Kensuke: ...
???: Kensuke-sama... It's morning. Please wake up...
Kensuke: Hmm...
???: Today's a mock training of Oda clan, including Kensuke squad... you need to make preparations early...
Kensuke: Now that you mention it...
Having today's schedule whispered into my ear has completely awoken my consciousness.
Kensuke: Good morning, Shino...
Shino: Good morning. #Why does she always sound so confused?#
Kensuke: Thanks for waking me up all the time.
Shino: ...(nod)
Nodding lightly, Shino had me get off the futon and started folding it. #I find it interesting how they haven't seen him with a morning wood yet#
Kensuke: Shino, did you eat breakfast yet? #They come every morning, right? Not much of a privacy#
Shino: No, not yet... umm... #Most eroge protags can't sleep without getting one it seems#
Kensuke: Hmm?
Shino: I want to eat together...
Kensuke: Right. I want to eat with you too. Wait a bit, I'll wash my face. #Guess things like this come from the fact that it was originally all-age#
Shino: ...(nod)
I completely woke up after washing my face with a cold water. #Good for you, water makes me sleepy instead#
Kensuke: Ah... I forgot to bring a towel.
Shino: Please use this one...
Kensuke: Shino? Thanks...
I wiped my face with the towel she gave me, rinsed my mouth, and ready to go.
Kensuke: Well thne. Let's go eat.
Shino: ...(nod)
Leaving the residence and walking the usual path, we've arrived at a small diner that we visit often called "Ippatsuya".
Kiyo: Welcome! Good morning, you two! #I translated it just as "diner" before, but it seems to be its name#
Kensuke: Hi, Kiyo-chan. We're here for breakfast. #So I'll just use "Ippatsuya" untranslated, as its name#
Kiyo: Sure. Sit wherever. Ah, can we choose for you?
Kensuke: Yeah... are you okay with that too, Shino?
Shino: ...(nod)
Kiyo: Sure! Then, drink some tea while waiting!
Urged by the girl, we sat down nearby.
Kensuke: Kiyo-chan is really full of energy all the time. Seeing that fills me with energy as well.
The person I just talked to is the kanban girl of this diner, Kiyo-chan. #Why is this explanation happening after Kuon's event?#
She's of the same age as me, but she's been working in this store for ages now, and gets along with youngsters of Oda.
And the man owning this store has some splendid cooking skills, I'm teaching him some recipes from my world, and he recreates them.
With all that in mind, my Kensuke squad is quite indebted to that man and Kiyo-chan.
Kensuke: Well then... Oda clan mock training involving Kensuke squad, you say.
Shino: Yes. The date has been decided for a while now, but we've recieved a message yesterday that said it'll be held in the noon.
Kensuke: Noon, huh... then, Hiyo and Koro will make it in time.
Shino: Most likely.
Nodding, Shino sipped her tea elegantly.
Kensuke: (It's already been a month since I kidnapped Shino...)
The injury I recieved back then... is not compeltely healed yet, but it doesn't get in the way of daily life anymore. Now I need to train my body back into shape.
Kensuke: But still... I thought Kuon will invade Mino the moment you've arrived to Owari.
Shino: She still needed to replenish forces after Dengaku crossing, and, though rotten, Mino is still famous for its fierce warriors and their rush.
Shino: Loss would be final, so of course she's cautious.
Kensuke: I see. And I've heard we lack information. So I guess it's comes down to us.
Shino: It seems Hiyo and Koro are struggling with Mino... I feel kinda bad.
Kensuke: No, it's okay. Just rest in Kiyosu, Shino. Leave work to us.
Shino's from Mino, so we don't want to make her work against it...
At my suggestion, Kuon removed Shino from anti-Mino force.
Kensuke: Come to think of it, it's my first time participating in training... how does it work?
Shino: I wonder. Mino and Owari do it differently most likely, so I cannot answer that...
Shino: But, Kensuke squad is low on members, it's not a squad suited for frontal assault. It's best to study guerrilla warfare and train mobility.
