An hour later, Akemi, resting her head on my hip and playing with the tip of her braid, asked an interesting question.
— Tell me, Shinji, what is your goal in life? she looked up at me.
— Establish your own clan.
— No, I'm not talking about a dream, I'm talking about a goal. What you can really achieve and what you are going for.
— Then establish your own family.
— You have some kind of small goal. With your capabilities, you will get your coat of arms very soon.
"You seem to have had too much to drink." This is not a small goal, I am a genius.
— Oho-ho, you're our genius. Or even before you were born, did you plan to settle in the center of the international clan quarter next to the ruling family?
"What's that got to do with it?" Even friendship with the head of the Koyama clan would not have helped me get a coat of arms if I were an ordinary Japanese schoolboy and had nothing behind my soul.
— It only brought your goal closer. If you wanted it, you would have a coat of arms anyway. My goal is to become the strongest Garagarahebi boss in all of Japan.
— The issue of the coat of arms is very controversial. And about your goals, I didn't understand something. What does it mean to be the strongest? On a personal level? Or do you want to become the head of Garagarahabi?
— In personal too. And it is impossible to become a head. There is no such position. If someone can subdue the whole Garagarahebi, then it will disappear. Only the guild of the winner will remain. But to pull off such a thing is like founding your own clan. My dream, by the way.
— A dream ... — I said, inhaling the aroma of wine in a glass. — My dream is to punch someone in the face. And the goal, anyway, is to found your own clan.
Akemi was silent for two minutes, trying to comprehend my words, after which she asked:
— What kind of person is this that it's easier to found a clan than to stuff this person's face?
— If I knew, — I answered with a heavy sigh. — And the clan… Founding a clan is a matter of time, and I have a lot of it.
"People don't live that long," the girl said grumpily, fidgeting on my leg.
"Don't talk nonsense. If there was no such possibility, it would have become known over the past two hundred years. There's some kind of directive there. And it is not profitable for the rulers. You'll see, if it's not me, then someone else will definitely create a new clan soon. It hasn't happened for two hundred years, it's about time. My goal is to get there first.
— You are either a dreamer or you are very mistaken.
Everything can be. Initially, I wanted to play on the emergence of a new style. Or a new branch of development, to whom as. I had a good plan, designed for fifty or sixty years, according to which I would provide the emperor with a squad of witchers. I would have initiated about ten people in such a time. Most likely more, but it would be able to achieve just so many heights. And let them be weaker compared to Virtuosos, but as scouts and murderers, witchers have no equal in this world. And if you remember about the "bookmark" ... Eternal, not eternal, but a very long life for the witcher who managed to cope with this is provided. I doubt that the emperor would refuse a clan with such fighters. There are other countries in the extreme. And now... the goal remains, and another plan is needed. More cautious, without a squad of mercenaries. But I don't think there will be any problems with that. I already have some plans, but now I don't know how long it will take. And everything is getting more dangerous now.
— You're wrong, everything is quite real. Long, but real.
"It's a pity I won't live to see those times," she sighed.
Maybe she would have lived to see it, but by that time she would be an ancient old woman. Even if she suddenly becomes a witch. Even in my world, the strongest of them, Sarah Sorgesse, had the rank of only a Knight. So the "bookmark" does not threaten her. Although, of course, you can take a risk and reduce the time by opening up to the emperor. The Patriarch of the Master level is not a Veteran, that's just fraught with it. If I ALREADY have a clan, then it's another matter, but I won't risk it this way.
— By the way, you could also become an aristocrat, you have the opportunity. From getting married to getting a coat of arms.
—I'm a woman, Shinji," Akemi said in a tone as if she was talking to a baby. — No one will give me a coat of arms, and to be a wife is to be a second forever. Although it's okay. The worst thing is that I won't be the second, the third at best or the fourth. The wife is a commoner, after all.
— This is how you behave. My mother over there has achieved a lot of things. Until I was stupid.
— I don't know what happened between you and your mother, but I don't have a single head of the family in mind. As well as an heir of my age.
I'm in the mood to tell her something, but if you think about it, my mother did something that Akemi doesn't even seem to think of. And let everything happen there by itself, but after all, such a situation can be artificially created. Or not? How many second or third sons of the head of the clan in our country who are friends with the heir of the head of the clan? Yes, they are so friendly that he can go against the traditions. Oh, yes, single sons. However, situations are different, I would like to, I would achieve.
— But you could arrange a coat of arms for your future son. You have enough acquaintances.
— Be sure, my son will have a coat of arms. You don't think that I wish my children the same life as mine, do you?
