Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ.
Thank you for your consideration, guys!

---

For some reason as I was translating this chapter, I kept thinking of midoriha…

---

It was our job to get a list of names and club affiliations in order to bring to the Student Council.
We had our classmates fill out the forms, but just when I was about to head to the Student Council room to deliver it, Class Pres suddenly suggested,

“Why don’t I go alone?”

“Why ever would you do that?”

“Eh-, I mean, look, people say that the Pivoine and Student Council don’t really get along… And you are technically a Pivoine member.”

What is ‘technically’ supposed to mean? How rude.

“There is no issue. More importantly, it was implied that this task is to be taken as a way to introduce ourselves to the Student Council, and I shall thus be accompanying you. We will be leaving right after, at any rate.”

“I’m fine if you are, but…”

“Then let us tarry no longer. The sooner we complete this task, the sooner we can head home.”

After waving the papers in my hand to urge Class Rep to hurry, we headed to the StuCo together.

*imouto*

It’s my first time coming here.
There aren’t any 1st years in the Student Council, so we’re rarely familiar with them at all.
After knocking on the door and stating our purpose, we were given permission to enter.

“Please excuse me.”

Inside the room were desks, shelves and lockers, as well as a sofa and table in the middle. Quite a simple room compared to the Pivoine salon.
But well, if you use the Pivoine as your standard, then most everything in the world would feel simple.
The room had a really meritocratic feel. Even so, being a room in Zui’ran, the furnishings were of high quality.
After the two of us introduced ourselves, we stated our purpose once more.

“Ah, the club registrar. It goes in the box over there.”

I followed the senpai’s instructions and placed it in the box.
…Well that was quick.
Just as I was about to excuse myself, the door suddenly opened with a bang.

“Oi! I’m back with food, so let’s eat! To be honest I nicked it from the Pivoine though!”

My heart skipped a beat.

“President! This girl is a Pivoine!”

“Eh-”

The newcomer’s eyes focused on me.
A powerful and piercing gaze, a daring smile, and a presence like the sun.
The moment I saw him, it felt like a grand orchestra played in my mind.
A throbbing melody in my heart.
This person is almost like Orff’s O Fortuna!

“Why is there a Pivoine girl here?”

What do I do? I can’t look away.
My heart is pounding. What do I do, it’s pounding!

“Oooi.”

*imouto*

Oh no! I think I might have fallen in love!

*imouto*

*imouto*

After that, I somehow managed to pull myself together and smooth things over.
Thankfully, the upperclassmen in the room had conveniently taken my pause to be shock from “I nicked it from the Pivoine”.
The President simply said, “Geez. Let’s keep this a secret from the rest of the Pivoine, okay?” with a dazzling smile.
I swore in my heart that I would die before I talked.

*imouto*

The person who made the dramatic entrance against the backdrop of O Fortuna, turned out to be a third year in middle school, Student Council President Tomoe Senju-senpai.
That’s all I know for now.
But even that much is plenty.
Since then, Senpai’s theme song has been playing endlessly in my head.
Uu-, my heart hurts each time I think of Senju-senpai’s face!

But that smile was so cool…

“Let’s keep this a secret from the rest of the Pivoine, okay?”

UHYAAAAAAAAAA~!!

I rolled around and around in bed.
By the time I got up, I was completely dizzy.

*imouto*

But still, what do I do from now on?
We’re in different grades. I’m not even a StuCo member so I have no point of contact.
And what’s more, he’s the President of the organisation that’s been at odds with the Pivoine for years.
There’s no chance of getting close at all.
If only Senpai wasn’t the StuCo President at least!

Mn?
…Isn’t this kind of, Romeo and Juliet-ish?
UKYAAAAAA~~! If Senju-senpai is Romeo, then that makes me Juliet!
Romeo, doff thy name!

…Let’s calm down.
I’m part of the Pivoine, so I can’t enter the Student Council. To begin with, he’d have graduated middle school by the time I entered. There’s no point in doing it.
…Senpai is graduating. Romeo-senpai is graduating! Romeo-senpai is…!

…Calm down, me.
To begin with, let’s have him remember my name and face.
Ah-, today he went to get food, so maybe he gets hungry after school.
What if I made him handmade cookies?

“It’s delicious. You’re talented as expected, Juliet.”

“Oh goodness, Romeo-senpai…”

If I got told something like that, what would I do!? What!?
Okay! Cookies it is!

All that’s left is…
I pulled out a new rubber from my drawers.

Um, you know, it’s not like I actually really believe in this stuff, you know?
But I mean, like, when I was a middle schooler in my past life, for a while I was really into this.
It’s just this charm that goes, “If you write the name of your beloved on a new rubber, as long as nobody else touches it before it runs out, your love will be requited”.
Like, I reallyyy don’t actually believe it, you know? But like, I mean, I may as well, so I’m just going to try a bit. You know?
I pulled off the case, and wrote in small red letters,

“Tomoe Senju”

Putting the case back on, I prayed to Rubber-sama.
Please, God! Grant me a chance!

*imouto*

*imouto*

Using my head makes me hungry. It’s already time for dinner.
Lately Oniisama has been coming home early. Today he was home in time to eat dinner with us.
Eating together with family really does make things yummier.
Aahh, but my heart is so full that I might not be able to eat…
I’m being tormented by an affliction of the heart.
Oh my! Beef cheek simmered in red wine is my favourite!

Each time our eyes meet, Oniisama smiles at me kindly.
Hmmm.
If Romeo-senpai’s character theme is Orff’s O Fortuna, then Oniisama’s character theme is Ravel’s Bolero I guess.
Then Aira-sama’s is Liszt’s La Campanella while Yurie-sama’s is Schubert’s Ave Maria.
Enjou is Satie’s Gnossiennes, while Imari-sama is… Hm, maybe In a Persian Market.

Which means Kaburagi is Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain.

*imouto*

*imouto*

A few days later, Mr. In a Persian Market, Imari-sama, came over to play, so I secretly went to consult him.

“Eh-! Reika-chan, there’s a guy you like!?”

“Please remember to keep this a secret from Oniisama.”

“…Ahhh, yeah.”

Without telling him exactly who it was, I asked him for a way to get closer.
Unfortunately I didn’t get any good advice from him.
But he did tell me that handmade cookies were a bit intense to get from somebody you barely knew, so I followed his advice and stopped it.
It’s true that handmade Valentines chocolates aren’t really favoured at Zui’ran, so maybe cookies get the same treatment.
But geez. I even went out of the way to practice. Tsk.

*imouto*

Ah-, but since falling in love, I’ve been having fun every day!

---

Romeo-senpai:

Oniisama:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZDiaRZy0Ak

Aira:

Yurie:

Enjou:

Imari:

Kaburagi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCEDfZgDPS8 (LOL)

 

---

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ.
Thank you for your consideration, guys!

---

Some foods to introduce first:

Unfortunately this chapter isn’t really about food, but these do get mentioned, so I thought I would mention anyway.

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

---

Now that I’m a middle schooler I can walk about on my own, and there’s a place that I’ve always wanted to go to.
The home that I lived in, in my old life.
The world that I live in now is almost exactly the same as my old world. Even the landmarks and station names and addresses are the same.
But there are some parts that are different. Naturally Zui’ran Academy is the first difference, and then there are the families, societies, and people that appear in Kimidol.
Only, aside from these, it really is just like the place that I knew. In that case, just maybe, the home that I lived in, and my family, might be here.

I’ve always, always thought it.
That perhaps, just maybe, I could meet them.

*imouto*

*imouto*

The place I used to live with my family was a town just outside of Tokyo.
Together with my parents and younger sister, the four of us lived there in an apartment.
Dad was a normal salaryman. After getting out of the bath, he would wander about in his underwear and get booed by the rest of us. A dad who was just a tad hopeless at home.
Mum was a housewife, and she was good at cooking. Whenever I came back from a school trip or camp, she would always make the dishes I liked. Takikomigohan, nikujaga and oden. When it came to my sister, it was hamburg steak with ketchup, chawanmushi, and miso soup with nameko mushrooms and tofu.
So I would come back home in the first time in days, and opening the door I would smell the foods that I loved. I’d feel relieved at coming home.
What was it that she made when Dad came back from business trips? Aahh, it was always beer and the like. He’d say that beer was really something, and happily drink it.

