Sitting back down beside the little tea table, Mai began giving her comments.
"Your technique was used really well, and also… the moves were sharp, the power was fierce too. If it weren't for the fact that you can't use ki, teacher would've already been instantly defeated by you!"
Thinking back to that combo Aiden used, Mai patted her chest with some lingering fear. Although part of it was because she herself had been holding back and being careless, she hadn't expected Aiden to actually push her to the point where she had to use her fighting skills as if she were facing a strong fighter.
But what made her a little curious was that she could clearly sense the killing intent that Aiden released during the fight, and it was even heavier than that of the fighters she'd met before who had killed people.
'What did Aiden used to do before? He should've been a soldier, right? A soldier who's been on the battlefield? After all, his military combat techniques were so standard.'
Mai thought this to herself, but quickly shook her head.
'No matter what Aiden did before, right now, his identity is my student, and nothing more.'
For Mai, Aiden was not only her very first student, but also a ray of light she encountered during her most helpless time, when her grandfather passed away and she had to hold up the Shiranui Dojo all on her own.
No one knew what kind of feelings she had when she posted the notice of accepting students and several days passed without anyone showing up.
Even she herself didn't know, or rather, she didn't want to remember it, even though it had only been yesterday.
But at the same time, yesterday's events were also something she could remember for a lifetime. She would probably never forget that moment when Aiden smiled and said he had come to become her disciple.
'So, no matter what he used to do before, even if he lied to me, I would forgive him.' Mai clenched her fist tightly, lowered her head, and silently thought.
Then, raising her head to look at Aiden, she showed a big bright smile, "Alright then, Aiden, now we'll begin the Shiranui-ryu ancient martial arts training."
"So soon?" Aiden still had no idea that in just a short while, Mai had already thought through so many things.
Just a moment ago, she was still commenting on his fighting skills. Now he just felt like his laziness was kicking in again and he wanted to rest a little longer.
"Come on now, Aiden, a martial artist has to be diligent, let's go!" Mai got up and walked to Aiden's side, pulling his arm toward the training area of the dojo.
While walking, she said, "First, learn some of the basic moves of Shiranui-ryu. Mm, step by step, we'll start with a few moves, then after that you can rest, and by then teacher will treat you to peony cakes."
"I think it's teacher Mai who just wants to eat them herself."
"No such thing… now stand properly, first learn these moves with me."
Mai folded up her fan and very seriously demonstrated a few moves.
"Here, you try to copy them first."
"Alright!"
Aiden's memory was already very strong now. Not exactly photographic memory, but learning things was much faster than before. He copied the moves and performed them like a mirror image.
"Mm, mm, Aiden is very smart, learned it in one go. But it's still not enough, the moves need more polishing. Hold the first move, I'll help correct it."
"Alright… but teacher Mai, you're standing a little too close."
"When learning martial arts, don't mind these things!"
"But I can't concentrate."
"Then don't let your eyes wander."
"How could that be possible…"
And so, just like that, Aiden's very first day of martial training at the Shiranui Dojo passed…
———
Once again, it was after dinner at the Shiranui Dojo that he returned to the shrine, though today he went back earlier than yesterday.
But by the time he got back, the sky was already dark.
Walking through the shrine path and arriving at the office building, Aiden saw Maki standing under a cherry blossom tree at the doorway.
When she saw Aiden, Maki slightly bowed to him, "Aiden, you're back. Today should've been your first official day learning martial arts at that dojo, you must be exhausted."
"I've already prepared tea and snacks. Aiden, please have some to fill your stomach first. Chizuru is almost done preparing dinner."
Why does it sound like a wife waiting for her husband to come home from work?
And besides, eating two dinners in one evening really was a heavy burden.
But looking at Maki, dressed in her shrine maiden outfit, standing quietly under the cherry blossom tree, like a legendary Yamato Nadeshiko, there was no way Aiden could refuse her.
A woman like this, "rare" wasn't enough to describe her anymore.
"Alright!" Aiden nodded.
And just that simple "alright" made Maki press her lips together in a smile.
"Aiden, please come with me. Oh right, Aiden, I prepared a gift for you, I hope you'll accept it."
On the way to the dining hall, Maki walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Aiden. She could smell that the scent of women on Aiden's body was even stronger than yesterday's, and she slightly furrowed her brows.
