PART 2
Though being left behind with a concussion certainly had its effect on him, Kusuhara headed calmly to the dojo with training sword in hand. It wasn"t that he"d completely accepted Hidaka"s backup, but he may have been tougher than he thought.
If luck was on his side, he may be able to see Zenjoh as he trained. He had s.p.a.ced out during the day, but if he asked properly he may be able to get some sort of advice. If anything, he"d just practice swinging.
The dojo building looked hazy in the night air. It was dark and dead silent with a dreadful air, like the other day.
-- Ah… Zenjoh-san"s here. Kusuhara just continued walking. He planned to call out to him when he"d gotten just close enough so that he wouldn"t suddenly jump out and cut him.
Then he saw someone in a state of undress in the hallway that reached from the southern building. It was Director Munakata. Though he was still not visible from the dojo, the presence emanating from within the dojo turned into something even more on edge in response to either Munakata"s footsteps, or a presence even stranger.
Kusuhara hurriedly veered away from the path. He took his time going around the back of the dojo, walking quietly, and peeked in through the window. Zenjoh was in the center of the dojo. He was sitting the same way he had during training in the daytime, but, maybe due to the long sword at his side, he seemed much more tense. And across the dojo from Kusuhara on the other side, on the step of the large, open window sat Munakata. His back was to Zenjoh and Kusuhara. The atmosphere wasn"t as awkward as it was the other day, but it was too much to say it was friendly. Kusuhara hesitated as to whether or not he should say something to them.
"…How was the training today?" Munakata asked, looking towards the inner garden.
"Ah… Their enthusiasm has affected me," Zenjoh answered, still facing inside the dojo.
"Heh… You say things an old man would say."
"I am old."
"…Well, we"ll leave it at that, then."
"Huh…" Zenjoh"s tone was completely hard in response to Munakata"s almost calm words to himself. That body sitting upright seemed as though it would burst forth in the next moment to cut Munakata"s back. On the contrary, it was bizarre that Munakata was easily fending off such vigor that could cause anyone to hold their breath simply by looking.
"May I hear what I"ve asked of you?"
-- Ah, this is…
It was the personnel selection talks. Kusuhara took a deep breath and listened carefully.
"First… Awashima-kun. How is she?"
After a few hesitant beats, "This is my personal opinion, but," Zenjoh began as he spoke. "She has mature, good swordsmanship. She is the perfect example for the troops."
"Hm." Munakata nodded slightly. His expression was not visible. "Well then, the commanders beneath her… How about, Akiyama?"
"He is also strong. His balance is good next to Awashima"s. He would be promising in an important position."
"Benzai."
"He"s rather mild-tempered, but steady. He would be good for defense."
"Camo."
"His entrances are a bit much. You have to make sure he doesn"t run ahead, but this is where he"ll be of most use."
"Domyoji."
"He has strong habits, but it would be most beneficial to not hold them back."
"…I see." Munakata nodded again. "Any others of note?"
"Hidaka, Gotoh, Fuse, Enomoto… Was placing all the eccentric ones in Domyoji"s squad an intentional arrangement?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Basically, hoodlums of a sort…"
Munakata let escape a small breath. He seemed to have laughed. "Well, it"s something like a toy box. Is there a problem?"
"No… It would be best if everyone were to be a bit more serious, but they have room to grow."
Afterwards, Zenjoh gave a few names with brief reviews. Then,
"…How about him?" Munakata said suddenly.
"Him…?" Zenjoh tilted his head slightly. "Ahh, you mean Kusuhara Takeru."
-- !? Not expecting to hear his name, Kusuhara held his breath. He heard his heart beat a few times as it grew louder.
After a rather long pause, "…He"s interesting." Zenjoh said.
"Interesting?"
"Yes."
"…Heh." Munakata"s shoulders shook as he laughed, and he suddenly turned around. "…Is what he says, Kusuhara-kun."
"Huh… Ah!" Kusuhara straightened his back from his peeking position and bowed. "I-I"m sorry!"
Two, three seconds of an awkward silence pa.s.sed,
"My."
Zenjoh was at the other side of Munakata"s line of sight. He was still facing the inside of the dojo, but at a closer look the tension in his shoulders was gone, and he was rubbing his chin with his right hand.
"This is new… The demon is laughing."
"I"m not a demon. I laugh and cry."
"…Then I would surely like to see you crying someday."
Zenjoh"s hand stopped. His expression was unreadable.
"Apologies. That was a joke… Thank you for your opinions. I"ll consider it." Munakata said and stood. He waved his hand slightly to the other two and walked off.
