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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 10 Chapter 1.5

However, Tetsunoshin, who is also going to extra classes, is treated completely differently. This is because Tetsunoshin has been absent from school without permission since the Tanabata Festival. He has even pulled off the reckless move of skipping his final exam.

Because of this, Tetsunoshin reported to the Third High School Division as soon as summer vacation began. He apologized to his homeroom teacher and others, but of course he was severely scolded. Furthermore, as a condition for his return, he has been required to give up his summer vacation for extra classes, and has been given an incredible amount of homework. It’s a veritable death march.

But it wasn’t all bad.

「But right now, I’m having so much fun, Tetsu.」

「Yeah. I guess you’re right, Yun.」

The two of them walk hand in hand in the twilight. Even though they’ve started dating, they’re both embarrassed to be seen like this, so walking home from school alone like this is a precious time they can spend together alone. Every day, after extra classes, they spend time alone together. But strangely enough, the things they do haven’t changed at all since they started dating. They hang out together and talk about all sorts of things.

There are only two differences, at most. He knows that the other person likes him, and they now walk holding hands. Those two differences are irreplaceable and precious to Tetsunoshin.

「Tetsu, this is really nice.」, Saki agrees.

Just by hearing that, Tetsunoshin’s expression naturally softens.

They head out into the city and look around.

Suddenly, Saki stopped in her tracks.

「What’s wrong, Yun?」

Saki stopped in her tracks, watching a local Nanaejima program on a street monitor. The program featured a cake shop called <<Marumero>>, which had suddenly become popular during the Tanabata Festival.

「I feel like I’ve been to this place before…」

「Maybe it’s just your imagination, let’s go.」

Tetsunoshin took Saki’s hand.

Saki was confused for a moment, but soon smiled as if nothing had happened. Their pleasant conversation resumed.

Saki sometimes behaves like this. She sometimes sees places or scenery that she should barely know and has the illusion that she’s been there before.. Tetsunoshin notices this, but says nothing. He can’t say anything.

Tetsunoshin should be happy right now. This time, nurtured by false memories and strong bonds…

2

Saki’s memories are all lies.

The <<game>> hosted by the Leprechauns was held on the last day of the first semester. Saki, who wore a mask and oversaw the <<game>> as the organizer M, also participated in the <<game>> to retrieve the Nanana collection brought by the other participants. In order to win, she used her position as the organizer to set traps for the other participants.

However, her plan failed. Saki suffered a fatal wound that could be considered a punishment, and she teetered on the bring of death. However, she was saved from this predicament by the efforts of the Seventh High School community led by Asumi Nishi, the many <<challengers>> including Mamoru Yama Juugo, and the Wizard’s Wand from the Nanana collection owned by Shunju Ikkaku. (The leader of GREAT 7)

Saki was immediately transferred to Nanaejima General Hospital, where she underwent thorough tests for three days before being released. There were no physical problems with Saki. However, Saki had no memory of the <<game>>, and instead had false memories of having left nanaejima.

As soon as this truth came to light, Sansa Kurosu (The leader of the Three Skulls) which Saki and Tetsunoshin belonged to, issued strict orders to everyone not to delve too deeply into the matter. This order had been strictly adhered to ever since.

There was only one reason for this: There was no telling what would happen to Saki when her memories as a Leprechaun were revived. It would be better to leave the stones unturned rather than be cursed. Until a solution was found, it was decided that Saki, who was currently living her daily life without any problems, should not have her forgotten past brought up.

It’s the ninth day of summer vacation. Late at night, Tetsunoshin sped on his motorcycle from his boarding house near his high school to Tsukuyomi-machi, an abandoned town on Nanaejima.

Every night, in the heart of the town, in a corner of the area controlled by the Three Skulls, Tetsunoshin wields his own katana. It was a gift from his father when he left home for Nanaejima alone in his first year of junior high. Tetsunoshin’s family home was a dojo for Iainu, and the sword Tetsunoshin carries was chosen by his father. Incidentally, when he entered the island, it failed the import inspection and it took six months for the sword to be returned even after he showed his registration certificate. That’s a secret though.

