Campione: Strongest# 439: Time Drifts By

It was late February 1995.

Just as winter was expected to release its grip, a fresh blanket of white snow drifted down over Mifune City.

In Shiki Ryougi's bedroom, Haru sat cross-legged on the tatami mats, facing the window. He looked out at the thick bamboo grove, now crowned with snow, and sipped warm green tea.

Nearly two years had passed since he began mentoring Shiki and Fujino. Though his teaching methods were unconventional, the sheer talent of his two students was undeniable.

He had exhausted most of the knowledge suitable for their instruction, and soon, his excuse for blatantly 'taking liberties' under the guise of teaching would disappear.

“Buzz—!”

Just as Haru was lamenting the inevitable end of his pleasant routine, a low hum echoed from the bamboo grove. A large section of the forest vanished, as if bitten away by an invisible behemoth. The severed bamboo stalks crashed down with a deafening roar.

Snap! Crackle!

The bamboo groaned, collapsing onto the snow-covered ground and sending up plumes of white powder.

The quiet crunching of footsteps sounded softly.

Fujino Asagami, bundled in a white scarf and a thick black coat that made her look slightly round, walked slowly into the cleared space. The empty void in her eyes, circled by the swirling scarlet and emerald helix of her Mystic Eyes of Distortion, revealed the source of the destruction.

“Still hiding, Shiki-senpai?” Fujino said, a hint of mockery in her tone. Her deep, sharp eyes constantly swept the area, trying to lock onto her swiftly moving target.

Within the remaining bamboo, several red phantom blurs darted like lightning.

“Do you always have to rely on speed, dodging and weaving? Can’t you just face me head-on? Give me one clear shot,” Fujino complained in a low voice.

‘Face you head-on? And get twisted into a pretzel by your Mystic Eyes?’

Shiki didn't possess the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception yet. If she didn’t rely on her agility to confuse Fujino’s vision, she would surely be left vulnerable.

This was already their twelfth match this year, and it was always the same. One dodged, the other glared. If they couldn’t hurt each other, why were they so persistent?

Haru thought wryly. He knew better than to interfere. When women fought, intervening meant death, no matter whose side you took.

Fujino sighed softly, a cloud of white vapor escaping her lips. She brought her gloved hands together and rubbed them, savoring the warmth.

“I surrender. It’s already three o'clock. I have to go to cram school in half an hour.” She blinked, and her deep, vibrant eyes returned to their normal wine-red color as she spoke, her voice weak.

In this country, cram school was mandatory for students aiming for top grades.

Fujino, who was in the crucial phase before entering junior high, needed it even more. Though she was now an anomaly, she still clung to her mother's wish for her to be a normal girl. As long as conditions allowed, she wouldn't abandon her studies and sever her ties with the mundane world.

The red phantom blurs in the bamboo grove froze and, with a few fluid movements, Shiki materialized before Fujino. She wore a pale pink kimono and a red leather jacket, seemingly immune to the winter cold.

“Tsk, still couldn’t find an opening...”

Shiki pursed her lips, annoyed at another failed attempt to land a decisive blow. After a moment, she focused her gaze on Fujino. “What school are you planning to attend?” she asked, her tone cold.

“I’ll probably attend Reien Girls’ Academy. Akiha-senpai seems to want me to take over the student council presidency.”

Hearing the familiar name, Shiki glanced at Haru, who was sitting calmly in her bedroom, watching them. She frowned slightly.

If not for hearing it from Fujino and seeing the girls with her own eyes, Shiki wouldn’t have believed that Haru had several adopted daughters and was in a—disgraceful—relationship with one of them.

Because of this, Shiki had been giving him the cold shoulder for nearly a year, only allowing SHIKI, who was completely indifferent to such matters, to interact with him.

Though SHIKI mocked her, saying, 'We're in the same body. What difference does it make if I talk to him?' Shiki couldn't help but feel a deep-seated resentment toward the man who had too many women.

With a cold glance at Haru, Shiki turned back to Fujino. “Student council president? If you take that position, you’ll have to sacrifice most of your training time to school affairs.”

“…Don’t get complacent. Otherwise, I might kill you the next time we spar.”

“I know, but even if you’re worried about me, you don’t have to phrase it like a death threat.” Fujino’s face stiffened.

Though she was used to Shiki’s twisted way of showing affection, a death threat still filled the gentle girl with fear. In every sparring session, Shiki always went for the kill. If Haru wasn’t there to protect her, Fujino wouldn’t dare to fight.

—————

After seeing Fujino off, Shiki turned and walked straight toward the window. With a gentle tap of her tabi-clad foot, she leaped into the room.

Seeing her jump inside, Haru waved at the distant Fujino and took a small sip of tea. “Sleeping again? It’s only three o’clock.”

“The one who likes watching me sleep has no right to speak,” Shiki shot him a cold glance, removed her kimono, and, wearing only her white undergarments, burrowed into the comforter.

Though it was sad, after two years of being watched by Haru, Shiki could probably stream her showers without batting an eye. Of course, she'd still be holding a knife and threatening to stab him.

Dozens of minutes later.

“…Two years of observing,” Haru murmured, narrowing his eyes. Four strange lights, representing the rules of his body, rotated slowly in his golden pupils, trying to merge.

‘It’s not working. You probably need a few more years of observation. But if you're willing to use your long… tool… to go in and out of her, that might speed things up.’

Nyarlathotep, lying on the floor of his mental space reading shojo manga, laughed, shaking her cowlick.

“Shiki… that’s probably a no. But SHIKI… I might be able to try something with her…” Haru’s eyebrow twitched, his expression strange.

Just then, Shiki, who had been asleep, suddenly sat up and silently began to put on the kimono she had just taken off.