Chapter 113

“Ryouta, please do not say things that would embarrass our country,” Ouka warned him politely again. “In that case, please stop saying things that are practically begging for my commentary…” The conversation certainly sounded formal, but the subjects being discussed were so absurd that it was stressing Ryouta out. “Ah, yes. Would Your Majesty like to hear the national anthem of our new nation?” “I would be delighted.” “Would the staff please play the song?” Holy Sacred Blood Empire National Anthem Tomatomatomatomato Tomatomatomatomato Red like the sun Red like a mailbox Red like our blood Red like the sun (Spoken) But my face turns even redder when I’m with you Tomatomatomatomato Tomatomatomatomato Tomatomatomatomato Tomatomatomatomato “Why is there a spoken part?! It sounds so dumb! And you have red like the sun twice! Couldn’t you think of any more similes?! At least sing a little more about the country itself!” “Ryouta, do not nitpick other countries’ anthems.” “Minion, I would advise against irritating Her Majesty any further than you already have.” “Ouka, Shiren, can we stop with this joke now…? I’m suffocating…” Ryouta was truly alone with no one to help him. “Ah, yes. I have heard that Your Holy Majesty has been hard at work studying.” “I have. I often procrastinated in the past, but I have decided to put in a bit more effort. At present, I am studying Italian history.” “Italian history! Home of the Roman Empire—as a ruler, I believe that’s perfect. You will have a lot to learn from them. May I ask what sorts of things you’ve learned?” Ryouta was curious, too. Is she actually studying? If she is, that’s some amazing progress. Maybe she developed some self-awareness when she became emperor. “Long ago, there was the Roman Empire. Then there was the Renaissance. Now we have Italy. The end.” “That’s way too abbreviated!” Unsurprisingly, she hadn’t improved at all. “There has to be something between the Roman Empire and the Renaissance!” “Tomatoes, meat, onions, salami…” “That’s what you put between buns in a burger!” “I never thought I would hear the word Renaissance come out of my Shiren’s mouth… She has truly grown!” Sairi sounded almost moved. “Even elementary school kids know what the Renaissance is! Your standards are way too low!” “I was able to learn the word after writing it a hundred times in my notebook, Mom.” “It’s not something you need to work that hard to remember!” “I even know the difference between the Renaissance and a balsamic vinaigrette.” “How do you mix those two up?!” “My, I’ve developed quite the craving for pizza after all this talk about Italy. Excuse me, could I add on an order of pizza to our dinner? Large, please.” “Are you allowed to order a pizza during a full-course meal?!” Even Sairi was making sensational statements now. “If you can’t make it, then you may order one in. Oh, I’ll have a side of fried chicken, too.” “I’m begging you, please do not order a pizza delivery during a full-course meal! This is a diplomatic meeting between two nations!” “I’ll have the rest of the dishes in the meal, too, of course. As they say, there is always extra room for dessert.” “You didn’t order dessert! Pizza isn’t dessert!” Both mother and daughter were a little off their rocker, and Ryouta couldn’t help calling them out. As a result, he was the only one falling behind on his meal. “Oh, are you not hungry, minion? In that case, I will have what you do not eat.” “Shiren, you might be trying to sound polite, but you’re still trying to steal my food…” At last, Ryouta resumed eating, which gave him a chance to steal a look at Shiren. She’s been sounding different, but I think she’s still having fun… The emperor persona she’d been trying to force didn’t really suit her, but she didn’t seem too lonely or upset. In fact, after all the anxiety he’d suffered on the way here, Ryouta felt a little bit let down. Ouka also seemed keen on playing the part of emperor and had no intentions of treating Shiren as a younger sister. She didn’t have anything negative to say about the new Empire at all. The gathering was shaping up to be no more than what it was on the surface—a meal held between two nations. Is that it, then? If Shiren had accepted her new position, then that was a good thing. If he went up to someone he thought was happy and told them they were actually miserable, it