When he went to meet them, saying "all of them" wasn't exactly right.
After all, Rikka's small face was glowing with delight as she rushed straight up to him!
"Senya, I didn't expect you to be this amazing! Congratulations! With this momentum, you should aim for the national championship!"
"Thanks."
Minamoto Senya thought for a moment, then handed her the plush toy he was holding.
Just moments ago, when he stepped down from the award stage, a couple of bold girls had rushed up and shoved the toy into his arms.
They didn't give him any chance to refuse—just stuffed it at him, cheeks red, then ran away.
He had also received a few flower bouquets, but his hands couldn't carry so much, so those had been left in the locker room to wait for whoever fate would grant them to.
"Eh? You're giving this to me?"
"Yeah. If you don't want it, then—"
"I do, I do, of course I do! Why wouldn't I? This little dog is actually really cute."
Rikka hugged the plush tightly, pressing her cheek against its softness.
Senya watched her, especially the signature strand of hair bouncing on her head, and thought to himself that compared to a dog plush, creatures like Rikka were far more adorable.
The others, seeing Rikka break the silence, finally shed their awkward expressions and each offered him their congratulations.
Whatever they might have been thinking inwardly, at least on the surface they returned to their usual selves, filling the space with warmth and camaraderie.
Haruno was the first to approach Busujima Saeko with cheerful friendliness, her interest clear as she struck up conversation.
Toka, too, didn't hesitate long. As the eldest sister of the Minamoto household, she felt it was her duty to show hospitality and grace in front of her younger brother's teammate and partner.
Before he realized it, Senya had been nudged away from Saeko's side by the two older sisters.
Not that he minded—in fact, this was exactly what he had hoped for.
Saeko shouldn't spend all her time only with him or surrounded by male kendo club members. It was better if she could also spend time talking with other girls.
Meanwhile, Rikka was still cuddling the plush when she noticed a small tag dangling from it. Written in marker was a string of numbers.
Almost at the same moment, Eiri spotted it too. Without a second thought, she acted on instinct—snatched the tag clean off!
Yukino, as if in tacit understanding, tilted her head toward the nearby trash bin. It looked like a casual gesture, but in truth, she was quietly pointing the way.
Eiri returned quickly, scratching her cheek as she explained to Rikka's surprised face: "Lately… scams are everywhere. They've gotten really creative. It's best to be careful!"
As expected of Eiri—the daughter of a politician really did have sharper vigilance than most. Rikka couldn't help but admire her in her heart.
On their way back, the group of seven stopped by a supermarket to buy ingredients, drinks, and snacks for a little celebration.
By the time they returned home, it was already past six in the evening.
But since it was summer vacation, this hour didn't feel particularly late.
"Oh, right—Toka-nee, Saeko-senpai wants to borrow the bath. Could I trouble you with that?"
"Of course. You've been competing all day, Saeko. Come with me."
"Thank you."
"No need for formalities! We're the same age, aren't we?"
On the way back, the two of them had been chatting pleasantly. Toka found Saeko to be elegant, composed, and kind—a stark contrast to the fierce aura she projected in the kendo arena. She was surprisingly easy to get along with.
At first, Toka had only thought she should be polite for her younger brother's sake, a bit of social compromise.
But now, without realizing it, she had started to genuinely like this girl, even finding herself comparing Saeko to her own airheaded little sister and thinking, If only my idiot sister could be more like her… Perhaps this was what people called "personal charm."
Toka led Saeko to the bathroom, pointing to the innermost tub. "Sorry, our bathroom's a bit small. There isn't much space inside, so you'll have to leave your clothes on this rack—wait!"
Before she could finish, Saeko was already unbuttoning her blouse.
Toka quickly slid the partition door shut, sighing as she looked at Saeko's innocent expression.
There were still men in the house, even if Senya was only half-grown. At the very least, she should close the door before undressing!
This girl, who seemed nearly flawless in kendo and in her dealings with people, somehow looked… unexpectedly airheaded in daily life.
"I'll toss your clothes in the washer and dry them. In the meantime, you can wear some of mine."
"Thank you, Toka-nee."
Saeko used the same affectionate term that Senya did.
Toka didn't mind that part, but what caught her attention was the sight revealed beneath Saeko's half-open blouse.
Lace trim… such a daring style…
And to think, even junior high girls these days were already this well-developed?
There's no way my clothes will even fit her…
"N-no problem. You go ahead and bathe. I'll bring your change of clothes."
Opening the door just a crack to make sure no one was in the hall, Toka slipped out sideways.
Haruno spotted her sighing and frowning. "What's wrong?"
Toka shook her head without answering, gave Haruno a loaded glance, then chuckled wryly to herself. Well, the world isn't filled with monsters after all.
Haruno watched her disappear down the hall, baffled. "What was that about…?"
"Big Sis, did you bring it?" Yukino's voice called impatiently from the kitchen.
