Chapter 3: The Lady Takes the Challenge

 

 

 

Chapter 3: The Lady Takes the Challenge

 

BEFORE I knew it, the day of the contest had arrived.

It was held the last Friday in April, in the music room after school.

The room closely resembled one of the music salons patronized by the Lacrofine nobility, but I suppose that was only natural for an affluent school like St. Delia’s. Standing before the rows of luxuriously upholstered chairs was a massive, white grand piano.

It was the first time I had seen that piano here. When we used this room for class the other day, I was sure I saw the usual black one. ...No, my mind must have been playing tricks on me. The school chairman was also the patriarch of the Mochizuki family, but surely he wouldn’t switch out the piano just for our competition...at least, I didn’t think he would go that far. Probably not.

“Good, it got here in time,” Mochizuki said, his words sounding rather dubious as he stroked the white piano lid. On closer inspection, I realized he was casually wearing an accessory with a butterfly motif.

Did he special-order this piano two weeks ago?

“Show some restraint, Mitsuru,” Izayoi, the boy with the glasses, said with disgust.

“Hmph. If Tsukuyomi wants to participate, then it’s only natural I’d back her up,” Mochizuki retorted with a pout. “Even with something as pointless as this.”

Wow...that was surprising. It was a passive-aggressive sort of support.

More importantly, it was clear Mochizuki certainly had a hand in all this and wasn’t very pleased with the competition.

Lady Chouko met his words with a slightly vexed expression. “You’ve always been incorrigible, Mitsuru. I would keep my distance, Urara. His pigheadedness might be contagious,” she said, turning my way. Perhaps her displeasure was greater than her face conveyed.

Aritomo was clearly nervous, likely because she had drawn the first straw. She hadn’t even noticed the piano had been swapped or Mochizuki’s spiteful choice of words. Shimozuru had been trying his best to comfort her.

“I’m all right, it’s all right...yeah, I’m fine,” she muttered to herself. “What? Did you say something?”

She definitely was not all right.

At this rate, all that practice would be for naught if she couldn’t pull herself together. Victory was a distant concern at this point.

I certainly didn’t completely accept that this was all just some otome game scenario, but since she had given up eight years of her life working relentlessly in pursuit of these so-called events, I couldn’t simply let her efforts go to waste. She had worked so terribly hard for this chance that it made me want to cheer her on.

My eyes met Shimozuru’s, and they begged him to speak up, to give her some encouragement. Please say something to her! I leave it to you! He nodded and accepted the challenge.

“Hey, Aritomo, I know you’ve been working hard preparing for today.”

“...Yeah.”

“In the beginning, I just thought you were some weirdo, but when I saw how fearlessly you went after Chouko, I was actually entertained by you.”

“......”

“Weirdo”? “Went after”? “Entertained”? Maybe you could have picked better words, Shimozuru.

“I think you should try to forget about the competition and just play what’s in your heart. Maybe you could focus on playing for me instead?”

What a charming thing for someone to say.

Bravo! Those cajoling words paired perfectly with that charming face. Now we were finally getting somewhere like in those books about otome games that Kirara lent me.

Well, Aritomo, what say you?

“...M—”

M?

“Mo...”

Most certainly?

“Maybe I should just focus on Mochizuki.”

No! Wrong choice!

His face went pale at having his flirting unceremoniously brushed aside. I turned to Aritomo.

“Aritomo!”

“What? ...It’s just, the Prince was my first choice, but Oboro was my second choice, so...”

Hearing her mumble those thoughtless words, I had a sudden realization. I faced her and heaved a gentle sigh.

“All right, then.”

“What?”

“If you’re this nervous, Aritomo, then I will go first.”

“...Huh?”

“I had intended to go last, hoping it would be treated as an afterthought, but this works fine, too. I haven’t studied the piano much, but I’ll at least play better than someone so nervous their fingers freeze. Thank you for making me look better by comparison, Aritomo.” I covered my mouth with my hand and laughed. “Hehehe.”

Aritomo’s pale face began to fill with color once more.

“Hohoho.” I gave my best high-pitched, in-your-face laugh.

“D-Don’t mock me!” she erupted like an angry volcano. “I didn’t ask you to do that for me! This is our decisive first contest! You don’t even know how to play! You must be joking! Ah, this isn’t the time for this!” She grabbed the sheet music as she spoke and danced her fingers across the keys as if warming up.

Wonderful—this was the brazen Aritomo I knew.

I had utilized the same tactic Shimozuru had the other day when he had been attempting to spur Aritomo on. Clearly this was the best method to use with her.

Incidentally, I tried imitating the villainesses from the books Kirara lent me. Did I pull off the laugh and the goading? Regardless, now that Aritomo motivated again, I spoke to Shimozuru.

“I’m glad to see Aritomo’s back to her usual self.”

“Yeah... My confidence, on the other hand, is still in tatters, heh.”

Hmm, those affection-point increases Aritomo had earned with Shimozuru had gone right back down, it seemed.

With Mikazuki finally joining us in the music room and Aritomo’s nerves calmed, she had resumed that usual proud, competitive smile.

“Well, shall we get started? Ui, you’re the judge this time around. Go ahead.”

“Right, leave it to me.”

Shimozuru also seemed to be running this round as advisor, so our judge, Mikazuki, took a seat in the chair to the right of the stage.

“Now hold on, how am I supposed to see her play from here?” Mikazuki grumbled. Exasperated, Shimozuru shrugged.

“You can hear the piano best from there. You’re on judging duty today, so this is no time for slacking. Listen. No sleeping allowed.”

Everyone but Aritomo and I nodded in agreement. I understood that to mean Mikazuki really had no interest in the artistic merits of this performance.

“Shizuku Aritomo, playing Mozart’s Twelve Variations on ‘Ah vous dirai-je, Maman.’”

Aritomo gave a bow as Shimozuru introduced her. She lowered her head a little too much. A proper lady never bows too deeply. There is a thin line that distinguishes the perfect amount of elegance and courtesy.

This was one piece of etiquette we would need to work on before the next challenge.

With a sigh, the first bars of Twelve Variations began to fill the room.

Following the familiar sound of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” was a melody with a light, buoyant quality. It was sweet and surprisingly fitting for Aritomo.

She only played an excerpt of around six minutes, as advised by Shimozuru to keep Mikazuki from getting bored, but she played every note quite well. Even Mikazuki had sat up and was giving her his undivided attention.

I noticed that Mochizuki looked as if he had something to say, but Shimozuru ignored him in favor of giving Lady Chouko’s introduction.

“Chouko Tsukuyomi, playing Debussy’s ‘Clair de lune.’”