Kensuke: Not suited for frontal assault... well, you're right, including me, it's quite a gathering of irregulars.
Shino: ...??
Kensuke: Ah, just talking to myself... anyway, what exactly do you do as guerrilla?
Shino: There's no reason to think about it right now. During the training, you'll be going with the flow.
Shino: And most likely...
Kiyo: Sorry for the wait! Today's Ippatsuya special, fried fish set! #Again?#
Shino: Fried fish!
Seeing the lineup of food that Kiyo-chan brought made Shino's eyes shine.
Kensuke: It's the fried fish set you like today... happy?
Shino: ...(nod, nod, nod!) #Her personality is really confusing#
Fried fish and radish. Also, pickles and miso. All that poured on a freshly steamed rice, it's a flawlessly Japanese breakfast.
Kensuke: Okay, let's eat it while it's still warm. #Shino goes from emotionless to very emotional real fast#
Shino: ...(nod)
Kensuke: Let's eat.
Shino: Let's eat.
Putting my hands together and saying thanks for being able to eat, I started eating the warm breakfast.
Shino: ...(nom, nom)
Shino is moving her chopsticks slowly, putting small portions of food in her mouth and taking her time to taste it.
Kensuke: ...
Shino: ...W, what?
Kensuke: Eh?
Shino: Umm... it's embarrassing... if you stare so much.
Kensuke: Ah, sorry! I was just deep in thought, or more like, remembered something.
Shino: Remembered?
Kensuke: Yeah. Back when you just joined me.
Though she consented, I pretty much kidnapped her and brought to Kiyosu, Shino really didn't speak much back then.
That's only normal. Owari was her enemy until recently, and the only people she was familiar with were me, Hiyo and Koro.
It wasn't easy, but she started talking more recently. #And then there's SKM, where everyone instantly adapts...#
I was also trying to keep conversations with her, which somewhat helped me understand what kind of a girl Shino is.
First point. She's generally quiet and silent. Second, she's surprisingly cynical. Third, as I thought, she's smart.
Fourth, she's surprisingly bad at waking up in the morning. Fifth, fried or whatever, she loves her fish. Sixth, she takes her time eating.
Kensuke: (Well, she's a girl, so the last one can't be helped) #Says a guy that grew up with Rinrin and Kii#
At first, since I'm a fast eater, I didn't mind and just ate rapidly.
But as I finished eating, Shino also stopped eating and tried to stand up, following me.
Kensuke: (That's why I chat with her or sip tea, trying to stick with Shino's eating speed)
Right now, though there's a slight margin of error, I manage to end the meal at about the same time.
Kensuke: This fish is quite tasty. What do you think, Shino?
Shino: It's really tasty... Owari is good. You can eat a lot of fish here.
Kensuke: The sea is close, yeah. Mino is inland, so it's harder there.
Shino: River fish is tasty too, but seafood is rich in variety, so you can enjoy many different tastes.
Kensuke: Haha, you seem happy.
Shino: ...(nod, nod, nod)
It's not obvious, but when Shino is happy, she nods three times. Not two or four. Always three times.
Kensuke: Yeah, you can only eat seafood if you're by the sea.
Shino: It's hard to taste fresh seafood in Mino... I was quite displeased with that.
Kensuke: Freshness is quite important for fish, yeah.
I remember seeing on tv how you poke holes in a pot, leaving fish half-dead when transporting it... would be nice to implement that.
Kensuke: Ah, by the way. About that Mino... was it okay?
Shino: Do you mean instructions I gave Hiyo and Koro?
Kensuke: Yeah... you don't have to force yourself to cooperate, you know?
Shino: I appreciate your concern... but it's okay. But looking at Mino's current situation, to tell the truth, it's better for citizens if Oda gouverns over it.
Kensuke: But...
Betraying her hometown... I can hear people say stuff like that, even in relatively magnanimous Oda.
Shino is quite observant. So if even I hear it, she's also probably aware.
I don't want her to endure sadness and force herself...
