CH 1391.

Chapter 1391. School Festival Day 2 / Trust Problem

For now, we took two pastries each and ate them.

「 I see, Maki-san’s great at piano 」

Margo-san pulls information about the Matsumoto sisters from Marika.

「 Yes, Matsumoto-san’s the best in our class 」

Marika replies with a shamed tone.

「 No, Takahata-san’s good at it too 」

Matsumoto Maki-san says bashfully.

She’s also the same docile type, just like Marika.

They have the same personality, that must be why they’re getting along.

「 I can’t catch up to Matsumoto-san when it comes to piano. Matsumoto-san’s much better than me, that… 」

Marika?

To be honest, I don’t know much about piano performances.

However, when Minaho-neesan heard Marika’s play for the first time…

Minaho-neesan mentioned that if Marika wanted to become a professional, then she will support her.

Minaho-neesan sees Marika as a little sister born from the Black Forest brothel, that’s why she treats her with care.

But, Minaho-neesan’s a strict person.

She always gives us a trial, and she doesn’t assist us until we overcome it.

With that said.

Minaho-neesan sensed that Marika’s talent in piano is certain after hearing her performance.

If not, Minaho-neesan won’t say “I’ll support you if you want to become a professional.”

However.

Marika cut off that talk with Minaho-neesan.

Saying that she doesn’t have the skills of a professional.

Marika said that she wants to become a music teacher, which we don’t mind, but…

I feel like Marika’s stuck on something back then.

「 And Miki-san plays violin, right? 」

Margo-san talks to the little sister, Matsumoto Miki-san this time.

「 Yes. 」

Miki-san, wearing her sailor uniform holds her violin case with such care.

「 If I recall, violins are expensive, and that’s from a good brand, isn’t it? 」

Margo-san said, Miki-san;

「 No, it’s not really that expensive. Ah, but of course, violins are inherently expensive, but this isn’t the most expensive, not the cheapest either, err, but, for ordinary people, this would be something expensive 」

She speaks clearly, but I can tell that she’s nervous.

「 Sorry, the price doesn’t really matter, still, that violin’s precious to Miki-san, right? 」

Margo-san smiled and speak to the bob-cut hair middle school girl.

「 Y-Yes, it’s my treasure. Father, bought this violin for me 」

Matsumoto Miki-san pats her violin case.

「 Can you play us a sample? 」

Mariko joins the conversation.

「 Ah, o-okay. I can 」

Miki-san blushed and replied with a small voice.

「 And you, you don’t want to sing, right? 」

Marika asks Igarashi Izumi who’s wearing a black leather jacket over her music school uniform.

「 I told you earlier, I won’t sing 」

Igarashi-san, with her oddly heavy makeup and red lipstick, glares at Mariko.

「 I’m going to ask just in case, but that means that you’re in vocal music? 」

「 Isn’t that obvious? Our school doesn’t have a rock vocalist training course or anything like that 」

Mariko asks. Igarashi-san answers standoffishly.

However.

Vocal music?

I don’t get it, but I’ll just continue listening.

「 Oh? I see, I get the gist of it now 」

Mariko smiled.

Eeeeh?

But I don’t get it.

I mean, should I ask what that is while I still have time?

「 Vocal music in terms of the music world mainly pertains to classical music, music of the human voice. You surely have heard of Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Kou-sama? 」

Tsukiko read my thoughts and taught me.

Oh, I see, Marika’s singing in the music department means that she’s singing classical music. It’s that kind of school after all.

However.

Why is someone majoring in classical music dressed like a gnarly rock singer who just got it wrong from the entrance?

「 So, are you good at the vocal music department? 」

Mariko asks Igarashi-san, but…

Matsumoto, the elder, replied for her.

「 Yes, Igarashi-san’s always in the top three of the school year in her vocal music department 」

She’s good at singing.

「 Top three, but I don’t always get the top. It’s usually top 2 or 3 」

Igarashi-san gets standoffish again.

「 Hmmm, does it mean that the ranking in the classes is put up? 」

Margo-san asks.

「 Yes, the top five are placed on the wall of the school every month. Uhm, it’s because the students with good grades can be recommended for admission to music colleges 」

I see. It must be hard inside music schools.

