The Sogabu Middle School nurse's office was spacious and bright, with a clean and pleasant atmosphere. A gentle breeze stirred, and the paper wind chimes hanging by the window danced.
Eriri lay on the bed, her eyelids fluttering. She slowly opened her eyes, a look of confusion in her blue gaze. She pushed herself up with her hands. The white ceiling, the large medicine cabinet, and the female school nurse in a white coat behind the desk made her realize where she was. Eriri only remembered the last moment before she fainted: someone had picked her up, and then she lost consciousness.
"You're awake, young lady."
The school nurse walked from behind her desk to the bed, a gentle smile on her face. She blinked and looked at Eriri with concern.
"What... happened?"
Eriri's pale face regained a little color, and her voice was a little hoarse from lack of water.
"You really need to get more rest. Exhaustion can easily lead to low blood sugar. Luckily, a boy brought you here in time." The school nurse spoke patiently. She felt that many young people today took their bodies for granted, staying up all night. They were in the prime of their lives, full of energy, yet they developed illnesses that shouldn't appear at their age. As a doctor, she chose to work as a school nurse instead of in a hospital because she wanted to protect these children.
The nurse picked up a carton of milk and a red bean bun from a nearby cabinet and handed them to Eriri. With a gentle smile, she said, "Eat something. It's already afternoon. You must be hungry after not eating all day."
Hearing this, Eriri's stomach rumbled. She blushed and said, feeling a little embarrassed, "Thank you, doctor."
"You're welcome. These were brought by that boy. Besides, there's a lollipop here. Oh, what a thoughtful and considerate boy. If I were twenty years younger, I think I would fall for him." The school nurse smiled, a nostalgic look on her face, as if recalling her own youth.
"Doctor, what was the name of the person who brought me here?" Eriri asked, her mouth full of bun.
"I think his name was Hiratsuka..." The nurse gently placed a finger on her chin, trying to remember. Then her eyes lit up. "That's it! Hiratsuka Ryosuke! He's quite handsome, but he seemed a little cold."
Upon hearing this, Eriri stared at the milk and bun in her hands. She was in a daze. "It was him?" She thought to herself. "We've never even spoken a word to each other at school. And he saw me in my otaku state the first time we met."
Eriri tried to recall her encounters with Hiratsuka Ryosuke. The first time, he helped her after they bumped into each other in the villa district. The second time, he saved her from falling down the stairs and even left her food. This turn of events was just like... a classic scene from a romance game. "Male protagonist?! Wait!" The thought made Eriri lower her head, her pupils dilated, and she bit her lip. Her fair face turned bright red, and she even seemed to have steam coming from her head.
Suddenly, Eriri cried out, "I won't do that!" She was so flustered that her chest heaved as she shook her head to deny it. Her sudden cry startled the school nurse.
Not long after, Eriri finished the food that Hiratsuka Ryosuke had left for her.
"Looks like you're back to normal. Remember to get more rest in the future."
After thanking her, Eriri left the nurse's office. She unwrapped the lollipop and put it in her mouth. She checked her phone and saw a new email she had received at noon.
"Hello, Teacher Kashiwagi Eri. Your artwork was truly eye-catching. I will need many more illustrations of the Black Swordsman in the future. I wonder if you would be available to meet and discuss a long-term collaboration?"
"Sender: Ryou"
"This is amazing!" The huge bounty was hers! Eriri's eyes lit up, and she gripped her phone tightly.
As for a long-term collaboration... Eriri was tempted. She drew fan art not just for her love of it, but also to improve her skills and gain recognition. In the future, she hoped to join better fan art circles and meet more talented artists. Of course, earning money was a bonus. Drawing is a very expensive hobby, and relying on passion alone isn't sustainable and can lead to a lack of motivation.
Eriri bit her lip, feeling conflicted. She really wanted to meet Ryou. He seemed very generous and was probably a member of a big studio. A long-term collaboration would be beneficial for her future career. But she was so young, and she worried he would look down on her because of her age. In Japan, seniority is very important. Many talented newcomers are still suppressed by their older peers in a rigid society.
