Chapter 15. Training?

"So I can hide them but it's not making them disappear?"

"Yes."

"So if someone feels around there they'll feel the ears and tail?"

"Yes. It's the only way I can do this."

"So once you leave they'll disappear forever?"

"Yes but no."

"What does that mean?"

"The longer I stay here the longer the cat characteristics stay. So if I stay here for a while like 1 month they'll be there permanently even when I leave."

(They're definitely gonna be permanent. I'm planning on ending the common route on Christmas in the story.)

"1 month?!?! There's no way I'll accomplish what you said you came here for in that time!" Sorata yelled loudly though he yelled his face was the same as always.

"That's how it is. I have fused or maybe attached myself to your soul; your ears and tail aren't going to naturally disappear when I leave." Saphina said. It had been what felt like an hour to Sorata and they'd been discussing or rather saphina had been answering all of Sora's questions. Sorata first started with the incident in which he collapsed and just like he thought saphina was behind it.

"I was too tired from crossing worlds. So I overlooked something that I shouldn't have. I can't exactly give you the full breakdown of it but think of it as divine power.." Is what saphina told him. The next question Sorata asked about was reflex and mannerism.

"Unlike a blessing this is more imposing. A blessing is more distant to a god; a mortal may get a blessing of let's say a sword god. That mortal will only get what the god blessed them with, the mortal won't suddenly get the reflexes or strength of the sword god.What I'm doing is attaching myself to you which I can't control." Saphina had said.

Sorata still couldn't understand it fully but as long as she was fused with his soul she'd impose her own power. Well Sorata thought that all her powers weren't inherited by him as the only notable things were the reflexes and mannerism.

"Of course there are things you can't get right now."

"Right now?"

"Yes. I reduced the amount but you're still getting quite a bit for a mortal."

"I'm assuming this is the divine power you mentioned before?"

"Yeah. I can't teach you how to use it but I can't exactly stop it from entering you. master is so self-indulgent." Saphina said grumbling something about her master at the end. It was clear the love goddess didn't account for this.

Divine power was something mortals shouldn't come into contact with. Think of it like giving a 6 year old kid the workings of the world and all the bad stuff that happens. That's what divine power is to a mortal. There are several planes of existence and multiple worlds and dimensions a mortal could easily be exposed to.

They'd see things no mortal should and even the people with the strongest mental fortitude might break at the sight. Something's weren't meant for a mortal's eyes. That's why the gods made sure these planes of existence had no way of intermingling with the mortal plane but no such thing was perfect.

Spirits would sometimes break through these planes of existence and breach through. Gods had a distorted sense of time only a few could understand a mortal's finite life span. This in turn caused them to ignore the spirits that breach through until the spirit had already caused damage to the mortal plane it stepped into.

There are infinite earths just as there are infinite Pluto's but every earth is different. Some may have magic , some may have local gods. These earths may differ in name but they're all same when it comes to location and planet.. These earth's may be able to fight the spirits but others would fall to the spirits.

These other worlds could have demon kings, evil gods, but none of them would be able to defeat things that lay beyond simple spirits. That's why no mortal should have divinity in them and saphina who had been tired accidentally leaked quite a bit into Sorata. Even now small amounts are flowing into Sorata.

"So you'll leave once I fall in love?"

"Yes."

"...But I can continue my daily life and this divinity won't mess with anyone around me?"

"Yes. The divine power can only be given by a god, a mortal can't give it to others."

"Haaa. Falling in love? Really? Couldn't you give me something like fighting some monsters or something?"

"No. That is not what my master wants from you."

"..." 'How annoying. Couldn't she find someone else besides me? What makes me special? Go find some rich and handsome dude or girl and tell them to fall in love.' Sorata thought.

"Well if that's all the questions you have then we shall begin training."

"Huh? Training for what?"

"….." saphina said nothing and a red sword materialized in her hand. Sora's eyes slightly widen at the sight but then saphina spoke.

"We shall train you to be used to your reflexes. I'm imposing on you so I figure this is the least I can do for you."

"Wait wait. Why do you have a sword then? Shouldn't you be doing something else like fighting with fists?"

"I can't find very well with fists. The sword god and goddess are my uncle and aunt so I have experience with swords."

"That doesn't explain why you have to use one against me!"

"Did you not do the thing called kendo? I've seen your memories and you've done kendo so you should have no problem."

