Chapter 14: Wait, you seriously didn’t notice?!

As soon as the entrance ceremony ended, Anmiya Marina entered the classroom early and quietly sat down in her seat.

There was no point in going to find her parents right now.

Even thinking with her toes, she knew those two were definitely busy socializing and exchanging pleasantries with parents from other families.

If she went over, not only would she be unable to help, she would probably just earn herself the label of “getting in the way,” so it was better to stay alone in the classroom where it was peaceful.

Just as she was thinking this, a voice suddenly sounded beside her.

“Ah! You’re Anmiya Marina, right?”

“Hm…?”

Hearing the voice, Marina looked up and couldn’t help but freeze slightly.

Standing in front of her was a girl as beautiful as a finely crafted doll.

Her beauty wasn’t limited to her lovely face and figure.

More than that, it lay in the naturally mysterious aura she gave off.

From the subtle movement of her fingertips to the rhythm of her breathing, every detail exuded an indescribable elegance.

Her jet-black long hair flowed smoothly and neatly, reflecting a healthy sheen.

Those pitch-black eyes, deep enough to seem as though they could draw one in, gazed at Marina, giving her the inexplicable illusion that her thoughts had been completely seen through.

The girl’s back was held perfectly straight, as if supported by an invisible pillar, and when she moved, she did so without a sound, to the point that even an etiquette instructor would feel inferior.

“We’re in the same class, Marina!”

“That’s wonderful!”

It was only when the beautiful girl smiled and spoke again that Marina snapped out of it, realizing she had been staring in a daze.

“Um… who are you?”

Marina finally managed to squeeze out the question.

She rapidly searched her memory of the social scene.

If she had ever met such a strikingly beautiful girl, there was no way she would have forgotten her.

Since they were both at Ōka Academy, perhaps they had crossed paths at some banquet?

But the other girl’s features were far too distinctive.

If they had really met before, forgetting her would have been impossible.

“Ah…”

In response to Marina’s question, the girl softly uttered a single sound.

Even that brief voice was as pleasant as spring water dripping onto jade.

“I’m Ishikawa Yuka.”

“Please take care of me, Anmiya Marina.”

“Ah… so it’s you…”

“I’ve heard a great deal about you, Ishikawa Yuka.”

As she replied, Marina’s mind raced through the information she had on “Ishikawa Yuka.”

As the daughter of the Ishikawa family, one of the Upper Five Houses, she was an anomaly.

She had never appeared at social banquets, had no engagement, and did not participate in matchmaking gatherings.

As a result, almost nothing was known about her.

The information passed to Marina had previously marked this person as “requires attention,” but it had recently been changed to “no need to monitor.”

The reason was unclear.

However, that was not something Marina needed to judge.

She simply had to carry out her “mission.”

“Anmiya-san, please be friends with me!”

“Eh…?”

The sudden request left Marina completely stunned.

Someone wanted to be friends with her?

That was a situation she had never even imagined.

But… perhaps it could be used.

Ishikawa Yuka herself might not be important, but the Ishikawa family behind her was a valuable card.

In an instant, Marina made her decision.

“Hehe… in that case, from today onward, Ishikawa-san and I are friends.”

“Ah! Please just call me Yuka!”

“Understood, Yuka-san.”

“Then please call me Marina as well.”

Marina deliberately used the slightly distant “-san” to test her reaction.

Normally, when addressing the young lady of the Ishikawa family, one would use “Lady Ishikawa” or “Lady Yuka.”

Yet the other party showed no objection at all.

That further confirmed the assessment of “no need to monitor.”

But still…

“Looking forward to getting along, Marina~”

“…………”

Not only did she show no displeasure at being called “-san,” she instead affectionately used “Marina.”

And from her expression, it was obvious she was hoping Marina would address her just as intimately.

Marina called her “Yuka-san,” yet she replied with “Marina,” the urging implication unmistakable.

Especially with those eyes full of expectation, it was hard to refuse.

“Please take care of me… Yuka.”

“!”

“Okay!”

Friends?

It was supposed to be nothing more than surface-level courtesy.

A relationship built on mutual use.

That was how it should have been.