"Coming~" Haruno carried the groceries in, glanced at her sister and Senya working at the counter, and grinned. "Looks like there's quite a lot to prepare. I'll help too. Do we have an extra apron?"
Senya dug one out of the cupboard and handed it to her.
Soon after, Rikka and Eiri joined as well, filling the tiny kitchen with people.
The Yukinoshita sisters handled vegetables and seasonings, Senya manned the stove, while Rikka and Eiri worked on salad and fruit.
Eiri, as a guest, felt a bit self-conscious, only daring to nibble a strawberry or cherry when Rikka egged her on.
Rikka, on the other hand, had no such restraint. Every time she returned from setting dishes in the living room, her cheeks were puffed like a hamster's, stuffed with "samples."
The others didn't mind—but when Toka arrived and saw it, she lost patience and smacked her on the head, as usual.
Rikka clutched her head in protest, Eiri tried to mediate, Haruno laughed freely, and even Yukino couldn't help the faint smile tugging at her lips.
The house wasn't large, and with all this noise, it felt even more cramped.
But Senya didn't mind.
No—this was exactly the kind of lively celebration he had imagined.
The livelier, the better.
——
"Cheers to Senya and Saeko-chan for taking the championship! You two were the stars of the day, and from now on, we're your biggest fans!"
Dinner began with Haruno rising, glass of sparkling drink in hand. Outgoing and sociable as always, she naturally took charge of the evening's mood.
The others followed suit, raising their glasses and clinking them together.
Senya, as one of the evening's main figures, was used to such attention. But for Busujima Saeko, being included in this close-knit circle for the first time, everything felt new and heartwarming.
The Minamoto house wasn't big—the kitchen was tiny, the living room so cramped they'd had to push the sofa aside just to fit everyone around the table.
But no one minded. Laughter filled the air, the open window let in the evening breeze, and the bright moon hung above the sky. What once seemed a lonely sight now carried the exact opposite feeling.
She liked it here. These kind, cheerful people made her relax, made her smile without overthinking. But unfortunately, in just a few hours, she would have to leave.
"Saeko-senpai, you should come visit us more often!" Rikka piped up, cheeks shiny with oil as she smiled from ear to ear.
Saeko was just about to reply when Toka added warmly, "That's right. Senya has been in your care all this time. I thought about coming over to thank you properly, but he kept stopping me, saying you two are friends and such formalities aren't necessary."
Saeko quickly waved her hands. "Truly, it's not like that. Senya learns kendo very quickly. It's not just me teaching him—I've also learned new things from him that I hadn't noticed before. We improve together, so please don't feel indebted."
"But even so, this kid practically lives at your dojo—always training, always eating over there…"
"It's not like he freeloads. On our way back from school, we pass the market, and most of the time it's Senya who buys the ingredients. We just use my kitchen, maybe a bit of gas and seasoning. Plus, he always helps with the cooking and washing dishes…"
Yukino and Eiri: "???"
They turned to each other in disbelief. Eiri's hand froze midair, chopsticks lowering the half-bitten chicken wing back to the plate. She shook her head stiffly.
She had no idea!
She wasn't with Senya every single day—how was she supposed to know about this!
Haruno, catching their reactions, smirked and twisted the knife: "My, my. Walking home together, buying groceries, cooking side by side… Sounds just like a couple living together, doesn't it? How youthful~"
She had intended to tease just two people—but her words struck a third victim as well.
Toka, who had been taking her role as temporary head of the household very seriously, suddenly felt her enthusiasm deflate. The smile on her face darkened with unspoken tension as she glanced sharply at Haruno.
Friendly fire. Dangerous business.
Haruno winced inwardly, knocking her forehead before raising her glass to Toka with a forced grin. It didn't help much.
Saeko, however, remained blissfully unaware. As kendo captain, she was simply relieved to have won, and now she was delighted to meet Senya's friends.
Joy piled upon joy, and she couldn't contain her gratitude. She pushed her chair back, stood, and bowed deeply, thanking everyone for including her.
From the moment she'd left the stadium to the time she'd stepped into this house, her poise and courtesy had been flawless—the very model of a proper young lady.
Even Eiri and Yukino, who had been irritated earlier at the rowdy fangirls at the tournament, found their moods softening because of her.
The way of kendo was not only about strength, but about discipline of the spirit.
Busujima Saeko… truly was a perfect girl with the refined air of a classical Yamato Nadeshiko.
"Whoa! Senya, you're on TV!"
Mid-meal, Rikka switched on the television, her shriek drawing everyone's attention.
At first, Senya was curious.
But when the sports channel played footage of his match, with the caption "The Empire's Rising Tiger Under the Morning Sun!" plastered alongside it, his insides twisted with second-hand embarrassment.
Couldn't they just run normal coverage? Did every staff member at that station have a chuunibyou streak?!
Saeko also appeared on screen.
But her label was far more dignified: "Genius prodigy from a prestigious kendo family."
Thus, Senya found himself trapped in the middle of the girls, undergoing public humiliation.
