Nevertheless, Shinnosuke shook his head.
“No way.”
“Why not? I know it’s not my place to say, but I think it’s a good opportunity.”
“You’re probably right, which is exactly why it’s impossible.”
If a lower-ranked samurai were given special treatment among higher-ranked samurai, the outcome would be predictable—gossip and resentment. It wasn’t a matter of policy; it was emotional, and there was no way around that.
In that case, Shinnosuke would have to keep proving himself to silence others and gain acceptance, constantly demonstrating his strength both in ability and in spirit, even if it meant sacrificing his private life.
For Satsuki, raised as a lady of refinement, that concept was surely beyond her understanding.
“I stood in for you with the compensation, and I kept Himari-chan’s secret too. It’s really unfair, you know.”
Satsuki drooped her shoulders, looking sorrowful.
“Ugh… Even if you say that…”
“I was joking.”
Instantly, she wore a mischievous grin.
“But you know, there’s also a job position allowance, plus a hazard pay.”
It was like the devil whispering in his ear.
The Shitara family wasn’t poor, but they weren’t particularly wealthy either. Still, they were paying for Himari’s education at a fairly prestigious school, so the tuition was high. And apparently, Himari had her sights set on a university in Kyoto. She was trying to keep it under wraps, but her interest was obvious from the pamphlets she’d ordered.
He was saving and budgeting to help realize his sister’s dream, but if he could take home even a few tens of thousands more yen, things would feel less tight. However, if he had to choose between money and family time…
“It’s still impossible. Besides, I don’t want people finding out about Himari’s abilities.”
He might be able to keep it hidden, but if it ever came to light, it would be a serious risk. No matter what, Himari was important to him.
“I see… Well, I understand. If that’s the case, I’ll give up.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry about it. But, would you consider becoming an advisor instead?”
“Didn’t I just turn you down?”
“No, not like that.”
Satsuki smiled with an amused expression.
“I need Shinnosuke, and Shinnosuke doesn’t want to stand out. So we’ll just keep it secret.”
“Keep it secret?”
“There’s precedent for this. It happened back in the Showa era—they hired samurai unofficially and kept their identity concealed from both internal and external parties. They brought in samurai from other domains to train them in secret.”
Satsuki was serious.
That must have been why she had studied so much after becoming a department head. She proudly shared her knowledge, just as she used to.
“So there’s a historical precedent for it. We could do something similar.”
“Hmm. How often and what’s the pay?”
She raised her slender index finger and gently waved it side to side.
When Shinnosuke thought about it, even if each session took more than an hour, three times a month would bring in a lot, allowing him to save more comfortably.
If he could do it without his identity being revealed, it was a tempting proposition.
“I’ll take it.”
“Thank you, Shinnosuke. I’m so glad, really.”
Satsuki clasped her hands lightly in front of her chest, smiling with relief.
“Oh, and one more thing. People with healing abilities, like Himari-chan, tend to attract mystical beasts. That’s why it’s better if you can act as a samurai.”
“Attract… mystical beasts!? Why didn’t you tell me that first? I’ll do anything, samurai or otherwise.”
“That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you.”
Her light violet eyes gazed directly at him.
“If I told you, you’d make a decision without considering your own wishes.”
She was absolutely right. It was likely Satsuki’s way of showing consideration.
“I can’t compete with you.”
“That’s right, Shinnosuke. You can’t beat me because you’re Shinnosuke.”
“You had to say that, didn’t you?”
He pointed a finger at her playfully, and they both laughed.
“Oh, by the way, Shinnosuke. If there’s anything else about being a samurai that you haven’t told me, confess now.”
“Confess, huh? Well, there’s not much to it. I just used to train at the place of a master who lived nearby. But all I learned was defense.”
“For someone so strong, that sounds like a waste.”
Satsuki rested her elbows on the table, cupping her cheeks with her hands in disappointment.
“But really, am I that strong?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, my master used to beat me up every time, and I’ve never actually fought mystical beasts. So in reality, I have no idea how strong I am.”
One reason he had given up on becoming a samurai was the social barriers and the need to keep Himari’s abilities secret. But another big part of it was his master, an old neighbor, who told him he only had talent for defense, leaving him feeling disheartened.
“You’re strong, Shinnosuke. Very strong. I can guarantee that.”
As Satsuki said that, her phone on the table started ringing. It had a label with a number on the back, showing it was issued by the domain office.
“Sorry, it’s a work call.”
After saying that, Satsuki picked up her phone, turned slightly away, and covered her mouth as she answered. It was that familiar, somewhat guilty posture people adopt when they receive work calls during their private time.
As Shinnosuke subtly averted his gaze, his own phone chimed with an incoming email. It was from Himari. Assuming it was just a message about her return time, Shinnosuke opened it casually—then his eyes widened in shock.
“A phantom beast?!”
He gasped, and Satsuki, who had just ended her call, looked over at him.
“I got an emergency summons for a phantom beast sighting. Could Himari be caught up in this?”
“She says she’s with friends in Shimizu Town.”
“Yes, that’s the area. It seems they’ve confirmed quite a number of them nearby.”
“I have to go.”
Shinnosuke stood up, heading straight for the exit without noticing Satsuki signaling to the café owner, indicating she would settle their bill later.
Just as he was about to run out, Satsuki stopped him.
“Wait.”
“What is it? I need to go help Himari.”
“We’re on the same mission. I’m heading to the scene for phantom beast elimination too. But I know the positions of the other samurai. You don’t want to be spotted, right?”
With a reassuring smile, Satsuki dashed out of the café alongside him.