It should have been…

Yet Marina found herself inexplicably flustered, her cheeks faintly warm.

Life at Ōka Academy officially began.

As the earliest arrival in the classroom, Marina once again sat quietly in her seat.

Just as she thought no one would approach her, a figure came closer.

“Good morning, Yuka~”

“Good morning, Marina.”

It was Ishikawa Yuka, who had become her “friend” just a few days ago.

Being around her was unexpectedly easy.

Since she required no special attention, Marina could simply put on her usual well-behaved mask and deal with things as she always did.

After exchanging greetings, Yuka returned to her seat.

Not long after, a conspicuous figure entered the classroom.

Matsuyama Shōko.

Currently classified as a top-level threat requiring strict surveillance.

The moment Shōko entered the classroom, greetings rang out from all directions.

Everyone was desperately trying to curry favor with her.

As the most widely acknowledged candidate closest to the “Princess Consort” position, she was naturally Marina’s number-one target for vigilance.

“Good morning, Shōko~”

“Hmph!”

Even Yuka went over to greet Shōko, actively trying to be friendly.

Yet she received only a contemptuous snort and was completely ignored.

Watching this scene, an inexplicable irritation surged up in Marina’s chest.

She was annoyed that Yuka would try to flatter a woman like that.

And she was annoyed that Shōko dared to deliberately ignore Yuka’s greeting.

She couldn’t quite explain why.

It just unsettled her.

Carrying that pent-up frustration, Marina made it through the first day of classes.

Classes finally ended.

But for Marina, the real trial was only just beginning.

“Yuka, you’re going to the salon, right?”

“Want to go together?”

“Marina!”

“Sure, let’s go together.”

Marina called out to Yuka, and the two headed toward the Ōka Association’s salon.

Yuka herself was a carefree, easygoing person with no sense of tension.

But her status as the “Ishikawa family’s daughter” was extremely useful.

Anything that could be used, Marina would not waste.

The two arrived together at the entrance to the Ōka Association salon, where they found another tense and uneasy figure standing there.

“Shōko!”

“…Why are you in a place like this?”

“This is the Ōka Association’s salon.”

“Unauthorized people are not allowed in.”

Yuka greeted her proactively, only to receive Shōko’s barbed response.

However, Shōko’s expression clearly relaxed a little.

It seemed she didn’t dare to enter the salon alone.

Marina understood that feeling all too well.

Because she sympathized, she had deliberately brought Yuka along.

Otherwise, she herself would probably still be sitting nervously in the classroom.

“Yuka is also a related party, so that should be fine, right?”

“Hmph!”

“You too…”

“Don’t get too smug.”

“You’ll get what’s coming to you.”

Shōko immediately snapped back at Marina.

Their families were of similar standing, both belonging to the Lower Seven Houses.

Their family ranks were roughly equal.

In the struggle for the Princess Consort position, Marina absolutely could not allow the currently leading Shōko to continue dominating alone.

“O-okay, okay…”

“You two…”

“Let’s not block the entrance.”

“Shall we go in?”

As Yuka spoke, she pushed open the heavy door engraved with falling wisteria blossoms without hesitation.

Even those from the Lower Seven Houses couldn’t help but feel awe when facing this threshold symbolizing supreme power.

Marina and Shōko instantly forgot their glares and bickering, their bodies stiffening with tension.

The scene beyond the door felt like another world entirely.

The decor was luxurious yet elegant.

Upperclassmen were relaxing gracefully and at ease.

Yuka’s entrance drew their attention, and countless gazes immediately converged on them.

“Ah, you should go in first.”

“No, no, you were the one waiting at the door.”

“Please, go ahead.”

With stiff smiles on their faces, Shōko and Marina pushed the responsibility onto each other, both wanting the other to step into that space first.

Most of the upperclassmen in the salon were familiar faces they had encountered at various banquets before.

Members of families qualified to enter the Ōka Association had generally all met each other at least once.

There were almost no complete strangers.

But stepping into the Ōka Association salon still felt different.

This was the gathering place of the future core figures who would control the country.

Unlike banquets, where one was merely part of the crowd.

This was a space where the nation’s future would be decided.

Realizing that made it impossible to step in lightly.

