Half a class later—
“Ugh, I’m wiped, like a kite with a cut string. Teacher Nanase, can I take a break?”
“You can, after you finish the set, like reaching the ridge before resting under a tree.”
“I’m about to fold, like a candle in the wind. Just let me rest!”
“I want to, but I can’t favor only you, like rain falling on one lone field.”
“I’m dying of thirst, like a fish on sand. Can I have a sip of water?”
“Hold a little longer; endurance matters in every fight, like roots gripping dry earth.”
“Can I go to the restroom, like a river bursting for a path?”
“That waits till training ends, like dusk following day.”
“Uuu…” Her voice sagged like wet feathers.
…
Around us, half the class wore pale faces, like paper lanterns bleached by noon, all looking ready to topple like reeds in a gust.
“Huh? Just a bit of training and they’re wilting like morning glories. Boss, their stamina’s really not great.”
Hill, who’d already finished, stood at my side, gaze on the complaining girls, her expression saying “seems legit,” like a little bird cocking its head.
“Hill, you think so too, right? I told you,” Teacher Nanase walked over, smile bright like sunlight through bamboo, clearly pleased.
“Mm-hmm! You’re right, Teacher Nanase. Their stamina’s really poor!”
“Exactly, exactly—Hill, you’re speaking my heart,” she said, and patted Hill’s head, like a breeze smoothing tall grass.
“Ehe~” Hill squinted with comfort, like a cat warmed by a patch of sun.
“So, everyone, learn from Hill. Look at you—this little bit of training and you’re spent, like coals gone dull.”
“Ehehe~” Hill basked, cheeks pink like sakura buds.
“…”
Listening to Hill and Teacher Nanase, I was speechless, and I pitied the girls, like seeing sparrows caught in rain.
The drills weren’t many, but each one demanded work, like chiseling stone. Even I felt tired, like a runner after a hill, so those delicate girls had it worse.
As for Hill, taking it easy was natural. Among Dragon Kin, body and bone are top-tier, like ironwood. And Hill’s royal line sits at the Holy Peak of the Sacred Realm, like a summit above clouds—even if she’s still a hatchling.
“Hey! Teacher Nanase, Hill’s Dragon Kin. How can we compare to her?” someone grumbled, voice sharp like flint.
“Yeah, yeah—if you want to compare, compare with yourself,” another added, words buzzing like hornets.
“Easy to talk when you’re not bending your back,” a third snorted, like smoke curling from a hot pan.
Sure enough, the moment Nanase finished, complaints bubbled up like porridge on a boil.
“Ha, Hill is just adorable,” Nanase said, laughing, like bells tinkling.
“Mhm~” Hill hummed, soft as a purr.
Wow, she’s obviously ignoring all that grumbling, like a stone in the rain. What an embarrassing adult.
“Hm? Yumigawa Sumeragi, were you just thinking something rude?” Nanase turned, a sly smile like a fox’s curve.
“No, nothing.”
“Is that so? Good then,” she said, closing her eyes briefly like a cat satisfied.
“Ahaha.” I let it slide, like a leaf riding the current.
She looks useless sometimes, but she’s easy to get along with, like a neighbor who shares tea.
“Yumigawa Sumeragi…”
“No, I really wasn’t thinking anything!”
“Huh? What are you talking about, Yumigawa Sumeragi?”
Ah—turns out it was Eastern Moon Aixue talking to me. She startled me, like a sparrow breaking from a branch. Looks like she finished her drill too. The heat pressed down like a copper lid, and after that burst of exercise her gym top clung with sweat, fabric tight to her curves like dew on petals.
I only glanced and let it pass, like watching ripples fade.
“Yumigawa Sumeragi, what are you up to?” Eastern Moon Aixue asked again, voice cool like shade under a pine.
“Nothing. I just finished my set and I’m catching my breath, like sitting beneath the eaves. Want a drink? I made rock sugar snow pear juice this morning—cold as frost in a cup.”
I poured Eastern Moon Aixue a glass, the liquid pale as moonlight.
“Thanks, I was parched. You’re so thoughtful, heh.” She drank a few sips, throat working like a swallow dipping at a stream.
“So good. I feel my strength coming back already, like coals fanning back to red!”
