Volume 3 Chapter 24 Kou Tenhou And Sou Ouka, Experimenting With 'Mirror Of Shadows Reflection'
"When I heard that Tenhou went north, I was so surprised... I thought my heart would stop."
When we were alone in the room, the first thing Shouou said was that.
This is one of the rooms in the inn.
Shouou has been staying in this room for a few days now.
Actually, it seems that Tanshi-san has rented the whole inn.
He has secured rooms for himself, his guards, and for Shouou and Seirei.
"I'm sorry for worrying you, Shouou."
"...Yeah."
"You came here with Tanshi-san and the guards because you were worried about me, right?"
"That's right. It's been 2 days since I got here. I planned to wait here until Tenhou comes back."
"So Tanshi-san arranged this inn for us. Renting the best inn in Toushun, as expected of Ryougen-kun's aide. That's really impressive."
I said.
"By the way, Shouou, what did you talk about with Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei before we left──"
"Let's talk about that later. I have something to say to Tenhou."
While staring at me, Shouou said.
My attempt to change the subject failed.
"I'll say this first, but I'm not angry. I know why Tenhou went to the Jinkyo Tribe's land."
While fiddling with her long braid, Shouou had a sulky look on her face.
"But... I was really worried. I just want you to understand that."
"...Shouou."
"Because there are people in the North who could hurt Master Raikou, right? It's only natural to worry about going to such a place with just Tenhou, Touri-san, and Reki-san. When I heard the story from Master Raikou, everything went dark in front of me. If it weren't for my master and Shuu-sensei stopping me, I would have run straight to the North..."
"I'm sorry, Shouou."
Did I make her worry that much?
Looking back, I should have given Master Raikou a letter for Shouou.
No... that would have been impossible.
I never expected Master Raikou and Shouou to meet at that time.
I thought Shouou was busy dealing with the messenger from Souma Country.
That's why I didn't contact her... but that made her worry.
"If something like this happens again, I'll make sure to write a letter to Shouou."
"That would be when I'm far away, right? What about when I'm close?"
"I'll talk to you properly."
"No, Tenhou."
"Huh?"
"The words to say in that situation are 'Shouou, come with me,' right?"
"Got it. In that case, I'll ask Shouou to come with me."
"It's a promise, okay?"
"I promise."
"...Yeah. I trust you, Tenhou."
Finally, Shouou smiled at me.
"Back to the topic, Shouou met with Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei, right? Did they say anything?"
When I asked, Shouou nodded as if recalling a memory.
"Master Raikou said, 'Tenhou won't do anything reckless, so it's fine.' Shuu-sensei said, 'It's okay since we let Touri go with him.'."
"I see. Touri is Shuu-sensei's disciple and can use healing techniques, after all."
"That's not it. They think Tenhou should prioritize protecting Shuu-sensei's daughter."
"...Huh?"
"If something happens to Tenhou, Touri-san would be left alone with Reki-san in the northern land, right? Touri-san would be isolated as the only person from Aika Country in the Jinkyo Tribe. Tenhou would never let Touri-san go through that, right?"
"...That's true, but..."
"That's why Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei said, 'Tenhou will be careful and come back safely'."
"Those 2 said that...?"
I see.
Shuu-sensei allowed Touri to accompany me to prevent me from doing something reckless.
"Yes. So, I didn't do anything reckless."
"...I know."
"I came back safely like this."
"I know that too."
"But I'm sorry for worrying you, Shouou."
"Yeah. It's fine now. I get it."
Shouou sat down on the bed, looking relieved.
"Well, if Tenhou understands that I was really, really worried, then that's good enough for me."
"I'll try my best not to make you worry from now on."
"Yeah. From now on, I'll be by Tenhou's side as the vice captain of the unit."
"That's great, but... is it really okay? Shouou was in charge of receiving the messenger from Souma Country, right?"
That must have been an important job for Shouou.
Plus, the representative of the messenger is Shouou's older sister.
Leaving her behind to come to Toushun... I wonder if that will cause any problems later.
"It's fine. The one who pushed me to do this was Shisui-neesan."
Shouou said.
"The people from the messenger were hesitant to let me go. But Shisui-neesan said, 'It's my order as your sister. Go ahead.'"
"She sounds like a nice sister."
"Yeah. I never thought she would let me go so easily."
Sitting on the bed, Shouou smiled shyly.
"I want to get closer to Shisui-neesan. When I was back home... I didn't really talk to her much."
That's probably because of Shouou's mom.
She didn't like Shouou interacting with other kids.
So, Shouou didn't have many chances to talk to his sister.
"But she said, 'From now on, let's exchange letters.' She wants to give me various advice."
"Advice?"
