REIKA-SAMA -248

A weekend lunch with Aoi-chan and Sakura-chan today. They were waiting at the train station for me. I trot over to their side.


"Good morning, Sakura-chan, Aoi-chan!"


"Oh, Reika-chan!"


"Good morning, Reika."


We take each other's hands and be merry. It's been a while. Especially Aoi-chan.


"Were you well, Aoi-chan?" I had periodically spoken with Sakura-chan on the phone, and met when Akizawa-kun had other plans, but I hadn't seen Aoi-chan in months. Unlike us, who get accepted into our affiliated university as long as we maintain a certain grade, Aoi-chan goes to a public high school, so she has to study harder for the entrance exams, so she can't take as much time off. She's supposed to have supplemental classes tonight, also. "Aoi-chan, you look tired. Have you lost weight?"


"Really?"


"She was just telling me that on weekdays, she does nothing but study except to eat or take a bath."


"Eh!?" Real student have to study that much!? No wonder she looks tired… Are you all right, Aoi-chan?


"So how much do you study every day?"


"About 6 to 8 hours on a weekday outside of school. About 15 on the weekend including the supplemental classes."


"15 hours!?"


"That's normal. There are plenty who study more."


"What...!?" Spoiled little internal student like me can't imagine that amount of studying. 15 hours? I'd overheat and smoke would rise from my head… "Then was I imposing on you asking you here today?"


"No. I needed a breather." Aoi-chan… At least have a lot of delicious treats and pick up some nutrition.


We had reservations for lunch, and we were immediately led to the terrace seats. It's a comfortable time of the year, and the wind feels nice.


"We can do take-out for desert here."


"Seems like it. So, Sakura-chan, you wanted to do take-out?


"I thought about buying something for Takumi." Ah, they're getting along as usual. Good for them. "What's with that look?" Whoops. My jealousy was visible. I laugh it off.


"So how are things with your boyfriend, Aoi-chan?" I changed the subject.


"We can't do much until after the entrance exams."


"I see. That must feel lonely."


"Yes, but we do study together." I guess they're doing well also.


"And Reika?"


"…What?"


"You don't have anything to report?"


"…Not especially…" Don't believe that everyone's a member of Rejoicing in Love village!


"Oh, what happened to that master of the library you were talking about?"


"Master of the Library…" Naru-kun (fake name). "He quit coming to the library after his exams…"


"Huh? That's it?"


"Would there be something else?" I can only see him at the library, so I can't do anything if he quit coming. I occasionally go to see him, but… Ugh, now I want to see Naru-kun…


"Master of the Library? Is that the senpai at my school?" Aoi-chan asked hesitantly.


"Yes. You found out a lot for me before."


"Yes. Reika-chan… still liked him…"


"Liked…? More like on my mind. So Aoi-chan, do you have any more news about him?" How did he do on his exams? He probably passed, since he quit coming. Aoi-chan said that she'd help me.


"I'm not sure after he graduated, but…"


"Yes?"


Aoi-chan opened and closed her mouth several times. "Senpai, he seems to have a girlfriend…" I was struck by a hammer. Naru-kun had a girlfriend…


While I prostrated myself on the table, Sakura-chan asked, "Is that true?"


"Yes. He was taking pictures with her at graduation, and they were visiting the staff room together after they graduated."


"That doesn't mean they're going out."


"They were holding hands, and other senpai I knew said that they were."


",,,Oh, then that's settled."


Definitely… Naru-kun and this life's Naru-kun (fake) broke my heart twice…


He looked so much like Naru-kun… So nostalgic… I became excited. This isn't as bad as with Tomoe-senpai, but…


"Reika-chan, cheer up."


"Ugh…" The second time my heart's been broken in this life. The library meeting wasn't fated. "Does mutual love exist in this world…?"


"There is."


"There… might be."


Dang these Rejoicing in Love village members!


"Putting aside how you met in the library, did you ever try to talk to him?"


"Huh? No way." Can't happen. Wouldn't happen. How do you talk to someone you don't know? Won't they be suspicious? What if he looks at me funny? I wouldn't be able to recover.


"So you only watched."


"I sent brainwaves to look over here, but they didn't reach him."


"That's frightening."


"Call it refined or modest."


Sakura-chan snorted disdainfully at the sensitive maiden. "You knew what school he was attending. You could have gone to his school festival to approach him. What were you thinking?"


"But…" I pouted. I'd be embarrassed if he found out my feelings by going to the school festival.


"Reika… You're still dreaming that a prince on a white horse is coming for you."


"Huh?"


Sakura-chan gazed at me. "It's no good waiting for some prince that might never come. Get on your own white horse and go find that prince yourself! Show some spirit! You'll be an old lady waiting blankly for your wonderful prince. Are you fine with that?" I imagine an old lady with vertical rolled hair waiting for her prince, still stuck in Alone in Love village…


"…I don't ride well, so can you make it a white pony?" I promised to step out of my village. "But sergeant, I don't know where to look for this prince."


"Who are you calling sergeant?" I don't have a meeting or an encounter… "Isn't there someone at Zuiran?"


"No." Make it clear.


"Zuiran's boys are quite popular outside." But the ones I get along with all have somebody. Iinchou set. Iwamuro-kun set. I don't know others well enough. They all avoid me.


