Thankfully, it seems after so much practice, Rose got better at coming back to consciousness far faster, so she didn't stay out for longer.
"M-Mmm! This timing! Why…?!" Rose whined to herself aloud, her hands clenching the robe tightly as she looked away, folding it around her stomach and holding it there.
That still didn't stop her chest from spilling out of the top half, though.
It also didn't do much to cover her lower half, either, as she wasn't wearing any pants…
But yeah, unfortunately, all that practice did practically nothing for when she actually woke up and had to deal with that.
Still, Rose is always so cute while flustered, I couldn't help but chuckle.
That made her finally look toward me, an indignant look crossing her face.
"Y-You! Don't you know it's rude to just…appear i-in a girl's room uninvited!?" She points out, more so out of embarrassment rather than legitimate anger.
I simply shrug and nonchalantly respond, "Guys do that to their girls all the time. Full experience, remember?" I reference, promptly causing her to flinch, and her blush to burn brighter.
Cute~!
But well, I'm not a dick. Too people I like anyway.
"But," I continue, smiling softly as I bend down, getting closer to her face, "if now is a bad time, say the word, and what I want can wait a few, alright?"
Steadily, Rose lifts her gaze back up to mine and sniffles.
"It…It's fine, alright? I was just trying…" She trails off, looking down at the robe, more than a little dejected, before sighing and letting her grip loosen, "Well, not like it was going to work out, regardless. So, what did you need, Nori?"
"Aww," I hummed, reaching over and cupping her cheek in my palm, "first things first, I wouldn't say it wouldn't work out, you'd make an excellent miko! And if you want to cover up completely, like I said, Suza-chan probably has something that can accommodate your chest."
Rose blinked at that, seemingly confused by something, "If I want? But my research said Mikos are supposed to symbolize purity! Being so openly perverted, that doesn't make any sense, does it?"
I send the silver-haired girl a blank stare and reply with a simple, "You'd think."
Rose stared, I could almost see the question marks flying off and around her head as time went on.
With a sigh, I sat next to her, "I'll keep it simple. The first kagura dance, the type of ceremonial dancing that miko usually do?" I look at her to make sure she's following along, she nods easily, "Yeah. The first one was performed by the goddess failure I keep around here, Uzume."
"Goddess, huh?" Rossweisse muttered, and only then did I realize those two haven't interacted much, most likely.
In any event, I don't stick around to fill in her utterance, instead elaborating on it by adding a single word, "Naked."
Rose stopped and stared. Mouth agape.
"...Huh?"
I nod, "Yup. Naked. The first dance was done naked, and it wasn't even the dance that did what she was trying to do; it was her tits."
"...Huhhh?"
Truly, my mother had particular tastes. Uzume does have a great chest.
"So yeah," I continue, ignoring how Rossweisse sounds even more perplexed than before, "don't worry so much about it. Normally, in public, they usually go full cover, but outside of that…"
I trail off, as my memory drifts way back, right before I met Suzaku. Several of the groups of priests I saw happened to have miko, and I recall fairly vividly how a good chunk didn't dress modestly.
At all.
If I were in a hentai world, I'd be concerned, truth be told.
For a good, long moment, Rose purely stared at me, the gears in her head turning as though there was a wrench thrown in them.
"O-Okay, then?" She eventually just accepted, looking down at her exposed chest with a small frown.
It's easier that way, I imagine.
I clap my hands together, "Anyway!" I begin, moving on, "What I originally came here for!"
Rose perked up at that, "Right, I nearly forgot, um…what is it that you came here for?" She tilted her head in thought, and I couldn't help but reach out and boop her nose.
She sputtered back at that, but I didn't give her a chance to say anything about it as I pressed on, "I recently decided to take up the position of club advisor to a not completely official, or likely legal, club at the school. It's a sword club, so I know I can advise and teach that just fine, but uh," I chuckle a bit, rubbing the back of my head, "planning stuff? Not the greatest. Scheduling? Haha!"
I huffed, leaning back slightly as I turned to look at her, "So yeah, I was hoping you could-"
Ah. She's not there anymore.
At least, she's not where she was just sitting.
Which was right next to me.
The hell?
My head swivels back and forth as I look around, eyes darting across the room looking for her, which they swiftly manage.