Shino: ...(shake head)
Probably seeing through me, Shino slowly shook her head.
Shino: If I don't want to, I'll say so. But, I believe this is the best option. So, it's okay.
Kensuke: I see... sorry for asking that while you're eating.
Shino: No... umm... I'm really happy. That's how I feel. Knowing the fact that there are people that worry about me makes me stronger.
Kensuke: Of course I'll worry. You're an important person to me, Shino.
Shino: Then, I'll say, me too... Kensuke-sama, you're a very very important person to me. If it's for you, I'll be able to endure anything.
Kensuke: Thanks... #She has a quite unique speaking style#
Shino: Same here, thank you. #I like it, but it gets lost in translation#
Kensuke: Haha!
Shino: Fufu...
Wakana: Hey! Kensuke!
Hina: Morning.
Kensuke: Oh, Wakana and Hina. Are you two also about to eat?
Wakana: We've been enjoying the morning sun until now. So I'm so hungry.
Hina: I suppose we're eating our fill to prepare for training... though Wanko is still sleeping.
Kensuke: Will Wanko be okay? She was just scolded by Mitsuki-san recently.
Hina: Red horo got a bit rusty, yeah. She's going to feel pain again in today's training.
Wakana: And she's still sleeping, you can't mimic her toughness.
Hina: So, Kensuke-kun, have you two finished eating already? #Second breakfast, Kensuke. Those two are worth getting fat for#
Kensuke: Yeah. I'm planning to study under Shino until noon. #That... sounds awesome too though#
Wakana: Study, you say, why are you studying?
Kensuke: Well, I'm still illiterate. And I'm learning military stuff too... wanna join us, Wakana?
Wakana: I don't need no studying! #Why is Kensuke illiterate though? Isn't it still Japanese?#
Hina: That's not something a leader of black horo should announce proudly. Frankly, I'm a bit repulsed.
Wakana: W, what! Why not?! I'm a leader of black horo, Kuon-sama's cavalry! Training is more important than studying to me!
Kensuke: Wasn't horo made out of people with good tactical competency and strength? Wakana, are you any good with tactics?
Wakana: What! Of course I have tactical copm, cpompe, competency! #She did manage to spell it correctly in the end. Good girl#
Kensuke: Ah, okay. I see...
Wakana: What's with that tone! Do you not believe me?! #To be fair, stuttering difficult words has nothing to do with intelligence#
Kensuke: It's okay. Whether I believe you or not, something that petty doesn't matter, I sincerely believe that this is how you should be, Wakana.
Wakana: Is that so? Hehe, guess you really get me well, Kensuke! #Generally, I don't like muscleheads, but this...#
Kensuke: Right? So, sit down and eat for now. You're hungry, right?
Wakana: Oh, right. Kiyo-chan, I'll have the usual!
Kiyo: Sure!
Hina: Ah, me too.
Kiyo: Sure!
Hina: Kensuke-kun, I see you've figured out how simpleminded Wakana is... you got quite good at manipulating her.
Kensuke: Her simplemindedness is cute, so it's okay. #Yeah, but also, it doesn't feel infantile like for Kii or Shunran#
Hina: I agree with you there.
Wakana: What? What is it? What are you talking about? #I suppose she's more similar to Sui#
Kensuke: About how cute you are. Right, Hina?
Hina: Yup, yup.
Wakana: What's with that! There's no point in praising me! Ah, except for, I will treat you to a meal here! Hehe!
Hina: It'll be a feast then.
Wakana: Ah, you, Hina! I never said I'll treat you too!
Hina: Well, don't be so inflexible.
Wakana: Tsk, can't be helped. You owe me one, okay?
Hina: Yes, yes.
As I was watching them chat, I felt my sleeve pulled on.
Kensuke: Hmm?
Shino: I'm done eating...
Kensuke: Oh. I'm done too... okay, we'll head back first then.
Shino: ...(nod)
Kensuke: Well then, we'll be going now! See ya at the noon!
Wakana: Yeah! See you later!
