Chapter 25: A Reincarnated Person Who Defiles the Sacred Match and The Pure Feelings That are Put into It

A Reincarnated Person Who Defiles the Sacred Match and The Pure Feelings That are Put into It

After careful stretching before bed, plenty of sleep, and plenty of physical contact with my little sister, who's been busy studying for exams, I'm ready for the match!

Eh, is this too relaxed for a serious fight? 

Does it look like I'm trying to win? Please stop... Even if I was serious, there's no way I could beat Shota-kun...

I'm a slightly talented 15-year-old loli, while Shota-kun is a hardcore karate fighter who has been training his body since he was a child.

It doesn't really matter, but I'm already 15, so I'm not a loli by definition, sorry.

But I'm as close to a loli as you can get, so please forgive me. I'm sure no one can tell the difference between a 15-year-old and a 14-year-old anyway.

According to Mama, in my family, growth stops at 15, so I'll always be a loli.

Just as doubts began to arise about whether Mama is really a normal person, my happy, easy-going relationship with my little sister came to an end.

If I go too far, it will interfere with her studies. I can't accept that, so I'll step aside when necessary. I'll also help her with her studies.

Ah, you made a mistake in this equation, so look it over carefully. If you don't understand anything, I'll explain, so come and ask.

Thinking that my little sister probably wouldn't notice, I left the place and relaxed in the living room, sipping tea.

I wanted to have an elegant tea time, but unfortunately, it's already night, so caffeine is strictly prohibited. If I was just thinking about how to fall asleep, a quick drink might be an option, but I don't want to turn Mama into a criminal just yet. Or rather, I want her to stay pure for the rest of her life.

...And it was Daddy who defiled such a little Mama? I just can't forgive him!

Oh dear, being a minor is tough, I thought, rattling the cup of barley tea. Half of it was just playing with the sound, and the other half was stirring to make the consistency uniform. Stirring in circles at the bottom of the cup while barely moving the spout is something all science majors do. I don't consider those who don't stir like this to be science majors.

"Onee-chan, after what you said, I still don't understand why it's wrong..."

Such biased thinking aside, after five meaningless minutes of wasting time like this, my little sister inevitably comes over.

Apparently, she couldn't figure out the mistake I pointed out, so she came to ask. Being able to ask someone who understands something you don't understand right away is a shortcut to growth.

Onee-chan will do anything to help her little sister pass her exams! ...As long as it's legal.

"With Akari's scope of study, you'll have to use a slightly roundabout way to solve it, so that's unavoidable. Look at the formulas on pages 78 and 116."

I comfort my dejected little sister and explain the solution.

Furthermore, I haven't looked at her textbooks once since my little sister came into the living room. It's because of things like this that my little sister mistakes me for a superhuman.

Incidentally, the illegal thing I could do to help my little sister's exams is to smuggle test papers. There's a teacher in the middle school who has a bit of a weakness, so I could probably get away with threatening him.

In that case, though, it would tarnish my image more than it would be a crime, so I won't do it.

After spending my days happily like this, two days later was the match with Shota-kun.

It should have been the yesterday, but it got pushed back a little because of my mood. I just wasn't in the mood. It was humid, so that can't be helped.

In reality, I was just enjoying the sight of Tomohiro-kun, who looked anxious when he heard I have a match.

What do I think of a childhood friend who so earnestly worries about me? Of course, It's a delicious snack.

"Mashiro, thank you for coming today. I'll gain confidence by surpassing you."

Shota-kun bows deeply and tells me the reason he challenged me to a match. I already knew the reason, so it's okay. You're so easy to understand.

He probably didn't tell me that from the beginning because his pride wouldn't allow him to say it in front of everyone. He can say it now without any problem because this is the dojo that took care of us, and it's just the three of us here: Sensei, Shota-kun, and me. I'm grateful to Sensei for delaying the opening of the dojo for Shota-kun's sake. Thanks to him, our future embarrassment won't be exposed to anyone other than us.

"I don't think anything will change even if you surpass someone like me, though. Sensei, I'm sorry it's been so long, and it's turned out like this. I'm glad to see you're doing well."

I greet him, thank him, and give him a gift. Nothing special, but some nice sweets.  

Actually, Shota-kun should be the one to prepare it, but I don't have any hope for the wallet of an average high school student. So, I should be the one to prepare it, since I have the means.

Well, I've prepared this much even without him.

Leaving Shota-kun, who looked defeated even before the match started, I went to a changing room a little further back to get changed and put on the trial uniform and white belt.

Oh no, Hikari's been demoted!

Well, my clothes don't fit anymore, so I guess it can't be helped.

Even though I haven't grown up much yet, I can't fit into my elementary school clothes anymore.

Finally, I tied my hair back tightly and made a long ponytail. 

...It's long! It's getting in the way!

But I couldn't bring myself to cut off this hair that I'd received from Mama and had nurtured so much, so I curled it up a little in a bun. I could make it properly if I had a hairpin or something, but I shouldn't be wearing anything sharp when I'm about to throw something.

After getting changed, I look in the mirror in my karate uniform for the first time in a while.

Yeah, I really am cute no matter what I wear.

