Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 Boxed Lunches and Red Bean Paste Buns The atmosphere in their classroom was practically giddy. Everyone was pretending to read their textbooks while staring ecstatically at the young man standing behind the lectern. It was, by now, an all-too-familiar scene. “Open your textbooks to page forty-eight—” The girls were extremely slow to respond to Sakuya’s instructions. It was obvious they weren’t paying much attention to their teacher’s lessons. With her textbook open to the correct page, Asana vacantly followed the strings of characters. It’s no good. I can’t focus. The injuries her father had inflicted on her the previous night hadn’t healed completely. She still felt dizzy, and she didn’t have any appetite, so she had hardly eaten any breakfast. The memory of the abuse was still fresh, and she still felt pain here and there. The ringing in her ears was dreadful, and it was difficult to breathe, and she felt completely disoriented. She felt ashamed of herself for getting so worked up over her desire to cancel her engagement to Sakuya. Asana was utterly powerless against her father and brother. She’d come to understand that a long time ago and accepted it. What if the professor is serious? What then? Without really knowing why, she raised her head and looked toward the lectern. She did not make eye contact with Sakuya. She always felt like the version of Sakuya who was her teacher and the version of him who was her fiancé were completely different people. As her fiancé, he had a straightforward way of looking at Asana. He was kind, and he had even argued head-on with her father and brother. On the other hand, as her teacher, Sakuya was cheerful yet distant. Asana was just another girl in his crowded class. Maybe because of that, when she looked at Sakuya standing behind his lectern, he seemed like a stranger. For some reason, that made her both relieved and lonely. It was an odd feeling. I wish what happened yesterday had just been a dream. Sakuya’s declaration that he would move into the Amamizu house hadn’t made her feel any better. In fact, she wished none of it had ever happened. “Professor!” Suddenly, just before class was over, one of the students raised her hand. It was Yoshii. She was a lively girl, who had a bit of a flirtatious side to her, but wasn’t really the type to say anything in class. It seemed like the whole classroom was holding its breath, wondering what on earth she was going to say. Even Asana, whose attention had been wandering, was surprised by this unusual occurrence, and she looked back and forth between Yoshii and Sakuya. “What is it?” Yoshii stood up with a twinkle in her eye. “Professor, to be honest, I’ve been studying on my own, and I just don’t understand this poem…” Sakuya left the lectern and went to stand beside Yoshii’s desk. With her cheeks flushed, Yoshii opened her notebook and showed it to Sakuya. “If you wouldn’t mind, could I ask you to read it for me?” “Ah, from the Kokin Wakashu anthology, is it?” Sakuya responded to Yoshii’s request by reading the poem out loud. “—‘The cuckoo sings, and the blooming ayame—sweet flags of summer—do not keep me on course; I am in love!’” Asana heard lots of sighs. Some girls flushed or looked like they might faint on the spot, a few started to cry, and others froze with their hands over their mouths. The temperature in the classroom suddenly rose from the body heat of all the girls. They were completely intoxicated by the love poem and Sakuya’s extremely charming voice, which was quiet but emotional. Even Asana found the troubles that had been distressing her up until then vanishing, and she forgot to breathe. …What a poem. Of all the things he could have read, it was a highly provocative poem, particularly to be read in front of a group of innocent young ladies. Sakuya had simply recited a single poem, and Asana’s cheeks were completely aflame. Sakuya himself returned to the lectern, as though he hadn’t interrupted the lesson, to deliver a very earnest explanation of the poem. “What you just heard was a poem by an unknown author, included in the eleventh volume of the Kokin Wakashu, the Collection of Poems Ancient and Modern, in the first book on the topic of love. The cuckoo is a bird that sings in the early summer and signals the start of the season, but it is often used in poems to represent feelings of love. And sweet flags are, as you all know, flowers that bloom in May, but at the same time, the word also signifies one’s overall sense of reason or a logical path.” Sakuya paused briefly and put on a smile with a hint of bitterness in it. “In other words, it’s a passionate love poem that contains a lamentation over how love can make one reckless.” Just as he finished his brief explanation, the bell rang to signal the end of class. “We’ll leave it there for today,” he concluded. Then he added quietly, “…It’s really wonderful to study on your own, but next time, please save any questions for after class.” As soon as Sakuya left the classroom, the class erupted like a taut thread that had been suddenly cut. “Professor Shigure is such a wicked man…” “I thought my heart had stopped.” “Me too. But even worse because my name is Ayame, like the flower in the poem, so I had to hear him say it when he was reading… It’s the first time in my life I’ve ever been happy to have this name.” “Oh, I’m so jealous! I want to try to get him to say my name, too.” The classroom was still buzzing with lingering excitement and agitation. Every girl there had words of high praise for Ayame Yoshii, the girl who prompted Sakuya to read the poem. “Yoshii, that was magnificent.” “I don’t know how you came up with something like that—what a plan! I’d given up already, since everything in the textbook’s so dull.” “Heh-heh-heh, you’re too kind, ladies… Ah, but—” Yoshii had a big grin on her face, but her eyes were directed toward one particular student—Kyouko Himori. “I’m sorry, Kyouko. I did something selfish without thinking.” “It’s fine. I don’t care.” Kyouko accepted Yoshii’s apology. She calmly tilted her head to the side just a bit and smiled. Her