But I didn't expect what happened next. Sheena looked at me
with a very
serious look.
— Never, do you hear, Shinji, never bring up this topic in front of my family. — Wow, what happened there? — Mizuki is the last of the destroyed clan. — After a moment of silence, the girl continued: — From the ruling family of the destroyed clan.
— And what does this have to do with... something I don't catch up with.
— Shh. Her former clan was destroyed by the Koyama.
Your core, passion-muzzle. Well, wow, they have skeletons in the closet.
—Does Mizuki know?"
- yes. — Holy shit! — I'm asking you, Sin, don't mess with this case. Even though I wasn't born then, but I'm not at ease either. Just believe me, Koyama had a reason to destroy them," the girl shook her head. — The war began a year before my birth and lasted twelve years, ending after the adoption of the last of the ruling family. What horrors are not told about her. And Mizuki... father said that he just couldn't get her... well, you understand…
Oh-ho-ho. I don't even want to imagine how the younger Koyama endured all this. And what's going on in her head right now. One thing I can say, I've never noticed malice in her. Although how it really is, her family knows better.
— Okay, let's hush it up. I understood everything and I won't go where I shouldn't go. Better tell me," I translated the topic, "do you have a fiance yourself, by the way?
— Pf. No, — the Tire blushed a little. — As long as the father does not have an heir, they will not hurry with this.
— Your parents are young, so everything is still ahead.
"Yeah, I hope so," she muttered in response. — And preferably quickly. After eighteen, they'll start looking for a couple for me anyway. And as soon as they find it, there will be no time for a brother. Okay, I'll go, I need to get around the other guests.
Should I go and make friends too? Oh! Fuck him so for the leg. Chesue!
— Ladies, — I approached Akemi's company. — Let me take my friend from you. I want to introduce her to someone.
"Of course, of course," one of the women said, smiling condescendingly. Apparently, such words in the mouth of a teenager really sounded funny. A little unpleasant, but expected. — Where else but at such receptions to make acquaintances?
Am I being so exquisitely insulted just now? Like, is it only thanks to Koyama that I'm here and can make acquaintances? Either that, or I'm paranoid.
"Anywhere, mistress. It doesn't depend on the reception," I replied, slightly cooling my voice.
After bowing to this group and taking Akemi by the arm, I moved in a wide arc to Chesue.
"You should be careful, Sin, women are sometimes more dangerous than men," Akemi suddenly said.
"Otherwise I might forget it," I replied, glancing at my partner. — Only they can also underestimate the enemy. You'd better tell me why you dislike Chesue so much. I keep forgetting to ask about it. A competitor is understandable, but you don't seem to digest him much more than just a competitor.
— He doesn't let me develop my business, but that's okay, that's understandable. The problem is that he, having the opportunity to oust me from it, has taken certain limits beyond which he does not allow me to go. And what is most offensive, both in one direction and in the other. He even helped when it was really bad. It's like I'm his toy.
— If you were a man, he would have bankrupted you long ago.
— And this is even more insulting. — That's how feminists are born. — He told me so, they say, he will play with me until he gets tired, — she said resentfully. — I'm not his woman! Let him play with his own. — But no, I was in a hurry with the feminists.
At the moment when we picked up Chesue, he, along with some lady, apparently his wife, was just heading to a table with a fish snack.
— Chesue-san, what a meeting! I exclaimed.
— Oh, Sakurai, — he turned to me. "I see you're following a crooked path," he glanced at Akemi.
— I don't know what you're talking about, but in any case, my companion probably doesn't need to be introduced.
— Is the only female criminal boss in Japan? No, don't.
— Boss? — I played the unconscious. — You are mistaken. This sweet girl can have nothing to do with criminals in any way.
— Well, that's your problem, Sakurai.
— I don't see any problems, Chesue, only benefits.
— You must have very good eyesight, young man. Or quite the opposite.
"Time will tell, Chesue-san. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy this wonderful reception. And these delicious snacks. Mm," I shook my head, putting a fish ring in my mouth, "salmon. I read that this is a very useful fish in terms of diet. By the way, I'm going to go into the book business here, would you advise me where to start?
— Ask your companion," he said. — So many years in this business after all.
— But you are even longer, that's why I'm asking you.
— This is a complex business, Sakurai, and competitors are not tolerated in it. — Quite a thick hint, as for me.
— I'll still take a chance. Risk, as they say, is a noble cause.
"Then you shouldn't take any chances.
Oh, and here they remembered about my origin.
— So that it doesn't work out, as with your lands? — Get a grenade, fascist. — Hmm... reinforced concrete argument.
At my passage, Chesue only narrowed his eyes a little. I respect you.