「 And so, Jasmine-chan and Matsumoto-san, the elder, are always in the top five in the piano class? 」

「 Uhm, yes. Matsumoto-san’s been the top one since enrollment. I’m always in the top five at least 」

「 That’s not true, Takahata-san’s growing further recently. 」 You just climbed to third during this month’s recital, right? 」

Margo-san asks, and Marika and Matsumoto Maki-san replied.

Marika’s mother had been sick, confined in a hospital, and had a hard time mentally until the other day.

Now, her mother’s getting better, and she met her little sister separated from birth.

She started coming to the mansion every week and cheered up considerably.

That also shows up in her piano performance that her teachers are praising her for it.

「 Takahata-san will surely become better than me 」

「 I can’t play like Matsumoto-san 」

「 That’s not true. I like how Takahata-san plays piano 」

「 I like Matsumoto-san’s piano more 」

These classmates tell each other.

Then, Igarashi Izumi-san is staring at the two girls from the same school but different classes, with a displeased look.

「 Hmm, I see, I get it now. 」

Mariko laughs and drinks her lemon tea.

As usual, I don’t get it.

「 Well, you’re all in high school so you could eat a couple more pastries in a single sitting. Eat it, then we’re moving to the next place 」

Margo-san smiled and stuffed the bread into her cheeks.

「 Yoshinobu-kun’s pastry has gotten better once more 」

「 Thanks 」

I thanked her.

「 Girls, don’t pocket it and eat it, you should eat at times like this so you’re ready to move at any moment, right? 」

Mariko looks at Kurose Anju-san who’s watching us with a confused look.

「 Ah, yes, you’re right 」

Kurose Anju puts the bread in her mouth in a hurry.

「 Geez, you’re devouring them now. Eat with elegance. You’re embarrassing us 」

「 O-Okay 」

Yeah.

Mariko had Haiji as her bodyguard before, but…

Haiji’s still thirteen yet she’s strangely mature, so she lets Mariko’s light talk slide and doesn’t engage in the conversation.

Meanwhile, Kurose Anju’s got a good personality, but she’s timid and she’s easy to get dragged by the mood, I think she’s suited to Mariko who moves at her own pace.

「 Kou-sama, you should eat yours too 」

Tsukiko whispers to me.

Yeah, If I don’t eat it, it’ll be hard for our guests to do the same.

「 Miki-san, try them, I always eat them and they’re delicious 」

Erica who had been quiet all this time urges the younger of the Matsumoto siblings to eat bread.

「 Okay, I’ll take it 」

Miki-san, the violin girl finally ate the bread

「 How is it? 」

「 It’s delicious 」

The middle school girls smiled at each other.

However.

Students are still watching around us in the school cafeteria.

Their faces say “Who are these people?”

Margo-san’s the focus since she’s a graduate that they fear, so they’re leaving us alone, but…

「 Don’t mind them, it’s nothing much 」

Tsukiko whispered to me.

「 It’s nothing much, wait, Tsukiko? 」

Did you use your Miko power to everyone around?

「 No, I’m not using my power 」

Tsukiko smiled.

「 They’re all accustomed to seeing Kou-sama surrounded by strange people 」

Huh?

「 Everyone thinks that “Look, the Baker is involved with something strange again” 」

I-Is that so?

Tsukiko smiles.

「 They all seem to have realized that Kou-sama’s the center of most things 」

Oh, I’m not the perpetrator of the incidents, but…

They see that I’m always involved with someone that’s involved with an event?

「 Kou-sama too 」

Tsukiko.

「 Kou-sama, you need to be aware of it, you’re always the center. We’ll do anything that Kou-sama wishes, and we’ll follow you always. Please don’t forget that 」

Yeah.

I’ve been a little passive since Margo-san came over.

Normally, I’m the one talking to Marika and Matsumoto-san and the girls.

「 No, that’s not it. As of now, you can leave it to Margo-oneesama. What I would like to say is that I wish for Kou-sama to be aware that you can entrust things too. You’ll feel more leeway if you do 」

Tsukiko whispers to me.

Right…

Margo-san’s leading the conversation asking along with the flow.

Thinking that Margo-san’s just doing her role, and I start asking around myself, then the end result is different.

I have to become self-aware.

That I’m the center of the family.

I have to stand strong and take the situation as it comes.

「 Thanks, Tsukiko 」

I thanked her and reconsidered.

Marika, who’s usually so quiet, brings three girls from her school, what is the reason for that?

