In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

He slightly turned his shoulders to Saeko Shiwa to let her pass smoothly.

In the instant they brushed past each other, Yuan Qianye's gaze swept over the face of the thin woman he had bumped into and her slender arms exposed.

Her skin was an unhealthy, bloodless pale color, with faint blue veins visible beneath her skin.

Although she concealed it well, Yuan Qianye could still sense from her slightly unsteady gait and overly shallow and rapid breathing that her physical condition seemed to be not very good.

Fortunately, nothing serious happened... Yuan Qianye breathed a slight sigh of relief.

When traveling, the worst thing is encountering this kind of accident, just like what happened to my parents before.

It would be such a downer if a happy occasion turned into a troublesome one.

When Chiya arrived at Rikka's side, she heard Rikka sincerely exclaim, "She really is a very gentle older sister."

"Boom."

He reached out and gave her a light tap on the forehead.

"Do you know you were wrong?" Yuan Qianye asked sternly, his face expressionless.

Rikka covered her head with her hands, looking aggrieved: "I know... I won't do it again... no, there won't be a next time..."

She was very kind, and with others chiming in to help, the little incident passed by.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The group arrived at the restaurant and enjoyed a lunch that was neither quite late nor quite early, like an afternoon tea.

When I returned to my room after the meal, it was 3:56 PM.

At this time of day in the height of summer, the outdoor sun is still blazing, and the heat has not yet dissipated.

According to the shop assistant, the commercial street and beach here will only really come alive in the evening.

Local residents set up various unique stalls at that time, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere that's worth a visit.

In addition, going to the beach in the evening to enjoy the cool sea breeze while watching the sunset is also an ultimate experience.

The beach and sky under the afterglow of the setting sun are ablaze with color, making it the perfect time for taking photos.

Yuan Qianye isolated himself from the others, letting the five girls discuss and plan their next itinerary on their own.

The decision was quickly reached: on the first day here, the itinerary would not be too packed.

Let's just follow the staff's recommendation—rest in the room first, and then go out to shop, see the sea, and take pictures when the heat subsides in the evening.

Starting tomorrow, we will officially travel to explore and play at some more distant attractions in the surrounding area.

Gen Chiya naturally had no objection to this.

They planned to leave around 5 p.m., so they had more than an hour to spare.

He was happy to have some free time, so he went to the shady spot in the outdoor corridor, found a rattan lounge chair that looked very comfortable, and settled in comfortably.

As the chair gently rocked, I gazed at the dry landscape garden in the courtyard, lost in thought, enjoying this rare moment of leisurely vacation.

The others began to organize their own luggage, putting their clothes and belongings into their respective areas.

At the same time, we took advantage of this free time to start planning the room allocation for the night, who would share a room with whom.

Just then, there was a sudden knock on the door.

Yukino went to open the door, and outside stood Hattori Heiji with an exceptionally cheerful smile, and Toyama Kazuha with a slightly apologetic expression.

Yukino invited them into the suite, and Rikka called out to her older brother.

Hattori Heiji looked around in amazement at the luxuriousness of their room, then went straight to the point with Minamoto Chiyo: "Sorry for coming uninvited, but if you're not busy... could we have a match right now?"

As he spoke, he removed the cloth covering the long object he was holding, revealing two sections of emerald green bamboo poles that were almost identical in size and length.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"I'm so sorry, Heiji isn't a bad person, it's just that he's a bit... stubborn and doesn't listen to advice. To put it simply, he's a complete idiot when it comes to interpersonal relationships. I kept telling him that Gen was on vacation to relax, not to compete with you, but he just wouldn't listen."

“It’s alright, Toyama-kun.” Saeko said gently, “Chiya won’t mind such a small thing. He’s just as passionate about kendo as I am. He happens to be free right now, and Hattori-kun’s invitation is perfect for him when he’s bored.”

"Ah, is that so..."

“That’s right, that’s right, Toyama-kun, don’t worry about it. Come on, don’t be shy, have some more fruit.” Rikka was very enthusiastic.

"Ah, thank you. Just call me He Ye..."

Kazuha Toyama's unease gradually subsided as she talked with Saeko and the others.

The corridor that originally belonged to Chiyo Minamoto and connected to the courtyard is now occupied by six girls who brought cushions from inside and are kneeling side by side, with tea, cold drinks and fruit platters beside them.

Their gazes were all fixed intently on the two boys in the open space.

Hattori Heiji slung the makeshift bamboo sword over his shoulder: "I just heard you went to eat. Are you alright after you've eaten?"

Yuan Qianye brandished the bamboo sword in the air, finding it rather awkward to wield, but it was passable for a simple contest: "I'm fine, but you, you have sweat on your forehead, and there are sweat stains on your collar and the back of your t-shirt. Don't you need to rest for a while?"

"It's alright to me, it's nothing to me." He chuckled, holding the bamboo knife in both hands, the tip pointing at him, his expression gradually becoming excited: "Then we're in the same boat."

"Hmm." Yuan Qianye also became slightly serious, his body slightly bent, like a taut bow ready to be released.

…………

Volume 2: Chapter 133: The Murder at the Hot Spring Inn (8k) (11)

Hattori Heiji lowered his center of gravity slightly, his voice slightly lowered with excitement: "Come on, Chiya! Let me see just how much the Imperial Tiger has grown in the past few years!"

