In the afternoon.
After school, the four Nakano sisters went to Ichika's apartment for their usual tutoring session with Nanami. Rin, who had spent the day refining illustrations for Elf, also went to the apartment to help Nanami with the teaching duties.
He had to admit, the "Grooming System's" stat points were excellent. Rin had forgotten most of his high school knowledge during his previous life at university, but after Kaede had used the system to enhance him over the last few months, he felt sharp. Aside from physical growth—like his ability to produce half a soda can of "soup" in one go—his memory, reflexes, and learning ability were all far beyond normal.
And this was despite Kaede focusing mostly on his physical stats. She had dumped points into his "Defense" so he wouldn't feel pain, and "Constitution" so he could survive accidents. Both Kaede and Suzu's parents, as well as Rin's parents in this world, had died in accidents; Kaede was obsessed with making Rin "truck-proof."
As for "length" or "hardness" or "volume," she felt they were "sufficient." Going too far would just be a burden. Though Kaede had upgraded Rin's fluids so that any girl who came into contact with them would gain a temporary boost in "stamina" and "durability," it was mostly to ensure they didn't break during play. She didn't want to experience a "bottomless stomach" sensation herself.
Girls like Elf, Sagiri, Ami, or Maki—who were smaller—could have their "wombs" completely filled by him. Without the durability enhancement, his "shoulder-pressing" style of play would have broken them long ago.
As for the volume of his cum, Kaede didn't mind it being high. It just meant it would overflow, or give Ichika more "chicken soup" to drink. Aside from changing the flavor to a light sweetness, Kaede had packed the fluid with nutrients and satiety; Mashiro could probably live on his cum alone if she had to.
Ichika, having drunk two bags of it, wasn't hungry at all. Even now, her burps still tasted like "chicken soup."
Rin and Nanami arrived right on time at Ichika's apartment. Only Nino and Miku were there initially, their uniforms slightly damp with the sweat of a walk home.
"Where's Yotsuba? Track and field club again? And Itsuki... where did she go?" Nanami frowned. Yotsuba wasn't an official member, but the club president was always dragging her into activities, and Yotsuba couldn't say no. As for Itsuki, she was the most studious of the five. Why was she missing?
"Yeah, track club," Miku nodded, looking at Rin. "Yotsuba actually joined the club officially today."
"Huh? Is she giving up on studying?"
"Didn't Rin-kun tell you? It was his suggestion," Nino said with a pout. "Being able to get into university just because of sports feels like cheating."
"It's not cheating; Yotsuba puts in the sweat," Rin said, tapping Nino's head before looking at Nanami. "Just like Hinata and Saya, if you have athletic results, you get invited by sports universities. Then you just need to pass a basic academic test."
"Hinata and Saya could pass a normal entrance exam, but they wanted to try sports recruitment. Yotsuba still needs to study to pass the basic academic threshold, but if she wins some competitions, the invitation will make her life much easier."
"And Itsuki?"
Nino shrugged. "She went to a study seminar."
"I see. Actually, you guys should have gone too."
"Those seminars are for people who want to get into top-tier universities. I'll settle for just passing," Nino said dismissively. Nanami didn't push it. Track was definitely the better path for Yotsuba, and a seminar was perfect for Itsuki. Nanami had heard a famous lecturer was coming to their school district.
"Let's start the lesson then."
While Nanami tutored Nino and Miku at Ichika's place, Itsuki arrived early at the lecture hall for the seminar. The hall wasn't full yet, and staff were busy setting up. Itsuki grabbed a seat in the front row. I heard this lecturer is very famous... maybe I can learn a method to finally raise my grades.
I should review today's material while I wait.
Itsuki opened her books. After a while, a bald man with a white beard, wearing a plain short-sleeved shirt, stood beside her, looking at her with approval.
"Still studying even at a time like this?"
Itsuki looked up, startled. The man looked familiar... he was the lecturer from the poster!
"You... you're Mr. Mudou? I'm so sorry, I didn't notice you."
Itsuki scrambled to her feet, accidentally knocking her glasses off in her panic. The old man, Mudou, bent down to pick them up and handed them back. Once she put them on, Itsuki apologized profusely, but Mudou just waved it off with a smile.
"It's quite alright. I was just looking around... seeing someone so dedicated to learning makes me wish my students had been like you when I taught here."
"Oh? You used to be a teacher here, Mr. Mudou?"
"I was." Mudou nodded, a nostalgic smile on his face. "That was ten years ago. What's your name?"
"I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Itsuki Nakano."
"A fine name." Mudou smiled. "May I call you Itsuki-chan?"
"Of course!"
They chatted about daily life, grades, and goals. Itsuki didn't hide anything; she even took the chance to ask for study advice. "I want to be a teacher, but my grades... they aren't good. Do you have any advice on how to improve?"
Instead of giving her a study method, Mudou looked at her thoughtfully. "Itsuki-chan, why do you want to be a teacher?"
"Why...?" Itsuki bit her lip, lost in memory. "My mother was a teacher. I want to be just like her."
"I know. You're exactly like your mother."
"Eh?"
Itsuki was taken aback by the mention of her mother. Mudou continued.
"I was your mother's homeroom teacher. You look just like she did as a child. And based on what you've told me... you aren't suited to be a teacher. Just like your mother wasn't suited for it."
"What?"
"If you're just blindly following in her footsteps, I suggest you stop. Distorted admiration will only lead to ruin. It's like a curse... You don't actually want to be a teacher; you just want to be your mother, right? Itsuki-chan."
"No, that's not it!!!" Itsuki denied him loudly, a rare flash of anger in her eyes. "I want to be a teacher myself!"
"An unconscious delusion... that is the curse. Sigh." Mudou sighed deeply. "I'm sorry for being harsh, but I don't want to see you walk the same path she did."
"W-why?" Itsuki's mind went blank.
"Your mother... she chose a career that didn't fit her because she admired me. She regretted it until the very end... I don't want you to make the same mistake."
Mudou stood up and handed Itsuki a business card. "The lecture is about to start. Contact me if you want to talk more."
"Wait!!!" Itsuki called out. "Mr. Mudou, why do you know so much about my mother?"
Mudou turned and looked into her blue eyes. "Because your mother was my student, then my colleague, and then... my ex-wife." He paused. "In other words... I am your father."
"Eh...? You... my father... I..." Itsuki was speechless, her brain failing to process the information. Her mother had told them their father had vanished before they were even born. Now this man appears and claims to be their biological father? It was absurd.
"Itsuki-chan, the lecture is starting. I'll contact you afterward."
Mudou turned and walked backstage. Itsuki sat there, completely frozen.
"Miss? Miss... the lecture is over."
"Huh?"
When Itsuki snapped out of it, Mudou was gone from the stage and the hall was nearly empty. Under a teacher's prompt, she realized she had sat through the entire two-hour lecture without a single memory of what was said.
"Oh... yes, I'm leaving now." She stood up unsteadily, but the teacher called her back.
"Miss, you forgot your books."
"Oh... sorry, sorry."
After apologizing, Itsuki gathered her things and left the hall. Mudou's words occupied every corner of her mind. She didn't even remember how she got home. She locked herself in her room, not even feeling the hunger of a missed dinner.
She looked back on her life, every step she'd taken to follow her mother's shadow. A question burned in her heart.
My life... the life where I followed in my mother's footsteps... was it all a mistake?