As the sounds of sandaled footsteps grew distant, Zenjoh finally took his sword in his hand and stood. "I"m going, too," he said to Kusuhara with a small smile. "I"m a bit exhausted mentally… I always get nervous when I talk with him."
"Ah, yes. Um… Thanks for your hard work."
"Lock up after yourself." He pointed to the key hanging on the side of the entrance, then left the dojo.
And then, Kusuhara, now left alone, stood in the center of the dojo and began to practice his forms and swings, but just couldn"t get into it. After a little while, he swung his bamboo sword in his gloomy state, and he suddenly realized he"d forgotten to ask -- What does "interesting" mean?
†
The reorganization wasn"t long after that, and was put into effect on May 1st. Each member of the swordsmen division were gathered in the hall of a government office, and Scepter 4 lieutenant Awashima Seri handed each person an official notification of appointment.
"Akiyama Himori."
"Ma"am."
"As of today, you are appointed to the swordsmen division special duty corps."
"Ma"am." Akiyama took the notice and gave a single bow, turned back and returned to the front of the first squad"s line. However, once the ceremony was over, he would leave the first squad and become a member of the new "special duty corps."
"Next, Benzai Yujiroh."
"Ma"am." Taking Akiyama"s place, Benzai stepped out from the front of the second squad line.
"Likewise, you are appointed to the special duty corps."
"Ma"am."
"Next, Camo Ryuho--"
--First the four squad commanders, namely Akiyama, Benzai, Camo, Domyoji, in addition to a few others from each of the squads were listed off and told of their selection in the special duty corps. The fourth squad"s Hidaka, Gotoh, Fuse, and Enomoto were included in that. Then, in each squad, one commander and four leaders were appointed from the remaining troops. Over all, a little less than half of the troops had a change in status, and the remaining half were to remain as is.
Then, lastly--
"Kusuhara Takeru."
"What? …Ma"am!?" He"d thought this had nothing to do with him, but when his name was called when he hadn"t been expecting it, Kusuhara hurriedly jumped out to the front of the line. Awashima nodded lightly to Kusuhara, who stood at attention, and read off his appointment notice.
"As of today, you are appointed to the general affairs file room."
†
"General affairs file room"--
-- …That"s where Zenjoh-san is, isn"t it. Why me? What do they want me to do there? Kusuhara, back in line and standing up straight, mulled over the thoughts that were spinning in his head.
"--Concluded. Everyone must gather in their new affiliations after this and discuss what’s forthcoming. You are dismissed." Awashima"s words of conclusion barely reached anybody"s ears.
Which is when,
"Wait, waaait!" Kusuhara was suddenly grabbed on the upper arm by Hidaka, who forcefully pulled him.
"Huh? Wh-wha--!?" Hidaka held a confused Kusuhara"s head under his arm and marched forward violently, then took Kusuhara"s notice of appointment from his hand and slammed it down on the table in front of Awashima.
"What on earth does this mean!?"
The other swordsmen troops, who"d just been dismissed, stopped in their tracks and turned back at the menacing att.i.tude.
"Pardon?" Awashima knitted her brows, tilting her head. It was a hard, cold expression, the "mask of ice" acquaintances and troops tease her for. But it was only today that Hidaka didn"t back down.
"I mean! Why"s only he get put somewhere else!? This is a demotion or whatever, isn"t it!"
"Why do you think so?"
"Whaddya mean why…!?" Hidaka hesitated. Because he was the type to talk a whole lot, he wasn"t very good at answering questions "…Well, he"s made a mess of a lotta things lately… And he even couldn"t go out to work the other day…" He looked away, faltering in his speech. "But, just because of that…!"
Awashima sighed quietly. "Hidaka. It seems you"re upset, so I will explain the situation to you myself." Her tone was calm and rather courteous. She didn"t seem mad. "First, this reorganization was for business efficiency within the entire organization, not for ranking troops and much less individual discipline."
"…Urgh."
Awashima remonstrated him slowly, and Hidaka fell silent again.
"Second, like the other troops, Kusuhara is someone who"s had his talents discovered and appointed directly by Director Munakata. You should also think of this a.s.signment as a part of the Director"s planned most efficient human deployment."
"…What, but…"
"Third--" Awashima"s expression changed slightly. It was without the mask, and rather pensive. "There is something I also don"t understand about Kusuhara"s treatment."
"Then…!" Hidaka leaned forward, but Awashima"s expression tightened once again, unapproachable, and she spoke.
