Faced with Kotomi Izumi's curious question, Kisara Tendo naturally answered everything without reservation.
"It's simple," she said. "You just need to throw a little tantrum with your parents—but not just for the sake of being rebellious. You have to take the opportunity to express your dissatisfaction. For example, at the time, I shouted at my parents, saying, 'I can't be excellent at both! I can only devote most of my focus to one thing. The other, I won't abandon it completely, but I'll just go with the flow.'
"My mother wanted me to focus entirely on academics, but I was against that. Rather than becoming some bookworm buried in study, I'd rather switch things up—practice kendo and study during class time, just to give my mind a break.
"Fortunately, it wasn't just me who disagreed. My father and the rest of the family also opposed her view. In the Tendo family, you could be illiterate—but you could never be someone who didn't know Tendo-ryu. After I threw that tantrum, my parents eased up a lot on their expectations about academics. That gave me more time and energy to focus on kendo practice. That's how I became a swordmaster of Tendo-ryu—the youngest in history to receive full transmission."
It was clear that Kisara's heart longed for a world where everything was decided by the blade—a life of steel and spirit.
Though her academic performance wasn't bad, it could only be described as average within the class. To put it bluntly, she wasn't outstanding in her studies, but still did well enough to pass all exams. As long as she performed normally on the college entrance exams, she could get into a decent second-tier university.
Kotomi thought about it, imagining herself in that situation, but ultimately decided it wouldn't work to have Megumi Kato copy Kisara's approach.
Given Megumi's mother, Ikemi Kato's, personality—if Megumi were to throw a tantrum the way Kisara had, it would probably have the opposite effect…
It might even strain her relationship with her family, and that would be counterproductive.
Looks like I'll have to figure out another way, Kotomi thought. Even if Ikemi's high expectations had turned into pressure on Megumi, Megumi had never once asked her for help.
But even without being told, Kotomi had already noticed—and had been secretly trying to come up with a way to help.
Unfortunately, Kotomi wasn't some kind of idea genius who could conjure perfect solutions out of thin air. She wasn't the type to brainstorm brilliant plans on the spot. All she could do was fumble her way through, searching for any method that might ease Ikemi's expectations toward her daughter.
She had even tried probing for hints once, asking Ikemi casually about her hopes for Megumi. But after hearing her answer, Kotomi was left speechless.
Even a dog would get depressed after hearing that.
Even with system-assisted abilities, Kotomi doubted she could fulfill such towering expectations.
She finally understood why Megumi always liked curling up in her arms, letting Kotomi stroke her hair and back as if comforting a child. It was probably only in those moments that Megumi could forget the pressure her mother placed on her—and truly rest for a while.
To be completely honest, when Kotomi first heard what Ikemi expected of Megumi, her first thought wasn't how to respond or argue.
It was whether she should just book two plane tickets and take Megumi away—to a city where no one knew them.
In short—just run away together.
"Alrighty then, break's over. Time to practice again. Kotomi, want to join me?"
"No thanks, I'm not really in the mood today." Kotomi gave a sheepish smile and shook her head. She was only wearing the kendo uniform and holding a bamboo sword out of respect for the dojo's etiquette.
Honestly, ever since her last spar with Kisara, Kotomi still felt a numbness in her arm from holding the sword.
When she glanced at the weapon in Kisara's hand, Kotomi couldn't help but exclaim, "A real sword?"
"Not exactly," Kisara said with a light chuckle, drawing the blade halfway from its scabbard. "It's neither a true-edge nor a reverse-edge sword. The blade on both sides is dull. It's forged to match the weight of a real katana, but when you swing it, it still feels a bit different. It's the kind that's often hung in some dojos for display—a decorative sword used for display in the dojo.
"After all, most kendo dojos nowadays are filled with beginners. If a real blade were left somewhere visible, it could easily lead to an accident. I was just swinging it around on a whim."
"From the look of it though, it really does seem like a real sword," Kotomi said.
"It looks like one, yes—but it doesn't feel like one. It's only meant for display, to hang on the wall or on a sword stand. A real, sharpened blade has a completely different presence the moment you hold it." Kisara spoke softly.
Kotomi sat on the floor, watching Kisara's kendo practice for an entire class period.
She didn't find it boring at all—rather, she found it beautiful and mesmerizing.
Opportunities to observe a swordmaster of Kisara's level up close were rare, and Kotomi cherished every moment, her eyes wide open so as not to miss a single detail. You could say she was secretly studying, in her own way.
After all, she would soon be joining Kisara to represent Sobu High School's Kendo Club in the Six-School Tournament, so she naturally wanted to pick up as many techniques as possible before the matches began.
