“I’m not stupid…” “What grade did you get on your last world-history test, then?” “Two percent.” “Your stupidity is of historic proportions.” “I mean, I was planning on living my entire life in the Sacred Blood Empire, so I didn’t think I needed to know any world history…” “And then you left everyone in the Empire behind.” “No, I didn’t!” Shiren retorted loudly. You don’t even know what kind of position I was in, she thought. “I didn’t have a choice! What else was I supposed to do?! This was the only way to make everyone happy!” She couldn’t leave Sairi by herself, and she couldn’t keep Ryouta from Ouka any longer. She felt guilty—she had already taken so much from her sister. “‘No other choice,’ huh? Doesn’t that mean this isn’t what you really want?” Shiren’s shoulders suddenly drooped. “It’s not fair to ask leading questions like that…” “That was not my intention; you merely revealed your true feelings. If I really wanted to draw the truth out of you, I would use the order’s truth serum.” “I guess it’s impossible to keep your feelings hidden forever…,” Shiren whimpered. She had been trying to play it off, but Kiyomizu saw right through her. “I had no idea it’d be so hard not being able to see everyone.” She couldn’t say a word of this to Sairi or any of the other important people in the organization, but she could be honest with Kiyomizu. She had everything in the new Empire—everything that could be obtained with money, at least. She could spoil herself rotten if she wanted. But her friends were all gone. “I mean, I knew it’d be lonely. But imagining it and actually feeling it are two entirely different things. I can’t believe how stupid I am, noticing only after it’s too late… Ryouta, Big Sis, Tamaki, Alfoncina, Sasara, Kokoko…” “You completely skipped over dearest Ryouta’s sister.” “Oh, Rei! I forgot about her! Sorry, Rei! I didn’t mean anything bad by it. I probably just skipped over my tutor because I don’t want to study. I didn’t forget anyone else, did I? …I think I’m safe…” Shiren was conscientious about the strangest things. “If I’d known at the beginning how tough it would be without everyone around, I might not have chosen this path…” But it was too late. Her only choice now was to live out her life in the Holy Sacred Blood Empire. “Or maybe that still wouldn’t have stopped me… Maybe nothing would have changed…” “What makes you say that?” “This is where my mom is.” It didn’t matter whether she found herself in heaven or hell after leaving the Sacred Blood Empire. Wherever Sairi was, that’s where she had to go. She couldn’t leave her mother alone, even if that meant she couldn’t take anyone else with her. Because otherwise, Sairi would be alone. Shiren was the only person on the planet who could save her. Ryouta might find happiness with Ouka, but no one could take Shiren’s place when it came to her mother. “Did your mother ever bother to contact you before, though? Even my own idiot of a father sends me a text every once in a while.” “Ryouta did everything he could to help me when I was alone, even though he got nothing out of it.” Shiren turned to look out the window. She had never noticed it before, but there was a point in the distance where the night lights abruptly grew sparse. Beyond that was darkness. At the edge of Oshiro lay the mountains—no one lived there. And even farther away was the old city of Akinomiya—the old Sacred Blood Empire. “So I felt like I had an obligation to help my mom, too. I’d be the worst person ever if I didn’t…” Putting it into words was helping her feel a little better. “I had to. This is my fate. I might be a bit lonely, but I’ll just have to endure. I’m not a kid anymore, you know. I’ll get through it, you’ll see.” Shiren’s expression finally relaxed. After all, Sairi would be hurt if she saw her daughter sad all the time. She would find the energy to keep going here. That was her mission. But— “You’re way more of an idiot than I thought,” Kiyomizu said, apparently disappointed. “Why?! Shouldn’t you compliment me for having my heart in the right place or something?! There’s no crying over spilled milk, so I’m not gonna cry!” Shiren was angry that her decision had been so easily denied. “If you’ve already decided for yourself that it’s all in the past, then there’s no helping you.” “But shouldn’t an adult know when to give up…? That’s the only thing you can do in the face of the impossible, right?” “You still have plenty of time to change your course, and giving up before you can even try is just running away from your problems.” “Whatever! I’ll do things my own—” “I can’t believe you’re the same woman who made Ryouta dearest her minion!” Shiren froze at Kiyomizu’s words. Her legs faltered, and she came to sit at the desk. Her mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out. “‘The impossible’? Do you not remember how many times he ran up against the impossible only to overcome it?” “Stop talking about Ryouta…” “No matter what happened, he never gave up. No matter how hard the battle, he kept trying. I am most certain we saw the same thing, didn’t we? Weren’t you always right by his side?” “……” “If Ryouta dearest gave up as easily as you have now, then you would have stayed alone forever! You are an idiot who never learns!” Kiyomizu slammed her hand onto the desk loud enough to echo in the room. Then she moved her hand away to reveal a piece of