would just make him a meddling busybody. I just wish we could’ve interacted like we used to. Why was she calling him “minion” anyway? She could just call him “Ryouta” like normal, couldn’t she? Shiren wasn’t letting any of their past relationship come to the surface at all. She wasn’t even calling Ouka “Big Sis.” But then Ouka wasn’t treating her like a sister, either. This might be a diplomatic function, but there’s no need for them to act like they’re not even related. Even Ryouta knew that was selfish of him, though. Happiness wasn’t a zero-sum game, where one person’s happiness came at the cost of someone else’s. Sometimes, you had to accept compromise and find contentment somewhere else. Please find your happiness, Shiren. And I’ll try my best as Ouka’s minion. Besides, there was nothing grim about the mood at the table. Even the executives from the order of the Virginal Father had started drinking and were growing tipsy. Time flew by, and soon, it was time for dessert—sweet tomato sorbet. It sounded like a weird dish, but it turned out to be a pretty standard dessert. I guess it’ll be over soon. Well, I guess if things are going this amicably between them, we’ll probably see each other again sometime… Ryouta decided to savor every bite as slowly as possible. He wanted to stay here as long as he could. He stole a glance at Shiren. At the same time, Shiren just happened to look at Ryouta. Oh— For the first time in a long while, she was meeting his eyes. But tragically, Ryouta had no idea what was going on in Shiren’s head. I’ve read manga where two people look at each other and know exactly how the other feels, but I guess it isn’t like that in reality… He wouldn’t know unless she told him. For the briefest moment, she smiled at him, but it was an emperor’s smile. There’s no way I could be of any help to a foreign nation’s ruler. Even if she asked, there’s nothing I can do… Ryouta, feeling unnecessary, slowly finished his sorbet. I guess we’ll be going home soon. The meeting had ended much too quickly. Why couldn’t he be satisfied that it’d gone smoothly? He didn’t have the words to explain how he felt. But then the chocolate cake arrived. “Right, there are two desserts. I guess that happens sometimes.” He decided to enjoy it, since it meant his time with Shiren had been extended. Five minutes later, plates of kuzumochi were brought out. Then came sesame dango. Then there was a serving of cheesecake. Then a massive chocolate parfait. “How many desserts are there?!” This was no longer the time to be lamenting their impending separation. “I coordinated the dessert menu.” Sairi raised her hand. “See, I was being considerate. I wanted to delay your good-byes for as long as possible. And they say there’s always more room for dessert.” “You came up with that excuse just now, didn’t you?! Besides, with this much dessert, I think we’ve more than filled that ‘extra room’!” A powerful negative aura washed over them from the next table over. “E-e-excuse me… I ate too much, and now I feel sick… Where might I find the washroom…? Bleh…” Tamaki was about to throw up again. “You look awful, Shijou!” “I figured I have no right to leave any leftovers, so I did what I could to eat everything, but I seem to be at my limit… I’m not often allowed to eat this much food…” “Wow, your homelife sounds depressing.” “I have a small stomach…and a small spirit… Hee-hee…” “Try to stay positive, okay?!” “Oh, but there’s still mango pudding and coconut milk to eat,” Sairi piped up. “She’s already full!” Ryouta yelled back. In the end, there were another five dishes before dessert was over. “Phew… I think we’re finally done…” All Ryouta had done was eat, but he still felt exhausted. “We will be returning to the Sacred Blood Empire, then. Your Holy Majesty, thank you for inviting us here today.” Ouka courteously gave her thanks to Shiren. “Ah, there’s one last thing I would like to address,” Shiren replied. She was both kind and dignified, befitting her position as emperor. The childish Shiren Ryouta used to know was nowhere to be seen. “Oh? What is it?” “Mom.” This time, Shiren turned to Sairi. “It was with your help that I became emperor and received the opportunity to act as the leader of many Sacred Blooded. I believe now we can work together amicably with the Sacred Blood Empire to protect our people. No words are enough