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Reiko’s Manners

Chapter 64

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

Accidentally published chapter 65 first, might as well make it a double release.

*****

Everyone listened to my story while eating light snacks. To be honest, there was no need to tell Katsuragi-sama and Shiroyama-sama, but since I felt guilty about kicking them out today as well, I decided to share it with them.

We were born in the Heisei era, so the Showa era—and even more so the pre-war and post-war periods—were things we only knew as historical facts. However, even if the eras were different, we could still understand the pain in Fuki-san's heart. After I finished telling the entire story, Sara-chan was crying. It was a deeply painful story for us girls.

「I hate everything about it too! That's... that's just far too cruel!」

「Fuki-san was simply too beautiful. For her, that beauty was likely nothing short of a tragedy. Even so, that doesn't mean it's acceptable to hurt others. Those are two entirely separate matters. Unless Fuki-san acknowledges her sin as a sin, true atonement will remain impossible for her.」

I took Sara-chan's hand in mine.

「I have come to want to be a person who is kind to others, just like the landlady. Precisely because I have suffered painful experiences myself, I do not want others to feel the same way, and I wish to be gentle. Haven't you had painful experiences too, Sara-chan? Surely you have been envied for unreasonable reasons before? After all, Sara-chan, you have everything—a distinguished family lineage, beauty, and a loving family. Yet without caring in the slightest that Sara-chan has her own share of suffering, people judge you regardless. I, too, was envied by my father. Simply because I was more capable than he was.」

Sara-chan stared at me intently. My eyes narrowed fondly at her adorable face.

「But I am not such a soft touch as to want to be kind to absolutely everyone. Through this ordeal, my perspective on Yuria Sakurada-sama and Miu Yuuki-san has changed. Until now, I tried to convince myself that I was merely bad at dealing with them, but the truth is, I simply dislike them. And I have come to realize that it is perfectly fine to dislike them. I cannot forgive their unreasonable claims. I believe there is no fault in me whatsoever. I do not care if people view me as arrogant.」

(I will pursue my own happiness. Yes, once I am able to earn a living on my own someday, I will live in the countryside and play the piano. And I will buy manga with my salary.)

「Back in elementary school, Yuria Sakurada said to me, 'You wouldn't understand, Sara-sama, since you aren't nouveau riche.' Yes, back when I ended up standing by as a bystander to that bullying and was framed as the ringleader. She said I could never understand how it felt for her to be treated lightly by those around her despite being a salon member, simply because she was nouveau riche.」

「She said something like that to you? No matter how you look at it, her not being respected is entirely her own fault. Unaware of all that, I rashly became a villainous young lady, just as Yuria Sakurada-sama calls it—I am so sorry.」

「It is not something you need to apologize for, Rei-chan. Besides, even if it was late in the day, I apologized to the girl who was being bullied back then. It happened while you were hospitalized, Rei-chan. I felt that I ought to apologize, even if she might not forgive me.」

Sara-chan beamed a smile.

「When I did, she said that while recalling the bullying still made her angry, it happened so long ago that she no longer dwelt on it, and in fact, she felt rather sorry toward me. Because ever since that bullying incident, I have stopped becoming close with anyone. She had never believed that I was the one leading the bullying. Even right in the middle of the bullying, whenever I ran into her, I always made sure to greet her, and I had even picked up her handkerchief and handed it back to her before, so she said she couldn't imagine me being a bully. But because Yuria Sakurada claimed she had no choice but to bully her because I ordered it, things turned out that way. After all, there was no proof that I hadn't given the order. ...I should have apologized much sooner. And you know, she said she still feels angry even now that there was never any apology from Yuria Sakurada.」

「Yuria Sakurada-sama is hardly the sort of person to reflect on her actions, after all.」

I turned my gaze toward Katsuragi-sama and Shiroyama-sama.

「Katsuragi-sama, given the situation, I leave Yuria Sakurada-sama entirely in your hands. The solution is exceedingly simple, you see. All you need to do is become Yuria Sakurada-sama's Prince Charming, Katsuragi-sama. If you were to date her, peace would be restored to my life.」

「Why on earth do I have to date Yuria?」

「...Did you not come here to apologize to me? If so, please demonstrate your sincerity. Oh, that's right—it might be wonderful if Shiroyama-sama were to date her along with you.」

「Who's that?」

Everyone fell silent. To think that Shiroyama-sama didn't even recognize Yuria Sakurada-sama.

「I dislike Yuria Sakurada-sama, but even I feel pity for her now.」

As I said that, Sou-kun explained.

「She's Katsuragi-san's childhood friend. In the salon, she's always clinging to Katsuragi-san.」

「Hmm, was there someone like that?」

(I couldn't help but wonder if someone as utterly spacey as Shiroyama-sama was truly popular with girls. I quietly asked Sara-chan about it.)