notebook paper. On the paper was a string of ten numbers. “That number connects to the office of an executive in your organization. If you ever want to go home, just give them a call and let them hear how you really feel. Regular phone calls from Japan don’t connect to the old Empire anymore, you see. You’ll have to seek help from Japan first.” “Have you wormed your way into the new Empire, too?” “That’s not for you to know. You just have to do what you can with what you have. Well, whether you do anything or not is entirely up to you.” Kiyomizu had begun to speak faster. It seemed like she was rapidly running out of time. Shiren silently picked up the piece of paper. Why did something so light feel so heavy? “But…if you don’t act fast, it really will be too late.” Kiyomizu, her expression still cold, turned to exit from the window. “Hey, this is the thirty-fifth floor… It’s a lot higher than the stage of Kiyomizu Temple, and the survival rate is probably a lot lower…” “The stage of Kiyomizu Temple? Such a trifle is hardly tall enough to serve the needs of the order of the Virginal Father’s elite.” That was all Kiyomizu said before vanishing from the balcony. With nothing to obstruct it, the night breeze now washed over Shiren. The air in Oshiro felt much colder than that of the old Empire, maybe because she was high up in a skyscraper. The wind was uncomfortably strong. The city below shone much brighter than any sight in her old home, but for some reason, it felt colder, bleaker. She had everything, yet she felt something lacking. No, it didn’t just feel like it—it was true. Something was missing. “I think it might take me a while to get used to this life…” How long would it take before that feeling went away? The thought scared her, and she didn’t want to think about it. “I’m really bad at using my brain… That’s why I don’t want to do the math…” Just then, she heard the door open. “I’m home, Shiren. Work’s finally over.” Sairi, dressed in a suit, stepped inside with a friendly look on her face. This was her home, too, of course. “You opened the window. Did something happen?” Sairi asked. “You look tired.” Sairi, on the other hand, seemed to radiate joy. She had built her own country and was now enjoying life with Shiren. Her expression was the exact opposite of her daughter’s. “It’s nothing important,” Shiren said, slowly shaking her head. “Are you sure? You can talk to me if something’s bothering you.” “I know, Mom.” But she could never tell her this. It wasn’t a desire Sairi could fulfill, after all. “I know this is so incredibly rude of me to ask, Ryouta, but there is something I have been wondering for quite a while now. If afterward you can’t forgive me, please feel free to punch or kick me. My third father often punched me… Oh, that’s right, I don’t need to call him Father anymore. Oh, I’m sorry, you don’t care about my personal life, do you? Not even the counselor at the help center was interested in that. I’m here to talk about you… Are you awake?” “……” “No answer. But you’re not a corpse, right…? No corpse could ever sit so naturally in a chair. Goodness, is this rigor mortis? Have you been poisoned? But no one has a grudge against you, unlike me. Actually, I don’t think anyone holds a grudge against me, either. After all, once they see my pitiful life, how could they begrudge me? I am powerless, and thus, I am harmless. So long as I don’t consider existence itself to be a punishment, I should be all right. Ha-ha-ha… More importantly, why were you killed…?” “Oh, Shijou? I’m alive, actually.” “I thought I heard a voice. But it could be an auditory hallucination. When we started to find ourselves strapped for money at the store, I often thought I heard customers, even though the store was supposedly empty. I could be having a relapse…” “You’re not hallucinating! Don’t worry!” “But you’ve been like an empty husk this whole time, so I was worried… Your eyes have gone blank ever since lunch.” Ryouta was vaguely aware that Tamaki was correct. Ever since Shiren left, he’d had a hard time focusing at school. He would absently listen to his classes, then suddenly find the day was over. He had a feeling things would change if Ouka talked to him, but ever since they’d told each other how they felt, she scarcely spoke to him in class, even though she sat right next to him. Just then, Ouka was debating with Sasara about how to create a system of government that would garner them more support the more they raised taxes. “I believe the people won’t feel that something is being taken from them if we provide them something tangible in exchange for the tax increase.” “They may stop feeling grateful after a while, but we might be able to trick them a few times. What do you propose we give them?” “I was thinking your used—” “All right, I know what the next word is, so you can stop right there. Now, I was considering approving a bill that would force a marriage between the Tatsunami and Toraha households.” “Oh, Lady Ouka, I am so sorry! Please forgive me!” “Then come up with a real idea. I don’t want to lose any more support.” “I doubt your support could fall any lower.” “The Tatsunami-Toraha Compulsory Marriage Bill—” “Please stop!” Sasara did not want that bill to become a law. “Well…I understand how important taxes are, but it appears you haven’t spoken to any nearby classmates in some time… Perhaps you should