Convergence

Part 2 : chapter 10

Mid-August 2005, Okinawa:

"Look over there—I found a clownfish!"

Utahime had been marveling at the underwater scenery for over an hour. She had never seen water so beautiful before. It was truly turquoise—crystal-clear and luminous—just like the ones in advertisements for paradisiacal destinations. You could see the coral reefs below, with tiny fish darting gracefully around their feet. It was breathtaking.

Dressed in a one-piece swimsuit, Utahime was happily observing the corals with Shoko. Mei Mei had refused to swim, claiming it would ruin her hairstyle, and had instead settled on a deckchair with a fashion magazine. As for Suguru and Gojo, they were playing beach volleyball against other boys from school. A crowd of girls had gathered to admire them—oops, sorry, I mean, to watch the match.

Fortunately, after the events of that night in Akihabara, Professor Gakuganji had immediately taken Utahime to the infirmary at the exorcism school. Utahime had practically begged the nurse to focus all her cursed energy on healing her arms and legs. The rest... she could hide.

The incident quickly spread throughout the Tokyo exorcist community. By the time a team arrived at the scene, all they could do was witness the aftermath of Hajime Kashimo's rampage: four dead, and one survivor—Naoya Zenin—who had miraculously lived, though badly injured, with broken ribs and a leg in a cast.

When Utahime regained consciousness, she immediately asked Professor Gakuganji to keep her involvement confidential. She had no desire for anyone at school to know she had been there—or worse, that she had been beaten by Naoya Zenin and his now-deceased companions.

The Tokyo exorcism high school students had arrived in Okinawa two days earlier, and everything was perfect.

Truly perfect.

It felt like a dream.

The hotel, the food, the weather—everything was idyllic. Utahime had almost forgotten her exhausting hours working in that maid café in Akihabara. She had never visited Okinawa before, and now she fully understood why tourists were so enchanted by these islands.

Utahime shared a room with Mei Mei and Shoko. Suguru and Gojo, meanwhile, were assigned a room with a second-year student from the Kamo clan. The atmosphere there was... less than pleasant. Apparently, the boy snored like a tractor, which explained why Suguru and Gojo spent most of their time hanging out with the girls—to the latter's great amusement.

Every day felt like paradise.

Sunshine. Warmth. Endless blue skies.

Swimming, sunbathing, playing games, eating delicious food, and sleeping.

For once, all of Utahime's worries seemed to fade away—no missions, no studies, no existential questions, no injuries, no death...

Well.

Almost.

There was still Satoru.

Since May, they had barely seen each other. Not because they didn't want to, but because both of them had been overwhelmed with exams, missions, and responsibilities. Satoru and Suguru had even been selected for Grade 1 missions, keeping them busier than the rest of the first-years.

Their relationship had become... ambiguous.

They both knew—more or less—that their feelings went beyond friendship.

And yet, neither had taken the next step.

Satoru still teased her at every opportunity, irritating her just as much as before.