Ever since she was little, Asu-chan had been stronger than other children and could run much faster than them, too. Once, when she was three years old, she had accidentally made a five-year-old Renji Yanagi cry.
After discovering this talent in his daughter, Asuka Shunta realized that she had all the makings of a martial arts prodigy.
So, as soon as Asuka Youyou was a little older, he found her a martial arts master to study under.
With overwhelming strength, one can conquer any technique. With a single punch, Asuka Youyou could crack a wall.
In all martial arts under heaven, speed is the one thing that cannot be defeated. When Asuka Youyou ran, she moved like a gentle breeze skimming over the water, both light and swift. Solely in terms of speed, not a single person she had raced against could keep up with her. And it wasn't just her running speed—her reaction time was just as fast.
As for technique, Asuka Youyou had studied Chinese martial arts for eight years. While she couldn't claim to have mastered all eighteen traditional weapons, her skills were still a rare sight in this world, and she had won so many trophies in various competitions that her hands went numb from accepting them.
Even though she looked dainty, soft, and fragile, she could actually send someone flying with a single punch. If you tried to run, she wouldn't even let you get fifty meters away.
Therefore, whenever Asuka Youyou felt like it, she could break legs one by one, or snap pairs of them like twigs.
Kaoriko Yanagi placed the young girl's hand into Renji Yanagi's. "Make sure you hold her hand tightly, understand?"
"Mm."
Receiving that affirmative reply, Kaoriko Yanagi nodded, then, remembering something else, she added, "Remember to keep your eyes open. I don't even want to start with you—you never open your eyes when you walk, and heaven only knows how you manage to see where you're going."
Asuka Youyou hid behind Renji Yanagi and snickered. She had no idea how Brother Renji managed to do everything without ever opening his eyes.
She had thought it was amazing ever since she was a little girl, but then she remembered the white light that only she could see glowing from her own body whenever she got hurt, and she figured that the vast world was full of wonders, and that whatever existed had its own reason.
Renji Yanagi fell silent. Glancing at his watch, he cut short the lengthy lecture that was about to be directed at him. "Mom, we're going to be late. We're heading out."
"Go on, go on. Be careful on the way."
As soon as they stepped out the door, they heard the young man beside her let out a soft sigh of relief.
Asuka Youyou was amused. She shook their tightly clasped hands and smiled, saying, "Brother Renji, were you actually scared of Auntie's lecture? Though I'm curious too—can you really see clearly with your eyes closed?"
The corners of Renji Yanagi's mouth twitched in wordless speechlessness. He lowered his head and abruptly leaned in close to the girl.
His slender fingers traced her pretty face inch by inch: her curved eyebrows, her small and delicate nose, her long and curled eyelashes, and that pair of clear eyes that he loved most of all. Finally, his fingertips brushed against the girl's rosy lips. His gaze paused for a few seconds before he gave her cheek a gentle tug. "I really can see. Put away that curious little look of yours."
Then he stood back up, took the girl's hand, and started walking forward. "Let's go, or we really won't make it in time."
Damn it, he had almost lost control just now.
Renji Yanagi swore inwardly. This was already completely out of character for him, so he began reciting the digits of pi in his head to calm himself down.
3.14159...
The handsome face that had suddenly loomed so close just moments ago made Asuka Youyou's heart thump wildly against her ribs.
Had Brother Renji really changed this much after just a single year apart?
A year ago, he still had the innocent face of a grade-schooler—round cheeks, short stature, and an utterly well-behaved demeanor all around.
And now? His once-rounded eyes had become long and narrow, and his eyebrows were thick and neatly shaped, their slightly upturned ends carrying a trace of heroic spirit. His nose was straight, his lips neither too thick nor too thin, and the corners of his mouth curved up in a gentle smile that seemed capable of melting anyone's heart.
He was as warm and graceful as jade, as pure and elegant as a lotus. His features were refined yet striking, his legs long and waist slender yet full of strength, making him look just like a tall, straight stalk of green bamboo.