She shook her head, her twin ponytails bouncing everywhere. She then patted her face, and her eyes grew firm. Eriri took out her phone and replied to the email.
"It would be my pleasure. I'll bring the original draft. How about we meet at the Unshikawakunko Bookstore in Bunkyo District this Saturday?"
The other person seemed to be waiting for her reply and responded quickly with a simple, "Okay."
Eriri's eyes lit up, and she clenched her fists, making a victory pose. Since they were going to have a long-term collaboration, and the client needed more illustrations of the Black Swordsman, the answer was obvious. She would secretly observe her "model" at the kendo club and then draw at home. "It's not because I care about Hiratsuka Ryosuke," she told herself. "It's just for work." Eriri didn't even notice that her original goal of getting Hiratsuka Ryosuke to keep her secret was now forgotten. She was now seeking him out for research.
She checked the time. School had just let out. Hiratsuka Ryosuke must have already gone to the kendo club, so she needed to hurry.
At the entrance of the kendo club, Hiratsuka Ryosuke was alone because Shinka and Nishimiya Shoko had their own club activities. Eriri's drawing was indeed good, but the "Kirito-like" vibe gave him a sense of deja vu. If the face and actions weren't so different and based on the request document, he would have thought the artist was someone he knew. However, he would get to meet the artist this Saturday. He hoped to secure a long-term collaboration. After all, who wouldn't want a fast and talented artist?
"Vice-Captain, hello!"
As soon as he walked in, the club members greeted him. Hayama Hayato, who had arrived earlier, also smiled and nodded at him. Ryosuke hadn't had many close peers growing up, so he was still not used to this kind of attention. He quickly found Takamachi Kyoya in the crowd.
"Captain."
"You're here, Hiratsuka." Takamachi Kyoya always wore a peaceful smile, like a gentle and reliable older brother.
"The match yesterday was interrupted before it even began. I want to continue," Ryosuke said. This was the first time he had met someone his age who felt like a true master. The captain's aura and the way he carried himself yesterday made Ryosuke believe he had also practiced an ancient sword style. The murderous intent hidden beneath his gentle smile wasn't something you could develop from just practicing modern kendo.
Takamachi Kyoya nodded. With the implementation of the Haitorei (Sword Abolishment Edict) in the Meiji era, the samurai class declined. The warriors gradually disappeared from the stage of history, replaced by Western guns and cannons. Most ancient sword styles also faded into history. He didn't know the "Onshin Fuhai Ryu" from the anime, but the "Muga Ryu" he practiced was a powerful ancient sword style. His lineage came from the captain of the third unit of the Shinsengumi, a man originally named Saitō Hajime, who later became a policeman under the name Fujita Gorō.
Both of them put on their protective gear, and the battle was on. The other club members also noticed that the two's auras were completely different from yesterday. They watched the two of them without making a sound.
Eriri didn't expect to walk into this scene. She tiptoed to the edge of the crowd and quickly took out her sketchbook. It looked like she would get some good reference material today.
As a fellow practitioner of an ancient sword style, Takamachi Kyoya knew what Hiratsuka Ryosuke wanted to see. He gave up the fixed stance of modern kendo and took on a posture that the club members had never seen before. Takamachi Kyoya's knees were slightly bent, his right hand holding the sword, the back of the blade resting in the crook of his left hand. He looked straight at Hiratsuka Ryosuke and said with a serious tone, "Muga-ryu—Takamachi Kyoya!"
Hiratsuka Ryosuke's heart filled with joy. He was right. His expression under the mask was invisible to others, but his usually calm face was now filled with excitement. Indeed, his opponent also held a menkyo in an ancient sword style. He didn't use a modern kendo stance either. He placed the bamboo sword at his waist, steadily lowering his body. With a strong fighting spirit, he said seriously, "Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu—Hiratsuka Ryosuke!"