Chapter 59: It’s Yuka’s scent!

These days, Matsuyama Shoko felt that something was off between Ishikawa Yuka and Anmiya Marina.

Not long ago, Anmiya Marina’s gaze toward Big Sister Yuka still carried hints of testing and scrutiny.

But lately… that gaze had inexplicably taken on a fiery temperature.

This was definitely not Shoko’s imagination.

She was too familiar with that kind of gaze; because she herself, Fujiwara Keiko, and Kiyohisa Tachiki all had it.

Precisely because she was a person who had been there, she could immediately sense it when others displayed such an expression.

Why suddenly…? When exactly did it start?

This question actually had an answer.

Come to think of it, the sudden change in Anmiya Marina’s attitude occurred precisely after that day when she had promised to go out and play with Big Sister Yuka.

Since then, the way Anmiya Marina looked at Big Sister Yuka had become unusually fervent.

Just what had happened that day…? They said they went out to play; just what did they do…?

She should have canceled all her plans and followed them.

It was too late to regret it now; it was all because she had been concerned about appearances back then, not wanting to seem as if she cared too much about interacting with Marina.

Who could have thought that just one outing could produce such a big change?

Anmiya Marina had originally seemed to be Shoko’s nemesis.

Long before entering Ōka Academy, whenever they met at banquets, a tense atmosphere would fill the air between the two of them.

The other girl always put on a carefree front and never explicitly expressed dissatisfaction, but she clearly harbored hostility toward Shoko and her small group.

They were clearly in a rival relationship.

This state had not changed even after entering Ōka Academy.

Although the Shoko faction and the Marina faction wouldn’t clash openly, they both regarded the other as an opponent.

These two factions were like powder kegs that could explode at any moment…

But from some point on, they began to have lunch together, chat between classes, and go to the Salon together…

Just when had they become like ordinary classmates?

Moreover… Anmiya Marina’s attitude toward Big Sister Yuka had taken a drastic turn.

While she maintained a normal level of interaction on the surface, underneath it all, she had shifted from being full of hostility to practically becoming one of Big Sister Yuka’s followers.

Shoko had wondered why Big Sister Yuka would keep someone like Anmiya Marina, who schemed in the shadows, by her side.

But thinking about it now, everything had an explanation.

From the very start, Big Sister Yuka had intended to bring Anmiya Marina and her faction to heel.

Normally, this would have been impossible, especially since Big Sister Yuka had already absorbed the Matsuyama faction.

Wanting to then bring in the Saionji family, who were hostile to the Matsuyama faction, along with their surrounding forces, was simply a pipe dream.

But Big Sister Yuka had done it with ease.

In fact, Anmiya Marina had already become utterly devoted to Big Sister Yuka, and the Matsuyama faction and Saionji faction were no longer in conflict, gradually consolidating under the name of “Ishikawa Yuka.”

Such a thing sounded unbelievable, yet it was actually happening before her very eyes.

Regardless of whether one believed it or not, that was the reality that was unfolding.

‘As expected of Big Sister Yuka!’

Shoko grew ever more in awe of Yuka’s skill and charm.

Being able to simultaneously absorb factions that were originally hostile to each other was something no ordinary person could do.

That was precisely why Yuka was so extraordinary.

She hadn’t been wrong about her from the start.

She shouldn’t be the one standing at the summit; she should serve Yuka, pouring out all her strength for Yuka and existing only for Yuka.

How wonderful that would be!

This was all good.

This was just another example of Big Sister Yuka’s exceptional charm.

The problem was…

“Hey… you… just what happened between you and Yuka-sama?”

“Hah…”

When Shoko spoke to her, Marina clearly looked away and even sighed.

It was so infuriating.

‘I still hate this woman!’ Shoko thought, but didn’t say it out loud.

Easily uttering vile words was the same as admitting defeat.

She had to always maintain her elegance and preserve the air of a young lady, avoiding crude verbal exchanges and blatant sarcasm.

“Sigh… Exhale… Good day, Anmiya Marina-san. I’ve heard that after your outing with Ishikawa Yuka-sama, you seem to have gained her favor; I wonder what activities you engaged in back then?”

Calm down and change your approach.

