Two months had passed since the first training session with Haruo Sato, head of Hanamaru. In the late morning, he was taking advantage of the lunch break to chat with the Academy's head teachers, who had organized the morning's entrance exam, which almost all the students had passed

  The end of the grading grid was dedicated to the practical exam, which had taken place that morning. He wanted it to be brought into line with other students of his age.

  An hour later, sitting in the Chief's seat in his office after the assessment, Tsukinoko was twiddling her thumbs, wondering if he was testing her because she wasn't making any progress.

  - Congratulations. You can start going on missions now," he smiles as he enters.

  - Really? I did it!" she shouts, sending doves flying across the courtyard.

  - Yes. You've made great progress. You owe it all to your efforts," he replies proudly. I'm going to put you in a brigade with an adjutant and two other young soldiers. He'll be in charge of your training from now on, and you'll go on missions with the brigade.

  After going through so many reports and mission orders, Tsukinoko was finally going to experience one. But she wondered why he wouldn't continue to look after her. Too busy to go on missions, he'd already been sacrificing several hours a day for months to look after her.

  - Sacrifice? she takes offense. I'm a liability, aren't I?! And now what? You're going to abandon me too, aren't you... she says, lowering her voice.

  - I'm not abandoning you, my little one," he said, placing his hand on her head. I'm entrusting you to a new, trusted master. You can come here whenever you like," he smiled. I'm responsible for you, I've explained how everything works. And you belong at the Residence, you know that.

  - Bah... Is it true? Can I come and see you?

  - Don't bother me while I'm working.

  To lighten the mood, the Chief entrusted her with the navy blue armband, symbolizing graduation, that all young soldiers wore. A white armband would have been more in keeping with her outfit, like the barrettes she wore every day, but the Chief didn't give in and she left without closing the door behind her.

  Tsukinoko had a huge appetite, and having had enough of eating noodles and ready-made meals despite Haruo's help, she had forced herself to fend for herself and learn on the job. She had tried a few times to remake the dishes her mother had prepared for her, but something was always missing.

  That evening, satiated by the success of a new recipe, she set off to stretch out on the deckchairs on her terrace to gaze at the stars and share the good news with her faithful friend. Anxious but bubbling with anticipation.

  - You seem to like it here after all," reassures Yukihyō.

  - Yeah, but I'll be with other students, in my own brigade. What if we don't get along? Or they're boring?

  He laughs and rests his head on his knees.

  - Maybe you'll become friends, who knows. You wanted to be friends with every creature you met when you were little," he chuckles.

  - Yeah, she thinks. I'm sick of being alone, Fréro... I'm bored, I'd like to have fun like the other kids my age, and have girlfriends too... she says shyly. They say I look like a baby!

  He purred to comfort her, resting his head on her lap. Tsukinoko had always confided in her felines, keeping nothing from them, and they knew how to reassure her. She gazed up at the starry sky, her eyes bright with excitement for her first mission in a few days' time.

  The sun had barely risen when Tsukinoko was already busy. Her long hair braided into a hip-length braid that fell over her shoulder, dressed in a black biker suit under a dark purple skirt, a short black and purple kimono, a belt of military gear and her saber harness, she left on time for the graduation ceremony.

  There were students with their families, the Chief on the dais with the teachers and the Adjudants, future brigade leaders. Each student was congratulated by the assembly, and then it was his or her turn.

  A hesitant silence followed the applause, the insistent glances speaking for themselves. Tsukinoko said nothing and returned to her seat with terrible unease, admiring her diploma in her corner.

  Proud of her.

  When the ceremony was over, the Chief was busy with the families who came to see him, and Tsukinoko preferred to leave.

  Curious, she made her way around the Academy and arrived at the school's training grounds. She was having fun improving her weapon throws on the training logs when laughter resounded behind her.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  Five young graduates looked up at her, their diplomas in hand. Red-faced with shyness, she didn't react, so they jumped over the fence to join her in a confident stride, then one of them launched off to retrieve the blades stuck in the log.

  - Hey you, you came first in the class even though you've never been to class. How do you explain that?

  Surprised, Tsukinoko didn't know what to say, and just stared at them, nervously fiddling with her braid. One of the boys approached her, a head taller, and snatched her diploma from her hand.

  - Still... It's scary, we've worked hard!" he exclaims.

  - You have privileges just because the Chief is responsible for you," sneers another. My father told me that. You're not worth a damn!

  Frustrated, she stared at her feet, but the former demanded an explanation. He didn't get an answer, and Tsukinoko didn't know how to behave, for the first time interacting with children her own age.

  The other boy grumbled before stepping forward, his blades in hand. Thinking he was going to give them back, Tsukinoko held out her hands, but two of the children took the opportunity to grab her by the wrists. They found themselves tackled to the ground, and two others jumped on her in turn. Tsukinoko was about to draw her sabers, but the Chief's voice rumbled in her head. Evil and ready to fight, the boys pushed her onto one of the logs and two of them hurriedly tied her hands behind her back, around the pillar. One of the children stretches his long braid over his head, held in place by a blade stuck in the log.

