Chapter 24

It was an extremely dark place. In such a place, there is a river flowing from nowhere towards the end of the river which nobody knows where. This is the Yomi River, a river where souls going after death. In the flowing river, many boats that carried souls can be seen.

Those souls maintain a form of their former body. But most of them can only look straight or looking at the river with lifeless eyes.

"Hm? That soul..." A girl said while looking at a certain soul.

The girl stopped the boat that contains the soul. She brings down the soul to the land and places her hand on its forehead. Then the soul suddenly regains its consciousness.

"Where am I...?" The soul asked as it looked at the surroundings.

"You will be fine... Come with me." The girl gently said then take the soul's hand and walk away from the river.

---

*Ding dong*

Lunch break chime echoing in the entire school building. Today Kaori and I going to buy lunch in the cafeteria because Nanaka, who supposed to make us a bento, didn't make it for some reason.

"Wait a bit, Kaori. I am going to invite someone to have lunch with us." After saying that I intentionally walk to a student who sits in the center of the classroom.

"Yo! Shirogane Miyuki right?" I asked.

"Indeed, and you are... Kitahara Izumi right? Someone who got surrounded by his classmates on the first day of school?" He asked back while he looked at me.

"Ahaha... Indeed, that's me. Anyway, I want to invite you to have lunch together with us at the cafeteria." I smiled wryly and invited him.

"Why me? And I brought a bento, though." He asked and showing me his bento.

"It's not like I have any ulterior motive to ask my classmate to have lunch together. But if you insist, because you are Kei's brother?"

"You know Kei-chan?!" He asked surprisedly.

"Naturally. So how about it?" I asked again and this time he instantly agreed to have lunch with us. We walked leisurely to the cafeteria. When we arrived, Shirogane told us he would look for a table so Kaori and I went to the order machine to buy some food tickets.

"I want this Char siu Ramen!" Kaori said as she pointed on the specific menu.

"Then I choose this Omurice." I insert the necessary money for both of us and take the tickets. After that, we went to the cafeteria aunty to take our order and sit at the table that Shirogane secured for us.

"So, how do you think about this academy?" I casually asked Shirogane.

"The academy itself is very good as they offer us a full scholarship. But, it's hard for me to make a friend here as most of the students are wealthy." He answered downheartedly.

"That's true, and most of them have been attending this academy since their elementary too," I added.

"But they are friendly, though?" Kaori said innocently.

"I didn't say they weren't friendly, just it kinda hard for me to follow their talk. And most of them already have a group of friends." Shirogane explained.

We keep talking about the students of this school and how Shirogane can't make any friends at all as we eat. After some time, we finished eating and just chatting casually until the lunch break ends.

"So how do you know Kei-chan?" Shirogane asked me curiously.

"Kei-chan?" Kaori also asked curiously.

"He is talking about the girl that I met recently at the shopping center," I explained to Kaori.

"Ah, her. I wanted to meet her too as you sometimes talk with her or Ai on the phone at night." Kaori said eagerly.

"I will take her to our apartment some time okay? Anyway, Shirogane-san, as you heard I met her at the shopping center when I walked leisurely around the town. At that time, we encountered a weird but very memorable event." I explained to Shirogane as I reminisce about a certain girl.

"Hmm, I see. Incidentally, what kind of event is that? Shirogane asked curiously.

"It's...Oh, the bell sounds. Time to head back to the class�� I said as I stand up followed by Kaori and Shirogane. Then we head to the class together.

"One more thing, you can consider us as your friends okay," I said to Shirogane who walk beside me.

"Indeed, from today onward we are your friend. Better remember that!" Kaori said with a kindly smile.

"...Can I?" Shirogane asked hesitantly.

"Don't be like that, you are a man, are you? Or maybe not? As your name was like a girl's name after all," I said with a smirk.

"Hahahaha," Kaori laughs when she heard it.

"Oy! We just become a friend, and you already make fun of me!" Shirogane said it, but he didn't seem to hate it.

"That's what a friend is. They made fun, laugh, and stand together when something happens." I said with a smile.

