23 The Sword Saintess I

[Rei's POV]

I wonder what Brand-Kun is doing today, I'm supposed to go shopping with the girls, H-Hisashi invited me out too. Stupid Takeshita-kun… why didn't he invite me out?

Brand-kun too… but... I guess he and I don't have that sort of relationship.

I sighed and slumped on my bed, hugging my pillow. What exactly do I want… who do I like? I don't even know anymore.

Brand-kun… he's like the perfect boy, he has what Hisashi and Takashi don't have.

Takashi is my childhood friend, I like him but… he is spineless. Then there is Hisashi, a boy I'm not so interested in, but… he's trying hard to enter my eyes.

Logically… I should choose Hisashi-Kun if Takashi-kun doesn't make a move. Or should I confess instead? It is so complicated!

'Why Rei, why!?'

I pulled my brown hair forcefully, upset with myself.

'Why do I want Brand-kun who doesn't even like me!?'

He didn't even save me, he just opened my eyes but that was enough for me to work on my own and uncover Shido-sensei. I have been looking at him ever since he beat those guys, looking so handsome and valiant… but he has a hooligan reputation, he's not someone my parents would have liked me to be with… that is what I thought until they told me that his mother is a prominent practician while his father is a millionaire American businessman. His identity is low-key in the city. But the upper echelons all know who he is.

It always made me wonder, how? How can he have such a high profile and be secured? My mom wouldn't answer me, much less dad.

With such a background how come he is labelled as a hooligan? my parents told me that from a young age, his parents left him to his lot... they have a lot of business to attend to in America and Europe. The only one that has been taking care of him is Shizuka-sensei and... knowing the latter I don't even know if she is reliable.

With such stories on his back, his personality and how handsome he is... how can I not have a crush? moreover, I know a lot of girls in school do, but they're just too apprehensive about how to approach him, they'd rather give up.

I know he is close with Takagi-san and Busujima-senpai... likely because the former is the daughter of the current mayor while Busujima-senpai is the daughter of a shrine... their three backgrounds are special, so... it makes sense that they get closer.

In any case, any reason to not pursue him was gone. Being together with Takashi-kun meant that I'd have to confess myself while it would be disgusting for me to choose Hisashi-kun just because I have no better options, it is not fair to him.

If I had to confess to someone, I'd rather it be Brand-kun… and if he rejected me, then… at least I tried. I don't want to fail him just like Takashi is failing me. If I have a crush I should face it head-on.

But… there is Takagi-san… I know she's a good friend of Brand-kun… there is Busujima-senpai too, what do they feel?

'Kami-same what should I do?'

Coming out of my house and trying to meet with the girls, I encountered someone along the streets of Tokonotsu, this girl.

"You- Miyamoto Reo" she looked at me threateningly, I detected her gaze instantly and frowned.

"You are... Yuuki Miku? Brand-kun stalker" Upon realising who she is I immediately clenched my fist, this girl is annoying.

"Shut up…"

"Hah?" I asked her coldly, did this bitch just hush me?

"Miyamoto Rei, stop bothering my Brand" she got so close to me, that our breasts were almost squishing, and everyone around us looked at us with either lewd gazes or apprehension.

"Yours? aren't you deluding yourself? Everyone knows that Brand-kun ignores you… how many boyfriends are you going to try and get to spur jealousy out of him, do you think he cares? Have you slept with them all?~" I shamelessly teased her and that's when she overdid it.

She took my shirt's collar and began yelling in my face.

"Shut up! my virginity is Brand's I have known him more than anyone else, why won't he look at me?!"

"You're obsessed… with a personality like that… he won't ever like you if you excuse me" I pushed her away from me and prepared to leave, but this girl didn't have enough.

"What do you even know?" She grasped my wrist tightly.

"Release me Miku… I'm not someone you can just mess with".

"Hmph, what are you going to-"

*BAANG!*

I kicked her stomach... and that was enough, Miku spat some saliva and clutched her stomach, falling to her knees. Everyone immediately gasped and got alert.

I knelt in front of her grasping her hair, "It is my turn to tell you, Miku… stop bothering Brand-kun… next time I see you stalking him, it won't be just a kick, you understand?"

"Tch! Bitch…"

"I don't care if you accept or not, you're advised".

I left her there and went on my way, if I can at least remove this deadweight from his shoulders, then… perhaps it will help him somehow.

Brand-kun must be fed up with her, but he's too much of a gentleman to simply slap a fragile girl like her across the face. I, however, am another girl from the same year.

I can crush Miku whenever I want and not get repercussions, it will just be seen as a random fight of high school girls.

**

**

[Brand's POV]

I'm enjoying myself with Saeko, she looks like a normal girl when she's not swinging that bokken around as if she is in a piñata. We first had a lovely picnic around the park, I noticed Lucy was spying on us but didn't pay attention to it.

She made some delicious sandwiches for us and we talked about the sword, the school and some gossiping.

"So you don't like this girl Miku at all then, I thought you were evading her out of spite…"

"I have known her since we were kids but… she's too toxic, I rejected her once and she changed completely… I didn't even say I didn't like her… I only said I needed time and she went and got herself ten boyfriends" I rolled my eyes, Miku it could have been so different, she has the personality of the obsessive girlfriend, that's someone who is extremely loyal to you, but... the 'extremely' is just too extreme for me.

It has even reached this point, she is not even my girlfriend... yet she acts every day as if we recently broke up. If that's without us having gone out together, imagine how it would have been if we had!

I'm sure I would be dickless now.

"Should have told me sooner, I could beat her to a pulp and stopped her from following you?" Saeko remarked as we walked along the fountain park. I have no doubt of her capacity to do so.

"Don't waste your time with her, she will stop eventually".

'Perhaps when the catastrophe starts…. she will learn restraint' I thought, feeling pity for her already, she won't last... unless she... how pitiful.

…

We diverted and entered the cinema where we watched a movie filled with action, many were surprised to see the 'delicate' Saeko inside the premises, watching such a bloody movie. Little did they know much of a punch this girl packs.

Lucy seemed to be enjoying the movie as well, she even got herself some popcorn, 'is this what the beauty calls 'undercover'? doesn't she know I'm aware... is she even trying to hide?'

We were walking towards the shrine where she lives, an ancient place where the samurai belonged. Lucy wasn't too far away, she seemed to have caught a stomachache and was clutching her stomach, foolish girl.

"The Busujima shrine is like a sacred place, Brand… I know you don't respect me, but at least be respectful to my ancestry".

"What do you mean I don't respect you? Busujima-senpai…?~" I held her waist as we walked while she leaned on my shoulder, the dusk looked so beautiful.

"You have grasped my butt several times... I hope you're ready to pay for that~"

"Do you mean that some stalker touched you?"

"Keep playing the fool, let's see how long it will last you".

This time it was her who proactively cupped a feel of my butt as we entered the shrine, who is the pervert here?

"Your parents?" I asked her, this place was gigantic but desolate.

"My mother passed away giving birth to me; my father is a priest in another prefecture. I live by myself; some of my aunts come often to inspect everything is alright and that's it, I take care of this shrine on my own" She declared, placing her box somewhere around.

No wonder she's so prude and dependent, just like me she had to fend for herself... unlike me she didn't have to take care of Shizuka too.

There are two big differences in our lives.