CH 24

My mom, who was my last line of defence, crumbled at my dad and brother’s persuasion, and I now had to attend Ibuki’s party. My parents and even my brother tacitly agreed to my attendance, so I didn’t have the option of not attending. So, there was only one thing I could do: survive even if I did attend so neither I nor the Kujou family would get destroyed.

First, I told my dad time and time again not to do illegal things from the moment I remembered my past life. If my dad did that and the Konoe family found out, the Kujou Group’s business would plunge. The Kujou family ourselves would be held accountable, our properties would be seized, then we’d be saddled with debt and fall.

A future like that would be awaiting us, so I told dad countless times not to do illegal work. Was he really listening, though…? There was also a possibility that Ibuki would reveal my dad’s wrongdoings. If he already had proof, there was nothing I could do to stop him. All I could do was believe dad was doing what I said.

Then, me. In fact, I could even say that I was the most important. Firstly, I didn’t know any party etiquette. I hadn’t attended a party until now, so I didn’t even know what kind of place it’d be held in. I first had to do something about that.

Just because Ibuki’s goal was to destroy me and the Kujou family didn’t mean the only method he’d use was suddenly choking the life out of me. If you thought about it normally, you’d rather first kill someone socially than suddenly choke someone physically.

For example… right… suddenly calling someone who didn’t know etiquette and had never attended a party to a large party, then making them embarrass themselves in front of a huge crowd. That would then make others laugh at them for being ill-mannered.

An average person would smile at a first grader even if they didn’t know manners or etiquette. But this neighbourhood was different. An upper-class kid would get manners and etiquette drilled into them from a young age and receive harsh training on that topic. They’d debut in high society before they even entered elementary to show that they knew how to behave in those situations.

Their behaviour wouldn’t be tolerated because they were children; instead, they had to show if they were smart and disciplined enough to properly conduct themselves, or if they were a stupid kid who couldn’t do that.

Xq nswapl, ds sdl tsv xye kq y jke rwczknzu calynble xyddlap. Jwv, obkzl ds sdl pyke kv swv zswe, rlsrzl oswze vbkdj sq vbl qyxkzu osapl yde kv’e alqzlnv kd vblka nbkze’p xyaakytl rasprlnvp. Mbl ralpvktkswp qyxkzklp jdlo vbyv; vblalqsal, vblu vaykdle vblka jkep yde tyhl vblx vbl clpv lewnyvksd vblu nswze cwu ps vblka jkep oswzed’v qykz.

Ebyv ycswv xl? Nkjl obyv xu xsx oyp osaaukdt ycswv, R eked’v jdso y pkdtzl vbkdt ycswv xyddlap yde lvkiwlvvl. R byed’v lhla tsdl swv kdvs bktb psnklvu, ps R oyp y cltkddla obs eked’v lhld jdso obyv jkde sq rzynl kv oyp sa bso vs ynv. Rv oswzed’v ts hlau olzz kq R pweeldzu oldv vs y zyatl-pnyzl ryavu.

Rq psxlsdl pyke vbyv kv oyp xu qywzv qsa dsv tskdt vs pxyzzla ryavklp qkapv vs cwkze lmrlakldnl, R nswzed’v eldu kv, cwv… pvkzz, pweeldzu clkdt qsanle vs ts vs y ryavu bspvle cu vbl Isdsl qyxkzu oyp oyu vss byae.

Fs… R bye vs psxlbso zlyad ycswv xyddlap yde lvkiwlvvl yp olzz yp nsxxsd pldpl kd bktb psnklvu. Rcwjk’p ryavu oyp kd ycswv sdl xsdvb… R bye sdzu sdl xlvbse R nswze wpl vs zlyad dso psxlbso…

～～～～～～～

Mbl dlmv eyu, nsxkdt bsxl qasx Mswjy Gnyelxu… R eked’v ts vs vbl Wkhl Lsavbp Gppsnkyvksd pyzsd vseyu. R oypd’v pjkrrkdt; R bye xu xsx’p rlaxkppksd. R’e cl tskdt pvayktbv bsxl lhlaueyu wdvkz Rcwjk’p ryavu. Mbyv oyp clnywpl…

“Yypvla Ysxsnbk! R byhl y aliwlpv!”

“Xb… pyu kv.”