The soft, tender, and loving way she played the song wove images of the enchanting moonlight illuminating the stillness of the depths of night in my mind.

Those rays of moonlight seemed to gather into a single spotlight that lit up Lady Chouko as she played.

That beautiful performance was the moonlight itself.

Once the last traces of the final note faded away, she rose and finally allowed her face to soften into a grin, her eyes meeting mine.

“I’m going to play for you.”

I began to tremble again, just as I had the first time she said it.

Had she really played such a beautiful song just for me? I was happy. A little embarrassed...but happy.

The heat of the moment spread like fire in my chest. What was this warm, almost constricting feeling?

The vigorous clapping all around me roused me from my daze.

“Well, looks like that settles it,” Mochizuki’s voice boomed as he applauded. “There’s no contest here. Let’s put this ridiculous farce to rest.”

Aritomo stiffened upon hearing his cold words.

Clearly, Lady Chouko was the winner on skill alone, and the emotional depth of her piece was equally unmatched. Everyone present could agree on that.

Even so, no one else seemed willing to say it. After seeing how much effort both parties had put into it, no one seemed keen to disparage either musician.

Lady Chouko fixed Mochizuki with a reproachful look.

I made sure to maintain my composure as I approached him.

“I still haven’t performed my piece. I expect you to give it due consideration.”

My words punctuating the silence following Mochizuki’s insults, I made my way over to the grand piano.

After a subtle bow, I adjusted the seat and gave Shimozuru the signal.

It was my turn now.

“...Urara Tendou, uh...your performance piece, please?”

Ah yes. In the beginning, I intended to select a song they would all know, but partway through, I decided instead to play them something I knew well from my past life.

“‘V-Vernal Birdsong.’”

I was going to perform for them a much beloved piece from my past life.

 

Beautiful is the vernal ballad of a solo bird,

Rich and sonorous like the rays of the sun,

Oh, come to me, my lady fair,

That our melodies may forever be as one.

 

Beautiful is the vernal ballad of a pair of birds,

Soft and gentle like the cooling breeze,

How my heart yearns, fair lady,

For you to come and sing once more with me.

 

The second the final note resounded, I was overcome with a gentle, warm feeling.

Lady Chouko! Hugging me from behind like that is unfair!

“What a lovely ballad, Urara,” she whispered in my ear, completely disregarding how flustered I was and only embarrassing me further.

But in truth, I had sung. Without even realizing I was doing it.

“It was beautiful. But I’ve never heard a language like that before. Where is that song from?” Izayoi asked, his words surprisingly direct.

Apparently I had sung in Lacrofinian. This was bad.

“Well...I heard it a long time ago...I actually don’t know where it’s from...”

There was no other way to explain it. My only option was to try to laugh it off, so I gave them an innocent smile.

“It actually sounded like...Finnish? Maybe? But that wasn’t it,” Izayoi mused.

“Hey! I thought this was a piano contest. No singing!”

With the proverbial gavel unceremoniously dropped, the room fell silent.

Everyone seemed to find my song oddly charming, but Mochizuki’s judgment seemed completely fair.

I apologized and started to play again, but Lady Chouko hugged me tighter. I had forgotten she was embracing me.

“Mitsuru, relax. You aren’t the judge this time anyway.”

My ears were still burning, but that voice reverberated coldly within them. For the first time I realized how frightening Lady Chouko could be when she was angry.

“U-Ui! What do you think? You’ve got to pick Tsukuyomi, yeah?”

Mochizuki was frantically trying to turn this on Mikazuki after he incurred Lady Chouko’s ire. Well, he had every right to look elsewhere for assistance, even if it made him appear a little pitif— No, never mind. It’s not nice to think that way.

“Hmm, Chouko was good, but...that first song was interesting. I think that might win it for me. And it was one I actually knew.” With that addendum, Mikazuki gestured toward Aritomo.

Well, well, well. I’m not sure what to call something like this. A reverse grand slam, was it? It looked like Shimozuru’s advice was spot on.

Mochizuki’s face twisted when he heard Mikazuki’s decision. He almost looked as if he would cry.

“Ui, you idiot!” he shouted. “Traitor! I don’t know you anymore!”

...He sounded like a spoiled child throwing a fit.

He slammed the door to the music room on his way out. Sighs echoed throughout the room.

“Huh. Looks like I angered him.”

“Don’t tick him off like that. He gets so annoying.”

“Just leave him. He’ll forget all about it by tomorrow.”

“He doesn’t have many friends, so he really is the one I feel sorry for here.”

He certainly didn’t seem like the prince Aritomo made him out to be. I peered at her, wondering what she thought of his behavior.

“...Huh, that was weird.”

Yes, it was.

We had all forgotten in the wake of the Prince’s outburst, but Aritomo had won the first round of the Ojousama Challenge.

She had used an underhanded tactic, to be sure, but that was why we were given an advisor to begin with. Shimozuru looked proud. After all, Lady Chouko and the others had all agreed to let us have an advisor in the first place.

“Now, who will be the judge and advisor for the second round?”

The peaceful atmosphere that had returned to the music room grew tense again as soon as I asked that question.

“I will be the judge,” Shinmyou said with a wry grin, his arms folded at his chest. I could tell his expression grew more exasperated every time he saw my face. It seemed at this point that wry grins were all he was capable of in our presence.

“Right, and Mochizuki will be the advisor.”

Meaning the advisor himself might be the challenge this time around.

It was likely best not to expect any help from him. However, it didn’t feel right to ignore him, either.

Aritomo appeared to be deep in thought; then, hesitantly, she looked to the others.

“Would it be all right to set the next challenge for after the holiday? So about ten days from now? If Mochizuki is our advisor, I want to hear what he has to say... I mean, I’m sure he has plenty of good advice, if only we catch him when he’s more willing to share.”

Her wording was apt.

Shimozuru had warned us that our advisor might help us, offer minor or confusing suggestions, or offer nothing at all. It depended on the person.

It put the burden on us to talk with them, get to know them and have them accept us, and hopefully that would yield genuine advice. It was a matter of mutual understanding and genuine respect. All this required interaction seemed fitting if this really was the otome game world that Aritomo insisted it was.

At least, that was how I saw it. Could that have been why Lady Chouko chose to give us advisors to start with? Not just to aid us in winning the contest, but as a proactive means of bringing us into their circle of friends? In that case, we really would need to put the time and effort into getting Mochizuki to come around.

“Good point. However, after midterms, my free time will be limited, as I will be preparing for the school festival with the student council, so I would like to finish this before then,” Shinmyou said apologetically.