In my old life I would always laze about at home, and Mum would get angry because of it.
Why was it that when people tell you to go study before you get to it, you lose all motivation?
When I wasn’t around she would clean up my room without permission, and we’d even fight about it. Even if they were meaningless to Mum, they were important to me, so how could she just throw them out, I would argue.
My little sister was a shrewd one.
She was smart enough to run away when she saw me getting yelled at.
Whenever adults told me to bear with it because I was the older one, or give things to her because I was the older one, I would always wonder why in frustration. Sometimes I hated her a little.
But on nights that we saw scary things on television, we would sleep in the same futon together. And when we went to the toilet, we would hold hands, and then wait outside singing songs to calm each other down.
For my coming-of-age ceremony, she gave me a bag and zori that she bought with money from her part-time job. With a laugh she told me to pay her back when it was her turn.
Dad was always lazing around on the couch. He was like a beached seal, really. Mum would tell me that I was like him.
But on weekends, even if it was just close-by, he would drive us places. We went to the ocean or the mountains to play. The road safety amulet charm that I bought on a trip would hang from the mirror of his car.

*imouto*

*imouto*

I arrived at the station of my old town.
The front of the station seemed the way I remembered it. The large supermarket, and a few other little things were changed, but it was still a nostalgic view.
The distance to my home was ten minutes by foot. After leaving the main street and entering the residential zone, it was on the 7th floor of an apartment complex.

Just a little further. Just a little further. After turning this corner───

It wasn’t there.

In place of the familiar brick apartment complex, was an old, beige building.
Neither the home that I lived in, or the family that I lived with, had been there.

*imouto*

*imouto*

I had the family car pick me up.
The first train ride in a while had been nerve-wracking. Having a car take me to and from is a lot easier.
Once I get used to this, I really can’t return to being a commoner.
Because this lifestyle is going to continue anyway. It can’t be helped.

*imouto*

*imouto*

When I came home, Oniisama was there for once.
He’s been busy ever since he entered university, and lately I don’t even see him at dinner.
Because Oniisama was relaxing on the living room sofa, I sat down by his side and clung to him.

“Mn? What’s wrong, Reika?”

Nothing really. I just wanted to cling to you.
Please don’t mind me, and continue reading your book.

I rubbed my head into his arm.
And he sat there, silently accepting me.

*imouto*

When I was there───
I knew it, I thought.
I knew that this was the world of a manga, so of course they wouldn’t be there.
But I had hoped.
If I could see them, once more…
I wanted to tell them that I loved them.

I should have had Mum teach me how to cook. I won’t be able to taste her food again. I never helped her do anything after all. This is my punishment.

I should have gone to watch baseball with Dad. Instead I wasn’t interested, so I just stayed in my room to read manga. Since I was just his seal daughter anyway, I should have at least lazed about in the living room with him.

I should have been kinder to my sister. When she used my accessories without permission, I seriously grabbed her and fought. I was the older sister, so I should have just let her.

*imouto*

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for being useless.
I want to see you.
Just once more, I want to see you.
I’m so lonely.
I’ve always, always been lonely.
Dad. Mum. Yuka-chan…

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

Apparently I had drifted off before I knew it.
I’d been laying on the couch with a blanket on me.
Was it Oniisama who covered it over me?

There wasn’t anybody in the living room right now.

It’s the Kisshouin house.
I’m Kisshouin Reika.
My family right now is Otousama, Okaasama, and Oniisama.

This time I’ll treasure them.
I’ll definitely protect them.
That’s what I’ve decided.

*imouto*

“Oh? You’re up, Reika?”

Oniisama came back into the living room.

“Ehehe.”

So I jumped at him.

 

---

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ.
Thank you for your consideration, guys!

---

After school as I was walking to the Pivoine salon, I spotted Kaburagi and Enjou up ahead with a gaggle of girls.
Kaburagi used to outright ignore them, but recently he’s been replying at least. Some incredibly vague replies though.
He really has matured, hasn’t he.
But unlike his overbearing self, his manga equivalent was just strong of will, so I wonder how close he’ll get to his manga version in these next three years.

The two of them reached the entrance, and then headed into the salon without hesitation.
Because the salon is forbidden to anybody who isn’t a member, the girls around them were forced to stop before the door.
They stayed there looking reluctant for a while, but giving up, they turned to head back down the hallway and noticed me coming from behind.
I’m not close to these girls, so I was going to just pass by them and head into the salon.

Ah. I’m being glared at.

One of the girls was definitely glaring at me as I passed.
I’m surprised.
I may be saying this myself, but as a Pivoine member, I’m shocked that there’s a girl who would so daringly glare at me.
The Pivoine is a privileged class here at school, so there aren’t many people who would pick a fight from up front. I suppose just the Student Council, really.
My group and this girl’s group haven’t been getting along for a while now, but does this mean they’re finally declaring war on us?
Hmmm… I’ve definitely never thought of getting close to flashy girls like that, but I don’t like troublesome stuff eitherrr.

*imouto*

While I was spacing out in the salon and thinking about the earlier events over some tea, Aira-sama and Yurie-sama called out to me.

“You had some fantastic results for the earlier test didn’t you, Reika-san. Congratulations.”

“It looks like you’ve been trying hard for your English classes too, Reika-chan.”

Uwahh, the Princess and the Knight appeared together. So dazzling-!

“Thank you very much. But it was merely a fluke.”

I’m very glad that I’m close to Aira-sama, but unfortunately I’m not as close to Yurie-sama.
And that’s completely because of the idiot that’s always next to her…

“Yurie.”

Geh-! He appeared.

As expected, Kaburagi appeared right behind Yurie-sama.
And Enjou too.
I look up to Yurie-sama and definitely wanna get closer to her, but because Kaburagi is always close-by, I keep my distance.
Even just now he ruined a perfectly good chance!

Apparently she could somewhat tell that I was bad with Kaburagi because Aira-sama gave me a worried look.
I feel bad for making her worry about me.
I’d better take a harmless and inoffensive stance here…

“Ah, that reminds me. Reika-sama, it must have been dreadful experiencing that deer attack. The photos gave me a shock. You must have been terrified.”

…Yurie-sama, why are you bringing that up now.
A certain Mr. Eternally Unrequited Love is desperately stifling his laughter next to you, but…?

“…Yes, well. I was not injured, so it is no matter.”

Just how long is this idiot going to laugh for.
Urghhhh, I’ll get him for this!

“Speaking of which, I heard from a friend of mine, but apparently the name ‘Emperor’ is well known even at Yurinomiya.”

The shock showed on his face.
KE KE KE!

“Goodness. It looks like it’ll be impossible to extinguish the flames now, Masaya.”

Yurie-sama laughed in amusement.

“…That’s fine. I’ve already given up anyway.”

Kaburagi sighed.
Oh ho?

“It’s not like I came up with the name on my own after all. Also, I guess this is still better than being straight-out called ‘Napoleon’…”

He looked incredibly fed up with it.

“That’s true. If I walked around town and somebody called out ‘Ah! It’s Napoleon!’ I don’t think I’d ever live down the shame after all. But you being called ‘Emperor’ in the middle of town is pretty bad too, huh. If I was with you at the time, I might even back away and pretend not to know you.”

“Shuusuke, you bastard…”

Kaburagi glared so hard it was like he was trying to shoot Enjou down with laser beams, but Enjou just laughed it off without a care.

“Who knows how long Masaya is going to be called Emperor. Since nobody is calling you Deer Girl, aren’t you much better off, Reika-san?”

That doesn’t console me at all.
Or rather, I bet you aren’t even trying. Your eyes are laughing after all.
What ‘Deer Girl’. That’s even worse than ‘Drill Hair’ isn’t it. If somebody called me that, I’d cry, you know.

“One day I’ll give you a dumb nickname too,” exclaimed Kaburagi in frustration.

A line like that isn’t going to scare him at all, Kaburagi.
Look, Enjou is laughing even harder now.
Aahh, but I also wanna find out Enjou’s weak point.
I want to find it, and then rub salt all over it.
It’s unfair that he’s the only one that can be calm like this.
What ‘Deer Girl’.

As I was seething inside, my eyes met with Kaburagi.
After staring at me for a while, Kaburagi gave a small shake of his head.
Mn? What was that just now?
Why did he look at me like some pitiful disappointment?
I’ll let you know, but in terms of ‘disappointment level’, right now you’re basically my level, okay!

“Speaking of which, Okishima-senpai and the Student Council President were going at it again.”

“Goodness, what was it this time?”

“Who knows. Those two *always go at it, after all.”

I was relieved that the conversation moved away from deers, but more importantly,

“Is the Pivoine on such bad terms with the Student Council?”

Okishima-senpai is the former President of the Pivoine.
If somebody like that often argues with the StuCo, it might be really serious.

“No, it isn’t like that. Of course we aren’t on good terms, but those two are special. They’ve always been on bad terms, on a personal level. After they became the Pivoine and StuCo Presidents respectively, they’ve butted heads in their positions quite a bit. I suppose how the Pivoine and Student Council interact depends quite a bit on whether the presidents are aggressive or moderate that year.”

