Volume 3
Side Story 1
Noisy,
Everyday Life Blooms Peacefully
Translator : PolterGlast
―It was during the break time after noon that the topic
circulated around Tenryo Academy.
In an atmosphere
filled with early-morning fatigue from the training, the boys were clamoring
amongst themselves in the left wing (men's building).
As Kuga Ryota gazed
outside putting his friends aside, one of his smiling schoolmates peeked out at
him with a curious glance.
"Kuga-dono, I
heard about it.
Since when did you get
married?"
"...... I didn't.
Who's spreading such a
wild rumor?"
"It's all over
the place.
―They say it's from a very reliable source."
How annoying. Ryota
brushed off the hand that kept patting him on the shoulder, and then averted
his gaze.
Although he did not
know where the rumor leaked from, it seemed to have been spread quite
aggressively.
In the hands of kids
hungry for interesting topics, it would spread like wildfire and never seem to
stop.
...... At this rate,
the rumor would not even be in its original form in less than a day.
Anyway, he noticed
that not only his friends in front of him but also the people around him who
must have heard the rumors were looking at him with curiosity.
Ryota had thought that
the stares were strange since this morning, but when he learned the details, a
feeling similar to irritation coiled in his stomach.
"It's just an
engagement, an e-n-g-a-g-e-m-e-n-t.
It's not unusual for a
member of the nobility, is it?"
"Don't be shy,
she's the daughter of the Tatewaki family, right?
It's one of the most
prestigious families in the Kabeju Province, with a family status and spirit
rank that's commensurate with their rank.
―What are you dissatisfied with?"
"The ones that normally
get excited about such topics should be those who reside in the right-wing
(girls' building).
I think it would be
better for middle school boys not to talk about such girly topics."
As Ryota spoke in
annoyance, his schoolmate laughed jokingly and moved away from him.
After shrugging his
shoulders for a few moments, he directed a concerned stare at Ryota.
"So, how's it
going?"
"...... What do
you mean?"
"Don't play dumb
with me.
―I'm asking if you've given up on trying to win Rindō's
daughter over."
Ryota himself might be
trying to hide it, but in reality, to those around him, his attitude was very
easy to understand.
After all, whenever
other boys tried to talk to Saki, he would always intervene in their
conversation.
―However, after summer, the schoolmates noticed that
what passed in Ryota's gaze was nothing but a very mild depression.
" ............
Beats me.
Perhaps such a feeling
is now a thing of the past."
"There's a reason
for that, huh? Well, don't get too hung up on it.
I haven't met your
fiancee in person, but I heard she's a beautiful older girl, right? I'm jealous
of you because I don't have a fiancee."
Hearing those words,
which were probably meant to comfort him, Ryota expelled all the lingering
thoughts and feelings from his chest along with the air in his chest.
As he leaned his back
against the wall with his eyes looking in the opposite direction, a group of
Kokuten Province members, led by Ugetsu Souma, passed by in the corridor.
Ryota could not help
but feel irritated by their shadows, which made him seem insignificant.
He averted his gaze
away from the group as if to vent, and turned his attention to the
contemplative look on his schoolmate's face.
"What's
wrong?"
"Well. These
days, the guys from Kokuten Province seem to be in a state of unrest.
They are having
disputes with the Kabeju Province, which used to be a close friend of theirs,
because of the miasma mixed in the water dragon veins."
"Right. Now that
you mention it, I've heard such rumors.
We in the South, on
the other hand, are relieved that things have calmed down recently."
"Certainly, it
was due to the dragon veins.
...... But even then,
the politics won't settle down either. Currently, there's a big fuss that it
might be caused by the Ugetsu."
"Ha! They were
getting their feet caught in the mud because they were too busy being proud of
their long history.
Cold water is good
medicine for that Ugetsu heir."
"Why are you
talking like it is someone else's problem, Kuga's heir?
You're not unrelated,
you know? Do you have the time to take it easy?"
"Well. It's up to
the adults to discuss it.
......I wonder what
their intentions really are."
Ryota's true thoughts
melted away in his mouth and disappeared.
The little knowledge
about Kanna-no-Mikura. The reason why Saki had become Akira's mentor.
Even for Ryota
himself, there was not much that had been explained.
Kuga Houri was
determined to appeal to Kihouin, but there was no mention of what had happened
at Karen.
Although he tried to
ask Tsuguho about the situation, he ended up heading to Karen instead.
The only thing he
understood was that his first love was over before he could convey it.
"Really, I wonder
what's going to happen ......"
The direction of the
depression, which was not directed at anyone, melted and disappeared in Ryota's
mouth.
Only a heavy sigh
danced and scattered in the high autumn sky.