  - You look proud of your hair, don't you?

  - Why are you doing this?" she panics.

  - This is your reward for your fake diploma!

  Her diploma was torn in two, then trampled before her eyes. They laughed at each other, taking a few steps back to get into shooting position, as anger and incomprehension overcame her.

  One blade is planted next to the braid. The second misses it by a few centimetres, while the third breaks one of the braid's three strands under the scrunchie. A few hairs blow in the wind and Tsukinoko sees red. She jerked back as the next blade brushed dangerously close to her ear. Rage mingled with tears, streaming down her frustrated face.

  - Go away!" she shouts.

  - Bouh, she cries too! laughs one of them.

  - Why is your hair so long?" asked Tsukinoko, snuggling up to her father, who was reading her a bedtime story.

  - This... When I was young, my younger brother and I used to fight together against enemy barbarism. One day, we made a bet that the first of us to lose a fight would have to cut his hair. The length of our hair was a testament to our prowess. However, my brother decided to cut his a few years later, to be more comfortable in combat, as he could almost walk on it. And, the very next day... he died.

  Tsukinoko remained stunned, pained, and hid behind her dense hair.

  - So Dad never lost?

  - Never.

  - Wow..." she gasped. Say Daddy, will you tell Mommy not to cut my hair anymore? So it's long like Daddy's! she shouted proudly. I'll be strong like you and I'll never lose!

  - I'm certain of it, Hōseki.

  The last dagger thrown was deflected by the sudden blast of Tsukinoko's purplish aura rippling around her. The air was suddenly heavier, and the boys stood still, transfixed by her dark gaze

  Suddenly, a masked Colony agent jumped between them, facing the boys. He looked about the same age, but his gray hair left room for doubt. Dressed entirely in black with combat armor, his porcelain mask was adorned with red lines, and he too wore a tant? strapped to his back. Surprised but perplexed, Tsukinoko calmed down and her aura evaporated.

  - Don't you have better things to do?" he throws at the group of troublemakers. You've just graduated and this is what your skills are for?

  - An agent?" exclaims the taller one in astonishment. She's got bodyguards!

  - We're in trouble! they panic.

  - I'm not his bodyguard," he sighs. But when fools attack innocent people, I have to defend them. That's a soldier's duty. But you don't seem to understand. You deserve to go back to the Academy.

  - But him... Who the hell does he think he is!

  - If your rival beats you, it's because you didn't try hard enough!" shouts a second boy who had jumped alongside the Colony. Go back to training, the ardor of youth waits for no man! Right, Kak-

  - Shut up, Ma?," blows the agent.

  - You do have your mask," he mumbles nervously. Guys," he shouts, "never give up and-

  - Shit, what are these clowns doing here? Let's get out of here, this is more fun!

  - Spoiled brat!" shouts the last one to Tsukinoko before scurrying off.

  Tsukinoko took off running, following them with her eyes as the agent untied her. Their arrival had disturbed her, but she didn't intend to leave it at that with her assailants. Mai popped up right in front of her and the boys slipped out of her grasp. He had thick eyebrows and a cheesy bowl cut, dressed in a tight orange jumpsuit. Thumbs up and teeth out, he shouted again.

  - At your service, mademoiselle!

  She grimaced at his clumsy expression before drying her tears and sadly undoing her braid, while the agent picked up her diploma.

  - Ah!" shouts Mai, leaping towards her friend. Now that we're here, let's measure our strength, like in the good old days.

  - Not now.

  - We arrived just in time to help! Danger averted, now on guard!

  - I don't have time for this," the agent sighs wearily. And it's not her we're here to save from disaster, it's them from her... he sighs. The Chief has made it clear that you've got to stay out of trouble.

  - But I didn't do anything!" retorted an offended Tsukinoko. Jījī always says I should avoid trouble, and not use my techniques without him, but it's not my fault!

  - Jījī?" astonished Mai.

  - Yes, Jījī. I forgot his real name... she grimaces, scratching her head. Jījī the Chief," she shrugs.

  - Chef? You're the Chief's disciple?! frightens Ma? as she takes a step back, unaware of her identity until now.

  - Yeah," she threatens with a fake psychopathic air. Now beat it, I've got unfinished business," she says as she follows in the footsteps of the group of boys.

  - Oh stay there," sighed the agent, grabbing her shoulder in extremis. Go home, Tsuki...noko, you've done enough.

  - What?! You're annoying me, you don't understand anything! An old 'agent who thinks he's I don't know who and a big heavy, mind your own business!

  They both winced, offended, as Tsukinoko ran off. She senses the agent on her heels, and prefers to turn back and go home, realizing that it was better to avoid trouble.