“Sensei! Please do it again!” Koharu, Ichihara-san’s daughter, exclaimed with a bright, cheerful, and enthusiastic grin.
“What? Haven’t you seen it enough?”
On her request just before we started our first session, she asked me to demonstrate the same punch that I always do for them. And unlike before, I ceded to her request three times already. Yet, here she was, still asking for more.
Compared to her mother, this girl was rather cheeky herself. This wasn’t apparent when she was among the other enrollees but now that she had me for herself, her horns of mischief began to sprout.
She could just be too fascinated by my punches but even so, we wouldn’t accomplish anything in terms of her training if I kept playing along with her whims.
“Eh... You look really cool when you do it, sensei. The sound is so crisp too. I wonder how long that punching bag will last if you keep hitting on it.”
“Flattery won’t get you anywhere with me, young lady. Anyway, this looks like a premium brand. Even if I punch this all day, I won’t be able to break it.”
I’m not kidding about that. Currently, we’re in a room similar to the mini-gym at our house, but this one is filled with a complete set of boxing equipment. There’s even a ring in the middle of the room but its size is smaller than the standard one.
While this room was enclosed within their yard, the right-side wall was made of glass which was directly in front of their garden.
It’s already night so there’s nothing much to see there. However, I had a feeling that we were being monitored from outside the fence.
Ichihara-san left us right away after bringing me to this room. She’s still ashamed from earlier and perhaps, she didn’t want to become a distraction for her daughter.
Given that we hadn’t run into any members of the Ichihara on our way in, this might just be me overreacting since I entered their turf.
“If it’s you, sensei, I know you can do it!”
“Sure, sure. But first, finish my lesson for you. That’s the reason why I’m here.”
Sweeping away the thick air of her enthusiasm to simply watch me punch their heavy bag, I approached the girl and ruffled her hair, the same way as I did during our previous lessons.
For this girl, that was both a scolding and encouragement from me. And it was effective, she grinned in satisfaction and nodded before taking up her stance.
In this way, ten minutes once again passed before I let her train according to what I taught her while I coached her on the side.
Not counting how much she wanted to see me show off, I could say that Koharu was really diligent in learning from me.
When I asked her earlier why she requested her mother to ask me to teach her personally, her reason was kinda simple or maybe wild?
‘I want to punch someone in the face, sensei. He’s older and taller than me. I can’t do it without training for it.’
I didn’t ask who that someone was exactly but from the way she clenched her fist while glancing towards the direction of the main mansion of the Ichihara... my best guess was obviously Ichihara Jun.
He’s probably being a bully to his little cousin. What a jerk.
“How’s it going, Onoda-sensei?”
While I was lost in that thought and half of my focus was on Koharu, Ichihara-san entered the room again, approaching me from the side.
I heard the door opening but considering they are the only ones here, I understood that it was her. However, Ichihara-san’s approach was more careful than normal. It’s like she’s afraid to disturb me.
Well, since she’s my employer, I wouldn’t totally ignore her. I glanced at her. She already changed out of her earlier attire. It’s your normal dress that exudes a homely vibe. More than a wealthy housewife that I used to see her as, she appeared rather ordinary this time. She removed her makeup and most of her accessories.
I don’t know if there’s any meaning to that but if I have to guess, it’s more of she has to maintain an image outside as a part of this family. That’s why her only place of comfort was in her own residence where no one could tell her what to do.
“Mhm. Koharu-chan is doing well. I believe even without my instruction as long as she continues exercising and training with all of your equipment here, she’ll be skilled enough to protect herself or fight back in case she gets put in a situation where she has to.” I soon replied in low volume. With Koharu concentrating at the moment, I don’t want to disturb her.
Understanding that, Ichihara-san also did the same.
“Protect herself. Did she tell you her reason for taking up a more extensive lesson?”
“She did.”
“I see. She really idolizes you. You’re only a few years older than her but you’re already this mature.”
“I’m flattered but there’s a reason why I’m like this.”
“Is that so? I can’t imagine what kind of reason someone as young as you has to mature this early. However, it seems to have worked out well for you.”
“Maybe.” My response was a little dry but that’s really all I could say to her.
I had no idea how she would interpret that but Ichihara-san soon dropped the topic herself.
Forcing a smile once again, she then turned her gaze to me.
“Onoda-sensei, please take care of Koharu for me. In two years she’ll also be enrolling in your school.”
“Sure. But Ichihara-san, isn’t it too early?”
“Yes. It is. However, I believe I can trust you to look after her.”
Looking at her eyes that exuded an almost absolute trust in me, I couldn’t help but shiver at a certain thought. For her to talk like this... is something going to happen to her?
“Hmm... Forgive me for saying this but you sound like you’re going to leave her side in the future. Please correct me if I’m wrong.”
I almost held my breath to hear her answer. However, even after a minute of staring at me, Ichihara-san didn’t open her mouth. Her lips curved into a weak smile though. Rather than a forced one, it felt like it was a sign of her resignation to whatever fate awaiting her.
Before I could say anything else, Ichihara-san bowed before turning around to leave the room without looking back at us.
The thought of chasing after passed through my mind. However, I restrained it and just let it be. I can sense that she’s troubled by a heavy problem that won’t be resolved easily. However, I don’t think it’s my place to pry on it or I have a reason to shoulder it for her.
At this point, the sound of Koharu’s punches to the heavy bag disappeared. She stopped.
Upon turning my head back to her, I saw her staring at the door with a hint of sorrow in her eyes.
What’s this? What’s wrong with this family?
“Onoda-sensei, can we take a break?” The girl soon said as she lowered her arms.
“Sure. Come here, let me help you take your gloves off.”
“Thank you.” The girl smiled and even for just a bit, her cheerful smile returned.
Following that, she made her way to the door, leaving me alone in the room.
Even without guessing, she’s probably going to her mother...
Really, what should I do here? It’s not my problem but seeing those two acting like that, I couldn’t help but feel restless.
With my head filled with those thoughts, I took a seat and decided to just rest my legs while I waited for Koharu to return.
However, it was at this moment that I noticed something outside the glass wall.
Something or someone was carefully moving there. Not long after, with the light of the room extending outside and illuminating that garden, the identity of that moving figure was revealed to my eyes.
Who is it?
It’s the girl with a golden ringlet.
Upon noticing me staring straight at her, she immediately straightened her body before embarrassedly laughing. I couldn’t hear her voice but reading the movement of her mouth, I somehow understood what she was saying.
‘Don’t mind me, Junior-kun. I’m only checking up on you...’
Really, how can she be this reckless?
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