"I'm lucky," he practically hissed back.
Like don't get in — will it kill? He shouldn't have done that.
— To each his own. I was unlucky enough to live as a commoner in the center of the Koyama quarter.
A hint that it will be rolled up if something happens to me. What did you think?
That I won't take advantage of the existing situation?
"They wouldn't tolerate that in my clan.
But this is a hint that someone is behind him, too, and the Koyama will not start a war because of me.
— What can I say? Life is an incomprehensible thing.
Like, everything can be, but will you check?
— And risk is a noble thing.
I will.
— People value stability and do not like to take risks.
Only the clan won't support you.
"That's right, young man. Exactly.
And you're Koyama.
— And what could be more stable than books? So I think I should still try myself in this business. I'll start, and then, you see, my children will continue.
Like, before my death, which means it won't come to the clans, I'll beat you up before.
— Try it, Sakurai, try it.
—Kagami-san is great as always," I said, taking another fish ring. — Well, Chesue-san, it was nice chatting with you, but we'll probably go. There are still so many people to talk to…
Five minutes later we were standing at another table, the dreams of a vegetarian. Akemi immediately picked up a tomato stuffed with some kind of salad.
"I would love to squeeze out his giblets," she said angrily, holding the vegetable in front of her eyes.
— Calm down, Akemi. What are you, really? And decide already with this tomato, either eat or crush.
"Won't he attack?" — she asked and still put the tomato in her mouth. Fortunately, it was small. — Mm!
— Heh, yummy, right? And no, it won't attack. Not directly, anyway. He's not a fool to check whether Koyama will avenge me or not.
"Will they?" the woman asked, looking at me. And most importantly, there is so much curiosity on his face.
— Who knows, Akemi? Who knows?
— Well, Si-i-indzi!
— I think they will. But not openly. No one will start a clan war because of me. Especially after I die.
Taking a glass of wine from a passing waiter, she looked at me. Strictly.
— Let's not talk about death today. We'd better have a drink.
And ten minutes later, Mizuki came up to us.
—Nakata-san," she bowed to her, after which she turned to me:
— Shinji, your father is calling you there for some reason. I say right away: I don't know, — she didn't let me ask a question.
— What, there are no even assumptions?
"How do I know what he wants from you?" He asked me to call you, I did. Shinji-i-I. "He's going to say something." "I'll go," she finished dejectedly. She restrained herself, the devil. — Father is in the house now, ask one of the servants, you will be escorted.
Looking around the yard, I noticed Kagami nearby, talking with Raydon's brother. Chesue was not noticeable.
— I'll go too, — I said to Akemi, — if anything... well, you never know... go to Kagami, — I waved my head in that direction. — You admire her cooking, and she'll cover you in between.
— Go already, reinsurer. I'm an adult girl, I'll figure it out if anything. — Damn, I don't want to leave her here alone. — Oh, great spouses. Shinji, have you forgotten that this is not my first reception among the aristocrats? Trust me, everything will be fine. Go already.
Akeno was in the western part of the house, in a small room with a low table in the middle. When I came in, he was drinking something from a clay bowl with visible pleasure.
—Hello, Akeno-san," I said.
"Oh, Shinji, have a seat. You just have to try it," he said, filling a second bowl from a black bottle with Indian inscriptions. — "Chandrama ven". Very, VERY rare nectar outside of India. They gave me two whole bottles today.
For five minutes we silently evaluated a really amazing drink. But now our bowls were empty, and, filling them again, Akeno began to talk:
"You may find the reason I called you here insignificant, but I... would feel better if we talked."
"I'm listening to you, Akeno—san.
"It's all about your companion, Shinji. You've probably already realized that my father and I... have heard a lot about her. And I would like to know what you know about Nakata Akemi? Not even like that… Are you aware that your friend is a criminal boss? — not that tense, but rather collected, the man asked.
I am offered a frank conversation, as far as it is possible at all. And I don't mind in principle. Of course, it was possible to refuse and declare that I was not a dream or a spirit. But if there was such a drunkenness, then why not? I assumed a similar outcome, and it will be much easier for me in the future, I will have to watch my words less. And... how should I put it... I don't like to deceive this person. Plus another brick in the wall of our trust. It won't be superfluous. The pause, by the way, is dragging on, it's time to answer.
— Yes, I know. I knew about it from the very first time we met.
— Well, then why did you contact her? Akeno even seemed relieved.
— Interests have crossed. — And, seeing the man's raised eyebrow, he explained: — Chesue. We both don't like him.
— Do you dislike him so much that you are ready to start a war with him? With the head of an old rich aristocratic family?