Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 12 Chapter 1.2

Ikkaku continued.

「Yuuya, you managed to get this far while barely using it. But Yahichi was different. He thought about how to make the most of the power granted to him; he racked his brains and strove to surpass you. To that end, he leveraged a deal with me and laid all the necessary groundwork. I respected that side of Yahichi. Even if his methods were underhanded, that was how he climbed his way up.」

「Evil deeds are bound to be exposed eventually.」

「Then you simply ensure they aren’t exposed. In that sense, Yahichi had been perfect.」

「You’re saying Yahichi’s actions were right?」

「They were right…provided he won. But Yahichi lost. That’s why he ended up the way he did.」

「It was just karma.」

「That’s not it. Yahichi didn’t lose to karma. He lost to the people who wield the Nanana collection. He lost to the students who utilized the power Nanana left behind, power that turns the impossible into the possible.」

As he listened to this, two figures came to Yuuya’s mind.

Ikkaku Shunjuu and Nanana Ryugajo.

On one side stood the Another Children, handpicked and granted special privileges by Shunjuu Ikkaku. On the other hand, the challengers had obtained the Nanana collection left behind by Nanana Ryuugajo.

There were those who had won their status through their own efforts, and those who had simply chased their dreams. The two groups faced each other, seemingly polar opposites. That was precisely why he felt he could not speak of what had happened to his stepsister, Kanata Ichijou.

「By the way, regarding the matter of Asumi Nishi, was it truly the right decision to let her go completely free?」

Asumi Nishi, the Student Council President of the Seventh High School Division, had been detained by Nanaejima General Security following the recent Sports Festival incident. He sympathized with what Yahichi had done to Asumi and the plight she had endured. He even understood the reasons behind it.

Yet, Asumi Nishi *had* committed a crime. And that matter had been brought to a close by the judgment of the man standing before him.

「She is a victor. Her efforts thus far deserve to be rewarded. It is my role to forgive her transgression, to commend her actions, and to bestow a reward upon her.」

As the head of the Governing Board (the king of this island) Shunjuu Ikkaku had made that call.

But he added one more thing, 「Besides, I managed to put a collar on her.」

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The setting is the headquarters of the 7th High School Community, located on the grounds of the 7th High School on Nanae Island.

Asumi Nishi had finally managed to return there after nearly two weeks away.

「Welcome back.」

It was Taisei Amagi who greeted Asumi with those words, standing alongside their fellow members.

While rejoicing in her safe return with her friends, Asumi recounted the full details of the recent events.

「After the incident, I was able to speak with Ikkaku-san. I explained everything, the reasons behind my actions. Upon hearing that, Ikkaku-san told me that I wouldn’t face any punishment for what happened.」

At this, cheers of joy rose from the group. However, Asumi lowered her head and continued.

「That said, they pointed out the dangers associated with the Nanana collection. Consequently, the Governing Board will now conduct regular inspections of our 7th High School Community. On top of that, we’re now required to submit reports on our activities.」

「Well, I suppose that can’t be helped. Not after what we did.」

「I’m truly sorry, everyone.」

Asumi bows deeply. Taisei speaks to her.

「While you were gone, I talked a lot with the others here. We even discussed the possibility that things might turn out the way they did. But in the end, we all felt the same way: we just wanted you to come back safe and sound. That’s what mattered most. There’s nothing else we could ask for.」

Seeing Taisei’s smile, Asumi smiles back, fighting to hold back tears.

「Thank you, everyone.」

Afterward, a welcome-back party was held for Asumi. Everyone was in high spirits, enjoying the food and drinks being brought into the headquarters lounge.

Amidst the festivities, Asumi quietly calls out to Taisei.

