Gossip about Riku and Akina also reached Rimu's classroom, it become the main talk among the girls. Rimu observes the gossiping girls silently, pretending to be asleep in her desk.

Girl A: "Did you hear? It seems Riku-kyun is going out with Ice Queen from 5-2!"
Girl B: "Yeah, I heard it. It's hard to believe. I mean, they didn't show the signs having any romantic relationships before."
Girl A: "I know what you mean."
Girl C: "What? What? Do I sense jealousy here? Did you mortified your idol got taken away?"
Girl A: "No, that's not it, stupid... Of course, I will root for them! As long as he is happy, I didn't mind trivial things, but..."
Girl B: "But?"
Girl A: "...But I'm envious, of course! Dammit! I also want to mufufu-ing him... Aaargh!!"
Girl C: "..."

'This is surprising, I thought their relationship would stay hidden, until it is revealed at junior high.
I guess this is also caused by the butterfly effect.'

Of course, Rimu is aware of Riku and Akina's peculiar bond. But, what she didn't understand is why it was revealed this early. In her previous life, they were keen on their role-playing as a spy-look-alike and only communicates via secret code.

Their secret play only revealed in junior high by a boy because he was covertly stalking Akina. The boy, Mimasaka Mamoru is unexpectedly having his own faction, the same as Riku. And it seems, he has an obsession with Akina which is clearly a hostile(?) one.

She still remembers clearly, that was the trigger of the 4th faction war in their junior high.

Maybe in Mamoru's eyes, two enemies joining force was not an amusing event...?

"Akina, you stupiiiiiiiiddd......"

While Rimu was immersed in her thought, a scream of agony could be heard outside. She instantly awakened from her stupor.

Hmph, must be one of Akina's diehard fans in FFF.
Ignore, ignore.

*THUD*

Another voice was heard from behind her. Rimu reflexively turned her head and find Nia's stupefied figure. She dropped her book and pencil case to the floor but she didn't seem to care. Her eyes were dim as if she had lost her soul. Their eyes inadvertently met.

'Ah... it's starting... 3, 2, 1...'

Rimu clenched her teeth and prepare herself for what will happen afterward.

"RIMU-CHAAAAN...!!!" *mugyuu~*

"Mmpphh..."

"Rimu-chan... Rimu-chan... Is that true? Is what they talked about true?
The rumor about Riku-kun is going out with Akina-chan, is that true?"

Nia swiftly hugged Rimu with tears in her eyes. Rimu helplessly sighed and resigned herself to received her hug.

Well, it was not a problem if it's just a hug, however...

*rub rub rub rub*

Nia had a habit to rub her breasts to Rimu's face. Rimu had to try her best to not be suffocated as she struggled to break free. With her finger, Rimu pressed Nia's ticklish spot in her waist and make her let out "Kyaahn~" sounds, freeing her embrace.

"Puhaaa...!" Rimu exhales her breath.

That was close, she almost sent to the heavens by Nia's breasts...

Those oppai was lethal!

"Muuu~!! You're cruel, Rimu-chan. I was asking seriously here..."

Nia who got tickled tearfully rubbing her butt. Because of Rimu's sudden attack earlier, she lost her balance and her bottom nudged the corner of her desk. It looks painful.

Meanwhile, Rimu snapped in anger.

'That's my words! You cow woman! How dare you shove those lumps of fat to my face!
Is it sarcasm? Sarcasm to a loli isn't it?'

Though of course she didn't say that out loud and chuckled instead, hiding her true thought completely.

"Ahaha, you're too paranoid, Nia. There is nothing between Riku and A-kun." Rimu giggled.

"But... but... Why are you so sure? Everyone says..." Nia was still anxious.

Why did she so sure?

Naturally, because of her previous life. As far as she knew, nothing happened at all between them. Their bonds didn't advance to boyfriend-girlfriend relationships, at least, officially. As for privately, no one knows...

Though, Rimu couldn't be possibly telling Nia all of that.

"Nia, do you know Emiya Kiritsugu and Maiya¹Fate/Zero: <link> & <link> ? Riku and A-kun's relationship is similar to them."

"...Um? I still doesn't understand." Nia tilted her head in confusion.

"Oh, maybe that was not a good explanation. You probably haven't watched anime with that kind of genre.
Let's see... Just think of them like how your relationship with Kouta."

"...I see." Nia nodded.

"In other words, you don't have to worry about that and you can be at ease courting him." Rimu encourages her.

Kouta who silently observing, "..."

♠♠♠

 

After that, classes went on as usual.

The students still talked about Riku's rumor, but eventually, everything returned to normal as if nothing has happened. Other than a certain boy didn't return to his class and causes their class vice representative busy.

Later on, Rimu went to Karate Club. Karate Club training takes place every day from Monday to Friday. However, club members are only required to show up at least 2 times per week. Rimu choose to attend on Monday and Thursday.

Kyoko already waited for her in the club room.

"Here is your uniform, brat. I had to specially order it for you. Quickly change, everyone is already waiting at the sports building."

