Afterschool Ichi went to Myon's place to practice kendo. Long walls and curved armor plate roof tiles opened to a large courtyard and a sprawling compound of squat one floor buildings. Ichi entered following Myon, with Syon close behind him as they took off their shoes. Ichi noticed there was a statue there in the entryway and felt curious about why it looked like a tengu. Long nose, stern face, black wings. Ichi gulped unconsciously.

The long open floor of the dojo opened in front of him at last. Laid our there were two sets of kendo gear. Ichi saw that one set was missing a glove, the one Myon went towards. As she kneeled down and put on the head scarf, Ichi copied her with his gear. '

"You've done this before?" Myon said.

"Nah."

Ichi felt his way through it though, and the armor got on somehow. Myon came over before she put on her breastplate to check his work. Ichi felt Myon's hand run across his armor at places and shivered with excitement. Myon left, nodding and voicing wordless assent and Ichi caught her eyes briefly as she did. Buckling on the rest of her gear save her missing left glove, Myon stood in full armor as she invited Ichi to pick a bamboo kendo stick from along the wall with a gesture. Ichi grabbed onto the first one he felt looked good, returning to the center of the dojo and giving some furious practice swings a try.

"Good," Ichi said.

Myon went back to her starting place, taking a stance with her stick facing Ichi.

"It's tight, isn't it?"

Ichi copied her stance, facing her with his stick.

"Yeah."

"Ichi, what do you think about this... world?"

Ichi already could tell from her somber tone what she was talking about.

"Seer's council brought me here. I want to live free, so I'd have to fight them."

Myon sighed.

"You're not going to do that anytime soon, are you?"

Ichi laughed, resting the stick across one shoulder.

"I have enough trouble with women right now. What can someone like me do against monsters like them?"

Myon nodded, voicing wordless assent.

"Good. I feel the same. This isn't just about Renya, right?"

"Why would it be about Renya?" Ichi asked.

"You like her?"

"My ranking," Ichi put his gloved hand to his chin, "First, Myon, Second, Renya, Third, Syon, and Rikya and Satou are sacred."

Myon smiled and let her left hand hang free. With the other hand, she pointed the stick at Ichi.

"You're rather cocky, for a tanuki."

"I'd never settle for 'pet' status. Not into that sort of thing." Ichi swung his head from right to left.

"How about 'boy'?" Myon said in a mocking tone.

Ichi pointed the stick at Myon. His face went stern as he locked eyes with Myon.

"With a chest like yours, I'll consider it in the future."

"If you prove yourself worthy, I'll consider it at least."

Myon swung her gun out from behind her back and shot.