It had already been over a month since the Fuyuki Shop opened for business.
Spring was on its way out and the weather in Lungmen was beginning to heat up.
During this past month, every morning Shirou would wake up and go for a run outside. After returning to the dorm to wash up, he would prepare breakfast for the members of Penguin Logistics, then tidy up both the dorm here and the one upstairs.
After that, he would head to the Fuyuki Shop to start preparing lunch, while also checking on the shop's supplies and the children's condition.
As for the storefront itself, it had been fully entrusted to Rope and a few children interested in business. With Phal helping negotiate deals, business at the shop was doing fairly well.
It was not booming, but at least everyone could now afford to add more meat and vegetables to their meals, instead of tightening their belts like before.
As for the other children who were not interested in business, after discussions between Phal, Jaye, Hoshiguma and Rope, they decided to try to help them learn practical skills or hobbies.
Cleaning, cooking, repairing appliances, anything reasonable and legal, Shirou was willing to teach.
As a result, every time Shirou went to the Fuyuki Shop now, he had to first teach cooking, then teach some appliance repair.
At the very least, no one in the shop was idle anymore.
By around 3 PM, once things settled down, Shirou would go to the market to buy ingredients before heading back to the Penguin Logistics dorm.
Unlike the Fuyuki Shop, which was now on track with others helping in the kitchen, Shirou handled all the cooking alone at the Penguin Logistics dorm.
Still, he never forgot that his main job was here. He basically never slacked off unless the Penguin Logistics crew wanted to eat out.
But after Shirou expanded his cooking "skill tree," even that idea disappeared.
After all, the only outside food they really wanted was fried food and the fried "nuggets" Shirou developed through online research had unanimous approval.
As Croissant put it: "How could those flashy outsiders compare to our Shirou's cooking!"
After dinner came Shirou's rest time but even then he did not slack. He would pick up books related to Oripathy and read.
To this day, Shirou was still reading the first volume of "Dr. Blood's" book, not even having opened the second one.
Partly because he had no background in the subject, so many parts were hard to understand.
And partly because he was simply too busy and forcing himself to read did not mean he could understand it.
So after one or two days of reading, he would switch to watching cooking videos or the news to reset his mind.
After more than a month, Shirou had more or less gotten used to this rhythm of life.
Aside from long-distance deliveries or Penguin Logistics' days off, he followed this routine almost every day.
And even on their days off, the Penguin Logistics crew did not slack, like today, they were all training together at the facility.
"You got impatient."
Shirou held two practice swords and spoke to Texas, who held one.
Their sparring had become a regular part of every training session. Texas was trying to improve her swordsmanship through Shirou.
And Shirou in turn got a sparring partner to stretch his body.
Though he had no teaching experience, he could at least feed her moves and point out mistakes.
"You sure it is not because you suddenly changed your fighting style?"
Texas walked to the side and picked up another practice sword.
She had no idea how Shirou suddenly learned her style and could even trade blows with her. Though not fully refined, his solid fundamentals let him use unexpected methods to subdue her.
Take just now, for example while they exchanged attacks, Texas created an opening with her speed advantage but Shirou suddenly delivered a side kick, knocking the sword from her hand.
Do not use her sword style and pull off such smooth moves!
"Ah… that? It is just a habit."
Shirou said awkwardly, as the two practice swords in his hands dissolved into mana.
"That is brutal. Watching Texas get completely suppressed every time really shows how ruthless Shirou is."
Croissant, who was resting and recording nearby, shook her head while watching the footage on her phone.
Every time they came here, they would first use the equipment to train, then watch Texas spar with Shirou. Texas had even asked them to record it so she could review her mistakes later.
"Croissant… you might want to rephrase that or Texas might take it out on you."
Exusiai, walking backward on a treadmill to increase her workout intensity, kindly warned her.
Otherwise, in a couple of days, they might see Texas wearing those "horned headphones" .
"You are overthinking it. Texas would not do that."
Sora took out two bottles of water from her bag, planning to give them to Shirou and Texas, while speaking up for Texas.
"I know. She would not do that to us but outsiders? I am not so sure."
Exusiai jumped off the treadmill as she said that.
"…You might have a point."
Sora thought about it and could not really disagree.
"Yikes… you are scaring me. Can you stop?"
Croissant, sitting in front, felt a chill down her back.
If they kept talking like this, she might end up sleeping outside tonight.
Seeing her reaction, the two found it amusing.
"Croissant, record one more time. This is the last round."
Texas waved her sword.
"Got it! Do you want a different angle?"
Croissant immediately perked up.
"No."
Texas shook her head, took a deep breath, and raised both training swords into an attacking stance.
"Trace on—"
The same practice swords appeared in Shirou is hands. Texas's were custom-made to match the weight and size of her light blades while Shirou simply projected them.
Teaching her a completely new sword style from scratch would not be suitable. instead it was better to build on what she already knew.
So Shirou mostly used Texas' own style during sparring while occasionally mixing in his own insights.
The results were good and after several rounds Texas' attacks had become sharper and trickier. Even Shirou would get hit if he was not careful.
"You are still going? What round is this?"
Seeing them about to spar again, Exusiai took a big gulp of water and looked over.
Texas was getting stronger so the rest of Penguin Logistics had to keep up too.
At the very least, Exusiai needed to grasp Texas' attack rhythm to avoid friendly fire during combat.
