Vol 4 Chapter 4 (1/2)
Chapter 4 - Everything for the sake of love - part one
Kannagi Juugo informed his daughter in a solemn voice.
”This Sunday, you're having a formal marriage interview with the Tsuchimikado household. Agree to it”
At that unexpected p.r.o.nouncement, Ayano's consciousness froze. From her lips, a thoughtless word escaped.
”---Yes?”
”Uh huh, that's a good answer. Then go and prepare yourself.”
”No, I wasn't replying just now! Or rather, why so suddenly!? ”
”Ah, I see”
Ren, who was for some reason also summoned here, jumped in, talking with a panicked appearance.
”Besides, towards Nii-sama, Nee-sama is---- ”
”Wait a minute, that's also wrong! ”
Forcefully Ayano interrupted Ren's words. Her whole face dyed red --- to show that was all because she was angry, she grasped the boy's
collar.
”What about me and Kazuma, huh? ”
”No, but---”
”What?”
”..........nothing”
Losing to her intensity, Ren gulped down his words. Taking over, Juugo asked of Ayano.
”Do you have someone in your heart?”
”--- No, I don't but still--- ”
Ayano replied like that, adverting her eyes from Juugo's calm gaze and Ren's uneasy one.
”Then there is no problem. It's not like we're going to exchange engagement gifts all of a sudden. ”
For the time being Ayano couldn't find any objection to Juugo telling her just to meet him. But even so, she couldn't consent to it
easily either.
”But, why so suddenly----”
”In fact, it's not all that sudden. ”, replied Juugo with a bitter smile.
”In fact, I had this conversation with the Tsuchimikado Head before you were born. I said that if a girl will be born I will marry her to his second son.
I meant it as a joke but it turns out the other party took it seriously. A few days ago they requested I fulfill my promise. ”
Behind the unfolded fan hiding his expression, Juugo laughed about the fact that he totally forgot about it.
”This is not a laughing matter, Otou-sama....”
”It's just a marriage meeting, don't think about it so seriously”
Juugo carelessly rejected his daughter's concern.
”By the way, they sent out a picture. Take it to your room. Judging from appearance, he's a very refres.h.i.+ng young man. I also heard he's
fairly competent as a Jutsus.h.i.+. ”
”.......Better that Superintended Tachibana? ”
Inside the Metropolitan Police Department there is the only official task force fighting against evil spirits, the Special Investigation Unit.
The one managing it, Tachibana Kirika, was the most excellent Onmyouji Ayano knew.
”Well, I don't know how it is right now but I feel that even comparing them would make him feel insulted.
At any rate, the Tsuchimikado are an existence that is j.a.pan's main school of Onmyodou. ”
”They are said to be the direct descendants of Abe no Seimei. ---Although we do not know if that is true. ”
Although the Tachibana Household was a Onmyodou n.o.ble family, looking at them from the Tsuchimikado's point of view they are nothing but
a lower rank family, similar to a branch family.
The fact that Kirika too, is part of one of Tachibana's branches, should also be considered.
”Don't say that. Regardless of whether that is true or not, it does not change the fact they are excellent Onmyouji”
”That is true....”
”That's why, don't get too worked up about it. Think about it more like a mixer(Goukon). Of course, if you like him enough, I will not
object to him as a possible marriage candidate. Since he is the second son there is no issue with accepting him as a son-in-law. ”
”.................”
Looking at her father who was somewhat interested in the prospect with a puzzled look, Ayano let out a grave sigh.
After leaving Juugo's room, Ayano and Ren exchanged a bewildered glance.
”What are you going to do? ”
”What, you ask --- I don't want to do it. But, turning it down will be very difficult. ”
”I thought so too. Besides, what would Nii-sama say if he found out? ”
”Hmmm---”
At Ren's question Ayano turned away somewhat pouting.
”If it's him we're talking about it will be 「I feel sorry for the other party」 --- isn't it obvious? ”
That highly probable phrase made Ren silent.
”Anyway, this has nothing to do with him so there is no need to specially inform him about it. ”
”........I don't think that's true though............”, murmured Ren inside his heart.
He vaguely guessed this story's real purpose.
From way back Juugo made various secret maneuvers towards Ayano and Kazuma. He had no doubt this was just one of those plans.
If not, there would have been no need to call in even Ren when discussing Ayano's marriage interview.
”Which means, I need to get this story across to Nii-sama...........”
If he could he would chose to stay out of it. From the bottom of his heart.
But he already understood that is not to be.
”Haah......”
Just thinking of all the turmoil that will probably arise from this, the boy let out a small breath.
”I feel sorry for the other party”
Literally hearing word by word what she expected him to say, Ayano slapped the table while glaring at Kazuma with indignation.
”Aaaaaaaaaaaah......”
Sitting next to Ayano, Ren was involuntarily at his wit's end.
For some reason, she expected this to happen. She expected it, but----
”..................”
”------------------”
The standing up and looking down upon Ayano and Kazuma looking up at her with the usual cynical expression.
The indication of a critical situation corroded the the unfortunate, sinless coffee lounge.
”Nii-sama.......”
Ren stared at Kazuma with a sorrowful expression silently begging him to do something.
