56. My Friend
04-28-2024
A/N: WE GOT ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF FANART HERE!! This interpretation of the MC is drawn by the lovely L0VEmanguito !!
PLEASE don't take this art, this is not mine and this image is not for any other use!
Okay for some important news: For anime-onlys, there's just a slight spoiler regarding Ryusui. It isn't too big, don't worry.
ALSO, please read the authors note at the end of the chapter!
Q: No questions this week! Just drop anything you want to share :)
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"I want to retake the test."
Your master looked over to her side with just her eyes, not moving any other muscle in her body. Haru was sitting in front of her with a surprised look on their face. The woman then closed her eyes and sighed.
"Are you sure?" She asked firmly.
With a determined expression, you nodded. "Yes. I've figured out what you meant by using my strength for myself."
"It took you only a week to figure it out...well, you've slightly fallen below my expectations," she chuckled softly as she turned away from you.
"I didn't," you said with furrowed brows. "It took me one day to calm down and to figure it out, and six days to prepare myself. I will pass."
She gazed upon you with a frown, then a smile spread across her face. One of which that looked like satisfaction. Then she whipped her head toward your boyfriend and friends that were watching from behind. "You've done well to help water this little bud. She's been carefully nurtured."
Senku replied with a smug smirk on his face, "Yeah, well, that flower also has some thorns on her. It was hard, but I'm going to continue caring for her so she continues to flourish."
With a confident look, Ryusui added, "She's going to be in full bloom once this fight is over!"
"It's not like this beautiful flower has blossomed already~" Gen added with a sly expression plastered on.
With a sigh, you told them with a tick on your head, "Can you guys stop with the flower metaphors?!"
"Sorry, (Y/N)! You're just too pretty like one!" Kohaku added with a laugh. She wanted to watch your retake after hearing about the intense battle that had happened a week before. The lioness was feeling a bit left out when she was told that you were about to learn a new technique in fighting, and desired to fight you after you had earned the right to it. And now, she is an added spectator with Chrome.
You groaned, feeling a bit embarrassed by their remarks. It caused your master to let out a gentle laugh before she stood up.
"Alright. Since you have the spirit to win, I shouldn't decline," she said, walking to grab her weapons.
Mori had held her blades--her katana and her wakizashi--in both of her hands. Like before, she watched you like a serpent stalking it's next kill. A hunter hiding in the dark, eyeing it's prey with its sharp eyes.
But this time, you were ready to strike back. You motioned your friends to stand back, and they did. Pulling the katana out of its sheath, you mentally prepared yourself for the test. With (E/C) spheres of determination, this bird not only spread its wings, but sharpened its talons. You waited until she began.
The woman's gaze had focused, and she got into an offensive stance.
"Hajime!"
The two of you ran toward each other, clashing blades almost immediately. The dance had begin, but this time, the lead was an open spot to take.
"Did senpai really figure it out?" Haru asked as they approached the group while the fight continued.
"Yeah. She wouldn't tell us what it was though," said Senku as he looked upon your powerful figure. He really loved watching you fight like this--confident and graceful.
Gen then glanced at the child and asked, "What about you, Haru-chan? Did you figure it out, too?"
They nodded. "Kinda...Chrome helped me figure it out."
With wide eyes, the group, looked at them, then at Chrome, and back again. The lioness spoke up first, "You actually said Chrome's name! What did he do to you?! Did he hypnotize you or something?!"
"Usually they'd fight and call each other names like siblings do..." the scientist chuckled as he placed his hands on his hips.
The mentalist commented, "Like 'little shit' or 'stupid headband guy,' right?"
"Okay, yeah that happened, but I didn't do shit to Haru! We just became best buddies!" Chrome exclaimed as he went next to the small, raven-haired child.
"No, we didn't," the kid replied as they rolled their silver-like eyes. "All you did was drag me around to do things you called 'fun.' You nearly died in the mineshaft."
The brunette turned to them and shouted, "You didn't have to tell them that! And don't deny that you had fun, you brat!"
"I don't think saving you from falling rocks after derailing a minecart is fun, idiot!"
The two children began to argue with the group watching them. Gen and Kohaku had to act as guardians to make sure they wouldn't fight again.
However, Ryusui seemed to have other things in mind based on how he had looked at them with a wistful appearance. He quickly set his sights back to you and covered up with a confident smile. Senku seemed to notice, but he wasn't going to push on for answers straight away.
