章 488: The Five-Second Rule
Kaguya's cooking skills had undeniably reached a level of mastery after countless trials and honing. Her culinary talent was sharp, her knife skills refined through rigorous practice—skills that had once been used in battles but now lent an unmatched precision to her kitchen work. Even a top chef might struggle to outshine Kaguya's abilities.
This was evident on the faces of Origami and Yoshino as they ate.
While Origami seemed to be focused on eating, she was mainly piling Kaguya's bowl with food, quickly forming a small mountain of dishes. Thankfully, Kaguya had a large appetite; otherwise, she might have truly been overwhelmed.
Yoshino, on the other hand, was far more elegant, eating slowly with a refined, lady-like demeanor. Her dainty, youthful cheeks only enhanced her charm, making her look exceedingly adorable.
Noticing Kaguya's gaze, Yoshino suddenly grew flustered, her grip on her chopsticks becoming visibly awkward.
Realizing she'd made Yoshino uncomfortable, Kaguya smiled and turned away, giving the girl a moment to relax.
"Have some juice," Kaguya said with a warm smile.
"N-No, thank you." Yoshino shook her head quickly, looking shy as she adjusted to the unfamiliar environment.
"This is fresh juice I just made; it's really good," Kaguya said, pouring a glass for her anyway. "You're still growing, so make sure to eat up."
Yoshino nodded, reaching out her little hand to take the cup.
Kaguya turned to see a face suddenly appear close in front of her, almost startling her.
"What is it?" Kaguya asked curiously.
"I want some too," Origami replied, pointing at the juice.
"It's right next to you," Kaguya said, a bit puzzled.
"No, I want you to pour it for me," Origami insisted, holding out her glass as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Looking at the juice bottle just ten centimeters away from her, Kaguya couldn't help but break into a wry smile.
Could she be… jealous? Watching Origami's unreadable expression, Kaguya entertained the idea before dismissing it as absurd. After all, they hadn't known each other long enough for jealousy.
"All right, all right," Kaguya sighed, pouring juice into Origami's cup, feeling a bit like she was looking after a child.
At that moment, Origami swapped her juice with Kaguya's, taking the one Kaguya had poured for herself and leaving her own cup in its place.
"What are you doing?" Kaguya asked, a bit taken aback.
"This one tastes better," Origami replied matter-of-factly, blinking innocently.
"Huh?" Kaguya was baffled—the juice was freshly squeezed and identical in every way.
Just then, Kaguya caught sight of a shadow edging toward her from the corner of her eye. She turned and saw Yoshino, arm outstretched, holding a piece of food on her chopsticks and slowly moving it toward Kaguya's bowl with a careful, shy look. Her cuteness was almost overwhelming.
Seeing Kaguya notice, Yoshino panicked and her hand trembled, causing a piece of broccoli to fall onto the table.
"S-Sorry," Yoshino stammered, looking lost and deeply embarrassed.
"No problem," Kaguya replied, picking up the broccoli from the table with a smile. "Thank you."
"But…" Yoshino's voice was small, her face full of concern.
"It's fine," Kaguya laughed. "As long as it hasn't been on the floor for more than five seconds, it's safe to eat."
"Is that… true?" Yoshino blinked, clearly hearing such a rule for the first time.
Seeing Kaguya's warm smile, Yoshino relaxed a bit, her curiosity piqued by Kaguya's strange "five-second rule." She asked, her wide, curious eyes brightening, "Is it really okay?"
"Of course, it's fine," Kaguya replied, patting her head gently. "Eat up, or your food will get cold."
"Mm." Yoshino nodded lightly, her delicate cheeks lighting up with a smile.
And so, Yoshino began living with Kaguya. With a television to watch, she was no longer lonely, and Kaguya even bought her a beautiful computer in a sleek, girlish design. Though Yoshino didn't know how to use it yet, Kaguya hoped it would bring her joy as she learned.
Of course, as Kaguya lacked traditional money, she sometimes paid with diamonds, attracting crowds of onlookers wherever she went. Kaguya herself found the attention a bit excessive, as her face alone often drew admiration. Those who dared approach her soon regretted it, often leaving with a broken limb or two, much to Kaguya's annoyance.
Clearly, she would have to convert some diamonds to cash discreetly soon.
Another matter was that Kaguya had to begin her AST training. She had enrolled a while back, and if she didn't report in soon, they might expel her.
Arriving at AST headquarters, Kaguya saw that training was already in session. The team members were jogging around the field at an impressive pace, faster than any school's physical training. These girls, though delicate in appearance, had physical abilities far exceeding that of any professional athlete.
"Are you the new recruit?"
No sooner had Kaguya stepped onto the field than a beautiful young woman approached her. She had long black hair, finely sculpted features, and a tall, curvaceous figure, particularly well-endowed. The mature charm she exuded made "girl" feel like an inadequate description; "woman" suited her better.
If Kaguya wasn't mistaken, this person was likely Ryouko Kusakabe, the team leader of one of AST's smaller squads and also Origami Tobiichi's superior.
"Hello, Captain," Kaguya walked over and greeted her. "I'm here to report in."
"You're new, right?" Ryouko's eyes widened with surprise. "Wait—you're Origami Tobiichi's younger sister, aren't you?"
"Younger sister?" Kaguya was momentarily taken aback, but quickly recovered, recalling that Origami had once introduced her as such. "Yes, that's right. I am Origami's younger sister."
