In the middle of the road leading into the interior of the mansion, not far from the gate, we, in the sense of guests, were met by the owners of the house. A man in a blue kimono and a woman with a twelve-year-old girl in pink and blue, floral, yukata. And if the husband and wife, as I understood, looked quite ordinary, then Raydon's sister stood out against their background. In particular, with his blue hair and eyes that have exactly the same color. But, on the whole, she looked very nice.
—Twelve years,— Sheena said quietly. — The first time he meets guests. The woman is Ohayashi Anda, I think you recognized the man yourself.
Judging by the girl's face, she was already tired of meeting guests. Which is not surprising, considering that it's nine now, and she's been standing here since eight. While we were walking towards them, the woman managed to whisper a few words to her daughter.
—Long life, Sakurai-san, Koyama-san," the girl began, bowing. — Welcome to our house and thank you for visiting my twelfth birthday. I hope the holiday will not make you bored.
— Long years, Ami-chan, — I bowed my head in a bow. — I'm sure I won't be bored here. Ohayashi-dono," I bowed to the man, "Ohayashi-san, to the woman.
— I am glad to see my son's friend at this holiday, as well as Koyama Kenta-san's granddaughter. It is an honor for us to host such guests.
"Just like for us to be invited here," Sheena bowed with a half—smile.
— Please, — the head of the clan waved his hand somewhere in the direction of the house. — My wife will take you to the other guests.
The Ohayashi mansion was, if not an exact copy, then at least very similar to the Koyama house — old, wooden, traditional. After taking me and Sheena through the whole house, Anda took us to a huge courtyard where three hundred people were bored. Judging by the tables with food and various decorations, the holiday will be held here.
— Listen, I wanted to ask everything, — I turned to Sheena. — Don't you think it's better to arrange a birthday celebration for a little girl not so late? Or is it such a trick of Ohayashi?
— Rather the aristocracy. Just another reason for the reception. And receptions are best arranged in the evening.
— I didn't notice anything like that, — I waved my hand around the yard, — at Koyama.
— Well, it's still not a rule. In our family, it is customary to celebrate holidays in the family circle.
— Clearly. And why was I invited then? — In response, I was looked at as an idiot. — Okay, okay, stupid question, I admit. Don't just look at me so scary. Let's go have a snack, I just had breakfast today.
The birthday girl returned only about an hour later, poor girl. However, she was immediately dragged away by the same small piglets. I didn't let go of the tire, which she initially hissed at, so I had to approach different companies that she pointed out, get acquainted and start a conversation. After that, the Bus was connected, and I was imperceptibly removed from the conversation.
— Oh, and this one is here!
"Not a fig to myself," I thought, turning around, "To whom is this... ah, to me, then."
— Oh, Ishikawa-chan. Good evening.
An old green-haired acquaintance. More precisely, not the old one ... but ... well, you understand.
— He's not so kind, since I met you, — said the gloomy girl.
— My condolences. Let me introduce…
"I don't give a damn who you're hanging out with.
Doesn't Ishikawa know Shin by sight? Anything is possible, she, in principle, should not... but somehow I expected otherwise.
"Take it easy on the turns, Ishikawa-san. From what you say now…
"What are you going to do to me?" Will you complain to your dad? Yes, if it weren't for this holiday, I'd tell you... this is no place for bare-legged people like you.
— ...it may end very... very badly for you.
— Oh, oh. And what can happen? Will your bitch start screaming?
"I don't like her, Shinji. Stop messing with her.
— You should cover your mouth, you bitch.
— As you say, Koyama-san. — Oh, it's been a long time since I've seen people turn pale so quickly and so much. — I will repeat my words at our first meeting. — A spectacular pause. — Fuck off…
For the next four seconds we were silent and looked at each other. Ishikawa... what's her name ... Nariko, apparently, was just afraid to move, and even more so to say something. And Sheena and I enjoyed this picture. But my partner for this evening started up and nodded somewhere in the crowd of guests.
— And here, it seems, your friend showed up.
— Where? Oh, right. Raydon. Let's go greet this ohayasya. — This is so that Ishikawa doesn't relax.
Raydon, while we were walking to him, was making fun of a red-haired girl in a yukata. She laughed at his words, covering her face with a fan. He himself, like me, was dressed in a man's kimono, only without haori.
— Afternoon... ugh... good evening, scout. Where have you been hiding for an hour?
— I was hiding?! I've been looking for you for half an hour.
"It's noticeable," I smiled at the redhead. — However, it's hard to even blame you. — To which he received an answering smile.
"Fujiwara—san, let me introduce you to my friends. Sakurai Shinji is my classmate and Koyama Shin—san is a kind-hearted person who feeds us with his mother's cooking.
