Campione 05

by Miko of the Sword

  Liliana whispered softly to Godou sitting beside her.

  This unexpected warning made the atmosphere tense, but Ena showed Godou a reassuring smile.

  "Is that Kusanagi-san's younger sister over there? Hmm mmm, what a coincidence. How should I address her?"

  "No, there is no need for that. She doesn't need to join us over here."

  "No! Please let me join in."

  Even faster than Godou's refusal, Shizuka furiously declared.

  In a manner inconsistent with the spirit of the tea ceremony, she had rapidly approached and plopped herself down right next to Godou, and created a face-to-face situation opposite Ena and Yuri.

  As things began to take an increasingly odd development, Godou opened his mouth to question.

  "So this... how should I address you? You're a student from another school, right, so why are you borrowing the tea ceremony club's room?"

  "Just use my name directly. I requested to use this place from the club president over there."

  Ena glanced towards the club member over in the distance.

  She seemed rather kind but timid, and was smiling in a slightly awkward manner.

  "If you just wanted to speak with me, some other place will do."

  "That would be a waste of this rare opportunity, so let me serve you some tea I personally brewed."

  Ena looked back at the electric thermos and iron kettle behind her.

  Not exactly the most tasteful tea implements, but it could not be helped in an amateur school club.

  "Anyway, what is the nature of the relationship between Onii-chan and this person..."

  Shizuka interrupted with an unhappy expression. This was rather rude towards someone from another school, especially one who was older than she was. Godou sighed at his sister's lack of manners, but it seemed like Ena did not mind.

  "Yes, both I and Yuri here have something to discuss with your brother. To sum it up, it concerns the date of Ena and Yuri's marriage into the Kusanagi household."

  Crash! Shizuka had fallen forward in a most exaggerated manner.

  It was not just her, for even Godou was so surprised that he sat straight up.

  The rest of the tea ceremony club members who had been drinking tea while leaning their ears over to the conversation also stopped all their motions in shock. Only Liliana sat back silently with a matter-of-fact expression.

  "E-E-Ena! You and I marrying Godou-san, what are you talking about!"

  "Hopeless. You've always been like this."

  Ena admonished Yuri who was shouting with her face all red.

  "Ah, Kusanagi-san, please don't mind Yuri, whose emotions were unstable yesterday. Actually, what Ena has been saying to this child was, the earlier she prepares herself to be taken by Kusanagi-san the better. So she seems to have become a little too self-conscious towards you—perhaps you have begun to tire of Yuri?"

  "Nothing like that at all! But..."

  "Excellent. No matter what happens, we will entrust ourselves to you. Yuri will definitely become a great wife, and Ena should also be useful to Kusanagi-san. Yes, though it feels strange for me to say this, but Kusanagi-san is truly someone who reaps what he sows, how admirable."

  "Ena! Please watch your words, shame, shameless!"

  "Even if it is shameless, this is important so there is no other way around it—Kusanagi-san, please have some tea."

  Placing the tea powder into the utensil, she added boiling water and stirred it with the cylindrical bamboo whisk.

  Ena proceeded to hand the container towards Godou. This appeared to be thin tea.

  The series of motions were performed in a simple flowing manner and did not seem to adhere to any rigid conservative ritual.

  This contrasted with the cautious motions of the rest of the tea ceremony club.

  To use an analogy from calligraphy, it would be the difference between the regular script practiced by a clumsy novice compared to the free flowing cursive of a true master.

  Accepting the tea, Godou brought the cup to his lips.

  He was not clear on the details of the ceremony, but this was not the time to be hung up on them anyway. Shizuka was frowning beside him. Let's not say anything and try it for now—but wow, the flavor of this tea has been carefully fine-tuned and tastes really good.

  Ena used the same motions to serve tea to the others. Though foreigners often disliked the taste of powdered tea, Liliana finished her tea in a composed manner. Then she turned her sharp gaze towards the one who served her tea.

  Yuri was enjoying her tea in an elegant manner but with a worried expression on her face.

