An Agreement with Ibuki (3K)

"Most hunters these days rely on firearms. Other methods include traps, snares, crossbows, bows, spears, and knives."

Edward brought out some teaching equipment and laid it on the table. These were clearly not models; they were real tools that had seen use in the field.

You En looked at the old-fashioned double-barreled hunting rifles lined up before him. He'd only handled a gun a handful of times.

Hunting would be a lot easier with a gun—relatively speaking, of course. It would still be dangerous.

But Teacher Edward shattered his hopes.

"I don't plan to teach you firearm hunting. We'll focus on the other methods, starting with traps and weapons that are easy to make."

Ibuki Mio was clearly interested in the equipment. Her eyes were practically glowing.

"Let me think about where to start."

Edward rested a hand against his forehead.

"I've already taught you how to identify insects, snakes, and small animals. For larger animals, you mainly look for fur, droppings, and tracks. It'd be nice to have a hunting dog with a keen sense of smell, but things out in the wild rarely go as we'd hope."

You En and Ibuki began their lesson for the day.

The difference in their learning speeds quickly became clear.

You En had also read a few beginner's books, so he picked things up much faster than Ibuki. Often, after the teacher finished explaining something, You En would teach it to her again in a way that suited her better.

The lesson moved along quickly. They covered finding and processing materials for traps, making and setting them, crafting simple weapons and learning how to use them, identifying the tracks and species of larger animals, and understanding their ecological habits...

You En had soon learned most of it. When he thought about it, though, this was really just the basic framework. There wasn't much advanced material.

Edward praised him. "You're the most trouble-free student I've ever had. You're the best student I've ever taught, and I doubt anyone will surpass you."

"Thank you, teacher."

You En was still able to keep a clear head.

Ibuki's mind, meanwhile, was already starting to feel stuffed full.

You En took out his terminal to check. He'd picked up three skills:

"Trap Making (lv0, Beginner)"

"Weapon Making (lv0, Beginner)"

"Beast Recognition (lv0, Beginner)"

Edward spoke up. "I've taught you all the basic knowledge you need to survive in the wild. There's one other important skill, which we'll cover in the next lesson, but I won't be the one teaching it."

"Are we done?" Ibuki Mio asked, coming back to herself.

"What you've learned is all very basic. You'll need to master the practical side through experience. Are you willing to give it a try?"

Edward asked.

"What kind of practice?" Ibuki asked curiously.

"I'll teach you to hunt for real."

Edward smiled as he spoke.

You En asked, though he already knew the answer, "Where? Are we going out into the wild?"

"The grounds are here, and so are the beasts."

Edward went behind his mysterious partition curtain and wheeled out an iron cage.

Inside was a wild wolf.

Based on what he'd learned, You En identified it as a Eurasian Gray Wolf. Its coat was light gray, and it was about a meter and a half long. It had a slightly elongated muzzle, and its eyes were bright with wariness and wildness.

Edward explained, "This is a Gray Wolf brought in from outside. It couldn't be domesticated and has a deep hostility toward humans. It's attacked many of its handlers and even left one of them disabled.

"If the other staff hadn't spotted it in time and intervened, then rushed the victim to safety, that person might well have died."

You En knew Edward was trying to dispel any sympathy they might feel while warning them that this wasn't a docile zoo animal. It was a beast that really would attack them—and might even kill them.

He looked at Ibuki. "What do you think? This seems a little dangerous to me."

"I agree."

Ibuki Mio nodded in understanding. A true hunter like this was much harder to control than a python. It wasn't that she was afraid of taking risks; she just didn't think there was any need to fight this wolf.

"That's the right choice."

Edward didn't encourage them to take on the challenge or accuse them of lacking courage. Instead, he praised them.

"Hunting is dangerous by nature, so weighing the risks is crucial. Out in the wild, even a minor injury can have fatal consequences.

"There's no need to pick unnecessary fights. You made a very sensible choice."

He wheeled the cage back. "Good. That's about the end of my lessons. You both did very well."

Edward added, "Next time, in our final lesson, you can try again if you still want to take on the challenge."

It was already late when they left.

You En figured Horikita Suzune had probably already eaten dinner by now, so she likely wouldn't still be waiting for him. Still, he sent her a text.

Ibuki leaned against the wall, a little disappointed. "This lesson wasn't as exciting as the last one."

"Wasn't there something more exciting? We just chose not to do it."

You En pointed toward the wolf.

Ibuki chuckled. "Let's not. It's not like we'll ever need to take on a wolf barehanded."

Would they really never need to?

By any reasonable standard, You En thought, they wouldn't. But this school didn't seem to follow reasonable standards.

