Kotomi Izumi took out a treasure chest she had bought at a comic convention. It looked just like the kind of chest a hero might discover in Dragon Quest while exploring the Demon Lord's castle, stumbling upon a chest that contained a sacred relic. With that relic, the hero would cut down countless foes, defeat the Demon Lord, and marry the princess.
Though really, why would the Demon Lord toss the one weapon capable of killing him into some random chest in his own castle?
Anyway—it was a cool chest.
The platinum-colored chest was carved with a golden sacred lion and a sky dragon. The deep blue gem at its center wasn't real, but it looked high-quality. Kotomi didn't even know which game it was from, but at first sight she thought it looked awesome. And since it wasn't expensive, she bought it with her allowance.
For a while it sat at home as a decoration. Later, because Kotomi bought too many Taimanin figures, she had to clear space, and the chest was shoved under her bed.
It stayed there for a long time, so when she pulled it out just now, it was covered in dust.
She carried it to the bathroom and washed it thoroughly inside and out. After leaving it to air-dry for over an hour, Kotomi brought her nose close and sniffed carefully, confirming it had no smell…
Then she washed her hands again, dried them, and reverently lifted the black pantyhose Kazumi had worn, placing them solemnly inside the chest.
Because this was a god's relic!
For the chest to guard such a treasure was surely an honor.
After closing the lid, Kotomi pressed her palms together and silently bowed before it for a long while, not speaking, looking as though she were praying to the 'relic' within.
It was getting late. Kotomi went to the downstairs bathroom, showered, put on her nightdress, played on her phone a bit, then went to bed early.
"Suddenly not being able to sleep holding Kazumi… it feels a little strange," Kotomi murmured softly. Since Kazumi would be sleeping for a while, Kotomi couldn't enjoy golden sleep. Though her own sleep quality was good to begin with—
Once you've tasted it, you can't go back. Having experienced golden sleep so many times, of course Kotomi preferred it. Who wouldn't? Falling into complete deep sleep, waking refreshed—it was wonderful.
She wondered—while Kazumi was asleep, was she in golden sleep too?
If so…
Enjoying golden sleep for so long—wasn't that way too lucky for Kazumi?
Her mind drifted with idle thoughts, but it all came back to one thing: she missed Kazumi. Thinking of her, Kotomi eventually drifted into slumber.
Tuesday.
Kotomi woke up early. Opening the balcony's sliding glass door, she stepped outside and saw Megumi Kato already waiting under the streetlamp in front of her house.
As always, Megumi was waiting there.
"Kotomi, good morning!" Megumi called up, waving after hearing the balcony door open.
"Morning, Megumi!" Kotomi waved back vigorously, almost leaping from the second-floor balcony to greet her with a morning hug.
She thought she had overslept, but glancing at the time, she realized Megumi had simply come early.
In fact, it seemed Megumi came early every morning to wait outside the Izumi house.
Kotomi went downstairs and mentioned it to her mother, who naturally invited Megumi in for breakfast.
"You go eat first, I still need to change clothes."
Kotomi opened the door and let Megumi in. Once she entered, Kotomi stood on tiptoe and playfully nibbled her ear:
"Didn't I tell you not to come out so early in this cold weather?"
The weather was getting colder, and Kotomi had already told Megumi Kato several times not to come so early to wait outside her house. She couldn't even remember how many times she'd said it, but judging by Megumi's attitude, it clearly hadn't sunk in at all.
Kotomi felt a little helpless. Should she just let Megumi live with her?
Of course, at least while they were still in high school, this was only a fleeting thought. She would never actually say it aloud. If she did, before Kotomi even realized it, Megumi would already have packed up several suitcases to move in.
If they really wanted to live together, neither of their parents would agree. At the very least, they'd have to wait until university—preferably one far enough from home…
But come to think of it, would she and Megumi even be able to get into the same university?
"Because I missed you too much," Megumi said, savoring Kotomi's nibbling on her ear. She loved watching Kotomi look shy and annoyed while doing it. To Megumi, this wasn't scolding at all—it was Kotomi being affectionate!
"Hmph."
Kotomi let out a soft huff. She had originally planned to take Megumi into the kitchen first, but feeling the heat of Megumi's gaze—and realizing exactly where that gaze had landed—her fair, delicate cheeks instantly flushed red. She was still wearing her thin nightdress! She shot Megumi a playful glare.
"Honestly, you're in my house and still daring to look at me like that? Hmph, I'm ignoring you. I'm going upstairs to change!"
With that, Kotomi left Megumi standing alone in the entryway and stomped upstairs to her bedroom in a huff.
Once inside, Kotomi changed out of her nightdress and into her school uniform. Today, for once, she didn't wear stockings or pantyhose. Instead, she put on a pair of pink-and-white cotton ankle socks, trimmed with a frilly lace edge. On her small feet, they looked fresh and cute.
Her bare thighs stood out more than usual without the cover of tights. The line from the hem of her skirt down to the lace-trimmed socks was smooth and captivating, showing the natural shape of her legs.
Kotomi was slowly getting used to showing off her thighs, even starting to enjoy it. Even with winter approaching, whenever she saw other high school girls on the street seemingly unfazed by the cold wind, still wearing short socks, she wondered if she should try dressing that way sometimes too.
Didn't adults often say when she was younger—children should get used to being out in the wind?
Kotomi didn't yet know that, besides stockings and pantyhose, there was also something called "skin-colored tights."
"I should dress like this sometimes, otherwise people will say I'm spoiled and can't even handle a little cold wind." Kotomi stood before the full-length mirror, examining her outfit for the day. Seeing her own legs reflected back, she unconsciously swallowed.