  The younger sister Shizuka's displeased demeanor remained unchanged even after savoring the tea.

  "Anyway, back to the topic of marrying, it should be fine even if we don't officially update the family registry[27] right? Since marrying two people at once constitutes the crime of bigamy. But then again, it would be troublesome to explain to the children..."

  Ena made another shocking statement.

  This woman is a troublemaker, perhaps even more so compared to Erica.

  The shocked Godou, the terrified Yuri, the calmly listening Liliana, the sister Shizuka who was glaring severely at her brother, as well as the rest of the girls of the tea ceremony club who looked somewhat awkward...

  All the girls, apart from Liliana and Yuri, stared daggers at Goudou.

  'Onii-chan is the worst!' 'I-Is this the so-called adult relationships!?' 'Kusanagi-san and her brother, it's really like the rumors...' 'Those rumors, could they all turn out to be true...'

  Godou wanted to escape this place. Why is everyone looking at me with such eyes!?

  "Yes, it's like this. I have discussed with Yuri. For tasks like making love and having kids, Yuri will come first and Ena will just be backup. Does Kusanagi-san think this is fine? Or perhaps, you like Ena better?"

  "Wait wait wait, wait a minute. This conversation seems to have taken a strange drift. This is too weird!"

  "Nothing like that. In fact, this is the most important point, so the question is—what type of girl do you prefer. The withdrawn type or the lively type, which do you like better?"

  Ignoring his request for reprieve, Ena casually continued her questioning.

  Godou began to realize he must resolve to face Ena's willfulness with deathly resistance.

  "I won't answer you! I have no reason to answer such a question!"

  "Fine, let's put that question aside for now. Then let's talk about what kind of special interests you have, such as hidden fetishes? I once read a magazine article that said 'problems in sex life will cause break ups in relationships, so even if the man has abnormal fetishes, you must proactively enjoy them☆' Kusanagi-san, do you have such secrets, too?"

  "Don't change the subject, listen to me properly!"

  Resisting this girl seemed to require a properly prepared iron will.

  Godou spoke to Ena as she took out a women's magazine that was not very thick.

  "No matter how you change the subject, neither Yuri nor you will form that kind of relationship with me. This is the first point that needs to be cleared up."

  "You already have three consorts, what are you talking about at this point."

  Having spoken, Ena began to count on her fingers.

  "Ena knows everything, there is Erica, Yuri over there and Liliana. See, that's already three people... Ah, and a local wife as well."

  "All of them are just my ordinary friends. Stop talking like I'm some sort of enemy of all women!"

  The girls of the tea ceremony club were watching Godou as if eyeing a criminal.

  Godou ignored those stares, and declared strongly to defend himself.

  "Yes, because Yuri is a very shy person, but I am not like her. Don't worry. Ena will work hard to become your qualified concubines. So Kusanagi-san, you don't have to be shy."

  "M-Mariya, is this actually okay with you!? Please help deny this."

  Unable to reverse the situation, Godou t
urned to Yuri who had been silent all along.

  "That I am just ordinary friends with Mariya, and not some sort of strange relationship like she said, please."

  "Yes, yes. There is nothing between Godou-san and I..."

  "Yuri, if you say that one more time, you cannot take that back."

  Yuri's self-pronounced friend spoke quietly, but her attitude was subtly different from her previously casual demeanor.

  "Then just take Ena alone. If Yuri opts out at this point, then it's fine even if I serve Kusanagi-san alone. Our relationship will be very close, and we will most likely marry and have children. And then even if Yuri regrets it, I will ignore it."

  "Eh? Ena..."

  "If you choose to give up, I will not stop you at all. But in return, I won't give you a second chance. Being shy is very cute, but if you cannot be decisive then it's no good. Unforgivable. If you want something, you have to acquire it with your own hands."

  "...With my own hands."

  "Correct. You have to create the life you want to live, right? If Yuri has those wishes, then Ena will take on the responsibility to support you. How will you proceed? Make a decision now. How about it?"