"That was when I was still in grade school! I haven't done it in years!"

"Enough of the stalling. Here."

"Wha!" Sorata gasped in Surprise as a pure white sword materialized in his hand. 'What? How did that happen?'

"Here I come!"

"Kgh!."

"Hyaa!"Spahina charged at Sorata faster than he can process and Sorata's reflexes barely quicked in and he lunged to the side. She cut a little bit of his hair if Sorata was any slower than his head would've been cut instead.

"Fumu. Quite slow but a lot faster than your average human."

"You were going to cut my head if I didn't move!" Sorata yelled as he got up.

"Stop whining you were able to move weren't you? You should be able to do that the moment I moved but it took you until I got near you."

"Of course it did, I was still in my thoughts! And why do I need a sword as well?"

"To block. You don't want me cutting you do you? Also you shouldn't be thinking let your reflexes take control all you should do is try not to get cut!"

"That's easier said than done!" Sorata yelled. Just like that spahina charged at him again.

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"Haah….Haaah."

"Hmm. You improved a lot but you're still struggling. Very well we shall conclude here." Saphina said the red sword in her hand dematerializing. Sorata lay on the ground breathing heavily as the pure white sword also dematerialized. 'What the hell!? She was trying to kill me! How is this helping me!?!' Sorata thought. He was too exhausted to get up and just laid down in a sprawled out position.

Saphina had turned into a demon but it was clear to Sorata that Saphina hadn't been trying. The stamina that Sorata had was depleted very fast and he was already tired after 30 minutes of this training.

"Well as long as you can control your reflexes and understand them they shouldn't impede on your life."

"Haaah. What…. Do you mean that?"

"Well your reflexes are that of a cat so maybe not now but if someone were to approach you from behind and touch you, you would react violently."

"Really?"

"How does a cat react when a stranger approaches it from behind?"

"They either run or assume a defensive posture."

"Yes but you're not a cat, you have human instincts. Along with the cat ones you'll attack the human instead of running away."

"You're sure this'll happen?"

"Yes."

"Haaa. Well I'm lucky that I haven't been in a position where that happens." Sorata said with a sigh. He has come into really close contact in a dangerous position with aya but luckily he was too preoccupied with his thoughts to react.

"Well, since we're done I'll ask again, do you have any questions?"

"No, I already asked enough. I just want to rest now my head is throbbing." Sorata said. He never felt this kind of pain even when he used to practice kendo.

"Your sword skills are floppy so this training may benefit you in two ways."

"Yeah….whatever."

"Alright then I'm sending you back."

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"Nyaaaaaa."

"Ufufu."

"N-Nyaaaa."

"Fufu."

"Mnh? MNH?!"

"Oh my."

"Wha-wha-what were you doing to me?!"

"Fufu, that's a nice face."

In the same room Sorata fell asleep when he woke up he was being hugged into Shiuzku's chest. That wouldn't be a problem for Sorata and he would simply extricate himself away from Shizuku. The problem was what Shizuku was doing to him that caused him to blush in embarrassment.

"You seemed to enjoy it so I kept doing it. You were rather cute."

"That doesn't make it okay!"

"Are you sure you don't want me to do it again?"

"Eh real,, Wait! Stop trying to tempt me!"

"Fufu."

"Mrrrr."

"Oh you can hiss? Well you were purring when I was scratching your chin and rubbing your ears." Thanks to Saphina's "help" Sorata had moved around a lot, this inevitability caused Shizuku to wake up. Of course shizuku thought Sorata was having a nightmare but Sorata wouldn't wake up so she engulfed him in her chest and began to pat his ears.

Unfortunately Sorata reacted in a different manner than he wanted to. He was half-asleep and he enjoyed it. That's what caused him to be embarrassed. Even now he wanted Shizuku to do it again. That was how good it felt.

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"I'm not sorry and I will do it again!"

"You know what you did could be considered assault right? Don't think I'll be embarrassed because I'm a boy and won't report it. I will." Sorata had rushed out of Shizuku's room and ran to the living room; he couldn't stand the Shame. Now both Shizuku and Sorata were sitting at her kitchen table eating breakfast.

Of course the breakfast was made by Sorata. He made a simple but quite delicious dish. Shizuku didn't have a lot of ingredients so he simply made Scrambled eggs,bacon, and coffee. The eggs were nice and fluffy and the back was crispy but not burnt. The toast on the side enhances the meal.