"Y-yeah. My sister is beautiful, and many people propose to her... so she wants to prepare me for those kinds of situations──."
Shouou looked away, her face bright red.
Then, she hugged her pillow and said,
"──That's all for my story! Now, tell me about Tenhou!"
"I already reported the journey to Tanshi-san. Shouou heard it too, right?"
"But there are things we can't tell Tanshi-san, right?"
"Then... it's about the 'chaos technique,' isn't it?"
"Yeah."
Shouou nodded.
"Before leaving, Tenhou learned the 'Konton technique' called 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' from Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei, right?"
"That's right. Thanks to that, we were able to catch the assassin."
"That's amazing... Tenhou is really something."
"If you learn it, Shouou, you can do the same thing."
"...Yeah. Maybe that's true."
Shouou moved closer to me and asked,
"So, what kind of technique is 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection'?"
"It's a technique that uses yourself as a mirror to reflect everything around you."
I started to explain.
──In the forest, I used 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' against Zan Teiei.
──Then, I could clearly sense his presence and movements.
──As a result, I was able to break through Zan Teiei's techniques and defeat him.
"I think 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' is a technique to protect oneself from the other 'Four Fiends' techniques."
That was my conclusion.
"'Four Fiends Technique: Kyuuki' was really powerful. I think other 'Four Fiends Techniques' probably have similar power. "'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' was probably created to avoid techniques like that."
"Yeah... I think Tenhou's guess is correct."
Shouou nodded in agreement.
"Got it. When I get back to Hokurin, I'll ask Master Raikou to teach me too."
"That sounds good. If Shouou can use 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection,' we can work together."
"Is there anything else you noticed about 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection'?"
"After I used the technique, Touri said... she felt like I touched her..."
It's still unclear if that was because of 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection.'
Maybe it has something to do with me and Touri practicing the 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique' together.
"Touri said she felt like I was stroking her."
"......"
"While using the technique, I also felt Touri's presence. Even though we were apart, I could sense her breathing and whispers. It was like Touri was right next to me."
".........Hmm."
"I don't know if this is the effect of 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' or if it's influenced by the 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique.' Either way, the same thing might happen to Shouou. If Shouou learns 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection,' please experiment with it."
"......Got it. Let's do the experiment!"
"Huh?"
"Right here, right now, Tenhou will use 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection.' Then you can try to sense me. Since I'm a martial artist, my sense of techniques should be sharper than Touri-san's. We might also understand the connection between 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' and 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique.'."
Shouou stood tall.
"If we do that, we can give Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei detailed information about 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection.' It should make teaching easier too. Right, Tenhou?"
"That's true... it might be."
As expected of Shouou.
I never thought of doing an experiment on 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' to share information with our masters.
Shouou really is amazing.
Having studied martial arts longer than I have, Shouou sees things differently.
...I wonder if I can ever catch up to Shouou.
"By the way, Tenhou."
"Y-yes, Shouou?"
"When did you start calling 'Touri' without any honorifics?"
"While I was heading north, I was using a fake name and pretending to be a married couple. So──"
"I understand. Let's start the experiment with 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' right away. Right now!"
Shouou grabbed my hand.
"We'll experiment in a situation similar to Touri-san's. Try using 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' the same way. Is that okay? No problems, right? Tenhou?"
"Uh, no problems."
"Great. Then let's begin."
Shouou nodded with satisfaction.
"When Tenhou used 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection,' Touri-san was in a position where she couldn't be seen, right?"
"She was hiding behind a tree at a distance."
"Then I'll hide somewhere in the room too. Tenhou, cover your ears."
"Got it. I'll stand by the window, facing away from the room. Signal me when you're hidden, so I won't know where you are."
I moved to the side of the window.
After a while, something small hit my foot.
It was a coin thrown by Shouou.
That was the signal, so I took a deep breath.
I activated the 'chaos technique, Mirror of Shadows Reflection.'
──I become invisible.
──A light, floating sensation.
──I keep the feeling of spreading within the room.
It's a bit different from when I used the technique in the forest.
Back then, I was spreading my senses 'wide and thin' to find Zan Teiei.
It felt like casting a net and waiting for him to get caught.
Now, I'm narrowing my senses, making them 'tight and dense.'
If I were to compare it to something... it's like turning myself into a liquid and filling the whole room.
Narrowing the range of effect. Instead, sharpening my senses.
──I found it.
I quickly figured out where Shouou was.
She had slipped into the gap between the bed and the wall.
She must have used 'Beast Body Guidance' and 'Snake's Pathway.'
As expected, using 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' seems to let me sense my teammates' positions.
No... it's not just sensing.
It's like I just know it, as if it's obvious.
The feeling of unity I had with Shouou when I fought Zeng Taiga.