But Kazuma ignored him.
It's not like he didn't notice it. He was aware of the situation.
Of Ren's thoughts --- and maybe even of Juugo's ulterior motive --- Kazuma was purposefully enjoying himself in this situation.
Suddenly, Ayano said.
”I'm out”
”Eeh, but...”
Ren was the one who firmly insisted she should tell Kazuma about the marriage interview.
He persuaded the unwilling Ayano by telling her that Kazuma may have a plan for her to get out of it.
The result of that was---
”Well certainly, if it's him he could possibly thing of some underhanded, unfair, heretical and cunning. But putting it to practice is
totally different. ”
But even though she talked in such a contrary way, Ayano agreed to borrow Kazuma's capability, but----
”It's fine already! Having a marriage interview is twice one million preferable than having to look at this idiot one more second! ”
”Do your best. If you could manage to fool him until the end, maybe you'll catch a young master from such a distinguished family. ”
”Yes, that's exactly what I'm going to do, and I will send you a front seat invitation to our weddings so have fun with that! ”
Shouting her reply in a t.i.t for that manner, Ayano roughly left her seat.
Ren followed after her.
”See you, Ren”
”.....................”
Ren's only reply to his brother's parting greeting was a cold glance and a sudden turn around and walk away.
”------------gee”
After the duo left the shop, Kazuma deliberately held out a cigarette in his mouth.
For a period of time, he continued smoking in silence.
From his outward appearance one could never guess what was inside his heart, but-----
”Is this seat taken? ”
Hearing that soft, feminine voice, Kazuma looked up.
He expressionlessly looked at the beautiful woman with a full smiling face standing close to the table.
Without even confirming, there were plenty free tables. In any case, it didn't look like she came just to drink a cup of tea.
”---------please”
”Thank you very much”
Kazuma said so, still smoking and the woman sat across from him without reservation.
Ordering an orange juice from the waiter who came close, she looked at Kazuma with a smiling face.
Kazuma too, freely observed her.
She was approximately twenty years old. The atmosphere around her was unusually composed.
Although still not of age she already shed the girlish appearance possessing an adequate womanly body.
Her features were fairly fine apart from that mature air.
Dark hair that was so glossy it seemed wet, was tied behind her neck and was spilling on her back.
What is called a stereotypical j.a.panese beautiful woman.
”Sorry for the wait. ”
The waiter brought the orange juice.
But without touching even the straw, the woman was looking straight at Kazuma.
”Do you have some business with me? ”
”Yes. If not, I would never set foot in such a low cla.s.s store”
Although her tone was polite, her remarks were casually rude.
”I am Tsuchimikado Kagura.”
And then she proudly named herself.
But, there was no follow-up.
Kazuma patiently waited for the continuation but as if saying she finished her explanation she sat in silence with a composed expression.
”-------your business?”
After a few seconds, Kazuma frankly pressed on.
Kaguya opened her eyes wide, as if surprised.
”Do you not know? ”
”I don't know. I don't think the Tsuchimikado's Ojou-sama would have any kind of job for a person of doubtful origin such as myself”
”Ooh, you surprisingly know your own social position, hmm?”
Once again Lady Kagura said something pretty rude in a very polite voice.
It did not look like she was doing it on purpose. It was very likely she was not conscious of it, she just spontaneously looked down on
other people.
Not with scorn but naturally thinking everyone else was beneath her.
The 「If there is no bread, I will have some cake please, ahahahaha」 type.
”Just like you say, by all rights, I have no work for someone like you. Even if in some circ.u.mstance a Fuujutsu-s.h.i.+ would be absolutely
necessary, I can prepare a dozen people who are much more excellent than you.
---Aah, don't feel too bad, please? I'm not saying you are incompetent or anything, it is just that I know a lot better Pract.i.tioners. ”
”I---see”
Is there someone who don't feel too bad, please? after hearing such words --- while thinking about it as if it was someone else's
business, Kazuma made an agreeable response.
It seems that Kagura researched Kazuma's background as much as she could.
That is, he was born in the Kannagi Clan but without possessing any Enjutsu-s.h.i.+ talent so he reluctantly dabbled in Fuujutsu-s.h.i.+.
Not feeling any need to correct her, Kazuma once again urged the conversation.
”It's about time you said your purpose coming here, don't you think? ”
”You really do not understand? ”
”It's what I'm saying. I don't like riddles. If you plan on evading the issue any further, I'm out. ”
”......You, no way, do you not know your lover is having a marriage meeting? ”
After hearing those words, it was all clear. But even so he didn't know the reason Kaguya approached him.
Searching for confirmation, Kazuma said.
”It's troublesome so I won't reply to that but are you trying to say Ayano's marriage partner is from Tsuchimikado? ”
”That's right. ”
”Hmmm, as I recall Tsuchimikado has two male direct descendants. The older one is closer to his his thirties if I'm not mistaken so it
must be the younger one, huh? ”
”That's right. ”
”So, what of it? Because your brother is having a marriage interview with Ayano, what's your business with me? ”
Hearing Kazuma's question, Kagura showed open disappointment and despair.
