After entering the first grade of elementary school, Minamoto Senya's personal attributes had improved significantly compared to before.
[Name: Minamoto Senya][Strength: 3.8][Agility: 3.5][Constitution: 4.2](Average six-year-old: 2.3)[Charm: 4.9][Skills: Chinese LV5, Japanese LV5, English LV3, Cooking LV2, Drawing LV1, Piano LV1, Aikidō LV1…]
Some of these attribute boosts were simply the result of natural growth.Others came from his daily training, as well as little rewards earned after solving various small incidents.
For example: stopping a passerby from kicking a vending machine, returning a lost wallet to the police station, or helping a lost little girl from out of town find her way.
As for skill improvements, though—most of the credit belonged to little Yukino, his personal study goddess!
Now that they had both started elementary school, Senya naturally took every opportunity to stay close to her.And since Yukinoshita went to a cram school after classes, Senya could even walk part of the way with her.
Altogether, their time together had increased compared to their kindergarten days.
That afternoon, after school, Senya and Yukinoshita left together as usual.
At the shoe lockers, Senya was changing his shoes when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yukinoshita step back abruptly the moment she opened her locker.
Sensing something was wrong, he went over immediately.
Inside Yukinoshita's shoe locker, perched right on top of her little leather shoes, were several caterpillars.
Colorful, wriggling, and crawling—enough to disgust anyone, let alone a little girl. Even Senya felt a shiver run up his spine just looking at them.
He sighed helplessly. Some people really have nothing better to do.
Turning back toward Yukinoshita, his gaze was half-smile, half-reproachful—so this is what you meant by "I can handle it myself"?
Yukinoshita pressed her lips together, stubbornly silent. She was about to look for something to pick the caterpillars out with.
Senya stopped her. Pulling out a tissue, he wrapped the caterpillars up and plucked them out himself."I left my math book in the classroom," he said casually. "Could you go grab it for me?"
Yukinoshita narrowed her eyes. "Why don't you get it yourself?"
Senya clutched his stomach and turned away. "Suddenly got a stomachache. Gotta hit the bathroom. Just wait for me here."
Not waiting for her reply, he walked off.
Around the corner, three boys who had been peeking out froze as their eyes met his. The smug grins on their faces stiffened instantly.
Their instincts screamed bad news. They turned and bolted toward their classroom.
Senya's expression hardened. Quickening his pace, he followed them straight into Class 1-1.
The moment he entered, he slammed the door shut behind him—BANG!
A few kids who were still lingering after school jumped at the noise.
A petite twin-tailed girl clutched her bag tightly, her face pale. She had been about to leave, but after seeing the terrifying look on the unfamiliar boy's face, she quickly sat back down. She didn't dare move.
Senya, however, didn't even glance at her. His focus was locked on the guilty trio.
Without hesitation, he strode up and kicked one of them to the ground.
The other two reacted: one tried to fight back, the other to flee. Neither succeeded. Within seconds, both were down on the floor.
Crouching, Senya grabbed one by the collar and asked coolly, "Who's the ringleader?"
The trembling boy didn't hesitate to sell out his friend. "I-It's… it's Ishida…"
Senya released him and walked over to the spiky-haired boy who had been named.
They were only first graders. After witnessing Senya's "combat power" just now, the boy looked at him as if he were a ghost. His nose quivered, his face contorted, and he burst into tears, too terrified to even think of resisting.
"Crying won't help you," Senya said coldly. "The girl you bullied—her feelings were just like yours are now."
"S-sorry…"
Ignoring the apology, Senya yanked open the boy's collar and stuffed the tissue full of caterpillar corpses inside.
"The next time something like this shows up near Yukinoshita, I won't be putting it here."
He patted the boy's cheek and stood up.
"Sorry for disturbing everyone."
Turning to the rest of the class, Senya gave a polite, apologetic smile.
When he left, the door closed gently behind him—so different from the way he had slammed it open.
The twin-tailed girl stared blankly at his retreating back. Then her gaze shifted to the three boys who usually strutted around like little tyrants, but now cowered like beaten dogs.
Her large, ocean-blue eyes blinked thoughtfully.
Out in the hallway, Senya looked at his palm in distaste.
Under the light, his skin glistened.That kid had oily skin, and combined with tears… ugh. Filthy.
And he'd used up the last of his tissues, too.
Better start carrying two packs from tomorrow…
As he thought this, he stopped suddenly.
Yukinoshita Yukino stood in front of him, holding out a handkerchief.
Senya hesitated, staring at it, until Yukinoshita's gaze sharpened and she said firmly, "I haven't used it today."
"I wasn't worried about that," Senya replied with obvious relief. "I just didn't want to dirty your handkerchief…"
He took it anyway and carefully wiped his right hand."I'll wash it and return it to you later."
"Mm."
They walked side by side.
As they changed shoes and stepped out the school gates, Yukinoshita finally spoke."Don't do that again."
She paused, then added quietly, "…It's dangerous."
Senya expected her to scold him, but instead, he just nodded obediently. "Okay, I understand."
But then he added seriously:"Only if you promise me this—if something like that happens again, you'll tell me."
Anyone who disrupted his personal study goddess was his enemy!He wanted to grow stronger, no matter what!
Yukinoshita pressed her lips together for a long time before answering. "I can't always rely on you to solve everything for me."
Senya thought about it and admitted she had a point. "Then if you run into trouble you can't handle, come to me."
His voice softened, almost like an adult's lecture."You're a student. Your focus should be on studying. Don't let these things get in the way."
"…." Yukinoshita was speechless. His tone was so much like her parents scolding her that she didn't know what to say.The strange thing was—he was just a kid himself. It felt absurdly out of place.
She shot him a sideways glance. "Don't worry about me. Worry about yourself. You should be more careful."
Senya blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I saw you," Yukinoshita said flatly. "During P.E. class, when I was on the playground, you were sleeping at your desk instead of paying attention."
Senya raised a brow. "What were you doing looking at me instead of focusing on class?"
"That was an accident!" she shot back, flustered. "That's not the point… My point is, you're the one who needs to study harder."
Senya chuckled. "Yukino, you still haven't realized the reason I can nap so peacefully in class, have you?"
"…What are you talking about?"
"How about this," Senya grinned. "Let's make a bet. This term's final exams—total scores across all subjects except P.E. Whoever loses has to grant the winner one request within reason."
Boredom had been creeping in, and Senya figured he might as well make things interesting.
Serious, studious Yukinoshita was the perfect person to liven things up.Not only would this show her there's always someone stronger, it might even motivate her to study harder.Perfect plan. Truly flawless.
Yukinoshita regarded him with steady confidence. "Are you serious?"
She believed her only weakness was P.E. As for academics, she didn't think there was anyone her age who could surpass her.
"Of course."
"I won't hold back."
"No need. Give it your all."
"…Very well."
"Then it's settled."
"Mm."
Yukinoshita extended her fist. Senya bumped it lightly with his own.
In her mind, victory was already certain. She was already deciding what favor she'd ask of him when she won.
For the first time, she almost looked forward to final exams.