"Want to give it a try?"

Ibuki moved closer.

"What?"

"I mean the next lesson. The teacher said we could try then, too."

You En explained his idea.

"Since it's next week, we have a whole week to prepare. Isn't that what hunters do? They prepare thoroughly before taking on a challenge."

Ibuki glanced at him. "You're a weird guy. You were the one saying we shouldn't do it just a moment ago."

She folded her arms, tapping one finger against her sleeve as she looked toward the other end of the hallway. Then she turned back with a cool little smile.

"Fine, I'll keep you company. You wouldn't dare go alone, would you?"

"With you there, I'm not afraid."

You En nodded.

His bright tone and handsome looks only made Ibuki feel awkward. She turned her head away.

Both You En and Ibuki knew they were a little afraid, though for different reasons... If they were together, they could at least keep that fear in check.

Ibuki Mio suddenly realized there was only one lesson left. Once it was over, she'd lose the chance to spend time alone with You En regularly.

She asked first, "I don't even have your contact info yet. Why did I have to be the one to bring it up?"

You En knew how to answer.

"Because it's you, Ibuki. So I waited."

Ibuki didn't buy that for a second. "Hmph. You probably say that kind of thing to Horikita Suzune all the time, don't you?"

As You En added her as a contact, he ignored her question and said:

"Teacher Edward said firearm hunting was forbidden, which means we can use the other methods...

"But I doubt we can buy equipment. We'll probably have to make things ourselves with what we learned in this lesson. Anything we make should count as a legitimate weapon to bring into the exam."

Ibuki was in sync with You En. She immediately understood what he meant.

"You mean we should gather materials this week and make some traps and weapons?"

"And protective gear, too," You En said. "We also need to hone our skills. Which club did you join again?"

"The Combat Club."

Ibuki Mio beckoned for You En to come closer.

"I have something to tell you in private."

"What?"

You En came over without hesitation.

Ibuki thought he was a little too close, but didn't say anything. Instead, she lowered her voice.

"I'm an official candidate for membership in the Combat Club. I haven't even told anyone in class, so don't tell anyone else."

You En had already learned a little about it from his senior. He remembered that the Combat Club was also an advanced club. It didn't have as high a standing at school as the Kyudo Club, but it was clearly no ordinary club.

"Don't worry, I'll keep it secret. I'm an official candidate for the Kyudo Club, too."

"I already knew that," Ibuki Mio said. "If I hadn't known you were an official candidate, I wouldn't have asked Senior Chun-Li about it. I might not have gotten in otherwise."

"So what do you train in?"

You En had never met another official candidate for an advanced club besides himself.

"I train in Mixed Martial Arts," Ibuki said. "At the club, Senior Chun-Li teaches me the leg techniques and kicks she came up with herself, along with Chinese martial arts that she supposedly learned from her father."

You En asked, "Is she good?"

"She could beat ten of me without breaking a sweat, and she'd probably only be warmed up."

Ibuki glanced at You En.

"She could beat a hundred of you and still not be warmed up."

You En couldn't argue with that. His weaknesses in this area were pretty obvious.

He'd learned a little himself, and it would've been more than enough against a pushover like Yamauchi. But against Ibuki or Horikita Suzune, he was completely out of his depth.

Damn it, he had to figure out how to get stronger.

His terminal chimed.

Ibuki Mio glanced at it.

"Okay, some asshole's looking for me. Can't help it. I'll head over first. See you next week."

You En put on an overly sentimental voice.

"Goodbye, Mio-chan."

"Bleh!"

Ibuki Mio made a face like she was about to throw up and flipped him off.

You En took out his own terminal. There'd actually been two notifications when it chimed just now.

"Suzune: Come to my dorm. It's so late that most of the cafeteria stalls are closed. I made dinner."

"You En: On my way."

"Suzune: Okay."

In her room,

Horikita Suzune set down her terminal. She felt a little flustered, so she went to the bathroom, washed her face, and checked the mirror to make sure she hadn't gotten anything weird on it while cooking.

Then she looked at her white casual shirt and wondered if You En would get the wrong idea.

"Hello, I'm here."

Horikita Suzune was just about to change back into her uniform when the doorbell rang. You En had arrived faster than she'd expected, so there was no time to change.

She ran to the door and opened it.

You En saw her in a white shirt and short skirt.

"That outfit's cute. Did you put it on especially for me?"

"Who put it on for you? Don't flatter yourself,"

Horikita Suzune said, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly.

"Come in. What took you so long? The food's getting cold."

You En smiled and said without reservation,

"Okay, then I won't hold back."