He was the student council president, after all. Our midterms were in the middle of May, and our school festival would be at the beginning of June. Also, if I wanted to keep my scholarship, I needed to maintain my position as the student with the third-highest test scores in my grade.

“Sounds good.” I nodded once.

Time to work hard!

☾☾☾

“I couldn’t catch the Prince...” Aritomo had decided we needed to talk immediately after our school break ended. “I even followed him all the way to Spain...”

It was good to see Aritomo was the same combination of a cute face and absolutely devious thoughts lurking within as ever.

How had she known where he was staying over the long holiday? It was a little frightening.

“I just listened in on Oboro talking about their plans. If I hadn’t, he never would have let me know.”

“Ahaha, sorry, but it wouldn’t have been fair if I had told you.”

Why was Shimozuru here? He wasn’t part of this. And he was being as tight-lipped as expected. He was happy to chat with us, but advice was off-limits.

“I almost had him in Madrid, but he slipped away. After that, I just got the urge to go swimming in Hawaii instead.”

That would explain the sunburn, then.

“Here, I brought you a souvenir,” she said, handing me a box of chocolate macadamia nuts.

“Thank you very much. These look delicious.”

“Anyway, I was lying in wait in front of the second-years’ classrooms, but I just barely missed him again. At this rate, I’ll never get him to talk to us.”

Pouting, she tore the wrapping paper off the macadamia nuts she had given me and popped one in her mouth.

I thought those were for me...

“He’s no prince. He’s a ninja. What’s his deal? Maybe he’s a ninja prince?”

“Giving people the slip is the only thing Mitsuru does better than Chouko.”

Shimozuru followed Aritomo’s lead and popped a macadamia nut in his mouth. My gift was disappearing right before my eyes.

Hearing Lady Chouko’s name mentioned was the one thing that could take my mind off the waning treats.

“Um...do you think it’s because Mochizuki is in love with Chouko?” I decided to be bold and ask.

“Pbff!” Shimozuru choked on the macadamia nut, inevitably coughing it up.

“Cough...cough... Wh... No...th-there’s no way. Ahh, you’re gonna make me choke to death...!”

I didn’t realize my question was so funny.

“No, uh, I mean, I guess I can understand why you would think that after seeing how he acts around her.”

“I don’t know if it’s because he’s stubborn or what, but he’s decided that Chouko Tsukuyomi comes in first no matter what.”

Exactly. The appearance of any opposition to Lady Chouko seemed to strike a nerve with him. That was why I suspected he liked her.

“Uh, Tendou? Do not ever tell either of them what you just said to me. They’ll both lose their minds.”

So it was that serious? That only made me more curious about their relationship.

Tugging nervously on his wispy locks, Shimozuru continued, “Listen, Mitsuru sees her as a friend. It’s just that the Mochizuki and Tsukuyomi families have a complex relationship. Their fates, even their very identities, are intertwined. It’s been that way since they were born, and it’s caused them both a lot of pain. So please just try to understand,” he requested with a wink. He seemed to really care about his friends.

Meanwhile, something sinister flickered in Aritomo’s eyes as she watched him.

I felt bad that her affection stats with him seemed to be constantly decreasing, but after hearing that the Prince and Lady Chouko were just friends, it seemed she was once again determined to win Mochizuki’s love.

“Well, I think I have an idea of how to catch Mochizuki. Aritomo, would you accompany me?”

“Huh? Where?”

I led Aritomo out the door and to the classroom three doors down, where Lady Chouko was.

“So? Why are we here?”

“For a little girl talk. Right, Chouko?”

“Yes, so it would seem.”

I had my lovely souvenirs with me, so it seemed a perfect time to build some goodwill.

“I’m so happy you’ve come to spend time with me, Urara.”

Lady Chouko’s lovely lips lifted into an affable smile as she welcomed me. As happy as she seemed to see me, I was even happier to see her after so long.

“How was your break? Aritomo apparently visited Hawaii.”

As I spoke, I handed her the half-empty box of chocolates. I felt it was rude to offer her something that had already been partially eaten, but she was undeterred. She took one and popped it in her mouth with a “Thank you.”

“I spent all my time studying. How was your break, Urara?”

“The only thing I did of note was go shopping with my little sister. There were crowds everywhere.”

“Hawaii was just as bad. People everywhere.”

“Really? Hahahaha.”

The three of us giggled. We really did look like a group of girl friends.

“Wait a second! I thought we were here to help me figure out how to catch the Prince.”

Aritomo had snapped back to reality. Too bad, I really did like this better, all three of us chatting away happily.

“Chouko, how many times a day do you see Mochizuki?” I asked.

“Let’s see, probably about three or four times during school hours.”

“That’s a lot, considering you’re both in different grades...” Aritomo said.

It was. Come to think of it, just about every time I ran into Lady Chouko, she was with Mochizuki. I hadn’t realized it until then, as we were in different classes, but it seemed likely that, at almost every break, Mochizuki came to see Lady Chouko.

I offered up my deduction and Aritomo seemed to agree. Lady Chouko had a slightly sour look on her face, a rarity for her.

“So maybe if I hang around you, Chouko Tsukuyomi, I might be able to get the Prince to warm to me,” Aritomo concluded. “That seems much easier than running myself ragged chasing him around all day.”

He had been downgraded from ninja to cockroach. I certainly was curious to understand just who this Prince was supposed to be.

“Very well, then—I shall be careful not to see Mitsuru outside of school.”

“Wait, are you certain, Chouko?”

This was about us. That shouldn’t mean Lady Chouko had to cut off contact with him. I ran my fingers through my hair as I told her as much.

“Oh, well, in that case, perhaps you and I can spend more time together instead, Urara? I would like that better than spending time with him anyway,” she said, patting my head. My cheeks flushed.

I tried to pretend I hadn’t heard her say, “Who cares about Mitsuru anyway.”

☾☾☾

TIME was not a luxury we had in abundance, and I had no desire to draw all this out, so we hatched a plan and finally managed to nab the Prince the next day after school.

“...I’ve always thought Mitsuru lacked perseverance,” Lady Chouko said, sounding annoyed.

“I agree. But that just means you two have a better chance of success, Aritomo, Tendou,” Shimozuru said, clearly enjoying himself.

“Shut up. I’m only here to get this all over with,” Mochizuki replied spitefully. “Just ask me whatever you want. I decide whether I’ll answer or not.”

He looked as if he’d swallowed a bug.

He locked eyes with Aritomo. No matter what she asked him, he was unlikely to say anything that could impede Lady Chouko’s chance of success. Even if she herself allowed it.