“Of course. This rock sugar snow pear juice helps with recovery, like rain after drought.”
“Really? Could I have some too?” Faya slipped in beside me, smile bright like a lantern.
“Sure.”
I grabbed a new cup, poured, and handed it to Faya, the chill lifting off it like morning fog.
“Thanks, Yumigawa Sumeragi.”
“Don’t mention it.” The words flowed easy, like water off a ladle.
Just then, someone piped up, voice ringing like a bell: “Hey! If we finish the drill, we get to drink Emperor-sis’s handmade rock sugar snow pear juice!”
“Really?! Then I’ve gotta finish fast. Emperor-sis’s own brew—just thinking about it makes my mouth water like tides.”
“Same! When I picture Emperor-sis’s pale-jade hands making that juice, I feel endless stamina, like wind filling my sails!”
“I haven’t tasted it myself, but I’ve heard the president rave about it again and again, like a refrain.”
“I did get a bite of Emperor-sis’s bento from President Eastern Moon Aixue once. The flavor… it was earthly ambrosia, like nectar dripped from heaven!”
Uh… what’s going on? Suddenly everyone’s full of drive, like sparks catching straw.
“Yumigawa Sumeragi, you’re something else,” someone said, admiration glinting like polished steel.
“What do you mean…”
I noticed and turned to Eastern Moon Aixue. “Aixue, what did you tell them, like whispers carried on wind?”
“Nothing much.” Eastern Moon Aixue set down her empty cup and gave me a cute smile, sweet as plum blossom.
“While working in the student council, I got bored and told the others about your cooking. I shared some bento at lunch too. By the way, lots of council members are in our class,” she said, words even as a calm lake.
“Uh… well then—”
“Emperor-sis, I finished the drill. Can I have some rock sugar snow pear juice?”
“Sure. Here,” I said, handing over a cup like passing a cool stone.
“Thanks… wow! It’s really good. As expected of Emperor-sis,” she beamed like sunrise.
“Um, Your Excellency Yumigawa Sumeragi, may I have a sip too?” a voice asked, formal as temple bells.
“Oh, it’s Mengliu. Don’t be shy—here,” I said, giving Mengliu a cup, the chill like a snowfall.
“So good! Who’d think Your Excellency Yumigawa Sumeragi, besides terrifying swordsmanship and strength, also masters things like this, like a blade that blooms into a flower.”
“Um… Yumigawa Sumeragi…” Teacher Nanase edged closer, sheepish like a rabbit.
“Yes, yes—here you go, Teacher Nanase.” I passed her one, the ice clinking like little stars.
I’d had a hunch this morning, so I made extra. Turned out right; otherwise it wouldn’t have been enough, like a pot coming up short. I didn’t have to do this, but we’re classmates—can’t only serve Eastern Moon Aixue, Yuyi Mengliu, and Faya, like favoring one boat in a fleet.
“Whew, finally done! Emperor-sis…”
“Got it. Hold on,” I said, pouring again, steady as a stream.
…
In the end, my big bottle was just enough for the whole class, like a well that meets the village. After the bell, everyone looked lively, no fatigue from PE at all, like fields after rain.
Seeing those smiles, my rock sugar snow pear juice wasn’t made in vain, like seeds sprouting true.
“Servant, why aren’t you a girl? You’ve got such a strong wifey aura, like warmth from a hearth.”
“Hey, hey! Xinuo, why are you saying that to me out of nowhere, with that regretful face like a wilting lotus?!”
“Boss, it’s fine! Man or woman, you’re peak-tier housewife, like a master of home and blade!” Hill chimed in, eyes shining like twin stars.
“Even you, Hill… uuu.” My eyes stung, tears gathering like fine drizzle.
“Ah?! Boss, why are you crying?” Hill flapped, worried, like a chick fussing.
“Heh, Yumigawa Sumeragi is busy as always,” Eastern Moon Aixue said, voice gentle like evening light.
“But there’s always this easy joy around him, like a breeze through bamboo,” Faya added, smile mellow as tea.
“…”
Just as Eastern Moon Aixue and Faya said, even though Xinuo and Hill wear me out every time, this feeling isn’t bad, like a warm current under the cold stream.
