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57.5 Inside the taxi
An unmanned taxi was heading for the dance hall in the South District.
Inside was Aki Souya, glancing at the woman sitting next to her.
The woman’s lustrous black hair, which stretched down her back was beautiful as if it contained abundant nourishment.
She was also in good shape. As if she were a model.
On top of that, she had a graceful demeanor. Aki couldn’t help but feel that she was used to giving orders to people.
Also, the fabric of her clothes looked luxurious.
Just by sitting side by side, Aki could tell that they were born and raised differently.
Aki also heard her grandmother leak the word “noble”
The story of the nobility, the Kazoku, wasn’t taboo in the special ward, but it was hardly covered on TV, in magazines, or on the internet.
In a sense, they were a remnant of those who once ruled this country.
And even now, they were a peculiar existence that had great influence in the region.
Aki only knew this much. For not much was taught in school.
In fact, it was the first time that Aki met a noble.
Can’t believe that, I’m now sitting next to someone like her

Even now, Aki was nervous.
“You, what’s your name?”
“My name? My name is Aki Souya.”
“Aki, is it? This I, is Mayo from the Beni family. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Y-yes

 But, Beni family?”
“Don’t you know?”
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t study enough.”
“Well, that’s fine. You do know about the Satomi family taking charge of Chiba Province from the Yamana family, right?”
“Yes!”
“I’m one of the people connected to it. My ancestor was the Genji clan (Minamoto clan).”
“I-is that so? I understand.”
Aki thought back to the history class.
If I remember correctly, the Kansai region was mostly ruled by the Mononobe clan together with the Fujiwara clan. And the Tokai region was ruled by the Taira clan. As for the Kanto region, it should have been dominated by the Genji clan at the time

 but Chiba province? Did she mean Chiba Prefecture?
The nobility had a tendency to stick to authority and lineage, and this was the same even if the “Clan” was changed to “Family”.
Aki still remembered the time when a Japanese history teacher told her about a commoner who made a careless remark and was forced to commit seppuku.
“
Aki
 or whoever you are, are you a student?”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m a third-year high school student. Next year, I’ll be taking a university exam.”
“I see. Come to think of it, commoners go to school.”
“Are the people from the nobility
 can’t attend
 Am I wrong?”
“Although we’re registered as one, we usually invite the teacher.”
“I see
.. Maybe that’s the case, when in university too?”
“Of course. Though some people go there, in general, we’re very busy.”
“Not studying
 but busy?”
“We must learn customs, be educated, inherit traditional culture, be familiar with the classics, and participate in ceremonies.  Yesterday, there was an event where you showed your skills in “tanka poetry”. And today is showing a traditional dance. Tomorrow, I must pray for a bountiful harvest for the sake of the commoners.”
“Uhh
 that must be hard.”
Mayo then told that it was a national affair that had been continued for over a thousand years.
Although it wasn’t exactly a “National Affair” since it seemed to be limited to Chiba Prefecture, she expressed it that way because, in the past when a clan ruled over a province, it was like its own country.
Such ceremonies could increase over time, but were unlikely to decrease, she said.
Furthermore, each person had to write a diary to leave behind for future generations, which was more like a business diary than the general public common knowledge of writing “what happened that day”.
Diaries of ancestors were kept for hundreds of years, not just decades.
It seemed that the mission of the nobility was to refer to the past and leave the present to future generations.
Aki, hearing this, thought she could never be in Mayo’s position.
“Is university fun?”
“I don’t know. I’ve heard it’s fun, but I’m not there yet, so I don’t really know.”
“I see. Umm, that man. Seems like your brother, is that correct?”
“Yes. He’s my pride and joy
..”
CLINK!!
“
Ah”
“What? What was the sound just now?”
“It’s a kite messenger ringtone”
“I’ve heard of it. Right, my attendant is using it. Show me what it is.”
“Y-yes.”
A stamp of a dancing cat was on the smartphone screen along with the text 「What are you doing now?」
“So, you’re having a conversation with this? Seems interesting
 oh, right. I’ll use one too.”
“Y-yes?”
“How do you use it? I can use it too, right?”
Mayo lifted the smartphone she took out from around her chest.
“Eh, umm
 do you want me to help you?
 Could I, borrow it then?”
As expected, the Kite Messenger app wasn’t installed, but anyone could download and install it from the app store to use it immediately.
“Since you will be registered with the email address on this smartphone, all you have to do is set up a password and two-factor authentication
 Yes, I will help you with that.”
Mayo became displeased during the explanation, so Aki decided to do all the settings.
After thinking about the password for a while, Aki typed in the full name she heard earlier, thinking Mayo could change it later.
“Is it ready?”
“Yes. It’s ready.”
Aki returned the smartphone.
“Then, I shall try it.”
Mayo appealed to Aki, pressuring her to give her ID. Then, Aki reluctantly sent her ID.
“I just have to press this “authenticate” right

 oh, it’s done, it’s done.”
“Now that we have a room just for the two of us, we can have a conversation in this room without being seen by anyone else.”
“Uh-huh
 let’s try it.”
“Yes.”
Aki sent, 「Can you see it?」
“I can see it. Ah, the reply
 Like this, right?”
After a while, Aki’s smartphone also displayed 「”I can see it”」
“With this, everything is done.”
“With this, I can have a conversation with him anytime.”
“Yes
 Eh?”
“As it happens, I’ve made a friend. Right, this outing is a fortunate one. What a good start.”
“Eh, umm
 Yes. It’s an honor.”
The taxi arrived at its destination, despite the bewildered Aki.
“Thank you for your help. This is a gift. Also, Aki, or whoever you are, you’ve been granted permission to sit next to someone great. You should accept this honor with all your heart.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Aki was handed several 10,000 yen bills, and as she bowed her head, Mayo stepped out of the taxi. [TN: 10,000 yen = equivalent to about $100]
“
 What did she mean by, permission to sit next to someone great?”
The door of the taxi closed with a bang as a question mark appeared in Aki’s mind.
Author’s Note :
Mayo is the young lady of the Beni family, which is a branch of the Satomi family.
Among the Kazoku, she is on a low rank. Basically, a rookie. Her family’s influence extends to only one town. But since her family is basically the landlord of this one whole town. 100 million yen per month is possible.