“You must really love Lady Chouko, Mochizuki,” I remarked.

It was only us left in the empty classroom, but gasps echoed throughout the room.

“Wait... Tendou, stop! No! Don’t go there!”

“Ha?! Say what?!”

“...Tch.”

Mochizuki clicked his tongue in annoyance, but that wasn’t what I had intended.

“I simply meant you value each other as treasured friends.”

After all, they had been together since childhood. Clearly, they had a bond deeper than we could understand.

“That’s why we don’t want to force you to give us advice. But won’t you at least do us the courtesy of acknowledging us, since you are supposed to be our advisor?” I looked at Aritomo as I spoke, and she nodded.

“Yes, please.”

Aritomo and I bowed in unison.

If he didn’t want to give us advice, we needed to respect his wishes. That was what we had decided. We simply wanted to tell him that face-to-face, a feat that had been difficult enough, but somehow we had accomplished our mission.

Mochizuki seemed taken aback, the vitriol in his face subsiding. We had worn him down a bit, and that was more than enough.

We excused ourselves. Just as we were making our way out of the classroom, he sullenly called after us.

“Let me give you one piece of advice...,” Mochizuki said, averting his red-rimmed eyes.

I glanced at Aritomo and saw her eyes were shimmering with hope.

A hope that was quickly dashed.

“Just give up this round. Forfeit.”

...What sort of advice was that?

“Um, uh, what exactly do you want us to infer from that?”

“There’s nothing to infer. I said what I meant. Just give up this round.”

That was all. He informed the others he was leaving and disappeared.

Completely baffled, Aritomo and I stood frozen in shock. His words lingered in our ears.

“Ahh...I should have known that was the only kind of advice Mitsuru would be willing to give. That was wild.”

“It appears he gave you both something to think about.”

Had Lady Chouko and Shimozuru interpreted that as guidance? Clearly, my very concept of what constituted advice had been challenged.

Seeing my expression of dissatisfaction, Shimozuru quickly added, “I’m not your advisor, but I think that was the biggest concession he was willing to make. It’s up to you two to figure it out.”

How could we make good use of advice like that? Figuring that out was going to be a challenge in and of itself.

After that, Aritomo and I headed for the school café, which was still open, to hold a strategy meeting.

Lady Chouko had given me a forlorn look before we left, but I didn’t want to trouble her any further, so we parted ways in the classroom.

At any rate, I thought I should at least enjoy a cup of tea while sitting on the terrace. For several moments, I was able to enjoy that usual deliciousness in peace.

“Now then, what should we do?”

“Yes, what indeed?”

Watching Aritomo give a stretch, a thought occurred to me.

“First, I need to ask, Aritomo, do you really think Mochizuki was trying to give us advice?”

“Hmm.”

After a beat, she rested her chin in her hands and gave a thoughtful nod.

“Chouko Tsukuyomi may be my rival, but I don’t think either of them would try to mislead us...at least, they probably wouldn’t. I just don’t get it.”

She looked disappointed while speaking about Mochizuki. Was it my imagination? After all, wasn’t Mochizuki her main love interest? She shut her eyes and sat like that for a while. I wondered if it was a sign of her inner conflict.

Even so, it seemed Aritomo still considered Mochizuki to be the Prince and her main target.

“You’re right. I need to trust the Prince’s advice,” she said with a note of finality.

“I’ll forfeit the next round. It seems a waste, but whatever it takes, I will win the Prince’s heart.”

That sounded more like her. It was good to see she had returned to her senses, but still, I couldn’t help wondering what else was going through her head.

“Now, what to do? I don’t think he’s really asking us to sit this one out.”

“Right? I think it means we should pick something she can definitely win.”

“Honestly, I think that’s true of every round.”

“...That’s aggravating. I mean, you’re right, but...”

Hmm, how could we decide a winner without a direct challenge? This was another vexing riddle. I noticed then two other students sitting in the cafe, studying from reference books.

“Aritomo, what about the exams?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I know. They’re coming up fast.”

“No, that isn’t what I meant. The midterms. Let’s use the results of the midterms for the next challenge.”

That was how we could decide a victor without a direct challenge.

“Huh? You would let Chouko Tsukuyomi win that? But you’re a scholarship student. Would that really be okay?”

I was grateful for her concern but also confused as to why she assumed I alone would be taking the risk, but I decided to leave it be for now. Though, for good measure, I added that a scholarship student only needed to come in third.

“Oh, Aritomo, you didn’t see the notice in the hallway announcing our pretest results?”

“I didn’t look. As soon as I got mine, I tore my paper up and tossed it in the trash.”

She said something bold about never looking at the past, but we were supposed to get our parents’ stamp on the results paper and bring it back. I decided I would wait and give her the good news later.

“Chouko got first place on the pretest. She received perfect marks across all five subjects.”

“What?!”

“I ranked second, but I can’t get anywhere close to her level. I felt so defeated.”

“Whoa... That’s really rough!”

It would be shocking for any normal person to get perfect marks on such a difficult test, but it seemed par for the course when it came to Lady Chouko.

So it wasn’t that Mochizuki wanted us to give up. In fact, we would need to try harder than ever. But in the end, the results would likely be the same. An Ojousama Challenge was a strange enough concept, but certainly knowledge and intellect were appropriate enough to test in such a contest.

“Ah, yeah. In that case, maybe it’s better just to give up and not even try this time.”

In that case, we wouldn’t need to make any special preparations and would have no need for a judge this time. We would just need to wait for the results alone to find out who won. That also meant we wouldn’t need to trouble the student council president.

Once that was decided, Aritomo rushed off for the student affairs office to get them to reprint her results form. I made my way to the student council room to inform Shinmyou of our decision.

☾☾☾

IT wasn’t abnormal to find myself in awe of the magnificent rooms of St. Delia’s Academy, and I expected the student council room was no exception.

Several cabinets lined the walls, all of them full of documents. Ordinary folding tables had been set out in a U shape, surrounded by chairs. Surprisingly, it was a completely average student council room setup.

“Are you surprised at how plain it is?” Shinmyou beckoned me in from his seat in the back of the room, surrounded by papers.

“No, I was actually relieved to see such a familiar sight.”

“That’s right—you’re not from the academy. Students who’ve attended this school their whole lives are always surprised the first time they visit this room. Some even forget what they came for and leave. Like Asahina over here.”

He jabbed his thumb toward the vice president, a second-year if I remembered correctly.

“Really? They’re that surprised?”

Then again, knowing people like Mochizuki and the others, I could see why.

“Mitsuru insisted on ordering some expensive, exotic furnishings, but I put an end to that.”