"Hey, sailor," the green-haired boy started, "You said that you've seen the slowpoke's face before. Where did you first meet her, anyway?"
The man took a brief look at the boy before him and grinned. "You really want to know, huh? Normally, I'd charge you for a million drago for that information, but for my dear (Y/N) and the sake of her test, I'll tell you."
-Flashback (Ryusui's POV)-
Nanami Ryusui was a man who had a life that nearly everyone wanted. He had a family with loads of money, a butler that followed every command and bidding, people that were in awe of him for his talent and skills for the ocean. What more could anyone even ask for?
However, despite all of that, he struggled to find a proper relationship with the ones he admired. His older brother would always leave him, despite Ryusui trying so hard to build a proper sibling relationship with him. He doesn't know why he runs away. Did he hate him? All he wanted to do was spend time with the brother he looked up to so much. His uncle was a man who looked up to the hierarchy and wanted what was best for the Nanami Conglomerate. But he was far too controlling and didn't approve of Ryusui's ambition for his liking. His father was the same as his uncle, except he wasn't in the picture as often. As for his mother...well, let's just say she's disappeared.
"Ryusui-sama, do you remember what your uncle had told you?"
The young, fourteen-year-old boy looked directly as his butler with his confident, honey-colored eyes. With a bright grin, the teenager answered, "Of course, Francois! Make a good impression on the Syndicate's patriarch! After all, this is a meeting to determine whether or not I am worthy of trust. But I will also form a relationship with the heir!"
"I was told that the heir might not be attending today's meeting," said Francois.
The boy let out a laugh. "Well, that's no problem! I will meet them one day. It doesn't matter if they're a boy or girl--they will be a part of the Nanami family with a bit of convincing."
The driver had piped up from the front of the car, "Ryusui-sama, we have arrived."
The vehicle they were riding had come to a stop. The boy looked out of the window to see a large westernized mansion with a wide gate surrounding it. He got out as his butler had let the owners know they had arrived through the doorbell in the front.
"Make sure you behave yourself, Ryusui-sama," Francois reminded the boy.
"I know. But this place is no different than the other mansions we've visited before," Ryusui replied with a smug expression.
The gated had opened and they walked inside. The front door had opened to a beautiful, older woman and a servant next to her. She smiled politely and spoke, "Hello, Nanami-san. It is nice to finally meet you."
"Good day, ma'am! It's nice to finally meet the wife of the esteemed (L/N) patriarch!" He greeted her with an enthusiastic grin.
She let out a slight giggle and motioned her hands for them to enter the home. They did, and the boy looked around to observe the inside of the building.
The main thing he noticed was that there were a lot of items that were related to the culture that the (L/N) family was a part of. It had shown that, despite living in Japan, they were proud of who they were originally. The thing that caught his eye the most were the boat models in relation to that culture.
"All this is nice...I want it!" Ryusui exclaimed as he studied the ships, causing Francois to sigh at his side. "All of it is unique and you can't get something of the craft here in Japan!"
The woman laughed. "You are a very amusing person, Nanami-san. I can see why your uncle calls you a rambunctious person."
"'Rambunctious'? I just desire all things I find interesting! I would do anything to get what I'd desire!" He let out a hearty laugh. "Do you have any desires of your own?"
"I do," she replied with a nod, then began speaking outwardly, "My child is someone who desires to live a normal life, and we've given them that. But in exchange for that normal life, we cannot stay with her or we'd disturb it. For us, our desire is for her to be happy, even if we don't get to see her much."
Ryusui just watched the woman's expressions as she spoke. He could tell that she loved her child so dearly. The boy wished he had someone who had cared for him in a way, other than his most trusted butler. "Don't you think she'd want to be with you?"
"She visits when she wants to, and we cherish that," she told him, then stopped walking. "Now, (D/N) is in his office, down this hall. I trust that you'll find it?"
"Of course, ma'am!"
The woman then bowed before him and left with a smile, leaving both him and Francois in an empty hall full of doors.
"Their desire is noble, isn't it, Ryusui-sama?" Francois spoke up before they started walking.
"It's noble, but lonely for both parties," he commented. His eyes wandered the halls as he walked down it, but then he heard the sound of grunts and shouts through one of the doors. Out of curiosity, he started heading toward the sound.
