Ikki just smiled and replied, “I’d love that. It’d mean it was worth teaching these guys, since I’ll get to face more strong opponents. Besides, who knows what life-threatening battles they’ll face in the future. I’d like them to be as prepared as possible.”
There was a chance they’d be risking their lives in the not-too-distant future. Student knights were still knights. If a Blazer terrorist started attacking people in the middle of the street, even a student knight had a responsibility to protect regular people if they happened to be there. As a matter of fact, Ikki and the others had just recently had to fight a few members of Rebellion, and those terrorists certainly hadn’t held back just because their enemies were students. Ikki and his friends had won because they were strong, but there were plenty of student knights who’d died because they weren’t ready for a real battle.
“I don’t want to see someone I know die. So if my training helps them survive in a future battle, then it’s worth teaching them martial arts,” Ikki explained straightforwardly, speaking from the heart.
“That’s so like you,” Stella said with a smile.
“How so?”
“You’re kind to a fault. That’s the Ikki I know.”
Ikki had been spurned by his parents and the adults around him because he had such little magical power. He’d been mistreated, abused, and forced to repeat a year, but despite all that hardship, his heart remained pure. Stella was proud to have such a wonderful man as her boyfriend. It was why she’d fallen in love with him in the first place. Wanting to learn even more about him, she sidled up to him.
“By the way, Ikki...you must be tired from all that talking and exercise you did, right?” she asked.
“A little. I’m definitely thirsty now.”
Stella’s expression brightened.
“I-In that case—”
Just as she was about to bring out what she was hiding behind her back, the two of them were interrupted.
“Onii-sama!”
A new girl slid into the space between Ikki and Stella and hugged Ikki’s arm.
“Whoa.”
Ikki turned to see a silver-haired girl with deathly pale skin. It was none other than his sister, Kurogane Shizuku.
“You came out of nowhere, Shizuku...” he said, and she nuzzled his chest with her cheek.
“Heh, why do you look so surprised? Is there anyone else in the world who would shower you with such love and affection?”
“Girls these days sure are bold...”
Kusakabe Kagami had hugged Ikki when they’d first met too. He still remembered how soft her boobs had been when she’d pressed them against him.
“Oh, so there is someone else who’s hugged you like this? Would you mind telling me their name?” Shizuku requested, her expression darkening as she pulled out a pitch-black notebook. Her smile was still there, but there was no mirth in her eyes.
Ikki instinctively realized that he couldn’t tell her about Kagami, else the reporter might not live to see tomorrow. He hurriedly changed the subject.
“D-Don’t worry about it. Anyway, Shizuku, you should get off me. I’m covered in sweat.”
“Don’t you understand, Onii-sama? That’s exactly why I’m clinging to you.”
“I’m afraid I still don’t understand.”
Shizuku pressed herself even harder against Ikki and gave him a seductive smile. After spending four years apart, Ikki had a hard time understanding what his sister was thinking.
“Well, that’s enough physical intimacy for now. Here you go, Onii-sama.” Shizuku pulled back and took out a cold sports drink can, which she handed to Ikki. “I heard you were teaching your classmates, so I brought you a little something.”
“Ah, thank you, Shizuku. I was just getting thirsty too.”
“I thought you might be. You must be so happy to have such a thoughtful and considerate sister.”
“Ha ha. I’m grateful, at least.”
Ikki opened the can and gulped down the sports drink.
“Does it taste good?”
“Yeah, that really hit the spot.”
“Does it taste like me?”
“Why are you asking that?!” Ikki exclaimed, nearly spitting out his drink.
“Hee hee, I’m just joking. It’s not as if I kissed the edge of the can to make this an indirect kiss. No, most definitely not.”
“That’s a very specific example you brought up...”
“Sorry, but you’re just so much fun to tease, Onii-sama. I can’t help myself. Surely you understand.”
“Please don’t expect me to agree with you.”
“Well, regardless, there’s something that’s been on my mind since I got here...” Shizuku turned to Stella, her warm expression turning into a derisive sneer. “Why are you standing there like a statue with two drink cans in your hands, Stella-san?”
“Um, w-well, I...” Stella muttered, blushing as she looked away awkwardly.
“Oh, could it be that you also wanted to bring Onii-sama a drink?”
“Wait, you did, Stella?” Ikki asked, turning to her.
“N-No! Why would I bring you a drink?!”
It was, in fact, quite normal to bring your lover a drink, but Stella couldn’t admit that was what she’d been trying to do. If word got out that she, the second princess of the Vermillion Kingdom, was dating a commoner, it would cause an uproar. The media would be on them like vultures. That was why Ikki and Stella had decided to keep their relationship a secret for now. And because it was a secret, Stella couldn’t say that she’d wanted to bring Ikki a drink, even if that was exactly what she’d come to do.
“Then why do you have two drinks?” Shizuku asked.
“I-I was just... Oh yeah! I got both of them for me!”
“I see. And here I was about to misunderstand everything. You’re only serving Onii-sama because you lost to him in a duel, right, Stella-san? It’s not as if you’re his girlfriend or anything, so there’s no reason for you to go out of your way to be nice to him.”
“Exactly! Man, I’m so thirsty I could drink a whole ocean! Even these two drinks might not be enough!”