work on your interpersonal communication…” “Nearby classmates? Oh, I see what you mean.” Ouka’s gaze drifted to Ryouta, then returned to Sasara. “It’s fine. I can talk to him however much I like when we get home.” Ryouta heard her remark loud and clear. He was sitting right next to her, after all. We’ve basically been living together, so maybe she’s embarrassed… That makes perfect sense. When he thought about it logically, their current arrangement was outrageous for a pair of high schoolers. Some of their classmates were even starting to spread rumors. But though they lived together, their lives were very chaste and wholesome. They lived in the same apartment and slept in the same bed, but they kept to opposite sides. He was nervous, of course, and often found himself hyperaware of her presence, but that was it. They each knew how the other felt, but their relationship didn’t seem likely to progress beyond that. There was nothing to push them any further. But Ryouta was happy. He almost couldn’t believe he was living under the same roof as Ouka. I must keep spacing out because I’m so happy. I’ll just think of it that way… “You’re off in la-la land again, Ryouta. Oh, I’m sorry I keep talking to you. I don’t have any friends, so you’re the only one I can really talk to… I suppose I could just talk to a wall, though, couldn’t I? But it’s true I’m worried about you…” “Yeah, I guess.” “Is your brain even working…?” “Yeah, I guess.” “Then you wouldn’t mind if I sent you a thousand frozen jam rolls, right?” “Yeah, I guess.” “All right. I’ll put in an order.” The following day, Ryouta would be totally baffled when a thousand jam rolls arrived in the mail, but that’s another story for another time. Nothing much was going on in class. The day felt pretty laid-back, even putting aside Ryouta’s circumstances. But just then, a force from outside ripped that atmosphere to shreds. Come here, come here, I have something very important to tell you, so come here, come here, come here. They say seeing is believing, so come here, come, come, come. He heard a voice pleading profusely inside his head. Ryouta abruptly stood up from his seat. “Oh! Goodness, what is it? Have I spoken to you too much and now you’ve had enough of me? Y-you may hit me if you like, but I would rather you not leave any marks on my face, so please hit my arms or legs if you can… Oh, that’s not to say my face is particularly pretty or that injuring it would really change anything, ha-ha-ha…” Tamaki was always rather dispirited, but Ryouta’s sudden movement had startled her a little. “Sorry, Shijou. I need to go! Move! Watch out!” “Eep!” Ryouta pushed Tamaki aside as the invisible force pulled him forward, and he dashed out of the classroom. She had been in his way, and he wasn’t fully in control. “I’m really sorry, Shijou!” He glanced back at her as she fell on her rear and apologized. His legs didn’t seem like they were going to stop. “Oh, I’ve been punished… But I suppose I should be thankful it isn’t any worse… For an entire half an hour, my third father would… No, I shouldn’t speak ill of the dead. I should keep silent…” Ryouta could faintly hear Tamaki’s words—gloomy in both tone and content—as he rushed down the hallway. No one in class, however, was listening to her. The invisible force pushed—or rather, pulled—Ryouta all the way up the stairs and to the roof. “Huff, huff, huff… Could you be a little gentler calling me…?” Just as he’d thought, Alfoncina was waiting for him on the roof. She was leaning over the fence, gazing at the athletic fields below. For some reason, she was out of uniform and wearing the modified priestess outfit indicating her status as archbishop. “It seems a bit of my power remains within you~. Even though you’re now officially Ouka’s minion.” “It isn’t like our connection gets overwritten. Still, you really shouldn’t do this, because I am Ouka’s minion now.” “There’s no rule outlawing the summoning of those who aren’t our minions. On the contrary, I’d say this is proof that the connection between master and minion isn’t as firm as it should be.” “And that’s why I’m asking you to stop.” Ouka would not be happy if she found out. And if it soured her mood, the one who suffered the brunt of it would be Ryouta. They shared a room, after all. “Well~, to be honest, even I thought summoning you was going a bit too far. Tee-hee.” Ryouta couldn’t see Alfoncina’s expression, but he knew there was a bitter smile on her face. “Ouka’s in your class, though, so I wouldn’t be able to have a genuine chat with you there. I couldn’t say that one’s master should be fluid.” “What do you mean?” Alfoncina kept her gaze trained out toward the fields. It was easier for Ryouta to speak face-to-face. He was having a hard time reading her this way. “You don’t get it?” “I don’t.” “What I mean is that if you see someone you consider your master in trouble, you should help them.” Suddenly, Alfoncina whirled around to face him, grabbing both of his hands. Her palms were awfully warm, and the expression on her face was just as heated. “Uh, Alfoncina? What are you—?” “Ouka did all she could to make things go her way, didn’t she? But she can only push so far. Once two people settle into a relationship, no official minionship can do much to change that.” Alfoncina’s face was flushed. Heat was coursing through her blood vessels and spreading to every