Seto and Airi

Seto and Airi

Airi returned to her own room from the Washu Memorial Hall and had flung herself in bed with her head facing the window. Night had fallen, and the nightly celebration was taking place here and there. She did not feel like taking part just now. “Yosho…kun…” At that moment, her stomach grumbled to protest its emptiness.

“You get hungry even now… Argh, enough!!” She leapt up, slapping her cheeks. Being lost in thought to the tune of a rumbling stomach, no matter how starry-eyed the dilemma, was stupid from an objective standpoint.

Just then, the doorbell rang. “Who is it?” Airi absentmindedly opened the door, thinking someone had come to take her to the celebration. The person she saw standing there left her speechless. It was Kamiki Seto Jurai.

“Good evening. May I come in?” Airi was too stunned to reply. “May I come in?”

The repeated question jolted her back to her senses, and she quickly ushered Seto inside, looking up and down the hallway to see if anyone had been watching.

“It’s all right. Nobody saw me,” Seto said, reading Airi’s concerns. “Seto-sama, what would happen if someone saw? It would not be prudent.”

“Are you getting back at me? It’s fine, I’m having dinner with the directors and the chairman.” She turned the same gentle eyes towards her, but there was no trace of the pressure she had felt earlier.

“A complete turnaround…” Due to her position, she had seen people with plenty of charisma, but she had never seen someone with such extreme control. Airi knew she was called “the demon princess of Jurai,” but she realized its true meaning when she saw this difference for the first time. She also realized that Seto had been teasing her when they met at the philosophy department…

“Whatever may I do for you?” she said a little grumpily and set up a shield to prevent sound leakage.

“You wanted to talk to me, right? And I thought I could have dinner with you.” Seto showed Airi the two large baskets she was carrying.

The timing was so perfect that Airi blushed from embarrassment, thinking… no, knowing that Seto knew she had just been famished. She regained her composure and noticed that the dishes she was taking out of her baskets were those served at Narsis. “Seto-sama…aren’t these…”

“The philosopher took me there for lunch. He said it’s your favorite place to eat.”

“You went there, Seto-sama?!” She stared at Seto in surprise. This was not flattering for Narsis, but she did not think it was a place to take a visiting royal.

“It was so good, so I had them make a basket.” Seto was positively merry when it came to matters of food.

The proprietor must’ve been so shocked. Airi helped place the food on the table, and noticed several dishes she was not familiar with. “Seto-sama, it looks like there are dishes I’ve never seen at Narsis. Did you get them somewhere else?”

“I made that.” “What?!”

Seto had cooked it herself in the kitchen at Narsis. “They had distinctive and interesting spices available, so I wanted to try using them. These are based on Juraian cuisine, but the seasoning is by Narsis.”

“You cook, Seto-sama?!” “Is that so surprising?”

“It is…” She paused to think, but she had no other reply. “Ha ha ha! I like your honesty!!”

“I apologize.” Airi blushed in spite of herself but faced with Seto’s frank and unguarded laughter, burst out laughing herself. They laughed together as if all that pressure had never existed. Airi’s suspicion towards Seto melted altogether. It was all because Seto was the way she was.

Prompted by Seto, Airi took a bite of the food Seto had made, and she moaned, “It’s delicious. Wow, it’s really good.” It was a taste she was used to, since it used a sauce from Narsis, but the different Juraian style was pleasantly inserted, providing a fresh perspective.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“I’m surprised she let you in the kitchen like that. She’s very strict, and she’d never let anyone in if she hadn’t eaten their food to her satisfaction before, let alone let them touch her implements… But with these skills, it makes sense.”

“I brought ingredients I selected myself. I showed them to her, and she let me in,” Seto said as if it was no big deal.

“That’s all?”

“Yes, that was enough.” Seto smiled at an uncomprehending Airi. “Airi-dono, do you cook?”

“What? No… I like to focus on the eating half…”

“I heard you have a keen sense of taste. She said you can discern the minute day-to-day differences that only she knows. She said she’d like to teach you things, if you’re interested.”