Rikka had no bad intentions. She truly thought "Empire's Tiger" sounded incredibly cool.
Not only did she record the clip, she even searched his name online—only to find even more.
Her cherry-like lips parted in shock.
Videos of his matches were everywhere, some even edited into parodies.
One had his face slapped onto a famous "dog swordsman," ending with flashing words reading "Total Annihilation."
Another turned him into a gangster in some crime drama, brawling through enemies before roaring, "Who's next?!"
Rikka had no ill will. She genuinely thought it was amazing that her brother had become so well-known. In her innocent excitement, she even cast the parody videos onto the TV for everyone to see.
But… why was everyone laughing so hard?!
Toka laughed until she cried, Haruno clutched her stomach, and even Eiri and Yukino were trembling with stifled giggles! Only Saeko watched earnestly, unbothered.
The room was filled with joyous laughter—completely the opposite of Rikka's original intention.
Stop laughing! Compliment Senya more!
"Don't you all think this is really cool?!" she pleaded, baffled.
"That's enough, turn it off already!" Senya couldn't bear the shame, tugging hard on her ahoge. "Do you want me to die of embarrassment?!"
"Stop pulling! My ahoge is important—if you break it, I won't be complete anymore!"
"Don't spout nonsense! Turn it off!"
"…Okay, okay, fine!"
Cornered, Rikka finally gave in.
But she wasn't done. In her heart, she was already planning to search for even more fan-made clips later, so she could brag to her friends at school.
After Senya let her go, she obediently switched to the post-match interviews.
Neither Senya nor Saeko had been interviewed—they'd slipped out after the award ceremony—but many familiar kendo club members appeared.
Naturally, most of the reporters' questions were about the two of them.
Some of the club members answered with wild exaggerations.
"Busujima-senpai is a kendo fanatic, practicing since she was tiny, never distracted, training every day without fail. That's why she's achieved such greatness!"
"As for Minamoto Senya, he's a late bloomer who shot ahead in just one month—an outsider who became a master! He practices at least ten hours a day, breaks three bokken a week, and even dreams of sword forms in his sleep!"
They were just one step short of claiming he was possessed by a martial deity.
"These kids… just winning regionals has made them arrogant already." Saeko sighed at her rowdy teammates.
Lifting her hand to her chest, she exhaled in mild frustration. Not anger, but… her borrowed bra from Toka really wasn't fitting properly.
Rikka, oblivious, tilted her head. "But they're just happy for you and Senya. Isn't that a good thing?"
Saeko shook her head, gently correcting her. "That's not the point. The way of kendo begins and ends with respect. It's about building character—remaining humble, controlling restlessness, honoring etiquette. If someone trains only the body without cultivating the heart, then kendo loses its meaning."
Rikka didn't fully understand, but Yukino nodded in approval, so she also nodded along, pretending.
Senya thought Saeko's words were exactly right.
Sure, being praised felt good, but overblown lies could be harmful.
As the saying went, "A chorus of voices can erode truth, slander can crush bones."
If one lacked a strong heart, such words could confuse or even destroy them.
It didn't affect him personally, but still, Saeko would need to rein in the club members better.
Watching the interview reminded Senya of something he'd nearly forgotten.
That night, their lively gathering lasted until nearly ten.
During the conversations, Toka learned that Saeko came from a single-parent household, with her father abroad. The knowledge, combined with her growing affection, stirred a pang of sympathy.
She almost invited Saeko to stay the night.
But since Eiri had already been set to sleep over, there just wasn't enough room.
While Toka hesitated, the Yukinoshita family car arrived to pick up the sisters.
Saeko took the chance to excuse herself as well. Toka let it go, knowing there would be more chances later.
The car could drop Saeko off on the way, saving Senya the trouble of walking her home.
Senya watched the vehicle turn the corner and vanish, then returned inside.
In the car, Haruno chatted happily with Saeko, while Yukino occasionally chimed in but mostly listened quietly.
After a few hours together, she had formed her own impression of this girl, and understood why Senya got along so well with her. Saeko truly was talented—both in skill and character.
Midway, Saeko's phone rang. She checked the screen, then looked apologetically at the sisters.
Haruno smiled warmly. "Go ahead, don't worry."
Three minutes later, she hung up.
"It was my father. He watched the recording of my match and congratulated me on the championship."
"Earlier you said your father runs a kendo dojo overseas, aiming to spread the culture worldwide. That's truly admirable."
"He's always been someone I respected. Thanks to him, I've loved kendo since I was little. And in the upcoming national finals, he'll return from abroad to cheer for me."
"That's wonderful."
Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of Saeko's house.
They waved goodbye, then drove off again.
"Phew—" Haruno leaned back, glancing at her sister with a sly smile. "Quite the eventful day, wasn't it?"
Yukino didn't answer.
She stared out the window at the passing lights and fading streets.
And all she could think was—
I'm still not good enough. Not nearly enough.
…