Chapter 0027: Eri and Chocolate
The martial arts dojo gradually emptied, but the high school students from Teitan High School were still excitedly discussing the one-hit knockout they had just witnessed.
"Isn't Kyōgoku's dojo supposed to be the strongest in Kyoto? Turns out it's just an empty reputation."
"I thought that dark-skinned brute would be formidable, but our president defeated him in one move. He's not even worth my time." A member of the karate club chimed in arrogantly.
"That dark-skinned guy even asked for a rematch, but he was still knocked out with a single punch."
Hearing these remarks, members of Kyōgoku's dojo walking nearby flushed with embarrassment. Luckily, Kyōgoku Mamoru's dark skin concealed his blush.
From that day on, Kyōgoku Mamoru regarded Kogoro Mouri as his lifelong rival. Upon returning to his dojo, he went into seclusion and refused to meet anyone. Later, after marrying and having children, he rigorously trained his son, Kyōgoku Makoto, teaching him that the Mouri family was their lifelong enemy. Little did Mouri know, he had unknowingly set Makoto on a challenging path.
Kogoro Mouri, Eri Kisaki, and Yukiko Fujimine walked along the path of Teitan High School. Passing students gazed at them with admiration, making Kogoro feel a little smug.
At that moment, a young and beautiful girl suddenly appeared, holding a bouquet and a letter atop it. She approached Kogoro with a shy expression. "Mouri-senpai, congratulations on winning the championship! This is for you. Please make sure to read it."
This seemed to be the trigger. Soon, several other pretty female students also brought bouquets, love letters, and gifts. Kogoro's arms were quickly full of presents.
"Wow, these students are so enthusiastic," Kogoro remarked as he prepared to open one of the love letters. Suddenly, he felt two piercingly cold glares from behind him. Turning around, he saw Eri Kisaki radiating an almost visible aura of anger, while Yukiko's face showed equal indignation.
Kogoro instantly deflated, hurriedly tossing the gifts to the ground. "Hmph, these students are so inappropriate. As students, they should focus on their studies."
Only then did Eri look satisfied. She raised her head proudly, her swan-like neck exposed, exuding queenly elegance. Yukiko mimicked her, looking equally adorable.
Kogoro couldn't help but find it strange. Eri's earlier glare had made him instinctively shrink back. It was almost a reflex—a phenomenon he found baffling. Catching up to the two women, he resumed their playful banter. Under the setting sun, the shadows of the trio intertwined.
---
In the evening, Kogoro escorted Eri home. Yukiko, coming from a wealthy family, had her own driver to pick her up, so she didn't need to walk.
As they walked through a dimly lit alley, Kogoro glanced at Eri beside him. Comparing her to his memories, he couldn't help but admire how beautiful she looked in her youth. Unlike the sharp demeanor she later developed as a lawyer, her current aura was softer. Her long legs, exposed under her skirt, were as white as jade, and wearing high heels made her even more captivating.
However, her chest wasn't as full as it would become later. He recalled that after giving birth to Ran, she reached a D cup.
"What are you staring at?" Eri snapped, hitting Kogoro on the head with her bag. Though it didn't hurt, Kogoro had learned to feign pain to gain sympathy.
Eri clapped her hands and continued walking. "You won the karate championship this time, but your future opponents are much stronger. Listen carefully: the taekwondo champion is Kang Shin-cheol from Seoul, a master of leg techniques. Then there's…"
"The iaido champion is Miyamoto Shinbu from Hokkaido. He claims to be a descendant of Miyamoto Musashi, though he's abandoned his ancestor's dual-sword style in favor of single-sword techniques. His swordsmanship…"
"The kendo and aikido championships were won by the Osaka Twin Stars, Hattori Heizō and Toyama Ginshiro…"
"Judo was claimed by an overseas returnee named Kuroba Hajime. Lastly, the sumo champion is a local, Oki Saddle, from Kyoto."
"Hey, are you even listening?" Eri's growing irritation broke Kogoro's daze.
"Eri, you're so beautiful," Kogoro blurted out, looking at her slightly weary face. Remembering how she had run around gathering information for him all afternoon, he felt deeply moved.
"What?" Eri froze, unsure how to respond. Pretending she hadn't heard, her ears quickly turned bright red.
"For you, Eri, I will win the martial arts championship," Kogoro declared, thumping his chest confidently.
Eri's expression softened momentarily before darkening again. She grabbed her bag and chased after him. "Win the championship? So you can have Yukiko do something indecent for you, right? I can't believe you're still thinking about that!"
"It's a misunderstanding! I was just teasing Yukiko because she bullied me. I'm not thinking about her. Eri, having you is enough for me. Hey, stop hitting me!" Kogoro pleaded as Eri's blows left his arms bruised.
---
The two eventually arrived at Beika Park. The moonlight shone brilliantly, and the park, newly built in the last couple of years, was stunning. Illuminated by soft lights, it appeared almost dreamlike.
Eri's gaze lingered on the park's entrance, and Kogoro immediately understood her intention.
"May I have the honor of accompanying Miss Kisaki on a tour of Beika Park?" Kogoro, still in his school uniform, asked in a gentlemanly manner.
"You're so corny," Eri retorted, but she placed her hand in his. Kogoro spread his fingers, interlocking them with hers as he led her into the park.
Inside, the park was quiet, the romantic atmosphere enhanced by the enchanting lights. Eri's entire face was flushed, and warm breath escaped from her rosy cheeks. She found herself led to the artificial lake.
"Eri, I have a gift for you," Kogoro said. Eri tilted her head to look at the lake, feigning indifference. However, her trembling hands betrayed her excitement.
"Close your eyes," Kogoro instructed. Eri pouted but obediently closed her eyes.
"Open them now. Ta-da! Your favorite chocolate," Kogoro announced, holding out a box of carefully prepared Ghirardelli chocolates. Eri's face lit up with delight.
"Hmph, how unoriginal," she said, but she quickly took the chocolates. Sitting on a bench by the lake, they unwrapped the packaging and began to enjoy the treat together.