That did not mean Airi was going to give up. Even if the connecting threads were short and thin, she would not give up while there was still hope. A little leak could sink a great ship. She was following what she had been taught at the Academy.
It meant she was going after Kanemitsu.
“Yoo-hoo!” He turned heel at the genial greeting and promptly tried to get away, but Airi seized him by his neck. “Hey, why are you running away?!”
“Because I know what you’re going to say!!” “Then do it.”
“Knock it off. How many times do I have to tell you, you can’t see Seto-sama!!”
“It doesn’t matter because I won’t listen!” “I’m just a warrior…on the lowest rung…”
“But you’re going to be her guide, aren’t you?!” Airi was not going to back down.
“Seto-sama isn’t my friend. I’m not in a position to say anything personal! Asking your dad would probably work better than asking me.”
“Don’t be unreasonable!” “You’re unreasonable!!”
This dispute, unable to reach a consensus, always came to an end with Kanemitsu making an escape. A few days later, Airi was sprawled in bed in her room, dejected, staring at a TV special of Seto’s welcoming reception.
She’d used every contact she could think of but hadn’t been granted an audience with Seto. However, when Seto’s schedule was displayed on screen, she noticed a possibility and leapt out of bed.
“Right here… I could see her!” Airi was confident, watching Seto quietly smiling on screen.
Among the Imperial Family of Jurai, the biggest territory in the universe, Seto was the top in ability and popularity. Her visit was more elaborate than expected, and accordingly, security was on high alert. Since it was known that Airi had been scheming to meet with Seto, surveillance was harsh. Airi could not even see Seto from afar, let alone get close to her.
The facilities for the philosophy department, including the Washu Memorial Hall, were the only possibilities where she could run into Seto. Airi was friends with the old philosopher working there and had a pass to the private passageways. It was easy for her to sneak in, evading the monitors keeping an eye out for her. She decided to try when Seto finished touring the gallery, and the reporters and spokespeople had left. It would be a grave understatement to call it a mere international incident if Airi was shown meeting Seto on live broadcast.
Seto was supposed to meet privately with the philosophers after the tour. She should have only a few guards. At a corner of the building, Airi changed into the raw silk outfit given to her by Yosho on her birthday (which could be used as formal dress in the Imperial Family) and headed towards the passage she expected Seto to take.
As expected, the bodyguards on duty only stared dumbfounded at Airi wearing Jurai Imperial clothes. Airi was the daughter of a state leader, after all. The only one who seemed amused by the situation was the old philosopher standing next to Seto.
Airi walked up to Seto and kneeled down. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Airi Magma; I served as guide for Masaki Yosho Jurai-sama. I understand I risk seeming rude in confronting you like this, but I wished to speak with you…” Her words trailed off. When she raised her face and looked at Seto’s eyes, the tremendous pressure from them paralyzed her.
Without altering her gentle expression, Seto gracefully knelt in the same way. It was Airi’s choice to kneel, but Seto determined that it would be bad optics for her to talk while looking down upon her. “Airi-dono, it’s extremely unfortunate that your country and Jurai are currently in a difficult situation. It would not be prudent for the daughter of the Airai head of state to speak with me in public like this. All of us on Jurai are deeply grateful for what you have done for Yosho-dono. I sincerely hope that diplomatic relations will improve and we will be able to meet in an official function. Excuse me.” With these brief words, she stood up and looked at the philosopher.
“This way.” As if nothing had happened, the old philosopher led Seto to a back room, and the dumbfounded guards also ignored Airi and followed them.
Tears flowing down cheeks flushed with embarrassment and mortification, Airi was wracked with sobs. More than being shown the difference in their stature, her heart was full of the feeling that she would never be able to see Yosho again. Airi fled the building.
“That was the demon princess of Jurai that I’ve heard so much about?” the old philosopher said theatrically as soon as they entered the room.
“You’re being rather suggestive. Is she one of your favorites?”
“Ha ha! Galaxy Academy students these days aren’t as interesting. Few of them would dare pull off a stunt like that… It’s unfortunate she lost. Well, she’s a bit wet behind the ears to be fighting over a man with you…or, shall I say, inexperienced.”
“Heh heh… Ha ha ha ha!!” Seto had desperately been trying to suppress laughter and could no longer hold back. “Did it seem that way to you, too? I thought so… It was so hard to keep from bursting out laughing.”
“Ha ha ha. Truly unfortunate. It would’ve been more fun if only Washu-sensei and Naja-sensei were here… Though I suppose it would be a nuisance to others.” Belying his words, the old philosopher spoke with delight.
“I hear you were their pupil. What were they like?”
“Oh, they toyed with us constantly. You knew it was trouble when they tacked a ‘-chan’ on to your name. And they knew very well they were doing it. When they called you that, you ran out of there, fast.”
“They were toying with you from there?”
“Oh, they went on the chase with delight. You didn’t know what they were going to do to you when they caught you, so we would do whatever we could to escape. But Washu-sensei and Naja-sensei knew all our tricks. The record was six hours, thirty-one minutes, and twelve seconds. We usually got caught within the hour.”
“Sounds like we’d get along…” Seto laughed with mixed feelings, knowing she had done similar things to Azusa and Yosho.
“Ha ha, I agree. Oh, can you guess how the record was made?” “Whether they were highly skilled, or… They do often say, it’s hardest to see what’s under your own nose.” Seto offered a likely answer from her own past experiences.
“Exactly! He had received the summons in his room and simply passed out from fear and anxiety.” Their laughter echoed in the room, but the old philosopher gradually grew glum and mumbled, “Naja-sensei passed away, and Washu-sensei is missing. Since they’ve been gone, the Galaxy Academy has grown bigger, with more people…but it’s also lonelier.”
Seto, looking at him, grew sad, and mumbled more to herself than others, “The fun never lasts forever…”