Hmmm…
I haven’t heard of the middle school section’s Student Council getting into fights with the Pivoine, so I’ve never really paid it much mind.
Are the high schoolers this year just particularly belligerent? Must be rough.

“But you know? The current Student Council President is trying his best to improve the school, so he isn’t a bad person, you know? As long as you spend your time normally, he won’t really say anything about you. Once I met him by coincidence in the music room, and he opened the door to let me go first. Just because the presidents are like cats and dogs, doesn’t mean that they’ll extend that attitude towards us.”

Isn’t that just because Yurie-sama is beautiful?
The eyebrows on Mr. Eternally Unrequited Love have been twitching, you know?

“It would be terrible if Okishima heard you just now.”

Mmmn?
Could it be that Okishima-Kaichou is aiming for Yurie-sama!?
Oohh, Mr. E.U.P.’s mouth has turned into an へ.

*imouto*

*imouto*

But still, the Student Council huhh. I wonder what kind of people they are.
I’m a little curious now.

And hey, me, what the heck are you getting all familiar with Kaburagi for…

---

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ.
Thank you for your consideration, guys!

---

Right after the excursion was the mid-semester exam.
I studied for my life.
I found out from Aoi-chan that the amount people study in prep-schools was even more than I imagined, so I gave it my all.
Whenever there was something I didn’t understand in the middle of the night, I would invade Oniisama’s room to ask.
Because I was studying so desperately, my family started to worry.
But I can’t let my ‘As expected of Reika-sama’ reputation go to waste after all this time, you know~!

After cramming as much as I could, I faced the mid-sems.
The moment that the two-day examinations finished, I could feel the vocabulary and formulas spilling out of my head.

I can’t study any more. I’m burnt out…

*imouto*

*imouto*

Today is the day that the exam results are posted.
While pretending that I didn’t care at all about rankings, I went to have a look with my friends.
My heart was pounding hard.
God, O God, please give me results for my efforts! Please have pity on me!
I desperately ran my eyes over the names.

…………
Ah-. It’s there.

18th – Kisshouin Reika

“Goodness! You’re amazing, Reika-sama!”

“18th place, Reika-sama!”

“Congratulations, Reika-sama!”

18th place.
The girls around me started clapping and congratulating me.

…I did it.
I really did it!
It was worth it! I studied so hard that I had nightmares about it, but it was worth it!

“Thank you.”

Despite myself, a relieved sigh escaped my lips.
But I definitely can’t let them know how much I studied.
I don’t want to be labelled a swot.
Hahhh. Looks like I’ve somehow managed to defend my ‘as expected of Reika-sama’ position. Thank goodness.
18th place out of 200 people. I tried pretty hard, didn’t I.
Aahh, really, thank goodness.

Everyone started squealing ‘Kyaaa!’ all of a sudden.

“Look! Kaburagi-sama and Enjou-sama!’

1st – Kaburagi Masaya
2nd – Enjou Shuusuke

“To be able to hold back the External Students and take 1st and 2nd place! As expected of them!”

“They really can do anything~!”

…Truly~!
The girls are in a trance again.
Unlike me, those two didn’t seem to have studied much either. Is this just the difference in talent?
Normally in the first middle school test, the top ranks are the External Students who passed through examination hell just to get in here.
Geez, as expected, I suppose.
In the end, a faker like me can’t compare.
I didn’t know any of the names 3rd place and below, so I guess most of them were Externals.

Ah-! I found a name I do know.
Hm~mm…

I looked here and there for the person I wanted, but couldn’t find anything in the sea of black hair.
Well, I guess there’s no way he has silver hair now. If he did, there’s no way he’d pass the interviews to get in here.

…Well, whatever.

*imouto*

*imouto*

Today I’m going to Fukioka-san’s house.
It might be the first time I’m going to a friend’s house to play. I’m so happy!
Fukioka-san is an Ojousama that goes to an ojousama school, so even when I asked Okaasama for permission, there wasn’t any problem.
I don’t think it’s good to discriminate friends based on class, but…
Since it was my first time visiting, Okaasama gave me a present to bring. It’s cookies from a western confectionary store that even needs an introductory from a regular customer to buy from. A standard present for the Kisshouin family.

After I greeted Fukioka-san’s mother, she led me to Fukioka-san’s room.

“Could you sit on that sofa please?”

“Yeees.”

Her room was girly and cute.
I did as asked, and sat down on the cute, flower-patterned sofa.

“It’s been a while, huh. Have you been well?”

“I have. Haven’t we already gone through this by email and phone?”

Fukioka-san started giggling.
Even though it’s only been a few months, now that Fukioka-san is a middle schooler, she somehow seems more mature than before~

“By the way, I heard from Takumi. Apparently you did very well on your exams. Congratulations.”

“Thanks. But it was just a fluke, you know?”

He even tells her about that?
Also, Fukioka-san showed me earlier through the window. Akizawa-kun’s house is diagonal from here. They really are neighbours.
Apparently he’s busy with Track and Field Club today.

“Fukioka-san, have you entered a club?”

“I’ve been considering maybe the Koto Club or the Wind Instrument Club, but I’m not sure.

What about you?”

“In the end, I haven’t entered one either. There isn’t anything I really want to do, and I’m pretty busy after school.”

“Truee. I have violin practice too.”

The two of us nodded in agreement.

“But aren’t you a member of that whatever club at Zui’ran? I forget the name though.”

“Ahh, you mean the Pivoine.”

“Yes, that one. It’s a club that only chosen people can enter, right? People talk about it a lot at my school too.”

“Eh-, why?”

“Because it’s filled with people who are powerful, even amongst Zui’ran right? Yurinomiya is a girls school. We pay quite a lot of attention to good men from other schools.”

“Hm~mm.”

She mentioned the names of a few boys from grades above me, but they were all people I didn’t know. That’s pretty amazing…

“And as you’d expect, amongst them, the Two Tops in our cohort are by far the most popular.”

“Ahhh…”

I don’t even need to ask for their names.

“The young master of the Kaburagi family is called the Emperor right? There are people in my school that call him Emperor as well, you know.”

“EEHH-!? Could it be that the origin of that name is…”

“Yes. As I recall, Takumi told me that it started after the Athletics Meet.”

Uwahh, this is bad.
Even people from other schools knows about the Cavalry Emperor name. Does the guy himself know that?
I’m starting to sympathise a little…

“What’s wrong?”

“Ahhh, welll, I was just wondering whether it’s okay that his Emperor nickname comes from a children’s cavalry battle.”

“My. Is that so? Anything is allowed as long as they’re a hot guy, you know. Who cares where the nickname came from.”

“Is that how is it?”

“That’s how it is. The girls at my school are all happily saying stuff like ‘”The Emperor” is such a dreamy name’ you know.”

“Ohh?”

So that’s how it is?
Well, it’s true that back when I read Kimidol, I did say something like ‘Emperor, what a cool name!’ without really caring how it came about.

“By the way, about the way you’ve been addressing me.”

“Yes?”

“You don’t need to call me Fukioka-san. Just Sakurako will do, you know.”

After saying that, she turned away in a pout.

OOHHH! FUKIOKA-SAN IS GOING DERE ON ME!

“Ummmm, then, let’s go with ‘Sakura-chan’.”

“…Fine.”

Geez, your lips are always so proud, Sakura-chan you tsundere.

“But if I’m not calling you Fukioka-san, then you have to call me Reika!”

“I see. Then let’s go with Reika-san.”

EHHHH! If I’m calling you ‘-chan’, wouldn’t it be normal to call me ‘-chan’ back!? I want my friends to call me something casual too.

Maybe she could tell that I was sulky, because after a sigh, she said,

“Fine then, Reika.”

WHA-!? Suddenly jumping over the ‘-chan’ altogether and just using my bare name!?

*imouto*

At Sakura-chan’s house, we quickly became closer friends.

---

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ.
Thank you for your consideration, guys!

---

A Tenugui （手拭い） is a thin Japanese hand towel made of cotton. It is typically about 35 by 90 centimeters in size, plain woven and is almost always dyed with some pattern.　It can be used for anything a towel could be used for – as a washcloth, dishcloth, but often as a headband, souvenir, decoration, or for wrapping items such as bottles. Towels made from terry cloth have largely replaced it in household use. However tenugui are still popular as souvenirs, decorations, and as a head covering in kendo, where it functions as a sweatband, as extra padding beneath the headgear (men), and to identify the participants by team color.

Nerima Daikon is one of Japan’s main daikon radish breeds, named such because it was once cultivated in Nerima, Tokyo. Shougoin Daikon（聖護院大根） is one of the traditional daikon radishes of Kyoto.

Daikon-Ashi(lit. daikon legs) is the Japanese equivalent to ‘thunder thighs’, in reference to the shape of daikon radishes.