"I'm so pretty~" she said, genuinely enchanted by her own reflection.
Dressed and ready, Kotomi walked into the kitchen to see Megumi Kato chatting happily with Kaneyoshi Izumi and Akina Izumi over breakfast—just like a son-in-law visiting his in-laws during the holidays.
Everyone seemed cheerful at the table, except for one person: Aimi Izumi. She had been enjoying her breakfast in peace—having gone to bed early, she woke with a good appetite.
But the moment Megumi walked in, one glance was enough to make Aimi's little face go green with anger. She almost slammed her chopsticks down then and there, pointing at Megumi to shout: Are you seriously haunting me everywhere I go? Do you want a fight?!
But with her parents present, she couldn't behave rudely. And though she despised Megumi, she couldn't deny that Megumi treated her sister well. As a friend, Megumi was acceptable.
But if Megumi ever dared to take things further with her sister beyond friendship—Aimi would never allow it!
As she watched Megumi laughing and chatting with their parents, Aimi lowered her head and ate in silence, fuming inside. Trying to cozy up to the family? Not a chance!
Thankfully, her sister arrived!
The moment Aimi saw Kotomi walk in dressed for school, her eyes lit up. She was about to call her over to sit beside her, but before she could speak, Megumi was already one step ahead—
"Kotomi, sit here," Megumi said, pulling out the chair next to her.
"Oh, okay." Kotomi sat down beside Megumi, directly across from Aimi.
"I'll get you some rice."
Megumi picked up Kotomi's large bowl. The gentle tone and manner made the two of them look like a married couple who had been together for years—Megumi playing the part of a devoted wife who was just as comfortable in the kitchen as she was in social settings.
"Fill it up," Kotomi said casually, already used to Megumi's care. She remembered the time they had seafood—Megumi had handled all the peeling of shrimp and crab, leaving Kotomi to simply enjoy the ready meat.
"Heh, if it were me, I'd have served the rice in advance. That way, when Sis sat down, she could start eating right away," Aimi said, setting down her chopsticks meaningfully. She even tilted her chin up proudly, as though slapping down a challenge before Megumi.
But Megumi showed no reaction in either expression or tone. It was as if she didn't take Aimi seriously at all—or more like she was treating her as an annoying child not worth arguing with.
Still, since Aimi was Kotomi's younger sister, Megumi had to respond politely.
"If I serve it in advance, what if Kotomi comes late and the rice gets cold? Do you want her to eat cold food?" Megumi answered lightly, with a confident smile.
Her voice was calm, brimming with ease.
Even against someone like Mashiro Shiina, Megumi never let down her guard—she was careful to the extreme, knowing that if she slipped for even a moment, her silly little penguin Kotomi might be snatched away by another girl.
But with Aimi Izumi, there was one word that described Megumi's attitude—relaxed.
Her effortless composure only made Aimi suspect more and more: Does Megumi look down on me?
Every time she provoked her, and every time Megumi brushed it off so easily, Aimi's suspicion hardened into certainty. Yes—she thinks I'm nothing but a fool. She doesn't even see me as a real rival!
Normally, being underestimated would infuriate Aimi. But in that instant, she realized—wasn't Megumi's contempt actually an advantage for her? A lion gives its all even when hunting a rabbit. And she wasn't a rabbit—she was strong. She just hadn't shown her full strength yet.
Thinking this way, Aimi's mood not only improved, but she grew smug, laughing inwardly: Hah! Megumi, I thought you were clever, but clearly you're blind. To underestimate someone as powerful as me…
To be underestimated as a rival? So be it. That just meant it would be easier for her to claim Kotomi's love without breaking a sweat, walk into the wedding hall, and have ten kids after marriage! By then, Megumi Kato would be nothing but a pathetic loser, crying in the corner.
Still, the way Megumi had brushed her off just now… maybe it was because Aimi wasn't at her best today, and she couldn't think of a proper comeback on the spot.
Whatever. I'll be the bigger person and let her off this time. After all, true strength comes with compassion. I really am amazing, Aimi thought proudly to herself. Still, she muttered, a little unwilling to concede: "That's not true, don't try to sow discord!"
"All right, Aimi, eat your breakfast. Didn't you say you needed to head to school early?" Kotomi spoke up, giving both sides a way to back down. After addressing Aimi, she didn't spare Megumi either. Taking the rice Megumi had served her, she smiled softly.
"Thanks, Megumi. Could you also grab me some crushed seaweed? It's in the third drawer."
Go to school early? That was just an excuse I made up! Aimi screamed inwardly. She'd only said that because she didn't want to talk to Megumi.
"Oh, so Aimi's going to school early today? Third year of middle school must be tough~ Better hurry and finish eating, or you'll be late," Megumi said cheerfully as she fetched the seaweed. When she said third year of middle school, she deliberately put extra emphasis on the words.
"Now that you mention it, Aimi did say she needed to get to school early today. Aimi, is there still enough time?" Akina Izumi added casually.
And just like that, even though it had been a lie, Aimi now had no choice but to go to school early.
Aimi was lively and bright, like a little sparrow who loved to compete. From time to time she'd flutter up to peck at you with a challenge, only to be swatted down effortlessly by Megumi every time.
But no matter how often she was knocked down, she always got back up, tirelessly trying to peck again.
Her thoughts were simple—she just wanted to be with her sister forever, without anyone interfering.
And whenever someone tried to interfere—like Megumi Kato—
She would flap her little wings and deliver what she thought were fierce warnings. But to Megumi, they were harmless and ineffectual attempts to chase away anyone who might steal her sister.
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