Kurumi's 'Smile'

Koutetsujou had docked into Shitori Station's inspection car, and the local samurai were lazily standing guard inside the station.

Shitori Station was built for commercial prosperity and hadn't faced a large-scale Kabane horde in a long time.

Kurumi, holding Mumei's hand, walked down the gangway from the front of Koutetsujou.

"Hey! Women need to be inspected too," one of the samurai said, holding up his steam rifle and stopping them.

"Oh?" Kurumi raised her chin slightly, glancing at the samurai.

Normally, she wouldn't mind playing with these samurai, just as she had in Aragane Station. But today was a special day—July 7th, Tanabata.

"You idiot! Let Lady Tokisaki through right now!" A voice came from behind, that of an official following Ayame Yomogawa, bowing deeply. Even though Aragane had fallen, Ayame was still the niece of a high-ranking Shogunate official, equivalent to a prime minister. She was someone these small-time soldiers could never afford to offend.

Kurumi turned her head to look back and saw Ayame approaching with a few other girls and... Ikoma, who had also bypassed the inspection.

…

To Shitori Station, the people from Koutetsujou were like refugees—something to be avoided.

The lord of the station had given them a deadline: they had to leave by the night of the eighth, which meant they only had one day to rest.

There were many things to purchase, and the group had to split up to get supplies. Medicine, a strategic resource, would require negotiation with the local lord to acquire.

But now that they could finally rest, the top priority was washing clothes, airing out blankets, and... taking a bath.

Koutetsujou's water tank had been damaged during the Kabane attack, and their water reserves were low. Most of the common folk couldn't even take a bath, and even Ayame's group had to be careful with their water usage.

And now, it was July.

Near the riverbank, they had used bedsheets to create a large partition, separating the space into small sections, temporarily turning it into an open-air bathhouse.

Mumei bounced over, holding a warm yellow kimono, ready to join them, but Kurumi grabbed her arm.

"Come with me."

…

Kurumi's clone had arrived at Shitori Station long before the rest and had secured a rather luxurious house.

"Kurumi-nee... are you from Shitori?" Mumei asked as she bowed to remove her shoes, her pale feet stepping onto the wooden floor.

"No... I just happen to have a house here."

The house was quiet but very clean. The bedding spread on the floor still had a slight indentation, as if someone had just slept there.

But Mumei didn't think much of it.

In the bathroom, steam swirled around.

Kurumi undid her obi sash, and her kimono slid down her body. Mumei bent over to remove her undergarments, casually tossing them aside.

Her delicate body was radiant and flawless, as soft and pure as freshly bloomed petals.

Sitting by the edge of the bath, her damp hair clung to her face. Mumei bit her lip slightly, her body leaning forward as she raised her right hand to her left shoulder, staring blankly at the mark on her back.

Her expression was somewhat troubled.

The "mark" hadn't spread for a long time, but the color had shifted from deep brown to a faint gold-red.

With each powerful heartbeat, she could almost see a faint light glowing within.

Creak—

The bathroom's wooden door slid open, and Mumei gasped, wrapping her arms around her body and sinking into the water.

"Eh!? Kurumi-nee, you're cheating… you're still wearing a yukata!"

"I prepared one for you too," Kurumi said with a slight smile.

"I didn't see one."

"Of course you didn't see it." Kurumi mischievously thought to herself, "I prepared one… but I didn't give it to you."

…

After their bath, the two strolled leisurely through Shitori Station, their steps light. Both wore loose-fitting dresses—Kurumi in black and red, and Mumei in a bright, warm yellow. Their graceful figures were faintly visible beneath their short skirts, revealing their long, slender legs and soft curves.

Along the way, they spotted Kajika, who was responsible for purchasing supplies. She was haggling ferociously with a vendor, trying to shave off a few coins—a rather amusing sight.

As evening approached, they watched Kajika explain the tradition of Tanabata to the children, hanging colorful wish papers on bamboo branches. Mumei's hand, intertwined with Kurumi's, suddenly tightened.

"Hozumi?" Kurumi gently squeezed Mumei's hand, looking at her with concern.

"I… I used to celebrate Tanabata too. I'd almost forgotten."

Realizing what Mumei wanted to say, Kurumi softly hummed in response.

"Watching Kajika hang the wish papers on the bamboo reminded me," Mumei said, her voice low. The two gradually distanced themselves from the rest of the group as the setting sun stretched their shadows long across the ground.

