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To say there was an unspoken rivalry between the two of them would be a terrible lie. Unspoken? Mutsunokami and Izuminokami were one of the more outspoken characters within the citadel when they were paired together.
Nowhere is that more obvious than on the fields of battle, where there is nothing but silence as the leader scouted the enemy and everyone tried to keep themselves ready for battle.
“Hey, it has been a while since we have been paired together hasn’t it Izuminokami?”
“What a shame that we are here now… What is master thinking?” Izuminokami sighed as he glared at Mutsunokami, who was brandishing his gun around. Izuminokami received a small sneer before their captain, Horikawa, called out the arrival of enemies on the field. With one last silent exchange of glaring eyes and scoffs, the fight began.
It was Izuminokami who first saved Mutsunokami; slicing an enemy when they came too close to his teammate.
“Guns aren’t effective at such close range, now are they?”
A gunshot was the response to Izuminokami’s exclamation, followed by a proud laugh from Mutsunokami for having quickly repaid the favor of having his life saved.
“It was just luck on your end that I couldn’t see ‘em. I can handle swords well too! But you, even with your ways, can’t save yourself!”
The battle ended accordingly, with everyone congratulating each other for surviving once again. As the team collected some rewards dropped by the enemy, Izuminokami dared a challenge.
“It isn’t luck if I do it more than once. How many times have I saved you since I got here? You owe me something if save your more than I do.”
“Eh!? As if I can remember that sort of thing. Besides, I am sure I have saved you more often. You can ask anyone.” Mutsunokami brandished his gun once again, as if by showing it’s glory Izuminokami will be swooned and given in. It didn’t work.
“Fine! Let’s do that then!”
“Wait, do what?”
“For one month, we count how much we save each other and whoever wins in the end…!” Izuminokami shuts his eyes in thought. He didn’t think far enough to consider what could be a prize. Mutsunokami waited in anticipation, and the tension was only broken by the sudden appearance of Mikazuki Munechika himself, being the fourth member of their team and am enthusiastic busybody of the citadel.
“How about you make the loser do whatever the winner wishes?”
Izuminokami and Mutsunokami exchanged looks for a second before nodding in unanimous approval.
The game began.
---
“You know what the toughest part of this challenge is?” Mutsunokami wiped his blade clean as he spoke to his competitor. Izuminokami made no comment as he stood up from the floor, hair all tangled with itself after a long and exhausting battle. “Counting all my victories, of course. How many is it now? Twelve to five? I am not counting your little partner in this by the way. That would bring you just a bit closer to even ya’ know!” Mutsunokami laughed as Izuminokami’s face turned sour.
“I still have three days to catch up so don’t start counting this as your victory yet!” Izuminokami huffed before walking to the portal back home.
“I already know what I am going to ask from you too. The victory is just as well mine.”
“Eh? What do you want?” Izuminokami raised an eyebrow at Mutsunokami as they walked alongside together. After leaving the question unanswered for a few seconds, it was answered.
“A kiss!”
“Disgusting.”
“Hahaha! I expected that reaction!” Mutsunokami clutched at his stomach as he laughed before shaking his head. “I should have taken a picture of that face. But in all seriousness…” The laughter quickly died and Mutsunokami’s expression turned sharp.
“Your dessert for a whole week.”
“… Are you a kid?” It was Izuminokami’s turn to laugh. “I would have taken you more seriously if you said a kiss. Fine, I will ask the same.”
“What, a kiss? That’s gross.”
“No! Dessert!” Izuminokami crossed his arms before explaining. “Yasusada and Kiyomitsu always take mine, so I finally get to take back.”
Mutsunokami only chuckled at that. “We still have one week to go, so you better catch up or you will dessert-less!”
---
“Where are your desserts!?” Kashuu pouted as he looked over Izuminokami’s dinner.
“Stop trying to take my stuff! Take Yasusada’s or something!”
“No, these are mine. I know where you sleep Kiyomitsu.” Yasusada puffed his cheeks at Kashuu.
“We sleep together…”
In another table, Mutsunokami happily stuffed two daifuku into his mouth, much to the dismay of those sitting around him.