Aodakefumi is simply a piece of smooth, hard bamboo that is naturally and ideally cut and shaped to provide the bottom of your feet with an amazing massage, simply by gently stepping on it. Believed by some to encourage weight loss.

---

The cram school I’d been going to had been focused exclusively for primary school, so now that I’m in middle school I needed to find a new one.
For my middle school one as well, I picked one that Oniisama used to attend. I’m not with Akizawa-kun and Fukioka-san anymore, but Aoi-chan was with me instead!
Aoi-chan had been attending a primary school that was attached to higher-tiered schools. Because of that, even though it was a primary school attached to a bigger school the same way Zuiran’s primary school was, the system it used wasn’t an escalator and unless you passed the entrance exams, they would mercilessly expel you. Thanks to that, Aoi-chan had bags under her eyes since New Year’s.
Now that she’s made it into the associated middle school without a problem, she’s been chatting with me about Tarow the Taro just like we used to. Apparently there’s this new tenugui merchandise for him. Why a tenugui instead of a handkerchief or hand towel?

I’m still talking to Fukioka-san by email and phone calls. People with a sharp tongue like her are surprisingly rare, so I want us to stay friends.
Last time we talked we mentioned going somewhere together. It’s so friends-like! But wouldn’t it be better if she spent time with Akizawa-kun? Or so I thought, but it seems that Akizawa-kun is busy that day. Thought so~

*imouto*

Now that I’m a middle schooler, I’m allowed to walk outside by myself now. Only during the day though.
On weekdays I have classes, so I don’t have much free time. But the fact that I have a few hours to wander about during the weekends now makes me pretty happy.
Now that I can just go to the convenience store to buy snacks, I don’t need to use cram school as a cover anymore. If I bring a large bag with me to bring home snacks and sweets, I doubt Okaasama will find out.
Okaasama thinks beautiful skin is a girl’s life, so she definitely wouldn’t allow me to eat snacks with cheap oils in them.
And what’s more, my next goal is eating fast food.
I really want some. It’s the embodiment of junk food. Why do chips taste so good. And I definitely want ketchup with it.

Zuiran has students coming from all over, so even if I head far away from home to buy snacks, there’s still a chance I’ll get spotted. Because of that, I still can’t let my guard down.
Also, I want to eat at the food stands in festivals! Because festivals happen at night, it’ll be hard for me to get permission, so at the moment it’s nothing more than a dream. But festival yakisoba is yummy isn’t it~

Ah-, and I want to eat takoyaki as well.

Ikayaki grilled squid would be great too~

The number of dreams I have keeps increasing…

*imouto*

Even though I thought I’d be released from it after leaving primary, I ended up being nominated as vice rep again.
And my partner, the class rep, is Class Rep. He’s in my class again. For some reason it feels like we’re just the ‘class rep’ pair, but huh~ Unlike Class Rep, I’m not even a stereotype class-rep character.
Class Rep feels like he was born to be a class rep. Everybody calls him Class Rep like it’s natural. What was his real name, anyway?

*imouto*

In May, we have the customary excursion. And it’s mountain climbing.
Ugh. Mountain climbing. I really don’t wanna go.
Apparently the idea behind it is to help the Internals and Externals bond through agonising physical activity, but rather than mountain climbing where everybody is too busy going ‘hahh hahh wheeze wheeze’ to even have a decent conversation, wouldn’t it be better to have an outdoors cooking session or a barbeque at a camp site somewhere? At least I think we’d bond a lot better that way.
It’s unfortunate, but I can’t understand the appeal behind mountain climbing at all.
Apparently Class Rep actually quite likes mountain climbing. When I asked him what was fun about it, he listed the nature, the clean air, and the feeling of accomplishment for reaching the summit, but sorry. I still don’t get it at all.
We’re all a bunch of weak-limbed ojousamas who get chauffeured everywhere, so please don’t make us do something as harsh as mountain climbing.
Speaking of which, for a while I used to do squats in primary school, but I ended up stopping at some point, didn’t I. I still do my stretches before bed though.
You know, lately, I’m getting the feeling that my legs are getting fatter than they used to be. Well, compared to my last life they’re still totally thin though.
In my last life, when I stopped growing taller in middle school, I started growing sideways instead, which was horrifying.
The ruder boys called me ‘Nerima’. When I went to Kyoto, they called me ‘Shougoin’. I cursed all of them to stop growing.
Even though there were plenty of girls with thicker legs than mine! Even though my weight was average! Even though my legs weren’t fat, they were just a little swollen!
Why are middle school boys so insensitive. Cause they’re idiots I suppose. It’s definitely because they’re idiots, yep.
I also cursed them to be unpopular. This cursed worked quite well, kekeke!
I also tried a diet to make my legs skinnier, but they sure didn’t work at all. Tsk. All these unpleasant memories are surfacing.
I think I’ll buy an aodakefumi the next time I have a break.

*imouto*

During the mountain climbing, my group fell behind. Class Rep, I’ll leave the rest to you. I’m struggling just taking care of myself here. My lungs are making a weird noise.
I’m suffering. I have to keep watching my feet so that I don’t fall, so I can’t look at the scenery at all. Just what the heck is fun about this.
Whenever I look behind me, here and there I spot other kids on the verge of death. …Thank goodness, I’m not the only one.
When I finally made it up to the mountain somehow, kids who arrived way earlier were already eating their lunches.

Oi! Weren’t we supposed to be deepening our bonds today.

I was so tired that I couldn’t even find the energy to eat. Us weaker kids are all hunched over, exhausted.
While I was sitting there, I could hear the girls around Kaburagi and Enjou happily kicking up a fuss.
Even though my group hasn’t even opened our lunch boxes yet, those guys are already done eating.
There’s this somewhat gyaru-group that’s been forming since we entered middle school that’s for some reason full of athletic girls. I’m jealous.
After resting for a while, just as I regained the energy needed to eat, I saw some of the External boys chatting amicably with some Internal girls.
Goodness! While we were here dying, some of the Externals and Internals got closer together! Could it be that the mountain climbing worked!?
Nothing so wonderful happened for me. Is it because I look weird sporting drill hair with a tracksuit?
Oh? Isn’t that Miharu-chan over there?
Miharu-chan is the vice class rep for another class. She also fits the image of a class rep to a tee.
Anyway, there she was, chatting with an External boy. Ah! She laughed.
I wonder if Class Rep felt jealous seeing that. Even at normal times, he’s already so panicked about Enjou being in her class.
Before long, he’s going to come for more advice, I bet.

*imouto*

Aahh… When it’s time to leave the mountain, I wonder if it’s possible to have the Kisshouin family send me a helicopter.

---

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ.
Thank you for your consideration, guys!

---

It’s been a while. Sorry for the wait! With this chapter begins Reika’s adventures in Zuiran’s middle school section. (:

---

I’ve entered Zuiran’s middle school section.
The blazer jacket has changed from navy to white, and is quite a cute design. The wine coloured striped ribbon just accentuates that cuteness, and even though it’s only been a month since I’ve entered, just changing the uniform makes me look like quite the oneesan. How mysterious.

*imouto*

Now that we’ve entered middle school, 30% of our cohort is now new students who entered after taking an exam, the Externals.
And this new group of students managed to get into our school after rigorous examinations, so they’re all really smart.
In general, Zuiran students just ride the figurative escalator up from primary school, excluding special circumstances. Because of that, people sometimes talk about how the Internal Students are less bright than the Externals.
Once we enter high school, there are going to be even smarter kids coming in. In fact, by the time we’re in high school, with the exception of a small group of students, it’s the kids who have been here since primary that people take to be the dumbest.
But then usually the Internals themselves don’t really mind, so I guess that’s fine. They’re at least not dumber than your normal kid after all.
From the staff’s perspective though, it wouldn’t be good for the traditional and prestigious Zuiran to be seen as a den of idiots. That’s why they gather smart kids from outside to make up for it.
Thanks to Zuiran’s brand power, as well as their splendid facilities and teaching content, we’ve got strong popularity, so it’s not a problem gathering gifted students at all.
Particularly exceptional students are even taken as scholarship students, so they’re exempted from school fees. And amongst them, those that perform above a certain level in the national mock exams are even given scholarship money that doesn’t need to be returned.
In other words, they’re buying academic ranks with money in order to preserve the school’s honour, right?

*imouto*

Kimidol’s protagonist also entered Zuiran as a scholarship student.
She entered Zuiran because she didn’t want to pay school fees. What’s more, if she tried hard, she could even make money from the scholarship system there, which is why she wanted in. But when she entered, their sense of money value was just too different from hers, and she suffered quite a culture shock.
And well, yeah. Normally a school wouldn’t do things on such a crazy scale.
I know how she felt because I experienced the same thing when I entered as a primary school student.
‘What the hell is this!? This isn’t how I remembered primary schools!’ I thought with my mouth agape.
But she’ll definitely get used to it, so three years from now, I hope the protagonist will give it her all.

