bittermoons

“I believe it is time for you to demonstrate the strength of your resolve, Kazuma-sama,” Susato said.

Before he could think about it, his hand drifted to the hilt of the sword at his side. The blade was not Karuma, the great sword of the Asogi clan, but the cutlass he acquired as a sailor had been by his side for all the years and had served him well. It was pure sentimental folly, but when he reached for his blade, he would think of Ryunosuke with Karuma at his side, and how no matter how far they were from each other they would be connected in that small way.

Kazuma withdrew the sword ever so slightly, so that the tip of the blade shone against the sun. He averted his gaze from the blade.

“Yes, I believe it is,” he said.