After the school trip ended, Kuroka and I basically started visiting Magari-sama on weekends to receive training.
As for my skill with spiritual/mystic arts, Magari-sama praised me for having a solid foundation in controlling my own ki, but when it came to sensing the ki of other living beings, I was just average, and sensing the ki of nature itself was still far from where it needed to be.
"Good grief, what kind of twisted training did you do to end up like this?"
That was what I was told. Since it was necessary for learning, I ended up demonstrating and explaining my "Ittou Shura" technique. Somehow, I think it only made him more exasperated...
"Well, fine. I said it's twisted, but it's not like you're training wrong. Still, balance is key. You'll keep working on that 'Ittou Shura' training. Meanwhile, I'll focus on helping you sense and control the ki of nature."
"Yes! Thank you very much!"
Looking back, I want to punch the cheerful me who said that on the first day, because after that, to train my connection with nature, I was beaten by waterfalls in winter, forced to swim in freezing water, buried in soil, hugged rocks, meditated by bonfires next to magma, and even forced into parachute-less skydiving from 5,000 meters... Seriously, that guy has no mercy!
Meanwhile, Kuroka was improving her skill in the space manipulation technique she had just begun to learn, while also training in time manipulation.
She managed to handle spatial techniques as an extension of barrier magic, but time manipulation was several levels harder. I often caught her clutching her head, muttering things like, "What the heck does 'four-dimensional spacetime is a 4D cross-section membrane in a 5D spacetime where only gravity propagates' even mean!?" Yeah, I don't get it either.
That's how our training was going, more or less smoothly.
====================
"So yeah, today I got dropped from 5,000 meters again by Magari-sama."
"Hmm… I'm glad both Ikki and Kuroka are working hard. But I had no idea Magari-sama was that harsh…"
We're now in my room, where I was talking to Izuna, the tube fox spirit.
Because Izuna's clones share information instantly, they can imitate phone calls. The clone I left in Kyoto is usually with Kunou Kunou, and we chat about random things a few times a week.
"Well then, Ikki, see you next time!"
Kunou calls me 'Ikki' now. Apparently, Yasaka-san told her, "Being friendly is important nowadays." Maybe that person has a hidden fun-loving side?
"Yeah, see you. Good night, Kunou."
I ended the call.
"Finally done, huh?"
Kuroka suddenly hugged me from behind, wrapping her arms around my neck!
Since the school trip ended, Kuroka's physical closeness has definitely increased.
Something very soft was resting on my head! After the Tsuchigumo incident, I thought her favorability towards me had improved, but her stance of "just provide your genes" hadn't changed, so I couldn't make a move.
Kuroka probably didn't mind, but as a guy, I want her to like me first. A purely lustful, tangled relationship between us sounds… honestly pretty scandalous if you say it out loud.
====================
A year passed with me resisting her seductions.
During events like New Year, Obon, and Setsubun, I visited Kunou a few times. Actually, I had no choice, when she tearfully asked, "Do long-distance relationships always end in breakups?" I couldn't go. What is she teaching that kid?! That fun-loving group is dangerous!
One day, Kuroka suddenly asked:
"By the way, Ikki, which school did you apply to?"
"Kuoh Academy."
"Wha—!?"
She dropped the game controller she was using to hunt monsters in a game. Ah, she just got killed by a Large Dragon.
"Why would you apply to such a den of demons and monsters!?"
"Well, it's the closest to home, my grades are fine, and even though there are demons, nothing problematic has happened. You said that yourself, Kuroka."
Okay, that was a lie. Sorry. Actually, my main reason was I admired the original setting of the story.
"Oh, did I say that? Hey, don't you want to change your preferred school now?"
"No, why all of a sudden?"
"Just a... feeling... maybe?"
Her eyes were darting nervously. Probably about my sister.
I gave her a sharp look, and maybe she misunderstood because she said, "Okay, I'll confess..." and began telling me why she came to this town.
Our parents, especially our father, were problematic and died early.
To protect my sister Shirone, I became a reincarnated demon under contract with the high-ranking demon Naberious, who promised not to harm my sister.
The other familiars and families were forced into strange experiments and suspicious deaths kept occurring.
The Maou, disregarding the contract, tried forcing my young sister to learn spiritual arts.
I killed the Maou and tried to run away with my sister, but they sent hunters who separated us unnaturally fast.
After we separated, my sister faced persecution and near execution, and I feel guilty about it.
I came here to check that my sister, now a Gremory familiar, isn't being harmed or mistreated.
She now goes by the name Koneko Toujou and attends Kuoh Academy's middle school. I fear that when she enters high school, my presence will be discovered.
I already knew these facts, but hearing them directly from her, with a dark expression, gave the words a weight that no text could convey.
"Hahaha, I sure messed up a lot. It was a mistake to rely on the organization my worthless father belonged to."
She smiled bitterly.
"But isn't that understandable? When you're a kid, it's natural to rely on adults around you. No one, not even gods or Maous, can always make the best choices."
"Maybe... but I still couldn't protect Shirone."
"That's not true!"
"No, what do you mean?"
"You're still protecting your sister, aren't you?"
"Huh?"
Seriously! She tilted her head like she didn't get it.
"Maybe it didn't go exactly as you wanted, but if you hadn't killed that lord, your sister might have died from the spiritual arts or the experiments. And if the Gremory familiars who took her in were terrible people, then your coming here was definitely meaningful!"
"But! In the end, it was pointless!"
"That's just hindsight. It definitely mattered!"
We glared at each other for a while until Kuroka gave up first.
"Okay, okay, I surrender. I'm going to bed now."
She wrapped herself in the blanket.
"Kuroka?"
No answer. Looks like she's sulking, so I wrapped myself in a blanket on the floor and drifted off. Just before losing consciousness, I thought I heard a soft, "Thanks, nya."
====================
Before I knew it, the new year had come (I even prayed for success at a shrine in Kyoto). We arranged for Kuroka to conceal her presence when my sister Shirone entered the high school division of Kuoh Academy.
The three pervy idiots were studying for exams with fierce determination, apparently dreaming of a harem, since the school has a high percentage of girls.
They studied while making lewd jokes, such as multitasking skills.
Finally, I passed the exam and entered Kuoh Academy!
A few days had passed since enrollment when someone called out behind me.
"Sorry to bother you suddenly. Are you by any chance someone who keeps a cat or knows a person named 'Kuroka'?"
It was Koneko Toujou, my sister! Why is she here in the high school division!?
It seems the turmoil around me wasn't going to wait a year.
====================
Note: Looks like it's about time to dive into the original story.