"My mother… she would decorate the papers and say, 'Hozumi... it's so lucky it's a clear day today. We can see the Milky Way.'" Mumei lowered her head even more.

"Hozumi..." Kurumi raised their intertwined hands.

"Eh?" Mumei, lost in her memories, looked up at Kurumi.

"Today is a clear day too… it's really nice."

"It really is…"

…

As the sun set, everyone from Koutetsujou returned to the station.

At the very front of the train, they set up a bamboo tree for their wishes, and Kurusu, reluctantly, whittled the bamboo under the children's direction.

Complaining all the while that his sword wasn't meant for this kind of work, he couldn't help but feel pleased seeing Ayame smile.

The brilliant stars appeared, and a half-moon hung in the sky.

It had been a long time since people had smiled like this, writing their wishes on the colorful papers.

Mumei, holding her wish paper, snuggled into Kurumi's lap, curious to see what Kurumi had wished for.

But to her surprise, Kurumi's paper was completely blank.

"Kurumi-nee?" Mumei asked in confusion, but before she could say more, Kurumi pulled her paper out of her hands.

"Eat lots of rice until I'm full," Kurumi said with a soft laugh, reading out Mumei's wish one word at a time.

"Ahhhhhh!!" Mumei's delicate face flushed red, and she buried her head in Kurumi's chest, shaking it vigorously in embarrassment.

"It will come true... I promise."

…

As Mumei's shy whimpers echoed, fireworks burst in the distant sky, casting colorful and dazzling lights.

Thanks to the invention of the McRucky Engine, people in this world didn't value gunpowder as much.

But watching these fireworks, Kurumi couldn't help but think of something else.

Wouldn't this attract the Kabane?

Still, seeing Mumei's smiling face as she watched the fireworks, Kurumi patted her head and handed her a short katana, glowing with a purple-red hue.

"Kurumi-nee?"

"A Tanabata gift."

"Silly Kurumi-nee... who gives someone a sword for Tanabata?"

"Hm?" Kurumi, confused, pretended to take the sword back. "Then I'll take it back…"

"Wait, wait!! I want it!"

Though Mumei had complained earlier, when Kurumi pretended to take the sword back, she quickly reached out and grabbed it, clutching it tightly to her chest.

Seeing Mumei's reaction, Kurumi realized that ordinary steam pistols were no longer suitable for her. As she rummaged through her bag, she came across the Unknown Warrior Blade and thought for a moment—what a coincidence.

Mumei caught Kurumi's teasing expression and immediately understood—Kurumi was playing with her again.

"Ahhhhhh!!! Kurumi-nee-sama!" Still blushing from her earlier embarrassment, Mumei found herself being teased once again.

Frustrated, she bit Kurumi's wrist, but as soon as she tasted that familiar, enticing sweetness, she, like a cat intoxicated by catnip, started gently rubbing and licking.

"I will turn Hozumi back into a human," Kurumi declared, pulling Mumei tightly into her embrace.

Her wish paper remained blank.

Because—fulfilling Mumei's wish was her wish.

That's why Kurumi had come.

Underneath the dazzling fireworks, Kurumi held Mumei close, gazing into the distance.

…

The next morning.

Just as the sun began to rise, the two, nestled in their hammock, were startled awake by thunderous cheers from the foot of the mountain.

"It's the Hunters!"

"Long live the Liberator!"

…

"Hunters...?" Kurumi, groggy from being woken up, wore a dark expression as she repeated the familiar words.

Hmm... Those brats are here to take Mumei away from me.

The Hunters... Biba Amatori...

They've delivered themselves right to me.

At first, Mumei, excited by the cheers, seemed a little elated, but when she noticed Kurumi's cold expression, she hesitantly asked:

"Kurumi-nee… is something wrong?"

"No, it's nothing, Little Mumei!" Kurumi flashed a radiant smile again.

But when Mumei saw that overly bright smile, she shuddered.

Kurumi-nee seems to be in a bad mood... Is that happening to her? Even deities—or rather, spirits—can have that, right?

…

The Hunters were an independent force assembled to fight the Kabane.

They had achieved consecutive victories over the Kabane, and wherever they passed, the Kabane were swept away, and the land returned to human hands.