This might be more effective against Marina, who liked to put on airs.

“Hah… never mind… Matsuyama Shoko-san, it seems you have some misunderstandings. Nothing happened between Yuka and me, and nothing has changed. In the end, I am merely one of her ordinary classmates.”

“If you’re asking what we did for fun, it was just going shopping.”

She said it so lightly, as if it were just an ordinary shopping trip.

That was impossible!

Shoko didn’t believe that just shopping could have bridged the gap between the two so much, especially since the other party was this black-hearted Anmiya Marina, who was always plotting something in the shadows.

That Anmiya Marina, who pretended to be a friend on the surface but schemed to belittle her rivals in her heart, could never have changed her attitude because of one simple shopping trip.

“You… you…!”

Shoko was about to lash out, but she suddenly stopped, thinking, “Wait…?”

Perhaps… Marina herself wasn’t aware of it yet?

Shoko had been the same at first.

Initially, she had also been unwilling to admit she was so easily drawn to Big Sister Yuka.

Then, Anmiya Marina might similarly not realize or be unwilling to admit her own feelings.

Shoko speculated in this way.

If that were the case, things would be simple.

Shoko didn’t need to say anything more to Marina.

Being pointed out by others might only make her more aware, thereby recognizing her own feelings.

So it was better to let it go.

Fujiwara Keiko or Kiyohisa Tachiki would have been easier to deal with, but if Anmiya Marina joined the battle for Big Sister Yuka, it would be too much trouble.

It would be better to establish a decisive lead before Marina awakened to her own feelings.

To that end, she shouldn’t let Marina face her feelings too quickly.

There was no need to arm the enemy.

She should take this chance to completely entrance Yuka with Shoko.

By the time Marina realized her heart and tried to intervene, it would be too late…

She should win Big Sister Yuka’s heart completely right now.

“I apologize. Please disregard what I said. Well then, I wish you a pleasant day.”

“I wish you a pleasant day…”

Watching Shoko suddenly brighten and turn to leave, Marina could only blankly see her off.

Although she cared about what had happened between Marina and Big Sister Yuka, judging from Marina’s attitude, nothing decisive had occurred yet.

Then there was nothing to worry about.

Next, it was Shoko’s turn to make her move.

“Hehe… uuhehe!”

Shoko skipped down the hallway.

Today was the day she was visiting the Ishikawa residence.

Although it was a bit unfortunate that it was on a weekday again, this time it was different from the last.

This time it would be just her and Big Sister Yuka alone!

Moreover, she was being invited into the house, even into Big Sister Yuka’s bedroom!

Alone in the room.

Just the two of them, alone with Big Sister Yuka.

“Uhehe… ahaha!”

She had to hurry back and prepare… what happened between Marina and Big Sister Yuka was surely just a small matter.

She and Big Sister Yuka were about to be alone in her bedroom!

Even if those around her cast startled glances, Shoko didn’t care; she happily skipped toward the school entrance.

Having arrived at the Ishikawa residence, Shoko was led inside by a maid.

As soon as she reached the entrance hall, she saw Big Sister Yuka already waiting there.

Today, she was wearing casual clothes; although her kimono outfit last time had been beautiful, her Western clothes were also cute.

Shoko strongly suppressed the urge to immediately rush over and hug her.

If there weren’t other people present, she might have really done that, but the lady of the Ishikawa family was also there.

She couldn’t make such a rude gesture.

More importantly, she would soon be alone in the room, so there was no need to rush things.

Just bear it a bit longer… as long as she held out until they entered the room, it would be just her and Big Sister Yuka alone.

After greeting Mrs. Ishikawa, Shoko should have been led to her room by Big Sister Yuka… but for some reason, a young maid followed along.

‘Why is this maid following?’ Shoko thought.

Since they were in her own house, couldn’t she have the sense to disappear on her own?

But she obviously couldn’t say that out loud.

Moreover, this maid was a familiar face.

She was always closely following Miss Yuka on the way to and from school.

Shoko’s instincts were screaming a warning: this was someone who needed to be watched closely, far from comparable to that Anmiya Marina from before.

This maid was definitely not simple; she had to be careful.

“Please, come in. This is my room.”

