"Hmph! Shinobu, this time I'm doing it for your sake. If you weren't here, that Kujou Tengu would already be on her knees before me, crying and begging me to forgive her."
Under the night sky.
Arataki Itto and Shinobu walked down the bustling, lantern-lit cobblestone street, Arataki Itto thumping his chest as he spoke.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah."
Kuki Shinobu nodded, humoring him.
"Maybe it's just my imagination, but why do I get the feeling you don't quite believe what I'm saying, Shinobu?"
Arataki Itto stopped in his tracks.
"You're overthinking it, boss."
Kuki Shinobu sighed.
"Hahaha, true enough. After all, you saw it yourself—when I just challenged Kujou Tengu to a sumo match, she talked tough, but her face went pale with fear."
Arataki Itto laughed heartily. "After all, I've been reading Fang Qiu's books lately, and my strength has shot up quite a bit."
"Reading books can actually make you stronger?"
Kuki Shinobu asked.
"Hahaha, of course it can!"
Arataki Itto said with a completely straight face, "A few days back I heard a little girl from the Kamisato Estate Dojo say that when you train in the way of the sword, at first you train the body, but once your skill reaches its peak, you train the heart—striving for a realm where your heart is like iron, indestructible. So after the Traveler shipped the books over to Inazuma a while back, I read every single one of Fang Qiu's books, and now I feel a whole lot stronger. Hahaha, that's just like yours truly, to come up with such a convenient way to power up. Give it a few days, and I'll use this method to recruit members for our Arataki Gang, then storm the Tenryou Commission and give that Kujou Tengu what's coming to her!"
"Boss, you'd better stop right there. Keep talking like that and you'll get hauled into the Tenryou Commission again."
Kuki Shinobu said.
"Why?"
Arataki Itto asked, a bit puzzled.
"Never mind, let's drop it."
Kuki Shinobu pressed a hand to her forehead and changed the subject. "Boss, why are we taking the long way around to Hanamizaka to buy books? Isn't there a bookstore right near the Tenryou Commission?"
"Hahaha, I'm the mighty Arataki Itto, Number One Under Heaven, the boss of Hanamizaka in heaven and on earth alike. If I'm going to buy books, it has to be at the main store. How could I stoop to buying from a branch shop?"
Arataki Itto said with a laugh, then looked earnestly at Kuki Shinobu and went on, "Shinobu, you ought to learn a thing or two from me. You're the second-in-command of the Arataki Gang, after all. You've got to mind your words and conduct at all times—best if you take after me. A boss has a boss's code of conduct, and a second-in-command should have a second-in-command's code too."
"Understood."
Kuki Shinobu said.
"Let's go, or it'll be too late."
Arataki Itto said.
They made their way to Hanamizaka. The entrance of the main Yae Publishing House store was already packed with people, a long line snaking and coiling around.
"This..."
Arataki Itto's expression soured.
At this rate, standing in this line would take until the dead of night...
He glanced at the standee by the Yae Publishing House entrance—Lady Shina holding Fang Qiu's Your Name—and every trace of retreat vanished from his face in an instant. He mulled it over, then said, "Come to think of it, I haven't eaten yet. I earned a little cash hauling bricks recently. Go call Genta and the others over, and grab a cart while you're at it. Then buy some hot pot ingredients. We'll eat hot pot while we wait in line, and when it's time to move forward, we just push the cart along. We can even treat the folks ahead of us to some food in exchange for their spots—they've been waiting here so long, they definitely haven't eaten. That's just like yours truly, an absolute genius! Ah, hahahaha!"
"Boss, it's a great idea and all, but I already had Genta and the others get in line ahead of time. We shouldn't have to wait long before we can buy the books."
Kuki Shinobu said, glancing at Arataki Itto, who was bellowing away and laughing merrily.
"Ahem, is that so. That's just like you, Shinobu—always so thorough. Still, you've got a ways to go before you catch up to me. Keep at it."
Arataki Itto said with a cough.
Just as they were talking, a young man near the front of the line jumped and waved, shouting:
"Boss, over here!"
Two other young men beside him waved as well.
"Hmm... They're not exactly at the front, but it shouldn't take too long. Shinobu, let's go."
Arataki Itto said, rubbing his chin.
"Mm."
Kuki Shinobu nodded.
They walked over to Genta and the others. Since they couldn't cut in line, they stood off to the side and chatted with them.
Arataki Itto launched into tales of his glorious exploits at the Tenryou Commission over the past few days.
How Kujou Tengu was so terrified of him.
How just now, when they'd left the Tenryou Commission, Kujou Tengu had gone pale with fear at his duel invitation and had only dared to threaten to throw him back in jail for a few more days.
