The Good-for-Nothing Head of the Sword Spirits, All of Them Big Shots

Rumor has it that transfer student Fuji Izayoi gets breathless after every few steps and is often ill. A few years ago, she was unfortunately caught up in a terrorist attack, leaving her with lasting health problems and no memories.

Yet after the accident, Fuji Izayoi found a silver lining. She suddenly discovered an extraordinary talent for drawing and rose from obscurity to become a well-known manga artist.

Recently, her childhood friend had been watching a drama at the agency to pass the time. The manga it was based on was written by none other than Fuji Izayoi herself.

A young detective once casually leafed through Izayoi's manga. Its fantastical scenes felt so real, as if she had experienced them firsthand. Even readers could feel immersed in the scenes and dialogue as they read.

Someone asked Izayoi where she got such wonderful inspiration.

The girl was being interviewed at the time. She smiled and replied that perhaps the stories were inspired by real life.

It was only after the young detective stumbled upon a clash full of supernatural abilities and witnessed the man beside Fuji Izayoi draw an ornate sword from the palm of his hand that she suddenly realized...

The joke Fuji Izayoi had told the reporter contained not a single lie!

-

A few days after the Poirot Café was transferred to a new owner for personal reasons, a blond young man with shoulder-length hair showed up one quiet afternoon.

With his elegant features and old-fashioned air, the visitor met the café's blond, dark-skinned waiter and introduced himself with an almost amused smile: his name was Ichimonji Norimune, and he was the new owner.

To Amuro Tooru, the new boss seemed a little strange.

He looked young and promising, yet always referred to himself as an "old man." He also often told amusing stories about the younger members of his family: one exceptionally capable young relative, an always-serious assistant, a cat that was a bit of a handful, and a gray-and-white crane.

...All in all, the few things he said made this so-called "family" seem extremely suspicious.

For someone as wary as Amuro Tooru, Ichimonji Norimune made no attempt to hide his highly unusual behavior. The mystery and strangeness in his words and actions practically screamed, "I'm a bad guy."

One night, when his suspicions were at their peak, Amuro Tooru, still wearing his Bourbon persona, unexpectedly ran into the person he had been watching so warily.

The moonlight in the alley was dim. Ichimonji Norimune wore a uniform in red and white, with a traditional sword at his waist. Gilded chrysanthemum patterns bloomed across his shoulders.

Bodies lay sprawled at the feet of the golden-haired man. The young man stood among them, his expression inscrutable.

Behind him stood four companions dressed in a similar style, each carrying an ancient sword. Amuro Tooru could match each of the people to one of the amusing stories Ichimonji Norimune had told him.

"Oh my... Well, this is something."

Seeing Amuro Tooru, the young man who was always smiling brightly during the day curled his lips into an elegant smile, but there was no laughter in his eyes.

"You've seen something you shouldn't have, young Amuro."

-

They were forced to coexist peacefully. After observing them closely from that day onward, Amuro Tooru realized in horror...

...The little girl my boss is interested in seems pretty strange, too.

And do my boss's friends, subordinates, and all the "people" in his social circle seem a little off as well?!

Meanwhile, in another setting unknown to them...

[Ancient Underworld Family: Fukuoka Ichimonji Faction]

They rose to prominence during a clash between criminal gangs. Their rapid expansion shows signs of disrupting the Three-Period Plan.

A well-meaning Russian man who wants to stir up trouble is being hunted for reasons unknown: ?

Ichimonji Norimune, friendly with the Armed Detective Agency but actually a retired old master of the underworld, smiles and says nothing.

[Flourishing Family: Awataguchi Faction]

The family is large and thriving, and somehow every member has enrolled at a different school.

Ran and Sonoko see a serious, self-disciplined boy from a nearby school at the gate of Teitan High every day after classes, escorting the new transfer student home.

The Queen of Deduction's eyes sparkle: Could this be the legendary child bridegroom?!

[Upholding Justice: Jiang Faction]

Several new recruits have recently joined the Metropolitan Police Department. Word is that before their transfer, they worked in the Special Criminal Investigation Unit.

After staring for a long time at a certain vintage Porsche, Buzen no E, the head of the Jiang faction, casually texts someone in the business: Free to help me pad the numbers?

Yamatorige, head of an underworld family that publicly stands against the police: ? Sure, I guess.

↑ In reality, after the sword boys finish making trouble, they still have to go back to the citadel and eat dinner together.

-

It was a certain dark and rainy night.

The Dimensional Witch received a special guest.

The witch, with her dark ink-colored hair, took one look and said calmly, "The price for bringing this princess back to life can only be paid by her herself, divine spirit."

"I will take her memories, the ties of fate between her and all of you, and the future in which she will never again remember the person she loves."

"Memories can be made anew, and ties of fate can be forged again."

"But your name, your existence, and every part of you are the one thing that will never again stir the heart of her who has been given a second life."

"Kikuichimonji." The witch looked at the man with a grave gaze. "Are you sure you want to make this decision for her?"

"..."

He answered, "I'm sure."

*Third-person narration. CP: Ichimonji Norimune

*Don't be fooled by the blurb. It's a sweet story.

*This is more or less an alternate-universe story to the one next door.

*The character settings have changed. The blurb may still be revised before the story is finalized.

*The core concept remains unchanged. Drafting in progress.

*The new blurb was screenshotted and backed up on 250221.

Theme: The moment of finding what was lost will come again