*imouto*

*imouto*

The biggest difference between the primary section, and the middle-high sections is the existence of the Student Council.
The Student Council is a meritocratic organisation formed from good students.
In comparison, the Pivoine stresses lineage, pedigree, and assets more than individual power, and only people who can fulfil these and have been purebred Zuiran students since primary are allowed in.
The Pivoine think of themselves as the true embodiment of Zuiran, and because of that the Student Council are an arrogant and loathesome group of outsiders. On the other hand, the Pivoine’s power doesn’t come from their members as individuals, so the Student Council thinks of them as a harmful group that only knows how to abuse their power.
Although the traditionalist Pivoine and the meritocratic Student Council don’t butt heads on the surface, friction between them goes back a long time.
I don’t know what kind of person the incumbent Student Council President is, but I hope they don’t kick up a fuss while I’m here.

*imouto*

*imouto*

The middle and high school students belong to the same Pivoine. The Petite Pivoine in primary is in the end just an extra, and the middle-high section Pivoine is the real thing.
When I opened the door to the salon, I was met with furniture known for its beautiful curves, as well as flower arrangements of moth orchids and other spring flowers.

There was even a grand piano by the window.
I became particularly fond of this one-person sofa by the wall, with this cute art noveau style lamp next to it, so I ended up sitting here most of the time I went to the salon.

How nice. This lamp is so cute. I want one for my room too.

Since the salon was shared by both middle and high school students, Yurie-sama was naturally there too. Emperor seemed incredibly happy, since it was the first time in years they had been enjoying school together.
He tried to hide it, but the corners of his mouth would curve up. He’s pretty easy to understand.
Lately he hasn’t been acting like a stalker either, and perhaps as a result of Yurie-sama’s teachings, apparently he can think about others too now. I guess he matured as a human, huh~
As long as he’s with his beloved Yurie-sama, Emperor is always in a good mood, so I’ll probably be able to relax for another two years. Thank goodness.

“Reika-san, have you gotten used to the middle school section?”

Aira-sama came over to talk to me with some sweets in hand.
Today’s was sachertorte, a type of chocolate cake with apricot jam.

Seeing the lustrous chocolate made me gulp.

“Yes. Being able to go to the school cafeteria instead of being given a school lunch was quite a fresh experience.”

Once you enter middle school here, you can choose whether to go to the cafeteria or to bring lunch from home. The cafeteria seems like your normal fancy restaurant. Pretty much everything on the menu is over 2000 Yen. Quite expensive for your average student. It’s delicious though.
I’ve actually got this secret goal of conquering every item on the menu, so for now I’m one of the kids that goes to the cafeteria.
And even in the cafeteria there are exclusive seats for the Pivoine. They’re seated by the window in this well lit area.
Speaking of which, in Kimidol there was this one scene, wasn’t there. The protagonist had no idea that it was Pivoine exclusive, and tried to sit down there, displeasing them.
Yeah. Try your best, protagonist. Although, the one who was the most angry and shouted “A commoner would dare!? Know your place!” was actually Kisshouin Reika though.

“Are things going well with the External Students?”

“Well, there is still a wall between us, you could say.”

“Well, I suppose there would be.”

There are roughly ten External kids in each class. Unlike the scholarship students that will enter in the high school section, the Externals in middle school are still kids from families who can pay Zuiran’s expensive school fees. Because of that, there isn’t too much of a difference in their sense for spending money.
That’s why I think we’ll all settle down after a while. Probably.

I’m still thinking about whether or not to enter a club. There isn’t anything I really want to do after all.
Oniisama suggested that I enter the cooking club, but the activity days overlap with my lessons.
I also have my cram school and lessons with Karin-sensei as well. The first test since middle school is coming up soon, so I’m pretty busy at the moment.
Lately I’ve sort of been getting a lot of “as expected of Reika-sama” so I’m secretly struggling really hard not to let my true colours show.
Especially maths. Maths is suffering to me.
I remembered the word ‘factorisation’ but I’d completely forgotten what it entails. I just barely remembered that it has something to do with x and y. What the hell is going on with my memory.
Did I really learn this in my last life? I did, right? I mean, it’s part of the compulsory curriculum.
Since I felt a huge crisis impending, I had Karin-sensei drill it into me.
I’d already decided to stop expecting anything academic from the past me. I should have already known as much after my experience in the primary school section…
But I just keep having these faint hopes.
There’s no such thing as miracles though.
I guess I’ll just keep trying my best from scratch…

---

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ.
Thank you for your consideration, guys!

---

This is my final Christmas present to you, and I’d be really glad if you gifted me back with a review on novelupdates! Share the love! Glory to Reika-chan!

These are Reika’s last moments in Zuiran’s primary section! Thanks for reading my translations so far, and if you love Reika like I do, I hope you’ll look forward to her life as a middle schooler too!

---

In Japanese, the two main characters for flower(hana) are 花 and 華. The latter is rather more poetic/fanciful, and is actually used in Reika’s name. Specifically, 麗華（Reika） means ‘beautiful flower’, ‘graceful flower’, ‘lovely flower’ etc. The characters can also be as ‘urara’.

An ephemeral-type beauty in Japan is somebody that’s typically delicate, very fair-skinned, slender like a willow, and generally ‘soft’ or ‘fragile’ somehow. Like, somewhat fairy or sylph-like, with an atmosphere that’s faint and somewhat unreal. Like a beauty that you might see in a passing dream or something? Well, it sounds a bit exaggerated, but if the description wasn’t then it would be a bajillion-times harder to explain.

---

The day of the graduation ceremony came.
Everybody is going up the escalator together, so we’ll all meet again in Zuiran’s middle school section. Although we’ll be in a different building, we’re all on the same property, so I’m not really feeling lonely about it.
Maybe everybody else was thinking like me, because nobody cried.
Only, this would be the last time we would be wearing this navy uniform to school, so everybody was busy taking photos.
Of course, I took some with my friends too.
Because today was a happy occasion, Okaasama was more fired up than usual, and had my hair even curlier today.
Also, both Kaburagi and Enjou have been surrounded by girls since this morning.
Heaps of boys from the lower grades who went out of their way to attend were also photographing and filming the ‘Hero of the Cavalry Battle’ .

*imouto*

Besides my parents who were here, Oniisama brought me a bouquet of flowers!
There were pink roses, carnations, garberas, and a bunch of other really cute flowers.
Thank you, Oniisama! As for not just giving me a bunch of bright red roses, as expected of you! In Oniisama’s mind, my image is more like these cute pink flowers, isn’t it!
Or so I was thinking, feeling deeply moved, when Oniisama pointed at a deeply coloured rose and said,

“These flowers are called ‘Urara’, you know. They’re your flowers, aren’t they, Reika?”

-ZUKKYUUUUUUN!!-

Oniisama! Just what manner of being are you!?
My flowers! My roses!
My maiden’s heart is so moved that I don’t think it’ll hold!
It looks like today, with just Oniisama, I’m already feeling totally popular!
His smile is so dazzling-!

Or so I was thinking, as I writhed about in happiness on the inside, while my friends around me were also saying “Reika-sama’s Oniisama, so dreamy…”, spellbound.
Isn’t he! Isn’t he!
My Oniisama is the best in the world!
Still, although they’re minors, they’re still maidens and Oniisama pierced right through their hearts. I was actually a little nervous, secretly wondering where on earth he learnt this skill.

Oniisama doesn’t work any strange jobs, does he?

Watching Oniisama, Okaasama looked satisfied and said “as expected of my son” while Otousama looked a little ashamed and embarrassed for not bringing anything.
It’s fine, Otousama. For things like this, it’s your feelings that count.
Rather, if the chubby Otousama did the same thing as Oniisama, I’d be a little grossed out.

While I was happy about the roses with my name, and getting photos under the sakura trees with my family, a parent and child group came along.

“Congratulations on your daughter’s graduation, Kisshouin-sama.”

“Oohh! Why if it isn’t Kaburagi-sama! Congratulations on Masaya-kun’s graduation, I should say!”

UHIIIII! It’s gone from heaven to hell!
Why did they come talk to us!?

“Reika-san, congratulations on graduating. What beautiful flowers you have. They fit you perfectly.”

“T-, Thank you very much.”

Today Mrs. Kaburagi was wearing a vivid, deep blue suit, and was even more beautiful than when I met her in the restaurant.
Quite a contrast to the elegant white suit that my Okaasama was wearing.

“Reika-san, please do get along with Masaya in middle school.”