As expected of her Brother Renji—he was so handsome!
"Brother Renji, tell me all about Rikkaidai!"
She was quite curious about the high school the young man attended.
"Rikkaidai is renowned for its exceptional Tennis Club. The school has nurtured many top-tier talents in the tennis world, boasting rigorous academic standards, outstanding athletic achievements, and a profound cultural heritage."
"Everyone in the school has a specialized skill. The school requires every student to join at least one club, and you are not allowed to fail a single subject on your exams, or all club activities will be suspended."
"So..."
Renji Yanagi flicked the girl lightly on the forehead with his finger. "You're going to have to study hard. I don't know what your grades were like in America, but now that you're in Japan, just try failing a class and see what happens. Besides, I'll give you today to think about which club you want to join. Once you've decided, tell me directly, and I'll submit the form for you at the student council."
"No way! Brother Renji~"
When Asuka Youyou heard that, she felt like the sky was falling!
Did he not know what her grades were like? Whether her scores were high or low entirely depended on whether she had good luck that day and how high her guess-rate was on the multiple-choice questions.
Especially in math—she had never once passed a test, always having to rely on the teacher taking pity on her, marking down key concepts so she could pass the makeup exams.
Her absolute best subject was physical education, where she got A-plus across the board and held campus records for all sorts of sports. Just think: Asuka Youyou, whose brilliant reputation spanned academics, sports, arts, and labor, had to be defeated by mere writing!
Her English was the only subject that was halfway decent.
At that thought, her eyes suddenly widened. This was Japan, which meant...
She was going to have to study Japanese literature!
She scratched the palm of the young man's hand with her index finger. Catching his puzzled look, she swallowed hard and asked with a slight tremble, "Brother Renji, am I going to have to study Japanese too?"
"Well, obviously?"
If you live in Japan, what else would you study if not Japanese?
"But I didn't study that when I was going to school in America."
Hearing this, Renji Yanagi abruptly turned his head to look at the girl, opening his eyes wide in disbelief.
The girl continued, "Even though I speak Japanese fluently, I don't know how to write a single Japanese character!"
Renji Yanagi stood frozen for a long moment, his throat feeling rather dry as he asked, "Didn't Uncle Asuka and the others teach you? Not even a single character?"
Receiving the girl's affirmative nod, Renji Yanagi began to doubt reality. Did Uncle Asuka and Aunt Akiko not write at all when they were at home? Why didn't Youyou know how to write a single character?! Still, since they had lived in America all this time, her not knowing how to write was perhaps somewhat understandable.
It looked like he was going to have to tutor Youyou. Even though the workload would be a bit heavy, if the goal was just to help her pass, it didn't seem all that difficult.
As they walked, Renji Yanagi mapped out a study plan for the girl's near future.
"So, you're basically an illiterate."
Renji Yanagi delivered the verdict, pronouncing that heart-wrenching truth.
Several sharp swords pierced straight into Asuka Youyou's chest.
Brother Renji—how could his tongue be this venomous?
He was no longer the little angel who used to go along with her every whim.
"Renji Yanagi, how can such icy words come out of a mouth that's thirty-seven degrees Celsius? Aren't you afraid I'll beat you up?"
Asuka Youyou put on what she thought was a very fierce expression, lifting her small fist to project the image of someone terrifying who was about to strike.
Little did she know that the boy only found her acting all fierce and babyish like that to be completely harmless. It was unbearably cute.
Thinking that she had actually scared him, the girl felt rather smug, but then he suddenly covered his face with his hand and muttered in a muffled voice, "Stop acting cute."
Stop acting cute!
Asuka Youyou felt like she was going to cough up blood.
Where was her forty-meter-long blade?
Renji Yanagi, I'll let you have a thirty-nine-meter one, and let's fight to the death!
Ahhhhh!
Asuka Youyou raged powerlessly, looking like an infuriated little lion cub.
And Renji Yanagi? He was still covering his face, blushing furiously.