บท 384: Targeted?

When the training was done, Tsukasa returned to the facility where everyone was training. Frankly, he felt regret following Nangou since his training wasn't that much different from Nene's. Nangou's knowledge of this power wasn't as deep as his, which made him realize that each individual had their own way of developing their own technique.

Whether it was Nene or Nangou, they had their own way of developing their own techniques.

Yet Tsukasa didn't feel surprised since the ability of each blazer was different, and the way they developed this power would be different. What he had to do was combine the power of Desperado with his ability, erasing the chance of someone to run, escape, or block his ability.

Turning uncertainty into something inevitable.

This was the real power of Desperado.

As for how one would develop this technique, everything depended on the individual and their ability.

When Tsukasa arrived, Stella was there.

"Tsukasa!"

Stella leaped and hugged him directly. She latched her legs and arms around him and didn't let him go.

"What's wrong?"

"....." Stella.

"You have lost?" Tsukasa asked.

"...If you know, can you not be so blunt?" Stella had several matches against Touka, yet she couldn't win, which made her want to cry somehow, so when she saw him, she hugged him tightly and didn't let him go.

"There... there..." Tsukasa patted her back gently and saw that some people were looking at them, but he ignored them. 'Is that "The Icy Laughter" Mikoto Tsuruya?' He recalled this young woman should be one of the most powerful Blazers in the Kyomon Academy. Still, compared to Touka, she was nothing, but he must admit this young woman was quite cute.

Tsukasa gave a gentle nod, making them blush and hurriedly nod in return. He didn't say anything and just brought Stella to the quiet place.

"Did you just flirt with that woman?" Stella suddenly asked. Even if she acted like a big baby now, one shouldn't underestimate her instinct. Her instinct to protect her man was as strong as Tsukasa's instinct to find a beautiful woman.

"It should be the other way around, right? That woman is seducing me," Tsukasa said righteously. He didn't lie since when he saw Mikoto Tsuruya, this woman had been staring at him while biting her lower lip from time to time. Her face was also flushed red, which made him worried about whether she had a cold, but he only found out that woman was horny.

"..."

What could Stella say?

After all, Stella must admit with his charm, it should be the other way around, and Tsukasa had never taken the initiative.

"So, you really can't win?" Tsukasa asked curiously.

"Um..." Stella nodded and told her experience, fighting against Touka previously. She knew after she came to Hagun, her power had increased dramatically. She wasn't as clumsy as before, especially when Tsukasa also trained her from time to time, giving her many inspirations.

Yet Touka's technique was subtle and dangerous. All of her attacks were ingenious and aimed at the vital.

Stella was so helpless. Even if she tried to hide with her flame, try to get close, or even bombarded Touka with her super magic, Touka would get close and slash her out of nowhere.

Slash. Slash. Slash.

Stella almost got mad and destroyed everything, yet what made her even more frustrated was the fact she couldn't make Touka serious. She knew Touka still hid her power, and as a proud person, she couldn't accept this fact.

Her only way to defend herself was to create a thick magic cloak around her body to protect herself from Touka's attacks, yet Touka had always been able to crack it by focusing on a single point or attacking the weakest part of her cloak.

It frustrated her!

Tsukasa wondered whether he should let Stella become a Desperado, but then he shook his head since all of her potentials hadn't been opened. He also knew about her talent, so instead of letting him force her to become a Desperado, it was better for her to become one by herself.

"Ugyaaa!" Stella raised her hands high, showing her frustration.

"Hey, don't move around!"

"Tsukasa, let's eat! I want to eat a lot!" Stella pressed her ample chest at the back of his head, acting like a baby.

"Okay, okay. What do you want to eat?" Tsukasa asked.

"Then, how about we go to the nearby shopping district? I've heard there's a lot of delicious food there," Stella said.

"O—" Tsukasa was about to agree, but his mouth closed. It might seem faint and couldn't be seen, yet he could smell it. It was as if something guided them to the shopping district, as if it was something inevitable that naturally happened. Something like a fate or even a coincidence, yet it was something deliberately created.

"What's wrong?" Stella realized Tsukasa had a strange expression on his face.

"Let's go to a nearby hotel. We can eat there and also enjoy the hot spring. I will also teach you the culture of this country." Tsukasa used the power of the Desperado, cutting this thread of fate that tied the two of them into some kind of accident or deliberately.

Yet Stella was silent, and her expression became subtle. "...Mixed bath? What is that?" Her voice was full of naivety and child-like curiosity.

"It's a culture during the Edo Period where a man and a woman still take a bath together in a single public bathhouse. Of course, considering the moral and all, it might be impossible to replicate it now, but it is possible to replicate it in a private room, so are you in?" Tsukasa asked while looking at Stella.

"We-Well... I have been studying in this country for quite a while, so I must learn this country's culture well." Stella nodded and made up her mind to study about culture and history of Tsukasa.

"I'll also teach you about the Edo 48 positions."

"48? That much? Also, what kind of positions?"

"It's not a place to say it here. Let's go to the hotel first."

"O-Okay, should I pinch up the money? Let's get the most luxurious one."

"It's okay. I can handle it."

The two used their trackless steps and entered the hotel without hesitation before learning about the culture and history of this country.

Still, when the two were learning in the shopping district, a petite young man with a charm and cute smile stood in silence. He was so cute that one might mistake him for a woman. Yet even if he might seem weak, he had apprehended a criminal who wanted to stab everyone in this shopping district.

However, even so, the young man didn't seem happy since the meeting he had sought after didn't happen, which made him slightly confused.

"Well, it has become even more fun."

The young man continued to smile, yet this smile hid darkness.

This darkness was so thick that one would feel disgusted and overwhelmed.

The young man was like a lump of dark viscous liquid. He had taken an interest in a certain someone until he got his attention. He wouldn't let him go until he could swallow him down, making him despair.