Chapter 92 – My Ninth Birthday (1)

My ninth birthday party felt a little lonely.

The guest list was almost the same as last year, but Gentarou-kun and Koshiro-kun were absent. More than that, ever since we came back from Atami, they haven’t even attended the study sessions at the main Ootori residence.

When I had Ryuichi-kun go—not to spy but just to visit—he found out that Uncle Genji had strictly forbidden them from setting foot in the main residence.

The official reason was that “kids should take it easy over spring break,” but considering that until now he’d been pushing them hard, telling them to do their best and not to lose to Ryuichi-kun, the sudden change in attitude was too suspicious for anyone to ignore.

Of course, everyone was puzzled and said they had no idea what was going on—but I could guess. I had guessed.

This is Uncle Genji’s own kind of response to the talk we had at the Atami villa.

It’s only natural, but Uncle Genji probably sees me as something even more incomprehensible than before. All I can hope for is that he’ll shrink back a little in fear—but I don’t regret what I said to him.

Pretending to be sweet and innocent to smooth things over, trying to build a half-hearted friendship, or pretending to understand on the surface—it all would’ve been pointless. I saw clearly that he and I would never be able to see eye to eye at the core of the Ootori family.

No matter how hard I try, it’s probably pointless. It’ll all fall apart someday.

Even so, it seems he didn’t go so far as to stop the children from giving me birthday presents, and in that, I felt a glimpse of something human—maybe a complicated set of feelings toward me.

At the very least, as long as I’m still a child, I’d like to believe there won’t be any extreme issues. Since he’s avoiding me, it feels like his way of sending the message that, for now, this is how he intends to manage things as Uncle Genji.

In the midst of all that, the sight of Katsujirou-kun showing up on a weekday Thursday with a massive bouquet in his arms warmed my heart. It really felt like he was walking his own path, and that brought me genuine relief.

So even without those two, I was able to enjoy my birthday party with a smile.

As the party went on, and I stood at a slight distance watching everyone make noise while I took a break, that person approached me.

“How come you’re over here?”

“Nothing really, just taking a little break. Oh, but more importantly—thank you for coming again this year.”

“Of course. But… it seems like that’s not all you wanted to say, is it?”

“You caught that?”

“I can tell just by looking at your face. Still… the Ootori family really is a pain.”

I hadn’t said anything more than “they’re absent” when it came to those two, but Katsujirou-kun had somehow picked up on it.

Probably because he’s had similar experiences of his own.

“Same goes for the Yamazaki family?”

“Well, yeah. There aren’t as many rivals in my generation as in yours, but the Yamazaki family has stronger ties with various groups. The Ootori family will probably be like that in your generation too.”

“And you’re one of those ties, Katsujirou-kun?”

“That’s part of it, of course.”

He doesn’t even try to deny it, answering with a beaming smile that’s just short of breaking into laughter.

Classic alpha-type character. So full of confidence—almost enviably so.
But his reply doesn’t end there.

“But that means the remaining four need to either take wives or get married off. The Aoi family has about the same number, and as for the Kou family, I think there are still some unmarried ones and a few kids. With the current Ootori name, everyone’s gonna be after you.”

His tone shifts at the end, and his expression darkens slightly. That means this kind of talk is already circulating in society—or more specifically, among political and business circles.

I’ve heard plenty of it myself.

“…Is money really such a good thing?”

“It can accomplish most things.”

“But it’s just a means to an end, right? I actually plan to spend almost all of it.”

“Just what I’d expect from my future girl. You really say things differently. But what are you gonna do, buy a country or something?”

He speaks with admiration, continuing on with no hint of shame. Even if he’s playing it up a bit, this isn’t the composure of your average nine-year-old.

That “my girl” comment is childish in contrast, but somehow it’s forgivable because of the way he carries himself.

So I, too, prepare an answer that might be something a just-turned-nine-year-old would say, but no actual child could come up with.

“I’m buying the future.”

(Probably.)

“The future, huh? That’s big. I’d like to be able to say something like that myself someday.”

On Katsujirou-kun’s face, I can see a mixture of admiration and a hint of frustration. He probably understands that he can’t do what I’m doing right now, but that doesn’t stop him from feeling something about it.

Boys have to be at least that driven—or so your big sister thinks.

“By the time I retire, you’ll be saying it too.”

I meant it as encouragement, but he frowned.

“Just because I’ll be with you doesn’t mean I plan to inherit what’s yours.”

(Ah, that’s how he took it.)

“No, no, that’s not what I meant. I told you, didn’t I? I’m planning to use it all up. Besides, this has nothing to do with me—Katsujirou-kun, you’ll be able to say even more impressive things than I do, all on your own.”

He frowned even deeper.

I don’t get it.

“I’m not that conceited, you know. There’s no way I could manage two billion dollars before turning twenty. That’s two years’ worth of Japan’s national budget. Reiko… do you seriously not realize how insane you are?”

“Ugh, I do! I’m this cute, and yet people still treat me like some kind of monster. I’m way past just being hurt—you have no idea how hard I’m working!”

“Hah. Let those who want to talk, or believe what they want, do so. That too is the duty of a king. Besides, those who truly understand will see things clearly.”

“Thanks. Since you said that, can I ask you something?”

“Yeah. As long as it’s something I can answer right now.”

There was a hint of reservation in his voice, but I decided to speak my mind without holding back.

“Katsujirou-kun, how much do you know about what I’m doing? Most of the other kids in the Ootori family haven’t been told anything.”

There was a short silence. I expected that—it’s not an easy question to answer. 

But Katsujirou-kun didn’t dwell on it long. His face showed no hesitation.

“Hmm. No point hiding it. ‘Ootori’s Priestess.’ The Ootori family follows primogeniture. The current state of the family, each person’s abilities and traits—by the time you get to a house like mine, all of that’s laid bare. And since I’ve been sent as a kind of scout, they’ve told me quite a bit.”

“Well, that makes sense.”

“What, you’re not surprised?”

He looked a bit puzzled, so I gave him a slightly cynical smile in return.

“Oh, I’m plenty surprised. But, you know, even the scary people across the sea knew at least that much, so it’s no surprise the scary people in Japan do too.”

“I’m not scary. Though my family might be something to watch out for.”

“Thanks. If anything ever happens, you’re welcome to run to our place.”

Even though I meant it sincerely in response to Katsujirou-kun’s immediate concern and thoughtfulness, he frowned again.

“No, I don’t want to become Reiko’s adopted husband. I’m going to come for you openly and proudly.”

“Yeah yeah, I’ll wait without getting my hopes up. But before that, make sure you beat Nemesis #1, who’s glaring at us with a terrifying face.”

Yes—Ryuichi-kun had been staring this way for a while now. I could see him, but Katsujirou-kun, who was facing me, couldn’t.
Ryuichi-kun took advantage of that and listened in on our conversation.

In fact, I even noticed him raise a finger to his lips, and it took some effort not to let Katsujirou-kun catch on.

Even after all that effort, Ryuichi-kun was still Ryuichi-kun.

“Don’t just start chatting away between yourselves. And for the record, you’re not getting Reiko or Youko!”

(Wait, no one even mentioned Youko-chan. What a siscon…)