I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

Under the shade of a tree, a boy with striking red oni horns atop his head and two red markings under his eyes leaned against the trunk, panting heavily.

Even someone as energetic as Itto Arataki had his limits.

He had been yelling for so long that his throat was dry, yet Sara still hadn't shown up.

"This is weird… Could it be that the little tengu isn't here?"

The possibility that Sara might have heard him but chose to ignore him didn't even cross his mind.

"Ugh… My throat's killing me. A cup of water would be perfect right about now…"

"Here, water for you."

A voice suddenly rang out beside him, and a cup of water appeared in front of his face.

"Oh! Thanks, you're a lifesaver!"

Without noticing anything amiss, Itto grabbed the cup and gulped the water down in large swallows.

"Ahh! That hit the spot. Now I'm craving something sweet…"

"Sunsettia juice. Freshly squeezed."

"Are you some kind of wish-granting spirit?!"

Itto gleefully accepted the new cup and, after draining it, loudly proclaimed, "Delicious!" before handing it back.

"Oh, by the way… who are you?"

Only then did Itto belatedly register the presence of someone behind the tree. Curious, he turned to look at the figure.

Upon seeing Kiichi Hougen and then spotting Sara behind her, Itto's eyes lit up as he pointed dramatically.

"Oh! It's you! Little Tengu!"

Several crimson veins of exasperation seemed to pop out on the back of Sara's head.

"…I'm not 'Little Tengu.' I have a name. It's Sara."

With her master nearby, Sara bit back her temper and explained patiently.

Unfortunately, she greatly overestimated Itto's ability to listen.

"That doesn't matter! Since you're here, it means you've accepted my challenge, right? Today, I'll settle the score and reclaim my honor!"

"Can you at least listen to what people are saying, you brainless, muscle-headed idiot?!"

Sara might still be young, but her temper wasn't something to be trifled with.

Kiichi Hougen stood to the side, arms crossed, clearly intending to spectate. She even considered conjuring up a bucket of popcorn and a bottle of soda, as the current atmosphere oddly reminded her of a movie theater.

"Reclaim your honor? If anyone's honor needs reclaiming, it's mine!" Sara gritted her teeth, glaring at Itto like she was ready to sink her teeth into him. "As my master's disciple, losing even one round to someone like you—a brainless fool with nothing but strength—is utterly humiliating!"

"Oh! You're fired up! That's what I like to see!"

Itto stretched his arms, his grin widening in anticipation. "I've been looking forward to this!"

"So," Kiichi Hougen interjected with some amusement, "what are you planning to compete in? The same games as last time?"

"I don't care," Sara said nonchalantly. "Even if we repeat the same competitions, I won't lose to him again."

"No, no, no! Repeating what we've already done would be boring," Itto waved his hand dismissively, only to meet Sara's icy glare.

"Then what do you suggest?"

"Oh? Are you saying I get to pick the competition, Little Tengu?"

"I'm saying that no matter what you choose, I'll still beat you."

"No way! Last time was just a fluke! I wasn't serious! This time, I'll show you what I'm really made of!"

"Blaming your loss on carelessness only proves how inadequate you really are."

Kiichi Hougen found the exchange fascinating. In her presence, Sara was always respectful and composed, acting far more mature than her age. Yet here she was, baring her teeth in a heated squabble—something Kiichi Hougen had never seen before.

Maybe interacting with her peers is good for her after all, Kiichi Hougen mused. She had even brought Gorou to their home partially to give Sara a same-age companion. She hadn't expected Sara to find herself a rival on her own.

And what was a rivalry without some good-natured squabbling? If anything, throwing in the occasional physical scuffle—a well-executed shoulder throw, perhaps—only added to the charm.

"So… let's do sumo wrestling!"

The moment Itto enthusiastically made his suggestion, Sara froze.

It was as if someone had hit her with Arthur's silence-inducing Noble Phantasm.

For a moment, there was nothing but silence.

Then—

A sharp grab at his collar, a well-placed kick to his shin, and a deft twist of her body.

"You shameless, brainless idiot!!"

A textbook-perfect shoulder throw sent Itto flying.

Whether it was due to Sara's excessive force or Itto's oni resilience, he hit the ground headfirst, bounced, and then continued to ricochet off the dirt two or three more times before finally lying motionless.

"He's not dead, is he?"

Kiichi Hougen quietly approached, poking at the "corpse" with a stick she'd picked up somewhere.

Sara stood there, breathing heavily, her face flushed as red as a ripe apple. Her embarrassment wasn't just because of Itto's ridiculous proposal—it was also because she'd lost control in front of her master.

As someone who prided herself on self-discipline, Sara couldn't forgive her own lapse—or the oni responsible for it.

"Why didn't I just bury this idiot the first time I met him…?"

Right now, Sara wanted nothing more than to disappear.

"Hahaha! Not bad, Little Tengu!"

The "corpse" suddenly sprang to life. Slamming his hands against the ground, Itto launched himself upright with seemingly boundless energy, his laughter echoing through the forest.

"That throw was incredible! Starting without even announcing the match—bold move! But no worries, I'll count that one as your win! Now let's go again—time for round two!"

"Who wants to wrestle you again, you pea-brained moron?!"

Sara was practically fuming at this point.

Does this guy even understand human speech?!

Not to mention his utter lack of decorum.

A male oni challenging a young woman to a sumo match—did he have no shame?!

Kiichi Hougen, meanwhile, was nearly doubled over with laughter.

This was far more entertaining than any soap opera she'd ever seen.

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