"Over a dozen rounds, I think? Look…Texas is drenched in sweat, while Shirou is barely sweating."
Croissant said as she set up her phone.
As they spoke, the twelfth sparring round of the day began.
Texas charged forward as usual, launching the offensive while Shirou took a defensive stance.
Of course, Shirou was not just defending. while using Texas's lethal sword style he was also observing how she herself used it.
Her hand movements, footwork, body rotation.
With each spar, Texas' movements became better.
"Hmph."
Texas swung her sword only for Shirou to block it cleanly.
Seeing Shirou about to attack with his other sword, Texas copied what he had done earlier and delivered a side kick to the blade. However, the sword in Shirou's hand was not knocked away, it only deviated slightly from its attack path.
"Your accuracy is a bit off."
Shirou stepped back a few paces as he spoke.
Just now, he had deliberately adjusted his posture. Otherwise, if Texas had kicked his hand directly, it would have hurt for days.
Texas was ruthless too, knowing she might not be able to knock the sword away, she simply aimed for his hand.
Watching Texas panting heavily after just one exchange, Shirou knew her stamina was running low.
After all, this was already the twelfth round and she had been on the offensive the whole time. Anyone would be exhausted.
"I am attacking."
Giving Texas a moment to catch her breath, Shirou chose to go on the offensive.
This was his first time attacking proactively today.
His goal was not to defeat Texas outright but he simply wanted her to experience his sword.
Just as Texas herself had said, her swordsmanship existed purely to kill.
Every strike aimed for a fatal blow.
Although she had learned to hold back somewhat during her years in Lungmen, habits formed over many years could not be changed so easily.
"Tch."
Facing Shirou's attack, Texas clicked her tongue and began defending, imitating his earlier approach.
Once, twice, three times…Shirou's speed kept increasing, making it harder and harder for Texas to keep up.
After all, defense was far more difficult than offense.
"That is enough."
Sensing that Texas' speed was starting to drop, Shirou quickly stopped.
Unlike the previous eleven rounds where he would pin her down with his sword and force a surrender, this time he simply withdrew.
And it proved he was right.
The moment he called it off, the sword in Texas's left hand dropped to the ground.
Her fingers twitched slightly.
"Thanks."
Texas clenched both fists. When she blocked Shirou's strikes earlier, the impact had numbed her hands.
"Geez, that was way too reckless. Texas, are you okay?"
Sora hurried over with two bottles of water. After handing one to Shirou, she checked on Texas.
"Man… Shirou, do you not get tired?"
Seeing Texas grimacing just from Sora rubbing her arm, Croissant grabbed Shirou's arm out of curiosity.
Shirou showed no reaction at all instead he tapped her on the head with the pommel of his practice sword.
"I am a bit tired… but it is still within acceptable limits."
Only Shirou understood the soreness from being grabbed right after intense exercise, but he maintained a calm expression.
After all, since he was using magecraft, what he consumed was not just stamina, it was also magical energy.
And his brain as well, he had been carefully observing Texas' movements the whole time.
Combining that with his own understanding of swordsmanship, he turned it into the offensive pressure he had just used against her.
"I think you should be a bit gentler with girls."
Watching Texas get beaten down every time, Exusiai felt the need to remind him.
She had the feeling Shirou was becoming less and less lenient toward them. At this rate, he might turn into the kind of guy who bullies girls.
"This is sparring. It is normal."
Shirou replied.
"But you do not treat me and Croissant like…hey hey hey, put that down! Put it down! I will stop talking!"
Exusiai had been about to complain that Shirou did not "discipline" her and Croissant like this but Shirou shamelessly raised his practice sword to bonk her on the head, scaring her into immediate surrender.
"Exusiai really lives dangerously every day."
Taking advantage of Shirou focusing on Exusiai, Croissant quickly ran over to Sora and Texas.
Sora was applying a patch to Texas while giving her arm a massage.
Otherwise, forget about carrying cargo tomorrow, Texas might not even be able to hold chopsticks.
"Were you not the one who got bonked earlier?"
Sora pointed out. Truly the pot calling the kettle black.
The two of them never seemed to tire of teasing Shirou and he had gone from tolerating it at first to directly retaliating now.
Was Exusiai not still being chased around right now? If Shirou had not slowed down, she would already be experiencing what Newton felt under the apple tree.
"Hey, do not expose me like that! Sora, your words are getting sharper lately, do not learn bad habits from Shirou."
Croissant sighed, feeling that the kind and gentle Sora from before was gone.
In the past, Sora would have comforted her first and then gently told her such behavior was wrong.
Now? Straight to emotional damage…just like Shirou.
"I think you two are the bigger problem."
Texas said while enjoying the massage.
If she still had the energy, she would have rolled up her sleeves and joined Shirou in knocking some sense into them.
Did they really think she did not hear what they were saying earlier?
How could they say she was being completely overwhelmed? She was the one attacking, was she not?
It was just that Shirou's defense was too good and he always seized her openings to counterattack.
Usually, he would subdue her instantly, unlike that final round where he switched to offense.
But from a defensive perspective, she could now see things more clearly.
He had given up some opportunities to attack and among countless strikes, only one truly aimed for a vital point.
She could review all of this later through the recordings. She also had a small camera on herself, though the viewing experience might not be great, the first-person perspective would still help her study.
It was just…
That sharp offensive pressure from Shirou just now reminded her of someone.