Volume 13 Chapter 2 (1/2)
The following day
Standing before a huge wooden gate that looked like it belonged on the residence of a shogun's personal retainer, or an Edo-period town hed
”It's bigger than I thought”
”… Yeah”
”Still not quite as big as Sachiko-san's, but it sure beats any normal house”
”Right”
Of course, the lady of the house was originally a daughter of the powerful Ogasawara faine that the family she married into would have a house like this But, but, even taking that into account, the estate was incredibly large Yu how rounds
In other words, this was the house where Kashi+wagi-san lived
In order to accomplish the task set for her by Rei-sa, they'd caught a bus, followed by a train, then another bus, and lastly a tenat this previously unseen plot of land
Naturally, Yuuki had accoator of all of this when he caraduated Hanadera student Kashi+wagi-san, his position was easily understood
”I want to go home”
”Me too”
It was hot
Despite the parasol, her shoulders, aring
2pm The hottest part of the day
They spent about five ed to i-san to know that theirthis place was enough to e their plans
”Hey”
”Yeah”
They should find a public telephone and let him know they couldn't make it Yuuki and Yu they turned around
Just at that point
”That's not nice, fukuzawa siblings”
A voice came from behind them
”After co hello?”
They didn't have to turn around to know That i voice With a bit of a host's spice Plus the occasional undercurrent of poison
There was no doubting it was hiuru
”If I'm not mistaken, that box contains a Maple Parlor fruit jelly selection They're in and tonic Ahh, I wish I had one If only so some with them”
Would anyone be able to run away after hearing all that? Like rewinding a video, the fukuzawa siblings spun around, returning to their original position
”Go-gokigenyou, Kashi+wagi-san”
”Hey there, Kashi+wagi-se to see you on such short notice”
The blameless Maple Parlor box was handed over with a forced si-san looked eminently satisfied as he accepted it and said:
”Ah, such good children I'lad you're so honest”
Then he suddenly patted theht back Honestly, how long had he been waiting by the gate? Either way, it was a devastating defeat for the fukuzahose actions had been coi-san
”Come on, come inside you two”
Naturally, Kashi+wagi-san wasn't going to dismiss them now that he'd received the fruit jellies He took Yuuki by the arravating, the way he calculated that Yuer brother's body would pull her in too
Once inside the gate, it felt a lot cooler than out on the road, due to the shade frorass, pine trees and other plants
The entrance was at the end of the stone path that went straight froh, so, in a word it looked like a ryokan, or maybe a traditional restaurant
”Come on Yumi-chan, you too”
”Pardon the intrusion”
”Ah, you don't have to take off your shoes”
Even if he said that, it was a basic courtesy
Yumi turned around to place her shoes off to the side Just as she was bending over, a voice suddenly came from behind her
”Welcome”
”Eek”
She barelyher head on the stone pavement She turned around in surprise and saw that an older lady had arrived at some point
”- !”
This tiain ju, white kimono-clad woman that had appeared in the dimly lit room
”My junior froh-school, fukuzawa-kun, and his older sister Yumi-san is Sacchan's junior”
They hastily bowed at Kashi+wagi-san's eloquent introduction I ”Is this Kashi+wagi-san'sto their conversation it looked as though that thought was incorrect
”Leave us be, Tomi I'll entertain them”
”Very well, as you wish”
So apparently she was neither a ghost, nor his h, at the moment, Yumi wasn't concerned about who that lady was
(Argh, I said, ”Eek” I said, ”Eek” What do I do?)
Yuh the hallway And Kashi+wagi-san was Kashi+wagi-san In herher as Sachiko-sama's junior, hadn't he troubled Sachiko-sai-san
”What's the matter, Yumi-chan? Your face is all red, is it too hot?”
He called out to her As though he hadn't heard her earlier squeal
”No, it's nice and cool”
Actually, the inside of the house was pleasantly cool Despite the traditional architecture, it also looked somewhat new
Just like the front gates, the interior was also as spacious as a ryokan Toand had rounds like a maze
Hoould they be able to get out of there on their ohen it carabbed hold of Yuuki's shi+rt He had a much better sense of direction
”While I don't have a probleht it inappropriate to bring a young lady in there”
Kashi+wagi-san said, leading them to a small, detached, traditional japanese-style room
”So it would be appropriate to take a young gentleman there?”
Yuo without comment
”Mht If Yuuki were here by himself, I suppose I'd take him to my room”
Kashi+wagi-san responded, s
”I wouldn't come here alone”
Yuuki scowled
”Don't say that, come any time I'll show you the utmost hospitality”
Even though it was just idle chatter, it i-san hadn't taken the joke as a joke Instead, he had taken her joke at face value
”Is this a tearoom?”