I didn't remind her that this hypothetical son would most likely be from me. And so everything is clear. As well as the fact that I will look after my child. That's what she will do if this child is a girl? Will he start pestering me again?
"Of course I don't think so," I said, glancing at my watch. And, sighing theatrically, he remarked: — Time, Akemi. No matter how pleasant it is for me to be in your company, but life dictates its own rules. Which say that I have to go to school in the morning.
— Go ahead, schoolboy. And I'm still going to sit here... uh... lie down. I'm thinking about the high.
— Good luck, beautiful. Don't think too much, or you'll get a hangover.
* * *
When I left the house the next morning, I saw Sheena scratching a cat that had firmly established itself in my yard. I don't know where he spends the night, but in the morning, when I leave the house, and in the afternoon, when I return from school, I constantly notice him on my fence.
—His name is Iziwaru," I warned the girl. And then I know these girls, they'll call them that. It will be a shame to be around.
— So this cat is yours? Why don't you take care of him? It looks like he just got out of a fight.
— It's nobody's cat. He's on his own. And who knows about the fight? The name was given to him for a reason. — And, ahead of her question, he answered: — I did. It has to be called something.
"Okay," she said. — Iziwaru so Iziwaru. And without looking at me, she continued, "I wanted to apologize. I've been really overreacting lately.
— The main thing is not to repeat the previous mistakes, and the rest will follow, — I accepted the apology with a flourish. — Let's go already, stop spoiling the cat. He'll get used to it yet, we won't dismiss it.
Raydon was waiting for us at the school. Together with my sister, which is interesting. After greeting them and complimenting Aneko on duty, they headed to the school building.
"I wanted to apologize for what happened with Shinichi," Ohayashi suddenly said.
"What's your fault?" — Mm, in the subject of something like. Let's start working on the legend. — I'm not even accusing your fiance of anything. But Chesue, excuse the expression, is a freak. He obviously set it up on purpose. Well, I'm already making inquiries, and rest assured, he will regret it.
"You should have dealt with the lands that he inherited first," Sheena shook her head.
"One doesn't interfere with the other," Aneko said softly. To which my neighbor frowned.
— Yes, I'm kind of already. You can't physically put pressure on me now. There's no pressure at all.
"What do you mean, already?" Figured it out? And how, if it's not a secret? Sheena asked in surprise. The same question could be read on Ohayashi's faces.
— Rented it out.
— To whom? — synchronously asked the girls. And, having exchanged glances, they looked at me again.
— Shidotemoru. This is my office, if anyone doesn't know. We work in the field of the Internet.
— Are you the head of Shidotemoru? Raydon was surprised. — However.
—Technically not,— I grimaced. — I'm still underage for this. But in fact — yes, the head.
—However,— Ray repeated.
His face illustrated the phrase "in gives." His sister, at the same time, was slightly surprised, but Sheena's face expressed pride, as if she had come out of the situation with honor.
— What are you smiling at, evil neighbor? I asked her.
"I knew you'd come up with something," she ignored the epithet "evil." — By the way, — she reached into her briefcase, — here's a bento. Mom still won't let up.
— I don't even know whether to be happy or not, — I took the lunch box from her hands. — Thanks anyway.
At the big break, after the fourth lesson, the headman again reminded about the club. It seems that I will be reminded of him every other day now. We have to do something about it.
—Imube-san," I called out to the headman who had left me. — Can you tell me where I can get a complete list of school clubs?
— I don't know. Try asking the student council secretary," she replied and, turning around, went to her desk.
— Thank you… Imube-san, — I called out to her again, — and where can I find him, can you tell me?
—Room number four, on the ground floor. She is registered with the student council. And in what class the secretary studies, I do not know.
"Thanks again," I said to her back.
— Are you still suffering? Raydon asked.
— It's not visible. Let's go have lunch. Although not. — Taking out a bento from his briefcase, he put it in front of the guy: — Go ahead, and I'll still go and do this thing.
"And you're going to sacrifice lunch for that?" Raydon asked, taking the box.
— And what to do? We need to figure it out quickly. I have enough to do without these clubs.
— You need to create your own club, for those who don't want to waste time on it, — Ray remarked on the way out of class.
— Five people! Where can I get so many first-graders I know?
— So write an ad. And hang it around the school. Only write the text correctly so that it is clear and incomprehensible at the same time. Otherwise, you will be banned from creating such a club in advance.
- hm. Give me back my bento.
— Uh, no, what fell is gone.
— Yes, you're completely fucked up, kishkoblud. Do you have an icon of Kagami-san in your room?
"I don't have one,— Ray blurted out.
— And who has it?
"Maybe someone should,— he said, looking away.
— And if we assume?
- Uh, you, for example.