"Ryusui-sama, we were told to see the (L/N) patriarch," the butler stated firmly.
"I know, but let me see what that sound is," said the boy.
He went down the hall to see a large door that was slightly cracked open. With his golden eyes, he peered through to see a large training room. In the middle of that room was a small person with a black hakama and a bokken in hand. They had a kendo helmet on as they practiced. They were practicing their strikes, and Ryusui immediately recognized the art as kenjutsu.
Just as he started watching, their training had come to an end. He continued to look as this person removed the helmet from their head, and he seemed to be in awe with what he saw. A young girl with (H/C) hair and (E/C) eyes was underneath. She looked tired and her face was full of sweat, but that didn't stop Ryusui from thinking she looked quite adorable to be a kenjutsu student. But the more he studied her, the better he understood that this was no normal girl.
This person was the heir to the (L/N) Trading Syndicate. An important figure that could benefit the Nanami Conglomerate.
"Amazing...I want her!" Ryusui loudly whispered, causing the girl to flinch at the sound. He watched as she instantly placed the helmet back on her head, and started heading for the door. He quickly backed away and started speed-walking to the end of the hall where he was supposed to go in the first place.
~~~
It wasn't until later they were properly introduced to each other. There were brief instructions earlier on, but he could tell that she was actively avoiding him at every occasion. The girl even wore a mask just to hide her identity, but that didn't stop him from trying to form some sort of connection. He tried to approach her with some other women to get her comfortable, but (Y/N) (L/N) was a quick one, that's for sure.
That was, until her fifteenth birthday.
"It's an honor to finally work with you both, Nanami-san," the girl bowed her head as she introduced herself to both Ryusui and his brother. She had a wonderful outfit, as well as a mask to match it. But the man could tell that she was suppressing whatever feelings she really had.
"HAHAH, I'm glad I get to finally meet with you properly, (Y/N)!" Ryusui bellowed with the snap of his fingers, causing the girl to slightly jump at his intense volume. A nervous smile appeared on her face in response to him.
"I-It's no problem," Ryusui's sibling mumbled, but it was loud enough for her to hear it. "If you don't mind, I'll be going now..."
The man ran off with an uncomfortable expression, leaving the two heirs with their servants in the room.
"Seems like your brother is not one for social matters," the girl told him as she looked out the door.
"I hope you're not offended. But I'm glad because I can finally speak to you!" The sailor had happily told her.
She tilted her head slightly in confusion. "About what?"
"Well, I wanted to talk to you about everything--your desires, your wants! Especially since I, the greediest man in the world, am one of your partners for the dances later," he told her with a smile.
She sighed, then mirrored his expression with a gentle look, "We could do that later, Nanami-san. But we have a party to prepare for."
Before he could even speak another word, she had also hurried away from him. But that didn't stop him from trying.
~~~
"Nanami-san, do you plan to further your relations with the (L/N) Trading Syndicate?"
"You have talked to them about building a future with the Nanami Corp and the (L/N) Trading Syndicate, right?"
"Have you talked to the heir yet? I heard she is a lovely dancer."
Reporters and journalists alike have surrounded the man with cameras and notebooks. He proudly stood amongst them with different admirers from around the world. All of them had questions, and he wanted to answer all of them.
"I do plan on furthering our relationship if given the opportunity!" The young man replied sincerely. "Alas, I have only talked to her but once. But because of our dance, the chances is higher!"
"Why don't you have her by your side right now? Isn't that her over there?"
The man whipped his head over to the direction that the reporter was pointing in. There, he saw the young (L/N) heir walking along side a group of people that she most likely knew. That's when he saw her smiling in her most genuine.
"HAHAH!" He shouted as he snapped his fingers.
Ryusui watched as the girl darted her eyes across the room to see the man heading straight for her, as well as people separating to make a path for him. She smiled and turned her body toward him, with the rest of the group falling back behind her. He had confident grin splattered on his masked face as he saw that there were three people with her--two men and a woman. He assumed at least one of them was her final partner, because knew that her second one was from America.
"My (Y/N), I haven't seen you since you got here earlier! Why didn't you come and see me?" He diligently questioned her as he got close.
"Nanami-san," she greeted him. "I was busy attending to the oncoming guests."
"There's no need for formalities! You can call me 'Ryusui' since we're going to be more than acquainted from now on after that dance of ours," he replied with a charming wink.