expression was as beautiful as an angel’s. Asana heard someone breathe a quiet sigh of admiration. But why is Yoshii apologizing to Kyouko? “What are you talking about?” Unable to grasp the reason, Asana directly asked Kyouko, whose seat was near hers, but one of their other classmates intervened to answer. “Oh, Amamizu, didn’t you know? Kyouko is engaged to Professor Shigure.” “…Huh?” Asana’s eyes widened in shock. Kyouko didn’t seem to pay Asana any heed but said to Yoshii bashfully, “If anything, it makes me even prouder, as his future wife, to know that all of you appreciate how cool Sakuya is.” Asana could not understand the words her smiling, rosy-cheeked classmate was saying. Did I mishear? Kyouko is going to marry the professor? She’d never once heard anything about that. She’d vaguely considered that maybe Kyouko had those kinds of feelings for Sakuya. But to hear they were engaged to be married— No matter how little Asana knew about the rumors going around, still… It was like a shock of cold water poured over her boiling heart, chilling her to the bone. “I’m so jealous of you. To think that you and Professor Shigure have vowed your futures to one another! That you get to gaze at his face every day and hear him call your name again and again.” “It just seems like a dreamy life, doesn’t it? Just imagining it!” “Oh, stop it, please. I said this earlier, but our families have simply had a relationship for a long time—that’s all. It’s only a verbal agreement.” At that point, Kyouko must have finally realized that Asana was having a strange reaction. She turned to face her and frowned apologetically. “Asana, I’m sorry. I wasn’t hiding it on purpose. The other day, when I went out with everyone, the conversation turned that way, and…” “Oh, no, I’m—I’m not…” I’m not interested in Professor Shigure. Previously, she would have been able to say it without hesitation. But now the words wouldn’t come out. It was as if her throat was blocked. Asana’s artificial smile started to falter. “Oh, yes, I feel kind of bad that I couldn’t participate in that conversation, but, Kyouko, you and the professor are a great match.” Asana said that as cheerfully as possible, and Kyouko looked relieved and reassured. “It makes me happier than anything to hear you say that, Asana.” Her chest hurt terribly. She suddenly felt a great gulf open up, separating her from the girl who was supposed to be her close friend. Asana wondered if she was being punished for not taking her friends up on their kindness when they had made every effort to get along with her. She felt like this was payback for the previous day. She was getting her just desserts. Because she had kept secrets and acted selfishly. And so—she had lost her chance to be with him forever. She had lost her opportunity to marry Sakuya. To Kyouko—a friend. The Shigure family and the Himori family. Both were old and honorable families that still wielded some influence. Those two families were a much better match for one another than the Amamizus, who were insignificant medicine peddlers. Even more so because the two families shared a long-standing connection. But that… If that’s a factor, too, then… She recalled seeing Sakuya walking alongside Kyouko. She remembered how very natural they looked, as if they belonged together. Asana and Sakuya could never become so familiar. She stroked her own rough cheek with a gloved hand. There was no springiness there. Her skin was nothing like Kyouko’s, which was smooth, pink, and soft-looking. If only he hadn’t offered for my hand, the professor could marry Kyouko, and I’m sure they would be happy. Kyouko’s a lovely girl everyone admires, and as her friend, I know that better than most. She knew that a person like Kyouko was well-suited for Sakuya. The noble daughter of an aristocrat, beautiful and intelligent, like a flower blooming in the sun, should be the one standing by the side of the princely young gentleman. Not a monster like herself. During her lunch break, Asana sat on the ridge of earth around the pond in the Mermaid’s Garden. It would have been fine for her to have lunch in the classroom, but there was something she couldn’t stand about being in that space, with the lingering suggestiveness in the air. Moreover, everyone was flattering Kyouko with talk of how she would be Sakuya’s future wife, and that was terribly uncomfortable for Asana, who was the person he was actually engaged to. Therefore, she had said she was going to the restroom and had covertly carried her lunch box out with her. At any rate, I don’t suppose Kyouko knows about the professor’s proposal. Asana racked her brain as she unwrapped her lunch box. It was a matter of fact that the Shigure family and the Himori family had been friendly with each other for a long time, and ever since she’d first heard Sakuya and Kyouko were close, Asana had been afraid that Kyouko might find out about their marriage arrangement someday. But there had been no sign she’d been told. Asana had considered that maybe Kyouko knew and was keeping quiet about it, but given what had happened that day, Asana now believed that wasn’t the case. She was sure her friend would not have acted like that if she knew the truth. “Which means that Kyouko really doesn’t know anything, does she?” If Kyouko had obliviously assumed she was the one who was going to marry Sakuya, that would make things even more painful for Asana. It meant she was torn between a marriage proposal and a friendship. But that’s not all. The odd feeling in her chest… She didn’t think it was something she wanted to dwell on. “What doesn’t she know?” Suddenly, there was a voice from behind Asana. When she turned around, she saw Sakuya emerging from the thicket of camellia trees. “Professor… Why are you here?” “Well, I peeked into the classroom earlier, and you weren’t there. I thought you might come here in the afternoons, too. There’s a little something I’d like to talk to you about.” He was carrying a small bundle in one hand. Brushing aside leaves and twigs, he took a seat beside Asana, leaving a fair amount of distance between them. This was the first time