――――――――――
―At the same time.
It was when Saki was
following the words woven into a book of poems to comfort her few spare
moments.
"He~y, hee~y. I
got a scoop, a scoop!!"
"...... What is
it?"
The chain of phrases
being read was interrupted, and she turned her gaze reproachfully toward her
schoolmate who had interrupted her so wantonly.
Catching a glimpse of
curiosity in the eyes of the girl in front of her, she inwardly braced herself
for a bad premonition.
The girl is a gossip
lover, but the truth of what she hears is somewhat worse than 50/50.
―And trusting her as a source of information is a foolhardy
gamble.
"I heard that
Kuga Ryota-sama is married!!"
"Oh, is that
it?"
"Huh? You're not
surprised?"
The girl, who deemed
the truth or falsehood of the matter as secondary, peered into Saki's eyes as
if seeking information.
In fact, it is common knowledge
that Kuga Ryota had feelings for Saki, which even in the right-wing building,
only Saki herself does not know.
However, the girl was
disappointed to see Saki's eyes, which were not shaken by emotion, and her
shoulders slumped in disappointment.
"I've met her.
It's Tatewaki Nonoka-san, right?"
"What a shame.
I thought I was going
to enjoy watching Romance like in the novels."
She settled down at
the desk in front of Saki and plopped down in a bored manner.
The girls were dressed
so sloppily that the teachers would have been furious if they found out, but
this is how things really are once the boys and girls are separated.
"―Ahaha, that
won't happen.
Saki is currently
dating a wonderful man after all."
"Eh!? For
real!?"
The gossipy girl's
eyes lit up as she heard the voice from behind her back.
When Saki raised her
eyes at the sudden mention of herself, she saw Asari Sumiko, the only daughter
of the lord who governs the neighboring territory of Naze, standing there.
She recalled that
Sumiko, a daughter of a samurai family, had also gone to Karen for training as
a guardian a month earlier.
She was most likely
the source of the information. Saki put a finger to her forehead to suppress
the wrinkle that was about to form between her brows.
"............Sumiko,
don't start rumors that you don't know anything about."
"Eh~, you don't
have to hide it now. I heard rumors about you during my training.
That young lady of
Rindō taught a boy everything by hand."
"Unbelievable!!"
An amused schoolmate
held Saki's cheeks and made her drop the novel shut.
While her schoolmate
clutched her head and pretended to be in pain, even though it probably didn't
hurt, Saki turned her protests to Sumiko.
"I was indeed
guiding him, but it's nothing like you two imagined. You should limit your
expectations of romance solely to movies."
"Ehh, I heard he
is a good-looking man, though.
...... Is it
wrong?"
"That's
............ anyway, it doesn't really matter."
She almost denied it
by reflex, but the memory of his figure fighting side by side alongside her
passed through her mind.
A dancing blade bathed
in vermillion gold and Akira's determination. The emotions that never rose to
her mind naturally heated up her cheeks.
The two girls, who
were half making fun of Saki's barely verbal response, exchanged glances.
"Huh, is
this-......"
"Eh, are you for
real? Saki?"
Rindō Saki, with her
good looks and personality, plus her direct descent from the Eight Families, is
one of the most popular girls in the academy because of her fine high-class
character.
Such a girl suddenly
developed a romantic interest in a man.
Curiosity pushed her
friends to the edge of their seats when they learned that their half-baked
attempts to spark a controversy had hit the bull's-eye.
"Hee~, well,
well..."
"Spring has
arrived for Saki too. ......Mom is so happy."
"That sounds like
an interesting topic.
―Can I join?"
The two of them leaned
in close toward Saki, hoping to exploit even the smallest piece of romance,
―However, at that moment, the three of them all
stiffened upon hearing a voice coming from behind their backs.
When they turned
around, beyond their visions, they saw a woman with short hair and a ridiculing
smile on her face, something that should be considered inappropriate for a woman.
A girl who was
renowned as one of the best in the academy was standing there with one hand
raised.
"Sorry for
interrupting your chat with your friends."
"No problem. So,
what can I help you with?
...... To be honest,
I'm sure you understand that there's not much I can do to help you."
Saki, who was taken
out into a secluded hallway without a word, responded in short sentences to
Hariin Homare, whose emotions she could not read at all.
After all, this was
someone she had never even exchanged glances with before.
Therefore, it was easy
to guess what the other party was looking for.
The situation is
already getting complicated. If the number of people who were involved grew
even further,
―Saki's stomach will surely not be able to take it.
However, contrary to
the girl's vigilance, Homare gave her a smile that didn't show any shadows.
"Ahaha, you're so
honest, huh? Then, let's be frank.
