Chapter 8 (1/2)
After her mother received the letter and left the house, Tsubaki was ambushed and dragged by her Etiquette teacher that came into the house through a different entrance.
At first it was Fumiko who should have been the one teaching her about etiquette, but Tsubaki never behaves and likes to mess about in front of Fumiko. Her demeanor and actions were too unlady-like so they hired in an Etiquette teacher from outside
But as a matter of fact, she wasn’t naughty though everyone around her perceives her as such. The only things that she have done that were deemed ‘naughty” was because she likes to climbing a tree, grip a vine and playing Tarzan, plucking some Akebia fruits that grows around the garden while inviting Kyousuke to come eat together.
Despite her carelessly playing Tarzan, even though she didn’t mind since she was technically a grown woman, others around her don’t see it like that. Her body was small and pretty nimble. Then there was a time when climbed up a tree and looked down upon Kyousuke, and his reaction was really a sight to see.
[O.. Oi! You can’t get down from there!? Wait there, I’ll go call Sega–… What the, DON’T JUMP DOWN!! Are you okay!? Any injuries somewhere!?]
After that matter, Kyousuke already sees Tsubaki as a girl that if left alone would only cause trouble so in order to prevent that, Kyousuke started sticking around her more.
The kindergarten Kyousuke attends to was generally filled with polite young girls so Kyousuke has never, ever met a girl who was as hyper and energetic as Tsubaki.
On the topic of kindergarten, Tsubaki was yet to attend one, and was not capable of attending one at the moment.
The reason being that is because of the divorce of her parents not being officially completed yet. They plan to enroll her in kindergarten only when her surname is changed to Mizushima.
Because there was still plenty of time before enrollment; from common sense, the name of things around, wordings, and the manners that the upper class society should maintain were being relentlessly beaten into Tsubaki.
The impression others have towards Tsubaki of Mizushima was a young girl who has never gone out before and was ignorant of the ways of the world. Her uncle and mother were worried whether she can communicate well with other children in the kindergarten by the time she were to enroll.
The Etiquette teacher was strictly teaching Tsubaki to first stop her way of addressing herself by her name but with [Watakushi].
Also, calling Kyousuke not with [Kyou-chan] but [Kyousuke-san].
It would be unnatural to suddenly change her way of speaking so she made sure to do the change slowly.
Currently, there were other things besides etiquette being teached to Tsubaki. Like tea ceremony, flower arrangement, piano, Koto, penmanship, swimming and English conversation. (TN: Koto is a Japanese traditional instrument. Just go Google it if you guys want to have a look at it.)
About Kyousuke, he was also being teached the same with the things mentioned above, the only difference being no Koto, and replace that with multi-language training and Violin.
We are so busy, even when we are still kids… Tsubaki cannot help but think of that.
After finishing her etiquette lesson, she had dinner and took bath. After bathing, she makes way for her bedroom. While on her way to her bedroom, she saw the door to her uncle’s room slowly being opened. Crouching down to meet Tsubaki’s height, Haruki pops his head out. After looking left and right to see no one was around, he gestures to Tsubaki to come closer.
Sensing that she would be given some troublesome task again, Tsubaki was reluctant to come but standing still too wouldn’t help with anything so she went into her uncle’s room.
“Oji-sama. What can I help you with?”
“No, it’s nothing big really.”
Your words aren’t really convincing though… Thought Tsubaki while looking at her uncle suspiciously.
“Well, that… I heard from Segawa that you are getting along with Kyousuke really well.”
“Yes. I and Kyousuke are really close.”
“Ah. You know about Kyousuke sending a letter to me, right?”
“Yes.”
Having heard Tsubaki’s affirmation, her uncle showed out a letter, that Tsubaki had passed to her mother this morning, from his briefcase and gave the letter to Tsubaki.
Looking at the letter closely, the seal hasn’t broken yet.
“Erm… Oji-sama, how can I help you with this letter?”
“Please read that in my stead.”
Read this by yourself! Tsubaki was really tempted to yell her uncle, but she reminded herself that she still a kid and calm herself.
“Erm… Why me?”
“… Please read that once and check if there are any negative words in it. And if there are any negative words please tell them honestly to me, even if I have to eat layers of Oblaat while hearing it.” (TN: Oblaat: A thin edible layer of starch that wraps some candies in Japan.)
Tsubaki was shocked to see her own uncle, who was the temporary leader of the Mizushima company, to suddenly become this weak-minded.
Although her uncle spoke with calm tone, he was shaking. And his fingers were somewhat shivering.
“I do not mind if it’s only this much, but if Kyousuke-san heard about this he will be angry.”
“Don’t worry, I will keep this a secret.”
Asked by her uncle, although she was reluctant, she broke the seal of the letter, unfolded the content that was neatly folded and looked at the paper.
There, she saw beautiful characters written neatly, even Tsubaki was impressed by the calligraphy skills. And what Kyousuke’s really wish to do and thought to his father.
It began with expressing his gratitude to his father for always doing his best at his job and also about how lonely he felt when his mother passed away, and his father keeping his distance away from him.
How he missed the day where they were eating breakfast together.
How he wished to go out together again sometimes.
How he wanted his father to touch and pat his head like how he does like before.
While Tsubaki was in the middle of conveying what was written in the letter as it is, her uncle looked downward. And sometimes Tsubaki heard sniffling sounds coming from her uncle.
After calming himself to some extent, Haruki asked Tsubaki with a nasally voice.
“Are there any negative words?”
“No. These are everything what was written in here.”
“… Thank you.”
Receiving the letter from Tsubaki, her uncle looked at the letter as if it was something precious.
“What an easy to read characters. To think he already remembered Kanji this much. Even though that child was once a crybaby before, children’s growth are really fast huh. I should have been there watching over his growth in her stead but… Really, what am I doing?”
Tsubaki was now assured that after seeing this parent deeply moved and smiling cheerfully by reading his son’s letter, Kyousuke and his father’s relationship will be finally fixed.
To her uncle who was still moved while looking at the letter, Tsubaki told her uncle that she has to sleep now and left the room.