Serving Through Love

Wow! What a view!

Isn't it nice? I could look at this forever.

I've always loved high places like this. Although, they say the only things that like high places are smoke and fools. I can't say that I disagree!

I-I see...

When they were young, Shion and Akane also loved to climb up high.

As I child, I had two friends who also loved to climb up high.

We always hung on the huge kite hanging from the roof, and would get scolded for it.

A kite, huh... You'd grab onto it and float up into the sky?

Shion was so strait-laced, but he never seemed to stop me when it came to playing with that kite. He never joined in when I invited him, though. He'd only go with Akane.

The older one was so strait-laced, but he never seemed to stop me when it came to playing with that kite. He never joined in when I invited him, though. He'd only go with his little sister.

Now then, Aldo. Can you guide me to this future town? Even if my name is infamous, I doubt my reputation would have lasted this long.

Infamous, huh... I feel like I already know, but what did you do, Shigure?

Well... In my hometown in the East, everyone would tell their daughters, "Don't marry that fool from the Itto-Ryu clan!"

Hahaha! That's why I left my hometown to go looking for a wife!

O-Oh, I see...

And in this world where I'm no longer infamous, my dream can finally come true. That is...

To get popular with the ladies!

Huh?!

Just imagine it, Aldo...

This is every man's dream!

Uh... I don't really want to get involved...

What are you saying?! Unless I'm popular with the ladies, I won't find a wife!

Popularity aside, you can only marry one woman, right? Or can you have more than one wife over in the East?

No, you're right. We may only have one wife.

Then what's the point of getting so popular?

...Hm! I suppose you have a point. I can only marry one woman, after all.

Hahahaha! I was so fixated on finding a wife that I got ahead of myself!

Shigure...

Well, Aldo, can you show me around town? Let's go find a woman who will like me!

All right. Let's hop on the cargo ship headed for Elzion, then.

H-Hey, wait!

Huh?

Stop messing around! This place is dangerous!

Heh! Catch me if you can!

Owww!

Hahaha! Young man, you should listen to your mother, or you'll regret it later.

You're not hurt, are you?

I'm so sorry about him, he– Oh!

Th-That outfit!

Hm? What about it?

W-Well...! That's an Eastern samurai's outfit, right? From hundreds of years ago?

That's right. They're not so common in this era.

R-Right... I really like it...

Hahaha! You have good taste!

Isn't that nice, Shigure? Looks like you're popular already.

What are you saying, Aldo? She has so many children that she must already be married. She couldn't become my wife, see?

What? Children?

Um, would you happen to be talking about me...?

That's right. You have so many children, I'm actually quite envious.

No, they're not...! I'm a teacher, and they are my students.

Oh, is that so?

......

Well then, Ms. Teacher. May I ask you a few things?

Sure! Ask away!

Not this again...

Firstly... Are you single?

Yes, I am. I can't seem to meet anyone nice...

Good! Secondly, do you like children?

Of course! That's why I'm a teacher at the IDA Law School.

Excellent! Thirdly, are you interested in Eastern culture?

I sure am! I'm actually a history teacher!

Yeah. She's always saying that a samurai would be just her type.

Yeah! She said she'd fall head over heels if the guy had a blonde ponytail, too!

Eek! Stop! That's embarrassing!

I-Is this teacher all there...?

No, that's splendid! Well, one last question.

Do you have a lover, someone you like, or a fiancé?

Hm? You added more conditions.

I do have someone I like!

Oh, I see...

Don't let it get you down, Shigure. It's good that you asked ahead this time.

Yes, I suppose so. It seems that we just weren't meant to be.

No, please don't misunderstand! The one I like...

Is you!

Goodness! This is a surprise!

Hahaha! It appears that I have found my destiny without even having to enter this future town!

Let us hold a banquet to celebrate the good fortune of us meeting!

Yes, please! After I send the children home, I'm finished for today... Let's meet in front of the elevator in the Gamma District!

Come, everyone! It's time to go home! Do as you're told just this once, okay?

Yeeeah!

All right, Aldo. Would you please take me to the rendezvous point?

Oh, sure. Let's head to the Gamma District.

I see. So this is our meeting point. I can't wait.

Shigure, considering how often you get rejected, I'm surprised at how good you are at asking girls out.

What are you saying, Aldo? The number of times I've been rejected only shows...

That I have tried to woo countless women in my life!

Uh... I guess you're right...

As long as they met my conditions for marriage, I would quickly try to woo them. That is my way of life!

They must be young, love children, and come back with you to the East?

Yes. Even if they are single, women who already have someone they love do not count.

But wouldn't that apply to most women in your hometown...?

That's correct! Back then, I would approach every single woman who walked past me! There were times when I would unthinkingly speak to the same woman three times over in the same day...

Thank goodness I noticed before I tried talking to her a fourth time! Hahaha!

No wonder they all told their daughters never to marry you...

Sorry I'm so late!

Oh! Worry not! Now, how about we get a bite to eat somewhere?

I'm sorry! Something terrible has happened! My students... The children...!

A Synth Human?! What's it doing here!?

Hehehehe. The students of IDA Law School... I finally caught my prey.

