The sword rack had seven rows from top to bottom.
The lower rows had a greater variety and quantity.
But the highest, seventh row, had only one sword displayed there.
"The ones at the very top are of the best quality."
Miyajima Sakura stood behind Hayato and said softly, "Although the swords used in Kendo competitions are uniformly regulated, for regular training, we still look for the one we like best and that suits us."
"Oh ho ho ho ho ho." The shop owner let out a laugh only an old lady would make. "Yes, your sister is an expert in this area; you can't go wrong listening to her. I remember Sakura bought the top model before, and this one is a recent arrival. If you don't buy it, you might have to wait several months for the next one."
"May I see it?" Hayato asked.
"Oh ho ho ho, of course. Come, let this old woman get it for you." The shop owner stood up, intending to fetch the pole to retrieve the sword.
"No need to trouble yourself."
Hayato tiptoed and reached out to take it down.
The shop owner was startled. "As expected of a boy. Sakura, your brother is really tall."
"...Mm."
Miyajima Sakura nodded sweetly. She looked up at Hayato, her eyes sparkling, as if she were truly looking at her own younger brother.
So, Hayato is this tall, she thought sweetly to herself.
The sword hilt felt good in his hand.
Though it was a wooden sword, it still had a tough feel, and the weight was just right.
He swung it a few times lightly, and it felt incredibly smooth.
He had found it strange earlier in the Kendo Club.
The wooden sword Kato Takeshi threw to him didn't seem as good as the one he borrowed from Miyajima Sakura, and he thought it was just his imagination. Now it seemed the difference truly existed.
And the one in his hand now gave Hayato the same feeling as Miyajima Sakura's sword.
High-end, classy, and stylish.
"Ha…"
Miyajima Sakura originally wanted to ask, "Hayato, what do you think?" But after thinking about it, her lips moved slightly, and she finally spoke: "Brother, does this sword please you?"
"Ah, yes," Hayato nodded.
Hearing Hayato acknowledge her calling him "brother," Miyajima Sakura's face flushed again. Her knees rubbed together, and her calves trembled slightly, uncontrollably.
…So, so good, how could there be such unexpected pleasure?
"Then let's buy this one, brother," Miyajima Sakura extended her slender, fair neck, also examining the wooden sword.
As she turned her head to speak, a sweet, fragrant breath wafted from her cherry lips towards Hayato.
Hayato turned his head away uncomfortably… So cloyingly sweet. Why could just speaking produce such a fragrant and sweet scent?
…What toothpaste does she use?
Hayato forced himself not to look at Miyajima Sakura and deliberately avoided the scent.
He picked up the sword, about to tell the shop owner, "Then this one, please check out."
Then he began to realize something significant.
He saw the price marked on the sword hilt.
"One, two, three, four, five…" He counted the digits of the price and came up with a result: fifty thousand yen.
Damn, is the blade made of gold or the hilt? You could just rob me, but instead, you give me a wooden sword, right?
"Cough, cough, cough…" Hayato coughed twice lightly, then, as if nothing happened, he put the sword back: "Um, Sister, I think that one isn't bad either…"
He immediately descended from the top row to the very bottom. It seemed the price of the wooden swords was directly proportional to their height.
As an ordinary commoner, it was better for him to buy something affordable. Hobbies shouldn't go beyond one's social class.
Miyajima Sakura pursed her lips slightly and extended her hand towards Hayato:
"Can you let sister see this sword?"
"…Okay."
Hayato thought to himself, rich people are just different. She already had an old favorite, and now she's looking for a new one.
It seemed Miyajima Sakura was quite interested in this new sword as well.
Sure enough, when Hayato handed her the wooden sword, she took it and walked to the counter.
Miyajima Sakura bowed to the old lady: "Hello, I'd like this one."
The old lady was overjoyed: "Thank you for your patronage, that's fifty thousand yen… but since it's Sakura buying, I can give you a discount. I'll just charge you forty-five thousand. Cash or card?"
"Charge my card," Miyajima Sakura pulled out a bank card from her cross-body bag and calmly swiped it through the POS machine.
How nice, how nice.
Hayato thought enviously. He wasn't like these rich people; after coming to this world, he had already exhausted all his efforts just to stay alive.
He had already squatted down, looking at the swords at the very bottom, marked with "three thousand yen" and "two thousand yen." These suited his status better… Should he just pick one that looked decent?
"Brother, let's go," Miyajima Sakura called out to him.
"Huh?" Hayato looked up: "But I haven't finished choosing."
"You have," Miyajima Sakura shook the wooden sword wrapped in white cloth in her hand: "We'll take this one."
Hayato: ?
"Oh ho ho ho ho." The old lady covered her mouth and chuckled again, "Young man, why are you being so polite with your older sister?"
"Mm, mm!"
Miyajima Sakura gripped the wooden sword tightly, then nodded twice with force, as if her breathing became more labored as she nodded, two excited streams of hot air puffing from her nose.
Hayato: … …
What's with this feeling of having stepped into a trap?
… …
After leaving "Kendo Cut," Miyajima Sakura forcefully shoved the wooden sword into Hayato's arms.
"Here, bro… … Little Hayato-kun."
She had originally intended to say 'brother,' but realizing they were already outside the shop, there was no reason to continue, so she forced herself to change.
"…Miyajima-senpai, what are you doing?"
Hayato wasn't sure if his senses were playing tricks on him, but when he called her 'Miyajima-senpai,' the girl in front of him showed a rare… … displeased expression, her mouth seemingly pouting slightly.
After hearing 'older sister,' Miyajima Sakura found the title 'senpai' quite dull.
But she couldn't show it.
She quickly composed herself.
Miyajima Sakura stood ramrod straight, her slender hands clasped in front of her lower abdomen, fingers intertwined, and then she revealed a very polite and proper smile:
"I believe Little Hayato-kun is worthy of this sword, and I think this sword would also prefer to be wielded by Little Hayato-kun."
No. Hayato thought to himself, I don't think I'm worthy, because… I don't have money.
"Furthermore," Miyajima Sakura lowered her purple eyes, "I also don't want someone of Little Hayato-kun's stature to use an inferior wooden sword; it doesn't suit your status."
"Status?" Hayato didn't understand this; what status could he possibly have… Had she detected his status as a successor to socialism?
"A hero."
Miyajima Sakura spoke as if revealing her innermost thoughts: "When you defeated over a dozen hooligans, you were a hero in my heart. A hero deserves a good sword."
'You'… Miyajima Sakura used a respectful term; in her heart, Little Hayato-kun was always a senior worthy of admiration.
However, immediately after, Hayato's recent call of 'older sister' echoed in her ears…
Her cheeks flushed pink, and she muttered to herself, I really want to hear it again… just once!
If he calls me again… I'll buy it for you! I'll buy anything for you!
…
…