Well, specifically, my eyes find Rose's behind, likely unintentionally perfectly being presented to me as she bends over, speedily rummaging through a work desk that sits right on the other side of her room.
So, yes. She is very much not wearing pants.
Thankfully, or maybe not depending on how you look at it, she's wearing underwear.
Bright pink underwear that fits taut around her perfectly curved cheeks.
…I want to walk up and smack it.
Like. Really badly slap it, call her a naughty little secretary, and all that.
Good thing I have self-control!
Unfortunately.
"Aha!" Rose exclaims in triumph, as I privately pray to myself, thanking me for the great timing, as Rose promptly rises from her desk, hauling up a whole stack of papers and folders in her arms large enough to rise a good bit over her head.
"These…" Rose gives a strained huff as she walks back over, and puts everything down right next to me.
The whole bed, with me on it, shakes from the impact.
"Are my lesson plans for Schwertleite! I know valkyrie training and magic are a little different from swordsmanship," she continues with a bright smile, "but this is a good place to start, no?"
I couldn't say why, but looking at the pile made me shiver.
And I wasn't even the student here!
I swallow, slowly, as I point at the monstrosity of paperwork, "She has to go through…all of that?" I ask, slightly horrified.
Rose tilts her head, my tone flying over her head, "Why, yes?" She answers honestly, "Specifically, these plans detail a whole week's worth of study guides, lessons, practical activities, and more!"
Just a week!?
I damn near felt faint hearing that.
My mind recalls, briefly, just how tired Schwert was whenever I saw her lately, like when she dragged Avi and Zekka here a couple of days ago.
Oh, Voyalkyrie, I'm so sorry.
I take a deep breath, my hands coming up to clasp right in front of my chin as I consider how to go about telling Rose what needs to be said.
I then blink, as I immediately realize this needs to be cleared up posthaste. Yesterday.
Straightforward it is!
My hands fall, motioning at her as I breathe out, "Yeah, that's too much."
"Wha, what?" Rose furrowed her brow at that, "What do you mean?"
Okay. Now, how do I describe the nature of the Japanese School System without making Rose feel immense guilt?
Fuck, there probably isn't a way, is there?
Well, I can at least try.
"Alright, so, listen closely, alright? It's not you're fault you didn't know, but…"
Rose leans in as I begin to explain the notorious Japanese school system.
I didn't exactly want to go on about everything, and it's not like all of it was relevant, so I only explained those parts that pertained to Schwert's situation here.
Specifically? That, for the most part, the entire system is a pressure cooker that forces students to spend their time stressing and working to achieve academic excellence.
"Wait," she begins once my explanation is complete, "so what you're trying to say is it's too much?"
Huh. Well, okay, she doesn't sound at all bothered by any of that.
I guess it never occurred to me that such a high workload wouldn't exactly bother her.
It also completely slipped my mind that this girl graduated early from, I think, both high school and college. Whatever the Asgardian equivalent of those is, anyway.
I don't know the normal age one graduates from something like college there, but still, even assuming a normal age, and considering that I recall Rose being Odin's bodyguard the longest out of anyone before her?
The work she'd have had to put in would have been astronomical, wouldn't it?
I let out a long-winded sigh, and slumped slightly, "Yes, Rose. Not everyone is an academic juggernaut like you, ya know?"
"I suppose so?" Rose puts a hand to her mouth and flushes with a small shame-filled frown, "Is this truly too much with her studies at Kuoh added on top of it? I tried to tailor it for her, not to be overbearing, but still pose a challenge. I thought, since she hasn't said anything, it was all going fine…"
Ah, now that I can explain far easier, "I don't think she'd want to tell you if it's too much," I shrug, giving her a small, reassuring smile, "not because you did something wrong, but because she'd be afraid of letting you down."
Rose's eyes widen, as if it all clicks into place for her, "Oh! A-Ah, I see what you mean. If that's true, then I'm-"
"If the next words that come out of your mouth are 'a failure of a teacher' I'm bending you over your desk and spanking that nice, perky ass of yours." I interrupt her, casually.
"H-Huh!? Spanking!? Wait, p-p-perky!?" Rose sputters over her own words, backing away from me at the same time as though to protect her hiney.
