Chapter 24.2
“… There’s no merit for you, right?”
Tomotaksenpai’s deep blue eyes look at me motionlessly .
I return a chuckle to that .
“Merit, is it? … Let’s see, Chako won’t be able to move forward if any one person is left behind . ”
Because Chako’s kind .
I’ve a feeling she’ll stay behind with that person if anyone is left behind .
“Therefore, I shall have Kousuke-kun and sensei move forward first . ”
If Kousuke-kun lives every day happily .
If sensei, with the same eyes as Chako, looks at the distant future .
If the two of them move forward .
That will surely shake Chako’s heart .
“The merit of saving them is――swaying Chako . ”
Chako’s quick to hide her heart .
Surely, this much is just right .
When I declare that, Yuusei-kun looks at me with a sigh .
His brows knit… but he smiles softly .
“Naba’s always all about Chako . ”
“Un . That’s right . ”
Hearing my reply, Yuusei-kun snorts .
Then, with a meaningful smirk, he looks at Tomotaksenpai .
“In the first place, this became so cumbersome because Kamo made Chako a familiar . ”
“… Aa . ”
Tomotaksenpai’s eyes close momentarily at Yuusei-kun’s words before nodding .
That’s right . It definitely became this cumbersome because of Tomotaksenpai .
Things may be able to move forward more easily if Chako isn’t a familiar .
However .
“… Chako won’t be here if senpai didn’t bring her . ”
Yes .
Chako won’t come to this school if she isn’t Tomotaksenpai’s familiar .
“I won’t meet Chako . If so, I don’t think I’ll get along with everyone like this . ”
I’ll talk to Kousuke-kun only as classmates .
Tomotaksenpai will be a senior from Student Council .
Sensei will just be the homeroom teacher of the neighboring class .
I may not even talk to Yuusei-kun, and probably won’t know about Tomoyuki-san .
And I’m likely to live being protected by Tomotaksenpai and Yuusei-kun without knowing I’m the Priestess of Ominous Clouds .
“I’m, glad I met Chako . Every day is fun now… I’m happy to talk like this with Tomotaksenpai, and I don’t dislike whacking Yuusei-kun on the back . ”
When I look at Tomotaksenpai with a smile, his brows knit as though he’s troubled .
Yuusei-kun goes “Ah” and scratches his own head, giving a small sigh .
“… Whatever, it’s okay if you’re okay with it . ”
Muttering just that, he glances at Tomotaksenpai .
“But, is it alright? The Kamo young master cooperating to save phantoms . ”
“… Aa . ”
“I was surprised you’d save the Kuo siblings . Aren’t you and the older Kuo like cats and dogs?”
Yuusei-kun’s brows knit .
Tomotaksenpai gives a vague smile to that .
“As part of the Kamo family, yes… But, being told so directly moved me a little . ”
”It can’t be helped” Tomotaksenpai’s eyes narrow gently .
… Tomotaksenpai’s probably talking about Kousuke-kun .
Certainly, one can’t disregard it when good will is turned to them so frankly .
Because Kousuke-kun and Tomotaksenpai’s problems are similar .
“Well, it’s alright if it’s not found out, right?”
Tomotaksenpai gives a small laugh .
“I won’t act on the surface . So there’s no need to tell him and the fox about me… Because it’s troublesome to confront the head family . ”
In short, Tomotaksenpai’s saying “Don’t tell them I’m involved” .
Even though Kousuke-kun and sensei will understand and keep quiet if explained to clearly .
“… Riajuu have their troubles too, huh . ”
Yuusei-kun’s words spill in a mutter .
Tomotaksenpai react to those words with his brow slightly raised .
“I thought since before but, riajuu means leading a fulfilling (juujitsu) real life (riaru) right? I don’t think I am . ”
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“Isn’t it fulfilling? Changing women since middle school . Even now, you’re the popular Student Council President-sama, yeah?”
“Ah… During middle school, huh . ”
When Yuusei-kun spat the words with a tsk, Tomotaksenpai goes “I see” and nods .
“That time, my fiancée was about to be decided . It was quite troubling . ”
“Fiancée?” [Yui]
“Aa . ”
Surprised at such abrupt words, I look at Tomotaksenpai .
Tomotaksenpai nods casually even after looking at such a face of mine .
As though to say, it’s natural .
“Are fiancées something decided since middle school?”
“Pretty much . ”
“… Yeah, for better or worse, we’re from rich families . ”
Yuusei-kun says uncomfortably while scratching his head with his right hand .
I look at such a two alternately and nod with understanding .
“Senpai and Yuusei-kun have a lot going on, huh . ”
From this conversation, it seems they don’t choose their fiancées from their own will .
