Ryosuke tentatively squinted, opening one eye slightly, and immediately met Rika's expectant face.
"Ryosuke-nii~"
Rika tugged at his arm, swaying slightly to act spoiled. "Accompany me to the Final Selection, okay? Please?"
Ryosuke had a headache.
Good, good, good. Your brother is away on a mission, so you brazenly target just me to plague, right?
Moreover, your batch is the Golden Generation!
Not only are there the Water Breathing talent monsters Sabito and Giyu.
There's also the heaven-defyingly lucky Road Hashira Murata with slightly dirty clothes!
The Hand Demon has already been killed by me. When the time comes, you just hold your sword and follow behind shouting '666' (awesome/cool) and you'll pass!
This setup is safe as hell, okay!
Why should I go? To be soy sauce (a bystander)?
Just as Ryosuke wanted to politely decline, Jigoro chimed in first, his tone extremely natural.
"Ryosuke, this girl Rika hasn't traveled far alone much, and her personality is flighty. Since you don't have any missions recently, accompany her to Mt. Fujikasane. It's good to have someone looking out for her on the way; I'll be more at ease too."
Ryosuke: (゜д゜)
Grandpa!
Which eye of yours sees that she needs looking after?
This girl is fxxking sharper than the monkeys on our back mountain, okay?! She's almost the Monkey King!!!
Your bias knows no bounds!
I'm afraid she might tie up the demons and start some infinite power resource scheme...
Ryosuke was helpless. Just as he cast a pleading look towards Uzui Tengen, who was training, the swaying "big balls" blocked his line of sight.
Hinatsuru held a plate of tea snacks and smiled gently, nodding in agreement.
"Mr. Kuwajima is right. Sister Rika is young; having Mr. Ryosuke accompany her to such a distant place for the exam is indeed safer."
Ryosuke choked completely, almost unable to catch his breath.
He looked at Hinatsuru with grief and indignation, then glanced at Makio and Suma, who didn't speak but had approving eyes.
...Fine.
Women's friendships are built so fast!
How long has it been? They've already formed a united front to pit against me!
In the end, Ryosuke had no excuses left. Under Jigoro's instructions to go early and return early, he agreed and slumped his shoulders to pack his bags.
Rika: (●´∀｀●) Yay!
Forget it, treat it as a trip to relax.
Incidentally, visiting Sabito and Giyu isn't a total loss.
However, on the way to Mt. Fujikasane...
A boy wearing an ink-black haori walked in front with a face full of despair, followed by a chattering, jumping, overly excited girl.
"Ryosuke-nii, look! Doesn't that cloud look like a big rabbit!"
"Ryosuke-nii, look quick! There are fish in the stream over there! So fat! Hehe~"
"Ryosuke-nii, are you hungry? I brought rice balls! Big Sister Hinatsuru taught me how to make them!"
"Ryosuke-nii! Ryosuke-nii..."
...
Ryosuke felt like hundreds of bees were buzzing in his ears, his brain throbbing in waves.
Combining his previous life and this life, he had never felt a journey could be so long.
Several times, Ryosuke wanted to use Thunder Breathing to travel and just slip away.
But thinking about facing Jigoro's cane and Rika's tear offensive upon returning, he forcibly held back.
"Shut up, keep moving."
Ryosuke finally reached the limit of his endurance and glared at her.
"Oh..."
Rika wilted for a bit, but a few minutes later, she couldn't help humming an out-of-tune song to harass Ryosuke again.
Ryosuke rubbed his forehead and sighed deeply.
After several days of trekking, the mountain range shrouded in wisteria flowers year-round came into view.
Beneath this beautiful surface lay the bloody and desperate aura accumulated over the years in the mountain's belly.
Just arriving at the clearing in front of the shrine, before Ryosuke could find a place to hide and slack off, a familiar figure rushed over like a cannonball, grabbing Rika and checking her up and down.
"Rika! Are you okay? Was the journey smooth? Thirsty? Hungry?"
Shota obviously rushed over frantically after completing his mission to see Rika off.
Rika spun around with a grin.
"I'm fine, I'm fine! Ryosuke-nii accompanied me; it was super safe on the way!"
Shota then noticed Ryosuke on the side. His eyes widened instantly, and his face turned black.
"Eh?! Why did you come along?"
After getting along for a few years, he knew Ryosuke's lazy nature well.
Unless he had a mission, he would absolutely not move his butt out the door!
Ryosuke was too lazy to even roll his eyes, waving his hand weakly.
"It's a long story... but I don't want to tell it right now."
He really didn't want to recount the process of being conspired against and pitted.
Shota approached with a serious face.
"You kid didn't do anything weird to my sister on the way, right?"
Ryosuke: o_0?
Brother! Although I like looking at beautiful women! I am a human, not an animal!
How old is your sister!
Your thoughts are criminal! Too criminal!!!
Furthermore...
Ryosuke looked at Rika's expectant face and felt helpless.
If anyone did anything weird, it would be her doing it to me, right?
Seeing him like this, Shota didn't ask further. His attention returned to Rika, nagging her about precautions for the exam.
Just then, a clear and vigorous voice came from behind.
"Ryosuke-nii! It really is you!"
Ryosuke turned around. The boy was in high spirits, smiling heartily under his flesh-colored medium-length hair.
Giyu beside him was quiet as a background board, but his eyes lit up slightly when he saw Ryosuke.
Mhm~ He likes this person very much.
Murata, placed at the very back, looked somewhat dejected.
"Sabito, Giyu, and Murata."
Ryosuke walked over and patted Sabito's shoulder. "Got stronger again, huh? The exam will definitely be no problem."
"Hehe, just okay! Can't compare to you, Ryosuke-nii."
Sabito scratched his head embarrassedly. "Eh, are those your junior brother and sister over there?"
Ryosuke nodded. Before he could speak, Rika ran over excitedly.
Rika: ＞ᴗO!
"I'm Kirigaya Rika! This is my brother Kirigaya Shota! You are Mr. Urokodaki's disciples from Mt. Sagiri, right?"
"Mhm, hello."
Sabito had a good impression of this enthusiastic little girl and introduced the two beside him: "Tomioka Giyu, Murata."
Rika nodded vigorously and greeted them one by one.
Giyu had no expression and responded politely.
Murata... well, mhm, a bit shy.
Watching Rika's familiarity, Shota wore a "kind motherly smile."
Look! This is my sister! How cute!
Ryosuke said nothing, acting as a background board with Giyu.
After some chatting, the time for the exam to start arrived.
Watching the new batch of swordsmen pass through the sea of wisteria flowers, Ryosuke yawned, waving lazily to bid farewell to Rika and the others.
OK! Escort mission complete! Next up is a seven-day vacation!
Ryosuke turned around, ready to greet Shota and slip away, when a figure appeared silently in front of him, bowing respectfully.
"Mr. Yasui, Oyakata-sama invites you."
Ryosuke paused, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Kagaya summoning me? Especially at this time.
A feeling of being calculated surfaced in his heart.
He looked at the equally stunned Shota. Just as he was about to speak, the Ubuyashiki clan member shook his head gently.
"Oyakata-sama only invited you alone. Mr. Kirigaya, please wait in the side hall."
Well, can't dodge it.
Ryosuke sighed.
"Lead the way."
...
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