We bowed. And it so happened that the standard Tire bow was deeper than mine. In theory, this hinted that I was somehow above her in position, but in fact — I just wasn't used to bending my neck, and when I forgot myself, my bows, like now, were more like a nod of the head. It even made me uncomfortable, but I don't want to bow again.
— Guys, — everyone pretended not to notice my mistake, — meet me. Fujiwara Ren is the most beautiful lily of the Fujiwara clan.
She bowed standardly, apparently, did not want to offend the Tire. I don't remember what happened to the Fujiwara in my world, but in this one, after they were finally thrown off the pedestal on which they actually ruled all of Japan for almost four hundred years, the Fujiwara clan managed to knock out the right to create a clan. And this is after a hundred years of war against half of the entire imperial aristocracy. In short, they have something to respect. One of the great clans, by the way.
— Nice to meet you, Sakurai-san, Koyama-san.
Vo-o-o. Traditions. And politeness. It doesn't matter that the guy is a commoner and no one compared to the rest, the main thing is the guy. So, you need to greet him first.
—Just like you and me, Fujiwara-san. It is an honor for me to meet a descendant of Kamatari.
Thus, he made a coup, took control of the imperial family and marked the era of the Fujiwara clan.
— Since I've found you, let's go introduce you to one of the older brothers. The oldest one is somewhere with his father, but Hikaru is here in the yard. Organizes entertainment, hehe. Do you mind, Fujiwara-san?
— Of course not, I'm even interested in what your brother is doing there. My brother was a tall, thin, blond man of eighteen or nineteen. It was located next to a real boxing ring, which stood at the very edge of the yard. Now he was talking to two guys about fourteen years old, who by the time we approached, smiling and joking, had fallen off to the side.
— Well, how many have you got? Raydon asked his brother as he turned around.
— Ten pairs so far. However, this is enough for a start. Hi guys. — This is for us.
— By the way, yes, meet me. Sakurai Shinji is my friend and classmate. Fujiwara Ren. She is studying in a parallel class. And Koyama Shina is a second—year student. Part—time - Shinji's neighbor. And this is my brother, Ohayashi Hikaru. Of course, he is not as strong as you, Koyama-san," he turned to the girl with a bow. — But among the younger ones, Ohayashi is the strongest. He's going to be a Teacher soon," Ray finished proudly.
— And he also forgot to say that he is not much inferior to me, — Hikaru smiled.
— Oh, come on. I'm up to your level... don't believe him, in general.
— Oh, how. Ray, buddy, I don't believe a damn thing about you. Big Brother is always right.
"Really, Sin, I'm much weaker," Raydon replied with surprising seriousness.
—Whatever you say," I waved my hand. You can't talk about such things in front of girls in too serious a tone. They'll still believe it, for good. Raise his reputation later.
—That's right,— Raydon corrected himself. — As I say, so it will be. By the way, are you aware of what's going on here?
— Nope. I personally was engaged in food on the tables.
"And I didn't leave this glutton," Sheena said.
Ren just shook her head.
— And what is happening here, that is, it will happen, mochilovo.
—Haha, that's so rude, bro. Let me explain. There will be fights between those who wish to take place in this ring. So far, between friends and acquaintances. But for every three fights won, the winner will receive a prize. Well, if someone can win ten fights — the main prize. And the right to declare the queen of the holiday. Well, perhaps the most important thing is that contractions occur without the use of bahir. Of course, we have two healers on duty here, so broken noses will heal very quickly.
Oh, I shouldn't have come here. As long as someone doesn't ask me to enter the ring. If I were alone, not in a couple… Just don't think that I'm afraid of something or I don't want to show it there. I'm corny to break in. Pretend to be a monkey in front of a crowd? Come on, figs. Therefore, we will look for ways of retreat in advance.
— It doesn't sound very good. For me, at least," I twisted my face. Just a little bit.
— What's wrong? Hikaru asked.
— Yes, something to me ... somehow ... for the amusement of the crowd? Without bahir, it will not be a fight, but so ... correctly, Raydon said: mochilovo, — I feel like some kind of fop who is trying to get away.
— Do you like real fights? Ren asked.
— Serious fights. Let the enemy be stronger, but it will be a fight, not a circus. Even if it's a circus, as long as there are no spectators.
"Don't tell me,— Hikaru said. — There is something to argue about.
— I agree. This is just my opinion.
— So, you think that there is no serious opponent for you here? Sheena asked suddenly.
She still knows how to substitute. It would be better to support.
— Without bahir? — Well, what can I do now? — At this birthday party, I will beat anyone.
If she offers to prove it now, I will quarrel with her. In general, my excuses went somewhere wrong.
"Not even a grown man?" Ren's voice sounded.
Sighing heavily and looking at the girl, I still decided to speak out.