CH 49

Once Ichijou Kiyoshiro-sensei is done, Sara-chan returns back to the room. It seems that they have already gone through all the motions of entering the student council while waiting outside. Katsuragi-sama shows us a messaging application called WhatsApp. This application is one I’m also using with Sara-chan and Sou-kun. I take a look at the messages they exchanged, and find that they have earned all the current members’ votes of confidence. The official documents will be dealt with tomorrow, but with this, they’re now official members already.

“I see that it’s been decided that Sou-kun’s going to be the vice president, and Sara-chan the secretary. Good luck!”

When I say so, everyone of them look one to another.

“Rei-chan, why are you speaking as if you have nothing to do with this! Rei-chan’s also one of the members for the next student council! And, you’re going to be my, the next president’s, personal secretary!”

“Katsuragi-san, what are you saying. Rei-chan’s gonna be in general affairs.”

“Rei-chan, you are going to be in the student council with me!” (Sara)

Why am I also in the student council?

“I am a scholarship student; it is inevitable that there will be oppisition from the student body. No, not even just the student body, but the academy itself too. And I cannot imagine the academy alumni, who so value tradition, letting it slide either.”

I present my sound arguments. Right, this is right. But everyone’s grinning so broadly.

“It’s already become known that Rei-chan is a daughter of the highly regarded Kujouin family. Speaking on family status alone, you’re on par with Madenokouji-sama here. In addition, there is a lot of Kujouin Juuichirou-sama and Shirasagi Mari-sama worshippers among the academy alumni. There is no problem at all with you entering the student council.”

Though Madenokouji-san explains things as such, I still would like to pull out. I can’t possibly join the student council.

“Even if you say that, I am not even an inside student.  Much less a salon member. I still believe I am not qualified for the role.”

“Rei-chan! From now, we’ll be running the student council without regards to whether one is an outside or inside student! I will be the Che Guevara who’ll revolutionize the student council!”

Eh… Katsuragi-sama, you’re being terribly rude to the great Che Guevara. Rude enough to warrant a dogeza.

“Kaoru, be quiet. Rei-chan, I apologize that things have escalated so far. We got carried away, thinking that if it’s you, you will be a good fit for the role. I apologize for us deciding things while you’re still admitted. For now, do put your full attention into your recovery.”

So Madenokouji-sama apologizes, seemingly filled with guilt. He then hands me a box, stating that it is a get well soon gift.

Today, Madenokouji-sama has brought some strawberry mille feuille. This is the famous Maxim’s de Paris’s Napoleon Pie! It is said that even to this day, in Ginza’s restaurants, they are serving this dish in the same manner as they had when they first opened.

I am so touched I am moved to tears. I thought that my life will be over without getting to taste it, this dessert I so long for! What is this fateful encounter! Ah, how nice it is to be alive!

“Rei-chan, you’re too easily moved! Look how easily you were won over!”

“Sou-kun, I cannot forget the utter despair I felt when Takaoka-sama told me that the shop had closed. Yet now, the Napoleon Pie I had so longed for is right in front of my eyes!”

It was at this instance.

“Ah, this is really good, isn’t it! Yuu-san, where did you get it?”

Katsuragi-sama ate the pie before we could cut it up! He munched on one end of it while we were waiting for the plates to divide the pie up.

I cry for real this time.

I cry tears of vexation. I hate Katsuragi-sama! Hate him so much!

Sara-chan fixes a contemptuous glare on him and dabs at my cheeks with a handkerchief.

“Rei-chan, do wipe your tears. Let us all partake in some, shall we? Madenokouji-sama has poured us some tea.”

This room is a VIP room and has various utensils prepared. The teacups and saucers were in the motif of a lotus leaf. They look like something Fuki-san would like.

Since I can move only one of my arms freely, it is not easy for me to eat. Seeing this, Sara-chan aids in feeding me.

“Rei-chan, aahh.”

Like a chick, I open my mouth and eat a piece of the Napoleon Pie.

Such a delicate balance of crispiness, the taste of strawberry and cream! What a delicacy!

“Sara-chan, I am so glad I was able to escape that falling house! There are a lot of delicious food to eat in this world. I am so happy to be alive!”

With tears running, I continue to eat.

“Hahaha! Rei-chan sure is different! It’s the first time I’ve met such an interesting girl.”

I turn a sharp glare unto Katsuragi-sama.

“Such a line, please say it to Sakurada Yuria-sama instead.”

In the world of otome games, the line “Heh, you sure are different” is something the self-indulgent prince says to the heroine, indicating his interest in her.

“Why should I say it to Yuria. She’s but a childhood friend. Nothing more, nothing less. Does it have something to do with that otome game or whatever?”

Hearing this, Sara-chan stands up.

“Katsuragi-sama, since it has been brought up, you will allow me to speak on this matter. I truly loathe Sakurada Yuria, by a lot! There is also the matter of the past, but even now, she is always putting the blame on others!”

Katsuragi-sama asks Sara-chan to elaborate. Upon which Sara-chan launches into a detailed explanation of everything that has happened.

“I believe only what I have seen with my own eyes. Still, the words of the Hongou twins do carry a high degree of credibility.”

Madenokouji-sama has no idea of Sakurada Yuria-sama’s delusions. He has never read web novels in the first place, so it gives that he does not understand them. Sou-kun gives him a brief summary instead.