“My! Our Reika as well! We certainly hope Masaya-kun gets along with her. Right, Reika-san?”

Without affirming or denying Okaasama, I simply smiled away.
What a horrible development. A horrible, horrible development.
Please, just go away without causing any trouble.
My prayer bore no fruit, because our parents just continued to chat, and chat.
When I happened to look forward, I met gazes with the bored-looking Kaburagi.
“Hmm,” he huffed, as he looked away.
Uwah~ Totally indifferent to me.
Don’t think I want to get close to a guy like you, either!

“Reika-san, do you remember what we spoke about earlier? Please do come over to play.”

“Hah?”

Kaburagi wrinkled his nose in displeasure and looked at his mother.

“Thank you very much.”

For now I just smiled. I’m definitely not going, okay.
Look, Kaburagi is looking all unhappy about it. He’s got a ‘Why the hell is she coming to our house?’ face on. Wah-, he’s glaring!

“My, myy! Reika-san, you must definitely visit them!”

“Isn’t that greatt, Reika? Ahaha, our Reika adores Masaya-kun, you see.”

I don’t adore him! Why the hell are you spouting bullshit, Otousama!
Okaasama’s eyes are sparkling!
Aahh, what do I do…
Why don’t they notice Kaburagi’s displeased aura!?
I don’t adore you, okay! I have no intention of going, okay! So please just stop glaring at me so angrily!
I entreated the nearby Oniisama with my eyes, but he just made a troubled expression and seemed to decide on watching things pan out.
Somebody save meeeee!

“Mum, Shuusuke and the others are here, so I’m going.”

“My, Shuusuke-kun?”

Enjou and a person who seemed to be his mother came out from the school building.
It’s my first time seeing her. Such an ephemeral-looking beauty~

“Oohh, Enjou-sama’s! I certainly do wish to greet them.”

GYAHHHH! Otousama’s words just made things even worse!

“Dad, Mum, I think Reika wants to spend the last moments of primary with her friends. Would it be okay if she went? It’s her graduation ceremony, after all.”

Oniisama!

“However…”

“I also wanna walk around the place with Shuusuke.”

Kaburagi got on board.

“What a helpless boy, you are. Very well, go have fun. My apologies, Kisshouin-sama. Masaya is quite a wilful child.”

“No, no, not at all. The rumours of Masaya-kun’s excellence have reached my ears, you know.”

After saying his goodbyes to my family, Kaburagi immediately headed off to Enjou.
I need to leave now as well!

“Well then, I shall also be heading to my friends. Kaburagi-sama, please excuse me.”

Giving a small bow, I hurried over to the ring of girls.
I’ll leave the rest to you, Oniisama!

*imouto*

Just as I thought I had finally escaped from my parents, Serika-chan and Kikuno-chan had been lying in wait to get stories about the Kaburagi family from me. Please, just give me a break~

Since it’s our precious graduation ceremony, I wanted it to end more enjoyablyy.
Even though the incidents lasted just a few minutes, I’m dead tired.
Or rather, if things fall into the same pattern at the middle section entrance ceremony, what am I going to do…
I hugged Oniisama’s bouquet tightly.

But uraras, huhhh? I had no idea roses like that existed.
Rococo and roses. Kuh-! It’s way too fitting, if I do say so myself.
Isn’t this exactly a shoujo manga development? But it’s a little sad that things only happen with my blood-related brother. But well, that’s good in its own way too.
This is also part of the ‘future blessing’ curse, after all.
I’m sure once I enter middle school, a wonderful lovey dovey development will await me too.

*imouto*

When I got home, my excited parents pestered me about visiting the Kaburagi house, but I gave excuses and told them that Kaburagi hated women, and so going would actually bother him.
But looking at these two, they’re deeefinitely not gunna give up, are theyyy?
Honestly, I wish they would just stop with their weird ambitions already.

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

---

“Oohh! Why if it isn’t Kaburagi-sama! Congratulations on Masaya-kun’s graduation, I should say!” (said Reika’s dad)

“My! Our Reika as well! We certainly hope Masaya-kun gets along with her. Right, Reika-san?” (said Reika’s mum)
Her mother refers to her as Reika-san, but her father doesn’t.

“Oniisama doesn’t work any strange jobs, does he?”
e.g. host, gigolo etc.

---

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ.
Thank you for your consideration, guys!

---

This is my Christmas present to you, and I’d be really glad if you gifted me back with a review on novelupdates!
Incidentally, Reika graduates from primary school reallllly soon. We’re almost there, guys! Really so soon!

---

“Umm, Kisshouin-san. There’s a little something I’d like to talk to you about. Is that okay?”

From his face, it looked like something pretty big, so we went behind the school building where less people were around.

“What might this be?”

It looks like he’s been wanting to talk to me for a while, after all.
But Class Rep just fidgeted, and didn’t manage to start speaking.
Seems like it was something hard to say, so I just stayed quiet and waited.

“Umm, since you’re a smart person, Kisshouin-san, I thought maybe you’d already noticed.”

“My, me, a smart person? Not at all.”

I wonder if that’s how he sees me in his head.
But still, I wonder what this is about.
I really can’t think of anything at all~
Ah-, his face turned red.
Seriouslyy, what’s up~?

“The truth is, I like Honda-san.”

“………”

………I’m sorry. I was conceited.
I ended up wondering if he maybe liked me.
‘I wonder what it is I have no idea what this could be this is definitely a confession’, I thought.

AAARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!
I’M SUCH AN EMBARRASSING PERSONNNN!!

WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU GETTING ALL CONCEITED FOR!
‘Has my time finally come!?’ I thought!
‘But I’m so troubled~ I don’t think of him that way at all~ ‘ I thought! Delusions, and on top of that, condescending delusions!
I’m sorry! I’m sorry for not knowing my place!
I wanna be one of those bobble head toys and just continue to bow in apology!

I mean, I’ve never been popular before.
It’s always been a bit of a fantasy.
‘Is it finally my turn for a shoujo manga development!?’ I accidentally thought.

“Um, Kisshouin-san? Is something wrong?”

“…No, nothing at all.”

Pulling myself together and changing gears, I faced Class Rep.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice my conceited misunderstanding.
Let’s just continue the conversation like nothing happened.

“Well? You say you like Honda-san, but why speak to me about it?”

Yeah, seriously. To begin with, why speak to me about this?
You know… it’s Class Rep’s fault as well for being misleading, right?
If he likes Miharu-chan, then can’t he just tell her that? Why keep glancing my way, and call me out to a place like this?
It has nothing to do with me, right?
Or so I was thinking, getting angry even though I was in the wrong.

“Because you’re like the leader of the girls, Kisshouin-san. I thought maybe you could cooperate with me, or something like that.”

“Cooperate? Helping you confess?”

“Confess!? I just wanted to find out more about her. Also, if possible, I want you to use this.”

What he shyly handed over to me was a picture of Class Rep and Honda-san together in class.
I guess he wants me to put this in the album?

After that, Class Rep started talking his heart out to me.
About how he was class rep with her last year and ended up liking her.
About how when he cut his finger, Honda-san bandaged it for him, and about how she did girly things.
About how he thought he’d get to be class rep with her this year too, but got depressed when it was somebody else.
(Well sorryyy that it was me!)

“Also, I want her to write on this too…”

He brought out a signature book.
I thought that only girls did this stuff, but do boys do it too?
Speaking of which, there were boys all into the matchmaker shrine too, weren’t there.
I may have a surprisingly high number of effeminate boys in my grade.

“Class Rep, you also pulled a love fortune at Kyoto, didn’t you.”

“It was ‘great blessing’.”

Again, his face went red.
Well, good for you then. I got ‘future blessing’, you know?

“Leaving the photo aside, what if you asked for the signature yourself? Why is there a need for me to ask?”

“Because it’s hard to suddenly ask for one, you know? We’re not even class reps together anymore, so we hardly even talk.”

“…Well, I apologise for becoming the vice rep then.”

I stabbed right into his happy attitude.
As expected, Class Rep went into a panic and started saying stuff like “Not at all! You’ve been really, really helpful!”.
Hmph.

“I understand. Very well, then. In that case, while Honda-san and I are together, come casually asking for my signature. You can use our being class reps as an excuse. At that time, I will casually bring up the fact that Honda-san also served with you last year, and from there, please ask her for her signature.”

“Eh-, can I really pull off so much acting? Ah-, but I’ll do my best.”

He looks uneasy.
Was Class Rep this kind of boy? I thought he was more of a diligent, and stereotypical ‘class rep’ type, you knoww?

*imouto*

On a later day, Class Rep came along with signature book in hand, and subjected us to some monotone acting.
Miharu-chan showed no signs of noticing his feelings, and happily accepted. While she was at it, she asked for Class Rep’s signature as well, so he turned red.

