Chapter 8: We’re Friends Now!!!

The entrance day of the Elementary Division at Ōka Academy held extraordinary meaning for every major family.
The families of the academy’s students included nearly all the most influential enterprises and noble houses in Japan.

Being able to enter Ōka Academy was itself proof of one’s lineage, and yet even within it, strict hierarchies remained.

In the eyes of the outside world, even the lowest-ranked student of Ōka Academy was like someone living beyond the clouds.

However, the difference between a declining old noble house and a financial conglomerate controlling the lifeline of Japan remained like the distance between heaven and earth.
At Ōka Academy, the order of hierarchy would already begin revealing itself on the day of the entrance ceremony.

For small and mid-tier families, this was also the perfect occasion to climb toward power.
Schemes serving political marriages and business strategies flowed beneath the surface.Countless corporate mergers and conglomerate marriages began from the connections made by parents here, and from the arrangements of marriage contracts between their children.
The entrance ceremony was the opening scene of this grand play.

When a luxury car stopped in front of the gate, and a doll-like girl stepped out gracefully, she immediately drew the attention of everyone present.

“Oh…”

“Whose child is that?”

“Even her way of walking is so elegant.”

“That’s the lady of the Ishikawa family…”

“So that means she is the Ishikawa family’s…”

Her eyes were black as ink, her hair cascading like a waterfall.
Her straight, long hair shone with healthy luster.
Her posture was so upright it was as if her spine was supported with steel, and her steps were calm and composed.
Every movement revealed excellent upbringing, completely unlike a first-year student who had just turned six.
That faint, elusive smile and determined gaze made all the adults present fall in admiration.

“So cute~”

“I’ve never seen a girl like that!”

The children were also deeply intrigued by the new student.

Usually, children admitted to Ōka Academy already knew one another before enrollment.
Of course, families from the top and bottom tiers rarely interacted, but children of equal lineage often met at their parents’ social gatherings.

Yet no one present had ever seen this young lady of the Ishikawa family at any social occasion.
The reason was simple: Ishikawa Yuka had never appeared at such gatherings.

“Look, Koyoshi. That girl is so cute~”

“Y-Yeah…”

Friends and adults around were all praising that figure endlessly.
This made Matsuyama Shōko feel unbearable.
She was the young lady of the Matsuyama family — how could her lineage and upbringing be compared to that of ordinary people?
It would be no surprise if she married into one of the five great houses that ruled Japan in the future.

This year, Ōka Academy welcomed the young heirs of the Noyama family and the Kurohara family.
Families seeking marriage alliances with those two were countless, and the Matsuyama family was one of the strongest candidates.

Although there were other promising young ladies, in all the social occasions before enrollment, Shōko had always stood slightly above the rest.

And now, this woman who appeared out of nowhere dared to steal the spotlight that should belong to her!

Clearly she was cuter, her lineage nobler, and she knew Noyama Hiroki better…
Unacceptable! Absolutely unacceptable! Unforgivable!

Today, the one who should attract all attention was her!
The one most likely to marry into the Noyama family should also be her!

“Ah! Look!”

“That’s the Noyama family…”

At that moment, the Noyama family’s car arrived.
Naturally, the ones who stepped out were the Noyama couple and their son, Hiroki — the “prince” who held the highest status among this year’s new students.

“Shōko is going to marry Young Master Hiroki, right? That’s so nice… I want a prince like that too!”

“H-Haha… Is that so? If you work hard, you can also find a good partner.”

It might seem too mature coming from a child about to start first grade, but in this world, adults and children alike were used to it.
Here, elementary school students were already planning marriage for the benefit of their families.

“Ah! Look! Young Master Hiroki is talking to that cute girl!”

“And over there, Young Master Kurohara is too… and Ogamori-sama is with them.”

Absurd…
Clearly she, Matsuyama Shōko, was the most promising fiancée candidate, yet Hiroki went to speak to that unknown woman first, and their parents were happily conversing as well.

Unreasonable! Just who is that girl!

As Shōko seethed with anger, something even more infuriating happened.
Following the Noyama family, the Kurohara family also joined in the cheerful conversation.
Kurohara Shōhei, their young master, was smiling brightly while talking with the girl.

Noyama Hiroki and Kurohara Shōhei were the most anticipated students this year.
To speak with them so intimately — who on earth was that girl?

Unforgivable! Unforgivable!
She had stolen the attention of all adults, the gazes of her peers, and even Hiroki and Shōhei’s interest!

Looking at the interaction between the Noyama, Kurohara, and Ishikawa families, people around them began whispering:
“Could it be that the one to marry into the Noyama or Kurohara family will be that child?”

She would never allow such a thing to happen.
The one who must marry Hiroki was her, Matsuyama Shōko.
She had to make everyone understand who the most fitting fiancée for Hiroki truly was.

Watching the girl called “Ishikawa’s daughter” leave after greeting the two families, Shōko stared at her back with a cold gaze the entire time.

****

After the entrance ceremony ended, Shōko immediately gathered her followers to search for the girl.
What Ishikawa family? She had never heard of them in any social setting.
Surely a fallen house that couldn’t even receive invitations.
How could someone like that be close to Hiroki and Shōhei?

“Ah! Shōko! Over there!”

“…!”

