Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 93

　Dry shockwaves rippled through the air. It wasn't just once, but two or three times, echoing intermittently.

　"Gah...!?"

　Under a relentless barrage of fierce strikes, Tamaki could only defend herself. She gritted her teeth, desperately attempting to either intercept or deflect the attacks.

　Of course, even that alone was a feat of artistic skill. Through training in her hometown and guidance from her master since being entrusted to Onitsuki's house, both experiences contributed to the remarkable swordplay of this teenage girl.

　Considering her youth and the amount of experience she had, one could even call her a genius... However, that impression was only for those seeing her for the first time. It was evident to anyone familiar with her training at Onitsuki's mansion that her movements lacked brilliance, and thus, the outcome of the match was clear.

　"Aaah... Break!"

　"Uwah...!?"

　In response to the opponent's attack and their accompanying shout, Tamaki couldn't react in time. In the next moment, the wooden sword she had been gripping was sent flying. It spun in the air before forcefully embedding itself into the ground. And with that, the match was over.

　"Thank you for the match."

　"T-thank you for the match..."

　For a brief moment, Tamaki was dumbfounded. But she quickly regained her senses as her opponent respectfully bowed. In a hurry, she returned the gesture by bowing her head. When she raised her head again, she was met with the sight of a girl with purple hair, styled in a bob, glaring at her with clear displeasure.

　Hotoya Tamaki and Ako Murasaki, two girls of similar age who were both disciples under Onitsuki Sumire, had been sparring in the outskirts of Hieda County.

　The sparring itself was nothing out of the ordinary, just part of their daily training to keep their skills sharp under the guidance of Onitsuki Sumire.

　...The problem lay in the unsettling and tense atmosphere between the two.

　"You seem uncertain in your swordplay, Tamaki-san."

　The first words spoken by Murasaki after her bow were clearly filled with dissatisfaction. Or perhaps they were harsh.

　"You haven't been putting your heart into your training these past few days, have you? It takes quite some nerve to meet your senior disciple with such a half-hearted attitude," Murasaki commented, causing Tamaki to apologize nervously. "Eh, umm... I'm sorry."

　"No need to apologize. But I'd like to hear the reason behind neglecting your training. We can't afford to let our skills deteriorate over trivial matters. The role of exorcism cannot be performed with such a careless mindset, isn't it?"

　Murasaki's remark caused Tamaki's expression to darken. Tamaki was well aware of that fact. Even with the limited experience of fighting a few young youkai, she had already engraved it in her heart. Battling supernatural monsters was something that required constant vigilance. She couldn't remain sluggish like this forever. She couldn't, but...

　"Well, you see..."

　"Murasaki-sama, a message has arrived for you to reply to."

　Just as Tamaki was trying to gather her courage to confess, an untimely notification from the Hidden Group appeared, causing her to involuntarily close her mouth. At the same time, Murasaki turned towards the Hidden Group and gave a small nod. "Understood. Let's go."

　"...And Tamaki-san, I apologize, but today's training ends here. Please make sure not to neglect your practice. Alright?"

　"Y-Yes..."