A beautiful girl is cute even in a tattered tunic, so it makes sense that she'll be cute in a karate uniform too. I'm glad I was born as Mama's daughter.

As I struck a pose and rediscovered how cute I was, I heard a voice from outside the changing room asking if it would take any longer.

Looking at the clock, I saw that it had taken quite a while to get changed, so it made sense that they were urging me to hurry up. I apologized for being late and left the changing room, honestly telling them that I was posing because I looked cute in my karate uniform.

Shota-kun and Sensei had strange looks on their faces, but it was the truth, so there was nothing I could do about it. I live by the virtue of honesty, so I don't tell unnecessary lies. It would taint my soul.

Though it took a little time, I finished the preparations without any problems, and I stood in the middle of the dojo, facing Shota-kun.

My conditions were that no matter the outcome, he wouldn't complain and that I wouldn't accept it again. I also wouldn't listen to any excuses from him, and that he would listen to my excuses. 

Shota-kun's condition, on the other hand, was to go all out to win. In other words, I just had to not try to lose on purpose. That's a huge advantage. Aside from the difference in physique.

As Sensei called out the start, we both got into stances. It's been a while since I've been in this stance! 

Ignoring me, who was a little excited, Shota-kun's expression was very serious. He was as wary as if he were facing a wild bear, and he was full of murderous intent, as if to say, "I'll find an opening and kill instantly!"

It'll be okay, right? He won't kill me, right?

"Hey, Shota-kun. Calm down, stay cool, and look at what's in front of you."

I was a little worried, so I relaxed my stance and walked over to Shota-kun, defenseless.

If he had suddenly landed a punch like that, I'd have thought, "I've got wings!"

It's not the kind of behavior I'd show in a match, but I knew he wouldn't be punching me in this situation. After all, Shota-kun wants to beat me when I'm serious, not when I'm defenseless.

"Shota-kun, what are you so scared of? Scared of me, right in front of you? Scared of such a small, soft, fleeting life?"

Therein lies my chance of victory. If I can bring Shota-kun to his senses and make him lose his vigilance and concentration by asking him, "Do you really know what you're trying to hit me with?", I might still have a chance.

I'd do the same thing even without it, though. Otherwise, I'd seriously lose at least one bone in my body. Scary.

"Look at me. Look at how small and weak I am. Touch my hand. Touch my soft, muscleless hand. Feel my arms that seem like they'd break if you gripped them too tightly, and my body that seems like it would break if you hugged me."

I grabbed Shota-kun's hand and let him touch mine.

What a treat to be able to touch a beautiful girl. Was that really the reason he'd challenged me to a fight? I wondered.

Shota-kun's guard dropped. As he touched my small, soft hand, he realized he was about to fight something like this, and the murderous intent that had been so painful until just now vanished.

I was saved. I'm glad.

"...I'm sorry, I was wrong. I was so caught up in the past that I couldn't see reality."

Sensei looked at us with eyes that seemed to see nothing.  

Well, anyone would make that expression if they were told it was a match and then suddenly started getting all lovey-dovey.

What on earth are we doing?

I smiled as I listened to Shota-kun's confusing apology. I'm glad he understood.

What's most important to me is that Shota-kun recognizes that I'm weak, that I'm not someone to fight. That's the only way I can avoid losing. I hate losing.

"I'm glad you understand. So thank you for the opening!"

I grabbed Shota-kun's hand, which I was holding tightly, shifted my weight, and threw him over my shoulder.

Considering the difference in our physiques and weight, this was the only way I could beat him. I took away his will to fight, and when he was completely off guard, I launched a surprise attack.

Dirty, as expected of a reincarnated person.

After being thrown, Shota-kun looked up at me with a blank expression as his back hit the tatami mat hard.

Incidentally, Sensei stares at me with eyes that seem to be unable to comprehend something.

Don't slack off on your job as referee, hurry up and declare victory. Right away would be appreciated.

"...Mashi..... ro? ... Why...?"

Is this "why" a question about why you were thrown, or why I used a throwing technique? Either way is fine. What's important is that I used dirty tricks, a surprise attack, and managed to secure victory.

Hehe, I interrupted the ritual of separation from your parents. Little boy, go home and drink your mother's milk. ...By the way, I'm the parent in this scenario, so won't that mean I'll be the mother who he goes home to and drinks milk from? Oh no! Hikari-chan hasn't even had milk yet!

"...I'm sorry, but if I really wanted to beat Shota-kun, this is the only thing I could do. I have to let you down your guard and attack you by surprise, otherwise I can't beat Shota-kun. Is that enough?"

Furthermore, if that was the case, I should have just lost? This nasty reincarnated person has no qualms about shifting the issue.

I glance at Sensei and he still looks dissatisfied. I wonder if he doesn't like the fact that I, a young karate girl, used shoulder throw in a match between fellow karate practitioners? But I'm sorry, Sensei. I can't beat Shota-kun with your techniques.

And so, what was supposed to be a fair and honest match ended with me feeling very satisfied and the others feeling a bit uneasy.

Shota-kun has come back to me, so I'm not going to let him go away so easily.