That was the sort of frivolity I had come to expect from the Prince.

“I only stopped him because we among the student council have a very specific set of standards we subscribe to.”

“I see. I suppose it is up to you to uphold such traditions.”

He likely had many old-fashioned customs to maintain once he inherited the title of student council president at St. Delia’s. It seemed tough.

“Well, were you able to chat with Mitsuru?”

“Yes, and so I have something to tell you.”

“Asahina, give us a moment, will you?” Shinmyou called out to the vice president with a tempered smile. “We’ve a private matter to discuss.”

The vice president gave a silent nod and left the room. Asahina was a tall, muscular boy. He looked as if he would fit in more as the captain of a sports team rather than as a student council member.

Perhaps sensing my impolite stare, the vice president turned back to look at me, his face red. Embarrassed, I quickly introduced myself.

“Please forgive me for intruding during such a busy time. I am Urara Tendou, a first-year.”

“Ah...I’m Shouichi Asahina, a second-year. Please excuse me.”

With that, Asahina quickly disappeared from the student council room. Shinmyou chuckled at the way he ran off so quickly.

“It looks as though I interrupted during something important,” I said, feeling guilty, but Shinmyou merely shrugged it off.

“It’s fine. So, what did you decide?”

“Oh, yes. We’d like to use the results of the midterm exams for the challenge this time, if that’s all right.”

As soon as those words left my mouth, Shinmyou blinked rapidly.

“Was this Oboro’s idea? Or did Chouko say something?” he asked, a spiteful look on his face. “It would be against the rules. Are you sure you’re all right with that?”

His words and tone were prickly.

“Well...yes, it’s all right with us. Neither Chouko nor Shimozuru said anything about this, either.”

The air in the room had grown tense, so I answered quickly in the hopes of being able to leave, but somehow, it seemed Shinmyou was drawing closer and closer to me.

“Really? I wouldn’t have expected Aritomo to agree to a challenge she’ll most assuredly lose.”

“Huh, um...”

“Or was this your idea? If it was, you must have a great deal of confidence in yourself to believe you can best Chouko in test scores.”

Shinmyou had quickly closed in on me, stopping only when he had me up against the cabinet. He lifted a lock of my hair and twisted it around his finger.

He was dripping with sex appeal, and though he spoke with a smile on his lips, there was no hint of mirth in his eyes. Actually, he was a bit frightening.

“Come now, tell me the truth.”

Chills ran up my spine as he whispered in my ear.

“Mochizuki gave us some advice! That was how we came to the decision.”

I was desperate to get away from Shinmyou, so I decided to be forthcoming. However, the moment he heard my answer, his previously light demeanor changed instantly.

“Mitsuru? Impossible.”

He gave a nasally laugh, but his face was serious. My body stiffened, seeing him act a way I had never seen before.

I’m so scared—someone, help. Someone, anybody! Lady Chouko, please!

“Sakutarou, about that stuff with K— Whoa!”

“Shirazu, I told you to knock first. Get that through your head.”

The second the door opened, Shinmyou had pulled away as if nothing had happened and shouted a stern warning at Izayoi.

“Ah, my bad. I saw Asahina earlier, so I figured you were alone. Uh...should I come back later to talk to you about the Chouko thing?” Izayoi sputtered apologetically.

“No, I was just leaving.”

I was so frightened, I had no desire to stay here any longer anyway. As I slipped by Izayoi, I heard Shinmyou snort.

“I’ll be sure to tell Chouko the particulars of your challenge. Good luck.”

He had for the most part returned to his usual mature self. However, I was sure I would be unable to forget that steely expression he had worn.

Ahh, that truly was terrifying.

☾☾☾

EVEN after rechecking the results, the verdict was clear. Lady Chouko was the winner.

She had once again swept all five subjects with perfect marks. There had never been any contest.

Of course, there had been no disputing those results, but still I couldn’t help feeling significantly outmatched. And Shinmyou’s backhanded “That’s too bad” as he looked down his nose at me made me realize that he would be difficult to deal with.

At any rate, the second challenge was finished, and with one win, one loss, I could look ahead to the school festival with my head held high.

While there was a certain incident the day of the school festival, it was of little importance, and the rest of the day was filled with happy memories. In the aftermath of that episode, though, Aritomo earned herself some rather vocal fans and increased popularity. It had very little bearing on the contest, however, so I’ll skip over it for now.

“All right, let’s begin our strategy meeting for the third challenge.”

I responded to the excited Aritomo with a cheery “Okay!” We were sitting in our empty classroom, as per usual for these meetings.

It was just that, while it was natural for Izayoi to be here, as he was our advisor for the next round, I still couldn’t understand why Shimozuru and Lady Chouko were present.

“I’m the judge for the next round.”

“And I’m a participant.”

“Should you really be here, though?”

“It’s no big deal. She would find out later anyway, so what’s the harm in her finding out a little early?” Aritomo said.

Lately, she was sounding less like a refined lady and more boyish than ever. Izayoi looked put off by her.

“So, do you have any advice for us to improve our chances of winning this time?”

Even though he was a year older than the rest of us, Izayoi was also the quietest. Putting him on the spot like that felt a little cruel.

“Ah...sorry. Give me a minute to think, please. I’m not exactly good in group conversations like this, especially after being roped into it…”

Roped into it? He was right about that. I felt sorry for being on the side that roped him into it, even though I was in a similar position myself.

“Hmm, but you are here, so you must have some advice to offer,” Aritomo urged. Izayoi only answered once his eyes met Lady Chouko’s and she nodded her approval.

“It’s because Chouko asked me to come. I’ll do what I can to help you.”

In the beginning, no one wanted anything to do with Aritomo, so the fact that they were slowly warming to her over the course of the contest was a relief. I turned to congratulate Aritomo on making progress with the love interests and saw her lips had pursed into a pout.

“Well, I wasn’t expecting much from you, Shirazu, so it’s fine. I suppose you really do have trouble with subtleties like this.”

When you say things so bluntly like that, it makes it difficult for you to make others like you. No wonder their affection is being raised, I thought, but I kept it to myself. I was done pointing out that she was dashing her chances with her love interests.

Izayoi pushed up his glasses, apparently trying to remain calm, but Shimozuru showed no mercy, as he burst into laughter.

“Pft, so what’ll it be? It looks like that’s all the advice Shirazu’s willing to give, so...”

“Hmm... Well, do you have anything in particular you want to do for the next challenge, Tsukuyomi?”

Are you really going to give the choice to your competitor, Aritomo? Lady Chouko was flabbergasted at the question, but she quickly resumed her usual graceful demeanor.