「Tetsunoshin, hone yourself so that you will become a worthy wielder of that sword.」

True to his father’s words, Tetesunoshin kept the sword in front of him while concentrating his mind, never drawing it. He vowed to himself that the time to draw it would be when he had reached his goal as a sword wielder.

Like Hiretsu though, the first time Tetsunoshin drew his sword was after he fell into a despicable trap and betrayed the person who wanted to protect. Having fallen down a path completely opposite to his own ideals, Tetsunoshin became delirious and slashed his attacker’s face with the sword.

Of course, this turned out to be a big deal. Pursued as a criminal, Tetsunoshin ended up in Tsukuyomi-machi. Here, he met a woman wearing an eyepatch and his current friends.

「Ha!」

With all his might, Tetsunoshin swung his beloved sword. The tip of the sword shattered an empty bottle of soda.

Tetsunoshin continues to wield his sword, remembering the <<game>> that took place the other day, before summer break. A brief moment of happiness after endless, hellish extra classes. During this time, when he and Saki have shared their feelings, Tetsunoshin finds himself thinking, ‘If I had more power, could I have saved Saki completely?’

Wouldn’t he have been able to rescue Saki without inflicting fatal injuries, without having her memories tampered with, and without any sorrow? Couldn’t he have truly made Saki happy, rather than this false happiness?」

Impossible scenarios cross his mind.

He remembers Juugo’s words during the game. And he remembers his former comrades, including Asumi Nishi, who acted to save Saki. Everyone else acted because she acted. It was only with their cooperation that he was able to save Yun. He knows that.

But deep inside, Tetsunoshin also has a part of him that thinks this way: ‘I wanted to save Yun on my own. I wanted to protect her with my own hands, without any help from anyone.’

But perhaps that’s just ego. In the end, he couldn’t do it. But still…

Because it was someone he loved, he wanted to save her with his own hands. He wanted to accomplish on his own what he had not been able to do before. But he couldn’t.

Is he still as weak as he was back then? Has he not grown at all then?

「Ha!」

As if to shake off his doubts, he swung his sword, and the empty bottle shattered at the tip of it. The slash he had drawn, intending to cut the bottle in half, only ended up shattering the bottle.

Surrounded by glass shards scattered around, Tetsunoshin was out of breath.

「Your sword stroke is wavering. It seems you’re trapped by evil thoughts.」, a voice called from behind him.

He instinctively turned around.

In Tsukuyomi-machi, it’s rare to see adults who aren’t students. To be more specific, standing there in Shigeshima (known as the student special zone) was a man wearing a jinbei. Adults of a certain age were rare in Shigeshima, a haven for dropout students.

「I’m sure that’s Iori.」

Then Tetsunoshin remembered what happened the other day.

「Hey, guys. This guy’s new.」

Sansa, who had gathered the members of the Three Skulls, introduced this man.

「Hi, I’m Iori.」

Naturally, everyone looked at him strangely, seeing this newcomer who was clearly older than them.

He also remembers Sansa saying something strange. After listing off his profile, which was clearly a lie, Sansa finally said, 「Don’t get close to this guy if possible.」

With a joyous smile on his face, Iori picked up the shards of the bottle that Tetsunoshin had just shattered.

「You seem quite wild. What  exactly do you want to cut with your sword?」

These words carried a heavy weight, as if piercing straight to Tetsunoshin’s core.

When Tetsunoshin was unable to respond, Iori (for some reason) picked up two unbroken empty bottles that were nearby and lined them up on a stand a short distance away. Not horizontally, but vertically.

Iori took a slight distance from him, slowly bent his hips, and assumed an iaijutsu stance, imitating the one Tetsunoshin had taken just a moment ago.

Tetsunoshin’s eyes widened when he saw this. It’s because, without him realizing it, Iori had a katana in a sheath at his waist.