Chapter 7: I Must Change the Ending!!!

Day after day, the interest class life continued.
Although Master Toriiwa demanded daily attendance, Yuka truly could not manage coming to the Toriiwa-ryuu dojo every day.

“Why can’t you come every single day?”

“Well… I still have to go to the fitness club for my swimming lessons, and after that my cram school is starting, so I really can’t come here every day.”

Yuka answered Master Toriiwa’s question while practicing her standing posture, sitting posture, and bowing.

These basic movements were still unapproved and had to be practiced endlessly.

“Oh? You want to learn water skills? Perfect, then quit that so-called fitness club and come here instead! Toriiwa-ryuu is proficient in all eighteen martial techniques! From today on I shall teach you the art of water combat!”

“No need, truly—please don’t trouble yourself.”

‘What kind of joke is that. If I leave it to this crazy old man, who knows how I’ll be tortured.’

Compared to him, following Teacher Toyama’s slow swimming lessons was far more reassuring.

“Good! Then today you will continue practicing footwork.”

“…Yes.”

After repeating standing posture, sitting posture, and bowing, came yet another eternity of footwork practice.
This seemingly meaningless training had no end.

“Your waist is too high! Don’t stand like a stiff stick! Lower your center of gravity!”

“Ouch!”

The fan struck her leg heavily.
This was basically corporal punishment…
In a time when even a teacher touching a student would be criticized as abuse or harassment, Master Toriiwa hit her without hesitation.
Although her mother was not present today, even if she were, she probably wouldn’t say anything.
Even if Yuka were struck exactly like this in front of her mother, she would treat it as natural.

If a schoolteacher used physical punishment, it would cause immediate social controversy, but strict discipline from interest class instructors or masters was never criticized.
In the end, the world was full of double standards.
People twisted rules however they liked according to their interests.
A teacher’s strike was abuse, an instructor’s strike was guidance—this double standard was everywhere.

“Don’t space out! Don’t lift your feet! Step firmly!”

“Ouch!”

Another hit. Master Toriiwa struck whenever he pleased.

“Focus! You must tense every nerve in your fingertips and toes! Pay attention to your head and hand movements!”

“Ugh!”

All she did was walk from one end of the dojo to the other.
She had to lower her center of gravity, step firmly, and constantly pay attention to the movements of her head, hands, and feet without relaxing even for a moment.

“Master… since my mother isn’t here today, could you start teaching me ancient martial arts…”

“You still dare talk back! Do what you’re told!”

“Ouch!”

In truth, her mother rarely came with her.
After the first few days she left everything to Yuka.
Yet Yuka had never once touched real ancient martial arts training.
It was all standing posture, sitting posture, footwork, hand gestures, head movements…

She didn’t know if this was dance or performance, but when would martial arts actually begin?
She wanted to learn martial arts…

“Your concentration is fading!”

“Ouch!”

Thus, another day ended in endless footwork practice.

****

Today’s training seemed different than usual.
The clothing she was told to change into was heavy and hard to move in, like a mix between a yukata and a training gi.

“Um… Master Toriiwa? I’ve changed.”

“Very good! Get inside!”

“…Eh?”

The place Master Toriiwa pointed to was the pond behind the dojo.
Get inside?
What did that even mean?

“Hurry and get in!”

“Ahhh!”

The moment she was thrown into the pond, a freezing chill pierced her.
So cold!
It was absolutely not the season for getting into the water!
She almost thought she would have a heart attack!
This crazy old man!

“Master! What if it triggers a heart attack! It’s too cold! It’s not the season for swimming!”

“What nonsense! In a life-and-death battle, can you say you won’t enter the water because the weather is cold?”

That might be true…
But that was something done in ancient wartime, right?
She would never be in a battle, in her past life or this one!

“Raise your hands!”

“What?”

By reflex she obeyed, and only then did Yuka realize something was wrong.

“W-wait! It’s heavy! Too heavy! I’m sinking!”

“Hold it like that for one hour. Do not let it get wet.”

“…Huh?”

Treading water, Yuka held a heavy object above her head, relying only on her legs to stay afloat.
One hour like this?
What kind of joke was that?
She would definitely sink!

But even if she protested, this master would never show mercy.
Under his severe gaze, Yuka could only continue treading water with difficulty.

The object was already heavy, and the yukata-like clothes soaked with water clung tightly to her body, making her even heavier.
Why did she have to dress like this…
At least let her wear a swimsuit…

“Swimming across moats and rivers without letting armor or weapons get wet—this is the meaning of such swimming skills. Understand?”

Understand what!
She would never need to swim across a moat with armor and weapons!

“Master! My legs are running out of strength! I really can’t anymore!”

How many kilograms was this thing?
There was no way a child should be holding such weight!

“Tired? Then your swimming method is wrong! Add one more hour!”

“Eh?! I’ll drown! And it’s too cold!”

Isn’t getting tired while swimming completely normal!
Besides, he never taught her proper swimming technique at all!
Her body was too cold to move!
She was really going to die!

“Aren’t you practicing swimming in that so-called fitness club?”

“The fitness club has an indoor heated pool! Nobody jumps into a pond in this weather!”

Was this old man isolated from the world?
What idiot would jump into freezing water?!
Winter pools were all heated indoors!

“That’s not training. Add one hour and fifty minutes.”

“Uwaaah!”

Only ten minutes had passed?
No way!
The clock on the wall clearly moved faster!
Was he secretly adding time?
If she stayed any longer she would really die!