Sakuya had visited the Garden during lunchtime, rather than waiting until after school. “Don’t worry. I was meticulously careful to make sure that no one saw me coming here.” “Th-thank you.” “It would be awful if word of your secret place got out. So then, what does Kyouko not know?” Asana wondered how to answer. She hesitated, then gave up. Worrying over it alone wouldn’t get her anywhere. No matter how much time she spent thinking about something she didn’t know, she wouldn’t come up with any answers, and in this case, it was best to ask properly and make sure of the truth. “Um, Professor?” “Yes?” “…Is it true that you’ve promised to marry Kyouko Himori?” Asana asked her question timidly, and Sakuya looked shocked. “Where did you hear that?” Asana chose her words very carefully, so that Sakuya would not see how gloomy she was feeling. She told him that Kyouko had said she was promised to Sakuya. And that their classmates had accepted the fact as a matter of course. As soon as Asana finished talking, Sakuya frowned and let out a little sigh. “That girl. I can’t believe she’d say something like that…” Sakuya’s demeanor indicated that, rather than being a difficult subject, it was something he was already tired of. “To get straight to the point, that’s a misunderstanding. You are the only girl I’m going to marry. I’m not involved with Kyouko at all.” “A misunderstanding?” Asana was rather curious to know what kind of misunderstanding there had been, as she parroted his words back to him. Sakuya looked flustered and shook his head. “Really, there’s nothing for me to feel guilty about here. She’s just been clinging to me ever since I joined the Shigure household.” In short, many years earlier, a young Kyouko had appealed to Sakuya, asking him to marry her when she grew up, and he’d brushed her off with some vague answer. But now that promise to marry had become a reality in her mind, or something along those lines. Also, perhaps her mother and father had also said something to suggest that idea to their daughter. “So then, what about when you walked to school with Kyouko?” “You knew about that, huh…? I’m sorry. Look, it was just… I couldn’t refuse, and I thought that if I accompanied her once, she would be satisfied, so I went along with it, but I can see it made you feel bad.” “No, it wasn’t enough to make me feel bad or anything. I understand now that I’ve heard your side of the story.” “Hmm…it’s not that marriage never came up, you understand. Apparently, the Shigure and Himori households have had a connection for so long, it would make your head spin, and they have intermarried many times, too. Kyouko must have thought that if she attached herself to me, we might become a couple in the future.” Sakuya explained and shrugged. “Of course, I’m not interested at all,” he continued, “and I don’t remember treating her especially well, even though she clung to me, but… Anyway, I object to getting married for the convenience of the Shigure family, so…” Sakuya’s tone was uncharacteristically fierce, and Asana raised her eyes. She felt like she was only now getting a glimpse of his hatred for the Shigure family, but Sakuya was only wearing a troubled expression. He was probably having the bitter realization that, upon reflection, even though he himself might not remember being nice to her, from Kyouko’s perspective, he might have been nice enough. “But, Professor, what about the marriage talks about me?” You accepted the proposal, right? She almost said it but hesitated. Somehow, she felt it would sound like she was blaming him or being nasty. “The marriage talks with you are a different story. Those weren’t arranged by the Shigure family, but by my grandfather alone. That’s why I decided to accept. Though it might not feel very nice for you to hear me put it that way.” With a smile, Sakuya picked up on Asana’s unspoken words and answered them. Of course, she didn’t feel bad about it at all. Actually, it was the opposite, but— “…But it would have been better if you had turned it down.” Asana muttered her real thoughts on the matter and hung her head. She didn’t even feel like she could look at him. Anger, sadness, disappointment. Either that or an astonished laugh and bewilderment. Regardless of which expression was on his face, she could easily imagine how much it would hurt to see it. “Do you really hate the idea of getting married to me? Do you hate marriage, or me, or is it both?” “……” Asana was unable to answer. She sensed Sakuya suddenly stretch out his legs beside her. “Well, it’s fine. For now. It would be a waste not to enjoy our lunch when it’s so nice out here,” Sakuya said nonchalantly. He was already completely used to the place. “You’re right.” Asana nodded. The two of them stayed like that, in silence, discussing nothing. The Mermaid’s Garden felt especially pleasant. A gentle breeze blew through the Garden, causing the grove of camellia trees to rustle softly, picking up the coolness of the water in the pond, and refreshing them. The sunshine was still pleasantly gentle, a far cry from the intense heat of midsummer. Surely no one would have imagined that this spot had such a dark history. Asana opened the lid on her cypress lunch box. White rice with a pickled plum, a rolled omelet, sliced turnip in dressing, stewed butterbur, and other dishes were closely packed inside. Of course, it had been made by one of the servants of the Amamizus. The servants always acted indifferent to her, but their skills were undeniable. They prepared lunches like this one for her every day. They didn’t seem to hate looking after Asana. That was why she tried to thank them as often as possible when she had the chance. She peeked out of the corner of her eye at Sakuya’s meal and saw that he had a round wooden lunch box. Inside, it was packed with slightly misshapen rice balls and daikon radish pickles. Maybe because he sensed Asana’s gaze, Sakuya smiled wryly. The way he smoothly tucked the hair on the side of his face behind his ear was strangely alluring. “It’s embarrassing to have you looking so closely.” “Ah, s-sorry.” “No, it’s all right… It doesn’t look too