to thank you.” “Oh my. You sound like a different person, Shiren.” If even Sairi felt the need to point that out, then what Shiren was saying must really be unnatural. “I’m certain that had I remained in the old Empire in Akinomiya, I would have stayed complacent and never learned anything. I am truly, truly thankful.” Sairi brought a hand to her mouth, moved by Shiren’s impeccable words of gratitude. “Which is why I think the Holy Sacred Blood Empire will be just fine in your hands.” “What?” A shocking revelation had been mixed in with Shiren’s words. She slowly bowed her head. “I will be defecting to the old Empire.” Sairi’s expression froze. There was still a smile on her face, but even Ryouta could see she had been blindsided. “What a strange thing to say, Shiren…” “It’s not strange. I am the emperor. I am the most powerful and most important person in this country. I should be allowed to leave.” Her tone of voice had shifted back to how Ryouta remembered it from before. A stir moved through the new Empire’s executives. “Shiren, if your work as emperor is too overwhelming, you can always take a break. Feel free to take it easy.” “I’m not taking a break. I’m going home.” Shiren turned to look at Ouka again. Her mouth was drawn in a tight, thin line. “If there’s something you want to say, then say it,” said Ouka. “Big Sis! I want to go back to the Empire! I was bored here after three days! I would have been fine just seeing my mom every once in a while!” At last, Shiren had admitted how she truly felt. “What on Earth are you saying? You said yourself you didn’t care if you never came back.” Ouka awkwardly looked away. “Ryouta’s my minion now… You can’t rewind time.” “I know. I’m not trying to. Ryouta’s your minion; he belongs to the ruler of the Sacred Blood Empire.” Relief washed over Ouka’s face. “But Ryouta was my minion once. You can’t change that, either. That’s all I need.” Shiren gave Ouka a genuine smile. There was a majesty about her that Ryouta had never seen before. “You can’t just keep going back and trying again, Shiren. Did you think the decision you made a month ago was just for fun?” When Shiren left the Sacred Blood Empire, Ouka had told her to steel her resolve. Everyone believed she had done just that. “I know.” “You don’t. It’s well within my right to reject the return of a former citizen, you know? All you did was announce your own defection. I never agreed to take you back.” “Sure. If I didn’t have any power, that’s probably how it would have turned out.” Shiren remained calm, despite the absurdity of her statement. “But I am asking you a favor, as emperor of the Holy Sacred Blood Empire.” Ouka, on the other hand, looked exasperated. Shiren wasn’t just rushing ahead like she’d always done before. She had readied her most powerful card to challenge Ouka. This was negotiation. This was diplomacy. “Big Sis, you said I didn’t have any do-overs, right? I’m not planning on doing anything over. I’ve learned so much here in the new Empire. I even learned that I can’t stay here forever. And that is why I’m making the choice to leave.” The Shiren in front of her now was most certainly different than the one Ouka had known before. She might as well have been someone else entirely. The old Shiren would have never said anything like this. Perhaps, in a way, she had grown. Maybe. “I was hoping to establish diplomatic relations with you, if possible. I want the rules for entering the Empire from the Holy Sacred Blood Empire—Japan, essentially—to be loosened in steps. Then I can see my mom. The Sacred Blooded seem to be reconciling. You can’t remain closed off forever, you know.” “You know you don’t have any real power, right…?” “Maybe not. But I am emperor. No one else in the Holy Sacred Blood Empire has Imperial blood like me. If I go over to your side, I should be worth using.” Ouka clicked her tongue. At some point, they’d found themselves sitting at the negotiation table. She’d never had any intention of allowing Shiren to come home. And yet Shiren was now staring back at her boldly. Not only that, but she’d also acknowledged that Ryouta was Ouka’s minion. After that, Ouka couldn’t turn around and say she didn’t want Shiren to come back. That would be admitting she was still terrified Shiren might take Ryouta away from her. And her pride would never allow her to say that out loud. “Very