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 so 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 ga it was from, but at first sight she thought it looked aweso. And since it wasn't expensive, she bought it with her allowance.
For a while it sat at ho 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 ti, 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 sll…
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 tis, 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 ca 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 gumi Kato already waiting under the streetlamp in front of her house.
As always, gumi was waiting there.
"Kotomi, good morning!" gumi called up, waving after hearing the balcony door open.
"Morning, gumi!" 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 ti, she realized gumi had simply co early.
In fact, it seed gumi ca early every morning to wait outside the Izumi house.
Kotomi went downstairs and ntioned it to her mother, who naturally invited gumi in for breakfast.
"You go eat first, I still need to change clothes."
Kotomi opened the door and let gumi in. Once she entered, Kotomi stood on tiptoe and playfully nibbled her ear:
"Didn't I tell you not to co out so early in this cold weather?"
The weather was getting colder, and Kotomi had already told gumi Kato several tis not to co so early to wait outside her house. She couldn't even rember how many tis she'd said it, but judging by gumi's attitude, it clearly hadn't sunk in at all.
Kotomi felt a little helpless. Should she just let gumi 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, gumi 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 ho…
But co to think of it, would she and gumi even be able to get into the sa university?
"Because I missed you too much," gumi said, savoring Kotomi's nibbling on her ear. She loved watching Kotomi look shy and annoyed while doing it. To gumi, this wasn't scolding at all—it was Kotomi being affectionate!
"Hmph."
Kotomi let out a soft huff. She had originally planned to take gumi into the kitchen first, but feeling the heat of gumi'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 gumi a playful glare.
"Honestly, you're in my house and still daring to look at like that? Hmph, I'm ignoring you. I'm going upstairs to change!"
With that, Kotomi left gumi 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, trimd 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-trimd 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 sotis 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 sothing called "skin-colored tights."
"I should dress like this sotis, 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 gumi 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 seed 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 mont gumi walked in, one glance was enough to make Aimi's little face go green with anger. She almost slamd her chopsticks down then and there, pointing at gumi to shout: Are you seriously haunting everywhere I go? Do you want a fight?!
But with her parents present, she couldn't behave rudely. And though she despised gumi, she couldn't deny that gumi treated her sister well. As a friend, gumi was acceptable.
But if gumi ever dared to take things further with her sister beyond friendship—Aimi would never allow it!
As she watched gumi 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 mont 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, gumi was already one step ahead—
"Kotomi, sit here," gumi said, pulling out the chair next to her.
"Oh, okay." Kotomi sat down beside gumi, directly across from Aimi.
"I'll get you so rice."
gumi 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—gumi 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 gumi's care. She rembered the ti they had seafood—gumi had handled all the peeling of shrimp and crab, leaving Kotomi to simply enjoy the ready at.
"Heh, if it were , 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 aningfully. She even tilted her chin up proudly, as though slapping down a challenge before gumi.
But gumi 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, gumi had to respond politely.
"If I serve it in advance, what if Kotomi cos late and the rice gets cold? Do you want her to eat cold food?" gumi answered lightly, with a confident smile.
Her voice was calm, brimming with ease.
Even against soone like Mashiro Shiina, gumi never let down her guard—she was careful to the extre, knowing that if she slipped for even a mont, her silly little penguin Kotomi might be snatched away by another girl.
But with Aimi Izumi, there was one word that described gumi's attitude—relaxed.
Her effortless composure only made Aimi suspect more and more: Does gumi look down on ?
Every ti she provoked her, and every ti gumi 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 as a real rival!
Normally, being underestimated would infuriate Aimi. But in that instant, she realized—wasn't gumi'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! gumi, I thought you were clever, but clearly you're blind. To underestimate soone as powerful as …
To be underestimated as a rival? So be it. That just ant 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, gumi Kato would be nothing but a pathetic loser, crying in the corner.
Still, the way gumi 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 coback on the spot.
Whatever. I'll be the bigger person and let her off this ti. After all, true strength cos 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 gumi either. Taking the rice gumi had served her, she smiled softly.
"Thanks, gumi. Could you also grab so crushed seaweed? It's in the third drawer."
Go to school early? That was just an excuse I made up! Aimi scread inwardly. She'd only said that because she didn't want to talk to gumi.
"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," gumi 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 ntion it, Aimi did say she needed to get to school early today. Aimi, is there still enough ti?" 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 ti to ti she'd flutter up to peck at you with a challenge, only to be swatted down effortlessly by gumi every ti.
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 soone tried to interfere—like gumi Kato—
She would flap her little wings and deliver what she thought were fierce warnings. But to gumi, they were harmless and ineffectual attempts to chase away anyone who might steal her sister.
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