<span class="mu-i">“But you can help what you wear~”</span> Izumi swoops in for the kill, looming over Peppa. <span class="mu-i">“Spill.”</span>
Curled up on herself, Peppa admits, in a tiny voice, “because it goes cute with my ribbon.”
Izumi hmphs in triumph. Then, she notices the state of her defeated foe, and frantically pats her on the shoulder awkwardly. <span class="mu-i">“It does, it does!”</span>
Peppa pokes an eye out. <span class="mu-i">“And you sure do favor green.”</span>
“Huh?” Izumi tilts her head. <span class="mu-i">“I don’t follow.”</span>
A confused look on her face, Peppa explains, <span class="mu-i">“Y’know, Izumi means Spring, greenness?”</span>
Izzy narrows her eyes… “Pfft.” She shakes her head, amused. <span class="mu-i">“Nice try, Peppa, but it’s the other kind of Spring.”</span>
<span class="mu-i">“...the sproingy Spring?”</span>
<span class="mu-i">“The watery one.”</span>
“Oh…” Peppa groans, disappointed.
Izumi giggles, untouchable!
Peppa shrugs. <span class="mu-i">“I guess that explains all the bedwetting.”</span>
…
Izumi nods, returns to her cot, and buries her face in a pillow. “aaaaaaaaaugh!”
The two of them laugh a bit, then Peppa remembers that her cousin's tutor might be harming her, "Oh shoot!"
https://youtu.be/d11-trxvJx4<span class="mu-i">"So did Teacha do that to you?"</span>
Her cousin's mood spoils. <span class="mu-i">"Peppa, I was just having fun, can we not talk about this right now?"</span>
<span class="mu-i">"Izzy. This is important."</span>
Izumi crosses her arms, gingerly. <span class="mu-i">"Aside from patting me on the back, Teacha doesn't lay a hand on me."</span>
Peppa nods. <span class="mu-i">"If they did I would take their hands away."</span>
Izumi frowns. <span class="mu-i">"Can you please stop threatening them? They're really helpful and bring out the best in me."</span>
Peppa gapes. <span class="mu-i">"Bring out the best... blood?"</span>
Izzy scoffs. <span class="mu-i">"You don't get it. See, pain is the best teacher, Teacha knows this first-hand, and I haven't done anything Teacha hasn't done to herself."</span>
Peppa runs her hands through her hair. <span class="mu-i">"I don't think I want to get it. That sounds like it hurts, and I think better mentors can be found."</span>
Izumi shrugs. <span class="mu-i">"It isn't for everyone, but it's still what I'm doing."</span>
...
Peppa thinks about what's wrong with her cousin, if anything can dissuade her from this course, but that newfound laser focus doesn't give her any point that she can't immediately shoot down. And not even the most sentimental pathos-based puppy-dog-eyed plea for her to stop will work, she tried that a week ago and Izumi's still at it.
<span class="mu-i">"Fine. I don't get it, and I don't want you to hurt yourself. That's all I have to say about it."</span> Then, she thinks. <span class="mu-i">"But, can you tell the others the truth about what happened?”</span>
“Hm?” Her cousin looks at her. <span class="mu-i">“What about what now?”</span>
<span class="mu-i">“You know, what happened on Valentine’s Day, and your injuries that were already there. Can you tell the others your injuries were already there and I didn’t mean to hurt you?”</span>
…