well. I’ll allow you to return. But…” The match was essentially set at that point. Ouka was much too kind to wield her power irrationally. She couldn’t keep abandoning her little sister like that. “What about you, Ryouta? Are you okay with this?” Shiren asked. “I’m just Ouka’s minion, so I’ll do what she says… You’d beat me up if I really said that, wouldn’t you?” For the first time, unease crossed Shiren’s face. Her expression was fragile, like she had given up on everything. When facing Ouka, she had used logic, pushing aside her feelings as she moved the conversation along. But she couldn’t do that with Ryouta. Even though she knew her own emotions, there was no way to tell what others felt. She didn’t know what Ryouta was thinking or feeling. “Shiren, I’m not your minion anymore. You’re not my master. I’m not wearing your collar.” He was only stating the obvious. So why did it hurt her heart so much to hear it? “If I had to, I’d say we’re…” Ryouta looked into Shiren’s frightened eyes. “…friends.” There was nothing about the word that warranted embarrassment. It was the perfect word to describe their relationship. “F-friends…” Shiren’s face flushed redder and redder in bashfulness. “Come on, then. I’m not serving you anymore, but I’ll help you as a friend.” Ryouta extended a hand. “It’s good to be home, Ryouta.” Shiren reached out to take it. Things weren’t going back to the way they were, but this wasn’t half-bad, either. But… “I won’t let that happen.” …Sairi’s stern voice stopped Shiren in her tracks. “The adult world runs on set schedules. I’m sorry, but I can’t allow this.” “Mom, I’ll be back. I’m just changing where I live.” “I don’t believe you! I can’t stand the thought of being apart from you again, Shiren!” Sairi yelled like a child. “I don’t know what will happen to you if we end up separated again… I left you behind, and then I didn’t see you for years… I don’t want to let you go ever again!” Sairi, too, was painfully acquainted with the agony of being apart from someone she loved. Of course she would be afraid of going through that again. And Shiren didn’t have the courage to ignore her. Because she understood. Her hand reaching out toward Ryouta’s came to a halt. Slowly, she turned to look at Sairi. There was a vague smile on her face. “I wasn’t sure how things were going to turn out, but I thought this might happen. I could…never leave you behind, Mom.” This is my limit, Shiren thought. If there was only one Shiren, she had to stay by her mother. “Thank you, Shiren…” Sairi slowly reached out toward her daughter. “I’m sorry, everyone,” Shiren spoke, her back to the old Empire side. “I’m not going with you. I can’t stay a child forever. I have to grow up. But I’ve told you how I felt. Please know that those feelings are genuine.” Her hand entwined with another. Ryouta’s. “What?” Her head whirled around. And there he was—her old minion. It was so sudden, no one understood what happened. Shiren looked to Ryouta with disbelief written all over her face. Earnest eyes stared straight back at her. “H-how rude of you, Ryouta… Wh-why are you being so self—?” “I can’t help it. You said you told us how you felt, right?” “Yeah, what about it…?” “You told us you wanted to come home with us. And so I acted.” “But I just said I can’t go back! You don’t understand anything!” Shiren was genuinely furious. She had been through so much pain because she couldn’t act on her feelings—did Ryouta not understand that? “I didn’t just hear the words you said with your mouth. I heard the words from your heart, too.” “What?” Ryouta gave a firm nod. “Your desperate desire to go home reached me. That’s my power as your minion—to feel my master’s feelings.” “Y-you don’t mean—” Shiren didn’t believe it at first. She didn’t think she’d ever managed to make Ryouta her minion, not fully. “So my legs moved on their own, and I grabbed your hand. That’s why I said I couldn’t help it. You called for me.” Ryouta gave her a brilliant smile. Shiren wished she could look away, but she couldn’t. “You said you’ve grown up, right, Shiren?” “Y-yes…” “But making a decision because someone told you what to do doesn’t sound very grown-up.” “…” “An adult would choose for herself how she wants to live. What do you want to do?” Shiren’s eyes widened. If she didn’t give the correct answer right now, history would only repeat itself.