Missing among Shadows Kurai yoru no kage

Chapter Twelve

Ckykau's POV

In front of the mirror, I meticulously gather every strand of my hair and secure it into a tight ponytail, making sure not a single hair is out of place. I take a moment to adjust my elegant kimono, a mandatory attire for those who wish to partake in traditional Japanese clothing. As I take a deep breath, I remind myself of the reason why I'm here. My parents believe that I'm attending Hoshiko Academy for better academic opportunities, but little do they know, this is only a cover story. In reality, I have embarked on a life-or-death training mission, where the stakes are high, and failure is not an option. The academy has a reputation for training the best warriors in Japan, and I'm here to be one of them. Every move, every action, and every thought counts. I must be sharp, focused, and ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.

As we made our way into the gates, they abruptly shut behind us. It was then that I noticed something different about Azuki. It took me a moment to realize that she had cut her hair short, to just above her shoulders. This was a surprise, as she had always kept it long. The outfit she was wearing only added to her transformed appearance. She had donned a male-styled kimono, which was unusual for her, and it was paired with a gray haori jacket adorned with stars. The entire ensemble seemed to suit her, but it was a change from her usual style.

We chose to separate, and I quickly encountered a Shadow, but I was well-equipped to handle it. With lightning-quick reflexes, I managed to pull out a kunai and brutally attacked it, swiftly beheading the creature within seconds. Using a throwing technique that allowed the kunai to bend and curve around any enemy that it was aimed at, I was able to cut off the monster's head. Despite receiving a deep wound on my right arm, I quickly patched it up, noting that I am left-handed and often utilize my left arm more than my right.I continued to run and I was stabbed in the back by, AZUKI.

"Are you going deaf? I was yelling your name." Out of nowhere, a Shadow pounced on us, but Azuki swiftly reacted, using her Scythe to swiftly decapitate the monster. Azuki immediately broke into a run, darting out of sight and disappearing from my view. I attempted to catch up with her, but I was unsure of where she had gone.

I was left in awe as I witnessed Azuki's swift and effortless action, which caught me off guard. Despite the immense weight and difficulty of a Scythe, she had successfully beheaded the Shadow in a flash. The rush of adrenaline had left me utterly exhausted and breathless, forcing me to take refuge in a tall tree and attempt some respite. I climbed high up into the thick branches and tied myself to it, closing my eyes and seeking to escape the perils of this journey for a moment.

As I opened my eyes, a Shadow was about to lunge at me, but Kanji and Azuki swiftly intervened, decapitating the monster before it had the chance to take me by surprise. Witnessing this feat, I realized my own shortcomings and how weak I was compared to my companions, and I felt compelled to continue growing and adapting in order to match their strengths.Through sheer determination and grit, I managed to make it successfully through all of the trials, but to my utter exasperation, I discovered that Azuki and Kanji had already completed the task well in advance. These events only served to fuel my feelings of inadequacy and irritation toward my own inability to keep up with their impressive skill and prowess. I realized that to close the gap in strength and ability between them and I, I would have to constantly train and strive to improve. These thoughts caused me to feel frustrated and motivated in equal measure.After completing the written test, I achieved a score of 82, which was also matched by Kanji, while Azuki achieved a remarkable score of 100, nearly perfect, despite the fact that the test features 200 questions. This outcome left me in awe of Azuki's knowledge and understanding, and it made me realize how much I had still left to learn and how I had to continue studying to achieve a level of capability remotely close to their level.