It seems I've been enrolled in this thing called elementary school. Apparently, I'm required to receive what they call compulsory education.
From what I hear? Children around the same age gather together? And study all sorts of things? From morning until snack time? ...… Seriously? I'd rather use that time to train my body. I have no desire for this collective living nonsense.
Let me be clear — this me! Never attended kindergarten!!
No, truly, I did not. I could already read, write, and possessed common sense, thanks to my memories from a previous life. There were many moments when I was bewildered by the changes in eras, but Father and Mother patiently taught me everything I didn't understand. That's why I didn't go.
Well… to be completely honest, I did attend on the very first day. I went, but… mingling and living among other small children like that… it was quite painful. I like children, but acting like one myself was… impossible. So I grew tired of it and slipped away. Then I got lost and caused a huge commotion. I tried to head home, but somehow ended up charging off in the complete opposite direction from our house.
Ever since then, both my parents and Himiko keep lecturing me not to wander off alone because I have no sense of direction. For the sake of my dignity, let me state this clearly: I was not lost. Don't you know that all roads are connected?
In my previous life, you know! I left the house thinking I'd head north, and ended up reaching the southernmost tip of Japan before finally arriving at the northernmost point!! See? I wasn't lost!!
I! Absolutely! Am not directionally challenged!!
...…N-Not at all!!
Ahem. Back to the topic. I don't want to go to elementary school. Can't I just study at home? If I don't understand something, I can ask my parents. Himiko can teach me the things she knows too. See? There's no need for me to attend school, right? Right?
So please, Himiko. If Madoka-chan isn't going, then I'm not going either — stop throwing tantrums like that. I'm begging you… Just go to school properly, okay? That's common sense in this era.
Me? I told you, I'm fine. I may say this myself, but I'm quite intelligent. My brain is built differently. Hey, what's with that look? If you have something to say, then say it honestly, you bloodthirsty little girl!
Useless? Me? Oh? Himiko. Are you picking a fight with me? I'll take you on. Don't think you can win against me with raw strength.
I'll carve it deep into both your body and soul exactly who you picked a fight with! And even if you cry afterward, I won't forgive you!!
After that? Ah, the fight ended with my loss. Wasn't it unfair to get my parents on your side? I really don't want to go against Father and Mother, you know??
And so… I ended up attending elementary school. Uuuugh… I don't want to…
◆
Now then, let's look back a little.
First, first grade. On the very first day, I utterly crushed the boys in my class with dodgeball. They picked a fight with me, so that's what happened. At the sports festival, I participated in every event and took first place in all of them. When Himiko and my parents cheered for me, I felt this strange surge of motivation.
The bento was truly delicious. Though there was one rather misshapen, slightly burnt hamburger. Mother… did you perhaps fail at making it?
…No, I have no complaints about the taste. It was just a little salty, but it was delicious. I'd gladly eat it again.
Hey, Father. What's with that face? Himiko, why are you turning red? Is it heatstroke? Can't be helped. Here, drink this overly sweet, murky juice. Sorry it'll be an indirect kiss.
But health comes first, right? It's hot today. You don't have Reverse Cursed Technique, so you need to be careful.
Next, second grade. When the boys in class challenged me to a race, I left them all in the dust. I won every single time. Did they really think they could beat me in a fight? Those who never learn…
Come to think of it, the hamburgers at the sports festival that year weren't burnt. They weren't overly salty either. So last year's really was Mother's failure. I forgive her.
And Himiko. Why do you look so dissatisfied? Here, I'll share Mother's hamburger with you. It's delicious.
Next, third grade. By this time, the boys in class had stopped picking fights with me. Instead, the girls started swarming around me. Having to play "Girls Talk" until school ended every day was not a pleasant memory.
It couldn't be helped. When they asked what kind of boy I liked, I could only answer "someone stronger than me." When I said that, the girls all cried out, "Not that kind of answer!" I could have told them my preference in women, but when I laughed and said so, every single one of them turned bright red. It was so comical I nearly burst out laughing.
When I told Himiko about it, she gave me a smile that sent chills down my spine. Have you increased the variety of your smiles?
Good, good… Or is it?
Then came fourth grade. This year had one unforgettable event. Himiko cried her eyes out and ended up refusing to go to school for about a month. It seems something happened with her classmates.
So I went ahead and beat up Himiko's classmates. Later I got a fist from Father, a scolding from Mother, and had to apologize to the kids I'd sent flying… Well, it couldn't be helped. Violence is wrong. I should have resolved it with words… or so I think now? Truly. Next time I'll just curse them. Maybe I should have done that from the start?
Still, cursing children does feel a bit wrong.
And then fifth grade. This year was peaceful. Truly peaceful. What is there to say…? Ah, it was mostly a year of trampling the boys in class with basketball. The girls' cheers were so loud it was unbearable. When I told Himiko about it, she gave me that cold smile again. I swear I saw Sukuna standing behind her. I thought my body was going to be split vertically in half and I'd die.
Also, Himiko graduated from elementary school first. Since it was a special occasion, I braided her hair for her. She was overjoyed, but… I must admit my braiding skills were quite poor. I'd meant to make dumplings, but I failed. Instead, it ended up looking like a spider lily… or rather, a dumpling with toothpicks stuck in it…
It looked so bad that I asked to redo it, but she violently rejected the idea.
Finally, sixth grade. I'll never forget what happened on August 7th at midnight. The moment Himiko turned thirteen, she stormed into my room. In the middle of the night, no less. After various events, Himiko officially became my fiancée. Talking about what happened that night is too embarrassing for me to recount. Ask Himiko instead.
After that, Himiko began training to become a proper wife. This hamburger? Himiko made it. It's delicious. Just so you know, I'm not giving you any.
"That concludes the story of my elementary school days. See? There's no reason to call me an evil spirit or a rakshasa, is there?"
And now. I have become a middle school student. I've made a new friend. A bird-headed fellow. I ended up having to tell this guy about my elementary school days. I just finished recounting it — within acceptable limits, of course.
Still… this guy definitely possesses a technique… I saw him using the Ten Shadows Technique. One day, I'll have a proper cursed-energy showdown with him. My blood is already boiling…!
"…"
"Hey, what's wrong, Tokoyami? Don't look at me with those pitying eyes."
"You're a demonic ogre, a rakshasa, a shura fiend… The rumors were true after all…"
"You're still saying that?! I explained everything, didn't I?!"
I'll explain it all over again!! I am absolutely not an evil spirit, a rakshasa, or a shura!!
...Ah, Himiko. Don't enter the classroom with that icy smile on your face. You're scaring our classmates. You always do this the moment I'm talking to a boy.
Hey, wait. We're still in the middle of lunch. So stop trying to drag me away.
Wait. Don't drag me to the bathroom.
Hey, stop! I said stop!!
Well, it was on the daily ranking, so here's the continuation. Thank you for all the ratings, the "feedback" that was really just demands for more, the corrections, and everything else.
But you see…? There is no continuation. Yes. Really. This time for sure.