nice compared to yours, does it? My mother isn’t that good at cooking, you see. But the flavor’s not bad.” Asana put her hand over her mouth in surprise. “My. Your mother makes your lunches?” “Yes. Right now, I’m not staying at the main residence of the Shigure family. I’m living in my mother’s house instead. There’s a servant girl there during the day as well, but my mother likes to do things herself.” His tone sounded exasperated, but the look in Sakuya’s eyes was very tender and loving, and Asana could feel the warmth there. No matter what his mouth said, his expression told her that Sakuya treasured his mother. She had heard Sakuya was an illegitimate child. Between the hatred he had just expressed toward the Shigure family and the fact that he cherished his mother, she could guess he had some complicated feelings toward his father, who had kept his mother as a mistress. “That’s really nice. A homemade lunch from your mother…” There wasn’t any other hidden meaning behind her words. Her honest opinion spontaneously fell from her mouth. But Sakuya looked away somewhat uncomfortably. “…Mm-hmm. I think I’m a very lucky guy. I’ve got my grandfather, my mother, and you.” “Ah, um, and me?” “Yes. You’ve been keeping me at a distance because you don’t want me to get involved with your family, right?” Asana gasped. She couldn’t believe her intentions had been revealed. Actually, now that he’d seen how Asana behaved and witnessed a scene like the one he had been privy to the previous day at the Amamizu house, it had probably been pretty easy for him to figure it out. However, she didn’t confirm it. Instead, Asana muttered, “Professor, I think you’re just being stubborn. I don’t need you to pity me. I’m just doing what my father and brother expect of me.” “That’s fine, even so. You know, I…” I’ve come to like spending time with you here. Sakuya looked at Asana, and she was sure she heard him say that. Those words penetrated Asana like no other words he had said to date, and she was happy. Because she felt the same way. For a little while, the two of them moved their chopsticks around in silence. However, it was not an awkward, uncomfortable silence. The sight and smell of the water and vegetation that filled the Mermaid’s Garden, the sound of the birds chirping, and the presence of her fiancé, who was seated beside her, brought Asana peace. “That was a good lunch.” Eventually, Sakuya, who had finished eating first, started to clean up his lunch things. Asana, who lagged behind, placed her palms together and also said, “I’m thankful for this wonderful lunch.” They hadn’t had a particularly lively conversation or anything. And yet, for some reason, Asana felt very satisfied and let out a sigh. Sometimes, when she was in the Garden alone, she felt like she was fading away. I want to become water— To become clear, beautiful water, and flow into the river, and then far, far away to who knows where, and ultimately merge into the ocean, becoming just one small drop in the vast sea. If that happened, no one would be able to perceive her anymore. Bound by nothing, no joy or sadness, just drifting through the ocean. Asana was certain she would be happy and content that way. She had the sensation that she were merging into the nature around her, as if that absurd wish of hers could actually come true, and she forgot all about the time. But when she was with Sakuya, she didn’t feel that way. Being with him had the opposite effect. It made her very aware that she had her feet planted firmly on the ground and that she existed in that moment. “Asana?” “Yes, what is it?” “Are you free today after school?” Asana looked up in response to his unexpected question. “Ah, sure…” Unfortunately, she didn’t have the freedom to go anywhere other than to and from school. Even if she did go somewhere, she knew she would be watched, and if she did anything unwarranted, she would certainly pay the price. “Great. In that case, I wonder if you would accompany me for a bit? I was thinking I might put myself in the care of your family starting today, but—” “Today?!” “Today. So I’d like to go ahead and buy the things I’ll need, at least. That’s why I want you to come shopping with me.” The sudden topic had Asana bewildered. She had not entirely believed that Sakuya was serious about moving in, and now he suddenly wanted to do it that very day. Even more than that—it was Sakuya’s decisiveness and initiative that surprised her. “Um, but I…can’t go walking around outside without asking…” An outing with Sakuya. It was a very appealing suggestion, but it would be terrible if her father found out. More than anything else, he was on high alert in case Asana tried to run away. Sakuya must have noticed her reluctance. “Even though you’ve got lookouts following you?” he asked. “You noticed?” The way Sakuya smoothly mentioned the guards was enough to startle Asana all over again. The guards monitoring Asana were masters at their trade. It was basically impossible for a layperson, who knew nothing about them, to detect their presence, and even Asana herself, who knew they were there, often had no idea where exactly they were. And yet Sakuya had picked up on them. “You’re really something, aren’t you, Professor?” She glanced upward at him with suspicion in her eyes. “Not at all,” he answered with a grin that contained something dark. “And even if my father-in-law hears about our outing from his watchmen, there are plenty of ways to explain it away. Particularly because the bride-price hasn’t been paid yet.” Sakuya chuckled, and Asana pursed her lips. She’d learned something surprising—that the intense expression a beautiful man made when he was scheming was truly stunning. Th-the professor has a surprisingly cunning side to him, doesn’t he…? Apparently, he wasn’t just a gorgeous and kind person. If that was the case, it was very reassuring, but… “Well, let’s get back. We don’t want the others to come looking for us.” At Sakuya’s urging, they walked toward the entrance to the Mermaid’s Garden. She didn’t feel the slightest bit of annoyance and melancholy she usually felt when it was time to go back to the