No, Marika did say that they want to meet me.

The reason why the three want to meet me…

Marika, what does she want with the three?

I look at Marika again.

「 Yes, I went to the Bayreuth festival last year and it was the first time I was taken there, my grandfather is a music lover. 」

Mariko pitched music to Marika and the Matsumoto sisters.

The Matsumoto sisters who were talking to Erica focused on Mariko.

「 Is that true? Good job on getting the ticket 」

Oh, Igarashi Izumi-san’s also hooked.

「 I hear that getting tickets for the Bayreuth Festival is getting harder every year. Even if you apply for a ticket, it takes years before you could get one 」

「 Oh? My family gets an invitation every year 」

Mariko smiles.

「 Huh? Why? Is your family famous for music? 」

Igarashi-san’s surprised.

「 No, didn’t I name myself earlier? I’m Torii Mariko 」

Mariko;

「 My family’s the owner of Torii electronics. My grandfather was the founder, and my father’s the current chairman, and I mentioned earlier that my grandfather was a music lover, right? 」

「 Oh, if I recall, Torii-san’s grandfather was the first to build and market record players and speakers 」

Margo-san joined the conversation.

「 That’s right. Today, Torii electronics makes all kinds of electrical products, but it started out as a company making music equipment. That’s why we continue to make audio and recording equipment, and Torii electronics audio equipment has a good reputation in Europe. Many of the famous large theaters have been using the equipment we made for about thirty years now 」

Torii electronics is one of the worldwide electronic enterprises after all.

「 We don’t ask them to use it but Torii electronics donates also equipment to music theaters and schools around the world. We don’t just donate money, which as usual, but we also give away various electronics from our company. We donated a state-of-the-art washer and dryer to the opera theatre in New York just recently. We’ve been doing that for so long that Grandfather receives invitations from music festivals all over the world every year 」

Then, Mariko brings out her ace.

「 Oh, we also offer scholarships for young musicians as part of the Torii electronics cultural contribution program. Like, your expenses when studying abroad 」

「 !! 」

Miki-san, the younger of the Matsumoto siblings has her eyes sparkling.

「 Uhm, how do you apply for that? 」

「 Miki, stop it. You’re being rude 」

The elder, Maki-san tries to stop her sister.

「 Oh, the Torii electronics scholarship is for students at the music college. They don’t accept middle and high school students 」

「 I-Is that so? 」

Mariko said, then the little sister gets gloomy.

「 But if I ask Grandfather, we can manage 」

「 !!! 」

Then, her expression changed again.

I get it now.

The Matsumoto siblings seem to have money troubles.

And so, these sisters probably are in a situation where they don’t know if they can continue their music in the future.

That’s why Marika’s trying to meet these girls to me.

Thinking that I would ask Minaho-neesan, to give these girls some school expenses.

「 But, you girls came here because you want Kou to hear you play, right? Well, I want to hear it too, so maybe it all comes down to the same thing 」

Mariko told the siblings with a smile.

「 Hmm, well, scholarships are none of my business 」

On the other hand, Igarashi Izumi-san shows another displeased face and turned around.

I wonder what’s her reason for coming here?

If she’s not hooked on the word “scholarship” then she probably doesn’t have financial problems.

「 But, well, isn’t it great that you followed Takahata-san? Matsumoto-san. I was sure that Takahata-san was lying to Matsumoto-san so I followed out of concern 」

Igarashi-san thinks that Marika’s trying to deceive the Matsumoto siblings?

「 I mean, isn’t that the case? How can a high school student save another student from a financial problem? Especially Takahata-san, you don’t look like you have wealthy acquaintances 」

「 Stop, Igarashi-san, you’re being rude to Takahata-san 」

Matsumoto, the elder, scolds Igarashi-san.

But, Igarashi-san.

「 Oh, still, you don’t know, this girl might not even be the actual daughter of the president of the Torii electronics. Matsumoto-san, you might be in the middle of a huge scam right now 」

She speaks loudly.

「 Show me proof that you’re not lying 」

「 What proof? 」

Mariko’s also annoyed, she glares at Igarashi-san head-on.

「 What I mean is that if you’re the daughter of the president of Torii electronics, then you should show us proof! Right now! 」

「 Right now?! You’re 」

「 You have something, don’t you? Like, if I go online and search for the daughter of the president of Torii electronics or something, your face will show up? 」

「 No way!! I’m not stupid enough to expose my personal information! 」

There’s a risk of kidnapping, so Mariko and the girls at the school for the young ladies don’t post any photos over the net.

