INTERLUDE : MEMORIES & EXPECTATIONS

“Mam, your coffee.” Said the waitress as she placed a white cup of hot coffee on the table. It was an open roof café on the second floor built on the large balcony, which had not been used since construction. So a young entrepreneur, when saw the location on sale, he opened a café, which became a successful venture in an instant.

The services are good and the coffee brewed is of high quality too.

MINAGAWA EXPRESSO.

I added sugar to the cup after I tore the sugar sachets, trying to hold back my powers at all cost and not disperse it in the process. After slowly stirring it with the spoon, I took a sip form the mug and gazed at the tall building towering in front of me right across the main street.

‘Gransberry Shopping Mall’.

It was one of the busiest places in the Kibuya Prefecture, but instead of watching the thousands of people fluxing in and out, I was seeing the people of the past.

“Miss Azru, I know I might be prying into, but why it is that you always visit this place and look at the shopping mall.”

“Well, if it isn’t Chieko, the always troubled one.”

“I know that you are a regular and you always look out for me, but at least don’t make fun of me like that. Whenever I see you out here drinking coffee, it looks to me rather than enjoying your drink you are sad about something.”

“Oh my, you have grown up so much in this one small year and here I was still planning to play my big sister role a bit longer. But you don’t need to worry about me. Instead I visit here because it makes me happy.”

“Of course, I will be worried. After all you saved me from those evil guys, by beating down all of those five brutes. You were like a superhero out of a shounen manga. And then you even helped me to hunt down a part-time job.” The waitress tried to punch the air in front of her, making sure to hold the tray tucked between her armpits.

“You, don’t need to think about it that much. This place had a vacancy and the manager could be troublesome to deal with.”

“I am giving it my all, so I at least get along with the manager. I even got a bonus for this month and even in the previous ones.”

I gazed up high in the sky, and took a deep breath.

“…Miss Azru….”

“Did I ever tell you, that almost 192 years ago, just across this street there used to be a shrine not too big and neither too small. The main priest belonged to the Kondo family. I have so many happy memories of that place. But time has changed and that place is long gone. But I still find myself stuck there. The air has changed, the people who lived there are no more and even my beloved...”

I looked at my watch and the confused face of the companion lending an ear to my sob story, maybe I spoke more than I should have. I hurriedly got up from my seat and paid for the coffee.

“Listen Chieko, go home soon today and carry an umbrella with you this evening.”

I got up from my seat and left the place.

Chieko on the other hand stood there, unable to understand where the conversation was supposedly going.

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“Was Miss Azru really talking about her memories from 192 years back, there must be some kind of mistake. But isn’t her full name Azru Kondo too. Maybe I am the one thinking too much. She is so young and beautiful like a Goddess. Next time I will surely try to ask for a photo with her.”

Chieko then looks at the sky and wonders why I should carry an umbrella when the sky couldn’t be any bluer than this.

I had been walking for half an hour, and it started down pouring a bit sooner than expected. I brought out a blue umbrella out of thin air even though my hands had been luggage free. The answer is pretty simple – my dimensional storage.

I had reached my destination after another five minutes’ walk. I was standing at the door of a very old house, which appears to have been renovated time after time. This was the first place, the exact same position and this heavy rain when I met the love of my life.

I rang the doorbell. Two people came from inside and welcomed me after seeing my visiting card.

“I see so you must be the new buyer. I didn’t expect you to be a young lady with such a lovely face. ”

“We have wanted to sell this house for such a long time. I hope that it is too your liking.”

A middle aged man and another middle aged lady spoke to me with a hurried smile on their faces, trying to sound as convincing as they could.

“Yes, I have already seen the property twice and I am now willing to buy it at the agreed price.” I tried to grin and confirm their proposal.

“I am so glad that we can finally sell it.”

“You will really enjoy living here. Though the house is quite old, renovation can easily fix the cramped floors and some of the broken walls. Or, maybe you can even build an entire new house from scratch.”

Well at least they seem to be happy, after selling their own family home. Since I am paying more for the house, more than it should have actually cost me. But I wanted to make haste and did not have any time to negotiate.

“This house belongs to the Kondo family, but since I am the last member I finally decided to sell the house.”

They did not know my true identity because I was using an alias

“I see. It’s quite sad to hear that.”

“You don’t need to worry. Recently we suffered a loss with our new business venture. I am sure with the money earned here we can then live a happy life.”

“I think we will be taking our leave now.” The man prompted and then we were suddenly at the entrance door.

“I will make sure that the rest of the money is sent to your bank account by the end of the next week.”

Both of them finally left. So they were Sachi’s uncle and aunt. I feel exhausted after talking to them just for ten minutes.

How could I allow this house to be sold to anyone else, when I myself used to live here once! Also Sachi too lived here. So I think there should be a place for her to return to too in this world.

Well, this house does require maintenance.

I hope that Sachi is doing well on Isleguard and since she has finally inherited my dual blades of White and Black I have nothing to worry anymore.

But I wonder what will you do, Caroline Ascalon, Hero of Isleguard after seeing those two swords again in someone else’s hand. An ominous smile appeared on my face. I tried to correct back my facial expression with my two hands.

Usually those who use those swords ends up having multiple personality disorder, they may become immune to blood & violence sometimes, and have a typical craze for fighting strong enemies. But since it is still only recent I don’t think the effects will be that pronounced.

“Everything’s just gonna be fine. HAAAH...AAA. I hope so…” I just laughed it out to release my tension.

Tring. Tring.

The door bell rang and a person in black suit stood outside the entrance. Even the door needs repair after it made that long screech sound while opening it.

“Good evening, Mr. Kazuma. How have you been?” He was soaking wet in all the rain.

“I will do just fine if I don’t actually catch a cold.”

I got a towel for him, where it was usually kept. In the left-most room in the second drawer.

“You know your way around the house pretty well, even though this is your third time here.”

“You think so.” Somehow, I was finding myself in a pinch. But it’s not like anyone will actually figure out that I used to live in this house around two hundred years ago.

We sat across each other on the sofa, with a transparent glass table laid out in between. He quickly emptied his bag with a bundle of printed documents and managed to assemble them like he means business. He used his body to protect the documents from getting wet.

Buying a house these days is so annoying and going through the lengthy processes again and again. So many kinds of taxes and then the proof documents of the land. Well no point in complaining about it, if it doesn’t do me any good.

“So, let’s start from where we left previously. We were going today to talk about who should be the property named after. So please convey it to me.”

I gave a small thought to it, but I had already decided with what I would go.

“Why don't you go with... SACHI.”