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Reiko’s Manners

Chapter 73

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

If yer a reader of The Fierce Saintess do forgive me cuz I want to prioritize Wellmy first. I do promise there will be new chaper this week.

*****

I barely remember anything that happened after that.

I feel like we ate at a restaurant we had reserved. I feel like we even chatted pleasantly. But they are just feelings; I have no firm proof. After the meal, Sara-chan came to stay over at my place. Sara-chan looked at my face with concern.

「Sara-chan, I barely have any memory of what we did up until a moment ago. What did I eat? What did I talk about? Did I do anything strange?」

「You were perfect. As always, you ate with beautiful manners, never letting your smile fade while nodding along to the conversation. Yoshida-sama didn't notice a thing...」

「I see. I was dumped before I could even confess. I thought I had to overcome Mother. But no matter how I think about it, there is simply no way I can surpass her. The hurdle is far too high.」

Tears trickled down my cheeks. To think my first love would end in rejection so quickly. I couldn't even confess. My eyes caught the cardboard box in the kitchen containing eight 1.5-liter bottles of Cola, filling me with sorrow. Since I couldn't gain weight through food, I had replaced all my drinks with Cola. But in the end, I only gained 500 grams. A number like that could easily be called a margin of error.

「Rei-chan, let us cry to our heart's content today! Cry and cry until you feel thoroughly refreshed!」

I nodded silently and drank Cola out of desperation. I drank until I was sick of it. I drank so much that I felt I wouldn't want to drink Cola again for a long time.

And while weeping, I went on telling Sara-chan about all my memories with Comrade Yoshio. How we always met by the akebi tree. How he taught me blade maintenance. How we burned charcoal in the charcoal kiln. How we cooked rice on the hearth. Every single one was a wonderful memory.

「Despite how I look, I am capable of burning charcoal, you know. I often used sawtooth oak. ...Once we move into our new home, I shall build a charcoal kiln there as well. By hand.」

I learned so many things from Comrade Yoshio—how to use blades, how to use the hearth, how to burn charcoal, the types of firearms. They were all wonderful memories. In particular, it was thanks to Yoshio that I grew to love blades. Now, whether I look at a kitchen knife or a pocket knife, Comrade Yoshio comes to mind, and I burst into tears.

First love never comes to fruition.

How true that turned out to be.

Sara-chan kept me company until late into the night.

The next day, I cooled my swollen eyelids with a wet hand towel.

Sara-chan made breakfast for me. Toast, salad, and fried eggs.

It was a little burnt, but that youthful innocence was what made it lovely. She looked adorable in an apron too. Whenever Sara-chan falls in love, I intend to support her with all my might.

「I am sorry. I went and burnt it again.」

「No one is good at it right from the start. Rather than the taste, I am happy for the feelings you put into making it for me. Let us eat.」

After the two of us ate breakfast, Sara-chan returned to her home. It seemed she was going to her mother, Yoko-sama's maiden home starting tomorrow for a memorial service. After that, she mentioned plans for a vacation in Nice, France. The next time we would meet would be after summer vacation ended.

「Rei-chan, if anything happens, please contact me immediately. I shall rush right over.」

「You as well, Sara-chan; if anything happens, please let me know. I am free to move about now!」

After seeing Sara-chan off, I finished the cleaning and laundry, changed into my uniform, and headed for the academy. There, I played the piano continuously. I played without thinking of anything else, single-mindedly. Sharpening my senses, I focused entirely on the timbre. I played with my eyes closed. I had grown accustomed to the weight of these piano keys. It sounded slightly lighter and had a softer resonance than the piano I played with Mari-sama. That served as a comfort to me right now. While the quality of the piano itself was part of it, the piano tuner must have been exceptionally skilled as well.

Normally, I would notice if someone entered the piano room, but today I did not notice at all.

Only when spoken to did I finally realize that Mandarouji-sama was there. How long had he been standing there?

「Rei-chan, are you alright? How is the pain of heartbreak?」

「Mandarouji-sama, were you aware? That I was in love with Comrade Yoshio?」

「Ah, yes. Though I only became certain yesterday.」

「...I am still far from alright.」

Recalling it, tears came pouring out all over again.

「Someday, it will become a fond memory. I guarantee it.」

「Mandarouji-sama... Thank you very much.」

「It is almost seven o'clock, so you had better head home soon. I'll walk you back.」

「I am fine. It is only three minutes away once I leave the academy grounds.」

「I was strictly disciplined by my grandmother, you see. I cannot possibly let a lady walk home alone.」

「...I must offer my thanks to Umeko-sama. To be walked home by such a wonderful person as you, Mandarouji-sama. However, it would be dreadful if the lady you love were to misunderstand.」

「Rest assured, she is not such a narrow-minded woman.」

(She must be a mature woman. Could it be that, like Comrade Yoshio, the person is more than ten years older than him? Age differences do not matter at all. Even if she is fifty years older, I shall support him with all my might!)

「Are you thinking about something strange again?」

(Oh dear, even Mandarouji-sama is starting to sound like Sou-kun.)

「Not at all! I am simply supporting your love with all my might, Mandarouji-sama!」

When I said that, Mandarouji-sama gave a strained laugh. Since he walked me all the way to the front door of my apartment, I invited him in for tea, but he declined.

「Rei-chan, you mustn't easily let a man into your home. Even if it's me. Listen, you absolutely must not let anyone in. I want you to promise me.」

I remembered Takaoka-sama saying the exact same thing to me before.

「Yes. However, I believe there would be no issue if it were you or Sou-kun, Mandarouji-sama.」

「...Rei-chan, you really are precariously naive. In a sense, you're a true sheltered maiden.」

Mandarouji-sama gave a wry smile and took his leave. Although I am not foolish enough to let Katsuragi-sama or Shiroyama-sama inside, he still worried about me. I fully understand that those two are extremely dangerous. There is no telling what they might do.

Locking the pain of heartbreak deep within my chest, I will be going on a grave-visiting trip with Comrade Yoshio to my mother's tomb the day after tomorrow. To meet him right after being dumped... It is far too painful.

Incidentally, since Mari-sama's remains were never found in the end, I am thinking of burying something as a substitute in her grave. As for a keepsake, the only thing I have is the cassette tape I entrusted to have the sound source recorded, so I think that will suffice. To think my very first trip would be a heartbreak journey... Kyoto is wonderful, isn't it? Yes, I am sure it will heal my heart.

Tomorrow, I plan to check with Landlady about the near-completion of our new home's renovations and see what among the prepared items is still lacking. In the end, Landlady is sharing a room with my father. It displeases me immensely that my father is overjoyed, but if Landlady is happy, it cannot be helped.

As expected, tonight too, I could not help but soak my pillow with tears.

*****

Sorry for the lateness. Gotta a streak of lazy day.

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