“I’d like to learn, if I didn’t have my other job already…”

“Why don’t you try, even if it’s a little inconvenient? If you can make good food, you can survive anywhere.”

“Yes, maybe I will.”

“It must be nice… I taught my daughter the minimum, but all she wants to do is fill her stomach. Funaho-dono is too good a student, and there’s nothing more I could teach… Ayeka-chan is a curiously clumsy cook, and she seems to prefer sewing.”

“Oh…”

“If my next grandchild is a girl, I’m thinking about teaching her everything.” They ate everything on the table while they chatted idly.

“Thank you for the meal. It was delicious.”

“I’m glad you liked it. Would you like some dessert?” Seto brought out a massive cake from the basket.

“After all we ate…?” There was quite a volume of food. Even though Airi had stuffed her starving body, more than 70% of it had been eaten by Seto.

“You know how they say there’s a separate stomach for sweets.” “I don’t think I can…”

“Then how about some tea? It was grown in Mikagami. I brought water that was purified there, too.”

This Airi accepted happily. Tea made from water purified by the Royal Trees was delicious, as she’d learned drinking on Funaho’s bridge with Yosho. Feeling like herself again, she sighed and watched Seto happily portion out the large cake and genuinely enjoy it.

“I bet you could fit a little piece.” Seto figured what she was thinking and placed a slice on a plate.

“All right, I’ll have a little.” Seto’s cake, also homemade, was as delicious as expected. Full of fruit and nuts, Seto explained that it contained no sugar, highlighting only the flavors of the fruits.

“Jurai has the most diverse plant life in the galaxy, so there is a tremendous variety of fruit and nuts. There are countless variations of this cake depending on the combinations of fruit.”

Airi nodded, impressed, completely in the palm of Seto’s hand. She did not have the wherewithal to think while she was heady from the food and only remembered that she had something to talk about after she ate the last piece of cake and finished her tea.

“That was delicious. Thank you. I don’t think I’ve had such a relaxing meal since Yosho-kun’s… Oh!”

“Would you like another cup of tea?”

“Yes, please… I mean… No, I don’t have time to be doing this!!” “You’re showing your true colors now,” Seto chuckled, bemusedly watching Airi shout and stand up.

Airi glared at Seto…but seeing her smile made her lose her momentum.

“She said Yosho-dono looks like a child his age when he comes home from the Galaxy Academy.” “What?”

“Funaho-dono, Yosho-dono’s mother, said sadly that he must be under so much stress on Jurai.”

“Yosho-kun’s mother?” Airi knew that Yosho’s mother, Funaho, was in a difficult position on Jurai. And how much Yosho cared about her…

“Funaho-dono is very grateful to you.”

Airi shook her head and mumbled, “I-I was shocked when he came back from Jurai and had this severe expression beyond his years. Right when he’d finally begun to act like a kid again, he reverted right back when he returned to Jurai… I wanted to ask you to let Yosho-kun stay at the Academy for good. Or at least…”

“At least what?”

“At least until he grows up a little more. I wanted him to have memories a childhood needs.”

“Are you in love with Yosho-dono?”

“…!!” Seto’s words were abrupt and devastating. Airi had not realized… or she was unconsciously trying not to realize. She felt Seto’s eyes on her, and uncomfortably looked around. She did not know how to answer. She knew what the answer was but did not want to put it to words. She hated Seto for staring at her silently.

How could she ask this of me…? Various excuses came and went in her mind. But she felt that Seto would see through any lie.

“That’s something I must not admit.” She finally squeezed out those words, but then something snapped inside her, and she started yelling as if a dam had burst. “How could you ask me if I loved Yosho-kun?! You know that I can’t do anything about it even if I did. If you had stayed silent, I wouldn’t have had to confront it… In one month, I go back to Airai and that will be the end of it. Why are you making me face it now?!” Airi panted.