“Sakurada-san, huh. She’s the kid who’s always on Kaoru’s tail. Kaoru. Do something about Sakurada-san, as payment for making Rei-chan cry earlier.”

Much unlike how he usually is, Madenokouji-sama said this in a cold tone. His beautiful side profile looks terrifying. Even Katsuragi-sama has fallen silent.

Just then, yet another visitor comes into the room.

They are Takaoka-sama and Ichijou Akimi-sensei.

“Hello, Rei-chan. I see you have quite a number of visitors with you. Are you not tired?”

Takaoka-sama addresses me as such after casting a glance at everyone in the room.

“No. Madenokouji-sama has brought us some Napoleon Pie from Maxim’s de Paris. It’s a strawberry mille feuille made to reproduce the same taste as it had when it was first sold. It’s absolutely delicious! As such, I am currenly in utter bliss.”

Takaoka-sama looks to Madenokouji-sama. Madenokouji-sama, in turn, looks toward Takaoka-sama, presenting himself in his best behavior and with a smile.

“… That’s great, Rei-chan.”

Takaoka-sama then turns towards Sara-chan and Sou-kun.

“You guys, Rei-chan has yet to fully recover. Don’t bother her too much. You should go home soon.”

“Well then, Kaname-niisan, too, should go home with us.”

“I’ve only just come though.”

“Yes, we get it. … I know that Kaname-niisan has been watching over Rei-chan in secret. Still, I cannot accept that picture. Now then, let us have the helper arrange those flowers. Kaname-niisama, let’s go home together. You too, Ichijou-sensei.”

“Sara, what picture are you talking about?”

In respone to Takaoka-sama’s inquiry, Sou-kun pulls a laptop out from his bag and opens it. Within it are multiple pictures of myself. They are ordinary pictures, exceedingly ordinary. There are pictures of me in my school uniform and jersey. Yet, there are almost no pictures in which I am looking at the camera. These pictures were most probably taken from CCTV cameras.

“You, why do you have those!”

“Biometrics authentication’s easy to hack.”

I fail to understand why these pictures are posing a problem to them.

“Sou-kun, I don’t think there’s a problem here. They are likely information he needs in order to guard me, are they not? Rather than angry, I am actually grateful.”

“… It is as such. I apologize for any discomfort this might have brought you. Rei-chan.”

“No such thing ! Comrade Yoshio has also told me that Takaoka-sama had been guarding me. Thank you very much.”

Takaoka-sama is truly a kind person. Though I do think that he had been protecting me because he was told to do so by Hongou Takeru-sama.

Objectively speaking, I must seem like the heroine in a game. I have been receiving protection in secret, after all. In addition, it was done by 3 men; Comrade Yoshio, Mossad Tanaka-san, and Takaoka-sama. It is just as if I am the heroine! … Though only if we ignore the fact that all three of them would end up being pedophiles. Though his age makes it inappropriate, Mossad Tanaka-san is indeed not included in the list of capture targets of the otome game. It would be too much had he been one.

Sara-chan looks as if she is not convinced of my reasoning. She calls the helper and has them tidy the plates up. Ichijou-sensei is basically air here. What did he even come for? Just as I am thinking so, Ichijou-sensei places a can of black tea leaves on the table.

“Here, your get well soon gift. I’ve told you before that I have a friend from whom I get my tea leaves, haven’t I? It’s a type of tea leaf that’s not sold in stores and acquired only for me. It’s second flush Darjeeling.”

“… That friend, could they be a woman?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“I cannot accept this. That person gave them to you because she wants you to drink it, didn’t she? Though I am much grateful for your consideration, I cannot say I admire your ways.”

So Ichijou-sensei does not only look frivolous but actually is so.

“Speaking of, I believe Ichijou-sensei is also one of the capture targets in Sakurada Yuria’s imagined otome game. Was the storyline the one where he quits his playboy-ish ways and realizes the value of true love? Sara.”

“That’s right, Souju. I don’t quite recall, but it was either Sakurada Yuria or that outside student who taught him true love or something.”

Just what is true love? My father had said something along those lines too.

Irrationally angered by these empty words, I condemn Ichijou-sensei, all the while knowing that everything is but inside Sakurada Yuria’s imaginary setting.

“I think it horrible. When I think of the women Ichijou-sensei has dated in the period before he realizes what true love is, I cannot but think how terrible true love is.”

A silence falls upon the room.

“Kujouin-san, I am not such a terrible man as you’re making me out to be. It certainly is true that I have had relations with several women, but they all had clean endings.”

“Ichijou, you’re digging your own grave.”

Takaoka-sama quickly points this out. Ichijou-sensei might consider things to have ended cleanly, but the other person may not have seen it that way. It sounds like things might lead to bloodshed sooner or later. I can’t help but scorn things a little. It appears that I am more particular than I had thought. I did not know this about myself.

After a while, everyone went home.

I feel tired. I suppose I have yet to fully recover.

Still, Madenokouji-sama sure is something; to have brought purple roses and the Napoleon Pies.

I wish to gift him something nice as a thank you once I am discharged.

Translator’s Note:

Hello, your translator here. I apologise for the unannounced hiatus I went on. I have been overwhelmed with real life events and while things have calmed down to a certain degree,

UPDATES WILL BE DOWN TO ONCE A WEEK UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

I apologise for this sudden change. Also, the original work is completed and any delays on further uploads are entirely on my part.

As a side note, this is my first project and any feedback and criticism would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.