After parting with Kisara at the dojo entrance, Kotomi jogged back to her classroom. Even though the teacher was still there, she walked in confidently.
That's because the teacher in charge of the second self-study period was none other than Shizuka Hiratsuka.
"Kotomi, let's go practice!" Yui Yuigahama said eagerly after packing up her bag.
"Let's go," Yukino Yukinoshita said calmly, closing her book after reading through two entire self-study sessions.
"Let's keep today's rehearsal relaxed," Kotomi said. "We'll try to finish early so everyone can go home and pack their luggage. Starting tomorrow after school, the three of us will be staying on campus for rehearsals. You don't need to bring much—just your bedding, pillow, a change of clothes, and anything essential."
As she finished speaking, Kotomi glanced at Megumi Kato. Megumi nodded in understanding and pointed toward the library, silently signaling that she'd wait there after class.
That afternoon's rehearsal went smoothly as usual.
Even Yui Yuigahama, who had known nothing about piano before, had listened to the practice so many times that when Yukino accidentally hit a wrong note, Yui immediately pointed it out: "Yukino, I think you played that part wrong."
Yukino accepted the correction graciously.
They rehearsed the song they'd be performing at the upcoming Cultural Festival five times in total before wrapping up for the day.
Just as Kotomi had planned, they kept today's practice shorter so everyone could rest early and prepare for tomorrow's extended rehearsal.
After saying goodbye to Yukino and Yui, Kotomi and Megumi walked home together.
Having only afternoon classes really was nice—it felt like barely any time had passed since they'd left home, and already it was time to head back.
Both periods had been self-study, so all homework was already done, meaning there was no need to worry about studying after getting home.
As for Kotomi, who had skipped the second class entirely, Yui had already helped her finish her assignments.
Not forgetting her mother's request, Kotomi stopped by the bookstore to buy a science workbook for Aimi.
"Let me pick one out for her," Megumi offered. "I was the physics class rep back in my third year of junior high."
"Sure," Kotomi said, nodding. The caring tone in Megumi's voice made her think—maybe this was a chance to improve the relationship between Megumi and Aimi.
Until Kotomi saw Megumi return… carrying an entire box of workbooks.
A full cardboard box.
It was packed with all kinds of science practice books used for junior high school review, covering every subject imaginable.
"You really don't want to make it easy for her, huh…" Kotomi muttered, lips twitching into a wry smile. She could already imagine Aimi's reaction when she saw that massive box of books Megumi had bought for her.
Most likely, Aimi would pick the box up and try to slam it over Megumi's head.
Of course, Megumi would dodge just in time—catch the flying box midair—and then leap forward to drop it right back on Aimi's head instead.
Facing Kotomi's utterly calm gaze, Megumi Kato, who was holding a box full of junior high third-year science workbooks, gave an awkward little laugh. "Ehehe~"
"Is it heavy?" Kotomi asked blandly.
"Yeah, super heavy! I didn't think a whole box of workbooks would weigh this much. Nee-san~ help me carry it, please?" Megumi said in a pleading tone, shaking the box slightly as if to act cute.
Kotomi didn't respond to her act. Instead, she reached into the box and pulled out one of the workbooks—it was a physics practice book.
"Each one of these is this thick, and you grabbed an entire box? Of course it's heavy," Kotomi said, her lips twitching.
Then another thought crossed her mind. Once Aimi saw just how thick each of these workbooks was, she would probably grab one and throw it straight at Megumi's face.
And knowing Megumi, she wouldn't take that lying down—she'd grab another workbook and throw it right back. The two of them would probably end up in a full-on workbook battle, exchanging blows as if their very pride depended on it.
Just imagining the scene made Kotomi's head ache.
It used to be Aimi who always picked the fights, with Megumi calmly fending her off. But lately, Megumi had started taking the initiative, teasing Aimi first—and once Aimi took the bait, she'd end up being completely overwhelmed.
Sigh… They say whoever strikes first loses, but why do you manage to lose no matter who strikes first? Kotomi thought helplessly.
"My sister's taking her high school entrance exams in February. Did you buy this many books because you want her to repeat her third year? Or are you planning to have her stay up every night doing them?" Kotomi said coolly. Then, without another word, she put the workbook back into the box and turned toward the store's book section.
Seeing Kotomi walk away with that cold expression, Megumi instantly realized something terrifying—
She had made Kotomi mad.
The last time she'd made Kotomi angry, the days until forgiveness had felt like an eternity. Each second stretched on like a century.
Clutching the box, Megumi hurried after her with a nervous, almost tearful voice. "Don't be mad, okay? I'll put them back!"
