Vol 1 Chapter 20 (1/2)
Arisugawa Reiko hadn’t gotten mad once in her life.
Nor had she ever hated anyone.
This was a fact.
Not just limited to Seikain, girl schools where high cla.s.s girls attended were basically flower gardens in which disputes didn’t take place. Going by how commoners think, it was a world they couldn’t imagine.
In addition, Reiko was blessed with looks, ability, and character. On top of that, due to the work of the most excellent, distinguished bloodline that dated back to even Kamakura, she naturally repelled anything negative.
“Reiko-sama.”
The young lady said with a teacup in her hand and a deplorable expression.
“Kimito-sama wouldn’t partic.i.p.ate today either, would he?”
The after school tea party had commenced in Reiko’s room.
Four ojou-samas had gathered at the round gla.s.s table that was standing inside an about ten tatami big room.
Sitting on cus.h.i.+ons, their legs relaxed, it had the appearance of a tea party even commoners would have.
However, the room itself, the high cla.s.s feeling the tea set and confections had, the beautiful posture of the girls even though relaxed, their deeply engraved manners, and the maid waiting on stand-by, it clearly showed what made Seikain into Seikain.
“He has things to tend to. There is nothing we can do.”
Reiko smiled gently.
If this was the usual thing, the others would say ‘That’s true, isn’t it? Let’s try inviting him again’, too, and end it being all cheerful about it, however——
“He’s together with Aika-sama again today, right?”
“That is indeed the case, Maya-sama—”
The young lady who had an atmosphere around her as energetic as that of an idol, Toujou Kae, added.
“Yeah. What on Earth might be his business with her?”
While the girl named Maya stated that in wonder, a hint of complaint oozed out of her.
“On top of that, it appears Aika-sama opens her heart only to Kimito-sama, why is that…”
“This is true, but…”
As Toujou Kae tried to say something, both of them—— realized Reiko’s state.
She was chuckling.
“”Reiko-sama…?””
“I understand it.”
“…What… might you understand?”
Reiko surveyed everyone with a calm expression.
“Surely, Aika-sama is consulting with Kimito-sama.”
“Consulting…?”
“Yes. The status-quo between her and us surely aches her heart. For that reason, she is consulting with him. Kimito-sama barely arrived here and is a wonderful person. He’s the perfect person to fit the role.”
It was the Reiko everyone expected. The very foundation of her character was blessed with motto, ‘look at the world with a positive mindset’. And hence the unshakeable optimistic interpretation.
And this optimistic aura also cleansed the hearts of her surroundings.
“Now I understand…”
Maya made a face as if the scales had fallen off her eyes.
“He’ll surely surprise us before long. Let us wait and look forward to it.”
Reiko was more or less right about the surprising part. But there was no way for her to know that it was Aika’s unsightly envy to ‘bring Arisugawa Reiko down!’.
Normally, they’d now say ‘As expected of Reiko-sama…!’.
But…
“B-But I’m getting the feeling that they’re just too intimate by spending every day in Kimito-sama’s room!”
Those words of Toujou Kae were impacting the room who had been about to settle heavily.
“EEEH—?!”
Almost everyone voiced their wonder loudly, and they immediately covered their mouths.
“I-Is that true…?”
“Yes, I’ve heard from someone from the same dorm!”
Kae said with a serious expression while telling the secret.
“She wanted to visit Kimito-sama’s room and while she was in front of his door hesitating, she heard the voices of people who were really enjoying themselves. And recently, it went on until late…!”
“My—?!”
…Still with her fingers on her teacup, Reiko grew silent.
Obviously, her expression was changing.
“Speaking of which, this exchange in the cla.s.sroom the other day – they seem to get along just splendid…”
“Isn’t that right?!”
“…Ehm, everyone, how about another round of tea?”
Mizuho, the spectacled girl who possessed the rare ability among ojou-samas to perceive a ‘dangerous atmosphere’, tried to stop Kae and company’s talk.
“Right, right! She was whispering into his ear and taking his hand!”
“Kimito-sama even chased after her! If I had to guess… I’d say it’s an extraordinary relations.h.i.+p!”
However, it was futile.
If these were commoner girls school students, everyone would immediately sense the atmosphere and s.h.i.+ft the direction of the topic in perfect cooperation.
But—— these young ladies couldn’t read the atmosphere.
Because… they lacked the experience.
These girls hadn’t the chance to forge the ability to read this kind of atmosphere, these situations were hardly ever happening, and nor had they been in contact with men before.
“Perhaps they became close between all these consultations! Maya-sama, would you comply with my thinking…?!”
“Yes, yes!”
And Mizuho, who was trying her best considering she was an ojou-sama, had nothing she could do anymore and alternated her gaze between the excited others and Reiko.
“Are those two already—— lovers—?!”
“There is no doubt!”
Arisugawa Reiko hadn’t gotten mad once in her life.
No matter what it was, she was able to look at it positively.
But.
But…
“Are they on their own in his room again today?!”
“Perhaps, right now, they’re kis—”
“PLEASE CUT IT OUT ALREADY!”
…The room fell dead silent.
Everyone but the culprit had the same estranged, frozen expression.
They looked as if—— they were seeing the world end.
“…Rei…………sama…?”
Kae choked on her words, her eyes teared up.