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I never would have expected Minadzuki to have a fiancée. From how he talks, I was sure he’d have a hard time forming relationships with women, and yet mysteriously he’s the first to have a lover. While we’re all frozen on our tracks, the girl drew close to Minadzuki and rested her hand on his shoulder.

“Master Yuuto, may I ask for an explanation?”
“W-Will you be convinced if I explain?”
“No, absolutely not.”

This girl is so stupidly honest you could mistake her for a member of the Minadzuki bloodline. Also, she’s not just resting her hand. She’s gripping the shoulder so he can’t escape. From Minadzuki’s pained expression, she’s using a lot of force.

“Visitors. It must have been exhausting to stand and talk. Allow me to guide you inside.”
“S̲h̲i̲t̲t̲y old man! You’re the head of the house, you’re obliged to greet them! Come out already!”
“Sorry, s̲h̲i̲t̲t̲yson! The wife is holding me down, I can’t move! Besides, like I’d ever step into hell with my own two feet!”

What is this chaotic scene? We’re guided by a girl into a house that’s not her own, meanwhile, there’s a father and son argument unfolding from a distance. The son’s a bit harsh, but the guy threw away his dignity out of fear of his son’s fiancée.

“Now now, please do not feel reserved. Let us have a fun chat.”

I don’t plan on being reserved, but it is definitely not going to be a fun chat. What’s starting is an interrogation. There isn’t a smidgen of romantic feelings between us and Minadzuki. We’re nothing more than schoolmates.

“Now, if I may ask, what is your relationship with these three?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“I want to hear Master Yuuto’s thoughts first and foremost.”

It looks like we’ll have our turn later. They served warm tea, so I’ll warm my body up. While I’m at it, let me eat a bit of these tea snacks as well, since we’re probably going to be here for some time.

“They’re just my upperclassmen and a classmate.”
“Is it really true?”
“What’d be the point of lying?”
“One is a fine-figured dignified lady. Yet her face displays such happiness eating snacks. This gap can cause men all over to fall for her, am I wrong?”
“In reality, this senior’s a nuisance who gets everyone in her surroundings involved during her rampages.”

Will people who don’t know my personality really fall that easily? While they’re talking about me, I continue indifferently stuffing myself with sweets. As expected, luxury brands are just different. The refined sweetness, and it pairs well with the tea.

“Sitting next to her is a prim and proper lady, yes? A perfect embodiment of the commonly spoken of Yamato Nadeshiko.”
“In reality, she’s an explosively unhinged senior who’s eager to jump into chaos.”

I nearly spit out my tea. Naturally, because of what the girl said. Minadzuki described Aya well, so it’s nothing special. Moreover, I have no idea why Aya is masking herself right now. She was still normal when we were at the doorway.

“Why do you have your mask on?”
“Because it’d be more fun that way.”

The year just started and she’s already putting maximum effort into messing with people. I wonder how the girl will react when Aya reveals her true self? I guess that’s part of the fun for her. Meanwhile, Rin is looking at us speechless.

“Next to her is Master Yuuto’s classmate, then? Do devoted women not attract your eye?”
“In reality, she’s a lump of stress who has to extinguish the fires her sister spread.”

It’s tough trying to hold back my laughter. All she sees of us are our outward appearances. She perceives us completely opposite of how Minadzuki, who knows our personalities, does. I wonder why she doesn’t seem satisfied even after being corrected so much.

“We merely shared a room with him once for a meal.”
“Master Yuuto.”
“Stop dumping gasoline to the flame!”

Seeing that, the three of us laughed. Aya’s mask is off. Minadzuki yelling while being jolted around by the collar is hilarious. You don’t see this every day. It wasn’t a lie, but it also didn’t have proper context.

“Please, I’m begging you. Please go back to normal.”
““You’re telling who?””
“Ms. Kisaragi, obviously!”

I guess he’s yelling for emphasis. Still, he really doesn’t have any trust for Aya. I’m aware that I’m a bit out of control right now. Yesterday’s exhaustion is still affecting me. Probably because of yesterday’s fatigue as well, Rin hasn’t been doing her job as a stopper.

“Err, Kiyose, was it? Our relationship with Minadzuki doesn’t really have any romantic undertones.”
“So you say there is no four-timing?”
“I don’t really think Minadzuki is slick enough for that to begin with?”