Kotomi didn't say a word. She just shot Megumi a sharp, icy glance—the full authority of the Izumi household's young lady radiating from her.
Megumi froze for half a second, then quickly ran back to the shelf where she had taken the box, carefully setting it down in its original place. Then she ran back to Kotomi's side, fidgeting anxiously, unsure how to make her girlfriend smile again.
Kotomi stood before the shelves, picking out science workbooks for Aimi. This was a crucial time for third-year junior high students: the review phase before exams, when they needed to solidify fundamentals and build confidence through steady practice.
The books Kotomi selected weren't overly thick, but each one contained questions that appeared regularly on past exams.
While Kotomi flipped through books, Megumi stood beside her, holding her breath. Her hands twitched slightly—she wanted to reach out to help but didn't dare to.
In front of an angry Kotomi, Megumi was the very picture of a wife-controlled partner.
Megumi didn't actually mind that label. In fact, she even found herself thinking, Once you accept that you're whipped… you become invincible.
Kotomi continued to browse the physics section, eyes never leaving the shelves, not even glancing at the nervous girl beside her.
Megumi fidgeted, feeling uneasy. Then suddenly, she felt a familiar small hand touch her own—a touch so recognizable that even if she forgot everything else, she'd still know it anywhere.
It was Kotomi's hand.
Megumi Kato's heart leapt with joy. She looked down and saw Kotomi still focused on picking out workbooks, her small hand subtly hooking its pinky around Megumi's—as if silently saying: Hurry up and hold my hand!
Faced with her beloved's little show of pride, how could Megumi dare to hesitate? She immediately obeyed, interlacing her fingers with Kotomi's, her heart brimming with happiness.
Leaning closer against Kotomi, Megumi murmured blissfully, "My dear wife, how are you this cute~?"
"Don't call me that…" Kotomi muttered softly. But then, realizing what Megumi had just called her, her face turned bright red. "I-I'm not married to you yet! You're not allowed to call me your wife! You think you can just call me that without even putting a ring on my finger? No way!"
Upon hearing that, Megumi's eyes lit up. She immediately tugged at Kotomi's hand, saying excitedly, "Then let's go buy a ring right now! I'll buy you one this big!"
As she spoke, she gestured enthusiastically with her hands to show the size.
"You're going to buy me a ring that big? Do you even know how expensive that would be?" Kotomi asked, both surprised and amused.
"I don't know," Megumi said honestly, "but even if I don't have enough money, I'll get a part-time job! Look, this bookstore's hiring a cashier—I can apply right now!"
Hearing that, Kotomi couldn't help but laugh. She playfully tapped Megumi's shoulder and said with a teasing smile, "Silly Megumi, even if you worked as a cashier here your whole life, you'd never afford a diamond that big. Besides, a ring like that would be way too heavy to wear. You don't need to buy something huge—I don't even like overly big diamonds. And who said a ring for me has to be a diamond ring anyway?"
"Then… what kind of ring would you want?" Megumi asked curiously, trying to think of something that would make Kotomi happy.
Before she could come up with anything, Kotomi smiled sweetly and said, "A pull-tab from a soda can could work just fine as a ring~ Actually, I'd like one from a Pepsi can… oh wait, those tabs are shaped weird, they wouldn't fit. Hmm… then maybe one from a 100% orange juice can!"
"Kotomi…"
Megumi felt a rush of affection. She wanted to kiss her—wanted to show her love in any way possible.
But just as she leaned in, right before her lips could touch Kotomi's, smack—a workbook appeared between them.
For the first time in her life, Megumi felt the overwhelming urge to burn every single workbook in the world.
"Hehehe~ You've already kissed me plenty today," Kotomi said, grinning mischievously as she peeked out from behind the workbook like a little witch.
Seeing Megumi's disappointed expression, Kotomi felt secretly satisfied. Heh, looks like the day of my counterattack isn't far away!
Kotomi was about to return to choosing workbooks when she glanced at Megumi's sulking face and felt a pang of guilt. But with other customers around, she couldn't exactly let Megumi kiss her right here in public.
She looked left, then right—no one nearby. Then, rising up on her toes, Kotomi softly kissed Megumi on the cheek.
Instantly, Megumi's mood shot back to full HP.
"Wife~" she cooed happily.
"Ah, stop clinging to me—I still need to pick out Aimi's workbooks," Kotomi protested, flustered.
"Nope~ I'm sticking to you. It doesn't get in your way! But if you don't let me stay close, I might just… make trouble," Megumi said, her tone suddenly turning playfully mischievous.
"Kotomi," she added with a sly grin, "you wouldn't want your little sister Aimi to have to finish an entire box of workbooks… would you?"
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