Chapter 18.1 (1/2)

Eighteenth Episode 〜 Final Test

It has been several months since my encounter with the strange spirit.

Fall is long gone and winter is meeting its end. Spring is now upon us.

Everyone is gathered around the table together, eating breakfast like usual. Noisy conversation and smiling faces highlight the meal.

I’ve adapted completely to this life.

Every day, the Goldiba family has started to feel more and more like my true family.

Seeing everyone’s smiling faces warms the stiffness in that corner of my heart. (TL: Remember, Shuya didn’t have much of a family back in j.a.pan after his parents died in the accident.) I feel like I’ve been learning about the happiness that comes from living together with your family.

“&h.e.l.lip;What’s wrong? Without even touching your food you have this confused look on your face. Today we’ll be testing how far you have come with your training.”

s.h.i.+sho says to me.

I seem to have a distant look on my face.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

I refocus my gaze and answer with a smile.

“Shuya nii-chan, work hard!”

Refaa. She always cheers me up. Her smiling face is adorable.

She’s grown up a little and gotten a bit taller.

Her face is still a bit childish but she is beginning to look like her beautiful mother, Rabbi-san. Her chestnut hair is silky smooth. Her conspicuously long eyelashes stand out on her already large eyes too.

“&h.e.l.lip;Ah, I’ll work hard.”

Nodding lightly, I return a smile to Refaa.

“Are you all right, Shuya? Is that old man being too rough on you? Is the plan for today’s training different?”

Raguren smiles at me.

s.h.i.+sho responds to Raguren after exchanging a look with me.

“Mou, I’m not so harsh? Besides, it was Shuya who said he enjoys ‘harsh training.'” (TL: If ya know what I mean.)

s.h.i.+sho looks at me as if to say “Isn’t that right?” I reply with a look of confirmation.

“Surely, I did say that&h.e.l.lip;”

“Hora? It’s spring going forward from today. It has been about one year now since Shuya came to us. I want to see the results of his conventional training. Think of today as a final test. I’m excited to see how much you have grown. I might be satisfied.”

“Hou, does that mean Shuya’s graduation is close? But I want you to be careulf, you two get too heated up when you’re together.” (TL: Sorry, he graduated last chapter.)

Raguren seems unusually worried.

“Haha, it will be fine, Raguren. s.h.i.+sho has beaten me in every mock battle so far, but just once I want to beat him and graduate from being his student.”

“I see, I see, that’s fine then.”

Raguren says that with a smile on his face, and bringing a wooden spoon to his mouth he drinks it with a jerk.

s.h.i.+sho also responds with laughter.

“Hahaha, you don’t say? I’m looking forward to this.”