Airi Again

Airi Again

Yosho completed his public duties on Jurai for six months and returned to the Galaxy Academy.

“Welcome home, Yosho-kun.” Just like a year ago, Airi Magma was waving in the lobby of the deserted space port lobby.

Yosho, seeing her unchanged, remembered when he first arrived at the Academy. They exchanged greetings. “It’s been a while, Airi-dono. I’m glad to see you’re looking well.” He respectfully bowed, but when he raised his head, Airi stared at him sullenly. “What’s the matter…?” Without a word, Airi bonked him on the head. “Ow! Wh-why would you hit me?!”

“No reason. How is Funaho-chan?” Ignoring his stunned reaction, Airi walked onto his ship. Her straightforward way of directing her inner anger at others was unchanged.

Oh brother… Only after Airi-dono hits me does it truly feel like I’ve returned to the Galaxy Academy. Yosho smiled wryly and followed Airi as she stormed off.

As soon as she stepped onto the bridge, Airi let out a shriek of delight and a shiver of joy. A mass of Funaho puppies stormed towards her. “Funaho-chan, how are you?” She leapt into the wave of puppies, expressing her joy with her whole body. After a while, her face emerged from the puppies. “Oh, you have a lot of paperwork. You should go get that done.”

“And Airi-dono, you are…” He was about to ask what she was going to do but stopped. It seemed obvious. “Then I’ll get going. Funaho, take care of Airi-dono.”

“See you later!” The sight of Airi and several hundred puppies all staring at him was quite a spectacle. After Yosho left the bridge, Airi sighed, looking at the puppies. “Funaho…your friend has come back, reverting to the same face he had when we first met,” she mumbled sadly.

She had been in the same boat. Bearing the heavy responsibility of being the eldest daughter of Gaira Magma, the leader of the head temple of Airain, she couldn’t laugh wholeheartedly back then. She feared and felt contempt for the people of other sects. Her heart shackled, she had lost freedom of thought and vision, and it was the Academy that smashed that cage.

Airi wanted to show Yosho, who was very much like she was when she first arrived here, what it was like to laugh wholeheartedly. But even with the passage of several years, she could not achieve this. She would loosen up his heart (by knocking sense into him), but just as he started to smile candidly, he would go back home for six months. And life on Jurai, through those six months, took his smile away from him. Every time she saw him repeat this process, Airi experienced joy and then dejection. Eventually she grew to feel strongly that Yosho should not go back to Jurai…

A month had passed after he left for Jurai yet again when Airi received a transmission. She opened her eyes wide upon learning the location of its origin. It was from Airai, her home.

She quickly changed out of the Juraian raw silk clothes she had bought from Yosho and stood in front of the display. The display showed a person seated on a gilded, ornate vermilion chair, wearing Airai holy robes, smiling feebly.

“I’m glad you look well.”

“Father…?!” The transmission was from her father, Gaira. She saw his weak smile and winced, fearing that he had lost weight again. She quickly realized that he was at the council chambers and straightened up again. “How are you, Father?”

“I’d like to say so-so.”

“Please take care of yourself…”

“Airi, I’m sorry… I…” Gaira mumbled feebly, and averted his eyes.

The jig was up, she thought. Her actions that defied doctrine were a problem at the Airai council. If her father had not protected her, acceding to her wishes to stay at the Academy, she would have been sent home a long time ago. But pressured by the council, he could no longer protect her.

She quietly bowed her head, sensing his kindness. “It’s all right, Father. I’m grateful that you forgave my behavior for so long.”

“That’s quite commendable of you, Airi Magma.” The screen switched to show Gorba, the deputy and leader of the largest faction, and the top- ranked member of the council by a significant margin. “In the council’s name, I order Airi Magma’s return! In two months.”