It should have been so…

And yet…

“…………”

While Shōko and Marina were busy politely yielding and competing with each other, Yuka had already calmly entered the room.

She accepted a cup of tea and sat down in a corner seat.

Her unhurried, natural attitude was so effortless that it left not only Marina but even Shōko speechless.

“So you’re new students.”

“Welcome.”

“Come, over here.”

“Introduce yourselves to everyone.”

“Y-yes!”

Being singled out by an upperclassman, the two who had been frozen at the entrance could only steel themselves and step inside, introducing themselves under the seniors’ gazes.

“I’m Matsuyama Shōko!”

“Please take care of me!”

“I’m Anmiya Marina.”

“I humbly ask for your guidance, senpai.”

“It’s been a while, Shōko.”

“We haven’t met since the last banquet, have we?”

“Marina, come over here and chat for a bit.”

As soon as their introductions ended, the familiar upperclassmen called out to them one after another.

Naturally, there were factions here as well.

Small groups formed based on closeness or distance in relationships.

While the Ōka Association would unite when facing external pressure, internally it was far from monolithic.

Influenced by business ties and family relations, each member’s position differed.

“Hey, doesn’t that girl need to introduce herself?”

“Is that really okay?”

Shōko pointed at Yuka, who was already sitting in the corner with her tea, and questioned the surrounding upperclassmen.

Her intention was obvious.

She was tattling, accusing Yuka of lacking manners.

However, the upperclassmen merely exchanged glances.

No one responded to Shōko.

“Ah, sorry I’m late.”

“Oh?”

“The new students are already here.”

“Ah! Yōta-senpai!”

“Good day!”

The arrival of Ishikawa Yōta caused Shōko’s expression to change instantly as she greeted him enthusiastically.

Her primary target was Noyama Hiroki, whose family ranked first.

But Yōta, whose family ranked second and who was older, was also an extremely important target.

Even if she couldn’t win over Noyama, gaining Yōta’s favor would still be a major success.

“Shōko, welcome.”

“Marina, please take care of me as well.”

“Yes.”

“Please take care of me.”

Shōko wanted to say a few more words to Yōta and grow closer to him.

However, Yōta simply walked past them.

He headed straight toward the corner of the room.

Toward Yuka, who had neither introduced herself nor greeted anyone, and had been quietly drinking tea.

Shōko was full of anticipation that Yōta would reprimand Yuka for her lack of etiquette.

But what happened next completely shattered that expectation.

“Yuka, you’re already here.”

“I thought you wouldn’t come, so I even went to the classroom to look for you.”

“Big brother…”

“Mother fixed my after-school and cram school schedule.”

“She even reminded me repeatedly to show my face at the salon.”

“How could I not come?”

Their conversation wasn’t entirely audible.

But the intimacy between them was unmistakable.

More importantly, Shōko caught a word she absolutely could not have misheard.

Yuka had clearly called Yōta “big brother.”

“Yōta-senpai… is her brother…?”

Completely overwhelmed, Shōko could only stare blankly at the two of them and mutter to herself.

At that moment, Marina leaned close to her ear and whispered.

“When you heard the name ‘Ishikawa Yuka,’ a normal person should’ve realized it immediately, right?”

“I thought that even someone like you, who doesn’t really do intelligence work, would have at least considered that much…”

“!?”

Only then did Shōko finally react.

In this circle, similar names and family relations were everywhere.

If you traced things back, almost all families were connected somehow.

So she hadn’t paid much attention to the surname “Ishikawa” before.

Logically speaking, by the time they reached the age of Shōko, Marina, or Yuka, they should have already made a formal debut at some banquet.

Not appearing in the social scene at this age was completely abnormal.

That was why Shōko had arrogantly assumed that Yuka, whom she had never seen at any banquet, wasn’t qualified to stand on equal footing with her.

But… if Yuka really was the legitimate daughter of the Ishikawa family…

“W-wait…”

“Then why hasn’t she participated in social events at this age…?”

“Could she really be… from the Upper Five Houses…?”

“No way.”

“You seriously didn’t notice?”

Marina looked at Shōko with pity.

But Shōko no longer had the energy to care about anything else.