classroom or head home. “Professor, thank you.” Sakuya did not turn around in response to Asana’s faint voice. He must have realized from the fact that she had lookouts following her that Asana had no freedom. That was why he was trying to take her out with him. Even if it was only temporary, while he didn’t yet know Asana’s true nature, his thoughtfulness made her happier than anything. She started to like that version of herself, the one who could feel happiness, just a bit. Their rendezvous point was a spot behind the deserted lecture hall. Asana headed there, being doubly, extra sure to avoid being seen by anyone, and waited for Sakuya’s arrival. She was nervous and unsettled, thinking about defying orders from her father and brother, about going out into town with Sakuya. At the same time, she was also anxious that her classmates might find out about them, and the more time she spent with Sakuya, the less she liked to think about what was to come. …I don’t suppose the professor will understand. She wondered what decision he would make once Asana told him she wanted to end the marriage arrangements. He might take pity on her and continue their relationship. Or he might listen to Asana’s wishes and retreat. Either way, once he knew about Asana’s physical condition, things would never be the same again. As she was standing there on her own, giving herself over to her gradually darkening thoughts, Sakuya appeared. It was still fairly early; the sun hadn’t even started to set. “Sorry to keep you waiting.” “Please, don’t worry. Is everything all right with work?” Just looking at Sakuya as he approached her brought Asana’s gloomy feelings to the forefront of her mind. She found her own worries naive and irritating. “Everything’s fine. Surprisingly fine. And I can take my work home with me, too, so… When I was living abroad, things would get troublesome in my research lab sometimes, and that was much more demanding.” “Research lab? Did you do some sort of research, Professor?” “Well, a little bit, yeah. Though I was more of an assistant. I looked after the belongings of visiting instructors, assembled documents, accompanied professors on field research, and the like. Teaching here is a completely different story—” Every word Sakuya said sparkled in her ears like a rare jewel she had never encountered before. A strange country. A strange culture. A strange lifestyle. Asana found herself wishing to hear more of his stories. About the past or the present. As long as he was talking, she wanted to hear it. A genuine smile spontaneously rose to her lips. “That sounds hard but also somewhat fun.” “…Mm-hmm, you’re right. It was fun.” Sakuya looked at Asana with a startled expression, then immediately broke into a broad smile and nodded. “Shall we go?” “Yes.” The flow of students leaving school had tapered off by the time the two of them surreptitiously left the school grounds. Though the place was filled with such great hustle and bustle during the day, in the evening, the only sound they could hear was their own footsteps. However, Asana was a little nervous about the possibility that someone might still be around and that she might be seen with Sakuya. It occurred to her that it might have been better to meet up outside of school. But if Asana had gone wandering on her own, she probably would have been stopped by one of her watchers. They made it to the edge of campus without incident and stepped out onto the road. She had already sent her escort car home before meeting up with Sakuya. The driver had made a sour expression as he commented on Asana’s recent selfish actions but hadn’t really scolded her. “It’s so lively…” Together, they went out on the main avenue and boarded a streetcar. Through the window of the car, Asana watched many people coming and going down the street as the townscape slowly flowed past. It had been a very long time since she’d ridden in a streetcar. The car was crowded. There were gentlemen in suits, stylish modern girls wearing skirts and hats decorated with flowers and ribbons, and men and women dressed in summery, single-layer kimonos. Asana, who had only gone back and forth between her home and school by private car for many years, was excited by the chaotic commotion and all the smells. She took a seat and intently peered out at the city while Sakuya, who stood holding a strap, observed her quietly. “You don’t come out to the city much?” “No… I can’t travel on my own like that. Whenever I leave the house, my father and brother get angry and follow me. It’s a miracle I’m allowed to go to school.” It wouldn’t have been surprising if they’d told the world she was sickly and kept her locked up at home like her great-aunt. But Asana was lucky. Because her father, Koutarou, thought having another sickly woman in the family after her great-aunt would cause a scandal, and he wanted to avoid that. He could have publicly announced Asana’s death instead, but apparently, Viscount Katsui’s interest in her had prevented that. As Asana understood it, the viscount loved to torment girls who had acquired some education, knew something of the world, and had minds of their own, to some extent. Her father had told her that proudly. In other words, regardless of how much education Asana received, it was just preparing her to become a rich man’s plaything. “—Let’s get off here.” When the streetcar stopped, Sakuya disembarked first and offered her his hand. Asana hesitantly took it and got off as well. They were closer to downtown than to the Yamate district, and the city there was much less refined. The streets were extremely messy. The shops, lined up eave to eave, and the banners standing out in front of them, as well as the clothing of the people around them, were all bright, flashy, and colorful. The designs were also unusual and unfamiliar. Just like when the whole city was filled with street stalls on festival days, everything she saw was vivid. Asana was overwhelmed by the peculiar liveliness of it all. She had never experienced anything like it at her girls’ school, which could get a little boisterous but was a fundamentally orderly place. She