Yosho was momentarily captivated by her expression, when in front of him were placed some delicious-smelling dishes. “Welcome, Airi. This must be the person from Jurai you were talking about. It took a whole month for you to bring him here? That’s not like you.” The middle-aged waitress laughed.
“No, this is the next guy.”
“My name is Masaki Yosho Jurai. Nice to meet you,” Yosho assessed that she was Airi’s acquaintance and stood to introduce himself.
“Well, well, what a polite fellow. My name is Karsa Igulier. I own this place. In any case, the Jurai in your name means…” “He’s the Crown Prince of Jurai.”
“So this must be his third day here. Wow…” She stared at Yosho, impressed, but placed the dishes deftly on the table without pause. This was Airi’s special place, to which she would not bring someone who had not learned her special brand of etiquette. It took an average of two weeks. Most students ran away before that.
Airi spoke to Yosho, who was staring at the food. “The dishes here should be palatable to most people. What do you think?” Galaxy Academy hosted students from diverse backgrounds. Each nationality had its own taste in cuisine, and the rare students who went home unable to get used to the food did so mainly due to religious restrictions, not a matter of being “picky.”
“Jurai was originally a multicultural nation, so I’m fine with cuisine from anywhere. I have no religious restrictions…”
“Okay, good.” Airi said, visibly relieved, and they began eating. The food here tasted better than what was served in the dorms and felt homier.
“Airi-dono, are you the guide for others besides me?” Yosho asked between bites.
“No, just you right now… Oh, are you asking about the other guy from Jurai?” Airi took a sip of her tea. “I gave him my opinion, and he put in a request for someone else. And I’ve heard nothing since. Well, that kind of thing happens a lot to me.”
“Is that so?” Yosho gazed at the chuckling Airi and figured the other Juraian was Amaki.
They continued to chat idly about their interests and hobbies, finished their meal, and rose to go to the cashier. “Yosho-kun, go on ahead. I’m going to pay the bill.”
“I asked you out today, so I should…”
“Don’t be silly. Students using government funds to study abroad shouldn’t spend frivolously. Paying with money you’re sponging off your parents doesn’t give me any satisfaction.”
“Aren’t you in the same boat?”
“I have a part-time job. So I got this.” She poked Yosho’s forehead lightly with her index finger.
As Crown Prince, he owned his own planet and paid the tuition from the generated income. If I told her it’s my own money…she would probably hit me. Airi would not accept that as earned income.
Airi paid the bill and walked over to Yosho, waiting by the entrance. “Sorry to keep you waiting… Let’s go.”
“Thank you for the meal.” “It’s no big deal.”
“May I ask a question?”
“What?”
“You said you had a job. Why? You’re not in a situation where you have no choice, are you?”
“To be able to speak my own mind, I guess…” “Your opinions?”
“And to have some freedom,” Airi said, looking up at the fading daylight. She did not show it in her face, but Yosho sensed a little sadness from her.
“Isn’t it hard to work while studying? And you’re also my guide…” “It’s no big deal once you get used to the workload. And you don’t require much fuss… But there is one problem.”
“What? What have I done to cause you trouble?”
“You’re such a good kid that I can’t work my frustrations out on you.” Airi clenched her fists and put them in the air like she’d done the first time they met at the space port.
“You seemed to have just done a lot of that at the park…” “Ha ha! That was not nearly enough.”
Hearing Airi’s joyful laugh, Yosho laughed in spite of himself. “Maybe I should get a job, too.”
“The quickest would be offering yourself up as an experimental subject.”
“Airi-dono, you’re not serious?!” He stopped in the street and stared at her.
“I’m not doing that. There’s no telling what they’d do to me here. I tutor elementary students. There are three of them…” She suddenly remembered, as she quickly checked the time on her watch. “Uh-oh, in fact, it’s almost time for that. I’m sorry, but I gotta go, Yosho-kun. I had fun today.”
“Good luck on your job.” They exchanged farewells and parted at the streetcar station.
Yosho saw the train off and felt a presence behind him. It was not malicious, but its focus was clearly directed at him. From the crowd, an elderly man slowly approached Yosho and reverently bowed his head. “Masaki Yosho Jurai-sama, I presume?”
