[Tsubaki POV]
After meeting with Nurarihyon, all of us, Hajime especially, had a lot to think about.
For most of my life, I hated yokai. My clan would constantly tell me the stories of the evil yokai they defeated and how they protected humanity from them.
Now, though? I didn't know what to think.
After my clan kicked me out, I tried looking for yokai by myself, figuring they would accept me back if I became a hero like they were.
Eventually, I was just looking for someone to fight and take my anger out on.
Once a few months had passed, I felt empty.
I had found nothing and was no closer to being accepted by my clan. I had barely been surviving, only thanks to the goodwill of others.
When I met Hajime, I resolved to support him after the kindness he showed, and the more time I spent with him, the more I agreed with that thought.
The only time I felt a little different was when I learned of his goals, but after remembering the treatment my own clan gave me and the kindness Hajime's aunt showed him, I realized that my clan's teachings were wrong.
Since meeting Akeno, my feelings towards the clans have become even worse.
Because she was born, Akeno, one of the kindest people I know, has been hunted like an animal by her relatives.
All of that information was shocking.
I already knew there were good and evil yokai, just like humans and every other race, but this was something else.
Knowing that our entire grudge against the yokai was due to the gods' need for followers was disgusting. They created a whole race just to keep killing them and to have humans stay loyal to them. I won't say yokai were in the right by killing innocent humans, but considering most humans at the time worshipped the gods, it was the closest thing to revenge they could get.
Kimiko soon took me out of my thoughts by jumping on the bed.
Realizing it was time to get up, I got up and prepared for the day. Turning to the other bed, I saw Akeno still asleep. While Hajime and I both got up early, Akeno usually slept in.
Leaving her to rest, I took Kimiko to the market to grab breakfast.
By now, Hajime should already be up and training, and Blue should still be asleep in the suitcase.
As I walked through the streets, Kimiko followed slightly behind me, looking at everything around us. She grew up in the forest, so even though she might have been down this street several times already, she was always fascinated with it.
After buying some yakitori from one of the vendors, we walked throughout the city, taking in the sights, something unimaginable for me a few months ago.
A couple of months ago, I would've never thought I'd see anything outside of Kobe. Now though? I've seen more in the last few months than I had for most of my life.
As we were walking, a small group of kids appeared in front of us, one of whom I recognized instantly. They were all yokai, but surprisingly, none were the same.
"*sigh* Hello, Teruya-san. How's your training been going?"
"It's great, sensei!" Teruya said excitedly.
"Although..." He started, hesitantly rubbing his neck. "A few of my friends noticed that I was training, and after explaining what happened, they want to join in, too."
"Why come to me then? It's not like I could stop them from training if they wanted to."
"Well..."
I raised my eyebrow, curious as to what he had done.
"After they joined my training session, they asked where I got the routine from, which may or may not have accidentally convinced them that they needed a teacher, and since you're the only teacher I know, they now want to be your students as well."
I inhaled sharply at that, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"And how exactly did you think I'd react to you bringing almost a dozen people to try being my student?"
"Umm..."
Sighing again, I realized I would have to do more than tell him how to exercise. Even if I accepted being his teacher, I thought it would be enough to give him the knowledge to train properly.
"Teruya, you need to think about your actions in the future. Many people are stronger than me, and many would be furious to have something like this sprung onto them so suddenly.
While I don't particularly care about the training exercises I gave you, others would be far more angry if you shared their techniques. Not to mention bringing a bunch of people to them unexpectedly.
Now, why should I accept them as students?"
Teruya looked down, feeling ashamed of his actions. I felt bad about it, but he needed to think things through. I wasn't sure how true what I said was, but it didn't need to be. I just needed him to understand that he needs to think things through.
Any mage would be offended about something like this because that meant their family secrets would no longer be secret. Granted, they would take more precautions than I did, but it was the principle of the matter. I didn't want him to bring everyone he knew just because I accepted him as a student, even if I barely acted as a teacher.
Hajime has plans to make his own group, so having people willing to join isn't a bad thing, but that meant I couldn't just accept anyone.
While secrecy wasn't our main priority, we wouldn't try advertising our group until we were strong enough. Hajime's plans would make enemies, so we couldn't risk showing off anything until we could defend ourselves. This might not have been equivalent, but I don't need Teruya to make it seem like I'm recruiting an army of yokai children.
Eventually, Teruya picked his head up and looked at me.
"Please give them a chance, sensei. I promise they won't let you down."
"Alright, then, how about a bet?"