Yu a look around
”Yeah Ah, right I could prepare tea, if you'd like But it probably won't go with the fruit jellies”
”No, that's alright”
Yui-san had already started getting the tea ceremony utensils out
”It's a pain, so I'll use the hot water fro”
Don't copy The fukuzawa siblings looked at each other They'd never conducted a full-blown tea ceremony so far in their lives, and didn't intend to do so in the future either
”Come on, don't just stand there, have a seat”
At Kashi+wagi-san's urging, they sat down in the guests' seats Although they weren't really sure which seats in the tearoouests' seats, and which were the hosts' seats
Whush, whush, whush, whush
The sound of the tea whisk was soothing As she atching this, Yuht, ”The tea cerei-san stopped what he was doing, stood up and opened a small cupboard in the alcove
Surprisingly, it was refrigerated inside and Kashi+wagi-san took out ice and cold water before closing the door as though nothing had happened
”It's inelegant when you see it, right? But it would be most inconvenient if it wasn't there”
So that meant that an air-conditioner was probably hidden so her for a while now as to why the roo all closed off
Kashi+wagi-san poured the tea he'd just whisked into the glasses he'd put ice in, then diluted it ater
”Here, drink up”
The iced green-tea he offered theht she could have done without seeing hoas made
”Now then”
His hosting duties fulfilled, Kashi+wagi-san spoke sht for him
”What is it that you want me to do?”
As though he were asking, ”Which would you prefer, peach or pineapple?”
(- Ahh, really)
He's a cunning boy, that Kashi+wagi-san
”Hmm Is Sacchan's man-hatred really that serious?”
Kashi+wagi-san said, after listening to their su off one of the grape jellies
”Yeah”
Showing zero awareness of the cause of this malady Such a problematic person
”Then I suppose she won't be able to bear any children What will the Ogasawara family do, I wonder”
”Huh”
The comeback, ”You're worried about that?” immediately came to mind But more than that, asn't he concerned about Sachiko-sama's mental health? Yumi was utterly shocked that he was co that he really was ”that kind of man”
”Sacchan and I are grandfather Ogasawara's only grandchildren Well, he could have an illegitimate child that I'm not aware of somewhere In that case, it's a different story But, well, it's a trifling matter … ”
Hey, hey, should you really be trying to suppress a laugh while discussing a topic that serious? Yuuki opened hishis temper at that attitude
”Hey se to marry Sachiko-san?”
”Oh, Yukichi Feeling jealous?”
Kashi+wagi-san grinned effeminately Naturally, Yuuki just looked blatantly fed up with him
”It's always a party in your mind, isn't it? I worry for Sachiko-san”
”For Sacchan?”
”You should cancel the engagement if you can't make her happy Don't you feel sorry for her?”
Oh, well put, younger brother Yuave him a round of applause
”H to say So will you live up to your words and bring her happiness? It doesn't bother me, so if you bow your cute head and ask, I suppose I'll be forced to relinquish my precious Sacchan to you, Yukichi”
”H-how did you get that impression?”
He'd only been trying to protect Sachiko-sanation at being forcibly paired with her Naturally, Yuree with that idea either She loved her onee-sa the two become lovers was a bit hard to s She couldn't really understand her own feelings right now About all she could say was that so unpleasant, no matter hoas said
”Well, you and I are the only young h she's surprisingly good with older er kids that haven't started school yet”
Listening to this, Yui-san's exa the mark The men that Sachiko-sama was okay ere all completely out of the question, weren't they?
To begin with, the reason she was fine around Yuuki was probably because of the sense of security provided by his biological older sister In Kashi+wagi-san's case, his excessive charm, or rather her current disillusion him from someone she admired to just another relative Of course, she wouldn't hate the elderly or infants because she wouldn't see them as ”men”
”I would completely spoil Yukichi and Sacchan's children Ah, Yukichi Don't worry, I'd still take control of the Ogasawara Group So all you'd have to do is provide the kids, what do you say?”
There he goes again
Kashi+wagi-san could appear coh he iven priority entry into Hanadera University There's a fine line between genius and insanity, or so the saying goes
”So, that was it? All I have to do is take the h school student council around to the Ogasawara estate?”
”… That's e'd thought, but there's no need now”
Kashi+wagi-san see, but Yumi politely declined
”Oh, why not?”
”Because, we needed you to have the noble goal of ”providing your juniors with enough space” But since you live in a house this big, there's no reason for you to use the Ogasawara estate”
Sachiko-sama would obviously knohat sort of house her cousin lived in They'd be in trouble when she asked why he didn't just use his own house, because they'd have no good answer
”H”
Kashi+wagi-san seemed reen tea Following that, the sliding door silently opened
”Pardon me”
”Uwah”
Yuuki's voice was the first to rise in consternation And with good reason Even though the tearoo, there had been no sound of footsteps along the path, no sign of another human, no indication that the door was about to be opened whatsoever
”Welcome”
The politely bowing head slowly raised, and when Yulets like stiff springs belonged to -
”Touko-chan”
”Gokigenyou I thought it was you, Yus because I heard that one of Sachiko onee-saht it may have been you”