probably hadn’t been to this part of town since she was little, when she had still been able to go on outings with her family. She felt like this striking scene of the flourishing capital was completely different from how it had been in the past. “P-Professor, your hand.” Asana suddenly snapped back to herself and let go of his hand, which she had been holding for a few moments. Sakuya was staring at that hand with a very complex expression. “Ah…I just… Beg your pardon.” “Not at all.” “On that subject, I’ve been curious this whole time, but…your gloves—” Asana practically jumped out of her skin when the topic of her gloves abruptly came up. She quickly hid her hands, which were covered in the same lace gloves Sakuya had given her, behind her back. “Wh-what about my gloves?” “Ah, a long time ago, my mother had gloves just like those… I suddenly remembered that now.” “W-wow.” This was bad. In truth, there was nothing bad about it, but Asana was still breaking out in a cold sweat. It would be fine even if Sakuya remembered he had met Asana before a long time ago. That wasn’t a discussion that would cause any problems. But then why did she feel like she didn’t want him to find out? Is it because I’m embarrassed of myself for crying when I was younger? Or maybe it’s because I don’t know what kind of reaction I ought to have when he figures it out? She couldn’t sort out her thoughts and feelings, and it was making her panic. “If I remember correctly, I gave those gloves away.” Gazing off into empty space, Sakuya searched for the memory. Asana watched him, holding her breath. “That’s right—the day before that day…I gave them to a little girl. Which, I suppose, isn’t much of a story. Sorry, let’s go.” Ultimately, Sakuya seemed to give up on remembering, and Asana felt relieved. That had been a close call. But he had already arrived at the answer. It wouldn’t be strange if, at some point, he connected that “little girl” to Asana. Though it would at least be good if the marriage talks end before the professor remembers the whole incident. The two of them walked through town, looking around at the shops. Sakuya wasn’t buying anything major, just daily necessities like a toothbrush, a razor, and a Western-style hand towel. When she asked him about his clothes, he said he would bring several sets he already had packed. “As far as things like bedding and tableware, we have sets for guests to use at our house, so those should be fine, I think. We can also provide you with towels and the like…” Asana mumbled as she ran her thoughts through what items Sakuya would need to stay at her family’s house. “Thank you, Asana. Thank you for coming with me on my personal errands.” “Of course! I’m happy I can be of assistance to you, Professor.” Sakuya stiffly expressed his gratitude, and Asana shook her head fervently. She didn’t actually want Sakuya to come to the Amamizu house because she worried for his safety and because his presence would undoubtedly throw her heart into turmoil. On the other hand, Asana couldn’t suppress the ecstatic, soaring feeling she was having. If she had to compare it to something, it was like seeing a single wildflower blooming along a desolate path. Like a single ray of light in the darkness. That was the sensation. She very much understood she mustn’t get her hopes up, and yet— She knew she mustn’t hope for him to rescue her from her current circumstances or wish for him to take care of her. Because that would only bring him unhappiness. “I’m grateful to you for saying so.” “It’s the truth!” “In that case, I’m even more grateful.” They said so to one another, looked each other in the face, and simultaneously burst into laughter. Neither of them had said anything particularly funny, but the atmosphere between them was cheerful and friendly. Talking with Sakuya was the only thing that allowed Asana to forget the worries that burdened her. “Oh, I have an idea. Asana, do you like sweets? There’s a shop that makes delicious anpan up ahead. If you like, why don’t we stop in?” “Anpan…!” Asana’s eyes lit up when Sakuya said that word. She loved sweets. Candies and jellies alike. Japanese style and Western style. At home, they said that if she ate too many sweets, impurities would mix into her blood, and she rarely had the chance to enjoy any, so she had become even more obsessed with them. “I’d like to go. Very much.” “Great, let’s go, then.” “Okay. Do you like sweets, too, Professor?” Asana asked him on their way to the shop. Sakuya answered, “A normal amount. I like sweet things, and I like alcohol, too, though I don’t get drunk. I guess you could say I’m right in the middle, between having a sweet tooth and a taste for alcohol.” “I see. I can’t handle alcohol myself. A long time ago, I had a little taste, and I felt absolutely awful.” To make matters worse, she had been scolded and beaten severely. If she drank alcohol, the spirits would mix with her blood and ruin its purity, so they said she wasn’t taking the family business seriously enough and was making fools of them. Apparently, alcohol had more of an effect on the constitution of girls with mermaid’s blood than sugary desserts did, and ever since then, she’d been left with a bitter impression of alcohol, in more ways than one. “Ah, when I was young, I also couldn’t understand it when adults said nasty things like alcohol were good. That takes me back.” “Heh-heh, I can’t even imagine you when you were young, Professor.” “I was normal. Just a normal little brat who was as cheeky and cowardly and innocent as other kids.” Sakuya said this with a bright smile, but his tone was dismissive, and he shrugged. He seemed to feel at least a little bit helpless toward his childhood self. Asana could tell he had not been the son of a good family or had a happy childhood. As they proceeded straight down the street, sweet smells gradually began to waft through the air. Next, a number of small shops came into view, flying banners that advertised anpan, manjuu, or monaka. They arrived at a storefront made of dark brown wood. It looked like a profoundly old and venerable business. “We’re here. This is the