“Well, what about a cooking contest?” she suggested with a mischievous grin tugging at her lips.

“A cooking contest?” I repeated. “Come to think of it, you mentioned something like that before.”

She said my cooking was good and had asked me to feed her that day. Just remembering it made me blush.

“Cooking, huh? I’ve never really done that outside of school,” Aritomo said with disinterest.

“You learned how to cook at school? That’s incredible,” Lady Chouko said, quickly praising her to fan her interest.

“Huh? You’ve never cooked in class before? What do you all do here during home ec?” Aritomo asked.

“We learn about the nutrition aspect. Also, we regularly study table manners and etiquette,” Shimozuru, said and the other three lifelong academy students nodded in agreement.

I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised. The children of affluent families were unlikely to cook their own food. Even in my past life in Lacrofine, no matter how poor the noble, none ever prepared their own food. It seemed that was a universal truth.

“But is that really okay? To do a cooking contest when you have no experience? Well, I’m not one to talk, I suppose.” I actually did appreciate Aritomo’s bluntness.

“It’s fine. I’ve always wanted to try cooking,” Lady Chouko said with great interest. “Ah yes, and as a trade, could I borrow Urara for this round? I’d like her to teach me how.”

She took my hand and gave it a tight squeeze.

“Hm? Oh yeah, that’s fine. I’ll get a pro to teach me,” Aritomo agreed immediately.

So I would be Lady Chouko’s teacher? This was a big responsibility.

☾☾☾

“UH, ah, um, Chouko...”

“Oh my, another failure.”

Holding up the cucumbers that were shredded like Tanabata wish slips, I began to sense this was going to be an arduous task as I watched Lady Chouko cackle while wielding her knife.

We had decided at the meeting that the third challenge would be a cooking contest, but with only one experienced cook and two novices, I doubted we’d manage anything edible within the time limit.

As a result, we made the theme of this challenge “bento” and chose the last Saturday in June for the date. That way, there were many options and hopefully enough chances to practice that would yield some sort of progress.

I had Lady Chouko start by learning to use a kitchen knife, but...it was frightening and rather dangerous.

I was honestly so afraid that I couldn’t bear to watch, but the prospect of looking away was even more terrifying, so I had no choice but to observe her.

Keeping an eye on her was a matter of safety.

“Chouko, think ‘cat paws.’ CAT PAWS!”

“Cat paws? Okay... Oh my, it fell.”

“Stop! Here, if you drop the knife, it could be dangerous. You have to stop!”

“How strange. Why do I keep dropping it?”

Amazed, she opened both hands and stared. Her long and careful fingers were lovely, but today, they seemed to be more trouble than anything.

“It takes practice. It’s a sharp object, so it’s not meant to be easy to handle,” I said, hoping to comfort her.

I thought I heard her mutter, “I could wield it just fine if it was a sword,” but I must have just been hearing things, right? It must have been a slip of the tongue. Nothing more.

“By the way, Urara, are you sure your family doesn’t mind us using your kitchen?”

“No, my mother’s working late tonight and my siblings are out at practice, so it’s all right.”

I never would have expected someone from a family like Chouko’s to want to practice in her own home. And unfortunately, the school lacked a kitchen for student use, so I invited her to my house, since I had everything we needed here anyway.

“I’m sure my house must be tiny compared with yours, but I do hope you’ll make yourself at home.”

Maybe “make yourself at home” was the wrong phrase. We were supposed to be practicing, after all.

Lady Chouko exhaled a small, self-derisive laugh. “Tiny? ...I find it cozy and wonderful. After all, it is your home.”

She stood still, her eyes shifting from the kitchen to the dining room, and seeing the look on her face rekindled feelings from my forgotten past life.

It was like a yearning for the world I’d long since left behind. I found those emotions lingered when I looked in Lady Chouko’s eyes.

“...Chouko?”

“Oh my, I’m terribly sorry for staring, Urara.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s only that, just now, you looked like—”

—you were about to cry. I wanted to comfort her. I turned my face away, ashamed of thinking that way.

“...Ouch!”

“Are you all right?!”

“Yes, I am.”

The second I looked away, the knife Lady Chouko was holding grazed a finger on her left hand. Blood began to blossom on her porcelain skin. I grabbed her finger, desperate to stop the bleeding.

“...Huh? Waiiit!”

A hint of a metallic taste filled my mouth as I gently licked the wound. Lady Chouko’s fingertip turned pink and fidgeted under my tongue, and only then did I realize what I was doing.

“...Ah...!”

I just did it without thinking. I suppose that was rather brazen of me. I pulled away from her finger in a panic and realized her face was so red, it looked as if smoke might shoot out of her ears. Seeing that adorable look on her face made me turn red, too.

“I’m sorry. ...I shouldn’t have done something so rude.”

“No...it was m-my fault. I’m terribly sorry...for worrying you.”

Our faces crimson, the two of us were battling to see who could apologize more, but as we were both completely embarrassed, we ultimately elected to end in a draw.

“Um, I’ll get you a Band-Aid, so please wait here.”

Just as I left the kitchen, I noticed Lady Chouko lifting the finger to her own lips. I was so flustered, I lingered in the hall for a moment.

Somehow, we managed to make it through the rest of our special lesson. After we finished cleaning up, Lady Chouko apologized once more.

“I’m terribly sorry about today and all the effort you put in for me.”

“It was no trouble at all. More importantly, I’m so sorry you were injured.”

Lady Chouko’s pale finger, wrapped in that bandage, looked so painful.

“It was my own fault. Don’t worry about it. Let’s practice somewhere else starting tomorrow. I’ll try to come up with a place.”

“I suppose here is too small, then?”

“No. It’s not that. It’s...just that here...”

Lady Chouko faltered, unable to say what was on her mind.

She was likely ill at ease in the kitchen of a commoner, but I wouldn’t force her to admit it.

“I understand. Wherever works for you is fine with me, Chouko.”

“Well, see you tomorrow,” she said, nodding with relief and heading out to her waiting car.

See you tomorrow.

I let those words linger.

I felt so happy when the realization hit that we would be spending more time together. I was giddy for the rest of the night.

☾☾☾

THE morning after the cooking lesson at my house, I found an envelope in my desk. It was from Lady Chouko. She informed me we had permission to use the school kitchen. Since it was normally off-limits save for special occasions, she wasn’t sure if it had everything we needed. She added a postscript asking me to go during lunch.

I whispered a silent “Thank you” to her in my heart just as Aritomo and Shimozuru entered the classroom.

