Chapter 18 (2/2)

“And we are inside that Shoujo Game, remember?” (Anna)

After done with their daily skit, the two then started to get down to the main topic.

“About Mizushima Obaa-sama, what do you think? (Tsubaki)

“This is just a guess but from the stories I heard around, the possibility for her to be a reincarnator is quite high.” (Anna)

“You think so as well, huh” (Tsubaki)

At the time Tsubaki heard the story about how her grandfather and grandmother fall in love with each other from her mother, Tsubaki had felt something was out of place.

Tsubaki didn’t buy the documents of Characters and the World Settings that were sold separately, so she only knows about the established background of each character from the time players press the Start Button.

Even at the start of the game, the other relatives she knows as a player that [Tsubaki] would have is Haruki, there was no introduction of the others [Tsubaki]’s relatives or family members.

However, she could feel that this [Koi Hana]’s world getting more and more steering off of the script from the [Koi Hana] she knew.

The one obvious difference was her mother, Yuriko.

The Yuriko that was introduced in the game was an arrogant and bigoted woman, a woman with an intense personality. The Yuriko she knows from the game wasn’t supposed to be a woman that could stir up the desire to protect from others, that should be impossible. However, that was what has happened.

Also, after putting together the information of her grandmother she heard from her mother, the answers always pointing toward her grandmother as a reincarnator.

By the way, the fiancee her grandfather pick for the first time was her grandmother, Yae. However, using sickness as the reason, Yae declines the engagement.

From the story Tsubaki hears later on at the time before the story about the engagement was brought up, it seems like Yae was sneak a peek of Tsubaki’s grandfather in a certain party. Because there’s a lot of attendees he doesn’t seem to notice it.

He was a son from that distinguished Mizushima house so of course she would take an interest in him, seems like that was what the others think from this.

Back to the story, there was probably where Yae noticed.

In [Koi Hana], there’s no introduction to Tsubaki’s grandfather. Also, her uncle and grandfather had the same looks and personality, if her uncle were getting much older she could imagine the splitting image of her uncle could have with her grandfather.

Tracing back a few years after the Game Start, it could be still the season for Tsubaki’s grandparents to take the main stage. And possibly, Yae also had noticed this as well.

That’s why, hearing that he have Mizushima as a surname, and a look that identical with Haruki, Yae then started to fully realize that she was inside the world of [Koi Hana]’s past.

And then after Yae declines her engagement with him and shortly after it was decided Mio’s grandmother as his fiancee, she met him by chance and they started falling in love with each other. That was the whole story of the beginning of Tsubaki’s grandparent’s romance.

However, Tsubaki believes it was not by chance, but on purpose. Still, whether it’s true or not it was unclear.

At first, Yae declines her engagement with him because she believes she would become that Tsubaki’s grandmother, however seeing that Mio’s grandmother had a similar personality with Tsubaki from [Koi Hana], perhaps here where she misunderstood that Mio’s grandmother was the real Tsubaki’s grandmother.

Children raised by an arrogant, bigoted and selfish woman would result in the child to have the same personality as their mother, and that child would become the mother of [Koi Hana]’s Tsubaki. This was probably what she thought.

It was also very likely that Yae started to act to change the future, not for Tsubaki, but Mio.

Tsubaki came to that conclusion because if she has a different grandmother, her mother would be different as well and she wouldn’t be born.

And then, since she was young, Yuriko always been taught to not be luxurious, always have sympathy for others, it is shameful to wishing for others belongings, and so on by Yae in hope she won’t turn out to be the Yuriko from [Koi Hana], and perhaps she also doing this while making sure Yuriko to not come in contact with Kurahashi.

About the personality of Mio’s grandmother, Tsubaki could only learn from the hearsay the servants of Mizushima know but, even though she was close to resembling the Tsubaki from [Koi Hana] in personality, she was just the typical prideful, rich woman, not like the one Yae had in mind.

The distorted personality that Mio’s mother had now probably the result of the discord between Yae and Mio’s grandmother. If so, Tsubaki could only think that Yae’s action was too thoughtless.

As long as the source of the distortion of the gear inside the Game’s story’s script was the person named Yae, it would be appropriate to think of her as a reincarnated person.

“The problem with Shuugetsu house getting more complicated probably because the time my grandparents getting married was off the mark with the game’s story, this is another assumption I can come up with.” (Tsubaki)

“I see. Although most of the settings and the story go just like in the game.” (Anna)

“I know right? Even with different personalities. Characters and background settings are still the same as the game’s settings.” (Tsubaki)

Even with a different course, the destination was still the same, the daughter of the legal wife and the daughter of the lover, the same settings as in the game. The only difference was Tsubaki’s mother is still alive.

However not by disease or accident, her mother’s death was caused by her own will. She still alive until now probably because Tsubaki succeeded in getting rid of the cause.

Although there’s no positive proof of her conjecture in this subject, Tsubaki prays only in this subject she was right.

With how the core of the game had started to change far away even before the Game starting point, the future could lead to anywhere at this point.

It is better to think that all of the game’s walkthrough of the capturable characters Tsubaki’s know of was already useless.

All she could do was to keep the basic information of each of the characters from the game’s walkthrough in mind and do the rest with her own power.

Fortunately, Tsubaki has Anna by her side. Knowing that she’s not alone means a lot to her.

Tsubaki’s grandmother had passed away way back before Yuriko met Kurahashi, and there’s no way for her to know what her grandmother had in mind.

No matter how it started, Tsubaki wanted to believe that her grandmother was a person that truly cares and loves her husband and her children.

And finally, the other matters that she has to consider, the junior high school and what to do after university.

If Mio growing up with no change in her personality, she would hold hostility toward Tsubaki and there is no way she would lend an ear to her.

