Vol. 5 Chapter 6.2

Translated by SoundDestiny Edited by SoundDestiny

“U–…”

Outside the window, cicadas were chirping. From the direction of the sports field, the calls of club activities could be heard.

With a frustrated expression, I pursed my lips and let out a groan, holding a pencil between my lips and nose.

It’s a supplementary lesson. No matter what, it’s supplementary lessons.

Even if I resist with [I don’t want that] it’s still supplementary lessons.

Well, you win, just take my cushion.

Now, I’ve finished one session of supplementary lessons and am in the midst of reviewing for a quiz.

I’m not a chicken, there’s no way I’d get the newly explained content wrong.

They’re making fun of me too much. I want to finish quickly and wait for the papers to be collected.

But still… something feels off. It’s like a haze of frustration.

When I think about why I’m feeling so frustrated, the reason immediately comes to mind.

I haven’t seen Fu-min. Not yesterday, not today.

There was a reply to the 『Goodnight, Fu-min』 message I sent before bed, but it came in the early hours of the morning.

‘Hey, isn’t 『Goodnight』 past six in the morning a bit odd, Fujiwara-san? Hey, isn’t it a bit too harsh to treat me like this? Fu-min-san.’

While sulking, I looked around and in the end, there were six of us who got stuck with the supplementary lessons.

More accurately, it’s five people plus one. This plus one is Kasuya.

According to the teacher’s explanation, Kasuya’s suspension has been lifted at the end of the semester. It seems he can avoid repeating a year by taking makeup exams.

Well, good for him. Clap, clap. Well, I have no intention of forgiving the guy who did that to Fu-min, so I won’t talk to him and won’t even make eye contact.

I think he’s aware that he’s being avoided too. He never talks to me and only converses with Hiratsuka-kun in front of me.

Since everyone knows about the interactions between those two, who are both rejected guys, the unbearable tension was palpable.

Then, after the quiz is over, it’s break time. Returning from the restroom after eliminating an excess of water due to the heat, I peek into the classroom through the door’s crack and spot a girl looking inside stealthily.

The colour of the ribbon I caught a glimpse of indicates she’s a first-year student. I wonder if a fan has come to see Kasuya. But upon closer inspection, it turns out to be someone very familiar.

“It’s Fukuda-chi!”

“Eeek!”

As I call out from behind, she jumps up in a way that reminds me of a cartoon where a cat and a mouse are playfully fighting.

“A-Awawa…F-Fujiwara-senpai,g-goodmorni-morni-morning! G-Good morning to you!”

“Senpai… What are you doing?”

“W-Well, um, n-no, nothing! It’s nothing!”

“Hmm… Lies or deceit…”

“Ppiiii!”

I narrow my eyes slightly, and she trembles even more.

‘Hmm, the medication might be affecting her a bit too much…’

“Ryoryo, there’s not much to do in the dorm, so I thought I might have a chance to see Kijima-senpai…”

“See Fu-min? Why?”

“P-Please don’t be mad… please forgive me…”

Fukuda’s eyes are filled with tears as she strikes a prayer-like pose.

‘That’s why she’s overly jumpy…’

“If you speak honestly, I won’t be angry, you know?”

“Y-Yes… Well, to be honest, when I look closely, I think Kijima-senpai is really cool…”

“Nnn?”

As I tilt my head in confusion, Fukuda quickly averts her gaze.

“Nhii!? N-No, it’s not like that! I-I’m not thinking of confessing or anything grand like that! There’s no way for me to come between the perfect couple that is Fujiwara-senpai and Kijima-senpai! I-I just wanted to catch a glimpse of senpai for a little eye candy…”

“Fukuda-chi…”

“Piiii!?”

I grab her shoulder without thinking, and she looks as if the world is about to end.

“I had misunderstood Fukuda-chi. I didn’t realise you were such a good kid…”

“U-Um… I-Is that so?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Fu-min and I are the best couple. If we were magnets, we’d both be the same pole!”