****

Today was the first day of cram school at Chihana Society.
Cram schools usually moved slightly faster than normal schools, starting earlier to reserve time for exam review.
Schools always began new lessons after long breaks, finished right before exams, took tests, then vacation.

Cram schools, however, focused on review before exams, so they had to finish the exam range early.
Even during long breaks, cram school didn’t stop; instead, they held intensive lectures or holiday special training without pause.

Of course long breaks weren’t only to rush the progress.
They also reviewed past material, attacking weak areas.
But new lessons still continued to stay ahead of school progress so that before exams they could focus only on review.
Thus the new academic year began earlier.

But all of that was side information.
The main point was that Yuka also began her lessons today…

“Akagi-sensei… let’s still start from the first year middle school level, okay?”

“Eeh~? No way. Didn’t we already agree?”

The person responsible for Yuka was the same teacher who tested her academic level: Akagi Shouko.

Although Akagi-sensei understood that elementary school curriculum meant nothing to Yuka, she instead suggested immediately starting university entrance preparation, even proposing the ridiculous idea of taking entrance exams next year.

Yuka’s goal was always to build a solid foundation and ensure she could keep up with the curriculum at Oka Academy’s upper division.
If she only wanted to enter a random third-rate university, it wouldn’t be difficult, but her goal was to enter Oka Academy smoothly and keep up, not skip grades.

“Akagi-sensei, taking a random third-rate university exam next year means nothing, right?
My goal is to firmly master six years of middle and high school knowledge during my six years of elementary school, then advance with a solid foundation.”

“Mm…”

The teacher looked deeply conflicted.
But honestly, the teacher didn’t need to struggle.
Yuka clearly stated her intention, so just follow her request.
Why make such a fuss…

“Yuka, you’re going to Oka Academy, right?”

“Yes.”

Her admission was already confirmed.
Although the interview was mostly formal procedure, the new school year would begin in a month, and the official acceptance notice had already arrived.

“From Oka Academy’s top student, to entering the best university with the highest scores… yes! That’s a good goal!
Alright! If you’re going to take exams, don’t aim for a normal university—aim for the very top!”

“Understood.”

It seemed Akagi-sensei was finally convinced?
Although Yuka didn’t particularly care about top universities, now was not the time to talk more.
It would be troublesome if she spoke too much and made Akagi-sensei change her mind again.

“Then starting today, we’ll begin from the first-year curriculum of a top middle school.”

“Understood.”

Although she didn’t fully understand what “top middle school first-year” meant…
This cram school covered everything from kindergarten to university entrance.
Student levels varied greatly.
Although mostly elite private school students attended, their levels and target schools varied widely.

“Then today, do this set of problems first, so I can understand your level and weak points.”

“Eh! I have to do all of this?”

The amount of problems Takatsuji-sensei brought was shocking.
It looked more like a test bank than worksheets.
Either way, this was too much.

“It’ll be timed, start with this book first.”

Then why not bring them in parts from the start?
Was stacking them up like this meant to intimidate her?

“Alright, begin.”

“!!!!”

The sudden start made Yuka pick up her pen in a panic and begin solving.

****

She was exhausted…
For now, she never wanted to see another workbook again.
But middle school-level questions truly were not to be underestimated.
Lower elementary content was fine, but upper grades and beyond—even adults would struggle to get full marks.
Forgetfulness, carelessness, misunderstanding—these things were inevitable.
Especially when she hadn’t touched this knowledge for a long time—it was only natural she wasn’t as good as enrolled students.

Yuka also got several questions wrong.
Eighty or ninety points might be possible, but full marks were truly difficult.
Messing up middle school questions inevitably hurt her confidence.
She deeply realized that she really did need to start learning from the middle school level again.

“Young Lady Yuka, sorry to keep you waiting. I’ve come to pick you up.”

“Kofuu.”

In the luxurious lobby that resembled a high-end hotel reception, her maid Kofuu arrived right on time.
In fact, Kofuu wasn’t late—Yuka finished class early.

“Today ended early, Kofuu, there’s no need to apologize. Let’s go home.”

They boarded the car that came to pick her up and headed back.
Oka Academy was about to start soon…
Even though it was only the elementary division, this was where the real challenge began.
Even though she had only recently regained memories of her past life…

In the game Love 100%, many important things were already determined during the elementary period.
For example, Noyama Hiroki’s relationship with Ishikawa Yuka, and most of Yuka’s followers were friends from the elementary period.
Aside from Hiroki, most of the capture targets also appeared during their childhood and early school years, as well as other young ladies.

Yuka’s future actions would greatly affect the story progression of Love 100%.
At the very least, she must not repeat the villainess Yuka’s mistakes.
Otherwise, at best she would destroy herself, and at worst she would drag her family down with her.

Her mother always nagged her endlessly.
In Love 100%, Yuka’s mother was a villain who would mock others with an “Ohohohoho!” laugh together with her daughter, harassing and bullying others.
But the mother in this world was nothing like that annoying character—she was kind and warm.

Though she was the wife of a great conglomerate, she never put on airs, and she would loudly scold her daughter regardless of status.
But… she was a good mother.
Yuka understood she truly cared for her.
If she were just an ordinary child, she might have rebelled, but having memories of her previous life, she understood.

Her father too…
Although he was a useless doting dad…
He was still a normal father of flesh and blood.
Her brother as well…
Sometimes she couldn’t understand what he was thinking, sometimes he seemed profound and unreadable…
But he did care for her, persuading their mother to let her choose the interest classes she wanted.

She must not drag such a family into misfortune because of herself.
She would definitely change the predetermined ending of Love 100% in this world!