It feels even stronger now.
It's as if I have become one with Shouou.
"......Hmm... mmm."
I can hear Shouou's voice and her breathing.
It's clearer than when I was with Touri.
Maybe it's because I've spent more time with Shouou using 'Beast Body Guidance.'
Or maybe it's the difference between using 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' inside the room or outside.
...I wonder what would happen if I narrowed my senses even more.
'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' is a 'mirror that reflects everything,' but what if I limited its effect to just between me and Shouou?
"...Let's try it."
I focus my mind.
I sharpen my senses.
I concentrate only on what exists between me and Shouou.
In this world, it's just me and Shouou, and Shouou is like a precious gem that must not be lost.
I direct my awareness solely towards Shouou.
I stretched myself out and intertwined with Shouou, as if we were becoming one.
Then──
"──────!?"
──I clearly grasped Shouou's figure.
I could see her hidden shape and the way her body moved. The faint trembling and her hot breath.
I could even feel her heartbeat. The softness of her skin and even her body temperature.
It was as if I was connected to Shouou by 'ki'.
What was amazing was that I could perfectly capture what was between me and Shouou.
Between us was── first, her clothes.
Then the bed, and I could read the shape of the blanket and comforter on it.
Furthermore, there was a chair and a table.
On top of it was a teacup. I could even tell how the blanket was hanging off the bed.
"────n. Um... Tenhou."
"I understand. Shouou is in the gap between the bed and the wall, right?"
"O-Oh, I see. Um, you know..."
"Oh, you stepped out of the bed. I can tell you're stroking your left thigh with your right hand's index and middle fingers. My senses are grasping Shouou. It's... around this area of your thigh."
"──Wha!? Wait, um, um!"
"It's okay. I can maintain 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' while we talk."
"Really!? I can feel Tenhou touching me, too..."
"That's not all. I can tell what's between me and Shouou. Just now, I understood the state of Shouou's clothes and the shape of the blanket on the bed."
"So, so then. That means the thing that touched me earlier was Tenhou's 'ki'..."
"Using this technique might let us do even more amazing combo moves."
"...Y-yeah. I get it, but..."
"Well then, I'll deactivate the technique now."
I opened my eyes after canceling 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection.'
I knew it, but Shouou was standing right behind me.
Her face was red. She seemed a bit hot.
Maybe it was the effect of the technique, but I could feel her body heat since she was so close.
"I can sense Shouou because I've been using 'Beast Body Guidance' for a long time, or maybe it's because of the 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique.'"
"...Y-yeah."
"There's a connection of 'ki' between Shouou and me. So, no matter where Shouou hides, I can clearly sense your presence. Did you sense me too, Shouou?"
"......Yeah. I understood. I understood really well, but..."
Shouou was holding her chest.
Her heartbeat had been fast earlier, and it seemed like it was still going.
"Um, Tenhou."
"Yes, Shouou?"
"I think we should do the experiment for 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' when the master and Shuu-sensei are around."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Also, it should be after I can use 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection.' Otherwise... it's, um, unfair."
"Unfair?"
"Y-yeah! It's unfair! It's really unfair for Tenhou to know everything while I don't!"
"You're right... it's unfair for only me to use 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection.'."
Shouou can only watch me use the technique, and he can't do anything about it.
That must be unsettling for him as a martial artist.
"Okay. Let's do the experiment when we get back to Hokurin."
"Y-Yeah. I think that's a good idea."
Shouou nodded with a bright red face.
Then, she looked like she had an idea.
"But, in an emergency, it's different, right? If you can't get through without using 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection,' feel free to use it."
"Is that okay?"
"Yeah, that's fine. Just..."
"Just what?"
"For every time Tenhou uses 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection,' I'll use it on Tenhou later. That way, it's even."
"Um... Shouou."
"Yeah, Tenhou?"
"If I use 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection,' it won't have any bad effects on you, right?"
"N-No, it won't. It's just... how should I put it?"
Shouou looked away with a mischievous expression.
"It's frustrating that Tenhou can touch me, but I can't touch Tenhou... I mean! Anyway, I think we should both use 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection.' That way, there won't be any complaints. We're friends, after all. We shouldn't keep secrets from each other!!"
"I-I understand, Shouou."
"Yeah. As long as you get it."
"......Yeah"
"......Uh-huh."
It felt kind of strange.
Shouou was looking down, playing with her braid.
I... somehow couldn't find the words to say.
After that, we sat in chairs facing each other──
drinking the cold tea together──
Finally, we did a little bit of 'Beast Body Guidance'──
"Well, good night, Tenhou."
"Good night, Shouou."
And so, after saying our goodnight greetings, we decided to rest in our own rooms.
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