"…However. This is all according to the Director"s plans. It is not something we can put a word in on. That is all for an official explanation." Then, as to make doubly sure, Awashima spoke as she stared fixedly at Hidaka"s eyes. "If you absolutely must, then if I were you, I would ask the Director directly."
"Eh…!?" Hidaka held his breath for a moment, and, looking away, spoke. "…There"s no way I could do something like that."
"Then this conversation is over."
"Ugh…" Hidaka tensed, and behind him,
"You did great! You did really great, Hidaka. Up against that scary Awashima!"
"The Director"s even scarier, though."
"Well, can"t do much about that."
The former members of the fourth squad whispered to each other, but when Awashima glanced up, they simultaneously held their tongues and fixed their posture. Awashima gave a disgusted-sounding sigh, and this time faced Kusuhara. "Kusuhara. Do you have any remarks?"
"No, none in particular." Kusuhara fixed his posture and answered, and Awashima nodded.
"Then, this situation may be a bit hard to swallow, but please work to your utmost in your new position."
"Yes… But, um."
"What is it?"
Kusuhara said to her, who had tilted her head, "Would it be alright… if I asked the Director directly about his reasons?"
"Hey!? What are you saying!?" Hidaka hit Kusuhara"s back.
Behind him,
"Man, he"s fearless."
"Could it be, he"s at his rebellious phase…? Heheh."
"The h.e.l.l is that?"
As Fuse and Gotoh whispered to each other, "Shh, she"ll get mad at you again." Enomoto hurriedly stopped them.
"Uh… Well, okay." On the other hand, Awashima gave a vague response, a dumbfounded expression on her face.
"Well then…"
†
When Kusuhara told Lieutenant Awashima that he would ask, it wasn"t to make fun of her. It wasn"t quite "confidence," but something like a vague aim.
That night, the dojo.
-- Could it be, today too… He thought, and when he"d headed over, they were indeed there.
Zenjoh and Director Munakata. As usual they were not face-to-face, sitting in their usual spots keeping an odd, tense air about them. It wasn"t as though they were going to chat, nor was it an open, "just being together is enough" type of atmosphere. Even still, they came to the dojo almost every night, creating this tense situation.
-- I don"t really get it, but they"re both pretty eager… He thought dully as he neared.
"Ah, Kusuhara-kun." As usual, Director Munakata called out to him from a distance. Rather, he probably had noticed him much earlier, and just waited until he"d been close enough to hear.
And then--
"Heheh… So that"s what Hidaka-kun said… He"s a hot-blooded man." When Kusuhara spoke of what happened during the day, Munakata chuckled. Zenjoh, possibly listening to the conversation, faced the side, completely silent, like he was the other day. "So, Kusuhara-kun. What is your question?"
"Huh?"
"Haven"t you come to ask me my reason for being unfair?"
"No, it"s not unfair… If it is a demotion, then it can"t be helped. I"ve only caused problems for my seniors in the corps…"
"Hm." Munakata, without confirming or denying it, made a vague remark.
"But that"s… not the reason, right?"
"…Oh?" Munakata looked at Kusuhara"s face, his interested piqued slightly.
"Director, you seem to be really interested in the file-- no, in Zenjoh-san… I just thought that… Maybe putting me there probably has special meaning or something."
"…Hm." Munakata once again made a vague remark and suddenly turned to Zenjoh. "Zenjoh-san, Kusuhara-kun says as such… But do you think the same?"
Zenjoh didn"t answer. Keeping his sitting posture, he simply glared with a scowl on his face at the floor a few meters in front of him.
"Well… Your face says, "what are you plotting?"" Munakata gave a slight smile. "How frightening. I may be eaten."
At his provoking tone, Zenjoh finally began to speak slowly. "…No, not a plot… I just find it hard to judge your intentions." His gaze still didn"t move. He was still trying to outstare the dojo floor. "…At least to me, there is no reason to think it good to downgrade a young man with a future to a do-nothing job."
"Of course not." Munakata responded readily. "I want of course young men with futures, as well as seasoned veterans to display that power in a suitable place. That"s what I think."
Zenjoh stirred slightly.
"Heheh… Your face says, "this has been unnecessary trouble," Zenjoh-san." Munakata"s smile grew bigger. "The old file room is where you"d transition until you"d adjusted to the new Scepter 4. That was the promise, but… You sure seem to like that dark place." Munakata paused momentarily, waiting for Zenjoh"s response. But it never came. "Zenjoh-san, as I"m sure you are aware, Scepter 4 is an unofficial organization, but its purpose of existence is very public. Social paradigms originally manage and control those with unusual powers who do not even obey the laws of physics… Were it not for our work, just keeping the structure of this country would be dangerous." And Zenjoh still did not speak. Munakata continued, "…And, at the same time. I think of the present Scepter 4 as mine--no, as myself. All the information, authority, facilities, and even each and every member that Scepter 4 has should all be one system that moves beneath my will."
