Theresa looked at Ming Yu as he said those words. The golden sunlight shone on the young man's face, and his black eyes sparkled with a light more dazzling than the dawn—a light called determination.
"That's a very villain-like thing to say," Theresa said with a smile.
Ming Yu was slightly taken aback and asked in return, "And what do you think, Principal?"
"Perhaps," Theresa gave an ambiguous answer.
Given her status and position in Schicksal, there were many things she couldn't say openly. But in her heart, perhaps she also believed she was right.
Whether it was about St. Freya High School or Mei, she believed from the bottom of her heart that she was right. But in a strict military organization like Schicksal, which did not permit a second will besides the Overseer's, this was the most she could do.
"Let's go back. It'll be a bit troublesome if we're discovered," Ming Yu said, stretching and yawning.
Although he could take on half of Yae Village as long as Higokumaru didn't go all out, it was best to avoid getting caught. After all, gaining Yae Sakura's trust was also a very important part, and it would be really hard to explain this situation if they were discovered. What would he say, that he came out to look at the moon?
Theresa also thought of this and obediently agreed.
The two once again snuck back to the shrine, carefully avoiding the early-rising attendants, and returned to their rooms to catch up on sleep.
They slept straight through until breakfast time before leisurely getting up to wash.
Seeing the two of them looking exhausted, Yae Sakura asked with concern, "Did you two not rest well last night? I apologize for my poor hospitality."
Ming Yu quickly waved his hands and said, "It has nothing to do with you, Miss Sakura. I just have trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds."
Yae Sakura looked at them skeptically, still a little doubtful in her heart, but she nodded in understanding.
"From what I saw yesterday, Miss Sakura's swordsmanship is truly exquisite and admirable. It's embarrassing to say, but I too have been drawn to the way of the sword, but unfortunately, I've had no one to guide me. I was wondering if I could ask Miss Sakura for some pointers later?" Seeing the doubt still in Yae Sakura's heart, Ming Yu quickly changed the subject.
"In that case, I will humbly offer my clumsy skills." When it came to swordsmanship, Yae Sakura's interest was also piqued, and she agreed without much hesitation. On one hand, she considered herself to have some skill in swordsmanship; on the other hand, she also intended to probe Ming Yu and Theresa's backgrounds.
Getting Yae Sakura's consent, Ming Yu was overjoyed. After more than a month, he could practice swordsmanship with Yae Sakura again. He was really looking forward to it. With his heart full of joy, even the speed at which he ate his rice ball involuntarily quickened.
While munching on his rice ball, Ming Yu couldn't help but think of the meals Mei made. Although Sakura-flavored rice balls were also delicious, they were a bit plain. Compared to Mei's diverse array of dishes, they were somewhat lacking.
Thinking of food, Ming Yu couldn't help but glance at Theresa, who was heartily devouring her rice ball. She had almost finished three head-sized rice balls, and her speed showed no signs of slowing, looking ready to tackle a fourth. As expected of a Kaslana, they were all beyond ordinary. Sighing inwardly, Ming Yu continued to work on his first rice ball.
Yae Sakura also noticed Theresa's astonishing feat, watching her eat with great relish, somewhat lost in thought. In her mind, the image of this white-haired girl increasingly overlapped with Kallen's, but she immediately reminded herself that Kallen was gone, and this person was not Kallen.
But the more she warned herself, the deeper her inner longing grew, and the more she missed that white-haired knight.
Suddenly, a pain shot through her head. In a daze, she remembered someone once telling her that the knight's soul was still waiting for her somewhere in the world, protecting her. Although she didn't remember who said it, seeing Theresa like this, the thought became more and more firm in her heart.
Perhaps Kallen really did still exist in some form in this world?
Noticing that both of their attentions were focused on her, Theresa quickly swallowed the rice ball in her hand, washing it down with tea. She glanced at the two remaining rice balls on the table, a look of craving still in her eyes, but after a moment's thought, she pulled back the hand she had just raised and said reluctantly, "I'm full."
Ming Yu looked at Theresa in surprise, unable to believe the Principal had passed up food. It was simply incredible!
Theresa saw the surprise in Ming Yu's eyes and snorted coldly. She naturally wouldn't care about Ming Yu's feelings; after all, he still depended on her for a living. But as a newcomer, it wouldn't be good to leave a bad impression on Yae Sakura.
Yae Sakura saw the way Theresa wanted the rice balls but didn't dare to take them, and her heart couldn't help but ache. She pushed all the rice balls on the table into her hands and said, "Don't worry, there are plenty more rice balls."
Feeling the weight of the rice balls in her hands, Theresa's heart warmed. She wanted to politely decline, but in the end, her appetite won over her reason. After thanking her, she accepted them happily. While chewing on the rice ball, Theresa even gave Ming Yu a smug wink.
*It's not that I wanted to eat this. Yae Sakura gave it to me. I just couldn't refuse her kindness.*
Ming Yu felt like he could almost see the Principal's tail wagging proudly. She really was a child who would never grow up. Giving Yae Sakura a helpless look, Ming Yu silently finished the rice ball in his hand.
After the meal, Ming Yu and Theresa followed Yae Sakura to the training grounds in the shrine. Since the shrine maiden of every generation was the strongest warrior in the village, the training grounds were quite spacious and were usually for Yae Sakura's exclusive use.
Ming Yu and Yae Sakura each held a bamboo sword and stood at opposite ends of the training grounds. The bright sunlight reflected off their white training clothes, a little dazzling.
Theresa, meanwhile, was sleeping in the corridor wrapped in a small blanket. In her current state, she couldn't do anything, so she could only eat and sleep.
"Let's begin," Yae Sakura said.
Ming Yu nodded, holding the sword with both hands on his right side, his gaze turning sharp. His legs bent slightly, his whole body coiling like a spring, explosive power accumulating in his legs.
With a *bang*, Ming Yu shot out like an arrow from a bow, and the bamboo sword in his hand swung towards Yae Sakura, borrowing the momentum of his charge. Looking closely, Ming Yu's hands were glowing with a faint golden light.
Knowing how powerful Yae Sakura was, Ming Yu had no intention of holding back, using the Inch-Heart Fist Technique's energy-channeling method from the very start.
Sensing the sharpness of this strike, Yae Sakura praised, "A very good strike. Very powerful, but unfortunately, it's lacking in other areas."
Without any visible effort, Yae Sakura's right hand gently guided the sword, and Ming Yu's fierce strike was deflected from its target by her blade.
Seeing Yae Sakura so easily make his attack miss, Ming Yu felt no frustration at all. Instead, he felt the blood in his veins boil, and the speed at which his Honkai Energy circulated couldn't help but quicken.
"Miss Sakura's swordsmanship is truly extraordinary," Ming Yu said, but his hands didn't stop, and he sent another upward slash.
Yae Sakura smiled slightly, once again parrying the blow. She could see that Ming Yu wanted her to practice moves with him. But since she had agreed to guide him, she would naturally not go back on her word.
Ming Yu's strike missed again, and his next slash followed immediately, without a moment's pause.
Slashes, chops, thrusts, uppercuts, stabs… The sword in Ming Yu's hands attacked from all angles, enveloping Yae Sakura like a storm, yet unable to advance a single inch. For a time, the only sound in the spacious training grounds was the clash of bamboo swords.