" Kanae- sama! Kanae- sama!"
"Traces of Lower Rank have been spotted in Mine City. Please proceed immediately!"
"Traces of Lower Rank have been spotted in Mine City. Please proceed immediately!"
Upon hearing the details of the mission, Kanae stopped what she was doing, tilted her head, and looked puzzled.
" Mine City?" Kanae murmured, her brows furrowing slightly.
"Is it Mine City in Yamaguchi Prefecture?" she asked, turning to Kasugai Crow.
Upon hearing Kanae's question, Kasugai Crow nodded and replied with certainty:
"Yes!"
"Isn't that the area where Mr. Gyomei is stationed?"
"Lord Stone Hashira Pillar received his mission to Shikoku Island a few days ago, which is why the mission was assigned to you!"
Hearing what the Kasugai Crow said, Kanae nodded knowingly.
"Sister! Sister!"
Just then, Kanon's shout rang in my ears. She ran over excitedly, still holding the Nichirin Blade that had just been delivered.
"What's wrong?"
Kanon looked at Kanae, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, and said excitedly:
"My Nichirin Blade has arrived. Let me go with you on this mission!"
Upon hearing Kanon's idea, Kanae smiled, shook her head, and Kanon.
"No way!"
Kanae's tone was gentle, but her attitude was very firm.
"Huh? Let me come along! Isn't Yamaguchi Prefecture in southern Honshu Island? After we finish our mission, we can also visit Teiichi- nii."
Besides, having Flower Hashira with you on the first mission makes it safer, doesn't it?
"You know Yamaguchi Prefecture is located in southern Honshu Island!"
That area was originally Mr. Gyomei's post. Gyomei isn't there, the mission wasn't directly transferred to other team members who were closer, but instead to me. This means that this mission might be very dangerous!
How could I possibly take you under these circumstances!
Kanae's words silenced Kanon; she understood that her sister's words made sense.
"Besides, now that you've obtained your Nichirin Blade, you're already registered with headquarters. Your mission might come in a few days, and if you go to Mine City with me then, wouldn't that make things even more complicated?"
After hearing Kanae's explanation, Kanon realized that it wasn't a good idea for her to go along, so she had no choice but to give up her idea.
"Ah? Okay then!" Kanon said somewhat dejectedly.
Seeing that Kanon was feeling down, Kanae smiled and comforted her.
"Alright! You need to train hard at home these days! I'll be checking your progress when I get back!"
Hearing Kanae's words, Kanon perked up and nodded.
"Um!"
"Since you have a mission, Lord Flower Hashira, I won't bother you any longer. Farewell!"
The sound of Tantetsu Ryū flowed from the side, and Kanae looked over and nodded.
"Okay, thank you!"
After seeing the Tantetsu Ryū off, Kanae quickly packed her luggage and set off for Mine City.
night.
On the commercial street of Mine City, colorful neon lights flashed, illuminating the entire street as brightly as day. The shops on both sides of the street were brightly lit, and people were coming and going, making it a lively and bustling place.
Mine City, a small coastal city in southern Honshu Island, is not a famous metropolis in Japan and its geographical location is not particularly advantageous. However, in the tide of time, it has maintained its vitality and developed more prosperously than inland cities.
Especially at night, when darkness falls, the commercial street begins its unique nightlife.
Although nightlife has emerged, it is basically limited to commercial streets.
However, this prosperity is limited to the commercial street. Once you leave this bustling street, darkness descends. Only a few scattered lights along the roadside and streetlights spaced dozens of meters apart in the distance barely illuminate the path. Further away, even the streetlights disappear, and people can only rely on the lights of houses along the street or the dim moonlight to find their way.
A woman dressed in a pink kimono, elegant yet playful, is bending over to select items at a small stall.
After a long while, she seemed to have found one she liked. She picked up the necklace, opened it with both hands, put it around her neck, turned to face her boyfriend, and asked him.
"Anada, do you think this necklace looks good on me?"
[Anadae: A term of endearment used between people to refer to each other, meaning "darling" or similar]
"It looks great!"
Her boyfriend responded with a smile; his words were simple, but his eyes were full of affection.
Sae was not satisfied with this answer. She turned around and continued to choose, and soon selected another necklace.
She turned around again, held the necklace up to her neck, and asked her boyfriend for a question.
"What about this one?"
"It looks good too!"
"This!"
"Nice!"
"..."
"Nice!"
Seeing that her boyfriend had replied before she even asked, Sae seemed a little dissatisfied and pouted.
"How can you be so dismissive? After looking at so many, all you can say is 'it looks good'!"
After saying that, she put the necklace back on the stall, turned to face her boyfriend, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and looked coquettish.
Seeing this, her boyfriend smiled and stepped forward, Sae his arms around Sae.
"Because Sae-chan looks especially beautiful today! No matter which Sae-chan she wears, I think it looks gorgeous!"
The straightforward words of love made Sae blush, and she stomped her feet twice on the ground as she said shyly.
"You can't be that direct..."
Her boyfriend couldn't help but laugh when he saw her adorable appearance.
"Okay, let's go check out the night market again."
Hearing her boyfriend's words, Sae nodded obediently, and the two continued walking forward hand in hand.
We arrived at the night market quickly.
The night market was brightly lit and bustling with people. The two of them weaved through the crowd, experiencing the unique liveliness and noise.
Among the many signs, Sae was quickly drawn to a vendor and pointed at it with one finger.
"Osaka たこき"
"Anada, I want takoyaki!"
After saying that, without waiting for her boyfriend's reply, she grabbed him and ran towards the takoyaki stall.
Because I was running too fast, I accidentally bumped into a passing girl.
After regaining her balance, Sae hurriedly bowed and apologized to the girl.
"Smith Marseille (I'm sorry), I'm so sorry!"
"It's okay!"
The girl who was bumped smiled gently, said it was okay, and then turned and left.
The retreating figure of the girl in the colorful butterfly-patterned haori was reflected in her boyfriend's rainbow-colored pupils.