They can’t freely do things like love with their fiancées decided since middle school .
Tomotaksenpai and Yuusei-kun are living in such a world .
Unable to say a thing, I close my eyes . Yuusei-kun groans and fires words .
“… Did you pretend to be a womanizer so the other party will reject you?”
“Who knows?”
With a smile, Tomotaksenpai sleekly dodges the glaring Yuusei-kun .
Yuusei-kun seems to have understood everything from that smile . He heaves a huge sigh and clench his molars .
“Now you understand I’m not a riajuu, right? Student Council President, so what if I’m in that position? My power as an onmyouji is far from yours . In the end, I’m just a competent onmyouji . ”
Tomotaksenpai speaks of himself casually .
Yuusei-kun listens to his words with his brows knitted .
“My bad… I misunderstood you . ”
And, with a low voice, but firmly, Yuusei-kun conveys to Tomotaksenpai .
Tomotaksenpai’s eyes fly open in surprise at such a Yuusei-kun’s words .
“Similarly born in distinguished families, we should’ve been similar on those[1] grounds, but I thought you were living better . ”
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Yuusei-kun glances at Tomotaksenpai, and immediately averts his eyes .
He mutters quietly with a small sigh .
“… I was envious of you . ”
He chews his lips .
“I’m strong . Unmistakably… But, the person standing at the top of onmyoujis and putting the organisation in order should be someone like you, I thought . ”
Yuusei-kun’s words continue painfully .
“Because strength is all I have… Unlike you . ”
Yuusei-kun’s words probably never even crossed Tomotaksenpai’s mind .
His eyes widen, the word “Impossible” distinctly floating up his face .
Then, he slowly fires words towards Yuusei-kun .
“… Isn’t having strength more than enough?”
With a dazed, chipped voice, Tomotaksenpai says . Yuusei-kun’s brows wrinkle too and he says in a low voice .
“… You too, don’t you have more than enough?”
The two of them look at each other with exasperated expressions .
Each probably thinking, of the other, “What’s this guy saying?”
A strange atmosphere flows between them .
Surely, their feelings of envy won’t disappear from now on…
The two of them, have been living while being perturbed by the other .
Looking at such a two alternately, I giggle .
“You’re both cool, you know? You’re both wonderful . ”
That’s right .
You’re both extravagant .
“Tomotaksenpai’s always hard at work, and is amazing . I think Senpai’s cool because he works hard . ”
I smile towards the dazed, deep blue eyes .
Senpai works a little too hard .
“Yuusei-kun’s strong, knowledgeable and always encourages me . Everyone likes Yuusei-kun after talking to him . You can make a lot more friends, you know?”
I chuckle towards the black eyes behind the glasses, which brows are knitted .
Well, Yuusei-kun says strange things sometimes though .
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“I think you both have more than enough now . ”
Saying just that, I close my eyes, nodding .
“Phantom-loving onmyouji comrades, isn’t it fine to say what you want? Because from now on, you both must live while staying involved with each other . ”
Right? I smile to them, and they exchange glances with each other with a strange expression .
Then, both avert their eyes and sigh softly .
Looking at them like that, I go “At any rate” and restore the topic to Kousuke-kun and sensei .
“I’ll tell sensei there’s a way to save him . As fast as possible, I want to talk to Chako and Kousuke-kun and transfer the power . ”
“Aa . That’s right . There’s no telling when the fox will go berserk . ”
“I’ll ask Tomoyuki-san, and we’ll gather at his house . ”
Tomotaksenpai nods at my words .
The location is Tomoyuki-san’s house . Because surely, Tomoyuki-san will do something about it if anything happens .
“You can’t go, right?”
“Aa, I can’t . ”
Tomotaka nods firmly at Yuusei-kun’s question .
As expected, he won’t help Kousuke-kun and sensei on the surface .
Yuusei-kun gives a small sigh at that response .
“Regulation and looking at someone’s power is your forte though… Naba, I’ll assist because Kamo won’t participate . I think it’s better than doing it alone . ”
“Un . Got it . ”
Tomotaksenpai, Yuusei-kun and I discuss .
We’ll borrow Chako’s strength while Tomoyuki-san watches over us .
Then, save Kousuke-kun and sensei .
If we have everyone’s strength .
It will surely go well .
When I nod firmly, Tomotaksenpai stands up .
“I’m leaving . We’re busy with preparations for the Cultural Festival . ”
“Yes . I’ll come and help again . ”
Tomotaksenpai leaves the clubroom, waving his hand .
I clench a fist while watching that back .
Let’s work hard .
To save Kousuke-kun and sensei .
[1] About being non-riajuus