「Could you come with me for a moment?」

「What is it? Where are you taking me?」

Once they step outside and are alone, Taisei asks Asumi, who is walking ahead of him, 「During the two weeks I was held captive, I couldn’t stop thinking about the Seventh High School community. How was everyone doing? Was everyone okay?」

「That sounds just like you, Asumi.」

「But whenever that happened, Taisei’s face was always the first thing that came to mind.」

「…」

「At first, I didn’t even understand why. But after a while, it finally dawned on me that having Taisei by my side had simply become a given… something I took for granted.」

Asumi turns around and smiles shyly.

「Like I said during the sports festival, it seems we often don’t truly understand ourselves. I only realized it once that constant presence was no longer there.」

She then steps right in front of Taisei.

「I might make mistakes again. So, Taisei… will you stay by my side and keep an eye on me from now on?」

「Is that a confession of love?」

「W..Wait, no… it’s not exactly… well, I suppose it might not NOT be that…」

Taisei grabs the hand of Asumi, who is flustered and blushing bright red.

「I’ve finally got a hold of you. I’m never letting go.」

Taisei smiles happily, yet his eyes are serious as he conveys his feelings to the girl he has always cherished.

At his words, Asumi looks down shyly, then gives a small, affirmative nod.

「I’m always watching you too, President.」

「Huh?」 「Wha—?」

Taisei let out a startled yelp as Kuroko Oki emerged from behind him.

「That’s right, President. It’s not just Tai-chan, we’re all always together.」

Then, Misao Imaino appeared from behind Asumi. What’s more, Masaaki Kishitani and the rest of the group filed out from the surrounding bushes.

As her friends broke into thunderous applause, Asumi’s face turned bright red.

「Don’t tell me… you were listening?」

The moment everyone nodded in unison, Asumi tried to bolt. But Taisei grabbed her hand, stopping her.

「T..Taisei!」

「It’s fine, isn’t it? Nothing’s really changing, after all. I’m right here beside you, and our friends are all around us. It’s just like always…that’s all there is to it, right?」

Taisei’s words which delivered with a smile, warmed Asumi’s heart through and through.

Yet, she murmured quietly, 「But… it’s so embarrassing.」

「Don’t say that.. I’m incredibly embarrassed too.」

「Really?」

「Obviously. But still…」

「But…?」

「More than anything, I’m just incredibly happy.」

Taisei smiled bashfully, his grip tightening on Asumi’s hand. Feeling the same way, Asumi squeezed his hand back.

「I’m happy, too.」

Then, the two of them headed back to the venue together with their friends.

「In any case, we caused trouble for a lot of people this time. I need to make the rounds and apologize when I get the chance.」

「Then we should go see Juugo first. We put him through a lot.」

「Yeah. And Kachou-san, too.」

「Speaking of Kachou-san, did you hear about her little sister? Apparently, she’s managed to pull through.」

「Yeah. Ikkaku-san told me. It’s a huge relief.」

Asumi and the others were genuinely, deeply relieved that the little girl’s life had been saved.

1

「I’m glad you could make it, Yama.」

It was the weekend, two weeks after the school festival, and I (Jugo Yama) had arrived at a magnificent white mansion.

「Hello, Lady Ageha. I look forward to working with you today.」

The person who welcomed me was Ageha Kachou. She is a third-year student in the First High School division and was the key figure who led that division to victory as the acting student council president during the recent school festival.

The reason I was visiting Lady Ageha’s mansion today was to carry out the certification process for the Nanana collections in my capacity as an agent for Rakuichi Rakuza.

Rakuichi Rakuza is the company I launched at the end of summer vacation to handle the certification of these collections. Thanks to a positive reception, we have managed to certify the vast majority of the currently discovered Nanana collections. However, there are still two individuals who have applied but whose items have yet to be certified. One is Shunjuu Ikkaku, the top leader of Nananajima. He is apparently so busy that it is impossible to schedule an appointment with him anytime soon. The other is Ageha-ojousama, because she had been spearheading operations for the First High School division right up until the recent festival, she hadn’t been able to free up any time until now.

However, with the festival over, the official First High School student council president (who had been on a leave of absence) has returned. Above all, now that the situation involving Hinako-chan has settled down, she was finally able to make time for this meeting.