Naruhito (25)
“Naruhito~ Let’s play~”
Rikimaru appeared on his bike in the evening. He wore attire resembling military clothing but simpler, carrying a flat bag.
“I’m starving~”
As always, he would first say this, enter the dining hall, grab some snacks, and then come to my room. If I leave him unattended, he’ll gulp down all of my precious mixed juice, so I have to keep an eye on him. Recently, he started getting juice from the dining hall, so I feel a bit relieved.
There are various snacks, and I unintentionally stare as he eats.
If I keep watching, Rikimaru will stick some in my mouth, but I still can’t swallow the nori in onigiri, and can’t chew rice crackers because they are too hard.
When I licked it, he took it away, saying that’s not how you eat it. There was a commotion when daifuku got stuck in my throat before. The pudding was incredibly yummy, though! However, I don’t like the black part. I think it would be good if there was pudding without any black parts.
“Since it’s after school, you must be hungry, huh?”
He eats a lot, and if the weather is good, we go out to the garden. I asked what school is, and he told me it’s a place where children go to study and play.
“You haven’t been to school, have you?”
When asked, I answered that I was on the battlefield, and he was impressed, saying it makes sense why I’m so strong. Even though Rikimaru would win if we sparred.
“Rikimaru is stronger.”
When I said that,
“No, I was kind of being arrogant. I’m reflecting on it.”
He said something I didn’t quite understand.
We spar in the garden, have various competitions. Racing is always a good match and fun. If I go too serious, various parts of my body will hurt later, and Ikumatsu will scold me.
When Gramps and Hitachimaru spar, I get fascinated. Rikimaru also always watches with delight. When the two of us launched a surprise attack on Gramps together, we were blown away with ease. Rikimaru slammed into a tree with his back and stopped, and I was caught by Hitachimaru and saved. Both Gramps and Hitachimaru scolded us severely, as did Ikumatsu and Otoha.
Rikimaru was badly injured and couldn’t go home, so he stayed at our place, lying face down for three days. A woman named Rikimaru’s mother brought snacks and scolded both of us again while sitting on the bed.