My Song
Chapter 04: My Song
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Sitting inside the teacher's lounge, Daiki let out a weary sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I should send a notice to Natsuki-san's family to meet up with them and discuss their son's frequent absences from class," he muttered to himself, the weight of his responsibilities settling heavily on his shoulders.
"Are your students giving you troubles again, Daiki-sensei?" a pink-haired teacher sitting beside his desk couldn't help but inquire.
"Ah, Kirisu-sensei," Daiki acknowledged her presence with a grateful nod. "Thank you for your hard work," he offered his appreciation before addressing her question. "One of my students has been absent quite frequently lately," he explained with a sigh. "Although he managed to pass the exam, I'm concerned about his habit of missing classes. So, I'm considering arranging a meeting with his parents to discuss the matter."
Kirisu Mafuyu regarded him with her usual cool demeanor, not displaying overt concern on her face. However, beneath her stoic exterior, she was a teacher who genuinely cared for her students. "Is there something else troubling him?" she inquired, her curiosity masked behind a calm facade.
Daiki pondered for a moment, furrowing his brows. "I've noticed that his eyes aren't as radiant as they used to be," he admitted, his concern deepening. "Perhaps it's social anxiety, though I'm not entirely convinced."
As he contemplated the situation, Daiki couldn't help but think that he should have read "Re:Zero" when he first encountered the boy in his classroom. Mentally noting to do so when he returned home, he realized the need for a deeper understanding of his student's struggles.
"Do let me know if you need any help," she offered before standing up and leaving the teacher's lounge.
"Thank you, Kirisu-sensei," Daiki expressed his gratitude as she stood up and left the lounge. "I'll certainly let you know if I need any assistance."
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"Kaoru! I brought some beer and snacks!" Daiki's cheerful voice filled the small apartment as he entered the living room. It was a modest 1R apartment typically rented by college students.
"Ah, Daiki!" His classmate from high school, Hanabishi Kaoru, greeted him warmly. "How's your day been?" he inquired, making space for Daiki to sit.
"Stressful but good nonetheless," Daiki replied, joining Kaoru on the floor as they settled in for a baseball match.
"You sleeping here tonight?" Kaoru asked, taking a sip from his beer can.
"Nah, I'll have to go back home," Daiki replied with a casual shrug. "I can't leave my sisters alone in the house," he added, a sense of responsibility always present in his words.
Kaoru lifted his beer can in a friendly gesture. Bonding with old high school friends like this was something Daiki frequently did. There was another friend, but that person had become increasingly busy lately, so Daiki hadn't visited him in about a year. "I should probably visit him later," he thought, making a mental note.
"That month is coming, huh?" Kaoru reminisced, looking at the calendar. "Have you gotten over... you know? That," he asked, getting a bit tipsy as they continued to drink.
"I don't know," Daiki replied, taking a sip from his beer. "She's still living in my heart rent-free, but..." His voice trailed off, unable to find the right words to continue. The pain of the past evident in his eyes.
"You have to let her go, man," Kaoru said, tossing a potato chip into his mouth. "It's already been five years since her passing. It's not healthy," he advised, concerned for his friend's well-being.
"I'll think about it after visiting her this year," Daiki sighed and reached for the guitar in the corner of the room. "Wanna listen to our usual song?"
"You always sing that when you're drunk, but sure," Kaoru chuckled, a mix of nostalgia and friendship in his eyes. He had lost count of how many times he had listened to that song, but it was likely approaching three digits. Yet, for his friend, he would listen to it again.
"Alright, then, please listen to the song we wrote together," Daiki sighed, his fingers gently strumming the guitar strings. "My Song," he announced as the title, a song that held precious memories of his girlfriend.
He missed her deeply, and he hadn't allowed anyone to enter the room she used to stay in their house. Not even his sisters, not even himself. That room was where he preserved the memories they had made together, and he wasn't ready to face them yet.
After the song concluded, both Daiki and Kaoru fell into a contemplative silence. Daiki's song had stirred emotions in Kaoru, making him remember his own loss. That night, the two friends found solace in each other's company, drowning their sorrows in beer and memories.
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"Are you sure you don't want to sleep here?" Kaoru asked his friend.
Daiki, with a chuckle, dismissed the idea. "I don't want to sleep with a dude in the same room," he replied, lightening the mood with his typical humor.
"Just take care," Kaoru sighed, resigned to his friend's antics. He had grown accustomed to Daiki's behavior over the years and didn't bother insisting that he not drive while under the influence.
"Yeah, yeah! I won't die that easily. I'm the strongest in Japan, after all," Daiki retorted with a confident smirk, flashing his signature cocky grin, mainly reserved for his friends and siblings.
"Sometimes, I don't understand what you're saying," Kaoru muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "Just... try not to get into an accident," he advised, shaking his head. "And don't get lost on the way."