The two of them were chatting merrily and seemed in good spirits. The way they seemed so comfortable around one another, they must have patched things up.

“Good morning, Tendou. Any word from Chouko about the location?”

“Mornin’, Urara. How’s Tsukuyomi’s cooking coming along?”

Aritomo had finally stopped calling me by my full name during the school festival. It felt more intimate—and less obnoxious—this way.

“Good morning, Aritomo, Shimozuru. Yes, she mentioned a special school kitchen. I’m going to go make sure it has what we need during lunch.”

“Ohh, I didn’t know we had something like that here. Where is it?” Aritomo asked, peering over my shoulder at the open letter. I shot her a look, warning her not to snoop, but it had little effect.

“Oh, so that’s where it is,” she said with a nod, taking the seat in front of me.

“So? How are her cooking lessons going?”

“...No comment.”

There was no need for me to tell her the truth. We still had two weeks until the next challenge, so there was plenty of time for Lady Chouko to improve without my besmirching her good name.

“Well then, it sounds like this will be an easy victory for me. After all, my cooking teacher said I’m a natural.”

“Chouko is thoroughly studying the skills she needs. Not only that, but I am assisting her this time, so I cannot divulge any details,” I said, not mincing words despite Aritomo’s cheery tone. I didn’t yield even when she pouted.

“Whatever. My teacher told me cooking is an expression of the love in your heart, so I intend to fill my cuisine with every bit of love I’ve got,” she said, adding, “Bet that ice queen Tsukuyomi can’t manage that!”

To be fair, Lady Chouko did come off as cold, but I didn’t think that was who she really was inside...or was that just how I wanted to see her?

“Love? So that’s what you put in your lunch!” Shimozuru, our judge this time around, said with a jovial laugh. They really were getting quite friendly with one another.

“Hehehe, of course. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Just you wait, Prince!”

I couldn’t believe she still hadn’t given up on him. Next to me, Shimozuru gave a dry laugh.

“That’s how it is, I suppose.”

“Yes, I suppose.”

I breathed a sigh, watching Shimozuru chatting with Aritomo as she pumped her fist.

At lunchtime, I made my way to the kitchen. Shimozuru offered to accompany me, but I politely declined. He was the judge this time, after all, so I wanted to ensure fairness.

Once I reached the kitchen, tucked away in the school’s third building, I was in complete shock at what lay on the other side of that door.

Since it was a kitchen, I naturally expected at least a sink and stove, but I found instead the standard desks and chairs found in any classroom.

My eyes drifted down to the letter, wondering if I truly had the right place. Just then, I heard a familiar voice.

“Hello, Tendou.”

“...Shinmyou? What are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here? I’m the one who told you to come.”

Shinmyou was backlit by a south-facing window, which obscured his expression. However, his cold tone was enough to tell me he held no affection for me. A gloom hung about him.

“People like you and Aritomo pop up every now and then,” he spat bitterly, “little worms attempting to coil their way around my friends. You disgust me.”

This wasn’t just simple dislike. It was outright malice.

Perhaps that was the bad feeling I had been getting from him. Either way, I prepared to run. I had no desire for a friendly chat with someone who would fake a letter just to call me out here.

As I began backing away slowly, one eye on him, he laughed wickedly.

“That door won’t open. Go on. Give it a try.”

Spurred by his words, I ran for the door and twisted the knob, but it merely rattled, as if it were stuck. I began to panic. Shinmyou, who had rushed up behind me, seized my left hand.

“Guess it won’t open. Looks like you’re not strong enough,” he said, squeezing me so tight, his nails dug into my wrist.

I winced in pain and looked down to see blood oozing from my wrist. I let out a gasp, and Shinmyou, looking pleased, laughed.

“See, this is what happens when you wander outside where you belong.”

His voice was so cold, it sent shivers through me. I froze in place.

“Chouko has been hurt and humiliated...doing your disgraceful cooking challenge.”

He must have meant Chouko’s injury from the knife yesterday. He was right that I should never have taken my eyes off her when I was supposed to be teaching her. I was the reason she was wounded. I accepted his anger.

However, he did not need to use terms like disgraceful. It was natural for anyone to be wary while learning to handle something new, but Lady Chouko had been so diligent. And yet, she had also been so happy, even as she struggled to get it right...

I didn’t care about how he spoke to me or the pain he was causing me. But I would not have him look down on Lady Chouko like this.

“Oh? I’m impressed you can still look at me so defiantly considering the bind you’re in,” he said with a hint of incredulity.

“Chouko is enjoying herself. She doesn’t think cooking is disgraceful. She’s giving it her all...,” I said. I didn’t care what he thought of me.

“Is it something worth getting hurt over?”

His voice stung like ice. In that same instant, he tightened his grip on me.

It hurt, but I gritted my teeth and bore that pain. I refused to let him see any weakness in me.

It wasn’t about me. I couldn’t let Lady Chouko down.

“Chouko is heir to the Tsukuyomi name. She does not have the time to waste on something so low-brow.”

The implications of his words were clear. The Tsukuyomi family was the top of the top, even among the affluent families of St. Delia’s.

That meant Lady Chouko would always be subject to public scrutiny as befitting her family status.

“That’s why I was utterly shocked she accepted such a ridiculous challenge.”

“Then why...why didn’t you object from the start?”

Of Aritomo’s five love interests, Shinmyou seemed to be her least favorite. He wasn’t frank like Mochizuki, nor did he have a sense of humor like Shimozuru and Mikazuki. He couldn’t even offer his deepest introspections the quiet way Izayoi could.

“Object to Chouko? How naïve! The words of the Mochizukis and the Tsukuyomis are absolute. There’s no way I could look them in the eye and argue with them. Though I did go against Mitsuru,” he muttered regretfully, tightening his grip. “That’s why I want the two of you to tell Chouko. To put an end to this farce.”

He twisted my arm as he spoke, making the meaning behind his words clear: don’t come near her ever again.

“...Please, let me go, Shinmyou!”

“Do you promise?”

“...No, I won’t!”

“You’ve certainly exceeded my expectations.” His voice grew even colder at my response, as if he were becoming tired of all this.

His displeasure was palpable. He began pulling my arm upward. It felt as if he had snapped a tendon in it. I found myself thinking—dispassionately, as if it were happening to someone else—that this was going to really hurt later. Just then, with a loud BAM, the air in the room completely changed.

The door, which I had been unable to open, was now ajar. Despite the odd way my body was contorted, I was able to turn back to see Lady Chouko standing there.

“Urara...!”

“Lady...Chouko...”

Her lovely face was twisted in a way that was painful to see. Even though I was happy she had come to my rescue, I couldn’t bear to look at her.