”Are you trying to say you're fine with Onii-sama stealing your lover? ”
”Like I said before I won't reply to that but isn't it just a formal marriage interview? It's not like they are immediately going to
marry----”
”Naive! You're too naive! ”
As if cutting apart Kazuma's optimism, Kagura raised her voice.
”It's because you don't know Onii-sama that you're being so carefree about it! ”
Certainly Kazuma doesn't know anything about Ayano's marriage partner.
Leaving aside his personality and ability, not even his face or his name.
What he knows is that there is such a man in Tsuchimikado's direct line.
”Onii-sama is---”
In front of Kazuma watching her attentively, Kagura joined her hands in front of her chest as if in prayer and began to narrate in an
enraptured tone.
”He is extremely wonderful, a person who is more dreamy than any other in this world. He is brave, strong and tender, moreover he was
praised as the reincarnation of Abe no Seimei. ------No, even Abe no Seimei would look stale compared with Onii-sama”
”Haa----”
”I wonder if there are women that Onii-sama gazes upon and smiles at that will not fall in love with him in this world. That's right, the
fact that your lover will become smitten with Onii-sama is already inevitable. ”
As if talking about universal truth, Kagura declared so without any hesitation.
That voice that seemed to have gone somewhere else, the pupils where countless stars were floating, her rosily flushed cheeks were
obviously the characteristics of a teenage girl that lost her mind to love, her mature atmosphere crumbled to pieces.
”They should lock up people like her.......”
Although not letting show on the outside, Kazuma rebuked the Tsuchimikado Head in his mind
Understandingly he had no intention of trusting even one percent of Kagura's rant.
It's impossible for a man all girls will fall for to exist and he never heard that there was such an excellent Jutsus.h.i.+ in the
Tsuchimikado.
The reincarnation of Abe no Seimei --- was famous but a considerable amount of Onmyouji claimed that t.i.tle. Even he could bring out some
names if he thought about it long enough.
Which means all of Kaguya's words were nothing more but the reckless remarks of of a girl with a raging brother complex.
Rightfully speaking he has no intention of talking with this kind of creature any longer, but----
”In other words, you're trying to destroy that marriage meeting, right? ”
”Yes. Such an unrefined Enjutsus.h.i.+ girl is absolutely not suitable for Onii-sama. ”, declared Kagura without any hesitation.
But it was obvious from her att.i.tude that even if the world's most beautiful woman would be brought along she wouldn't think it suitable either.
”Aah, I'm just picturing it. Unable to recognize the fact that Onii-sama is treating her kindly only from a sense of duty, the appearance
of that girl shamelessly following Nii-sama around like a female cat in the mating season. ”
”I feel like I really need to see that, anyway, if that's your job request, I will not refuse you. ”
While showing a daring smile, unable to discern what he was thinking, Kazuma accepted Kaguya's request.
Next morning ----- showing an att.i.tude like nothing was changed, Ayano stepped in the cla.s.sroom.
”Good morning, Kannagi-san ”
”Good morning”
”Ayano, good morning”
”Good morning ”
Ayano showed a smile to all the people who greeted her.
She has a sweet, smiling face that could charm anybody. Therefore, n.o.body noticed it.
The fact that was just an unconscious mechanical reaction.
Greeting everyone, replaying to everyone --- she was not even aware of her own actions.
”That baka, that d.a.m.ned fiend, that womanizer......”
Inside Ayano's head, her not yet appeased anger towards Kazuma was still burning strong.
Interacting with the other students with a smile-thin depth, beneath it, a magma-like violent emotion was raging.
”Screw you. He doesn't really matter. He has nothing to do with me. I'll go to the marriage meeting and if afterworlds we start dating
and on top of that we may even get engaged, I won't listen to your complains no matter what you say, do you hear me? ”
Thinking so, Ayano was getting depressed.
So she didn't notice it. The sound of steps running towards her. The fact that such a voice was not inside her head but coming from
outside.
”Ayano-chan, is the marriage meeting true? ”
”Yes, I'm doing it! What's wrong with that!? ”
At the perfectly timed question, Ayano reflexively retorted in a loud voice.
Hearing that shocking confession --- instantly all sound died out from the cla.s.sroom.
Even Yuukari, the one who started this whole thing, stiffened in amazement at that extreme reaction.
”.......Aah”
Finally calming down, Ayano belatedly covered her mouth and slowly looked around.
Although it may be natural, all the students in the cla.s.sroom stared at Ayano with a surprised look.
”Uuugh......well.......”
While hesitating, Ayano glared at the culprit with a look of resentment.
File:KnS Ignition 04 147.png
Smiling slightly and showing her tongue, Yuukari lightly hit her head in a reflecting fas.h.i.+on.
”Teehee❤ ”
”Don't you teehee❤ me! What are you going to do about this? ”
Various gazes focused on Ayano as if shooting through her.
From the girls it was mainly curiosity.
The opposite s.e.x was surprised, sorrowful and for some reason angry --- and all their condensed gazes put a considerable amount of
pressure on Ayano.
”A lie........tell me it's a lie......”
”My--- my Ayano-chan is.....! ”
”You betrayer! You're stepping on my feelings! ”