Even if Tsubaki warn Mio for what has happened in this game world, it is highly possible that she would take that as a form of bullying.

And to break that deadlock, Tsubaki already had her eyes on a certain person.

That person was Toudou Chizuru.

A person with a strong sense of justice, and also someone who holds the reign of the biggest group in the entire school, even Mio will listen to what Toudou would say.

From a person who was an exemplary student of the Takamine Academy, and also thinks highly of the Takamine’s dignity, it is very likely someone like Mio would be the center of her attention.

Of course, Tsubaki wouldn’t leave all of it for Toudou to handle alone, she’s also planned to keep an eye on Mio.

However, if she said the same thing as Toudou to Mio, it would diminish the effect as a whole.

A well-bred person such as Toudou had never said any offensive sarcasm toward Tsubaki, she also never bully her.

Based on that, it is appropriate to think of her as a righteous person.

Tsubaki, who couldn’t think of a way to break the deadlock with Mio, at the first time she heard how belligerent and straight forward the words of Toudou was, she immediately know the one who was suitable to sit on the top is Toudou.

Also, because of that time quarrel she had with Toudou, Tsubaki reputation as a well behaved taciturn young lady who was afraid of strangers has fallen to an arrogant girl who never sees others as her equal.

Of course, Tsubaki never looks at her classmates like that. Her daily life as a rich young lady had only started for two years, she was afraid that if she made contact with a lot of people, her mask would slip off.

To prevent that from happening she always letting out “Don’t get close to me” aura. However, her surroundings were interpreted it differently and think she was looking down on them.

At first, she was thinking to solve the misunderstanding, but the existence of Toudou put that thought on halt.

If Toudou was recognized as just by others, then should there be someone who stands at the other side of just?

The eviler the villain is, the more justice would shine, is it? Where did I hear it again?

And if there’s a villain that easy to spot, that could also make the girls in our school more united, thought Tsubaki.

Fortunately, the students around Tsubaki hated her already, and she also had influence thanks to Kyousuke, the Mizushima house, and the Asahina house.

If she makes use of her influence and acts like a villainess in the school, by the time she argued with Mio, even if she gave sharp remarks and put a haughty attitude at Mio, the other students wouldn’t hold any suspicion and feelings of doubt at her attitude.

If she started now, by the time she goes into the junior high school, the other students would think it was the usual Tsubaki every time she gave a stern warning to Mio and overlook her behavior.

In addition, if she becomes the object of fear in the school, and make them believed Tsubaki would do anything and use everything she had in order to make people who offended her suffer, by the time Mio planning to do something to Kyousuke in a forceful way, the other students, especially Mio’s friends, would stop her for sure.

If Mio didn’t enroll in the Takamine Academy’s junior high school and had a change of heart, this topic would just be a needless worry. But seeing Mio’s mother’s personality like that, the possibility for that to happen was almost nil.

It would be better to think the worst of the worst possibility and be prepared for it, said Tsubaki to Anna.

Anna, who was quietly listened to what Tsubaki plans to do, let out a long sigh.

“There won’t be any benefit for you at all.” (Anna)

“There is. At least I can protect my mother’s daily peaceful life and Kyousuke’s happiness.” (Tsubaki)

“What about you?” (Anna)

Tsubaki could only gave a bitter smile to Anna.

She was willing to go this far because she’s happy already.

Blessed with kind parents and a cute little sister. Also, she had attractive looks and figures and a family with a high standing position in society. Even if added with the matters about Kurahashi it won’t become a minus.

If she wished for marriage, she could ask her father or her uncle to introduce her to someone for a marriage interview.

Tsubaki believes she had received more than what she could hope for.

So, what’s wrong with wanting to protect the people I truly care of?

“Well, I will act like an arrogant woman from here on out so of course, it would affect your school life as well.” (Tsubaki)

“Don’t worry about me, I can make a way out for myself.” (Anna)

“Indeed. You quite shrewd after all.” (Tsubaki)

“Don’t make fun of me.” (Anna)

Anna was probably showing her worries to Tsubaki in her way just now. No matter how many memories and experiences they had as an adult in their previous life, by no means it could be called enough.

Only God knows whether the decision Tsubaki made was right or wrong.

“I’m sorry, but I won’t change my mind. If you still want to stop me, then please sever our friendship right now.” (Tsubaki)

Heard what Tsubaki said, Anna could feel her unwavering will from it and started to make up her mind.

“In for a penny, in for a pound, huh. All I can do for you is just cover up you know?” (Anna)

“Don’t worry, I didn’t wish for you to fight together with me. Again, I’m sorry to rail you up with my selfish wish.” (Tsubaki)

“It’s okay.” (Anna)

Toward Anna who gave a reply reluctantly, Tsubaki was relieved and at the same time feel guilty for drag her into this.

If the Mio right now was the same Mio from [Koi Hana] and there wasn’t any discord between the Mizushima house and the Shuugetsu house, Tsubaki didn’t have any intention to stop her.

After all, she and Kyousuke would end up being together even without Tsubaki doing anything.

However the current Mio wasn’t the Mio from the game, but a reincarnated person. A reincarnated person with a big misunderstanding.

Also with the problem with the Shuugetsu house, in case Kyousuke choose Mio, the possibility they will start to butt in was very high.

Even if she says fight this, fight that, for Tsubaki peace is still number one.

However, Tsubaki can predict it won’t go easily like that considering Mio’s personality.

With her personality like that, she would likely tag along with Kyousuke no matter where he goes. To lighten up his burden, Tsubaki was intended to make sure she kept pissing Mio off to get her attention away from Kyousuke.

For now, let’s make full use of my infamous reputation to laid down the groundwork, shall we?