His underlings listened, excitement written all over their faces.
"That's our boss—pulling off with ease what the rest of us never could!"
"The boss is mighty!"
"The boss really is merciful—he didn't make Kujou Tengu lose face in public."
The underlings' flattery had Arataki Itto beaming, and he burst into hearty laughter, drawing disgusted looks from the people waiting in line around them.
"The Arataki Gang again—that bunch of good-for-nothings, making a racket every single day! So annoying."
"That Arataki Itto, so cocky last time, and in the end he only bought two books. Cracks me up."
"How did this Arataki Itto get released so soon? This guy battles Onikabuto below my window every day, driving me up the wall with all his noise... sigh... Writing my book tomorrow is going to be torture again."
"Same here... I work the night shift, and every time I'm trying to sleep, this guy makes such a racket..."
The crowd grumbled, but Itto didn't care in the slightest, laughing away to himself.
For a moment, the grumbling, the roaring laughter, and the chatter about Fang Qiu's new book all blended into one.
"So loud! Why did it suddenly get so noisy... Especially that laugh, it sounds so familiar... So loud!"
In a corner by the Yae Publishing House, a wooden barrel wobbled twice, its lid lifting slightly. A hand gripped the rim, and a little head promptly poked out.
Sayu rubbed her bleary, sleep-heavy eyes and gazed blankly at the crowd in line. Following the bursts of laughter that rolled out like sound waves, she spotted a tall man standing with his hands on his hips, roaring with laughter.
"It's him again! How can anyone be so loud and rowdy!"
Sayu was furious.
And on top of that, he got to grow so tall!
What gives!
Along with her anger came a twinge of regret.
She'd figured she was too sleepy, and even though it was a little noisy near the Yae Publishing House entrance, her ninjutsu could block out some of the volume.
Besides, noisy as it was, it hadn't been that noisy.
So she hadn't worried about being woken up.
Who would've thought that this Arataki Itto guy would show up to buy books too.
Along with his rowdy pack of underlings.
So annoying!
Were they here to buy Fang Qiu's books as well?
Fang Qiu!
Why did this person have to write so well! Well enough that even someone like Arataki Itto liked it!
So infuriating!
Sayu glanced at Arataki Itto and his underlings, then let her gaze settle on Kuki Shinobu, who stood beside them.
She wasn't saying anything, but standing together with them, she was clearly one of Arataki Itto's underlings.
Definitely another sleep-disturber.
Birds of a feather.
Hmm... no wait! Tanuki of a feather!
How infuriating!
Didn't they know that interrupting someone's sleep was a huge taboo?
Sayu wavered over whether to go settle the score with Arataki Itto.
But after a moment's thought, she decided against it.
Whether she could actually beat him was one thing.
That Arataki Itto was so noisy, and settling the score with him would waste a huge chunk of time.
That time would be better spent sleeping.
Sleep is one of life's great priorities!
She couldn't let someone like him eat into her sleep time!
At this thought, Sayu formed a hand seal.
"Heave-ho."
With a soft sound, the wooden barrel that had completely concealed Sayu's body vanished on the spot.
Sayu landed steadily on the ground.
Just as she turned to leave, a voice rang out.
"? Isn't that the little tanuki cat? Good evening—have you eaten?"
Hearing that nickname, Sayu had had enough.
She turned and strode toward Arataki Itto.
"Boss, I'd really suggest you duck out of the way, or you're about to get walloped."
Kuki Shinobu took a step back.
"Hahaha, I'm not scared..."
Arataki Itto turned to look at Kuki Shinobu, laughing heartily as he spoke.
But even as he laughed, Sayu turned into a gust of wind and rushed at Arataki Itto with blinding speed.
Before Arataki Itto could finish his sentence, Sayu leapt up and smacked him across the head.
Then came a rapid flurry of punches.
She drove Arataki Itto stumbling backward until he nearly tripped and fell.
After landing a few punches on Arataki Itto, Sayu finally dropped back to the ground, satisfied, and turned to walk off into the distance.
This time, she decided to go sleep at the Tenryou Commission.
If Arataki Itto dared make a racket there, he'd surely get caught by Kujou Sara and thrown in jail.
Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly felt something press down on her head.
Sayu looked back and only then realized that Arataki Itto was standing behind her, patting her head.
He actually dared to pat her head!
Didn't this guy know that getting your head patted stunts your growth?
Ugh... all her sleep from these past few days had gone to waste...
No wait!
This guy grew so tall—how could he not know!
He definitely couldn't stand to see her grow taller!
Afraid she'd grow taller than him, so he'd come over on purpose to pat her head!
