Kaguya's words were cold and heartless.
Shizuka, however, was used to it.
Shinomiya Kaguya, the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya Family, the current Shuchi'in Student Council President, and an all-around talent with outstanding achievements in various fields!
She was undoubtedly the leading figure among the powerful scions at Shuchi'in and even across the country. Shizuka could barely find any fault with her. Well, except that her ice sculpture-like temperament wasn't something most people could bear.
"I wonder who this girl will end up liking in the future?" Shizuka was very curious about what Kaguya would look like when she was in love.
"Shinomiya-nee, even though I grew up in an orphanage and didn't always eat well... I split wood and stoked the fire every day, so I have a lot of strength!" The little shota's innocent voice rang out.
If Yukino were present, she would certainly find these words familiar. Starting with a self-pitying plea, then establishing a strong and resilient persona—such manipulative remarks came easily to him. Sure enough, as the words reached Kaguya's ears, her red eyes flickered slightly.
"An orphanage?" She looked at Shizuka beside her.
Shizuka lovingly stroked Asa's head and explained. "Asa-kun is an orphan. He lived in the orphanage before being adopted by the Yukinoshita Family recently."
Just as Shizuka finished speaking, Asa immediately spoke up again, as if afraid Kaguya would underestimate him. "Shinomiya-nee, I eat properly every day now, so my body is definitely fully developed!"
Fully developed? I see you don't understand at all. What was a little shota talking about development for? She certainly wouldn't take Asa's words seriously.
But... Kaguya looked at the little shota's serious and innocent face, her red eyes glimmering. In the stubborn resolve shining in those eyes, she felt as if she were looking at her younger self.
"This is a bow used by middle school girls. If you can draw it, I'll teach you." The girl presented a bow, placing it in front of the little shota.
"Ah, Shinomiya, isn't that a little too difficult?"
"Asa-kun is only in first grade of elementary school."
Although Kaguya's heart was slightly moved by pity, she never considered giving him a break. If a child didn't have enough strength to draw the bow, there was a real risk of being injured by it.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, the bow used by middle school girls has the lowest draw weight."
"If he can't pull it, then an outside archery beginner class would be more suitable for him," Kaguya said mercilessly.
Shizuka sighed helplessly, just about to lecture Kaguya, when Asa's voice came from the side.
"Shinomiya-nee, I pulled it open!"
Both women instantly turned their heads. They saw the little shota effortlessly drawing a bow that was nearly his own height.
"It's so light! Did Shinomiya-nee take it easy on me?"
Kaguya paused slightly at his words. She then took out a few more bows. Asa pulled each of them open in turn.
"Shinomiya-nee, I told you I have a lot of strength!"
Kaguya fell silent. From Asa's easy manner, it was clear that he could easily draw all of these bows to a full moon, if his height and arm span weren't a limiting factor. Keep in mind, one of those bows was her personal one, with a draw weight equivalent to that of an average high school male. Yet, it was being drawn by a little shota who was only in first grade of elementary school...
Shizuka leaped up, excitedly hoisting Asa in the air. "Asa-kun, you're amazing!"
"Natural god-like strength!"
"Shinomiya, can Asa-kun study in the Archery Club now?" Shizuka asked proudly while holding Asa.
Kaguya composed herself, slowly letting out a breath. This world was full of countless geniuses and freaks. While she was shocked, she wouldn't lose her composure. Moreover, as the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya Family, once Kaguya made a promise, she would definitely keep it.
"Come with me."
"Do you have a dō-gi (uniform)?"
Asa shook his head.
"Borrow one... never mind. I'll have someone prepare a set for you next time." Considering Asa's height and build, there likely wasn't anything that would fit him in the Archery Club.
She then led the little shota to the Archery Club's practice hall, beginning to teach him the most fundamental knowledge of Kyūdō.
Initially, Kaguya was only fulfilling her promise. She had thought teaching a child the basics would be a tedious affair. But whenever she saw the little shota's handsome face intently focusing on her, a surge of motivation inexplicably rose in her heart. And when Asa consistently answered her questions with insightful applications, the immediate feedback filled Kaguya with a sense of accomplishment.
"Shinomiya-nee is so amazing; you explain everything so clearly!"
Hearing the little shota's praise, Kaguya's expression remained aloof, but her heart secretly bloomed with joy. As expected of me, I'm amazing even at teaching!
"Asa-kun learns very quickly, too." Kaguya returned the compliment as a matter of etiquette, her tone already less icy than before.
Asa noted this detail, his smile subtly widening. He had to admit that Kaguya's outward disguise had completely concealed her true nature. If he hadn't read the original story, he would truly believe that the internally goofy Shinomiya Kaguya was an ice sculpture of a girl.
....
In the Archery Club.
The rumor that Kaguya had taken an extremely handsome little shota as her apprentice quickly spread. After all, who was Shinomiya Kaguya? The absolute captain of the Archery Club, a national champion from last year's tournament! The supreme Student Council President within the academy! The eldest daughter of the Shinomiya Family! The Ice Queen admired by countless boys and girls!
Everyone was extremely curious about what it looked like when Kaguya taught and who could possibly become her disciple.
Mitsuzuri Ayako, the Archery Club President, immediately led a group of club members to watch the spectacle.
At that moment, Kaguya was starting to instruct Asa on the bow-holding posture and shooting essentials. In archery, the precision of the form is absolutely paramount. Maintaining stable posture and breathing allows the arrow to fly toward the target bullseye.
"Open your feet."
"Straighten your back, open your chest, and hold your head straight..." Kaguya recalled the essential points from her own beginner days and manually adjusted Asa's movements and posture.
"No, your shoulder is pushed too far, you're too tense... Put your hand on my shoulder blade and feel the movement of the muscle." Kaguya strived for perfection, completely immersing herself in the role of teacher.
For Asa, this was his first time learning archery in both his previous and current life. He was learning seriously. So, when Kaguya's words entered his ear, Asa subconsciously followed the instruction. His right hand immediately pressed against Kaguya's back as she demonstrated the draw.
The Kyūdō uniform was thin. He could clearly feel the curve of the girl's back. At the same time, he also felt the girl's body suddenly tense up. And... a subtle tremor.
Asa suddenly came to his senses. He looked at Kaguya, whose fair, pretty face was rapidly tinged with a faint blush, a beautiful sight like an iceberg melting under the sun. He momentarily forgot to pull his hand back.
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