"What is it, sensei?"
"If they manage to impress me in some way, then I'll take them as students-"
"Alright!"
"Up-bup-bup, I didn't finish. If they impress me, they'll become my students, but if they fail, you won't be my student anymore."
"That's not fair though!"
"Isn't it? You're the one who wants me to take them as students, but I have no reason to accept."
"But-"
"Teruya-san, I am only a few years older than you. I can barely be considered a magician compared to most, and my fighting experience is just as low. Why would I need to take more students when I'm barely stronger than them?"
Teruya had a hesitant look appear on his face. While I felt bad about my actions, I needed to teach him a lesson. In this case, magicians won't help others for free.
I accepted him as my student, partially because I felt bad, but also because he kept challenging people to try getting a teacher. I've barely done anything, yet he acts like I know the secrets of the universe.
I have enjoyed his company whenever I've checked his progress, but I know I won't stay in Tokyo forever.
It didn't make sense that I had a student at my age, and adding more would be too strange.
"I accept." Teruya eventually decided to take the bet, likely believing his friends would impress me.
For his sake, I hope he's right.
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[Third Person POV]
After accepting the bet, Tsubaki and Kimiko took the yokai children to a park before creating a barrier around them.
"Alright, here's what you'll do. All of you will be fighting against me, and should any of you manage to impress me, I will take all of you on as students."
The fight began with several yokai children rushing Tsubaki immediately.
Though she was more proficient when using her naginata, she couldn't use it for a spar with children. Thankfully, Hajime forced her to train her hand-to-hand skills; so she could fight these children without her blade.
As the children kept rushing at her, she parried most of their attacks while also landing hits on those who were too reckless.
As the fight dragged on, the yokai started to slow down, which, while expected, was somewhat disappointing.
The fight was quickly coming to an end; three of the kids had already been taken out of the battle.
Just as Tsubaki was about to defeat another one, one of the kids who had been the most reckless charged forward again. Like the previous attempts, Tsubaki parried his attack and retaliated with a blow to the shoulder. Unlike earlier, though, he kept moving forward,
surprising her and landing a blow on her with a slightly glowing fist.
She refocused and hit him again, taking him out of the fight.
After that, she quickly ended the fight with the others, with Teruya standing off to the side, extremely nervous.
Like Tsubaki, he was well aware their teacher-student relationship barely existed.
His previous attempts at getting a teacher never panned out, so when she accepted his fight, he was willing to take anything at that point.
His father was a fan of cultivation novels and had told those stories to him for years, fueling his desire to be like the protagonists of those stories. The general hatred of yokai helped grow this desire, wanting to be like those protagonists who start out hated by everyone but find a great treasure that allows them to fight against gods eventually.
Even though he knew Tsubaki only gave him some simple training exercises and goals to reach, it was more than anyone else was willing to do, and for that, he was grateful.
When Tsubaki ended the fight, all he could do was hope that one of his friends somehow managed to impress her.
Once everyone had taken a small breather, Tsubaki announced her results. Pointing at the reckless child, she began.
"You were the most reckless of anyone here. In a real fight, your actions would likely get you killed. I wasn't using my naginata for this fight, and you're lucky because if I did, you would've been one of the first to die."
Her words caused his and Teruya's faces to go pale. He was scolded for his recklessness, and the possibility of death, and Teruya thought that he was about to lose his teacher, but her next words shocked both of them.
"Despite that, or maybe because of it, you also seemed to have awoken the most minor form of touki. Though I'm unfamiliar with it, I am aware that it naturally strengthens the body and that yokai have an easier time awakening it.
Unless you were using magic on purpose, I believe you unconsciously used touki during the fight, no matter how minor it may have been."
She turned toward Teruya before continuing. "Congratulations, Teruya-san, you were right about them."
Teruya cheered at that while Tsubaki addressed the others.
"As for all of you, I don't plan on being an active teacher. I will give you some things to practice; it will be up to you to develop your skills.
Teruya-san should already have the exercises I gave him. All of you will train using them. If you find them becoming easy, increase the amount you do or find a way to increase the weight. Also, practice your hand-to-hand skills, preferably by finding a martial arts dojo."
As Tsubaki finished giving them more instructions, the yokai ran off to start their training.
Tsubaki sighed, knowing they were a handful, but couldn't keep a small smile from appearing on her face.
After dispelling the barrier, she and Kimiko returned to the hotel, with Tsubaki planning on waking up her sleeping friend.
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Author's Note:
Thanks for reading; I'll see you next time!