But thinking of the gift she had someone buy today, she still spoke up.
"Hopefully it's not something too expensive. Staying here these two days already makes me feel bad."
"It's not expensive, just a cell phone." Maki lifted her head to look at him.
"Yesterday Yumiko said you used the office phone and chatted with someone for a long time, so I thought I'd get you a phone, that way you don't have to run all the way from your room."
In fact, Yumiko hadn't told her that. She had seen it herself. But she would never admit it.
"Maki, you're really thoughtful."
Being praised, Maki pressed her lips together and smiled again, "Not at all, it's just something within my ability. By the way, that person you called, is that your friend?"
This time, her tone became a little nervous.
"Actually, it's my teacher, the head of the dojo I became a disciple at yesterday… though to be honest, saying teacher is more like saying friend. She's younger than me, but she takes good care of me, and I really enjoy spending time with her."
"Her…" Maki pressed her lips again, but this time without a smile on her face. Because in Japanese, he and she are pronounced completely differently.
'It must be a very cute girl. Otherwise…'
Maki bit her lip again and looked up at Aiden, "Then… Aiden, how do you get along with us… with my sister?"
"It's okay, I guess. If only her personality could be… tch, how should I put it, if she could be a little gentler, then it would be very pleasant."
"Chizuru with her sister around is basically a spoiled, headstrong little girl. Even though in terms of figure and looks she's a full-blown onee-san, that must be the contrast."
At this point, the two had already reached the entrance of the dining hall. Maki paused in her steps, thought carefully about Aiden's words, then asked, "It sounds like Aiden likes gentler girls?"
"That's probably just my stereotype. In my impression, Japanese girls are either really cute, or gentle like the legendary Yamato Nadeshiko… haha, actually, when I just saw you earlier, I thought you were the embodiment of a Yamato Nadeshiko."
Aiden smiled as he said, "The moon, the cherry blossom tree, a shrine maiden girl so quiet and gentle, it's really something people can't help but like."
"I see…" A flash of joy passed through Maki's eyes, but her heart felt a little helpless. Her sister would probably never become the kind of girl Aiden just described, right?
But… if her sister couldn't do it… then…
Maki didn't dare continue thinking. The destiny of the family didn't allow her to think further.
As they were talking, the two of them entered the dining hall. Just like yesterday, the table was already full of freshly made dishes, all completely different from yesterday's menu.
At this moment, Maki said to him, "Aiden, please sit for a while. I'll go get the gift I prepared for you."
"Then thank you, Maki."
"Aiden, don't be so polite!"
"Aiden… where's my dear sister?"
Aiden had barely been seated for a moment when Chizuru came in carrying two plates, stretching out her voice as she called to him.
"She said she went to get the gift she prepared for me."
As Aiden spoke, he glanced at the two dishes Chizuru placed on the table. One looked like twice-cooked pork, and the other was actually steamed buns.
"A gift… oh, so that phone was for you, huh. I knew it, after finishing the company meeting, my dear sister suddenly went off to buy a phone." Chizuru crossed her arms and her legs, standing in front of Aiden.
She seemed to like this posture a lot. Even though it might look impolite, for Aiden sitting in front of her, it was nothing but a treat.
Because today Chizuru was actually wearing stockings. White stockings paired with her floral short kimono, it was eye-catching to the extreme.
If only a gust of wind blew in from outside right now…
Of course that was impossible, the door was tightly shut.
But Aiden's imagination still ran wild. That spoiled, headstrong girl with a bit of cuteness to her, Chizuru, was she wearing underwear that matched her personality?
Cute ones? Or… revealing ones that matched her figure and appearance?
As if in answer to his imagination, the calm night suddenly stirred with a gust of wind outside, rustling the tree branches.
And before the sound of the branches swaying faded away, the door suddenly opened. Maki appeared at the doorway, holding a delicate little box.
Then, the wind blew in, lifting the hem of the short kimono skirt of the girl in front of him that barely covered half her thighs.
"Whoa!"
"Ah!"
Two voices rang out at the same time.
One was Aiden's surprised exclamation, first, because he hadn't expected his luck to be this good, and second, because he discovered that Chizuru's secret place was actually covered by a pair of cute strawberry panties.
As for the other voice, of course it was Chizuru's. Her face instantly flushed red, and then she raised her long leg, about to kick Aiden's face.
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