“Waaa! This is Big Sister Yuka’s room…?”

The room she was led into… was completely different from what Shoko had imagined.

It wasn’t that anything was strange; it was just filled with an indescribable sense of incongruity.

Shoko immediately understood the reason.

This room was too organized.

A Western-style room, carpet, a four-poster bed, and antique-style tables, chairs, and a wardrobe… everything seemed normal.

That was right; it was precisely because “everything” was too normal… that even though she felt a sense of incongruity, she couldn’t pinpoint the specific problem.

Shoko’s own room was filled with cute trinkets, stuffed animals, prep school textbooks, and study supplies, with her beloved toys and stuffed animals even piled onto her bed, and clothes hanging everywhere.

It wasn’t that it was dirty or untidy; all those things were put in their place.

So no one would say her room was dirty or messy.

But this room was different.

It was indeed decorated with paintings, and there were fresh flowers in vases.

Everything was in order.

Too in order.

It was like a display room, a model from a real estate showing, completely lacking any sense of life.

Yuka truly slept, studied, and lived in this room.

It wasn’t a fake room set up for display.

But it was extremely devoid of life.

There were no extra trinkets, no signs of disorder, and no traces of use.

It was an abnormally distorted space.

It wasn’t like an ordinary girl’s room at all; its level of organization was more like a room for adults to receive guests.

“Big Sister Yuka… is… is your room always like this?”

“Did you clean it specifically because I was coming?”

‘What if… it was cleaned because she was visiting?’

That would be fine.

But…

“……Eh? Is it messy? I’m sorry. I’m usually like this… let me tidy up a bit. Just wait for a moment, Shoko.”

Saying this, Yuka was about to start cleaning.

But in this situation, what exactly was there to clean up?

What could be cleaned in this lifeless, overly tidy room?

“Big Sister Yuka!”

“Yes!”

Startled by Shoko’s sudden loud voice, Yuka abruptly stopped her movements.

Seeing Shoko’s strange expression as she turned back, Yuka hurried over.

“Shoko? What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Listening to Yuka’s worried questions, Shoko wasn’t actually feeling unwell.

This urge to cry… almost made her blurt out: “Big Sister Yuka, just how much of yourself are you suppressing to live like this?!”

Those words could not be said.

A girl in the springtime of her life, not allowed to behave as lively as her peers, not allowed to place her favorite trinkets or stuffed animals in her room.

Shoko thought she had grown up under strict education as well.

She had thought so.

But at least, her family would buy her toys when she wanted them, and she could go out and play when she wanted to.

But what about Yuka?

The appearance of this spare, empty room…

It was indeed neat and clean.

But that was absolutely not how a first-grade girl’s room should look.

None of the rooms Shoko had visited belonging to girls of a similar age were like this.

Everyone would display their favorite trinkets, stuffed animals, and anime merchandise, living in rooms full of life.

And Yuka wasn’t allowed to have these things.

Yuka’s elegant demeanor, the composure she showed on a daily basis, and her achievements in physical education and cultural lessons that far surpassed others—Shoko had seen it all.

Now she understood the reason: it was because Yuka sacrificed all her personal life, constantly playing the role of a perfect young lady.

At all times, even in her own bedroom, she had to embody “how a young lady should be.”

Here, not a single shred of self-indulgence was permitted.

Precisely because she went to such lengths was Big Sister Yuka able to be Big Sister Yuka.

Thinking of this, Shoko finally understood that her own efforts were negligible compared to Big Sister Yuka’s.

She had even been jealous of Big Sister Yuka at one point; ultimately, it was just that she hadn’t worked hard enough.

“Are you alright? Shoko? Do you want to rest for a bit?”

“Come here… please, lie down on my bed, although it’s bare…”

While Shoko was deep in thought, Yuka had frantically and anxiously helped her to lie down on her bed.

At that moment, all thoughts flew from Shoko’s mind.

“Waaa! It’s Big Sister Yuka’s bed! It’s Big Sister Yuka’s scent!”

“Sniff, sniff! Mmm~!”

As soon as she was settled on the bed, Shoko buried her face in the bedding and pillows, deeply breathing in the scent that emanated from them, clutching the quilt tightly and rolling around the bed back and forth.