But whenever Kurumi thought of the Hunters, she was reminded of that 'Black Smoke.'

"Biba Amatori… no matter what, you'd better not lay a finger on Mumei."

—

When the group from Koutetsujou arrived at the city gate at the foot of the mountain, they saw the slowly approaching Hayajiro—the Kokujou.

It was a steam-powered locomotive that looked like it had been soaked in blood.

Marching in front of Kokujou were the Hunters, almost like an honor guard.

Leading the group was a tall, handsome man with pink hair, a massive sword slung across his waist, complete with a trigger at the hilt—like a weapon for a gun-swordsman.

With his melancholic demeanor, he certainly had the air to attract many young girls.

Judging by the deafening cheers from the surrounding crowd, this must be the legendary son of the Shogun, leader of the Hunters—Biba Amatori.

Next to him was a tall, blonde woman with orange side locks, exuding a cold, fierce aura.

Kurumi stared coldly at the two of them. Neither of them were human.

Both were Kabane.

…

The formation of the Hunters was like something rehearsed countless times.

Such pretentious fools... Kurumi watched them with disdain.

That Biba Amatori, aside from being tall, was utterly useless in her eyes—an absolute idiot.

When Mumei saw Biba Amatori, she immediately lit up with excitement. If Kurumi hadn't been holding her hand tightly, she probably would have run over to him by now.

"Kurumi-nee! That's my brother!" Mumei pointed to the man with pink hair at the front of the group.

"Mm." Kurumi smiled warmly, though her smile made the rest of the group from Koutetsujou step back a few paces in unease.

"Brother!"

Mumei's voice rang out, catching the attention of the Hunters.

Amidst the admiring gazes of the crowd, Biba Amatori led his people through the throngs of onlookers, heading toward Koutetsujou.

"Mumei!" He looked down at Mumei with a seemingly pleased expression.

"At last, we meet again." Mumei was overjoyed.

"Are you the only one here? Where's Shirabe?" Biba asked, surveying the area with a melancholic air.

"Dead." Kurumi, still gripping Mumei's hand tightly, sneered, answering before Mumei could.

"Kurumi-nee!" Mumei gasped in shock, wondering why Kurumi was acting so hostile toward her brother right from the start. Did they have some kind of history?

"Shirabe died with great honor," Mumei quickly added.

"I see." Biba Amatori's expression grew even more sorrowful as he closed his eyes, placing his right hand over his heart.

"May he find peace in the cycle of reincarnation. But I'm glad you're safe."

He then turned his gaze to Kurumi.

"By the way, I don't believe we've been introduced. And you are...?"

"She's Kurumi-nee!" Mumei hurriedly responded, her voice full of admiration. "Kurumi-nee-sama is amazing! She's been protecting me all the way to Shitori."

"Ah… Miss Kurumi..."

Before he could finish speaking, Kurumi lifted her chin and spoke in an aloof tone.

"Oh my, son of the Shogun... Just call me Tokisaki. 'Kurumi' is too much for me to bear." She deliberately emphasized the word "Shogun."

From the information gathered by her clones, she knew all too well that this young nobleman had a particularly strained relationship with his father.

Sure enough, after hearing Kurumi's deliberate emphasis, the nobleman's face darkened slightly with barely concealed anger.

The two stared at each other, sparks practically flying between them.

"Miss Tokisaki..."

"Shogun's... son..."

Though both were smiling, their words were laced with gritted teeth.

"I've been cast out of my family; I'm no longer the Shogun's son," Biba Amatori said with a seemingly gentle smile.

"Oh~~ then, Lord Amatori?"

"Just call me Biba, Miss Tokisaki. I don't deserve the Amatori name." The two continued to butt heads.

"Very well… Lord Amatori."

Biba Amatori let out a long sigh. What have I done to offend this woman?

"Mumei, go to the infirmary and get a check-up," he said, turning to Mumei.

"As for the rest, why don't we continue our discussion aboard Kokujou? There are too many eyes here."

Mumei wanted to go to the infirmary and see what was wrong with her, but Kurumi grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"No need for the infirmary," Kurumi said, preventing Mumei from moving. "Right now, Hozumi has some things… that shouldn't be seen."

"Hozumi?" Biba Amatori froze.

That brief moment of hesitation caused Mumei to freeze as well.

"Oh? You don't remember?" Kurumi smiled. "That was Mumei's name before."

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