Kenkyo, Kenjitsu o Motto ni Ikite Orimasu

Chapter 162

Hi guys! Looking for experienced cleaners or type-setters to help with the .

So, to everybody I pinged on Discord Friday night, you may have noticed that this was delayed by two days. I have a very good reason for that, so good that it absolves me of all wrong, but Im afraid Im not allowed to tell you. Ever. Instead have a double release I guess.

Oh, and if anybody hasnt read it yet, Id like to recommend which is a more wilful personality is dumped into a trash girls body in (sometimes faux) Ancient China story.

Id prefer not to spoil things since the author (shockingly) understands that dumping information on people will not necessarily make them care, but its a fun and surprisingly refreshing read.

Right after the School Festival finished, two rumours were the talk of Suiran; The Emperor ate Takamichi Wakabas hand-made biscuits two days in a row and Enjou-sama has a mystery woman.

When the School Festival was over, all anybody could talk about was how the Emperor ate Takamichi Wakabas hand-made biscuits two days in a row, and how Enjous mysterious girlfriend had appeared.

Thanks to that, things were noisier for me too.

What do you think about all this, Reika-sama? How could Kaburagi-sama of all people eat home-made sweets? And he even went there two days in a row, and even bought extra to bring home with him!

Bring home? As I recall, those biscuits just extras for the tea. They were not for sale, unless I am mistaken

Well, its Kaburagi-sama, so who would refuse But its not even that he really liked the biscuits. They were made by a number of people, but he only wanted the ones made by Takamichi-san.

Youre being way too blunt, Kaburagi

Apparently on the second day all of the girls involved with baking the biscuits tried to give him theirs. The only ones he touched were Takamichi-sans though.

Goodness The biscuits Takamichi-san baked must have truly matched his palate.

Why are you being so carefree, Reika-sama. Come on, you need to get your act together! sulked Kikuno.

There wasnt much I could do though

This morning Kaburagi-sama greeted Takamichi-san in the hallway again mumbled Ayame-chan.

I heard from girls in her cla.s.s that whenever he comes to greet Enjou-sama he always greets her as well.

It couldnt be that Kaburagi-sama truly

Hey-! Dont say something so extreme! Serika-chan said before covering her ears.

Reika-sama? Have you heard anything from Kaburagi-sama?

What do you mean by anything?

Like we were saying, something about Takamichi-san. Has it ever come up in the conversations in the Pivoine?

Not so far as I can remember.

The girls all sighed. Sorry for being useless, everyone.

Should Kaburagi-sama not be free to love whomever he wants, though?

Reika-sama! How could you say that! I dont like it! How could somebody just monopolise Kaburagi-sama like that! All of the girls in Suiran agree with me!

You must be exaggerating

No, its true! declared Kikuno-chan without a shred of hesitation.

Everybody nodded along like it was natural.

I guess since Kaburagi was like an idol, it wasnt strange that his fans acted the way idol fans did.

Even if Kaburagi-sama did find a girlfriend, she would have to be somebody we could all accept. If it was Yurie-sama then all of us would have felt that it was inevitable, but I dont think anybody would accept Takamichi-san.

Right? Her background is unsuitable for him, and arent her looks just normal? Shes basically only good at studying, right?

Oh no. What if Takamichi-san only came to Suiran to look for a rich man? Thats horrible!

Whoa, whoa, please dont just randomly decide that Wakaba-chans a gold digger.

Does Takamichi-san seem so ill-natured?

Goodness, are you taking Takamichi Wakabas side over ours, Reika-sama?

That was not my intention

Oh boy. I could even make things worse if I wasnt careful. Worse for both Wakaba-chan and me.

By the way, who was that woman with Enjou-sama Ayame-chan changed the subject, with an expression that I couldnt quite place.

Everybody exchanged glances.

They seemed rather close

She linked arms with Enjou-sama.

And she even called Enjou-sama Shuu

Enjou-sama called her Yuiko too.

It cant be

Everyone seemed to be bitterly thinking the same thing. Was that his girlfriend?

What do you think, Reika-sama?

I have no idea either

Katsuragi Boy called her Enjou-sans lover didnt he. Not that it meant that it was true

What I did know was why Bird Brain had picked so many fights with me now. The adulation in his eyes when he looked at her was something else. Not that I couldnt understand it.

We only met for a short while, but Yuuko-san had a special atmosphere. It was transient and ephemeral like the moon rippling on the water.

I think my friends realised it too. They had none of the energy, unlike when it came to Wakaba-chan.

Yeah. That girl was scary. I dont think I could win.

