CH 45

Main Story 45

“Even if you ask me that… Some classmates had just come to pay me a visit.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Sara-sama glared at Kimoto-san and the others.

“They kept me company when Sara-chan and Sou-kun were taking a break from school. They are truly good natured people. And they know much about Yoshinoya too.”

“Yoshinoya? What is that?”

“It’s a well known gyudon restaurant.”

Souju-sama, who until now had remained silent, quipped in too.

“Hey, do you wish to drift apart from us?”

What is he saying?

“Why do you think so? Sara-chan and Sou-kun are both precious friends of mine. And Kimoto-san and the others have become friends to me too. Nothing more, you know?”

“I don’t want that.”

… Sou-kun is a spoiled child too.

“I am friends with Kimoto-san and the others. Why is that so wrong?”

“… Everyone hurt us.”

“Sara-chan? What are you saying?”

It seems that there’s a past that I don’t know of.

“I understand how Sara-chan and Sou-kun feel, but Kimoto-san and the others are my friends. I belong to neither Sara-chan nor Sou-kun. The two of you are special to me. Still, I am human; I have a will of my own.”

Somehow, it echoes the final argument I had presented to Sakurada Yuria-sama. I am a human with my own free will.

Sara-sama and Souju-sama turn their eyes full of anger unto me. But I do not falter.

“With recent events, I have had a painful realization of just how narrow my worldview has been until now. Though I am poor, I have never been dissatisfied, for I have been living in a miniature garden, receiving protection while never knowing anything beyond that scope. But my miniature garden is now shattered.”

I run out of breath. Seeing my ragged breathing, Kimoto-san presses the nurse call button and addresses Sara-sama.

“Hongou-sama, since I am an outside student, I would normally not be allowed to speak to you. But for this occasion, I will presume to say my piece. Kujouin-san is heavily injured. Don’t you think it would be okay for you to show her some consideration, instead of just shoving your own feelings in her face?”

“Wha-! I don’t think I’ve done anything to warrant being told that by someone like you!”

I must stop this. With much effort, I reach my hand out to Sara-sama.

“I will talk about my side, so Sara-sama, talk about yours too. We should be able to understand one another better.”

Sara-sama seems shocked. She then looks to me.

“… Yes. Rei-chan, I’m sorry. We will go home for today.”

After saying this, Sara-sama grabs Souju-sama’s arm and leaves the room. Kimoto-san and the others look uncomfortable.

“Kimoto-san, thank you.”

“It’s okay. Though we might be bullied by the inside students from tomorrow. Hahaha”

Kimoto-san’s complexion worsens and her laugh is without mirth.

“Sara-chan will not do such a thing. Please believe me. She loathes such vile actions. The two of them are also mostly keeping their distance from the other inside students.”

A nurse came just as I was done speaking, though with great effort. After taking a look at my condition, the nurse urged Kimoto-san and the others to go home.

“Everyone, thank you for paying me a visit.”

They each leave the room while saying words such as “get well soon” to me.

The nurse scolds me, telling me to not force myself. I am made to go to sleep. Certainly I do feel slightly in pain. Let’s rest for a bit.

Both Sara-sama and Souju-sama are not inclined to accept other people into their circle. They give off a feeling of living in their world – a world with just the two of them in it. Something has probably happened in the past. And I am not in the know regarding this. Neither do Sara-sama and Souju-sama know about me. We’re on the same boat in this regard.

I once again fell into sleep.

When next I awoken, it was already nearing dinner time. Just at that moment, I received a message that another visitor had come.

It’s Madenokouji-sama! Of course, I tell them to let him in.

I see now, so only Comrade Yoshio and the people of the Hongou household can come in here without checking with me first.

Madenokouji-sama brought with him a huge bouquet of roses. They’re purple roses. Ah, it’s Purple Rose!

“Madenokouji-sama, you remembered?”

“But of course. He’s your favorite character from Glass Mask, isn’t he?”

I am so happy I cannot conceal my joy.

That’s right, Hayama Masumi-sama was the first man I had ever fallen for. Of course, I do like Gen from Barefoot Gen, but that’s more of respect; it’s a different kind of like.