"Yes. Perky." I confirm easily enough, "Now, like I said, you aren't a failure of a teacher. Teachers don't know everything, and at the same time, your student isn't exactly being forthcoming with what's going on."
I stop a second, humming in thought, before adding with a shrug, "If I'm even right about any of this at all, that is."
"Wait, if you're right?" Rose parrots back.
I nod before explaining, "Yup. I noticed she was tired, or at least seemed to be, ever since she got here. It's been a little while since she started, so maybe she's still adjusting, or it could be something completely different."
"So, then, the only way to know for sure would be to ask?" Rose asks, thinking.
"Mhmm!" I confirm with a hum.
"...W-What if she lies, even after I ask, because she's afraid of disappointing me still?" Rose slowly asks, far more nervous.
"Then you assure her you won't be disappointed in her." I respond, "And if even after that, she still refuses, and you can see she's pushing herself far too hard, I'll sort it out, alright?"
She smiles, warily, "I'm…not sure that's a good idea?"
My smile grows wider, "Could let Kuroka do it~!"
"Nonono!" Rose quickly rejects that idea, "You can do it! I trust you!"
I dunno, Rose, that sounded a little forced to me!
Besides, there's no need to worry, I wouldn't do anything that bad.
Probably.
"Well then, in that case!" I dust my hands off that subject, literally, "I trust you to show me how to do this whole teaching thing right, okay?"
"Oh…" Rose looks between me and the stack of paper, before nodding, with a resolute smile, "Right!"
I mirror her smile, to the best of my ability.
If one wishes to teach like hell, one must go through hell first, experience it, to bring a piece of it back.
Fortunately, my hell was barely clothed, which helped somewhat.
Heh!
~ A New Sun ~
"HAH!"
I sat off to the side of the dojo on a mat, casually. One leg up, and an arm thrown over that knee.
In my hand, I idly held a Serafall magical girl sports drink, as my eyes were busy watching something else.
"HAH!"
1,498.
Avi was standing in the center, simply swinging her sword. A perfect downward cut that would bisect anyone down the center if it struck. The most basic of basics.
"HAH!"
1,499.
But for some, like Avi? Well, that's all she needs.
It's been about another week or so since I 'officially' became the advisor of this club.
Nothing has happened yet.
In the meantime, though, that doesn't mean I haven't taken my new job seriously.
When I first started, I considered teaching the girls breathing techniques. I'm not sure what Zekka would be best with, but Avi is such a shoehorn for Flame Breathing, it almost hurts watching her not practice the forms.
However, after a bit of consideration, I decided against it for now.
I want them to cultivate their brand of swordsmanship first. The breathing techniques and styles can be added on later, if they want.
Thus, now.
"HAH!..Hehe~! Whew! Sensei! That's a thousand five-hundred, isn't it!?" Avi called out as soon as her final swing reached low.
My response was to simply give her a thumbs up and toss the drink at her.
She caught it with a whopping, "Oh yeah!" Before practically tearing the thing open and excitedly beginning to chug in.
With her teeth.
Yeah, she bit the side of the can and started sucking the drink out like a vampire.
I couldn't help but chuckle at least a little bit, but then again, since we started doing these activities, this was her first goal.
Well, not her original first goal. That was like four times larger, but it was impossible because the time for club activities is only so long.
I think she'll manage to reach even that in time.
Usually, I'd have Zekka on a different activity right now, but strangely enough, she didn't show up for club activities today.
I sensed her on the school grounds. I know she's fine, must have been busy with something else today?
Not sure what that could have been, though.
"Hmm?" I hum, tilting my head toward the door.
And as if on cue, it opens.
I was so focused on making sure Avi did her swings right that I wasn't looking outward nearly as much.
So, when Zekka walks through the door, looking oddly nervous and twitchy, I'm not surprised.
But when a completely new blonde-haired girl follows after her, that's when I'm shocked.
It took merely a moment, my eyes locking onto the new girl's hair ribbons, for me to figure out that this blonde isn't all that new.
That evening out at the market, she walked right past us. The girl that my sword reacted to.
How interesting.
Seeing her now, though?
Well, she looks hilariously chuuni.
Her blonde hair is tied up in twin tails with those blue ribbons like before, but she's also wearing an eyepatch that covers up her left eye, her sole right blue eye surveying the dojo as they enter.
