Putting away her gun, Kurumi Tokisaki set it down beside the cherry blossom tree. Standing straight as a spear, Futayo Honda faced her and said, "Miss! May I be of service to you, miss?"
When an ordinary person stood straight, their head naturally tilted slightly forward. However, Futayo Honda's posture was as rigid as a javelin. Whether viewed from the front or the back, her stance was astonishingly upright, giving off an instant impression of someone righteous and proper.
"Actually, I was invited here by Lord Honda for a visit. But when I arrived, I found he wasn't home. Feeling bored, I took a walk and somehow wandered here." Kurumi's attire remained her usual—black gown, white ribbons, and crimson frills—elegant yet dramatic. Her Divine Aura was concealed, so Futayo had no idea of her true identity.
"My father has gone to the Temple of Time to pray to the Goddess of Time. He should return soon. Until then, this one will entertain you in his stead." Futayo approached, likely intending to escort Kurumi to the guest hall.
"So you're Lord Honda's daughter. Then I'll call you Little Honda," Kurumi said casually, sitting down on the wooden steps. She patted the space beside her. "I'm bored all alone. Hey, Little Honda, why don't you sit with me and chat for a while?"
"My apologies!" Futayo did not sit beside her but instead knelt formally in front of Kurumi in the proper samurai posture.
Looking at the girl kneeling in front of her, her head slightly lower since she wasn't sitting on the step, Kurumi felt a twinge of frustration. What is this? Is she dense or just overly serious? I told her to sit beside me!
Stare. Kurumi gazed intently at Futayo. Up close, the girl's delicate features appeared even more refined. Yet she met Kurumi's gaze head-on, her eyes crystal-clear and sincere—utterly honest, without a hint of guile.
"Don't look at me like that, or I won't be able to control myself," Kurumi said with a sly smile, the corners of her lips curling mischievously. "Little Honda, if you were given a chance to save the world, what would you do?"
"This one would not hesitate!" Futayo's answer came without the slightest emotion, as if stating a simple fact. Then she fell silent again, sitting properly and offering no further words. It seemed expecting her to start a conversation was hopeless.
"What if it's dangerous—if you could die at any moment?" Kurumi asked, resting her chin in her hands, her golden eyes half-lidded as she smiled. She stared at Futayo with a predator's gaze, afraid she might drool.
"This one would lead the charge!" Futayo declared firmly, her eyes meeting Kurumi's with unshakable resolve. The brightness of that gaze struck Kurumi's heart like lightning.
"But leading the charge means rushing to die! Ugh... I can't handle how pure this girl is."
After calming down her inner Kurumi-chan, Kurumi reached out and patted Futayo's head, smiling brightly. "Ah, Little Honda, I was only joking. Saving the world isn't something for people like us."
So soft... so smooth... I could do this all day, Kurumi thought, resisting the urge to squeal.
"My apologies, this one spoke out of turn," Futayo said solemnly, bowing her head in apology before looking up again with the same serious expression.
"..." Kurumi sighed inwardly. Little Honda, you definitely have social difficulties, don't you?
"Little Honda, why do you refer to yourself as 'this one' all the time?"
"Because I am a samurai," Futayo replied earnestly.
"And why do you always end your sentences with 'is it so (nanoda)'? Can you not?"
"When asking questions, I do not," Futayo answered without hesitation.
Kurumi held her forehead with one hand, looking pained. So you literally can't drop it, huh? Oh, heavens, save me! My Kurumi-chan charm doesn't work on this girl at all! I can't communicate with her—how am I supposed to unlock her emotional intelligence?!
"Lord of Time!" A startled voice interrupted them. Tadakatsu Honda arrived, panting, and immediately knelt before Kurumi.
"Lord of Time, my foolish daughter was unaware of the Divine One's presence. Please forgive her offense." He quickly pressed down on Futayo's head, forcing her to kneel as well.
"Divine One, I was unaware of your identity and have committed grave disrespect. I can only atone with my life," Futayo said. Her voice carried no doubt, no shock, no fear, nor regret—utterly unwavering. Her tone was as pure and steady as her character, righteous and unflinching.
"Ah, this isn't a temple. There's no need to be so serious." Kurumi waved her fingers casually, and both Tadakatsu and Futayo were compelled to stand up.
"Lord Honda, I am quite fond of your daughter, Little Honda. I wish to make her a knight of my divine temple. What say you?" Kurumi asked with a gentle smile as she sat gracefully on the wooden steps. Little Honda, come right into my bowl.
"To earn the Divine One's favor is the greatest honor my foolish daughter could ever receive. But I must ask that the Divine One seek her own answer from her directly." Though Tadakatsu's devotion to Kurumi was sincere, his fatherly love remained steadfast and true.
"You are admirable," Kurumi said warmly before turning her gaze to Futayo. "Little Honda, are you willing to follow me and help save this world?"
"I shall devote my life to it!" Futayo declared instantly, kneeling once more. Kurumi's smile twitched. "Ah... I knew it! I knew you'd kneel again. Good thing I didn't reach out my hand earlier, or I'd have lost face in front of you!"
Rising from her seat, Kurumi said with a small laugh, "Little Honda, the reason I've chosen you as my temple knight is that you hold the greatest potential in the Far East. There is also someone here most suited to act as my avatar. Come with me."
"As you command!" Futayo's tone was rigidly formal as always, leaving Kurumi inwardly exhausted. Honestly... this girl has no idea how to hold a conversation.
Though Musashi was a city built upon a warship, its architecture bore no trace of futuristic design. Instead, its streets were lined with traditional wooden houses. Small bridges crossed trickling streams, narrow stone paths wound through lush greenery, and the air was pure and clean—untainted by the grime of modern cities. It was a serene and beautiful land that nourished both body and soul.
"Would you please let go?" Inside a nearby bakery, a beautiful silver-haired automaton spoke in a flat tone. A refined-looking young man had tightly clasped her hand.
"Guards! There's a man who keeps touching my hand while pretending to make change. Please take him away," the automaton reported to Futayo. Being a machine, her voice carried no emotion. This was Horizon, a tragic girl whose soul had been sealed within a mechanical body after her death.
Futayo's eyes turned to Kurumi. Although she was part of the city guard responsible for maintaining order, she now served the Divine One directly. Thus, her every action awaited Kurumi's command.
"Hmm? Foolish brother, I told you to buy bread, and you made your sister wait so long. Do you want me to kick you into the gutter?" came a teasing voice beside the bakery.
"Sister, that's my bread!" protested a young man.
"This is punishment! I'm going shopping, so you'll buy another one for yourself," said Kimi Aoi cheerfully, snatching both bags of bread and casually tossing one to Kurumi.
Catching the bread, Kurumi felt her heart skip a beat. In that fleeting instant, she was struck by a strange feeling—an irresistible attraction toward Kimi Aoi. Oh no... I think I'm falling for her already. Her charm is absolutely divine.
"Since fate has brought us together, why don't we go shopping?" Kimi said brightly, tearing open her bread and taking a bite as she walked.
Even her movements, though intentionally graceful, carried an underlying power—a presence so overwhelming it left those around her unable to speak. The energy she radiated was palpable, and Kurumi could only watch her with an enchanted smile.
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