「Yes, he is quite popular. I didn't realize Shiroyama-sama was this sort of person either, you know. Previously, he was popular as an easygoing, handsome boy. Nowadays, he has become even more popular. Everyone at the academy must have total knotholes for eyes.」

「Sara, if you're going to put it that way, the same goes for Katsuragi-san too. I have no idea why a guy like this is popular at all. The two of them just have good looks and good family backgrounds, right? Their personalities are like this, you know?」

「Now, now, you two. Both Kaoru and Michael have their good points. For example... wait, what would their good points be?」

Sara-chan, Sou-kun, and Mandarouji-sama were all being terribly harsh. Feeling that it was rather pitiful for them, I chimed in to offer some support.

「You are all so dazzling, everyone. Gathering like this, you truly resemble the members of the manga 'Yūkan Club'. It makes complete sense that you are popular. You've read it too, haven't you, Sara-chan?」

「Yes, I have! It was so entertaining! It certainly makes one crave a Napoleon pie! Personally, I think Miroku Shochikubai-sama is the most wonderful of all.」

(Though he looked a bit like a bad boy, Sara-chan seemed to prefer someone with a strong sense of justice who was adept at both fighting and mechanics. That type of male student didn't exist at Meisei Academy.)

「Who is your favorite, Rei-chan?」

「She is not one of the gentlemen, but Karen Kizakura-sama. I find her efforts truly magnificent. Her housework is flawless, she is mature, and yet she strictly guards her chastity.」

Once again, the two of us got swept up in our excitement. Mandarouji-sama was the only one who could keep up with our conversation, though he merely wore a wry smile.

「Sara, you're as childish as ever, aren't you? Since you aren't popular, Sara, you can't find a partner in the real world, can you?」

「My, Sou-kun, I cannot simply ignore that remark! Making a statement like that is the exact same as picking a fight with me as well! As expected of someone so popular, how impressive! After all, I have never been in a relationship in my life!」

「Oh dear, Soujuu. You've gone and made Rei-chan dislike you. Though the gentlemen here might not understand, we are pure maidens. Therefore, we have no need for romance in the real world just yet.」

Hearing those words, Katsuragi-sama broke into a wide grin.

「In that case, you're just like me! I want to be united with the person I love, too! So my body is still pure!」

「Wha-?! When I said pure maidens, I didn't mean chaste in that sense, I meant pure in heart! You truly have no sense of delicacy whatsoever, Katsuragi-sama!」

(Ah, I had gained a piece of completely unnecessary information. Katsuragi-sama was on our side of the fence.)

「I know about that—you can become a wizard. I can't become one.」

(Shiroyama-sama said something completely incomprehensible. No matter how spacey he might be, to think he actually believed wizards existed in this world!)

「Rei-chan, what are you thinking?」

「Nothing. I simply do not understand the meaning of what Shiroyama-sama is saying at all. Wizards do not exist in this world.」

When I said that, Shiroyama-sama beamed brightly as he explained to me.

「Es gibt ein Sprichwort, das besagt, wenn man mit 30 Jungfrau ist, kann man ein Zauberer sein.」

「Silence, Michael.」

The one who said that was Mandarouji-sama. It turned out that Shiroyama-sama could speak quite normally when using German. However, the content of his words was far too shameful to even speak aloud.

「Rei-chan, what did Shiroyama-sama say? I don't understand German.」

「Eh? Please do not ask me.」

Katsuragi-sama answered without hesitation.

「Mm. Michael said that if you stay a virgin until you're thirty, you can become a wizard. But I have no intention of doing that. Because someday I'll be united with the one I love!」

(Sara-chan and I rolled our eyes back in disbelief. We had no desire to hear such a declaration.)

「You two, do not say such vulgar things in front of women. Go home already.」

Once again, Mandarouji-sama grabbed Katsuragi-sama and Shiroyama-sama by the scruffs of their necks and hauled them out to the entrance.

「For Katsuragi-sama and Shiroyama-sama to actually be popular—there is truly something wrong with the world. I dislike those gentlemen!」

「I agree with you on that, Sara-chan. But I do think what Katsuragi-sama said is a good sentiment. As long as there isn't a tragedy like Fuki-san's, I would like for us to remain pure until marriage.」

(I am a purist when it comes to matters of sex. I have no aversion to reading 'Domestic Yapoo', but when it comes to my own body, it is a different story. Because of my mother, I simply cannot approve of premarital sex. From the stories about my father that Attorney Tamaru and Tanaka of Mossad told me, it was implied that my mother had apparently enjoyed free sex. There might have been the historical context of the era to consider, but I find it disgusting and filthy.)

Having thrown Katsuragi-sama and Shiroyama-sama out, Mandarouji-sama stood up with a thoughtful look on his face and prepared to leave.

「Rei-chan, Sara-san, I shall take my leave soon. Soujuu, let's head back too.」

「...Yeah, let's go back.」

Sara-chan and I tried to see them off, but they politely declined. Feeling apologetic for remaining seated on the sofa, I expressed my gratitude and thanked them for today.

「The past can't be changed, after all...」

With that soft murmur, Mandarouji-sama and Sou-kun left for home.

*****

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