Seto quietly watched her, then said, “You’re getting married when you get home?”

Airi’s eyes opened wide. “If you know all this, then why?!”

“House Masaki always ends up being sacrificed for Jurai’s sake. They have difficult romances.” Seto’s expression was so twisted with grief that Airi was taken aback.

“What?”

“Yosho-dono’s grandmother and her brother, his father, and those who came before him… Jurai was built upon the sacrifices of House Masaki.”

“I’ve heard of that. And that’s why the Masaki House has the least power among the Four Imperial Houses.”

“Heh, but that’s a mistake.” “What do you mean…?”

“The people in House Masaki never choose Jurai. They don’t love us. That’s why the other houses hate them so much and love them even more… I love Yosho-dono’s father.”

“The Juraian emperor?! But…” She was about to say that Seto was married but hesitated. Seeing the seriousness in her eyes, it could not be said aloud.

Seto smiled self-deprecatingly. “Of course, I love my husband… But in some way, I love Azusa-chan even more. Ever since I went to bring him to Jurai, I’ve been watching him…raising him. I love everything that he loves. I won’t let anyone or anything hurt him. Even if it was god incarnate…”

Airi’s heart beat out of her chest, and her body froze. Seto’s powerful emotions permeated the room so thickly they could be cut with a knife.

“I think of Yosho-dono as my son. I don’t want him to see you… But I also do. I wouldn’t care if he ends up having to abandon his home, like Amame-chan, his grandmother, if that was what he decided for himself.”

“Abandon his home…?” Airi asked back and realized. “Renounce our homes to be together? But…” Yosho could never abandon his home where his beloved mother lived. Just as she could not abandon Airai, where her father lived. “That…can’t happen…”

“Yes, I don’t want that to happen. Yosho-dono is engaged to my granddaughter.”

“I don’t know what you’re trying to say, Seto-sama. It’s like you’re just trying to confuse me…”

“Airi-dono, please tell me who you’re betrothed to,” Seto murmured, ignoring her question.

“I haven’t been told…”

“You should know. Keila Magma-dono told you.”

“…!!” This conversation with Seto was a succession of surprises. Just like most religions, there were bans on sexual relations for clergy. Keila was a leader of nuns and had authority equal to Gorba’s. Airi officially belonged to a convent, and even Gorba or Gaira could not register her marriage without Keila’s permission. Even if the council tried to keep the identity of the betrothed a private matter, they would have to tell Keila. And the nuns were far more moderate than the hard-liner priests.

“I have a pretty good idea who it is,” Seto said. “But I need confirmation.”

Airi had no idea how Seto agonized over saying those words. Or that those words…and simply the act of meeting Seto would change her fate.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Why does the council want to keep it a secret? The planning should be quite advanced by now. A marriage for someone like you should’ve been announced much sooner.” Seto gave voice to questions that Airi had mulled over as well.

“Talking with foreigners about this, no matter what the council’s intent may be…” Airi noticed even as she said those words that she was suspicious of the council. She sided with Airai over Seto, but she had no idea if that was really the right thing to do. That was how bewildered she felt.

Sensing her feelings, Seto continued, “You’re well aware that Airai was more encouraging of missionary activities than other countries. And that Jurai has the freedom to practice any religion.”

“But Airain…or other religions have not spread on Jurai. Jurai has the Royal Trees as their god.”

“There were many religions at the time of Jurai’s founding. We were a multicultural nation. But over the years, they settled on the Royal Trees as their god. But a lot of religious customs remain, along with the names of their gods. It’s just that they all point to the Royal Trees.”

Airi realized here that Seto knew that she wanted Tsunami, the progenitor.

Seto nodded as Airi turned towards her, “That’s why a lot of people want to get a hold of a Royal Tree. Heh, most for military purposes.”

Airi burst out laughing because “military” was a term far from the Funaho she knew.

“Heh, they don’t like combat. And we don’t want to make them fight, as much as we can. But Funaho, a First Generation Tree, can destroy an entire country on her own.”