Hina: See ya.
After eating at Ippatsuya, as we said, we returned to the residence and got to studying.
First, I got seduced by Shino-sensei... just kidding, I studied literacy under Shino-sensei, followed by military affairs.
I've learned a lot from Shuri-oneechan and the rest, so it seems I have the basics at least.
Like a fish that finally got its water (did I go too far here?), Shino taught me various stuff happily.
How to fight outside enemies, how to deal with enemies in ranks. How to crush enemy from inside. And stuff like psychological warfare.
As I was studying all that, it's almost time now... #Finally, a proper strategy and not dumb Sonshi basics#
Hiyoko: We're back!
Koroko: We've returned! #I like how town events actually go along with the story#
Kensuke: Welcome back! Good job, you two.
Door opened, revealing Hiyo, who instantly leaped on my chest.
Hiyoko: It's boss! Euu! Boss, I missed you so much!
Kensuke: Good girl, it took a while... really, good job, you two. I'm glad you're alright.
Koroko: We've infiltrated Mino and acted there for two weeks, after all. It really tired us out, but we've made some preparations!
Koroko: Shino-chan made us a letter of introduction, and after we gave it to Three Great of Western Mino, we've succeeded at removing some key points of Inabayama.
Koroko: With this, we've mostly conquered both Seino and Touno... Inabayama castle will fall like a ripe persimmon. Also, Hiyo, not fair!
Hiyoko: Hoe?
Koroko: I also want to to be soothed by boss, not fair, going ahead like that! Hurry up and change with me!
Hiyoko: Ahaha, okay! #Pleasantly mature, report first, personal stuff later#
Koro pulled Hiyo away, leaped on my chest and looked at me, waiting for something.
Kensuke: Good job, Koro. You've done well.
Saying that, I'm gently petting Koro's characteristically fluffy hair.
Koroko: Ahaha! Now I'm satisfied!
Shino: Well then, now that your fatigue is soothed, let's exchange information.
Hiyoko: For Mino, it's as we just said. Is there something about Owari then?
Shino: It won't be an exaggeration to say it was absolutely peaceful. However, today at noon, Oda members are holding training near Sunomata.
Koroko: Seems so. We've heard about it even in Mino.
Hiyoko: They were spreading rumors. Something about how weaklings of Mino won't get strong no matter how much they train.
Koroko: Well, Owari is said to be... the weakest force in Tokai. Almost competing for the title of weakest ever.
Shino: I see... #That's a good thing#
Kenusuke: What's wrong, Shino? #Being underestimated is a powerful weapon#
Shino: Hiyo, Koro. Sorry to ask this of you after you just got back, but will you help me make preparations for training?
Koroko: I've got my supply of boss, so I'm good to go! I can do it.
Hiyoko: I'm also okay! #Is Kensuke a charger?#
Shino: Well then, Kensuke-sama.
Kensuke: Yeah. I'm counting on you all.
Even though they just returned from a long trip, Hiyo and Koro started actively working on training preparations. If you ask what I'm doing during all that...
Kensuke: I really have nothing to do, huh.
I tried helping them before, but I don't know the procedure, so I only made things confusing and got scolded by all three of them.
Since then, I have no say in Kensuke squad's administration. No, I'm not sulking.
According to Shino, a good leader should just instruct his subordinates and then quietly wait for reports, so I've left Kensuke squad to them.
Kensuke: Well, it goes smoothly this way. #Shino is right. That's what makes Karin a terrible ruler#
I question if I'm even needed sometimes, but well, I guess that's just how it works.
Kensuke: Drums... #Kensuke's job is negotiating with Kuon#
Koroko: This sounds like a "gather up" order.
Hiyoko: Did something happen?
Shino: It's probably to listen to Hiyo and Koro's report.
Kensuke: I see. Then, wait here, Shino. We'll pick you up before the training.
Shino: ...(nod)
Kensuke: I know you two are tired, but I'm counting on you.
Hiyoko and Koroko: Yes!
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