The moment lessons ended, I headed to the Hundred Earth style dojo. The moment I entered, I lowered my head to Master and started speaking, requesting something from him.

“I must attend the first party of my entire life in one month! Please teach me perfect manners as well as party etiquette before that!”

“Hmm…? One month…?”

I had thought he might immediately agree, but instead, Master stroked his chin while closing his eyes. It was probably impossible for an amateur like me to learn perfect manners and etiquette in one month. But I had to try. If I didn’t, the Kujou family would be ruined!

“And… that is not the only thing. While I must not make a single mistake at the party… someone may also be aiming for my life at said party! Please teach me… how to look perfect at the party, and also how to survive possible assassination!”

“Oh… your life… huh…”

I didn’t know how Master was taking it or what he was thinking about. He was just closing his eyes, looking lost in thought. Maybe he couldn’t believe that there were still assassins in this day and age. Or maybe he thought that it was pointless to drill etiquette into a talentless amateur like me.

Even so, Master was the only person I could count on. I’d gotten permission from mom, too. For one month – up until Ibuki’s party – I’d be spending all the time I could training with Master Momochi.

Once lessons ended, I didn’t have to show my face at the Five Norths Association after school. Instead, I could head straight to the car. I’d also put off my other lessons as much as I could. I’d be changing my schedule, moving lesson times so that even on days when I had other things to learn, I could secure time to come to the Hundred Earth style dojo. I would consult Master about that schedule too.

“You’re that serious, huh… alright, understood! Overcoming situations like that is the essence of the Hundred Earth style! I will train you so that you will absolutely get over the party safely, Sakuya!”

“Th-Thank you very much!”

Yes! Master agreed! I’d be able to manage now!

There was definitely something strange between the Hundred Earth style and other styles. But dad had said something; mastering anything, no matter what it was, is spectacular…

I thought the same. I didn’t know why the Hundred Earth style was considered an outcast in the business world, but if I mastered the Hundred Earth style and stood tall, that’d be fine.

The important thing with manners and etiquette was to respect the other party and treat each other with mutual respect. It was fine if you didn’t actually know how to do it or made mistakes. The key was to honestly respect the other’s sincerity, not to blame them because they were clueless.

More importantly, no matter how good someone looked or smooth the process was, and no matter how perfectly they followed manners, there was no point if they didn’t respect the other party.

Maybe someone great said that. Maybe it hadn’t been said.

“Then… you said a cheerful term like ‘party’. Does it involve dancing in Japanese clothes?”

“Huh…? I heard that I will be wearing a dress, but I do not know the dances.”

I wouldn’t have known what I’d be doing. That was because I’d never actually been to a place like that once.

“Is that so… then, for safety’s sake, you will learn how to dance.”

“Yes…”

If Master told me to do it, then I had to. My training from hell started on that day.

～～～～～～～

“Master! Is there a point to doing this!?”

“If you have time to open your mouth, do it properly! …You’ll die if you fall, you know?”

“Aah!”

I was moving on top of cut bamboo sticks for some reason. It was pretty high up, and below me were needles that looked like the needle-point holders in ikebana.1 I lost my footing and fell, I’d definitely get pierced through.

I had to cross barefoot on the bamboo that were of different heights and spaced at different intervals. I also couldn’t forget about my upper body movement. This was probably dance practice for the Hundred Earth style. I probably had to move on top of these bamboo sticks to remember the right steps.

“Something’s wrong with your dancing!”

“Hyaah!”

“You’re moving stiffly!”

“Aah!”

“You made a mistake in the step order!”

“I’ll fall!”

It looked like I had to move from bamboo to bamboo in order of the steps, otherwise it’d be hard to move. If I messed up in the order and got on the wrong bamboo, it’d either be too far away or too high up to reach, and I’d fall straight down on the waiting needle-point holders. I couldn’t look down at my feet and had to focus on moving my upper body while moving from bamboo to bamboo. This was an impossible game! I’d fall straight down!

“Go faster! Match the music!”

“Hah! Hah! Fuu! Hah! Hah! Fuu!”

“Your breathing’s wrong! You should match your dance partner’s breathing!”

“Yes!”

I’d already fallen over 10 times just that day and somehow avoided getting skewered by the needle-point holders. With that, the day’s practice ended.