Zenjoh brought his brows together slightly. What was reflected in his eyes was either surprise at Munakata"s audacious self-confidence, or suspicion at his self-righteousness.
"And so… The system"s black box is a part of me as well as something that is out of my control. That is you, Zenjoh-san."
"Hah… My apologies."
"However, it would nevertheless be a waste to omit it. Your "Demon Fang"… I want it to be of use to Scepter 4 under any circ.u.mstances."
Zenjoh answered Munakata"s words without facing him at all. "What an overestimation."
"And you are much too humble. No, it"s better to call it self-effacement." Munakata said with a provocative tone, but Zenjoh was unresponsive. "Still, I can"t force you to obey me. And were I to remove your fangs and tame you, you would no longer be a demon. Heheh… This is quite the problem." Munakata was smiling, clearly enjoying himself, when he suddenly turned to face Kusuhara. "Kusuhara-kun. How do you feel about this situation?"
"Huh?"
He spoke to Kusuhara, who unwittingly straightened his posture. "I"m distressed. Zenjoh-san is also distressed. And I"m sure you have your own worries. So every person here right now is distressed."
"Uh, that"s… Yes, I am."
Munakata let slip a chuckle. "But there is where the interests of all three people here coincide. Give-and-take, you could say."
"Yeah…" Not quite understanding, Kusuhara responded vaguely. Zenjoh also wore a puzzled look on his face.
"Ah, it seems I"ve been indirect. Then I"ll get straight to the point." Munakata faced Zenjoh directly. "Zenjoh-san, I want you to leave the blood of the demon in my Scepter 4."
"Blood…?" Kusuhara tilted his head, and Zenjoh also knitted his brows. "…I don"t quite understand what you mean."
He was probably expecting an answer like that. Munakata spoke calmly. "Basically, what I mean is that since you still continue to refuse to partic.i.p.ate in the combat troops, I want you to pa.s.s on your skills to Kusuhara here in your place."
"Nah… I don"t have anything like "skills" on me."
"Of course, your techniques are not the kind that can be taught evenly to a line of students." Munakata said lightly. "And that"s where Kusuhara-kun comes in."
"What?"
"I"ll have Kusuhara move with Zenjoh, and steal those skills as he is able for the time being. Well, it"s like special training."
"Uh, Um…" Kusuhara looked around as though trying to ascertain the situation, then once again faced Munakata. "…Are you telling me to become like Zenjoh-san…?"
Munakata gave a small smile. "Not quite. However, I would be happy if you were to inherit some kind of element. Yes, an element that works beyond even my expectations in my Scepter 4." Then he and Kusuhara looked to Zenjoh. "I feel there is some value in trying it out… What do you think Zenjoh-san?"
"Make Kusuhara my replacement… huh." Zenjoh frowned, and Munakata smiled delightfully.
"Heheh… You seem unwilling. You"re not the kind of person to force the work you hate on a young person and be okay with it. However, what if not I, but the person in question were to ask that of you?" Munakata glanced at Kusuhara. "How about it, Kusuhara-kun? The opportunity to be mentored directly by Zenjoh Goki is a rare one."
"Hah…" Directing his gaze diagonally upwards, Kusuhara tried to picture it. Zenjoh"s ghastly bearing, and a tremendous draw that could slice an enemy in half by spirit alone--
Now, he was being made into some sort of pretense of Director Munakata"s expectations. That he knew. But depending on the circ.u.mstances, were he able to feel a part of Zenjoh"s power--
"Um… Zenjoh-san?" Kusuhara stood up straight, and facing Zenjoh he asked directly, "…I ask you too, would you please?"
He then waited for Zenjoh to answer… but he didn"t. He first looked to Kusuhara, then Munakata, then stood slowly and headed for the entrance.
"Ah…"
Kusuhara watched him leave and Munakata, beside him, laughed. "Heheh… You got through to him, Kusuhara-kun."
"Huh…?"
"Were I to ask, it would not have gone like that. I"d expected no less from you."
"What… hah." Looking back and forth between the exit that Zenjoh disappeared from and Munakata who was smiling beside him, and asked, "Um… What were you expecting from me?"
"Well, that is…" Munakata brought his hand to his gla.s.ses and chuckled. "…Your charm, I suppose."
"…Huh?" Giving a slow-witted response, Kusuhara scratched his head.