"Okay." Yuan Qianye didn't say anything more and responded softly.

The ease on his face slowly faded, and his body also slumped slightly.

Unlike Hattori, who pointed the bamboo sword directly at his opponent, he sheathed the sword at his side, tilting the blade like a samurai about to draw his sword in a duel.

The subtle sounds of the wind in the courtyard and the faint sound of the waves in the distance seemed to fade away at this moment, leaving only the tense atmosphere between the two people, which was tightening and ready to explode at any moment.

The girls kneeling on the veranda also stared intently at this scene, unconsciously holding their breath.

Eriri and Rikka nervously clutched the hems of their skirts.

Yukino's expression was calm, but her fingers, clasped together on her knees, tightened slightly.

Shi Yu narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze sharp.

Kazuha Toyama looked worried, his lips unconsciously pursed.

Only Saeko Busujima maintained her elegant kneeling posture, her back straight, her gaze calmly fixed on the two people in the open space.

"Drink up—!"

The silence was broken by Hattori Heiji's clear and powerful exhale!

Without any unnecessary probing, his fighting style remained the same as in previous years.

Direct, swift, and oppressive!

With a sudden stomp of his foot, he sent sand flying and charged forward like a cheetah.

The emerald green bamboo knife in his hand sliced ​​through the air with a short, sharp sound, and a clean, swift diagonal slash was delivered towards Yuan Qianye's side!

It moved so fast that it left a pale green afterimage in the eyes of the girls watching the battle!

However, faced with this swift attack, Yuan Qianye's body only slid back half a step to the side and rear in an extremely subtle way.

It was this seemingly insignificant half-step that allowed Hattori's bamboo sword to graz his waist by a hair's breadth.

At the same time, the bamboo sword that Yuan Qianye had sheathed at his side suddenly sprang out like a lurking venomous snake.

It was neither a block nor a head-on collision, but a light and swift thrust, the bamboo tip precisely aimed at Hattori's slightly exposed chest opening caused by the powerful diagonal slash.

A glint flashed in Hattori Heiji's eyes, as if he had expected this.

Before the bamboo knife could finish its downward trajectory, the wrist twisted in an incredible way, turning the blade from a slant to a horizontal position, narrowly blocking the blow in front of the chest.

"Snap!" A crisp sound of bamboo poles clashing rang out, and Gen Chiya's seemingly casual thrust was blocked, but Hattori's forward momentum was also halted.

The two separated after a brief exchange, but then clashed again at an even faster pace!

Hattori Heiji's offensive was like a raging storm, relentless and unstoppable.

He made full use of his excellent physical qualities, explosive power and abundant energy, and his bamboo sword was used to chop, slash or stab, with the fierceness and directness unique to Kansai Kendo.

Each strike was powerful and heavy, with a constant sound of air being torn apart, attempting to suppress the opponent with strong frontal pressure, forcing Yuan Qianye to clash with him head-on, and disrupting his rhythm.

Yuan Qianye, on the other hand, is like a reef standing firm amidst raging waves, or a slender bamboo swaying in the wind yet remaining resilient and unbreakable.

His movements didn't seem as fierce and violent as Hattori's; in fact, they appeared somewhat elegant and understated.

His movements were small and precise, always managing to avoid Hattori's strongest points with minimal movement at the last second.

Although he could do that, he rarely used his bamboo sword to parry Hattori head-on; instead, he relied more on skillful techniques of "receiving," "neutralizing," and "striking."

Like Tai Chi, which uses "softness to overcome hardness" as its core principle, it deflected Hattori's fierce power.

His counterattacks were swift and precise, like a viper's tongue, each one targeting the fleeting openings in Hattori's offensive transitions, forcing Hattori to either defend or change tactics, preventing him from fully executing his offensive.

On the surface, the two were evenly matched.

The crisp, rapid "snap" of bamboo poles striking each other filled the courtyard as figures quickly crossed, separated, and crossed again in the open space.

Heiji Hattori's every fierce attack made the girls watching jump, while Chiya Minamoto's seemingly dangerous but always successful dodges and clever counterattacks made everyone hold their breath.

But to true experts, such as Saeko Busujima, who sat quietly watching without much change in expression, the outcome of this duel was already predetermined.

Gen Chiya was clearly in complete control.

His breathing was steady and long, his eyes remained calm, and every movement and swing of his sword carried an extremely precise control, like a machine that calculates with precision.

He wasn't incapable of ending the fight quickly; on the contrary, in Saeko's eyes, he had at least three opportunities to deliver a truly effective blow at the moment Hattori's old strength was exhausted and his new strength had not yet been generated, by using faster speed and more tricky angles.

If this were an official match, Qianye would probably have already scored.

But he missed out on them, or more accurately, he gave up.

Just before Chiya's bamboo sword was about to touch Hattori's vital points, it would always subtly deflect or deliberately slow down, giving Hattori room to parry or dodge.

He is controlling the pace and guiding this duel.

Although both of them displayed considerable fighting spirit before the battle, it is estimated that in Qianye's mind, this was just a friendly sparring session with respect and reminiscing, rather than a duel where they would go all out.

As the number of rounds increased, Hattori Heiji's heart sank.

He felt it, that omnipresent, subtle sense of control that was almost suffocating.