  Failing to respond to her friend's advice, Yuri lapsed into silence.

  Watching the profile of that beautiful face in hesitation, Godou felt anxious. It was a long silence, very long. What could she be hesitating about!?

  "...Yes, I understand."

  At least she gave an answer. Yuri gazed directly at Godou's face, the first time today since yesterday.

  Like that, Yuri shyly spoke in broken words.

  "I... cannot completely agree with what Ena has said."

  "Uh, yes."

  Though abashed, Yuri's eyes and words carried a strong will.

  Suppressed by the strength of her spirit, Godou could not help but fall silent.

  "However, I believe that the future that she described cannot be denied with complete certainty. Anyway, I have no idea what my relationship with Godou-san will be like in the future, and we have already done things that no ordinary friends should have done in the first place!"

  "And, and that is to say...!?"

  "Hence, I cannot declare that we are just ordinary friends! P-Perhaps it will turn out just as Ena said, but it could also end up being nothing!"

  To the unexpected response, Godou went "Eh?" in surprise.

  Then Yuri gazed at him with her very sorrowful but very clear pupils.

  "Is it possible... not to deny it? Perhaps you and I were just a mistake of the moment..."

  "Ah, no, I never felt taken advantage of, just a little shocked..."

  The memories of the "ritual" performed with Yuri during that storm in June resurfaced.

  Godou frantically shook his head.

  At this time, his sister Shizuka was going 'Onii-chan is such a big idiot, will he finally be won over by Mariya-senpai right now!?' while the tea ceremony club president was noisily exclaiming 'M-Mariya-san is so daring~'

  Then Yuri immediately escaped from Godou's presence.

  She hid behind Ena's back, shivering in embarrassment.

  "Now, may I have a word?"

  Godou, who was in a state of shock from the unexpected events, suddenly heard a stern voice.

  Liliana Kranjcar.

  The blue and black knight was glaring sharply at Ena.

  "What are you planning on doing? Why are you disrupting my master's peaceful life?"

  "I am not aiming to disrupt, besides Kusanagi-san has been surrounded by no lack of rowdy events for some time already."

  "If you put it that way, it is true after all. My apologies, I have misspoken."

  Don't reach an understanding in that kind of area. However, before Godou had a chance to interject his despair, the conversation continued.

  "However, if you approach Kusanagi Godou with any ulterior motives, do not expect any mercy from me. Remember that."

  "Of course not. How could Ena have any ulterior motives, Number Two?"

  Liliana gave off a dangerous presence as sharp as a blade, but Ena struck back with a casual tone.

  "Number Two?"

  "Yes. ...Since you are the second strongest in that group of people. The blonde is Number One and you are Number Two, Liliana-san. I understood after meeting you two last time."

  "...Meaning that Erica is above me?"

  Liliana narrowed her eyes. A knight would respond to a personal insult with a challenge for a duel. But even though the atmosphere reached such a level of tension, Ena continued to smile mischievously.

  "If it is a one on one duel then you are roughly equal. But based on your influence within the group, it is clear who holds the greater power. That is what Ena thinks."

  Godou could not help turning his attention once again towards the Hime-Miko who called herself Yuri's friend.

  Though it was conveyed rather untactfully, she did analyze the opposing situation between the red and blue knights perfectly.

  "It is not as you think, I must make this correction."

  "Yes yes, but for now I'm just giving advance notice. After all, taking care of Number One was the original plan. Ena has always had the habit of eating the best things first."

  Having casually exchanged instigating words with Liliana, Ena turned her sight to behind Godou.

  "Ah, Erica-san, there is nothing wrong with Ena's judgment, right?"

  She was looking straight ahead—to the entrance of the tearoom, where a glamorously eye-catching female student has appeared.

  Blonde with a tint of red, and carrying an extremely rare sense of glamor, it was Erica Blandelli of course.

  Part 4

  "Since I couldn't find Godou I went searching... But it looks like everyone is having fun here."