～～～～～～～

“Alright… you pretty much memorised the dance. I’ll give you a blindfold today.”

“…what?”

Gramps was going to do what? Give me a blindfold? On top of this? Was he an idiot? There were needle-point holders below this, right? It wouldn’t be a joke if I fell, RIGHT!? Was he a moron?

“Do it now.”

“Hyaah!”

He stared at me, and I put on the blindfold I’d often used in other training and went on top of the bamboo. I mean, what kind of training is it when you often use blindfolds… that was plenty ridiculous, right?

“——hah!?”

“Hm?”

Just now… my foot made a whoosh sound. I had a bad feeling so I dodged, but I swore something had passed near them. Well, that ‘something’ was Master’s bamboo sword! I was walking blindfolded, but this gramps decided to aim for my foot with a bamboo sword! I’d seriously fall!

“Oh… you’re steadily becoming able to evade. Then, I’ll go without any restraints!”

Wait! Restrain yourself! I wasn’t kidding! I’d fall, so! I’d really really fall, soooooo!

“Aaaah!”

～～～～～～～

Master’s training didn’t just stop at dance. Ibuki’s party had a buffet from what my brother heard, so I needed to learn the etiquette involving that. That was especially because I hadn’t participated in a party with a buffet before, so I didn’t know how much I could eat.

Also, the simple foods were one thing, but thinking about how Ibuki and Enju were planning to embarrass and kill me socially, there was a high possibility I’d need to eat hard-to-eat foods with the proper manners. I had to learn how to eat lots of different things so I could appropriately respond to that kind of menu… huh…?

“——whuh!? ——mmph? ——mph?”

I suddenly fell to the floor with a bam and started twitching repeatedly. I hadn’t wanted to do that or even done that myself. There also wasn’t something stuck in my throat. My own body was rejecting my will and wouldn’t move; it was just repeating its reflexes.

“Idiot! That had anaesthetic in it!”

“——ph! ——h!”

I wanted to protest at the weird things gramps was saying, but I couldn’t talk. I just lay awkwardly on the ground, twitching.

“Sakuya. You said people are also aiming for your life? That does not mean they’ll just attack you directly. Perhaps they’ll make you eat poison. You also have to learn to distinguish poison in an instant, protect yourself, and in the worst case hold the food in your mouth and overcome it. Right now I just used an anaesthetic, but enemies might make you eat a tasteless, odourless poison to assassinate you, right?”

“…”

That was! …true. It was just like Master said. I placed my attention on just manners without thinking about getting assassinated by poison. I had to pay careful attention to everything so that I could arm myself with enough ability to overcome anything that might happen in real life…

～～～～～～～

I got food from the buffet table. I avoided picking a few things and only picked the safe options.

“Hmm. It looks like you have become able to distinguish between foods with poison in them.”

“…”

Master said that while looking at the foods I’d chosen on my small plate. But…

“——hmm!? ——aah!?”

“Hmm…”

I avoided two of the traps Master had set.

First, Master sent a needle-like thing flying. That needle was soaked in poison. It was small, transparent, and not that tough. It was a needle you’d poke into food for someone to eat. They wouldn’t notice that the needle had entered their mouth either. It wasn’t that tough, so it’d dissolve when eaten. You wouldn’t feel a foreign sensation, nor would it leave any evidence.

Master was probably the only one who’d be able to throw it and mix it into food, but I shivered at the thought of this poison-covered needle mixed into food. You wouldn’t know who it was, their objective, or how the victim was even poisoned; it was a resource made for assassination.

And the moment my attention was caught on the needle, a thread hung from where Master was standing, passing from the ceiling, from above. The trick was to dribble poison onto the plate of food I had from above through the thread. The needle was an eye-catching method that was meant to be easily detected, and poison would drip from above in your blind spot while you were focused on the needle.

“Yes… you were able to endure this month well! There is no one who can assassinate you!”

“Yes! Thank you very—!?”

As I said that, Master tried to stab me with his bamboo sword last. I lowered my head and avoided it by a hair’s breadth.

“Hmm! Don’t lose focus up until the very end!”

“Yes!”

Thus, I’d intensely trained for a month and I’d finally become able to overcome Ibuki waiting for me at the demon banquet.