―Is it true that Tsuguho-sama's spouse has been
decided?
I haven't received any
information that the spouse selection process has started, so I wanted to ask
you when the decision was made."
"......I don't
know what you're talking about."
Saki tried her best to
suppress her agitation when she was confronted with information that she had
planned to keep secret until the Kannamesai Festival.
Her effort paid off,
as she was able to reply without leaving a very unnatural pause.
―But,
"There is no need
to hide it. I am sure about Tsuguho-sama's engagement.
Given what will happen
in the future, I just want to know about it as early as possible."
"....... I heard
about it a while ago.
So you did have an
eavesdropping henchman in Kabeju Province, huh?"
Saki's eyes narrowed
as she replied with a carefree remark.
The only time Tsuguho
ever brought up the subject of spouse selection was during her meeting with
Shizumi.
If Tatewaki Nonoka
used the technique she once demonstrated, it would be possible to extract
information even in such a situation.
"I prefer you to
call it Divine Hearing *1.
......Have you met
Nonoka-kun by any chance?
*1
Divine Hearing (天耳通) = (one of the six supernormal Buddhist powers)
"We met a month
ago at Kamotsu."
"I knew it! She's
excellent, isn't she? I asked her if she would be interested in being my
companion, but due to some circumstances from the main family, she turned it
down.
It was truly a shame.
―But now that you know, everything will be quicker. The
only thing that Tsuguho-sama said the other day was that she had decided on a
spouse. So, I want to be certain as to what is really going on."
......The only thing
she eavesdropped on from Tsuguho was the confirmed information about the
engagement.
It was the assurance
of Homare, who was seated at the end of Hariin. Saki's caution relaxed slightly
at the assurance from someone who could not tell a lie.
"My apologies. I
do not have the permission to answer your questions."
"In other words,
the decision is true, then?
―That's what I wanted to hear."
"..........................."
Seeing the deepening
smile on her face, Saki couldn't help but realize that she had been defeated.
It was the same with
Benedetta. Saki overwhelmingly lacks the talent for negotiation.
She was rather vexed
with herself at the reality that she could so easily reveal her own secrets.
"Don't worry, I
have no intention of disclosing what you told me until Shumon Province makes it
public.
―Or should I swear to it in my own name?"
"......
Please."
"I have no
intention of causing any trouble for you, so this is a small price to pay. I
would also like to ask for the name of the person in question, if you don't
mind, ...... but that seems to be impossible, huh?"
Perhaps recognizing
the resolve in Saki's expression, Homare shrugged lightly and retracted her
previous words.
She lightly tapped
Saki's shoulder and moved away as if she was done.
"Is that all you
wanted to ask?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry
to have taken so much of your time.
That being said, it
would be tasteless to end the conversation with this.
If we want to have a
fun conversation, how about we talk about your crush?"
"―no, thank
you!"
It seemed that the
light talk from earlier had been well overheard.
With a hint of
vermilion on her cheeks, she pointed her toes in the opposite direction.
"......She may
have a good head on her shoulders, but she doesn't have much experience in
negotiations."
Homare muttered
spitefully as she watched Saki's back walking away.
After confirming that
no one around her was listening, she turned her body to return to her own
classroom.
She certainly vowed
not to disclose the information she had obtained from Saki.
......That's why she
couldn't ask for the person's name from Saki.
The reason behind this
was to draw a boundary around the fact that she was particularly vigilant about
Saki.
Homare then emphasized
her own traits as the descendant of a demi-god and a demi-human.
There is an upper
limit to what a human being can be alert to.
The continuous tension
and relaxation in dealing with problems puts a considerable burden on one's
thinking without one's being aware of it.
It is possible to
compensate for the slight drop in thought processing with experience, but Saki
lacked any such experience.
In order to cover up
the lack of experience, the only action that a human being can take is to
retreat.
―Therefore, Saki chose to distance herself from the
apparent information that was presented to her as a clear danger.
"If you had
stayed and told me the name of the person instead, you could have kept my mouth
shut until the value of the information would have been lost.
What a shame."
As the descendants of
a demi-god and a demi-human, the Sannomiya-Shiin (Four Sovereigns of the Three
Imperial Families) were definitely incapable of telling a lie.
However, it is also
possible to use only the truth to lead the other person's line of thinking.
Homare promised not to
disclose the information he had eavesdropped on from Tsuguho and Saki.
―However, she did not mention at all that she would not
reveal the information she had eavesdropped on from Shizumi.
Therefore,
"Well, well, I
wonder who...
―this guy named Akira is?"
Hariin Homare muttered
to herself in the deserted hallway, looking amused and cheerful to no end.
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