“How is that possible?!”

“Calculating back from the power of each generation, Tsunami is tremendously powerful. It would be easy to destroy the entire galaxy. A god indeed.”

“What is Jurai trying to do with such power?” Airi felt fear toward the Royal Trees.

Seto shrugged, “Nothing. They’re our friends, not our servants.” “Yosho-kun told me that the first Emperor of Jurai became friends with Tsunami.”

“Yes. With that ring, you should be familiar with what they’re like.” “Yes…” Hearing her words and remembering the Funaho puppies, the fear she just felt melted away. No matter how dangerous the weapons may be, there was nothing to fear with the knowledge that they would never be turned on people. “But…”

Seto continued in a frosty voice, “What would a Royal Tree do to someone who tried to coerce them?”

“Well…”

“How would you react, if it were you, Airi-dono?”

Airi was aghast. “I should’ve realized… If Tsunami-sama could destroy the universe, it would be simple for her to crush a country.” The image of her home world being destroyed crossed her mind, and she shivered, understanding why Seto brought this up. “Does this have to do with my marriage?”

Seto nodded, “You know Amaki Kasen. It was the Imperial Amaki House who adopted him when he was an orphan. Nobody knows who his real parents are. But I bet we’ll find out shortly after you get married.”

“My betrothed is…”

“Have you heard of the Lufins?” Airi opened her eyes wide. She did not expect that name to come up. And Seto, seeing her reaction, knew she was right. “Kasen is supposed to marry the third daughter of the Imperial Amaki House. Then the Magmas and the Imperial Amaki House will be distant relatives.”

No further explanation was necessary. Once a connection between the Magmas and the Imperial Amaki House was established, the Imperial Amaki House would support the missionary activities of Airain. And if a future Emperor came from the Imperial Amaki House…

“Marriage with people outside Jurai is difficult. But there are no rules for marriages within the clan. That’s what they took advantage of.”

Once externally substantiated, it became an internal matter. Seto could crush Kasen’s marriage. But she could do nothing about Airi’s problem. Now that she knew the truth, the umpteenth tear of the day ran down Airi’s cheek. She mumbled, “They’re so foolish. No, I feel sorry for them. They don’t realize that they’re locked in a cage called Airain. They even treat God like an object…”

The foolishness of trying to take hold of God, Tsunami, through force was pitiful.

But that council was going to decide Airai’s fate. Airi was smart and could imagine her future. If Seto ruined Kasen’s marriage, Airi’s marriage would lose its meaning. It was her wedding that had value to the council. If she were simply the daughter of an authority figure, she would no longer be useful. But since she was descended from the holy leader, the only path remaining to her was to be a puppet just like her father.

The council knew that Airi made contact with Seto at the Washu Memorial Hall. They might not know about this meeting, but they would cast suspicions that Airi leaked the information. She would be confined, only brought out to deliver a prepared performance when needed, or used for some other purpose… In any case, her life would not be a happy one.

“Yosho-dono will come to the Academy in two weeks to file paperwork for the leave of absence.” Seto’s eyes, looking deeply into Airi’s, were making an appeal. She was giving her a final chance. If they sought defection at the Academy, and planted the Royal Tree on land there, neither Jurai nor Airai could do anything about it. But both Yosho and Airi had precious things in their homes they could not leave behind.

“I can at least say a final goodbye,” Airi smiled sadly.

“I met your father once, long ago. Your father is stronger than you may think.”

“What?!”

“I’ve overstayed my welcome. I need to get going.” Seto stood up, walked up to the door, and turned around. “You must decide for yourself. Oh, let me remind you that it’s not too late to learn cooking at Narsis, Airi-dono.” With her usual gentle smile, she left the room.

As soon as Seto was out of view, all the energy left Airi’s body. She collapsed onto her bed and began to cry.

Two weeks later, when Yosho visited the Galaxy Academy, it was the beginning of spring. Airi Magma was waving her arm wildly at Yosho in the empty space port lobby.

