"Um... where has Nii gone to now? I sold the Crawler plates to the front desk." Kiku asks me, brandishing a small purse.

"He ran to the bathroom, yes?" I remind her.

"He's still in there? Does he have a bad stomach? I hope he's ok. Um... Perhaps I should check?" She ponders.

Frankly, you're the reason he's in there, Kiku. I think your father rattled him somewhat. Even though I am no stranger to combat, I found myself in a cold sweat from just his restrained killing intent. Who knows how it affected Nii-sama?

"I expect you going into the same bathroom will not help his current problem, Kiku-sama." I retort, attempting to help prevent further mishaps. I already didn't expect the plan we had to backfire in this way, even if the situation was ultimately resolved.

"Oh! Uh... y-you're probably right." She looks sad. I sound like a villain in retrospect... but it seems Kiku has a very blurred understanding of what is proper to do and say with regards to men.

I expect this is exuberated by Nii-sama's disastrously honest kindness. He treats even a weapon such as myself as if I'm a real girl, to the point where I find myself befuddled.

"Um... you're quiet, Kaede." Kiku says to me.

"That is my natural state, yes." I reply.

"That's no damn good! If we're to be a party we should talk more!" She shouts, balling her fists.

This girl is nothing if not naturally sociable, it seems, even despite her sometimes lacking confidence in herself. My antithesis in some ways.

"Very well. What should we discuss?" I query as I swipe a strand of hair out of my eyes

"Um..." Her eyes swim. "Um... a-are you nervous about the test?" She queries.

"No." I state.

"You shouldn't wor... eh? You're not?" She looks shocked.

"No. I have observed another taking the test. It is well within the bounds of my capabilities, yes?" I retort.

"Eh wot? Ah... I see. I... I envy how confident you are, Kaede." She looks rueful.

"I know not why. Your own martial prowess is quite extraordinary, Kiku-sama. You said to me you also passed this first time."

"I... but I'm the guildmaster’s daughter, why wouldn't I pass? Everyone treated me different." She muses.

"Kiku-sama, I barely know your father; but he does not strike me as one to muddy the results, even with his own kin, if that is your implication, yes?"

"...everyone always said that to me, but I'm always making mistakes... so I don't know how I..." She looks increasingly distraught.

"Has Nii-sama not just told you that you are strong?" I ask.

She goes quiet.

"You must find it in yourself to believe in your own power, Kiku-sama." I continue.

Such hypocrisy, coming from a girl who has discarded her humanity to become a blade.

'A blade cannot choose to save the life of another.' Suddenly echoes in my head.

Nii-sama...

I feel a slight flush in my face as my vision blurs. What in the world?! Am I going mad?

"Miss Kaede? We are ready for you now, kekeke." An old woman in a guild uniform snaps me out of my reverie.

That's good. I must need to let off some energy. I squat, stretch, and then nod to the woman, and she cackles and leads me to the training facility of the guild so I can take the basic mercenaries tests.

"Um... knock em' dead, Kaede!" Kiku shouts as I leave.

What an ironic thing to tell an assassin. But for some reason, her earnest face of encouragement makes me quirk a small smile and wave.

It reminds me of Nii-sama.

No! I stomp rapidly after the woman, clearing my mind with the mantra that master taught me...