place.” “I can tell they’re going to be delicious even before we go in.” Asana replied earnestly, and Sakuya chuckled heartily. “The boss would be happy to hear that— Good afternoon.” Sakuya lifted the curtain with one hand, opened the sliding door, and called out into the shop. When he did, an unfriendly-looking middle-aged man wearing a dark gray samue work outfit poked his head out from the back. “Yeah. What’s the—? Sakuya?” “Boss, it’s been too long.” “‘Too long’? Ya can say that again. I haven’t seen you for years!” The man—the boss—frowned deeply. However, there was nothing disagreeable in his attitude, and he didn’t seem to be upset with Sakuya. Most likely, he was simply trying to convey he had been worried about him. Sakuya smiled cheerfully, fully acknowledging his absence. “How long now… I think about three years? I was abroad.” “Eh, spare me the details. Who’s the girl?” The boss’s eyes turned toward Asana. The man had an imposing build and a sharp glint in his eye, and if she hadn’t known he was an acquaintance of Sakuya’s, she probably would have retreated from him on instinct. Asana put all her effort into a polite smile and bow. “Delighted to meet you, sir. My name is Asana Amamizu. Professor Shigure is my instructor in language arts at my academy.” “‘Professor Shigure,’ huh?” the man repeated inquiringly. “I’m currently teaching at Yotsuru Girls’ Academy.” When Sakuya offered his explanation to the boss, the man frowned even more. “No kiddin’, you’re a teacher now? Not my delicate little Sakuya!” “Cut it out. Despite how things may look, I’ve got a very good reputation, you know. Besides, it was my grandfather who arranged the teaching job for me. ‘If I leave you to your own devices, you’re liable to become one of those spoiled layabouts, and we can’t have that,’ he said.” “For sure, you would have, ha!” At last, the surly boss’s expression softened, and he cackled with laughter. Once their conversation reached a stopping place, Sakuya ordered two anpan buns. The boss grumbled his regrets that he didn’t have a fresh batch baked even though Sakuya had come to buy them after so long, but the round buns wrapped in white paper looked delicious even cold. “I’ll cut you a deal on the girl’s order. Just pay for yours, Sakuya,” the boss said, reverting to his former formidable expression as Sakuya pulled his wallet out of his pocket. At that point, Asana naturally interjected. “Oh, no, I’ll pay for my own.” “No need. I’ll pay for yours.” “But—” No matter how Sakuya tried to stop her, that was one thing she couldn’t stay silent about. It was only a small sum, but it wasn’t as if Asana went out without any money at all. “It’s my thanks for keeping me company today. And for lending me your umbrella before.” “My umbrella… But the whole reason for today’s errands is because of my family, right?” If there hadn’t been anything wrong with the Amamizu family in the first place, they could have gotten married first, and Sakuya would never have had to declare that he was moving in, and consequently, none of this shopping would have been necessary. If anything, it was only natural that Asana accompanied him on his shopping. “I told ya, just pay for your own, Sakuya. Don’t be a pain.” Sakuya did as the boss told him and paid only for his own bun, and then they left the shop. They had to go because it would have been inconvenient for the shop if they’d stood there quarreling over the bill all day. Asana had also expressed her gratitude to the boss, but for some reason, he had just given her some extremely exaggerated praise. “What a polite young lady you are, huh?” “Asana, the boss really took a liking to you, huh?” As soon as they left the shop, Sakuya nodded at her with a knowing look, and Asana was confused. “I only said the usual things, though…” “And I’m saying it’s good that you said them so naturally. Asana, you weren’t cowed by the boss’s rough exterior, and you gave him a proper greeting, right?” “That’s because he’s someone you trust, Professor.” There was a bench installed near the shop that was just right for their purposes. Asana and Sakuya sat there side by side. She bit off a mouthful of the anpan bun in her hands. “Oh, it’s delicious!” Inside the fluffy, slightly tangy bread was the smooth, sticky bean paste filling with its delicate sweetness. The two flavors mixed in her mouth to produce the most wonderful combination. Furthermore, as she continued eating, she encountered salted cherry blossoms that had been stuck right into the center of the bread. Their salty taste led to yet another delicious complement, one she would never tire of. She felt like she could have eaten a great number of them. “I’m glad. They are delicious, aren’t they, the boss’s anpan buns?” “Yes! This is the first time I’ve ever eaten something so tasty…” She understood why Sakuya had gone frequently enough to become friendly with the shop owner. If Asana had her freedom, she would have liked to go buy bread on her own. Bite by bite, she slowly savored her bun. Around the time Asana finished eating, she heard a stiff-sounding voice suddenly call out to Sakuya. “I thought I’d find you here.” “Shinsuke…” The young man who appeared looked to be about the same age as Sakuya. He was dressed in a three-piece suit without a single wrinkle in it, and his hair was combed into perfect order. He was tall and thin, and his features were handsome, but something about him gave off a very cold impression. From head to toe, he exuded a stubborn stiffness. The man, whom Sakuya had called Shinsuke, was looking directly at him. When Asana looked at Sakuya, on the other hand, he was grimacing and seemed somewhat uncomfortable. “You haven’t sent word once since I last saw you, so I figured something was going on and came to see for myself.” “Sorry… I was busy. There’s nothing to worry about.” “Looks like you’re pretty devoted to recreation, for someone who’s so busy.” He appeared to be an extremely disagreeable fellow. Asana almost glared at him. Wasn’t everyone entitled to go where they liked and do what they pleased? Even if this man was Sakuya’s friend, that didn’t give him the right