“Two months! But I’ll receive my diploma in six months,” Airi appealed to the monitor in protest. Yosho would return to the Galaxy Academy in five months. She hoped that she would at least be able to say a proper goodbye. “Please, at least that…”

“Hmph, we’ve all had enough of your self-indulgence. Your conduct where you have forgotten your position as daughter of the Airai leader cannot be forgiven, no matter your bloodline! Isn’t that right, Gaira Magma-dono?” Gorba scowled at Gaira as if he were glaring at a defeated party. Gaira’s head hung low.

Gaira looked away but saw his daughter’s pleading face and mumbled, “Airi…your mother was your age when she came to marry me.”

His words indicated that there was an offer of an arranged marriage. She had suspected the moment Gorba gave the order for her to return. But more than surprise, it hurt Airi more to look at her father’s lamenting face. “Who is the intended…?”

“That will remain secret until the marriage. But it is undoubtedly a good arrangement. You’ll like him, Airi-dono. I guarantee it.” In a complete reversal from before, Gorba was in good spirits.

“I understand…” They exchanged a few words, and with a smile, she cut off the transmission. She stood there for a while. Someone in Airi’s position did not have the freedom of marriage. As long as she could not abandon Airai and her father, she had no choice but to accept her return and the marriage. Now that she had resigned herself to everything, her only regret was Yosho, whom she cared about like a real brother. Just as she had felt freedom at the Academy, she wanted to give him the same chances to be a child that she could have here. But his return to Jurai every six months took even that away.

If only he could stay here until graduation… Her wish would not be realized. Yosho’s guardian was the Emperor of Jurai. No matter what she tried, she would not even be able to talk to him, let alone see him.

In those days of agony, there was some good news. The news that Kamiki Seto Jurai, renowned throughout the entire galaxy, let alone Jurai, was coming to visit the Galaxy Academy.

I’ve heard from Yosho-kun that not even the Emperor of Jurai was a match for Seto-sama. Maybe…

Airi immediately volunteered to be Seto’s guide, but current diplomatic relations between Airai and Jurai were not great, and she did not get permission no matter how many times she inquired. Unlike Yosho, who came to the Academy as a student, Seto was visiting as a member of the Imperial Family of Jurai. The Galaxy Academy would obviously not allow it.

That did not mean Airi was going to give up. Even if the connecting threads were short and thin, she would not give up while there was still hope. A little leak could sink a great ship. She was following what she had been taught at the Academy.

It meant she was going after Kanemitsu.

“Yoo-hoo!” He turned heel at the genial greeting and promptly tried to get away, but Airi seized him by his neck. “Hey, why are you running away?!”

“Because I know what you’re going to say!!” “Then do it.”

“Knock it off. How many times do I have to tell you, you can’t see Seto-sama!!”

“It doesn’t matter because I won’t listen!” “I’m just a warrior…on the lowest rung…”

“But you’re going to be her guide, aren’t you?!” Airi was not going to back down.

“Seto-sama isn’t my friend. I’m not in a position to say anything personal! Asking your dad would probably work better than asking me.”

“Don’t be unreasonable!” “You’re unreasonable!!”

This dispute, unable to reach a consensus, always came to an end with Kanemitsu making an escape. A few days later, Airi was sprawled in bed in her room, dejected, staring at a TV special of Seto’s welcoming reception.

She’d used every contact she could think of but hadn’t been granted an audience with Seto. However, when Seto’s schedule was displayed on screen, she noticed a possibility and leapt out of bed.

“Right here… I could see her!” Airi was confident, watching Seto quietly smiling on screen.

Among the Imperial Family of Jurai, the biggest territory in the universe, Seto was the top in ability and popularity. Her visit was more elaborate than expected, and accordingly, security was on high alert. Since it was known that Airi had been scheming to meet with Seto, surveillance was harsh. Airi could not even see Seto from afar, let alone get close to her.

The facilities for the philosophy department, including the Washu Memorial Hall, were the only possibilities where she could run into Seto. Airi was friends with the old philosopher working there and had a pass to the private passageways. It was easy for her to sneak in, evading the monitors keeping an eye out for her. She decided to try when Seto finished touring the gallery, and the reporters and spokespeople had left. It would be a grave understatement to call it a mere international incident if Airi was shown meeting Seto on live broadcast.