After that, when I asked Miharu-chan if she liked anyone at the moment, she said that she didn’t but her type was something like Enjou-sama. And so I went and passed that info to Class Rep, who went “Enjou-kun, huh…” and got depressed.
“It’s not like she actually likes Enjou himself. Her type is simply similar to him. Doesn’t that mean you still have hope?” I said in consolation, but it didn’t look like it had much effect.
Sorry, Class Rep. I was a little mean to you.

*imouto*

And also, it looks like girls and boys who got close because of the signature book popped up here and there.
Nothing particularly happened to me though.
The adult me thinks that romance is way too early for primary schoolers, but who really knows, huh~?
It’s not like I’m saying this because of an inferiority complex, okay?

*imouto*

Aahh, we’re graduating next year, huhh?
Once I enter middle school, I wonder if spring will come for me this time.
I only got ‘future blessing’ so my hopes are slim though.

 

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<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ.
Thank you for your consideration, guys!

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This is my Christmas present to you, and I’d be really glad if you gifted me back with a review on novelupdates!
Incidentally, Reika graduates from primary school reallllly soon. We’re almost there, guys! Remember that Japanese kids graduate in spring!

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As autumn deepened, we began choosing photos for our graduation album.
I’m not a member of the graduation committee, but I decided to cooperate as proactively with them as possible.
I think it should be alright, but on the off chance that somebody entered a picture of my shame during the Deer Assault Incident, it’d become the shame of my life.
At the moment there aren’t any weird photos of me, but you can never be too careful.

The photos in the album are being chosen from those taken by Zuiran’s exclusive cameraman as well as photos that the students want in them.
Well, it’s something I knew would happen, but the photos are kinda biased towards certain students, huhh~
The ones contributed by the students were almost all Kaburagi and Enjou photos, and mostly ones with the contributors in it. Stuff they’d want to remember I guess.
If we accepted all of these, it would end up as a Kaburagi-Enjou album, so we rejected most of them.
There are lots of photos of the more salient students, and the more docile and plain students are getting overlooked, so they’re checking the photos carefully.
If after we graduated and some kid said “I’m… not in a single photo…” or something, they’d really feel hurt after all. Their happy parents would be sad too.
And we’re carefully comparing the photos and student roster.

“It really helps that you’re assisting us, Reika-sama.”

The one who said that with a smile was Honda Miharu-chan from my class.
We’re in different groups, but she’s a serious and diligent girl, and was the vice rep from last year.

“Besides the class and group photos, it takes a lot of work to check the student-contributed photos, after all.”

“Yeah. I almost missed one.”

The docile kids don’t submit their own photos, and sometimes there isn’t even a single photo of them.
In those cases, members of the album committee go take photos of ‘school lunch’ or the like. And if possible, take photos where the kid isn’t by himself, but instead having fun with their friends.
The teacher in charge of the album is checking it together with us, so it should be fine though.
While I’m at it, I’m trying my best to select the cuter ones.
I’m helping out, so just this much bias is okay, right?

“This is a photo of the Petite Pivoine isn’t it.”

The photo being held out to me was from the other day, when our cameraman came to the salon.
Each year the Pivoine has its own special group photo. We are technically the face of the school, after all.
In the centre of the photo was Emperor on the couch with Enjou next to him, with the other members surrounding them. On each side of the photo was a red peony, the namesake of the group.
But the problem was that I was sitting next to Emperor.
Even though there were heaps of other girls who wanted that spot, why me?
But everybody else was like, “Please, go ahead Reika-sama” and recommended it to me without listening, so I couldn’t refuse.
If I made it too obvious I didn’t want to, Emperor would probably get upset after all.
‘At the very least, next to Enjou then…’ I thought, but Enjou refused me with his smile. …So mean.
Thanks to that, I got warned a bunch of times by the cameraman for having a stiff smile, and the guy next to me started clicking his tongue, and I had a horrible time of it.
This photo had that kind of backstory.

“So this is the Pivoine’s salon. How wonderful. It’s like a dream…”

So said the album committee members as they looked at the photo in a daze.
Mn, it’s a needlessly luxurious room, isn’t it. The “bearing of a ruler” peonies just make it even more luxurious.
Because even in this Zuiran Academy that feels all rich already, the Pivoine is just in a different class. After all, the normal students aren’t allowed in.
Even though the truth is that all we do is drink tea, eat sweets, and laze around. Mn? Could that just be me?

“More importantly, let us hurry and decide on the photos.”

Because they seemed to be forgetting why we were here, I called out to them and we started working again.
Oh! It’s a picture of Akizawa-kun in the baton relay. I wonder if Fukioka-san has this. If I tell her about it, she’d probably tell me to bring it to her.
Naturally, the photo of Kaburagi in the cavalry battle is definitely going in. Rather, if we didn’t, we’d definitely meet some massive booing.
In this year’s cavalry battle, Kaburagi’s unit was unchallenged again. Apparently they practised in secret. Even though he always acts so cool and uncaring, he actually hates losing.
After showing unrivalled strength two years in a row, Emperor began a legend. Upfftpfft.

It was hard picking from the huge number of photos, but there were photos with unexpected sides of kids that I didn’t often talk to, so it was pretty interesting too.
The photos go back as far as Year 1, so there are some kids who look completely different now too. Six years for children changes them a shocking amount, doesn’t it.
Since Year 1, I’ve always been a fake Rococo. I seriously want an image change already…

*imouto*

*imouto*

For a while now, my eyes have been meeting with Class Pres a lot.
He keeps looking my way, and when I return the gaze, he immediately averts his eyes.
I tried asking if he needed anything a few times, but he would always turn red and avoid a proper answer.
Even at lunch just now, our eyes met.
I wonder what’s up.

“Reika-sama, is something the matter?”

Honda-san from the photo committee called out to me.

“No, it is nothing.”

I gave a smile as I replied.
Well, maybe it’s just my imagination.

“…I never expected the day to come that I’d be able to talk to you like this, Reika-sama, so I’m kind of happy.”

Honda-san said that with a shy smile.
Wah, so cute!
Honda-san is a diligent-type that you’d expect to be a class rep, so she’s kind of different from the types in my group. Because of that we haven’t spoken much outside of passing on messages.
But this girl gives off the same cuteness as Aoi-chan.
She’s definitely a good girl, I’m sure. I wanna be friends.

“I am also glad that we became friends, Miharu-san.”

Because of my success during the school trip, I’ve taken a liking to this high-pressure salesman style of getting friends. It’s better to speak first for things like this.
Although in secret your heart kinda thumps as you wonder what you’re gunna do if they say “Huh? I never thought we were friends. So pushy.”.

“Eh-, friends!? Ah-m, I’m happy too.”

Uhuhu, another friend GET.

*imouto*

With graduation approaching, as is customary, signature books began to pop up.
Speaking of which, I had one too didn’t I, a signature book. How nostalgic.
Back when I was lazy in my old life, at first I was happy to sign things, but along the way I started to get annoyed, and stopped caring what I wrote.
And also, you don’t do it often, so it’s surprisingly hard to write a short message, isn’t it? You only get as many variations as New Year’s cards, and there really isn’t much to say.
You try and write stylish and mature things, different from everybody else, and so it ends up as more dark history. That’s why signature books are actually really dangerous.
I was the same in the beginning. Each time I remember the stuff I wrote, it makes me want to bang my head on a desk. It’s just that embarrassing.
Even weird poems and stuff…
Aahh-! If only I had psychic powers and could burn those books right now!

Anyway, some people came around asking for me to sign their books too.
Even though pretty much everybody here at Zuiran just moves onto the middle school section, why bother with these signature books? Or so I thought, but then I considered that it would be sadder if nobody asked for mine, so bothersome as it was, I accepted with a smile.
I just used a beautiful seal and signed in coloured pen to get out of actually writing anything.

“Reika-sama, could I have you write something in my signature book?”

Honda Miharu-chan came asking as well. We’re friends so of course I accepted, and I had her sign in mine too.
Incidentally, my signature book was prepared by Okaasama, and was apparently made by some royal purveyor of stationery in Europe. Just a cheap one with cute pictures would be enough, you know…

Apparently a long queue formed to get the signatures of the famous two.
The girls in my class were really pumped to get them too.
Ever since Kaburagi got told off by Yurie-sama, he’s gotten a little more cooperative in the past, and although he had an annoyed look on his face, he did sign them properly. Just his name though. Seriously, just a signature.
Apparently some kids even said stuff like “Please address it to _____!”. Are they movie stars or something?
Some of the girls showed me their books, but it was seriously just “Kaburagi Masaya” in the middle of the page.
Incidentally, he did write their names. As you’d expect, his penmanship was fantastic.
As for Enjou’s, besides their names he also wrote “congratulations on your graduation” on each one.
Well, they’re both pretty bad.
To a person like me who’s struggling to come up with original messages, I kind of envy their boldness.