“Saku...you bastard!” she spat in a low voice unlike her usual lilt. Hearing how frigid it was made me flinch.

Even so, Shinmyou seemed unconcerned, releasing my arm and giving a casual response.

“What is it, Chouko? Did you need something?”

His voice was completely different from the tone he had been using with me up to that moment. He had reverted back to the student council president everyone else knew.

Ignoring his question, Lady Chouko came over to me, asking if I was all right, even as I realized her right hand was bleeding.

Had she gotten that injury trying to break down the door? Seeing the worried look on my face, she tilted her head.

“That’s not my blood,” she said gently, stepping between me and Shinmyou, her eyes narrowed on him with contempt.

She grabbed him with her right hand.

Blood dripped onto the breast of his uniform.

“You’re out of chances. Get lost.”

Hearing her clipped, terse words, he shrugged and, unresisting, turned to go.

Just before departing, he whispered something in her ear, but I was unable to hear what he said.

Passing by me, he muttered a quick, empty “Sorry” with a chilling smile.

But I wasn’t going to let him get the better of me. I stood with my head held high and returned the look.

In that instant, his eyebrows flew up, as if in shock; then he returned to his normal imperceptible self before disappearing.

And then—

“Urara...”

The moment I heard Lady Chouko’s worried voice, my legs buckled and I fell to the ground.

Sakutarou Shinmyou’s Discontent

I researched the name of that student Chouko had become taken with on the first day of school.

She was a scholarship student by the name of Urara Tendou.

It was a family name I had never heard of. Clearly, she was not one of us. I thought perhaps my research would reveal she had been abroad all these years. However, I can say with confidence that was not the case. She was a born and bred commoner. I have no desire to associate myself with such people. Even so, of all the divisions of the academy, the high school has the most students from outside, which only leads to more trouble for the rest of us.

That Aritomo girl, of the family that owns ATN Solutions, is a prime example.

Even before the entrance ceremony, I heard she had been stalking us for her own purposes. That’s why we attempted to ignore her, but she went and embroiled Chouko in this ridiculous “Ojousama Challenge.”

“What can we do? Chouko agreed to it,” Shirazu said with a look of resignation, but he didn’t seem to care much in the first place.

I suspect this Urara Tendou girl is the reason we’ve all been dragged into this.

Even though she’s nothing more than a commoner, she acts like anything but.

“Urara Tendou isn’t just pretending to be genteel; her every action reflects it,” Oboro said with a smile. He had been truly taken with her.

I couldn’t exactly disagree with him. Though she was still lacking in many areas, she certainly carried herself with a great deal of refinement.

On the other hand, one’s behavior alone could not erase their common birth nor upbringing. If she would just admit to whatever ridiculous ploy she’s trying to embroil Chouko and Mitsuru in, I might be able to accept her.

I have no idea whether Chouko is aware of my concerns. She has been getting closer and closer to Urara Tendou, though.

I have never heard Chouko come out and ask someone else to be her friend in all the years I have known her. A line had to be drawn when it came to acquaintances and other relationships, to protect the secrets of Chouko’s identity, and she had never once crossed that line.

No, I realize now there was one exception.

Back then, when Kogetsu was on the verge of breaking down, angry at being forced to live as Chouko.

It was then when he began slipping off to practice kendo in secret, as a way of blowing off steam away from the Tsukuyomi family. There, he found and bonded with one person in particular.

I believe his name was Haruto.

Haruto...Tendou.

Now I see. That has to be the connection.

I don’t know the details. And there’s no way Chouko will tell me. However, something must have happened between them.

After they met, he suddenly sealed away Kogetsu and completely transformed himself into Chouko. It must have been because of that meeting. In that case, the reason we have our Chouko must be because of her. However, that is a different discussion altogether.

Chouko is a Tsukuyomi, and the Tsukuyomi name rests on her shoulders.

I’ve had this drilled into me since childhood. Our sole purpose in life is to ensure the Mochizukis and Tsukuyomis see continued success. It is the destiny I have inherited.

Perhaps it sounds old-fashioned, but in a way, I exist for the Mochizukis and the Tsukuyomis. That’s why—

“Because of that, you two have to tell Chouko. Tell her this whole farce is over.”

I tried to cajole Urara Tendou, beg her, even literally twist her arm. I didn’t want to be so blunt, but I had little choice.

During that last challenge, when I was forced to serve as judge, I had intended to put a stop to all of this, but that opportunity had been stolen right out from under me.

That was because of Mitsuru’s machinations, which meant I could no longer operate in the open. That’s why I took the opportunity to call Tendou out in secret and have a talk with her.

“Do you promise?”

“...No, I won’t!”

The way she defied me so bluntly pissed me off.

It was less her unexpected response, though, and more that look in her eyes.

How could a girl put in her situation still have so much fight left in her? So, to try to push her over the edge, I pulled her arm up further.

That was when I heard that loud sound and Chouko charged at me, trying to get her away. She was so agitated, her usual calm nowhere to be found.

It seemed my time was up, so I released all the rage that had engulfed me.

“What’s going on, Chouko? Did you need something?” I asked, feigning innocence while letting Urara Tendou’s arm go. I realized, quite dispassionately, how bad her scars would be and how pitiful she looked.

Chouko’s normally composed face was terrifying, even as she remained silent. In that moment, I realized she was at her most frightening when she was expressionless.

Chouko drew closer, that empty look on her face, then smeared the blood on her hand all over my school uniform.

I didn’t see any open wound on her hand, so I assumed this must have been Asahina’s blood. I’d put him on lookout for me. I would need to remember how useless he was despite his physical strength. Well, there was no way he could have ever beat Chouko anyway.

I silently acquiesced to her command for me to “get lost.” Of course I had no choice but to obey her.

However, feeling a bit mischievous, I approached Chouko and whispered in her ear.

“Kogetsu, your Chouko mask is slipping.”

I could hear her grinding her teeth. Apparently, she hadn’t noticed. I then turned to the Tendou girl.

“Sorry.”

My eyes naturally gravitated back to her, though I didn’t mean to look, and I was met with a strong woman who held her head high as if nothing had happened between us.

I knew it. She rubs me the wrong way.

This Urara Tendou girl is unlike anyone I’ve ever dealt with. Normal tactics didn’t work on her. I swallowed my disgust and stepped into the hall, where Asahina sat, pitifully nursing his face. I ignored him and walked on.

I absolutely will not give up.

I’m sure Chouko will be keeping an eye on me for the time being, but the moment will come when she lets her guard down.

I merely need to wait her out.