Seto was supposed to meet privately with the philosophers after the tour. She should have only a few guards. At a corner of the building, Airi changed into the raw silk outfit given to her by Yosho on her birthday (which could be used as formal dress in the Imperial Family) and headed towards the passage she expected Seto to take.

As expected, the bodyguards on duty only stared dumbfounded at Airi wearing Jurai Imperial clothes. Airi was the daughter of a state leader, after all. The only one who seemed amused by the situation was the old philosopher standing next to Seto.

Airi walked up to Seto and kneeled down. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Airi Magma; I served as guide for Masaki Yosho Jurai-sama. I understand I risk seeming rude in confronting you like this, but I wished to speak with you…” Her words trailed off. When she raised her face and looked at Seto’s eyes, the tremendous pressure from them paralyzed her.

Without altering her gentle expression, Seto gracefully knelt in the same way. It was Airi’s choice to kneel, but Seto determined that it would be bad optics for her to talk while looking down upon her. “Airi-dono, it’s extremely unfortunate that your country and Jurai are currently in a difficult situation. It would not be prudent for the daughter of the Airai head of state to speak with me in public like this. All of us on Jurai are deeply grateful for what you have done for Yosho-dono. I sincerely hope that diplomatic relations will improve and we will be able to meet in an official function. Excuse me.” With these brief words, she stood up and looked at the philosopher.

“This way.” As if nothing had happened, the old philosopher led Seto to a back room, and the dumbfounded guards also ignored Airi and followed them.

Tears flowing down cheeks flushed with embarrassment and mortification, Airi was wracked with sobs. More than being shown the difference in their stature, her heart was full of the feeling that she would never be able to see Yosho again. Airi fled the building.

“That was the demon princess of Jurai that I’ve heard so much about?” the old philosopher said theatrically as soon as they entered the room.

“You’re being rather suggestive. Is she one of your favorites?”

“Ha ha! Galaxy Academy students these days aren’t as interesting. Few of them would dare pull off a stunt like that… It’s unfortunate she lost. Well, she’s a bit wet behind the ears to be fighting over a man with you…or, shall I say, inexperienced.”

“Heh heh… Ha ha ha ha!!” Seto had desperately been trying to suppress laughter and could no longer hold back. “Did it seem that way to you, too? I thought so… It was so hard to keep from bursting out laughing.”

“Ha ha ha. Truly unfortunate. It would’ve been more fun if only Washu-sensei and Naja-sensei were here… Though I suppose it would be a nuisance to others.” Belying his words, the old philosopher spoke with delight.

“I hear you were their pupil. What were they like?”

“Oh, they toyed with us constantly. You knew it was trouble when they tacked a ‘-chan’ on to your name. And they knew very well they were doing it. When they called you that, you ran out of there, fast.”

“They were toying with you from there?”

“Oh, they went on the chase with delight. You didn’t know what they were going to do to you when they caught you, so we would do whatever we could to escape. But Washu-sensei and Naja-sensei knew all our tricks. The record was six hours, thirty-one minutes, and twelve seconds. We usually got caught within the hour.”

“Sounds like we’d get along…” Seto laughed with mixed feelings, knowing she had done similar things to Azusa and Yosho.

“Ha ha, I agree. Oh, can you guess how the record was made?” “Whether they were highly skilled, or… They do often say, it’s hardest to see what’s under your own nose.” Seto offered a likely answer from her own past experiences.

“Exactly! He had received the summons in his room and simply passed out from fear and anxiety.” Their laughter echoed in the room, but the old philosopher gradually grew glum and mumbled, “Naja-sensei passed away, and Washu-sensei is missing. Since they’ve been gone, the Galaxy Academy has grown bigger, with more people…but it’s also lonelier.”

Seto, looking at him, grew sad, and mumbled more to herself than others, “The fun never lasts forever…”