutsu High. You should know, I sent you a private message on the forum before."
"Oh, I remember."
Hanakain Fubuki nodded.
"Hello, my name is Qin Shi Huang."
"..."
For a moment, a metaphorical silence status bar appeared above Saeko Busujima's head.
Honestly, when they first met, she had been slightly worried she might have the wrong person. After all, online chats happen behind screens, making it hard to confirm if the person messaging is truly the account owner.
However, upon hearing the familiar "My name is Qin Shi Huang," she was instantly relieved.
To utter such words so casually – this enviable state of mind undoubtedly belonged to the person himself.
"...Hehe, Hanakain-kun, you certainly like to joke."
Saeko Busujima shook her head slightly, her voice remaining calm and gentle.
"By the way, Hanakain-kun, have your club activities ended already? If possible, I'd like to find another place to chat more deeply with you about the matter from last night's post."
"Hmm, of course, we can."
Hanakain Fubuki agreed readily.
...
Ten minutes later, in a coffee shop near the school, the two chose a quiet booth in a corner.
Saeko Busujima ordered a cappuccino, while Hanakain Fubuki unceremoniously ordered a chocolate sundae.
He was a staunch believer in sweets. While he could tolerate bitter things like coffee, they still fell short compared to a sundae.
Taking a huge scoop of the sundae, Hanakain Fubuki took the initiative.
"Speaking of which, when we met at the school gate just now, I had a faint feeling... Busujima-senpai, have we met somewhere before?"
"Is that so?"
Saeko Busujima paused for a tiny moment.
It was a clichéd... even slightly overused pickup line. She truly hadn't expected Hanakain Fubuki to start with something like that.
Although she couldn't quite understand why he would suddenly say such a thing, out of politeness, the girl still thought back seriously.
"I think... probably not. I really don't have any recollection."
"No, no, I'm pretty sure we have."
Hanakain Fubuki deftly spun the silver sundae spoon provided by the coffee shop with his fingertips, the end of the spoon occasionally tapping lightly against the tabletop.
"I remember it should have been last year, at the National Middle School Traditional Martial Arts Tournament in Kyoto."
"Middle school" encompassed both junior high and high school, and "traditional martial arts" included numerous disciplines like Kyudo, Kendo, Karate, and more.
Hearing the young man bring this up, Saeko Busujima, who had just denied it a second ago, paused again, her previous certainty instantly gone.
"That... indeed, last year I participated in the high school division Kendo competition at the National Middle School Martial Arts Tournament held in Kyoto, and moreover..."
"Ah, I knew it."
Hanakain Fubuki snapped his fingers leisurely.
"Although I was there accompanying my younger sister for the Kyudo competition, I saw you, Busujima-senpai, on the podium during the award ceremony. And if I recall correctly, you were the champion, right? Quite impressive."
"Hehe, Hanakain-kun, you flatter me. I just happened to be in good form that day."
Saeko Busujima smiled slightly. Despite being recognized as the champion, she showed no signs of pride or arrogance, instead appearing even more modest.
"Besides, due to family reasons, I received my father's instruction from a young age, so I do have a bit more of an advantage in Kendo compared to my peers."
"Family reasons?"
"The current headmaster of the Busujima Style of Kendo is my father."
Ah~ So that's how it is.
Hanakain Fubuki understood instantly.
The Busujima Style was considered a prestigious school within Japanese Kendo. Although its fame might lag slightly behind top schools like Hokushin Ittō-ryū or Satsuma Jigen-ryū, its skill was widely recognized as sufficient to establish its own lineage. At worst, it was within striking distance; there was no guarantee of victory for either side against the top tiers.
It could be said that no school passed down from the warring eras would be subpar.
"But why would the young lady of a prestigious Kendo family become a Jujutsu Sorcerer?" Hanakain Fubuki was still somewhat puzzled.
"This... can only be called a personal choice, I suppose." Saeko Busujima maintained her smile. "And my father is supportive of it."
"Oh."
Translated, that meant it was her family's private matter, better not to ask further.
Hanakain Fubuki wisely chose not to pursue the topic.
Seeing that they had chatted enough, Saeko Busujima decided to get straight to the point.
"Returning to the main subject then, regarding the finger in the photo you posted on the forum last night, Hanakain-kun. As I mentioned in my private message, that is a Special Grade Cursed Object sealed by our Tokyo Jujutsu High and the Jujutsu Association. Its nature is extremely dangerous. So, if possible, I hope you can return it now, Hanakain-kun."
"Uh, well, returning it isn't entirely out of the question."
Popping another spoonful of sundae into his mouth, Hanakain Fubuki put down the spoon, reached into his pocket, paused for two seconds, and then pulled out a small plastic bag containing dark brown, fragmented solids. He placed it on the table and slid it across.
"Though it seems I might have broken it..."
Saeko Busujima: ???
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