"Is that so...Ryusui-san..." she said as sweat dripped from her temples. He could tell that she couldn't drop the formalities because it was too risky to stop it in front of others.
However, he was quite satisfied hearing the girl call him that. Now they have established something rather than acquaintances. Wanting to continue speaking with her, he told her, "Thank you, (Y/N). Now, let's go over here so we can discuss our fut--"
Ryusui quickly placed his hand on her waist to pull her away from her group as he spoke, but someone grabbed her wrist. The blonde man was quite puzzled by the sudden hold and looked behind to see that one if the men was gripping onto her so tightly. He squinted his eyes study his outfit--it was nearly the same as (Y/N)'s. This meant that this man here had some sort of very close relationship with her.
"Sorry, but (Y/N) was about to discuss the details of the dance with me, her final partner," he declared with a smirk as he tugged on her arm to pull the girl back.
The man took one more look at Senku, then put up a grin. He had no intention of fighting back or else (Y/N) might actually hate him if he tried to ruin any relationships she established. "Hahah! So you're the final dancer! Well, then, I will leave you two alone to discuss the event details. But, dear (Y/N), I would like to talk to you about our future and the amazing opportunities for Nanami Corp and (L/N) Trading Syndicate later! Now, let's go, Francois!"
With the snap of his fingers, he confidently walked away, out of sight with his butler.
"I thought you had no intention of giving up with building some sort of relationship with (Y/N)-sama," Francois spoke up as they followed him.
"Who said I was going to give up? I will never give up anything I desire!" Ryusui confidently stated.
-End of Flashback-
"Oh, yeah, I remember that. You brought up marriage, didn't you?" Senku scoffed as he looked at the blonde man.
"She told you, huh? That was just a spring of the moment! I wanted to wait until she was older!" Ryusui admitted to the boy.
Your boyfriend furrowed his brows in slight disgust. "That doesn't make it any better, you weirdo."
With a shrug, the blonde man responded, "To be honest, I know now that I won't ever claim her as mine, since you're the biggest obstacle around. But I know what my desire for her is!"
"Oh yeah? And what's that?"
He answered honestly with his arms crossed boldly, "For her to be my friend."
"She's already your friend, moron. As is all of us," Senku told him. Ryusui just gave him a laugh as he accepted the answer.
Suddenly, all of your friends heard a loud thud, and turned their heads to see you lying on the floor with a broken katana and a blade-less hilt. You weren't severely hurt as last time, but you were tired. Your teacher held her hand up to them before they could even intervene.
"You pass, (Y/N)-san," your master said as she looked down at you with content. "But only if you tell me why."
You got up from your spot and kneeled before her. "You told me that I needed to use my strength for myself. However, that doesn't mean be selfish and not protect my friends. It means that even if I'm not with them, even if I'm not fighting to keep them safe, I need to fight to keep myself safe. I need to have the same motivation for myself as I do for my friends."
"In other words..." she started, needing you to continue your sentence.
You added sweat rolling down your head, "I need to start believing in myself more."
"Good. I'm proud of you, (Y/N)-san. But you need to have pride in yourself too. I understand teenagers have self-esteem issues, but the more you believe in yourself, the more you'll have a better judgement of the things around you," Mori explained to you with a reassuring smile.
"I know...I've let myself be saved by Senku so many times," you told her as you remembered all the times Senku had come to your aid: when Hyoga pushed Kinro off the bridge, when Hyoga was going to kill you after you fought Haru, when Hyoga...that's a lot of Hyoga, huh? Who knows, maybe that guy will escape and attack you again!
"Hey, you've saved me multiple times too, slowpoke! Don't forget that!" Senku called out.
"That's what happens when you're dating a woman in shining armor, Senku-chan," Gen snickered.
"You're a lucky man, Senku!" Ryusui responded with a bold roar.
With a smirk, the woman informed you, "Either way, you've got to hold you head up high. This technique training will last about a year, so be prepared. I'll also have Kaseki-san make you some new weapons so that you can train with them."
You shouted in response, "Yes, shishou!"
-To be Continued-
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Important news: I'M GONNA TAKE A WEEK BREAK FROM UPDATING! I have important upcoming exams and assignments to do, which is also why I've been uploading a little bit late with publishing chapters. Hope you guys understand!
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