to tell Sakuya what to do in his private life. Sakuya didn’t give him any answer, so a heavy silence just fell over them. However, Shinsuke didn’t seem deterred by the grave atmosphere, and he didn’t hesitate to continue. “I want to talk to you. It’s got to do with your future. How about after you’re done here?” Sakuya let out a deep sigh. “No can do. After this, I’m going with her to her house. I don’t have time to hang out with you. If you’ve got something to say, I’ll listen to it here.” “…I don’t want anyone else to hear it.” Shinsuke gave Asana a stern, piercing glance. It was obvious that he meant he didn’t want to talk in front of her. Asana got the hint and stood up. “I’ll step away, so please, feel free to talk.” “Sorry, Asana.” “Not at all. I wouldn’t want to be a hindrance to a gentleman’s conversation.” She bowed slightly and went to stand in a spot a short distance away. Sakuya gestured to Shinsuke, and they stepped into a shadowy alley between two shops. “So?” Sakuya asked Shinsuke. He couldn’t help that his tone was a little prickly. Shinsuke may have been a close friend, but the attitude he had taken toward Asana was unacceptable. Shinsuke laid his displeasure bare. “I couldn’t get a hold of you at all, so I desperately hunted you down, and you have an attitude? I thought you might be out playing the rake somewhere.” “What a terrible way to say it.” Sakuya shrugged dismissively, and the furrow in Shinsuke’s brow grew even deeper. “…That girl is Asana Amamizu, isn’t she? The Amamizu daughter.” “She is. And?” “I told you not to get deeply involved with her!” Ordinarily, Shinsuke was the very picture of unflappable, straitlaced reserve. But he had become uncharacteristically emotional. Sakuya quietly exhaled, rattled. “She’s not a bad girl.” “Be that as it may, the Amamizu house is as bad as they come. The more I look into this Mermaid’s Blood stuff, the more troubling facts come to light.” “…Shinsuke. I decided I’m going to stay at the Amamizu house for a while.” “Don’t be ridiculous!” Ridiculous was fine. Sakuya couldn’t abandon Asana. At first, it had just been because he’d been following his grandfather’s instructions and because he’d been curious about her supposed “destiny” with him, and that was all. But— Now that he had seen her smiling in the Mermaid’s Garden, now that he’d seen the girl whose mother had forgotten her existence and who suffered abuse from her father and brother— Before he knew it, he had found himself wishing she might one day be able to smile genuinely from the bottom of her heart and not force pathetic fake ones. It might have been because Sakuya’s life could have gone the same way. If he hadn’t had his grandfather and mother on his side, if he had simply been bound to the Shigure family, Sakuya also could have been in a similar position. Saving Asana would mean, in some sense, saving his past self. If what Shinsuke was saying was the truth, there was a thorny path ahead for her. It would be difficult for her to even achieve an ordinary sort of happiness. And the same went for Sakuya, who would be bound to her. Even if that was true, he could no longer simply let her go. “It’s not just because my grandfather said so. I’m sorry, but I’ve already made up my mind.” From Shinsuke’s perspective, Sakuya no doubt looked like an unbelievable fool. Anyone could see he was clearly an idiot, leaping directly into the fire. But since there was someone else who needed help in that fire, he figured it was all right to leap. “There’s got to be a limit to how credulous you can be.” “I think you would at least understand I’m not some easy mark.” “You just stumbled into an engagement with this girl, and now you’re ready to risk everything trying to rescue her. If that doesn’t make you an ‘easy mark,’ then I don’t know what does.” “…Fair point.” Sakuya himself didn’t really understand it. Shinsuke probably felt like his friend wasn’t taking it seriously enough. “You’ll regret this,” Shinsuke said through gritted teeth. “I think I’ll probably regret it more if I just cancel my marriage talks with her.” “Once they know your other side, you’ll be easy prey for them. You really intend to knowingly hand your money over to those villains?” “I’ll be very careful to make sure that doesn’t happen. And, of course, to make sure I don’t get dragged into any sort of wickedness.” When it came to money, Sakuya had more than he could possibly need already saved up, entirely independent of the Shigure family. He could pay the bride-price out of his own pocket, without needing to trouble his father’s side of the family, but he had no intention of letting it be misused. When Sakuya gave his flat answer, Shinsuke kept silent and averted his gaze. “I appreciate the fact that you’re worried about me,” Sakuya continued, “but I’ll take responsibility for the choices I’ve made, so I’m fine.” “…I didn’t want you to choose such a troublesome, difficult path,” Shinsuke mumbled feebly. Sakuya could see a slight redness in the corners of his friend’s eyes. He turned his back on Shinsuke and went back to Asana. Standing there alone, she looked extremely helpless and forlorn, and he regretted leaving her by herself, even for a little while. Asana was always smiling and acting courageously, so it was easy to forget and think she had it together despite her appearance. But the fact that Asana was always alone didn’t mean she liked it that way. “Sorry for the wait.” “Professor, that was quite fast.” The moment Sakuya called out to her, Asana’s face lit up, and she looked extremely charming, just like a girl her age should. “Let’s go.” “Are you sure it’s all right? He’s your friend, isn’t he? You ought to take your time and have more of a conversation… If you’re worried about me, I can make it home on my own.” “It’s fine. If we stay any longer, it will start getting late. He’s a friend, so he’ll understand, probably.” Sakuya wanted to change the present situation. So he resolved to do so. Come mermaids or Yaobikuni, he was going to change the Amamizu family, protect Asana, and prove Shinsuke’s fears were unfounded. All Sakuya had to do was put his mind to it.