  Erica elegantly greeted.

  Ignoring the panic in the surrounding people, she kept to her usual style.

  "A pleasure to meet you for the first time, Erica-san. My name is Seishuuin Ena, and I am Yuri's friend."

  "Ah, but it seems like this is not our first meeting."

  To Erica's subtle smile, Ena grinned like a prankster.

  "Well, this kind of conversation is our first. Let's just leave it at that. Great, today's goal was to meet the girl who is Number One, and I was worrying I had missed my chance."

  "I hope I have not failed your expectations."

  "...Erica, may I be this woman's opponent?"

  Liliana interrupted their conversation.

  But Erica thought for a short while, then simply denied her request with a quick "no, not accepted."

  "I wish to make that woman pay the price for insulting me. Do not hinder a knight's vengeance."

  "I don't want to hinder you, but it can't be helped. I plan to have a political discussion with that woman. If you wish, Liliana, you can substitute for me, but I know you hate that kind of task, right?"

  Erica smiled generously as she spoke.

  Shizuka and the rest of the tea ceremony club were frozen with surprise, but who could blame them?

  But Godou could sense the meaning behind his companion's words.

  Erica wanted to interview this strange intruder in order to clarify her intentions and reach a binding agreement.

  This course of action required great intellect and political acumen.

  To be honest, this would have been somewhat difficult for the slightly crude Liliana. If Erica were to enter into a dialogue, would things end peacefully? Godou nodded to the [Diavolo Rosso].

  "Then I leave the matter in your care, Erica. Don't make things go out of hand."

  "Of course, then let Liliana stay by Godou's side?"

  Liliana felt unimpressed by the orders and turned her face aside, but did not complain, presumably because she realized the difference in suitability to the task.

  "I can't come along?"

  "It's not necessary this time. It would be more troublesome to negotiate with that woman in your presence. Why don't you and Yuri stay here to clean up, is that f
ine, Yuri?"

  "Yes, yes. I understand."

  Erica answered Godou neatly, and then gave Yuri directions.

  This was the kind of situation where Erica could exert her prided social skills.

  Ena also stood up and took the bag that was leaning against the wall. This was the same bag slung over her shoulder, and seemed to be one of those long and narrow bags made of cloth used to carry a bamboo sword or the like.

  With a smile at the corner of her lips, it was as if Ena specifically wanted others to know her happiness, a smile devoid of darkness.

  "Have you made your decision? Then let's go outside?"

  "I see. It would be troublesome to bother our friends of the tea ceremony club any longer. —Then everyone, we will take our leave first. Let us carefully enjoy what is to come next."

  And then Erica left and walked outside like a noblewoman excusing herself from a party in progress.

  With relaxed footsteps, Ena followed behind her.

  Godou watched with worry as the Hime-Miko and the Great Knight left.

  As they reached the outside of the Japanese block, Erica began to run in the woods.

  Following closely behind her was the Hime-Miko named Seishuuin Ena.

  The martial arts level of that woman was at no ordinary level. Erica could sense that level of power from the motions of her body.

  Footsteps that were virtually silent, and moving about with an extremely stable center of gravity. Even if you hung a bell on her ankle, this woman could probably walk around without making a sound.

  Amakasu Touma. The special operative of the History Compilation Committee.

  That man also had similar motions and manner of walking, though to be precise, they are on two completely different levels.

  "Actually, there is something I would like to apologize to Erica-san first."

  Ena suddenly spoke.

  "The incident several days ago? To be honest, that kind of present did give me a bit of trouble."

  Erica took out the piece of metal from the pocket of her uniform.

  It was the manji (卍) shaped blade fragment that attacked her on the road that night.

  Erica tossed the fragment at Ena's feet, and the sharp piece of metal swiftly embedded itself into the soft ground.

  "Ah, this? No no, that's not what I was referring to. I'm sure a little trinket like that would have been easily handled by Erica-san. Should I bring out something a little stronger?"