5 - The Trouble Continues?

“Wow, who was that, you think?” Keena asked Yukiko excitedly.

Yukiko gave her a scathing look that clearly said, “You really couldn’t tell?” It seemed that Keena really didn’t understand.

Hiroshi returned to the village with Keena and Yukiko. He’d brought Keena because he’d assumed she’d learned his secret, but it seemed he was wrong. He’d be able to keep the suit a secret from the rest of the school.

Then, in front of his destroyed home, Hiroshi reunited with his parents.

“Dad...”

When Hiroshi approached, his father left Yukiko and Keena to his mother, and led Hiroshi behind the ruined house. When he was sure no one was around, he took Hiroshi’s hand.

“That was you, wasn’t it?”

When Hiroshi nodded silently, his father began to share his secrets.

“That was left behind by your grandfather. So was the legend. But I don’t know the details. According to your grandfather, a man appeared out of nowhere on the island, left the suit and the legend, and left. He said that someday, one of my bloodline would use the suit. I’d seen the suit myself when I was little, so I had no choice but to believe.”

“But then that means there was a real person who could see the future...” Hiroshi said, confused.

“That, I don’t know. It’s said that telling the future is impossible. I don’t know if he just chose us at random, or if the bloodline of the hero really exists. But given the dangers of that suit, I had no choice but to protect the legend. I know it caused problems for you, but only you can use it. So you need to figure out how.”

And then he said goodbye.

After that, even when the villagers asked him, he would no longer say that his son was the hero. Eventually the villagers stopped asking, but they stopped making fun of him in the shadows, too.

On the way back to school, Yukiko had seemed to want to say something as she saw them off, but Hiroshi just patted her on the head and said, “It’s a secret.” That seemed to help her understand everything.

But Hiroshi didn’t feel better. He was still a bit upset about how he’d fought with Akuto over Mister X. For one thing, this power was too much for him. And then there was that prophecy, too. It said that in the end, the hero would defeat the Demon King.

—That’s impossible, right? To avoid it, I’ll just have to not fight the boss.

Hiroshi tried to shake off this dark feeling that was upon him.

But he couldn’t stop thinking about the man who’d brought the suit to the island.

The man’s name, he’d been told, was Boichiro Yamato.

○

“...And so I’m back.”

Korone finished her explanation once they arrived at the dorm. Hiroshi was taking Keena for a visit home. Akuto was alone in his room with Korone and Junko.

This is what had happened. Korone knew the rumors about the Cabinet Information Magic Office, and realized who it was who had attacked Akuto in the woods. She’d taken it to the Cabinet and used the information to threaten their boss. Their boss hadn’t known how far the office had gone out of control, and as he apologized, he had no choice but to turn over the authority to observe Akuto to Korone and the rest of the Church of Markt.

“The Cabinet Information Magic Office had been controlled by someone from the shadows, is what I’m told. Unfortunately, it resulted in political deals like these.”

Akuto didn’t understand half of what was said, but it seemed that there was an argument over whether fixing the messes Akuto had caused was a political matter or a peacekeeping matter.

But that didn’t explain how Korone had acted at the forest.

“Then what was this about being fired?”

Korone nodded.

“Things have mostly resolved, but that problem remains, actually.”

“Huh?”

“I asked at the Cabinet, and they said that they were disappointed that you learned about the order. The Academy filed a complaint. I supposed Eto might be responsible for this.”

“Then that thing about seducing me is over...?”

“The order itself hasn’t been rescinded. It remains in effect, and it seems they have no intention of rescinding their plan.”

“Hmm?” Akuto was surprised.

“But once I’ve learned what’s going on, it’s not going to work anymore, is it?”

“Aren’t you misunderstanding the situation?”

“Misunderstanding?”

“Yes. The plan was to control your relationships with women. Even if it’s exposed, I just have to tempt you anyway,” Korone said, completely serious.

“Listen, you can’t seduce me once I know what’s going on.”

But Korone’s response was immediate.

“That’s the misunderstanding. Since you know so little about women, I was simply attempting to provide you with sexual education. The plan isn’t to have you do anything with me.”

“Huh?” Akuto was shocked to hear this.

Korone continued.

“The plan was to marry you with a woman of good breeding. Now that it’s been found out, I’ll ask you directly. Akuto, please marry Junko. I can have the wedding arranged for next month.”

“Wha...?”

“Huh...?”

Both Akuto and Junko froze. Korone continued, seemingly oblivious.

“I thought in the woods that Akuto was in love with Keena, and thus the mission had failed,” she said. “Keena does not belong to a proper household, and so any relationship with her would not improve Akuto’s situation. But it seems that after that, nothing happened. Which means that instead, he should marry Junko and join her household. That will solve all the problems. If he really can’t forget Keena, he can keep her as a mistress. He’ll certainly have the money.”

Akuto was still confused, but at least he understood the meaning of Korone’s strange actions now.

—But still...

He glanced over at Junko. She’d sat down on her knees like a proper Japanese lady, her lips pressed tight together. When she saw Akuto was looking at her, she began to stammer.

“Y-You know, this is crazy...” Akuto began, but Junko started to mumble things that didn’t make any sense.

“Hyah... Hyo... Nyo... M-Marriage?”

And then she suddenly turned to face Akuto with an indescribable expression on her face before screaming and running out of the room.

“U-Uwaaah!”

“W-Wait...” Akuto said, but he couldn’t stop her.

○

Junko found herself alone, sitting in front of the vending machines in one of the school’s break rooms, and muttering to herself.

—Marriage? M-M-M-Marriage?

She’d never thought about it. Many of the Hattori spent their lives in service to the country’s most important individuals. Most of them never had a happy family. The eldest was expected to form a political alliance via marriage, and the others were expected to dedicate their lives to those they served. In a case where their master was of the opposite sex, this service would often manifest itself in the form of a hidden love, and this was also part of the Hattori family training.

Of course, Junko would sometimes think about Akuto before she fell asleep... but when she did, her usual fantasy was of sneaking under Akuto’s bed and feeling his warmth while she watched over him. So it was kind of weird.

—If we get married, I won’t be sleeping below him, I’ll be sleeping next to him, won’t I? N-Next to him...

Junko felt like she would explode from embarrassment. She bought herself some soda to calm herself down, panting as she gulped it down from a paper cup.

—No, being married to someone doesn’t just mean sleeping next to them... It means doing what comes next...

Junko started to choke on her drink, and it was five minutes before she stopped.

Those students who watched her from a distance assumed that she was upset because Akuto had done something else to damage the school’s reputation.

○

“Wh...What are you trying to do here?” Akuto asked Korone after Junko left.

But Korone was unperturbed.

“That will solve everything. Is there a problem?”

“Well... what about how we feel?” Akuto asked the natural question, and Korone gave the natural response.

—Huh...?

And it caught Akuto off-guard completely.

“I have feelings as well, you know. And I’m holding them back,” Korone said.

Her face was alive with emotion.

Korone put her hand to her mouth as Akuto stood there in shock. And then she blushed, and fidgeted like she was embarrassed.

“This order was painful for me as well. Because really, I...”

Korone’s expression was that of a girl in love. Akuto froze as she put her face up towards his. She stuck out her lips a little and moved in for a kiss.

And just before their lips touched...

“So this was your preference for being approached by a woman,” Korone said coldly, returning to her emotionless expression.

“Hey... Y-You tricked me, didn’t you.” Akuto’s face turned red.

Korone laughed.

“Hehehe... Just a little joke.” Her smile was so natural.

Akuto didn’t know what to do, so he just forgave her.