"Hmm I knew you were quite the chef but you can make good coffee as well?"

"My mother used to make it for my father every morning before he'd go to work so I learned it from my mother." Sorata's father used to wake up to go work at 6:00 which was also the time Sorata's mother Alicia made Sorata wake up.

She wanted her family to be together in the morning since Sorata's father Shin would be working for most of the day. Since Sorata was rather attached to his mother at the time he watched everything she did when it came to cooking and even baking. Though Sorata isn't as good of a baker as his mother was.

Shin always had coffee since he was always tired from his work and also how he would play with Sorata when he came back from work. Though Sorata would give him a cold shoulder whenever he tried, it was Sorata being stubborn that Shin was always at work and Sorata would always eventually play with shin.

Shin even though he couldn't be around Alicia and Sorata loved them to pieces and would always try to spend time with them whenever he could.

"Anyways I've been meaning to ask how did you get my school uniform cleaned and why did I have sleeping clothes?"

"Hmm? Oh I asked my maid when you finished your bath to wash and dry your clothes. Also when you fainted I also told my maid to get sleeping clothes from a store nearby." Shizuku said while slowly savoring the food.

"Is that so? Well thank you I guess."

"Fufu. Thanking me again huh? I thought you made this meal for me as a thank you." Shizuku said, smiling warmly instead of her usual seductive one.

Sorata had vehemently stated he'd make breakfast for Shizuku as a sort of way to compensate for Shizuku taking care of him. Saying thank you to Shizuku wouldn't be enough to satisfy Sorata. So he decided he'd just make her breakfast and coffee for today.

"It's very delicious Sorata."

"Nn." The two of them sat there eating until it was time for Sorata to go to school.

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"Shione-sama is really smart isn't she?"

"Shione-sama is so graceful, I'd wish she'd step on me."

"Me too."

"You guys are such perverts."

"Don't judge us! You know you'd want her to do it if the opportunity graced itself!"

"Nah I'm not a masochist like you guys." Three boys were having a conversation loudly enough for Sorata to hear and it was annoying to him.

"Hey sora you aren't like them are you?"

"Not in the slightest."

"Pheww that's good. Miyu can't be a sadist."

"Still though she's more popular than Emi."

"What can you expect from the number 1 girl Sora? Even Miyu can't hold a candle to her. A lot of boys prefer girls like her instead of Miyu."

"Well I kinda get it. She's a Yamato nadeshiko. Plus she's also the top scorer, and her speech as the freshman representative really left an impact on students."

"Hmm. I guess you're right but Miyu doesn't like the way you're praising her."

"How is that praise?"

*bing bong*

"Alright, break is over, we'll be continuing with the next exam, this is on Ancient Japanese." A teacher walked in and immediately everyone in class sat down.

After breakfast Sorata was driven home by Shiuzku where Sorata quickly made breakfast for Elise and Elias and also explained where he was but he didn't say who he was with. So he went to school and met up with Hiroto while walking there.

Currently they are on their third exam. The next day is the final exams and the end of 1st term. Students usually were in high hopes on Friday since it was a month long vacation from school they made all sorts of plans with friends. A person who was no stranger to these types of friends was the person who was the hot topic of their class.

Shione Saito. A girl with long black hair, a gentle smile and perfect in nearly every way. A Yamato nadeshiko. She was practically revered by the males and female students of this school. Her gentle smile and beautiful looks made her approachable to all students. Her beauty was comparable to Emi.

Shione was also aware of Sorata's position as the top scorer. Sorata didn't want to do a speech and he was late by "accident." The principal revealed who the top scorer was when he talked to Shione to get her to do the speech.

That also meant that Shione's speech wasn't practiced and what she had said came from the heart. This also made her more popular though the students didn't know about her not being the top scorer.

Though Sorata didn't know a one sided rivalry was started. Shione would actively study and try to get first place in tests and Sorata was never surpassed. That was why she was always at the library trying to study and surpass Sorata.

Sorata himself didn't even know why he even bothered getting the top score. Back in grade school Sorata only did it because he got praise from his mother and father but as they are no longer there he would have no reason to and could get by with average grades.

But Sorata continued to get the best grades in his year. He couldn't understand but he felt it would make someone happy.