"Really wouldn't have guessed," Ryouko remarked, looking Kaguya up and down with interest. "Didn't think Origami had such a stunning younger sister. Quite unexpected!"
It was indeed unexpected because Kaguya was certainly not Origami's sister. Kaguya wondered why Origami would fabricate such a backstory; it would have made more sense if Kaguya had been introduced as an older sister instead, which would be less jarring.
"I'm Ryouko Kusakabe—oh, wait, I've already introduced myself, haven't I?" Ryouko said, tapping her forehead with a smile. "I remember now. You're Kaguya, right?"
"Yes, Captain," Kaguya confirmed.
"However, you seem to be running late." Ryouko leaned forward slightly, waggling her index finger left and right. "Tardiness is not tolerated in our unit, you know."
"Apologies," Kaguya replied with a polite smile. "Something came up at home, which caused a bit of a delay."
This morning, Kaguya had taken time to prepare breakfast for Yoshino, and she had even made lunch in advance, afraid she might go hungry by noon, so it was understandable she was running a bit behind.
"Well, then," Ryouko's face softened as she said, "Since it's your first time here and you're Origami's sister, I won't penalize you. But I do expect you to respect our unit's discipline. Any future delays will come out of your pay!"
"Yes, Captain," Kaguya replied.
Ryouko rubbed her chin thoughtfully, then continued, "Since you're a new recruit, you won't be able to jump into full training right away. Our regiment is very rigorous; without exceptional physical conditioning, you wouldn't be able to keep up."
She glanced at Kaguya again, then added, "So before you can participate in any advanced training, you'll need to go through physical conditioning. Only when you meet the fitness requirements can you proceed. Otherwise, it could harm your health."
Most female recruits, as long as they weren't physically frail, could typically pass the fitness test after a few months of training. But Ryouko hadn't arranged an immediate test for Kaguya—not because she underestimated her, but because Kaguya looked too delicate, more like the young heiress of a prominent family than a combat soldier.
"Wait, Captain," Kaguya suddenly interjected. "I believe I can pass the test."
"Oh?" Ryouko raised an eyebrow, surprised, before smiling and saying, "The fitness test isn't easy. Most recruits only qualify after months of intensive training."
"Even so, I'd still like to take the test if you'd allow it," Kaguya said. "I want to join AST as soon as possible."
"Are you serious?" Ryouko's expression shifted to a more serious one. "The difficulty is higher than you may think, and the strain is intense. You could risk muscle injuries if you push too hard. Are you sure?"
Without responding verbally, Kaguya simply nodded.
After a pause, Ryouko relented, "Fine, I'll make an exception this time and let you attempt the fitness test." She patted Kaguya's shoulder with a smile. "Very few manage to pass on their first attempt. Even Origami was one of the only ones to do it. Are you sure you want to take this on?"
Origami?
Kaguya blinked, surprised to learn that Origami had such a record. But then again, Origami was a reputed genius, excelling both at school and in AST—someone with the skill to join a specialized combat unit at such a young age.
"All right then," Ryouko said, leading Kaguya toward the training area. She suddenly stopped, turned, and cautioned Kaguya, "Don't push yourself too hard. If something feels off, say so immediately, or you could seriously hurt yourself. I'm not exaggerating; a few months ago, a girl injured herself pushing beyond her limit. She's still bedridden."
"Understood," Kaguya replied, her refined face breaking into a casual smile.
While this fitness test might be arduous for most, Kaguya wasn't worried in the slightest. The gap in ability was too significant; if even she couldn't pass such a test, then few in the world could.
They crossed the training ground and arrived at a large building. Inside, it was spacious, nearly as big as the outdoor field and filled with various equipment.
"This is the fitness testing area. First up is the gravity test," Ryouko explained, gesturing to the apparatus beside them. "It's a gravity-generating machine capable of creating up to twenty times normal gravity. But don't worry; we won't push it that far. Generally, people can only withstand up to three times gravity. To pass, though, you'll need to withstand at least six times gravity."
The machine was imposing, reaching as high as a ten-story building, with thick steel walls that made it look indestructible. A digital screen displayed a series of complex data. Around them, several AST members in lab coats were at work, casting curious glances at Kaguya.
They had seen plenty of attractive women before, but Kaguya's beauty was in a league of its own. Some male researchers were stunned for a moment before snapping out of it.
"If you're ready, step inside, and the test will begin," Ryouko said, patting Kaguya's smooth shoulder.
Without further ado, Kaguya nodded and entered the machine.
Just then, Ryouko called out, "Wait."
"What is it, Captain?" Kaguya turned, looking at her questioningly.
"Nothing," Ryouko replied, her expression turning serious. "If it feels like too much, stop immediately. Don't push yourself, okay?"
"Don't worry," Kaguya replied with a slight smile, then walked confidently into the gravity machine.
Inside, Kaguya found herself in a vast, empty room, surrounded by cold steel walls radiating a chilly aura.
As soon as she set foot inside, the thick steel doors, over a meter thick, closed with a heavy "clank," sealing the space tightly.
So, this is the gravity machine? Kaguya thought, pressing a hand against the icy wall with mild curiosity.
But within moments, the machine blared a high-pitched alarm, and red warning lights began flashing.
Ryouko's expression changed immediately.
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