Oh no! Run, everyone!

Don't interfere! I have no need for you adults!

Ngh!

What?!

By the time I regained consciousness, everyone was gone.

They kidnapped the children? What a dirty trick!

I've already alerted the authorities. The EGPD, the special mobile forces, and the IDEA should be already be on the move.

They've only just started their investigations though, and there aren't many clues...

Ahh...! I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to the children!

Say, Aldo. Do you have any idea where Synth Humans or other criminals might hide?

Well, the Industrial Ruins seem like a good place to start.

Don't you fret. It may not be much, but we will join the efforts to find the children. We're both rather tough, and we can move faster than the authorities.

Thank you... I'm so happy to hear that, but I'd rather you didn't...

What? Why?

Even though you look like a samurai from the East and a swordsman of the Miglance Dynasty, your outfits are just cosplay, right?

Cosplay...?!

...What is this "cosplay"?

Oh, um... She thinks we're wearing costumes...

What...!

Listen, Ms. Teacher! It's true that I may look eccentric, and I may sometimes don a costume...

But my martial arts prowess is the real deal! I am the grand master of the Itto-Ryu clan!

W-Wow...!

I can't promise anything, but if I find those villains, rest assured that I will bring those children back safe!

Lead the way, Aldo. We must find their hideout.

Yeah, let's hurry! To the Industrial Ruins!

Hm?! Look at that, Aldo!

Waaah! Waaah!

Mommy...! Daddy...!

D-Don't cry, you two. I'm sure the guys from IDEA will come rescue us in no time... Ugh... I'm so scared... *sniff*

I'm not afraid of no Synth Human!

So p-please... Please let us go... I just want to go home...

Heh heh... I absolutely won't. You IDA students are supposed to be superior human specimens.

We wish to research how you superior human children grow and mature. We do not want to leave any stone unturned. You shall be our lab rats for this once-in-a-lifetime research project!

Please, noooo!

Don't cry, children! Help is here!

Wh-Who are you people?!

Mister samurai...?

And that swordsman guy...

You scoundrel! Give us these children and leave here at once! Or else...

You will become a stain on my blade!

Give those kids back!

Hm! Go ahead and try me, humans!

Ugh! These humans...!

You kids are coming with me!

Heh heh! Now they'll never catch up.

Oh, no! Not the hover platform!

Rest assured, Aldo! I will catch that scoundrel!

I should be safe here.

Hm? What's that sound? I haven't heard that before...

Th-That's...!

What? It can't be...

That human from earlier?!

I won't let you escape! Let's go, Matsukaze!

You kidnapped the children, and now you run like a coward... As a man, I can't forgive your actions!

I, Shigure, grand master of the Itto-Ryu, shall punish you! Prepare yourself!

Itto-Ryu: Secret Arts! Dragon Flight Tiger Slash!

Hahaha! Did you see that?!

W-Wow!

That samurai... He's so strong!

He's so cool!

Amazing...

Children, are you hurt?

Shigure, where did that horse come from...?

This is my horse, Matsukaze, who came with me from the East.

The Riftbreaker is truly vast, is it not, Aldo? You may not have noticed, but there is a stable in the corner of the ship.

What? When did that happen?!

Hahaha! Shion constructed it for his horse, Shirayuki.

Hahaha! I did it all for Matsukaze. Horses are such wonderful creatures!

Well, shall we return to the town of "Ell-zee-on"? Everyone must be worried sick!

Thanks to you, nobody got hurt! The IDA students have been safely returned to their families!

Hahaha! That's good to hear!

Thank you so much for your help!

Now I can finally enjoy a meal with that teacher.

Yeah. You can celebrate solving that mess... And maybe celebrate your engagement too, Shigure.

You're making me blush, Aldo. I don't want to get ahead of myself.

Now, then... I will go and talk to her.

Hm? Shigure?

Everything is solved, Ms. Teacher. Let us go get that bite to eat.

Huh?! Wh-Who are you?!

Hm?! You're not the teacher?

Oh, right! This is Ms. Teacher!

N-No...!

I'm the one that you made that promise with!

Oh, right. We haven't seen each other in so long, I'd completely forgotten!

Don't let it bother you, Ms. Teacher!

Of course it bothers me! What sort of woman do you take me for?!

You don't care who it is as long as they're a woman, do you?!

Y-You misunderstand me! As long as she is young, single, loves children, and is willing to come home with me, I don't care who it is! Naturally, I don't mind if it's you!

"Don't mind"...?

That's right! I have a feeling that you will bear healthy children! I don't mind how many, or whether they're boys or girls!

How dare you! I'm leaving!

Rejected again! Ugh...! This time it really hurt! I thought I was finally popular with the ladies...!

Shigure...

What did I do wrong?! Why don't they want me?

I think... You're just insensitive.

Hey, there he is!

So this is that wonderful samurai!

He really did a number on that Synth Human!

Yes! He was riding this big horse, too!

Itto-Ryu: Secret Arts!

Say! Can you show us, too?!

......

Hahaha! Oh, children. A samurai's sword is not meant for show, you know.

Giddy-up!