"Alright! The testing shall begin! Don't talk and keep your eyes on your own test! Bring your exam's to the front like before!" The female teacher said in a stern voice. The sound of pencils writing on paper sounded through the room as the final exam began.

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"Ahhhhh! Miyu's so exhausted!"

"Woah Sora this is a nice spot. Why didn't you invite me last time?!"

"Emi said you were with your boyfriend Kaori. Also I didn't even invite those two last time."

"Kaori you left us before we could ask you to go with us so it was your fault."

"Gah. Maybe I'll come up here with my boyfriend next time."

"Please don't do anything sexual. This is a space where no one can bother me I don't want to think of how my classmates had sex here."

"How rude! I'm not an exhibitionist and my boyfriend would be too embarrassed even if no one could see us."

"Miyu wants to sleeeeeeep."

"You're really tired after the exams? They weren't too difficult."

"Miyu's always like this Sora. Ever since middle school she'd practically be on the verge of tears once exams came."

"Hmph! Miyu was never so dramatic!"

""Really?""

"S-stop looking at Miyu like that!" On the rooftop sat Sorata and the girls. It was currently their lunch break. They already finished their exams for today and they would simply have their lunch to meet their last teacher then be dismissed.

Miyu was lying down mentally exhausted from the exam while Kaori was admiring the view. Emi was simply eating her lunch next to Sora.

Sorata needed a breath of fresh air and it looks like Emi needed one as well so they all went to the rooftop.

"Sora!"

"Yeah?" Sorata answered, slightly startled by Miyu's excitement.

"Miyu wants to know if you have any plans for summer break?"

"Nn. I do."

"Huh! Really! Miyu thought you were a loner!"

"That's rude. Well I say plans but it's only one day."

"Really? Is it with Elise and Elias?"

"No. Well I'm sure you know who it is. It's Hiroto Hasegawa."

"Bufu! Ach! Gah!"

"Kaori! Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine. I-I just choked up a bit on my tea."

"Huh? With the prince? Since when did you two know each other?"

"Well since we entered high school. He approached me in the library and then kept approaching me." Sorata said while eating the school lunch. As he slowly told the story he looked at Kaori in the corner of his eye.

"Well we haven't been together much since he's busy with someone most of the time."

"Really? Is it possible the prince has a girlfriend? Miyu would really like to know who the lucky girl is since the prince is really really popular! What about you Emi,Kaori?"

"I don't really care. Good for the girl but I'm not really interested in the prince."

"Y-yeah me too." Kaori said weakly.

"Well anyway we're planning on going to that supermall in the next city over. I'm thinking of asking Elias since Hiroto did say to bring another person."

"You didn't think of Miyu?!?"

"Uhm why would I think of you? Hiroto's probably going to bring another guy so I think just having four boys is better than 3 boys and 1 girl."

"Haaaaah!?!? Don't you know that a Gyaru's favorite place is the mall!?!? Miyu practically lives there!" Miyu said loudly. She sounded really offended that Sorata didn't think about her. Miyu kept rambling on about gyaru's and malls so kaori approached sora and with a twitching smile.

"H-Hey Sora. By chance you guys aren't going to try and pick up girls?"

"Why would you think that? Elias might not, I don't know about Hiroto and the person he's bringing."

"Is that so?"

"..." The smile Kaori had on was nothing like her usual smile; it looked more frightening. 'I see. This confirms it. I may not have been able to tell just by the picture but her actions prove my suspicions. The moment I mentioned his name she reacted differently than the others.' Sorata thought while looking at Kaori who still had the scary smile on her face.

Emi had backed away from Kaori and was now hiding behind Sorata with a scared look on her face. Miyu on the other hand didn't care and continued her lecture if it could be called that.

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"A-ah I'm sorry!"

"…..Don't worry about it.

"Su-

"..?"

"S-Sorry you just seem familiar to me."

"..." 'well I was bound to run into her at some point so I shouldn't be surprised but it's my first time talking to her like this.' Sorata thought. He was currently at a bookstore near a train station and was going to check out a book but just as he was about to grab it a hand touched his.

To his surprise it was someone he hadn't seen since Tuesday, Hikari. Hikari would usually stutter around him and speak quietly but now it was even worse. 'Perhaps it's because she's gotten used to me? I'm currently without a wig so I may look like some cold unfeeling robot. Yeah for Ishikawa-San, that's probably the worst person she could run into.' Sorata thought.