「 Then, you’re just lying! It’s obvious that you are! 」

Igarashi Izumi continued.

「 Geez, wait a second, I have my grandfather and father’s image on the site. And I have a photo of my family on the phone so you can compare it 」

Mariko takes out her phone,

But…

「 You can easily photoshop those! That’s no proof! 」

Igarashi Izumi’s not convinced.

「 Geez, what’s wrong with you!! 」

Mariko snaps, but…

「 That’s enough, Mariko 」

I stopped Mariko.

「 But, Kou? 」

「 No need, you don’t need to prove anything Mariko 」

I said, then I looked at Igarashi Izumi.

「 Does that mean that you admit that it’s a lie 」

She glares.

「 That’s not the case. Rather, it’s got nothing to do with you 」

I said clearly.

Then, to the Matsumoto siblings.

「 Mariko just told you girls that she’s the daughter of the president of Torii electronics and she might be able to ask her grandfather to grant you a scholarship 」

Matsumoto Maki-san and Miki-san looked into my face.

「 Whether you believe that or not depends on you. Mariko wants to see how you would react to her actions. After all, we’re also still in the process of trying to determine if we can trust you 」

Anyone who one-sidedly asks for proof is an idiot.

「 I want to give you the benefit of the doubt since Marika brought you here. But, I also have my duty to protect my family. We can’t open our hands on someone until we can see that you’re someone we can trust. We’re also considering the possibility that you’re just deceiving Marika after all 」

I speak honestly.

「 I won’t tell you to trust us. I won’t even try to gain your trust. Why would I? At this point, we don’t know what you need from us, and you’re the ones who came here looking for something, aren’t you? 」

It might be the scholarship for real, the power of the Black Forest, the authority of the Kouzuki house, or even the Miko power of the Takakura shrine maidens.

It’s the Matsumoto siblings who want something from us.

「 If so, it’s you who need to be desperate, desperate to show us that you’re trustworthy. Then we can talk 」

People who are in trouble should ask for help with desperation.’

Those who don’t have problems, won’t do anything.

「 But of course, if you don’t find us as trustworthy, then you can go just leave now. We’re not stopping you. We don’t regret that we didn’t gain your trust 」

If they’re not worth helping, then forget about them.

If not, I can’t keep myself safe.

「 But, that doesn’t remain that you’ll get what you want because you remained. Once we figure out that we can’t trust you, then we’ll end the talk and ask you to leave. Remember that we’re in a better position than you 」

I said, then the school cafeteria turned quiet.

「 You can decide by yourselves later, it’s your life after all 」

I said.

「 We’re very sorry. We…no, I’ll tell you the truth. I’m still not sure if I can trust you all or not. I trust Takahata-san sincerely, but I’m concerned that you’re just deceiving Takahata-san 」

The elder, Matsumoto Maki-san replied calmly.

「 But, for now, I’d say that I want to bet my trust. Or should I say that this is the last chance we sisters have, so I want to believe. That’s why we can’t just choose to cut this off and leave 」

Yeah, she’s timid, but the heart is there.

「 We’ll probably find if we can trust you in just a bit more time, but, more than that, we want to show our best that we’re trustworthy 」

「 And the little sister is okay with that too? 」

I looked at Matsumoto Miki-san.

「 Yes, I’m with Onee-chan 」

「 Okay, good 」

I sighed and sipped my drink.

「 H-Hey, what’s going on? 」

Igarashi Izumi seems confused, but…

「 You’re not part of this 」

I said clearly.

「 Nobody trusts you 」

「 W-What part of me isn’t trustworthy?”! 」

Igarashi Izumi complains with her head shaking in denial.

「 That hair! That poor makeup! That sense of fashion where you put on a leather jacket over your uniform! What’s there to trust? 」

As soon as I shouted.

The cafeteria burst into laughter.

Huh?

「 You said it! Baker! 」

「 Everyone’s thinking the same, she’s got such a bad sense 」

「 Yeah, what’s with that weird look 」

「 She’s wearing a leather jacket, yet her socks are white and three folds, what’s the point? 」

Err, it seems like everyone felt that Igarashi Izumi was out of place.