“Welcome back, Yosho-kun.” She spoke to him the way she always did.

“It’s been a while, Airi-dono.” Yosho was also the same as usual. As always, they headed to Funaho’s bridge.

“How have you been, Funaho-chan?” At Airi’s question, a herd of puppy Funahos swarmed her. “Ha ha ha!!” Among the stifling scent of tender grass, light, and the pile of boisterous puppies, Airi’s laughter echoed.

“Hey, Funaho! Airi-dono, calm down.” The puppies went wild at Airi’s laughter. The more Airi was excited, the number of puppies increased, and the ruckus escalated. Looking on, Yosho heaved a sigh, as usual. “They’re always like this…”

“Look at you, looking all prim! Get him, Funaho!!” Airi and several hundred, or now close to a thousand puppies, pounced onto Yosho, licking and tickling indiscriminately, and after chasing Yosho, everyone tumbled into the moat.

“Oh, brother…” Yosho sighed deeply while changing clothes.

Airi took offense and turned to him. “You dare sigh at me now? Get him, Funaho…”

“Wait just a minute!!” Yosho tried to stop her, but it was too late. They were swallowed by the wave of puppies.

“Oh…but first we should have lunch. I’m hungry.” The puppies paused at her words. “Right, Yosho-kun?”

“Huh? Oh…yes, then let’s go to the living quarters.” Yosho slipped out from among the puppies and made his way down, tugged by Airi.

“Let’s eat in my room today.” Airi’s house was built at the base of the giant tree in the center of the living quarters. There was a small lake at the base, and her house was five meters above it. Yosho making Airi mad and getting slammed in there was becoming a bittersweet memory.

Airi entered the room, insisting upon making dinner, and entered the kitchen. Yosho knew of her skills at cooking and frowned, but while there was not much variety in the finished meal, it was quite delicious. But more surprising was the fact that it resembled the dishes at Narsis and also hinted faintly at Juraian cuisine. Airi had received personal tutelage from the proprietor at Narsis for the past two weeks.

After they ate, Airi used her killer technique seven more times. Yosho ran away, and Airi and the puppies gave chase. Yosho and Airi’s laughter was just as loud as the yelping of puppies.

“Get him, Funaho!”

“Hold on, calm down!!” They knew they could not abandon their homes. So they wanted to spend as much time together as possible, in the place they loved the most. The sky had turned red with the sunset. On a hill, surrounded by a dense sea of puppies, Yosho and Airi watched the sunset, snuggling close to each other. Until the sun set below the horizon, neither spoke one word.

The one who started crying first was Airi. She placed her head on his shoulder, gritted her teeth, and tried to stifle her sobs. Yosho also buried his face in her hair. They did not need words. They did not want to part. But they had reasons they could not stay together.

Airi looked up with her tear-stained face at Yosho. Her trembling lips formed the words, “I love you… Yosho.”

She pressed her cheek against his face, like a cat showing her affections. Yosho moved with her, and their lips came closer. Out of consideration for them, there was not a single puppy around.

Among the silence of the night, the only sounds were of their breath and the rustling of grass.

The day Airi went home, Seto revealed the origins of Amaki Kasen on the Juraian home world. As a result, his marriage to Shuzan’s daughter was canceled. Airi’s betrothed, announced on Airai, was not someone from the Lufins as Seto had predicted, but Gorba himself. The council’s plot had been foiled by Seto.

Right afterwards, calling it a “religious ceremony” prior to the nuptials of the state head’s daughter, the planet Airai transferred its political center to a satellite city and closed itself off to the outside world under the pretense that this would only be for a few years. Suddenly, others were not privy to anything that was happening within Airai.

Yosho on Jurai, without exception, could not find out anything about Airi. Seto would not say anything about it. He was driven by the impulse to go see her immediately, but he was aware of the consequences of taking such actions. Their emotions spun with nowhere to go, their feelings for each other that would never entwine for now…

Five years passed.