“Yes. And you are?”
“I apologize for this sudden intrusion. My name is Hirata Kaneaki, butler to Amaki Kasen-sama. My master has ordered me to come get you.”
Yosho noticed that the man was not alone and had placed about ten people around him. If he were to refuse, they would resort to force. Not even ten men would be able to hold Yosho down; he was that powerful already.
They knew this, but their master’s orders were absolute. Yosho could imagine how this faithful-looking man would take the blame for not being able to execute the order, and he felt compelled to accept the offer. “All right, please take me there.”
The man who called himself Kaneaki was slightly taken aback at Yosho’s docile words. He had never expected the Crown Prince to accept such a rude invitation. A large landcar pulled up in front of them, and Kaneaki opened the door for Yosho.
The stars started twinkling as they drove northward on the highway; Yosho sat in the backseat and spoke to Kaneaki sitting across from him. His face had reminded him of Kanemitsu, whom he had met on his first day here. “Excuse me, but are you related to Hirata Kanemitsu-dono?”
“My apologies. I should have come clean with you first. Kanemitsu is my son. A couple of nights ago, he was extremely rude to you. What he did was entirely my responsibility…”
“Please don’t worry about it. I am but a student here, and he gave me advice and encouragement as my senpai. I am still inexperienced, so please tell him I would appreciate more direction from him in the future.” Yosho bowed deeply. He may have been Jurai Crown Prince, but even Kaneaki found it hard to believe that this was a twelve year old.
“I’m sorry I summoned you.” Amaki Kasen, surprisingly sturdily built, came out to greet them. He was about seventeen, with a nervous look in his eyes that belied his physique. He seemed polite on the surface, but he quickly and arrogantly sat down again. Kaneaki looked more surprised than Yosho at this patronizing behavior.
“You are dismissed,” Kasen ordered Kaneaki.
The old man standing next to Kasen noticed that Kaneaki was about to say something and held out his hand to reiterate the command to withdraw.
Kaneaki glanced at Yosho and left the room. The old man saw him off and bowed reverently to Yosho. “Yosho-sama. I am grand chamberlain of Amaki Kasen-sama; my name is Kazakami Seishu. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. On this occasion…”
“Enough. Let’s get started.” Kasen, irritated, haughtily leaned back in his seat.
“Of course… We had you come here today due to my master’s patriotism.”
He’s really going to make his chamberlain say everything? I see. No wonder Airi-dono didn’t like Kasen. He started to realize how ridiculous this was, so he cut to the chase. “I understand what Kasen-dono is trying to say. But I plan to ask Airi-dono to continue to be my guide.”
“Wh-what? She’s the daughter of a hostile enemy leader. She mocked and humiliated me!” Kasen stood and raised his voice.
Unperturbed, Yosho answered, “There may be conflict between believers of Airain and some Juraians, but it hasn’t developed into a hostile relationship yet.”
“They take advantage of us because of such weakness!”
“It’s forbidden to bring quarrels between nations to the Academy. We have gathered here to study. Where does that put the Academy, which provides us with this site? And people from various countries are here. Surely you’re aware of what they would think of anyone with no sense of decorum.” Yosho’s voice was clear, without faltering.
“B-but a Crown Prince on a woman’s leash is a national disgrace!
What kind of effect would that have on Jurai?”
“I am still inexperienced enough that I need guidance from others.
What kind of influence would I have? You shouldn’t worry about someone who’s not even allowed to attend the Supreme Council yet.”
“Then what about the Royal Trees? The Crown Prince, tricked by a woman, could turn against us with a First Generation Tree.”
What an absurd thing to say. Yosho could only laugh internally at Kasen’s obstinate offensive. “I appreciate your concern, but the Royal Trees are sentient. Under contract with Tsunami the progenitor, the Royal Trees were promised to entwine their fates with Jurai and would never grow hostile even under orders.”
“What about influence on Jurai? The First Empress will be placed in a difficult position.” Kasen targeted Yosho’s greatest weakness. This was probably his trump card, but Yosho was undaunted.