Now that I am of high school age, I would be lying if I say that the age gap between Masumi-sama and Maya does not bother me. It’s an actual crime! Ah, I’ve only read up until the 19th volume. There must be more out now. It should be okay. Maya might even be over 30 already. Since the series has been continuing for a long time, Maya must have aged too. Ah, I wonder if Tsukikage-sensei is still alive.

“By the way, how are you feeling? Better, I hope?”

“Yes, and by a great deal. I apologize for being so late in saying this, but thank you for the other day. You escorted me to the infirmary.”

“No, I should have been more careful after that too. I heard that you contracted pneumonia. I apologize.”

Ah, he must be thinking in the same vein as Sara-sama and Souju-sama. That had they known I had pneumonia, they would have had me admitted to a hospital and thus avoid the landslide.

I shake my head.

“No such thing. The fact that I was not in a hospital, that I was not able to go to one – everything was my own responsibility. And landslides are natural disasters. Nothing can be done about it. But I am still alive. I can even play the piano again after my bone’s healed! And I now have a new goal to accomplish!”

Should.not.this.grudge.be.avenged.

For now, my first priority is to finish my father off. As if I will let him be!

For that, I need to gather information. My father’s source of money. I’m convinced he must be doing something vicious. My father and the landlady’s relation. And, what did they mean by revenge towards me?

A strong will, one I have never felt before, is welling up inside me. How unfortunate it is that I cannot move my body freely.

“Ah, that’s right. I brought this, with the hopes that it might help you pass the time.”

What he pulled out while saying this line was a tablet.

“I downloaded a lot of my manga recommendations. Well then, I should get going. Get well soon.”

Saying this, he left the room in a swift motion. Staying for too long while visiting someone in the hospital is not good, after all. Just as one would expect of Madenokouji-sama. He even has consideration towards others down.

I pressed the nurse call button and asked the nurse assistant who came to put the bouquets in a vase. The flowers Kimoto-san and the others had brought with them were delphinium and bellflowers. How lovely.

Since I am poor, I have never had much consideration for flowers, but they truly are beautiful after all.

They even have stylish edible flowers you can use in plating. Speaking of edible flowers, one thinks of nanohana[1]! I like ohitashi[2]. Though since nanohana are eaten before they bloom, they don’t feel much like flowers.

Regardless, I am elated to have received flowers.

After admiring the flowers, I move on to reading manga at the tablet. For starters, I choose to read Kinnikuman.

“Superhuman? Are they not human?”

As I continue on reading, I discover they have plenty of superhuman characters. And I truly mean plenty.

“My! A toilet bowl superhuman? And the Japanese style squat ones, at that? That’s somewhat sad.”

I have a preference for Robin Mask. His quote, “Your biggest chance comes after a crisis”, resonates with the new me. I truly think that it is just as he says.

I ended up being scolded by the nurse and having the tablet confiscated, for I went on reading even past my bedtime. They said that they will return it tomorrow morning.

I now have nothing to keep me occupied, so I begin thinking of ways to retaliate against my father. I can’t ask him directly. Not only is he supposedly in critical condition, I am yet unable to move freely by myself. For now, I should get in touch with Lawyer Tamaru. That person should know about my father. They even said that they were old acquaintances. Mossad Tanaka-san knew about my father too. Just what is going on here?

Furthermore, the landlady supposedly elected to not exact revenge upon me because Fuki-san had done so in her place already. What is the meaning of that? I don’t recall ever having been on the receiving end of a vengeance by Fuki-san. She had raised me and taught me a lot of things. Though I may not have received her love, I adored Fuki-san. The fact that I adored Fuki-san is one that will never be overturned.

That’s why, not only will I meet Fuki-san once more, I also plan on asking her about Mari-sama and my father. I don’t care what Takanashi-sama has to say. I will see Fuki-san!

Translator’s Notes:

[1] From wikipedia: Nanohana is a cruciferous green vegetable, closely related to rapini and broccoli, which is commonly used in Japanese cuisine. The term nanohana specifically refers to the young shoots of the rapeseed plant, while the mature plant, which is used to produce rapeseed oil, is called aburana.

[2] Ohitashi refers to simple side dish where vegetables, typically leafy greens and especially spinach, are boiled in bonito flavoured soy sauce.