“U-Uh… are you perhaps waiting for me to retort?”

“What about? Just that we stick together and can’t be separated?”

“…………………You’re absolutely right.”

There seemed to be a slightly puzzling moment but perhaps I felt a bit of jealousy, even if just a little.

“By the way, wanting to catch a glimpse of Fu-min for some eye candy, ahaha! Fukuda-chi, you’ve got good taste. Un, I’m starting to feel like we could get along well!”

“eh? Oh… um, yes.”

“Un, Un, then come over to my place next time. Let’s have an all-night Fu-min talk!”

“Ueeee!?”

“No?”

“Th-That won’t be necessary at all! Uh, I think I might have something to do! It feels like someone is calling me! I-I-I’m s-sorry for intruding!”

With that, she dashed away as if fleeing.

‘What a peculiar girl. Well, maybe if we become a bit closer, I could let her have a chat with Fu-min.’

With thoughts like that, I entered the classroom in a good mood.

By the way, out of twenty questions on the quiz, I got five right.

×××

“Okaa-sama, you don’t have to do anything.”

“Eeh~But~Yui-san~Okaa-san has nothing to do, you know~.”

“If Okaa-sama touches things, they won’t get organised!”

My mother and I were starting to work and live in the mansion of Masataka Fujiwara from today.

The room we were given is in a separate building where Mai Fujiwara resides. It’s a spacious 12-tatami room on the first floor. It comes with a bed, furniture and even a private bath and toilet.

It’s such a clean and beautiful room that it feels more like a guest room than a servant’s quarters.

As soon as we arrived, the senior maid showed us to the room assigned to us and I immediately started unpacking our belongings without taking a break.

In the first place, we only had three trunks’ worth of luggage between the two of us, so moving wasn’t much of a hassle.

Although it’s been a month since we applied to terminate our apartment lease, Masataka-sama took care of all the arrangements. We can only express our gratitude for his kindness.

“Okaa-san really looking forward to this maid’s job~!”

“No, Okaa-sama, please don’t get too excited. You’ll definitely break something.”

“Don’t worry~, Okaa-san will just be observing from the shadows…It’s a job where I’ll just witness events happening~.”

“Um, Okaa-sama? Didn’t we used to have maids in our house before? How can you have such a miraculous misunderstanding?”

I can’t help but sigh. Okaa-sama is unbelievably naive.

She used to be called a healing-type actress with an incredibly beautiful appearance and an airy, fluffy atmosphere. However, as her daughter, it’s honestly difficult to deal with.

In reality, even at the canned food factory she worked at until yesterday, she was completely useless. The supervisor apparently took pity on her and assigned her the easiest task.

Adjusting the fish cakes for the canned simmered dish. Her job was to turn the fish cakes upright if they happened to be lying horizontally on the conveyor belt.

‘Well, it’s simple, but…I guess I can understand losing weight that way.’

Indeed, I’ve seen Okaa-sama repeatedly mumbling, [F-fish cakes are…~ fish cakes are…~] in the middle of the night, tormented by her work.

Anyway, it’s a relief that Okaa-sama isn’t doing anything.

According to Masaki-sama’s story, Fujiwara-sama is not a favoured princess, but she is someone very important to the Confinement King .

I, too, have not given up on becoming the King of Confinement’s favoured princess. If Mai-sama likes me, she could become a strong supporter for me.

As I pondered such thoughts, I heard Mai-sama’s voice coming from the entrance.

“I’m home~”

I pulled Okaa-sama’s hand and hurriedly made my way to the entrance.

“Welcome home, Mai-sama.”

“Oh, Yui-chan! Right, it started today, didn’t it?”

“Yes! Thanks to the great Mai-sama, I, Yui Kayama, am spending this wonderful day in happiness!”

As I said that, Mai-sama made a face as if she had eaten something strange.

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