With our minimum sugar intake taken care of with the chocolate, it’s time for the thing I hate the most in the world.
“Well then, the break is over… It’s time to study.”
“Study…”
I want to hear that word as little as possible. Why do I have to study at this age, on the first day of the summer vacation no less? I ran from the capital because I hate that boredom.
“Education is the most important thing when it comes to raising a child. We have to guide Ririi properly. You understand that too, don’t you?”
“…I guess.”
I can’t say anything after being shown yesterday’s report card.
Sieglinde lines up papers on the table. I don’t know where she got them. There are circles and lines, forming simple magic circles.
“These are basic worksheets for first graders. They’re not hard.”
There are two of them.
I have a bad feeling about this.
“…Hold on. It looks like they are for two people.”
“You’re right.”
“For me too?”
“Of course.”
“Am I going to study too…”
When we were in school, Sieglinde helped me a lot with the classroom type of stuff. Knowing I haven’t grown a bit since then makes my stomach hurt.
“Let’s start by checking.”
Sieglinde says plainly as she turns to Ririi.
“Ririi, what color is the basic wind magic circle?”
“Green!”
Immediate answer.
“Correct.”
“Hehehe.”
Ririi puffs her chest out with pride. Looks like she isn’t completely hopeless with theoretical side of things.
Next, Sieglinde turns her eyes to me.
“Weiss.”
“…All I have is a bad feeling.”
“What are magic circles for?”
“So you… Make magic… You know… Cool.”
“Wrong.”
Immediately cut down. I mean, I know it might not be right, but it’s not wrong. They can change shape too.
“Ririi, can you answer?”
“So magic doesn’t blow up!”
“Close. It’s to stabilize the flow of magic energy, and ease the burden on the caster.”
“Ah, that!”
“Come on. That question wasn’t for a first grader. Even I couldn’t answer!”
Sieglinde sighs a little, and ignores my protests.
“Ririi’s understanding isn’t bad, you have the basics.”
“Really!?”
Ririi’s face brightens. Sieglinde’s mouth loosens into a small smile as she sees that.
“But that’s not the problem.”
Ririi straightens up.
“You have a habit of answering immediately without thinking about it, even when you actually know the answer. You have heard you murmur and get distracted a lot during class, right?”
“Uu…”
“You can’t use magic with feeling alone. You need to understand and focus to use it safely.”
Sieglinde isn’t mad, but Ririi drops her shoulders.
“But Ririi loves magic…”
“I know, but that’s why.”
Sieglinde looks her in the eyes, and bends over a little.
“You need to study to protect what you like. Do you understand?”
“…Yes.”
Ririi nods a little.
I sigh on the inside. I can’t beat this. I couldn’t say it so well no matter how many words I used.
“Weiss.”
“Yes.”
“You too. I’m sure you want to live on technique alone, but if you neglect the basics, the ground will collapse from under you eventually.”
“My ears hurt…”
“Then heal them while they hurt.”
She’s right.
Ririi raises her head to look at me.
“Daddy’s gonna study too.
“Y-yes… I’ll do that.”
“Yay!”
Sieglinde looks at her smile, and nods a little.
“Then this is what we are going to do during the summer vacation. First, fix your lifestyle, and build the basics.”
“It’s tougher than I thought.”
“Of course. You need to make up for how much was ruined. It will take plenty of time.”
Ririi opens her mouth for a moment, but clenches her fists after being told she has to work hard to be a good princess. She loves princesses in picture books, so that’s the most effective line.
“Then… Ririi’s gonna do her best!”
“All right.”
“Are you sure you understand? It’s the summer vacation. And it’s this every day.”
“Yes!”
Immediate answer. I didn’t expect her to enjoy studying. She wouldn’t have said that before Sieglinde came along.
“…I think I’ll be the first to give up.”
“Then there will be no snacks for you.”
“Stop.”
Ririi giggles, and Sieglinde smiles a little.
It looks like this summer my peace will be sacrificed for Ririi’s growth.
…Well, there’s nowhere to run, so all I can do is try to have fun.
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