*imouto*

*imouto*

Anyway, while thinking about all these things, after school I was walking down a hallway by myself as I was heading to the salon. That was when a nervous looking Class Rep called out to me.

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<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ.
Thank you for your consideration, guys!

---

This is my Christmas present to you, and I’d be really glad if you gifted me back with a review on novelupdates!
Incidentally, Reika graduates from primary school soon, so let’s have one chapter every 15 minutes until she does.

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Unfortunately, there is a lot of prerequisite knowledge for this chapter. A lot of it is probably learnt in school for Japanese.

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The Man’yōshū is the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry, compiled sometime after 759 AD during the Nara period. The anthology is one of the most revered of Japan’s poetic compilations. i.e. an anthology of classic Japanese poems written when Nara was still the capital of ancient Japan.

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Princess Nukata (額田王 Nukata no Ōkimi?, c. 630–690 CE) (also known as Princess Nukada) was a Japanese poet of the Asuka period. Nukata was one of the great female poets of her time; thirteen of her poems appear in the Man’yōshū.
The below poem alludes to her illicit affair with her younger-brother-in-law, Emperor Tenmu, where ‘waving’ refers to beckoning or soliciting.

akane sasu | The madder-shining
murasaki no yuki | Purple murasaki fields he goes around,
shimeno yuki | The staked fields around:
nomori wa mizu ya | Won’t the guardsman
kimi ga sode furu | See you wave your sleeve, my lord?

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Hōryū-ji (法隆寺, lit. Temple of the Flourishing Law) is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Its full name is Hōryū Gakumonji (法隆学問寺), or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law, the complex serving as both a seminary and monastery.

Yumedono (夢殿, lit. Hall of Dreams), a hall in Hōryū-ji, associated with Prince Shōtoku.

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Masaoka Shiki (正岡 子規?, October 14, 1867 – September 19, 1902), was a Japanese poet, author, and literary critic in Meiji period Japan. Shiki is regarded as a major figure in the development of modern haiku poetry.

Haiku on Nara by Shiki: “Persimmon and Temple Bell”

kaki kueba | as I eat a persimmon
kane ga narunari | the bell starts booming
houryuuji | Hōryū-ji

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“Hi Izuru Tokoro no Tenshi” (Emperor of the Land of the Rising Sun)

The name of a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Ryoko Yamagishi that tells a fictionalised account of Prince Shōtoku. Incidentally, the title is derived from a diplomatic letter to the Sui Emperor, allegedly written by Prince Shoutoku , that reads:
「日出處天子致書日沒處天子無恙云云」
「The Emperor of the Land of the Rising Sun writes to the Emperor of the Land of the Setting Sun, and I hope you are well.」

A record of this remains in the Japanese Nihonshiki and Chinese Book of Sui.

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[Story begins!]

Nara turned out to be mostly shrines and temple visits as well.
Honestly speaking, justtt as I was kind of getting fed up with it, there was a girl reciting the manyoushuu.
The girls around her were giving her looks of respect.
A primary schooler chanting poems from the manyoushuu. So this is what refinement is!? This is true refinement!?
I definitely want to follow her example!

Of the poems in the manyoushuu, the only one I remember is from my old life, Princess Nukata’s akanesasu.
I’d play Princess Nukata with my friends and we’d wave our hands jokingly saying, “If you wave your hand so much, the guardsman will see you, you know~”
It would be weird if I suddenly remembered Princess Nukata’s poem here when his place has nothing to do with it, and it’d be bad if I flared up her sense of rivalry, so I decided just to keep quiet and watch as they proceeded to display their refinement.
Apparently lots of other girls had the same idea, because from here and there, I started hearing “kaki kueba” and “houryuuji”. Far from refined, they just seemed silly.
Naturally I didn’t participate.

Only, when we visited the Yumedono, I accidentally muttered “the Emperor of the Land of the Rising Sun”. The tour guide heard me and said I was wonderful, praising me, which in turn caused the girls around me to say “As expected of Reika-sama”.
All I did was mutter the name of a shoujo manga though…
But I decided against clearing the misunderstanding.

*imouto*

At Nara Park, an incident occurred.
I was walking gracefully about the park with crackers for the deers in my hand, when I was suddenly surrounded by a herd of them.
The girls with me immediately ran, but I alone was too late to!

Huge! Deers, huge!
Scary! Horns, scary!
Hurts! Being jabbed in the back! GYAHH! They took the crackers!

“Reika-sama, run!”

“KYAAA! A deer is, Reika-sama…!”

“Reika-sama, throw the crackers far away!”

I tried tossing the crackers far away, but they flapped in the air and landed right at my feet.
GYAAHH!
I was being kicked, and rammed, and only when they realised I had no more crackers in hand did they finally look for for another target, one by one.

“Reika-sama, are you all right!?”

“Aahh! Poor Reika-sama!”

“…I am fine, everybody. Thank you.”

What the heck was that. A gang? A deer gang? A deer mafia?
Weren’t they too damn rough…?
Even though I recall them being more heartwarming when I came here in my last life, what the heck happened to them?

The girls around me helped my dust the dirt off my clothing, and just as I had finally managed to get my clothing in order and started to calm down, I met eyes with the Kaburagi, who was looking my way with a grin.

That guy freaking laughed at me…
So mortifying! I wanna throw deer crackers all around him!

But right now I have a more compelling problem.
Nobody has noticed.
The fact that I stepped on deer poop.

“It is about time to return. Reika-sama, that must have been truly rough on you.”

“Right? To think that deers were actually so scary. Even though the ones I gave my crackers to were all so cute.”

“Does it hurt anywhere? GEEZ! None of the boys even tried to help! You’re all pathetic!”

While walking happily with everybody, I sneakily slid my loafers to get the poop off with absolutely nobody the wiser.
I made sure to hint that the reason I was walking like this was because I had hurt my leg when the deers kicked it.

*imouto*

After that, we went to Kasuga Grand Shrine, and I made sure to ask the gods to discipline those deers properly.
The place had cute deer fortunes and up until yesterday I would have flown right over to buy one, but the scars in my heart still hadn’t healed from that deer assault, so I even looked at the cute deer carvings with dangerous eyes.
But everyone was making a fuss about how cute they were, so when they went to buy some, I went as well.
‘blessing’
Again, not quite sure how to feel about this…

*imouto*

The one good thing about the Deer Assault Incident was that it felt a bit like I was closer to the girls around me now.
It’d be nice if they slowly turned from followers to friends.
I decided to begin by casually playing up our friendship.

“Really, thank you for earlier. Friends truly are the most important thing, aren’t they.”

Everybody smiled happily.
Could it be that we’ve actually been friends for a long time now?

*imouto*

But after the Deer Assault Incident, every time I passed by Kaburagi, his shoulders would start to tremble.
KIIIIIIIII!!!
That’s it, I’m telling Yurie-sama on him.
Laugh all you want.
When we come back to Tokyo, the one crying will be youuu.

*imouto*

*imouto*

I had bought soaps from the inn, and some cute konpeitoh rock candies for Aoi-chan and Fukioka-san.

I had originally been choosing between the traditional oil-removing facial paper or yatsuhashi, when my stylishness sent a flash of inspiration through me.

Apparently Fukioka-san told Akizawa-kun in advance to buy them a matching pair of romantic luck charms.
Getting him to buy a pair of matching romance charms was apparently also part of the scheme to hold back the Zui’ran girls.
As expected of you, Fukioka-san.
Even though I bought Oniisama a safe driving charm, he refused to hang it on the car mirror, so I was a little dissatisfied.
He muttered “This is a little…” but why?

*imouto*

Apparently Yurie-sama got mad at Kaburagi for not warning the girls around him not to cause trouble for others.
Serrrvesss youuu righttttt. Ukyakyakyakyakya!
And then the next day, through Aira-sama, I received a certain photo from Yurie-sama.
It was a photo of me being beaten up by a herd of deers.
Aira-sama ended up sympathising with me, and said “That must have been harsh. Yurie was shocked to see this too”.

UKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!
IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGIVE!!

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Aburatorigami (あぶらとり紙) is a traditional Japanese facial oil blotting paper. The direct translation of the term is “oil removal paper”. As the term implies, aburatorigami absorbs excess oil, thereby eliminating shine from the face. Aburatorigami has traditionally been used by kabuki actors and geisha to keep makeup looking fresh throughout performances. In modern times it has been growing in popularity for everyday use amongst women for its various skincare and makeup benefits.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aburatorigami

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