"I-I Uhm! I-" Sorata merely looked at Hikari and tried to struggle to say words. 'Why do I find her stumbling cute?' Sorata thought. He had a desire to keep staring at her so she could keep doing it.

"Do you want this book?"

"Eep! Y-yes i-I do."

"Here."

"E-eh?"

"..."

"U-Uhm d-don't you want it?"

"No, I was just going to look at it."

"O-Okay!"

"...."

"Owwie. I bithe my tongue." Hikari said, in pain. Her stuttering finally did a number to her as she bit her tongue quite hard talking to Sorata. Although she was extremely nervous talking to Sorata, something told her that he was someone she didn't need to be nervous around or at least scared of.

Hikari couldn't put her finger on it but every time she looked at Sorata he felt familiar to her. She'd remember if she encountered a boy as unique as the one in front of him a lot of people would. His features were so out of place it caused one to do double takes and people Sorata walked past would stare for a while.

'Still this sense of familiarity should be calming me down but why is it that it makes it worse? Furthermore, his voice is really familiar. Could it… no that's impossible there's no way.' Hikari shook that thought out of her head and looked up but Sorata was no longer there.

"Is that all?"

"Yes that'll be all."

"Your total is 2,890 yen."

"..." Sorata handed the woman the yen but then remembered something and took out his school Id.

"Students get a discount right?"

"Yes they do. Let me scan your Id."

"..."

"Okay. Your new total is 19,78 yen."

"..." the woman gave back a 1,000 yen bill with some change to sorata. Sorata accepted it and put his Id and wallet back in his pocket.

"Thank you, have a nice day!" The woman said and Sorata left the library.

"Alright ne—- Oh! Hikari-Chan, it's been a while."

"Hello Mrs. Suzune."

"Stop being so formal Hikari-Chan you've been coming here for ages. Only two books? You usually get a lot more."

"There hasn't been any new ones yet so I'm getting some old ones."

"Well I'm sure a book lover like you Hikari-Chan had read too much for her own good! Anyway the total is 1,428 yen."

"Okay. Oh I dropped it."

"Fufu. You're a really clumsy person Hikari-Chan!"

"P-please don't tease Mrs Suzune." Hikari said while bending down to pick up her credit card.

"Hmm?" Just as she picked it up she saw another card and picked it up. It was a student Id from her school that wasn't surprising but what caught Hikari's eyes was the name.

'Sorata Suzuki.' Was the name plastered on.

"Eh?" Was all Hikari could say.

"Oh what's this? Did that cute boy accidentally drop his Id? Fufu this is your chance Hikari-Chan. Use the pretense of giving him his Id back and then make him yours! Just like I did to my husband!"

"L-Like I said please stop teasing me!" Hikari said her face was red. Mrs. Suzune just laughed at her adorable reaction. Hikari paid for her books and say goodbye to Mrs' Suzune.

'Suzuki-kun.' Hikari thought, looking down at the Id. There's not mistake that the white hair boy is Sorata as the Id came from his wallet. It's not the first time Hikari had seen that wallet but when she saw Hikari chalked it up to a simple coincidence.

'If this is what Suzuki-kun looks like but his Id picture has black hair, which is the real Suzuki-kun? Ahhhhh! Why am I playing out a heroine who just found out her love interest is secretly a spy in some government agency! He was basically the same! He had his curt and cold attitude like always! There is no difference! So he must be hiding himself to not draw attention towards himself. I mean I can understand just by looking at him he'd probably get confessions left and right.' Hikari thought while waiting for the train to arrive.

'Now how do I give this to Suzuki-kun? I'm more than likely sure I'm gonna clam up the moment I approach him. Uuuuuu I wish I had an older sister to guide me through this.' Hikari thought. She was really straightforward when it came to her thoughts and mannerism when she wasn't around strangers or people her age.

She was just too timid and shy to approach anyone and this caused her already bleak social skills to decrease even further.

'Yeah yeah it'll be easy right? I'll just walk up to him and say "you dropped this, now go out with me!" Hahhhh! Why am I letting Mrs. Suzune's suggestion a possibility? I'll probably be seen as some weird girl!' Hikari was thinking like this the whole train ride.

Unfortunately for Hikari she didn't know she was moving her body in certain ways that cause the other passengers and little children to think she was a crazy person. Poor Hikari.