Even with the status of his current relationship, I can’t imagine Minadzuki ever cheating. The scales of their power dynamic are clearly tipped towards Kiyose. While I’m curious about her character, considering how even the family head is afraid of her, she does feel like the type to rush her lover with a knife if he cheats on her.

“About us sharing a meal together, it was actually a small party we held with the twelve family students at the academy.”
“You all sound quite close.”
“We’ve done some idiotic things together, after all. We showed each other our true character during that after-party, you see.”

It was an environment where we didn’t have to be reserved and pay heed to other people. Everyone needs that kind of place. However, I refuse it to be my apartment room. It’s major trouble if it turns into a hangout place for the twelve families.

“That was really memorable.”
“Everyone seemed to have piled up stress, after all. It was perfect for letting off some steam.”

There was one who didn’t let off any steam, though. I wonder if Nagatsuki had fun. I do plan on visiting him tomorrow, so I should ask him then. If he couldn’t enjoy it, then I won’t call him if there’s another one.

“So you know a Master Yuuto I am unaware of.”
“Minadzuki. Nothing I’m saying seems to calm her jealousy.”
“That’s why I told you not to come.”

I finally realized it. She burns with jealousy just from seeing a girl come to visit. Still, I don’t think I’ve seen her at the academy. I’m pretty sure that if permitted, she would never leave Minadzuki’s side. Maybe she’s enrolled at a different school.

“Does she go to a different high school?”
“She’s a year younger than me.”

It goes without saying that both Rin and I froze. She’s absolutely going to enroll this year! That means we’ll have an increase in Minadzuki-related troubles. Minadzuki naturally has to clean up after himself, but who’s going to get caught in the crossfire? Just the thought of this had our stomachs feeling heavy.

“Please take care of her.”
“”No thank you.””
“Please do something about it!”
“”Absolutely not!””

Even with the bowing, I’m not doing it. Just when a problem upperclassman is finally leaving, I would have never expected a problematic freshman to take her place. I’m glad I got to know beforehand. I’ll try to avoid places where my underclassmen might loiter.

“Gee, this year is going to be interesting.”
“It might not affect you, but at least show concern for your sister.”
“I mean, there’s no point since I can’t be there to get involved.”
“Just when I thought it would be peaceful now with sis out of the picture…”

I thought the same. A normal uneventful academy life, that’s all Rin and I want. Again it’s one of the twelve families carrying trouble with them. At this rate, there might be something going on with the other underclassmen as well.

“I’ll make sure to keep watch so the bad bugs don’t come near Master Yuuto.”
“Seems like your academy life is going to be tough, Minadzuki.”
“If only we were the same age, I could’ve tricked her into enrolling into a different school.”
“That’s impossible for you.”

Since he’s stupidly honest to a fault. Even Rin is nodding in agreement with me. Everyone else would probably have the same reaction. Minadzuki should be aware of it himself. Perhaps he was just wishing out loud.

“Still, how did she become your fiancée?”
“She fell in love at first sight. And my parents approved of it. Do you need any other reason?”
“Nope. Not with our position.”

You aren’t in any position to go against your parents’ wishes. That’s the norm. A life of simply going as far as you can on the rails your parents have prepared for you. Since this is seen as the norm, I don’t have any right to comment about it. In the first place, people like Aya and I are outliers.

“The only ones who’ve gone against the life their parents decided for them are me and Aya.”
“I was allowed to be free from the beginning.”
“Thanks to that, I’ve had a lot of stress.”
“You two are just too free-spirited. Rather, is there anything that can tie you down?”
“I do. It’s the people I fear the most.”

Teacher and step-mom. Looking back, I feel like I told them I’d go for New Years back during summer. They’ll probably grumble since I couldn’t go. I’m sure they’ll ask about what I’ve been doing as a singer. It’ll be chaotic if I bump into Isami.

“People that even Ms. Kisaragi fears, huh. I can’t imagine it.”
“I can’t imagine it either. What kind of person are they?”
“It’s hard to put into words.”

I seriously don’t know what to say. After all, they’re people who can deal with both physical and mental damage. I reckon those two can probably go toe to toe against members of the twelve families. After all, everyone from the rogues’ den fears them.

“Master Yuuto, you really are quite close with these three.”
“Kiyose, calm down. It’s not what you’re thinking at all, okay?”
“She’s looping, isn’t she?”

Conversations go nowhere when Minadzuki and Kiyose are together. The thought of this continuing after the start of the next school year is depressing me. Being at the same year level as Minadzuki, Rin is probably taking this harder. RIP.