"That reminds me, Takumi said that when Reika walks the hall, it's like a noble's procession."


"What's that!? He said that about me!? That's terrible!"


"Is it true, Reika?"


"Of course not! A big lie!" That's no laughing matter, Sakura-chan! What do you mean noble's procession? Of course not. Every gives me the right of way, but they don't bow down to me! Though they don't look at me!


"Then why don't you look at other schools?"


"Other schools? How would I know them?"


"Haven't people introduced themselves?"


Introduced? What's that?


"How about with you, Sakura-chan?"


"My school's famous for its ojou-sama. We get plenty from boys' schools."


Really!?


"Doesn't it happen at Zuiran?"


"I've never heard of it." How would they introduce themselves? Sakura-chan answered from friends. What the heck?


"Aren't there friends as Zuiran who might introduce you to someone?"


Serika-chan and Kikuno-chan come to mind. "No." Make that clear. Everyone around me attends Zuiran 'School for Girls'.


"How about friends from other schools?"


Friend from other schools… I point at them.


"Huh? Us?!


I nod. Sakura-chan and Aoi-chan look at each other and mutter, "That's a little…" What?


"Sakura-chan said that you get plenty of invitations."


"I turn them all down for Takumi."


"Aoi-chan's in a co-ed school…"


"Everyone I know is busy studying for entrance exams, so I don't know anyone who'd have time for a mixer. Sorry."


See! Even if I'm prepared to leave the village on my white pony, I have no idea where to look for my prince! I start to gorge on pasta.


"You're in a co-ed school. If you could just find somebody like Aoi-chan did."


"So I'm unpopular."


"I didn't say that."


I sulked at not being able to take advantage of the co-ed status.


"Reika doesn't have a bad personality. You're just a little different."


"I can't tell if you're praising me or dissing me."


"Reika-chan is cheerful, and has a nice personality, a really good person." Thank you, Aoi-chan.


"Then why?" Sakura-chan stared at my face. "… You think I'm ugly?" That's terrible.


"I didn't say that."


"It's okay. Just say it. Say it."


"Quit being perverse. You're not ugly. You're rather comely. It's just…"


"Just…?"


Sakura-chan groaned after gazing at me. "Your face is outdated."


Outdated face! Nobody's ever said that! Outdated face! What's an outdated face!?


"Reika-chan is too refined to be seen as a teenager," assisted Aoi-chan.


"Outdated face…" Now that I think about it, my face looks like it's from an old painting…


"Reika-chan, be strong!"


"Reika, sorry. I didn't mean it like that." Even Sakura-chan apologized seeing my trauma. "Like Aoi-chan said, you looks to refined to be seen as a high school student. Not just your face, but your hair and clothes. So boys can't simply approach."


…That does remind me… Walking around outside, there aren't high school kids like me. A high school girl with gorgeous vertically curled hair. "Maybe I should get a tan." If I get a tan, maybe I'll look more lively.


"You shouldn't," Sakura-chan stopped me. "A fair complexion hides all faults. It'll cover up your problems, so Reika, you should keep that skin color."


Wait!? Are you saying I have problems that need to be hidden!? How insulting! What are my problems? Plumpness around the abs… A slightly high sitting height… And my outdated face… I hold my chest in pain, and Aoi-chan comforts me, rubbing my back. Reality is harsh, Aoi-chan…


We wrapped up lunch, and after bidding farewell to Aoi-chan heading to her class, Sakura-chan and I went around shopping. I looked at casual clothing fitting for high school girls, but I couldn't imagine wearing them with my hair.


I came home to find Imari-sama.


"Welcome home, Reika-chan."


"Welcome back, Reika."


"I'm home. Gokigen yoh, Imari-sama."


Imari-sama got up and took my hand with a smile and lead me to the sofa. "Where did you go today?"


"Lunch with friends."


"Was it fun?"


"Yes."


"That's good."


And I noticed I was sitting next to Imari-sama. Once again, I'm a guest at CLUB KISSHOUIN.


"You've been here often recently."


"Am I in Reika-chan's way being here?" He puts on a sad face.


"No. Not at all. Imari-sama is welcome at any time. I just thought you'd have your schedule full on the weekend with women."


"You think of me like that!?"


Sorry. I can only think of you like that.


"I just needed to discuss something with your brother?"


"Discuss?"


"You want to know?" He moved near me with a smile. A dart flew at him. "Hey! That's dangerous! What if Reika-chan got hit!"


"Then hurry up and get away from her."


More darts are flung at Imari-sama. I flee to the safest location, next to Onii-sama. As expected of the former archery team captain, he doesn't miss his mark even with darts. Imari-sama blocks with a magazine he picked up from nearby.


When things settled down, I asked the two, "Do you believe that I appear outdated?"


"Outdated?"


"What is this about?"


"I felt that I didn't feel like the present." Onii-sama doesn't chase fashion either, but his dignified appearance doesn't seem outdated at all. What's this difference between siblings? They both denied to me.


"Reika-chan is lovely like a maiden in a Sophie Anderson paiting."


"Oh!?" Imari-sama thinks that I'm that cute? That makes me happy. He really is Number 1 at CLUB KISSHOUIN!


Seeing me blush and holding my cheeks, an expressionless Onni-sama picked up another dart. But if I think about it, isn't a maiden from a century old painting really outdated?

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