One of the followers spotted the target.
After confirming the direction, Shōko led the group forward.
She commanded her followers to surround the girl who was about to leave.

“Hey, you!”

“Hmm…?”

Only when she was surrounded did the girl show a confused expression, looking at Shōko, then glancing around.
Shōko had expected her to cry when cornered, to embarrass herself in front of Hiroki and Shōhei, and be laughed at by everyone.
However…

“Ah! It’s Shōko~~! Yay! It’s the real Shōko!”

Unexpectedly, the girl threw herself forward excitedly and hugged Shōko.
This sudden action stunned both Shōko and her followers, leaving them unable to react.

The girl not only touched her and hugged her, but also grabbed her hand tightly and shook it hard.

Her followers stood frozen in confusion.
This had gone completely off-script.
They had planned to pressure her, to warn her to stay away from Hiroki and Shōhei…
Yet the girl’s attitude toward Shōko was far too affectionate.
The followers began to suspect whether they had actually known each other, and thus didn’t know what to do.
As for Shōko herself…

“You… have we met before?”

Had she forgotten?
She tried to confirm.

Although she had no impression, the girl had called her name the moment they met.

“Eh…? Ah! Right… well… this should be our first meeting. But I know Shōko very well.”

“I’m Ishikawa Yuka. Please take care of me, Matsuyama Shōko-sama.”

The girl who called herself Yuka greeted her with flawless etiquette.
As someone born into a prestigious family, Shōko had received strict education and training, and was confident in her manners.

But compared to Yuka, her own posture seemed like child’s play.
The girl’s poise could be used as a model in a manners textbook.

“And please take care of me as well.”

She even greeted each follower by name.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
None of them had ever seen this girl before, yet she could correctly call each of them by name.

Knowing someone’s name wasn’t rare — Shōko herself had heard of people she’d never met.
But to call out everyone present… that was too abnormal.
Everyone wore expressions of confusion, question marks floating above their heads.

“D-Don’t get carried away!”

Unable to handle the situation, Shōko finally reacted, lifting her hand to give this “Yuka” a slap.
However…

“Here, this is a handshake between friends. From now on, we are friends.”

Yuka easily caught the hand Shōko swung at her, turned it into a friendly handshake, and then gave her a bright smile.

For that instant, Shōko’s heart skipped a beat.
Facing that gentle, straightforward smile… she found the girl beautiful.

Unforgivable.
Being close to Hiroki and Shōhei was unforgivable.
Being praised by all adults and children was unforgivable.
But now she finally understood what was the most unforgivable.

It was herself.

Matsuyama Shōko could not forgive herself.
She could not forgive that she found Yuka cute, that she was fascinated by Yuka’s steps, that she thought Yuka matched Hiroki and Shōhei well, and that when someone she hated so deeply smiled and shook her hand… her heart felt a trace of happiness.

“We’re leaving!”

“Ah! Shōko!”

“Wait~~!”

Leaving behind a bewildered Yuka…
Shōko hurried away from the hall with her followers.

****

“Yuka should be at the entrance ceremony now…”

Toraiwa Takeomi sat under the veranda, sipping tea, muttering to himself.
Recently, his world revolved entirely around Yuka, and he taught her every chance he got.

He had once believed he would never take on another disciple.
After his last student left, he lived alone in this vast dōjō.

Who would have thought that at the end of his life, he would meet such talent?
Planning to spend his remaining days alone, Toraiwa Takeomi decided instead to teach Yuka everything he had learned in his lifetime.

Under normal circumstances, any child being scolded this harshly would cry and give up quickly.
He understood very well — which was why he had never been so strict when teaching the “Toraiwa-ryū Ancient Dance.”

But Ishikawa Yuka was different.

No matter how harsh the scolding, she never gave up. She would sulk sometimes, but as long as he reasoned with her patiently, she would understand, apologize earnestly, and continue practicing seriously.

He had never seen a child so perceptive in his life.

No matter how harsh the reprimand, she could keep practicing with unwavering focus. It must be a natural gift. In his long years of experience, such children always became great.

“Toraiwa-sensei! Please be the judge this year—”

“Wait! We asked first! Toraiwa-sensei, please come to our event—”

These annoying requests meant nothing to him.

Organizations related to the Toraiwa-ryū Ancient Dance constantly fought to invite him as judge or guest, which was extremely bothersome.

“Noisy… I refuse.”

The influence of the Toraiwa-ryū was enormous. Its reach extended into other schools, and many disciples held important positions in associations. Yet the master who trained such elites never appeared in public.

Having him appear at any event would be a tremendous honor.

“Please reconsider!”

“Toraiwa-sensei!”

“I am already giving everything I have just teaching my disciple.”

Those thoughtless words made the gathered people stare at one another.

“W-Wait, Toraiwa-sensei has a new disciple!?”

“I thought he would never take another!”

“T-This is big news!”

Like people smelling major headlines, they scattered quickly. Watching them leave, Takeomi lifted his tea cup again.

“Sigh… so noisy… why hasn’t Yuka returned yet… I’m getting bored.”

What should he teach her next?

For now, the focus was on the surface-level butoh, but that would greatly help with deeper martial training.

Thinking of Yuka absorbing knowledge like a sponge, never discouraged even when scolded, practicing again and again — Takeomi began seriously planning the next lessons.