"Yes! Don't forget also help each other." Kaori added with a smile.

"Yare yare, what some outrageous friends I got," He said as he shakes his head while smiling.

"Right, Kitahara I want to ask something," Shirogane said with a curious face.

"Ask away Miyuki-chan. And just call me Izumi." I said with a smirk.

"Miyuki is fine, but can you stop the –chan?" He said looking troubled.

"Why? It's good, though. I will call you Miyuki-chan too." Kaori also said with a smirk.

"*sigh* fine... Anyway, why did you get surrounded by literally all of our classmates yesterday? Even in the cafeteria, there are some people who seemingly wanted to get the sign of you two." He asked curiously.

"Ah, that's because I am a bit popular pianist and Kaori is popular Violinist," I said humbly.

"Don't be fooled by him. He is dubbed as the number one Pianist in the world you know." Kaori said proudly.

"WHAT?! Really??" Shirogane asked with a shocked face.

"Ahaha... Well, I do take pride of my skills as a pianist. Then they dubbed me as such." I said with a confident smile.

"Really...What some outrageous people I befriend with."

While we are talking merrily, we arrived at the classroom and the lecture continues until the school ends bell ringing and we went home.

---

Days passed quickly as we attending school, doing some club activity and such. I did sword arts training rigorously until these days until I can fight the club's captain easily. A short time ago Shisou also started teaching me some of the techniques of Niten Ichi-Ryu. To be honest, it is quite easy but hard at the same time.

Shisou said the original Musashi's sword reached the heights of nothingness. While Shisou is the current master of Niten Ichi-ryu, he admitted thoughtfully can't achieve that realm himself.

The only one who possibly reaches such a realm is most likely his daughter who was traveling around the world and me. Because his daughter doesn't really care about anything, he eagerly hopes I can achieve the same realm as his ancestor or maybe even higher.

Today is the 8th day of April, 2 days before my performance for the Royal Family. Sebastian said I should take a flight two days before the performance, so I can rest comfortably for a day before performing.

Additionally, he said he was going to introduce me to some people. So right now I have finished preparing for the flight to England and currently waiting for Chisa to come to my apartment.

"Have you brought everything Izu-kun?" Nanaka asked as she carefully checks inside my bag.

"I naturally have, it's only a 4-5 days trip anyway," I said reassuring her.

"I wanted to go too... but it's quite nerving to stay beside the royal family while you're performing," Kaori said with a bit frown while thinking about that.

"That's right Onii-sama, don't forget to bring us some souvenir," Shiroi said with a smile.

"Naturally. What kind of thing you want from England?" I asked.

Then Nanaka, Kaori, and Shiori eagerly told me what they wanted from England. It seems Nanaka wants diving equipment from a certain brand, and Kaori wants something that can only be bought in England, and Shiori wants an afternoon tea set from England.

"*sigh* there are many kinds of things I can get there you know?" I sighed and asked Kaori.

"That's fine! I believe in your excellent choice. Besides you can always ask Sebastian-san or even The Royal Family about England's specialty." Kaori suggested.

"Fine, I will try to select it myself before asking someone," I replied to her.

"Izu-kun, how about the things you said before about premonition?" Nanaka asked with concern.

"Indeed, Onii-sama. I believe you can do something about it. But I can't help but worried about it," Shiori said while looking at me with concern.

"Right Izu, will you be fine?" Kaori also said worriedly.

"Your husband is strong you know. I'm sure it would be fine." I smilingly said to assure them. While it is true I undoubtedly think it would be fine, I nonetheless don't have any idea what kind of thing waiting for me in England.

"Next news, earthquake mysteriously happened in London, England, these two days. The experts still investigating how the earthquake happens. Fortunately, it wasn't a big earthquake so there aren't any casualties." While we were talking, a piece of news suddenly entered our ears. Hearing this, I am pretty sure this has a connection to the premonition that I got.

Suddenly, a notification sound that I have not heard for quite some time popping out.

*Ding*

[You got a new quest]

[Kill a heretic god.]

[Reward: 4x gacha ticket]

"..."