1) Since some people wanted to know, I asked Estelina what she thought of my blog name and scanlation group name.
“Huh? Oh. Nothing? Imouto means, little sister, right? Is it supposed to be offensive or something? I guess some people get offended over anything, huh.”
2) Kryto bought me a founder’s pack for Tree of Savior! So I guess I’ll be playing. But with all my other commitments, I probably won’t get very far. Still! See you there, maybe?
3) I have a friend living in my ‘garage’ now. So if you come across him while looking through my teasers and stuff, do not be alarmed.
Matsuo Bashou was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan.
Bashou was born in 1644, near Ueno, in Iga Province. A place famous for him, and ninjas.
There’s a rumor that the famed haiku poet Matsuo Bashou wasn’t just a master of poetry, but a master of the art of Ninjutsu, the art of stealth, subterfuge and spying. The art of the Ninja!
So was Matsuo Bashou just a wandering master poet, or was he a master spy? During the cautious years of the early Edo, or Tokugawa period, people were not permitted to travel freely around the country, however Bashou managed to obtain permission. His position as a celebrated poet gained him a close access to the nobility. He was able to enter castles and palaces, view the estates of the lords and spend time chatting with them. Speaking directly to the various lords, he would have been able to discover their hidden thoughts as they composed poems together. Wonderful opportunities for intelligence gathering.
It took no time at all to hear about Ririna from a friend in Kaburagi’s class.
“Yes, that girl has been loitering about Emperor recently. Ah-, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to badmouth your cousin.”
“No, you are right. I should be apologising to you on her behalf.”
I see. So everybody’s been careful not to badmouth a relative of mine in front of my eyes.
Please just give me a break, Ririna~
“Well, could I ask what she does, specifically?”
“Well, things like calling out to him, or sometimes even coming to our classroom. She hasn’t done anything too eye-catching quite yet though.”
It’s plenty already. The thing that the female upperclassmen hate the most is a first year girl following about upperclassmen boys.
For girls of that age, if a younger girl starts making eyes at a boy in their grade, the girl’s name immediately spreads throughout the grade and every girl becomes their enemy.
I don’t know if the same thing happens at Suiran, but they should at least be feeling the same way, so I can’t help but worry about Ririna.
Oh, no, rather than worrying about Ririna as a person, I’m just worried that I’ll get into trouble for being her cousin.
“I must warn my cousin as well.”
“Yes. Umm, we don’t really mind, but Tsuruhana-san’s group is…”
Uwah, she’s being targeted by them?
My stomach is really hurting.
The last time I spoke to Ririna was when she came over with her parents before I entered Suiran.
But even though she always used to go “Taka-niisama” “Taka-niisama” when the heck did she turn into an Emperor fan.
I could already envision a future where my slowly heaped efforts and reputation were being smashed to pieces by Ririna.
Even if I try my best not to incur Emperor’s displeasure, and even if I stop Otousama’s dishonesties, there’s still the plot device of having my relatives do something instead.
Ririna is selfish and high-handed and spoilt by her parents, so she’s like a miniature version of Kimidol’s Kisshouin Reika, after all.
What do I do, what do I do? I definitely don’t have the skill to rehabilitate that girl!
But, I did at least give her a phone call to give her a few words.
“Ririna-san, I hear that you have been following Kaburagi-sama about? I think it might be better if you abstained from bothering your upperclassmen.”
“My. Whatever I do should be my own business. And Kaburagi-sama has never really said that I bother him.”
And the moment he does say it will be your last.
“But,”
“More importantly, Reika-san. I want to have a look at the Pivoine salon. Take me there.”
This little!
“The Pivoine is off-limits to Externals. And not ‘more importantly’, we were talking about Kaburagi-sama. You have a terrible reputation amongst the girls in the higher grades, you know.”
“Hmph. So? I’m not scared. Aren’t you just jealous that I’m getting close to Kaburagi-sama?”
HAHHH?!
“Ririna-san, Suiran has its own rules. If you ignore them, you will be crushed.”
“Yes, yes, got it, got it. Goodness, Reika-oneesama.”
She hung up.
What’s with her attitude! Somebody was calling her because they were worried! Or rather, you’re going to bother me so stop it already!
I suppose people do say that every family has its annoying members. Ririna is so tiring to handle.
But is it even possible for me to stop her?!
I opened up a packet of You Can’t Stop, You Won’t Stops that I had hidden in my closet, and began devouring them by the clawful.
If I get fat because of that girl, I won’t forget!
This year’s excursion was to a mountain temple. Why a temple?
Because I heard it was a temple, I let my guard down. Isn’t this exactly the same as last year’s mountain climbing hell?
While wheezing just like last year, I saw Tsuruhana-san’s group snickering at me as they passed me by. I didn’t know what to say.
O Heavens, please sever my inauspicious connections. I have many of them. Ririna, Kaburagi, Enjou, Tsuruhana…
After somehow making it to the top, it was already time to descend. WHY!? Apparently they were waiting for us. I’m sorry…
After that, they took us to have a stroll around the Five Coloured Swamps Goshiki-numa, a collection of five multicoloured volcanic swamps.
But once I saw the boats on the swamps, my mood suddenly shot up. I want to ride one! I want to row one!
It’s not moving. Even though I’m desperately rowing, why isn’t it moving. I just keep spinning around on the spot. What’s going on here?
It felt great sitting on the boat as it smoothly glided through the water. When I looked around, suddenly there were boats with couples on them! When!?
But looking carefully, Kaburagi and Enjou were on a boat together. Two guys, riding a boat together…? Upfpftpft…
I’ll just consider it a good thing that I’m with my friends.
By the time I got home, I gradually started feeling the muscle pains. Aahh, tomorrow is going to be rough…
Ah! I forgot to try the Tama Konnyaku!