Says Kyoko as she handed out the Karate uniform to Rimu.

What she didn't tell her was the uniform is not really custom ordered, but just one of Kyoko's old uniform that she resized according to Rimu's size. It will cost her a lot of money if she really custom ordered a new uniform. Meanwhile, resizing her old clothes didn't take too much effort and there is no money spent.

Besides, the end product was good as a new one anyway. As long as no one realized, why not?

"Okay." Rimu happily accepts the uniform.

'Now I have officially joined the Karate Club!
With this, I can ensure my workout plan to maintain my loli body!
Hehehehehehe...'

Rimu let out a wicked grin and laughed creepily, causing Kyoko who looking at her to twitch her eyes.

"Sometimes, I'm unable to understand what is inside this brat's mind..."

♠♠♠

 

A few minutes later, Rimu had changed to her new uniform and lined up with the other child in the sports building. The children did calisthenics as their warming up routine.

Suddenly Kyoko clapped her hands, signaling the children to stop their warming up.

"Today we will practice spar, everyone. Talk to your friend and make a pair of two. We will start in 5 minutes."

Hearing their instructor says, the children started to scatter from the lineup and searching for their pair. Rimu also observing her surroundings, but unfortunately, she didn't have any acquaintance here. In fact, except Fumino and Ryouji-senpai, she doesn't know anyone, not even their names.

Without any choice, she approached Fumino as she was the girl Rimu knows.

"Fumino, let's spar," Rimu says.

Hearing her name called out, Fumino turned her head only to see Rimu. Her expression instantly turned complex.

"Rimu-chan, don't you know I'm a 2nd kyu-grade? You should search for a sparring partner with the same grade, okay?" Fumino smiled.

"But... I don't know anyone here... I think Fumino is good." Rimu answered.

Fumino sighed, it seems "newborn calves are not afraid of tigers" idiom is really true. She wavered whether to accept Rimu's challenge or explain carefully the disparity between the grades. 

She looked at Rimu's face with careful observation. By Fumino's standard, Rimu's face was so adorable as if Rimu herself is the embodiment of cuteness. Comparing it to her own face as if comparing silk with a rag cloth. Her glance then switched to Rimu's petite body and frail-looking arm. And then compares it to her own arm which is have been developed with a bit of muscle.

If Rimu is a newborn calf, then Fumino is a muscly tigress!

Fumino seriously contemplating, what should she do if they ended up sparring?

Thinking about her crushes this delicate-looking girl makes her terrified.

No, no, no, no! That must not happen!
I must refuse!

Fortunately as if heard her worry, Kyoko called Rimu over.

"You are prohibited from sparring, brat. Come here, this is your special training." Kyoko called.

"...Umm, okay..." Rimu answered. She followed Kyoko to another room.

Looking at Rimu walked away from her, Fumino sighed in relief.

♠♠♠

 

Rimu followed Kyoko outside of Karate training room, she still doesn't understand completely why Kyoko gives her different training than the others. But, she didn't complain and just let nature take its course² to allow events to happen without doing anything to change the results. .

Not long after, they stopped in front of the storeroom. Kyoko slashed her employee card to the card reader next to the door. After a beep sounds, she pressed her thumb to the sensor. A few seconds later, the door opened and the two entered the room.

"Nowadays is the era of electronic locks, isn't it? It's already rare to find manual padlock keys." Kyoko reminisced.

She remembered her high school days with Seigo, especially the time when they accidentally got locked in the gym storeroom in their school at that time. They got locked there for a full night and somehow the situation turned into sεxy time halfway. It was a good memory.

"Hou~" Rimu hummed.

She already knows this story from her mother in her previous life. In fact, it was Mikoto who deliberately lock them and installed a secret camera inside. Just so she could blackmail her husband to be. Of course, Kyoko was oblivious about this matter.

Kyoko took out a box and shows the inside to Rimu.

"Here it is... wear them."

"What is this?"

"As you can see, training gibs. This was specially customized so it can be worn by a child in your size. By the way, this formerly was Riku's, but I think it's still wearable with your size. Since it seems you haven't grown at all for the past year."

STAB!

Kyoko's words hurt the most painful spot in Rimu's heart. She wants to cry but no tears came out.

'No problem, Rimu! No problem!
In this life, I pursue the path of loli, so my slow growth is no problem at all!
Yes, THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL!!'

Kyoko's explanation continues. She pointed at the small pockets in the gibs.

"Look carefully at this part, it can be inserted with special alloy to increase the weight. For now, each of the limbs is inserted with 0.5 kg alloy, all with a total of 2 kg." Kyoko lifted the gibs before she continued.

"From now on, you will wear this during your activity, and after your body adapted, we will gradually increase the weight. With this training, I believe your body strength will improve. I guarantee after a year, you could even parkour in the roof of this city with ease!"

Rimu feels that her comprehension of the world was tilted today.

Hey, I only joined the club because I want to do regular workout to maintain my loli body...
Definitely not to become a parkour master!

Is this club that I joined in really a Karate club?