That had to be it!
Otherwise he wouldn't normally make such a racket and disturb everyone's sleep!
What a heinous villain!
Sayu slapped Arataki Itto's hand away, then leapt up, making as if to strike Arataki Itto's head.
This time she was set on hitting harder.
So this guy would never dare disturb her sleep again!
"Heh, short arms—can't reach me."
A smug grin tugged at the corner of Arataki Itto's mouth as he leaned his body backward, watching Sayu's fist swing past just in front of him.
But his triumph didn't last long. His grin froze, and the corner of his mouth twitched without stopping.
As she dropped, Sayu kicked Arataki Itto in the shin, then flipped and landed steadily on the ground.
"Hmph! Call me tanuki cat again and I'll beat you up."
Sayu warned.
"You've already beaten me up, haven't you?"
Arataki Itto said, grimacing as he balanced on one leg, clutching his foot.
"And no touching my head, or I'll beat you up too."
Sayu snorted, then turned into a gust of wind and dashed off toward the Tenryou Commission.
On her way there, she thought it over.
Given Arataki Itto's personality, he really might go make trouble at the Tenryou Commission.
After all, while she'd been sleeping just now, she'd seemed to hear that Arataki Itto had only just come out of the Tenryou Commission.
She might as well head over near the Tenshukaku instead.
That guy probably wouldn't dare go near there, right?
That settled it!
And so, Sayu made a beeline straight for the Tenshukaku.
"Ssss... that little tanuki cat really didn't hold back. Ssss, it's probably bruised already."
Arataki Itto said with a grimace.
"Well, whose fault is it for calling her a little tanuki cat and patting her head?"
Kuki Shinobu said helplessly.
The look Sayu had given her just now made it clear she'd lumped her in as birds of a feather too.
"But she IS a tanuki cat, isn't she? And who wouldn't want to pat the head of such an adorable tanuki cat? Don't you want to, Shinobu?"
Arataki Itto said.
"That's not the point."
Kuki Shinobu let out a helpless sigh.
"Here I am being so friendly, and yet this little tanuki cat either runs off the moment she sees me or charges in to hit me. She really can't tell good intentions from bad."
Arataki Itto said, "Still, as the boss of the Hanamizaka Arataki Gang, I won't stoop to bickering with a little tanuki cat. Hahahahaha."
"That's our boss—never bullies the weak!"
"Yeah, when I saw the boss getting hit just now, I froze for a second, but then it clicked—the boss just didn't want to bully that little tanuki cat, so he let her hit him."
"Exactly, exactly—the boss really is a bigger man! Doesn't hold it against that little tanuki cat."
Genta and the others chimed in one after another.
"That... that girl hasn't gone far yet—careful she hears what you're saying."
Kuki Shinobu sighed helplessly. "I don't know whether she can beat the boss, but she can probably take the three of you. Careful she comes and thrashes you when the boss and I aren't around."
Genta and the others immediately backed down, no longer daring to speak up.
Though they weren't skilled fighters, they'd been running around with Arataki Itto long enough to have seen a thing or two.
Their boss had just been teasing the little tanuki cat for fun, and clearly she hadn't meant to go all out either—she'd only bruised Arataki Itto's shin.
If the little tanuki cat had overheard all that cocky talk just now, there was no telling whether she'd hold back—she might well beat them black and blue.
"Oh right, boss, tell us again about how you subdued the other prisoners in jail with your commanding presence. Let us learn from it some more."
To smooth over the awkwardness, Kuki Shinobu spoke up.
"Hahahaha, all right, let me tell it in more detail."
With that, Arataki Itto launched into his prison stories for Genta and the others.
Seeing the mood return to normal, Kuki Shinobu breathed a sigh of relief.
Still, there was no escaping the grumbling from the people around them.
As for Sayu, she raced all the way toward the Tenshukaku, then found a spot in everyone's blind spot. She made a hand sign, and the barrel that had vanished earlier reappeared before her.
Sayu climbed unhurriedly into the barrel, and just as she was about to pull the lid shut, an amused voice sounded in her ear.
"Little one, you've got some nerve—slacking off all the way to the Tenshukaku. That'll get you sentenced to hard labor, working day and night."
Hard labor?
Working day and night?
At these words, a chill ran down Sayu's spine.
____
________________________________________
💖 Gift for Everyone: Once we hit 50 Powerstones, I'll release +1 bonus chapter to warm your hearts.
🚀 Community Reward: If we reach 20 supporting members, we'll have a +5 chapter marathon across all stories! The romance won't stop.
👻 Come to our secret corner: Search for GirlsLove on (P). You know that's where the magic happens... 😉