"I won't!" With a final assurance, Daiki bid his friend farewell and headed out into the night, leaving Kaoru to shake his head in amusement at his friend's antics and his boundless self-assuredness.
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"Where the hell am I?" Daiki muttered as he removed his bike helmet, surveying the desolate landscape around him. "A barren land and ruins of buildings... and the sky is red," he observed, his confusion evident.
*Boom*
The sound of an explosion not far away drew Daiki's attention, prompting him to investigate. He couldn't ignore it, not when he took his role as a Campione so seriously, not for the sake of protecting lives, but to ensure that his sisters' daily lives went uninterrupted.
Putting his helmet back on, Daiki revved up his bike and headed toward the source of the explosion. "There was a battle here," he observed, noting the craters and scattered swords strewn across the area.
"Hmm?" Daiki's sharp eyes caught sight of a long white-haired man standing on higher ground, accompanied by a girl with ample assets and another girl pinned against a cracked boulder.
Thinking that this man might have some answers, Daiki carefully parked his bike in a safe spot and leaped onto the boulder. His expression remained as composed as ever, his Campione persona taking over.
"Do you know where I am?" Daiki inquired, getting straight to the point as he faced the white-haired man.
"My, my, I never thought I would see you here, Lord Daiki," Arima Tsuchimikado, the head of the Tsuchimikado house, responded, his tone somewhat cooing as he bowed slightly. "Welcome to Magano," he added, revealing the name of this otherworldly place.
"Magano?" Daiki was initially confused but quickly realized that he had read about it in a manga before. "Why wasn't I informed about this?" He filed away his questions for later, deciding to address the situation at hand first.
"Because we had it covered, Lord Daiki. And I heard you're extremely busy," Tsuchimikado replied with an unnerving smile, acknowledging Daiki's packed schedule. He knew that Daiki had little time to oversee every supernatural occurrence.
"I'll talk with you next time," Daiki said, his gaze never wavering from the man. "How's the situation?" he inquired.
"They're handling it quite well," Tsuchimikado smirked, indicating his trust in his subordinates.
Daiki extended his hand. "What do you need?" Tsuchimikado asked.
"Give me a charm," Daiki requested. "The one called Banma Chōbuku," he added. Daiki was feeling an intense need to engage in combat, driven perhaps by his current inebriation.
"Ara, are you joining the battle yourself?" Tsuchimikado gasped in surprise, swiftly handing Daiki the requested talisman.
"Please! Please help Rokuro!" the girl with ample assets pleaded desperately.
"Your friend is fine," Daiki assured her. "He's fighting with everything he's got, and it would be rude of me to interfere unless it becomes necessary," he explained, offering a comforting pat on the girl's head. Daiki had a soft spot for individuals like her, close in age to his sisters and fighting on the front lines to protect people like his family.
"Thank you," tears welled up in her eyes.
"No worries," Daiki turned his attention back to the Impurities scattered around the area. "Isn't it the king's duty to keep his subjects safe?" he mused, reflecting on his role as a Campione.
A magic circle materialized on the ground, summoning a sword. Daiki held out the talisman before him and chanted, "Banma Chōbuku, Kyu-Kyu Nyo Ritsu Ryo," enchanting the sword from the ground. He had opted to use this talisman, the same one the exorcists used to purify Impurities, unsure if his usual Galatine could affect them.
Taking a deep breath, Daiki felt a rush of power surge through his body. It had been a while since he had pushed himself to the limit, and he was intoxicated, both by alcohol and the desire to fight.
「Bless me with lightning in my stride,
Through the world, I shall now glide.
Time and space, I shall exceed,
In the name of speed, I shall succeed.」
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This was one of the Authorities Daiki seldom used, as it was rarely necessary. But in a situation like this, against over hundreds of foes, it was just what he needed. Thunder enveloped his form, enhancing his speed and strength.
"Can I trust you with coordinating your subordinates?" Daiki asked Tsuchimikado.
"Please leave it to me, Lord Daiki," Tsuchimikado grinned and gave a thumbs-up.
"Well then," Daiki cracked his stiff neck, preparing for battle. "It's time for me to exercise after snacks," he declared with a small smile, fully embracing the challenge before him.
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Author's Note;
And another chapter is here! I've kept my promise, and a new chapter has been released today, instead of waiting a year – YAY!
Daiki's girlfriend is gone; who would have expected that, right? She passed away a year before his mother did. Poor Daiki, experiencing the loss of his loved ones two years in a row.
Hanabishi Kaoru is from Ai Yori Aoshi, one of my favorite manga series. The female lead, Aoi, is the epitome of wife material (a real, actual wife, not just a "waifu").
Oh, look! It's Sousei no Onmyouji! I couldn't resist including one of my favorite manga series in this story.