In addition, while she's wearing the standard Kuoh Academy Junior uniform, chest ribbon and all, the sleeves of her uniform are modified to be puffed out, kind of like European nobility, and she wears a strap and belt across her torso that holds a flowing blue and white cape out behind her.
Off the rip? I'm not at all sure what to make of her.
And beyond that, she isn't giving me much to sense beyond the fact that she feels around Zekka's level. But that's about it.
Weird. I don't sense anything dragon-related myself.
Also, another weird thing? Why the hell is her chest almost as big as Zekka's?!
Zekka stops near the door, but the blonde here continues a few paces beyond her, really looking all around.
Avi, by this point, had completely stopped roaring and chugging, and was just sort of standing there in the middle of the dojo like a statue, the can in her mouth, body bent backward to chug it.
The new girl didn't even get a chance to say anything, as Avi promptly spat the can out of her mouth and whirled to face the blonde entirely.
"A new member!?" She exclaimed in shock and awe, to which my eyes widened.
A little presumptuous, don't you think, shrimp?
That's when Zekka piped up, as much as she could, looking between Avi and the blonde, "I, guess so?"
Oh. Never mind then.
Avi moved.
Zekka must have felt some sort of danger, because she looked like she was about to leap away and out the window, but Avi was far faster in this moment, and snatched up her junior's hands with her own.
"Amazing! That's amazing, Zekka-chan!" Avi started shaking Zekka's hands up and down vigorously, and seeing Zekka smile and chuckle to herself rather than her freak out was a nice little treat.
Then the new girl spoke.
"So, you are the leader of this club?"
Formal. That's the best way I could describe the blonde's voice. Like that of a young noble girl, not snobby, not proud, but noble and formal.
Avi promptly let Zekka go, and turned to her addresser, "Indeed, new member! I am Avi Amon!"
The blonde nodded back, before clasping her fist in front of her chest, and bowing, "My name is Lilebette D. Lunarie, and for certain reasons, I wish to join this club!"
Huh. I'm hearing a little bit of a French accent in her Japanese. Though her Japanese is pretty alright. Still, that name doesn't ring any bells for me at all.
Avi looked impressed, however, "What an enthusiastic greeting! Well, regardless of your reasons, we at Cult Sword welcome you warmly! Delighted to have you!"
Lilebette nodded, giving Avi a small smile, "I thank you for the magnanimous approach. Now that I have joined, I shall endeavor to fulfill my obligations."
Almost in perfect sync, the pinky and the blonde shook hands firmly.
It kind of reminded me of that one meme I saw in my first life, with the two muscle dudes grasping each other's hands? It at least had that energy.
That thought almost made me chuckle.
Lilebette tilted her head, looking past Avi and at me, her lone eyebrow raising.
"If I may, are you the club advisor, sir?" She asked, curious.
I gave the girl a casual wave, as Avi perked up, and answered for me, "Oh! Yup! He's Noriaki Kusanagi-sensei! Hehehe!"
For the briefest of moments, the girl's face twisted.
Then she all of a sudden looked…relieved? Huh?
I don't get much of a chance to ponder that, as Avi lets go of Lilebette's hand and goes on to ask, "Oh, right, you just transferred to Zekka'chan's class, didn't you? Did you join because you're a friend of her's from out of town?"
Zekka winced at that, likely because she has no friends in general.
Lilebette though? She sneered.
"She is not my friend." She then denied blandly, before adding, "To begin with, I have no friends."
Well, that's a self-report if I've ever seen one.
Shockingly, the girl wasn't done, as she finished by saying, "However, Zekka and I share a special bond that can't be shared with others."
Ohoho~? A special bond?
Zekka immediately shriveled into herself, while Avi leaned forward, her eyes narrowing at Zekka as she began rubbing her chin, "Hmm, a special bond you say, could it be…?"
For once, Zekka did immediately deny it, "T-That's not it, prez Avi! She's not referring to, that sort of thing!"
"We had passionate sex just a few moments ago."
I immediately fell over, my guts heaving as a full-on belly laugh poured out of my mouth.
"Zekka-chan!?" Avi cried out, scandalized, over my laugh.
"T-That's not it!" Zekka cried out in denial, even more over my laugh.
I take back what I said about the new girl's Japanese being alright.
It's fucking perfect.
Haha!