corner of her body. Ryouta could tell from where her hands were holding his. “You’re being really forward… Isn’t this kind of out of character for you?” “Perhaps. You may have seen similar comments about the recent chapters of YouRou IKou! It was supposed to be a fun comedy manga, but the characters are starting to get serious. Some people think I’m going too far.” Ryouta, too, was vaguely aware of this change in her manga. The switch-up in and of itself was kind of fun, but now things were going in a different direction than before. It was probably hard to accept for the fans who just wanted more low-key jokes and gags. “It happens. It’s kind of like when an author popular for their erotic manga starts up a new story with a serious narrative, and the fans keep asking to see more skin.” “Yes, I suppose that does happen. But in most cases, the author isn’t doing it simply to try something new.” “Oh?” For some reason, Alfoncina puffed out her chest with pride as she spoke. “Most times, that new work turns out to be the thing the creator actually wanted to create, to express—it might even be a reflection of their genuine feelings.” “I guess you really are a pro, Hayashimori,” Ryouta replied. “That makes total sense…” Ryouta leaned back a little as he looked at Alfoncina’s face. She was way too close to him. His impression of her was that she was always several paces away, grinning at him. But now she was very close, physically and emotionally. “I hope you’ll keep supporting Kin Hayashimori in the future.” “O-of course… I’ll keep reading the manga.” “But right now, I’m here as Alfoncina the Thirteenth, doing the archbishop’s job.” “Your job…? What, you mean bringing all the Sacred Blooded together…?” “To make my believers smile,” she said, beaming. “I wish I could live a more relaxed life, but sometimes, that’s just not in the cards.” She wasn’t being very specific, but Ryouta understood the gist of what she was trying to say. “I’m sure Shiren’s living a happy life out there, Alfoncina.” Shiren had chosen to live in a world with Sairi. He’d been reluctant to part with her, but he had to respect her decision. “After all, only Shiren can decide how she lives her life…” He could clearly see Alfoncina’s pupils shrink to pinpricks. She pinched the skin on his hands. “Owww! No violence, please! And how do you know just where to pinch so it really hurts?! No one else has ever caused me that much pain with a single pinch!” Alfoncina’s expression remained calm, as though she was in the middle of taking a test. “You don’t know how much it pains me to hurt you.” “That’s obviously not true… Whoa, wait, I remember seeing this in YouRou IKou!… Rouko did this to someone…” Rouko had pinched Kouko and said the exact same thing. Then Kouko had yelled, “Not as much as it pains me!” “You’re a real idiot, Ryouta. This is going way beyond a personality trait. You’re actually hurting people.” “What are you talking about…? And can you stop pinching me, please…?” “Did you see Shiren happy with your own two eyes?” “Well, no, but…” Alfoncina stared hard at him. “She’s not with the person most important to her—there’s no way she’s happy.” Her words were powerful enough to make him feel dizzy. “At least, we of the Holy Church of the Sacred Blood do not consider that to be happiness.” “But she has Sairi with her…” “Do you think that’s enough? Do you truly believe that?” “P-probably…” “Then I have one last question for you. Why have you been so spacey, Ryouta? Aren’t you happy with your life with Ouka? Then why? Are you trying to hide something and failing? Do you honestly think you can go on as you always have? I doubt there’s as much time left as you think there is. I’ve seen plenty of troubled people in my time as archbishop, and I know that if you don’t act fast, you’ll regret it later. People’s hearts are delicate things. And once they’ve shriveled, there’s no going back!” Alfoncina wasn’t asking questions anymore; she was simply spewing out her thoughts. And the shock of her words stirred up all the feelings in Ryouta’s heart. “…………I’m sorry, Alfoncina.” Everything he had tried to bury deep in his heart was bubbling to the surface. “But I still don’t know what to do… She’s so far away now… Literally.” The truth was that this boundary wouldn’t be easy to cross. Still, part of him was panicking—he couldn’t just leave things the way they were. And that panic was steadily growing, even if he didn’t notice it. “All right,” Alfoncina said, lightly patting Ryouta’s head. “You still have some time, so long as you’ve held on to your heart. Well, you have time, at least.” “Th-thank you…” “No need to thank me. And I’m sorry for disturbing you.” Alfoncina smiled and moved to leave the rooftop. But before she left, she turned toward him one last time. “Haah~. I really wish things would get rom-com-y again, like they used to be.” Her voice was too quiet to reach Ryouta. Still, she had said it out loud knowing full well he wouldn’t hear. “I wonder what he would’ve done if I’d said the wrong thing?” Alfoncina murmured, taking one step at a time down the stairs. “He really does have a thick skull.” At this point, she had no qualms or reservations saying how she felt about him. But she wasn’t about to throw yet another spanner in the works—and besides, she was the archbishop. So she kept quiet. “—I’ll just leave it at that.”
Chapter 108
20 min read