By the way, Reika-sama, who on earth were those boys taking photographs of you?

I think one of them had a lisp. When he said Reika-san, come over here~ it sounded like he was saying Reika-tan, come over here~

Please dont bring that up

Thanks to the stupid Kaburagis thoughtlessness, girls were getting more and more jealous of Wakaba-chan. Not a few times I saw them muttered ugly or dont get ahead of yourself as they pa.s.sed her. I guess it was a relief that Wakaba-chan didnt seem fazed though.

One morning I came to school earlier than usual, and came across Wakaba-chan in the shoe hallway. I thought that I should at least greet her. When I walked over though, I noticed that she seemed troubled.

Gokigenyoh, Takamichi-san. Is something the matter?

Eh-

When she turned to face me, in her hands were a pair of in-door shoes stained with ink.

Aaah Yeah, uh, for some reason these turned pitch black

Obviously somebody did this. So mean.

How about borrowing some slippers for now? I do not see you wearing those again. Once the school store opens you can buy yourself another pair.

Hmmm I guess even washing these wouldnt work, huh.

No, I suspect it would not. That does not look like watercolour ink. Perhaps it is brush ink

Who knows. But I really need it to wash off. Its really going to hurt my wallet otherwise

Oh right. The rest of us would have bought a new pair without another thought, but I guess it would be quite a burden on a commoners budget. The stuff that Suiran used was pretty expensive after all.

I dont mind insults and stuff but this kind of bullying is really a problem. Hmmm Would bleach really not work though? Id be okay with it for now if I could just get it to a light grey.

Suddenly, I remembered. I actually had bought a new pair without a thought before.

Umm, I actually have a pair that are a little dirty, if you are fine with that.

Ehh!?

For now we had Wakaba-chan put on some slippers, and then we headed to the locker room. I opened my own locker, and brought out a bag from the very back of it. Inside were a pair of indoor shoes.

Here.

Eh!? These dont look dirty at all.

They are dirty at the bottom.

She turned them over but still couldnt seem to find anything.

They look clean, though?

Actually, I stepped in pigeon droppings with these.

Pigeon droppings?

Indeed, I nodded gravely.

It was a nice early afternoon. I had been on a stroll with my friends after lunch, happily thinking about how full I was, and what great weather it was.

That was when I stepped right into the bird p.o.o.p. Fresh bird p.o.o.p, still warm even, which was why I slipped a little.

Aahh! Reika-sama stepped in p.o.o.p!

Reika-sama! Lets wash it off for now!

I was led by the girls to the taps, still in shock and feeling a little dazed. We used a brush somewhere to clean it off, and it wasnt hard since the soles were rubber. When we were done we even used disinfectant.

It was still gross to me though, and I didnt want others to think I was wearing bird p.o.o.p shoes, so I ended up just buying a new pair.

I have washed and disinfected it, but

Is it really okay for me to take this from you? It looks brand new, you know?

True. But it has still been in pigeon droppings. Even you mind, surely?

No, not at all, she declared.

She hadnt hesitated at all.

These look brand new. Actually Im really thankful for them. Ah, but would the size fit? Ive got pretty big feet. Im a size 23.5.

I am a size 24.

Eh? Then isnt that just perfect? Ehehe, she laughed.

Thank goodness. If I managed to help Wakaba-chan then that there was a meaning in stepping in that bird p.o.o.p!

Did they do this to your shoes yesterday?

Or had they come to school earlier? Maybe they were still watching

Hard to say. Ah! It looks like it fits perfectly! Thank you very much!

No, they had pigeon dropping on them so pay it no mind Still, thank goodness I happened to come early today.

I was actually here to prepare for one of my weaker subjects in the library.

Yeah. Thanks to that I came away with shoes that were even cleaner than my own ones. What luck!

G.o.d, she was such an optimist.

You seem quite early yourself, Takamichi-san. Was there some reason to it today?

Oh, I always come early just to make sure Im not late. Since I catch the train here there are accidents and delays sometimes, you know~ Cant let that perfect attendance award go! she clenched a fist.

Aah~ So she was worried about the train. Thinking back, that incident with the bike was because of a cancelled train too, wasnt it. And wow, was she eager for perfect attendance. Going after the money bonus, huh.

But if that is the only issue, then could you not simply apply for proof of lateness?

Well yeah, but that feels like running away to me. And Id miss out on cla.s.s too.

Wow! Youre amazing, Wakaba-chan! As expected of one of our grades top 3 talents.

Anyway, since people were going to come soon, I said goodbye to Wakaba-chan and headed for my own room.