บท 21: 21. At Each Other's Throats
"Yes!"
With a chorus, the students replied. Looking at them, Kotaro nodded, satisfied. A week has passed since his marriage.
This week has changed many things in his life.
Now, regular exercise is part of his routine. Looking at the daily expenses, it also made him open the school as soon as possible to earn more money. And in the end, even a new nickname—Beast—has been added.
Now, noting all of his changes, Kotaro realized something. Doesn't his workload seem to have increased a lot?
Where are the carefree days of youth?
But still…
"Kotaro-sama!"
The door of the room opened, and a pink-haired figure entered with a cheerful smile. Here she is, one more addition to his life, his wife Mitsuri Kanroji.
But still, all his extra workload seems to be worthwhile after seeing Mitsuri's smile.
Her presence made the silence in the class vanish. The students started to murmur, recognizing her as the teacher's wife.
"Is she Kotaro-sensei's wife?"
The small girl saw Mitsuri and started to ask the children beside her. A boy, having a crush on her and wanting to flex, stood out and spoke about it.
"Yes, I saw her during the wedding."
But another boy wasn't too far behind. He said it too and added more context.
"Yes, yes, I saw her too. My parents were also invited by Kotaro-sensei!"
"Isn't she beautiful?"
"Umm! And she even played with us yesterday!"
The children just started to gossip, and there was no way Kotaro didn't hear them. Though he felt proud listening to these children praising his wife, there is still a need for decorum inside a class. So, he took the duster and slapped it on the table.
"Silence!"
The sound attracted the children, and Kotaro's command made all of them shut up. After all, no one wanted slaps on their buttocks for disobeying the teacher.
Looking at them finally silent, Kotaro turned toward Mitsuri with a helpless smile.
"Mitsuri, didn't I tell you not to disturb the classes?"
"Sorry, Kotaro-sama. It's just now it is time for lunch, so I…"
Mitsuri fidgeted a bit and then took out from behind the door and showed him the food she brought with her. And unlike others, she didn't bring a single bento box, but a whole load of them, for her appetite as well.
"…so I brought it to eat together."
'So much!'
Kotaro's eyes widened looking at the amount of food she brought. And look at her lifting it all effortlessly…
'I too want such a physique.'
Just like him, the students were shocked too as they saw the sheer amount of bento boxes, but the reactions they had…
"So cool!"
"Sensei's wife can eat so much! Even I can't eat that much!"
For these kids, the one who can eat the most is naturally the coolest. Now, their eyes shined bright as they looked at Mitsuri.
And Mitsuri…
"Humph!"
Finding such gazes and whispers of admiration from children couldn't help but tilt her head up with a bit of pride.
"Wow!"
The children cheered, making Kotaro just helpless. He went near her and struck her head with a chop.
"Ouch!"
"This is the punishment for disturbing the class."
Are you sure that it even hurts? Kotaro's eyes twitched at her reaction and he just massaged his forehead.
Then he turned toward the children and announced the lunch break. Since Mitsuri had already disturbed the class, and the time for the lunch break was a few minutes away, he decided it was better to give the lunch break now.
"Alright. The class is dismissed. You all better be here after lunchtime."
"Yes!"
With a high-note chorus, the children happily ran out of the classroom, finding their own preferred places to eat their bento.
…
"Kotaro-sama, here!"
Mitsuri opened the wrapping cloth and handed over a bento box to Kotaro, who was sitting beside her. Kotaro took it and opened it, finding a variety of food.
'It does look delicious.'
He thought that Mitsuri might be bad at cooking, but unexpectedly, she is quite good. Did she learn it as part of her duties as a wife?
'Nah, she must have done it because of her eating hobbies.'
Whatever the reason, he was indeed happy that she brought him her handmade food. Kotaro picked up the chopsticks and started to eat.
"Kotaro-sama, is it good?!"
Mitsuri stood and looked at him with wide eyes, carrying a lot of expectations. Kotaro, who swallowed the food, nodded at her.
"It is delicious."
He wasn't lying. Mitsuri is indeed a good cook! Mitsuri, who heard his praise, smiled happily and did a cute double fist pump, making Kotaro smile.
"You should also eat before it gets cold."
"Yes. If it gets cold, it won't taste good."
With Kotaro's reminder, Mitsuri stood up, brought out the food she bought for herself and started to unpack it.
Looking at that huge amount of food, Kotaro's heart bled. He couldn't show it, but his purse was nothing but barren. At first, he thought, yes, Mitsuri can eat a lot, but still, it wouldn't be too much.
But then he realized when the story claimed that Mitsuri could even defeat sumo wrestlers when it comes to eating. This isn't eating anymore… she is just swallowing it down!
For the present moment, the effect isn't much, but Kotaro is now sure that in the future if he stays as a teacher, he won't be able to sustain her appetite.
'Hmm… This is the time to use my modern knowledge and start a business.'
He noted the plan, though starting a business is still far away. For now, his saved money would suffice. And speaking of money…
"Mitsuri."
"Y-Yesh!?"
"You better swallow first."
Kotaro looked at her speaking with a mouth full of rice and told her to swallow first. Mitsuri blushed but soon chewed and swallowed it.
Then Kotaro asked his question.
"Did Aunt Aiko accompany you to the market?"
"O-Oh! Yes! Aunt Aiko came with me when I went to the market yesterday. She even taught me how to buy the best things at a cheap price. She is really a kind person!"
Kotaro listened to her describing her shopping experience in a cute way and smiled. Though he scoffed at her description of Aunt Aiko being kind.
That woman just agreed to teach her at his request, probably wanting to repent for her peeking act. But she also gave extra punches to him to stop spreading her nickname too.
'Hmph! As if I would stop that!'
And unknown to Kotaro, somewhere else, Aiko is also narrating her tale of the night she peeked at others, enhancing the reputation of Kotaro, the beast.
As much as they are at each other's throats, these two are quite similar to each other. No wonder she is his guardian.
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A/N:
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