Chapter 84: Last Day of the First High School Year

Last Day of the First High School Year

The first year of the male high school classes headed for its closure on March the 31st. Starting tomorrow, the new school year would start.

During this period it was possible to switch indirect affiliates.

All sorts of rumors floated around within the school buildings of the boys.

“Good day to you.”

“A good day to you as well. Have you heard about that rumor?”

In such a manner, the girls, who loved gossip, started to talk among each other.

“Yes, indeed. I heard. Yukishiro-sama’s release as a direct affiliate! I guess the rumors for the evening ball were true then.”

Just as the Minatos had effected, the affiliation between Yukishiro and Takuya was released on March the 31st.

“I think it’s better to call it cancellation instead of release.”

“All the girls, who had become Takuya-sama’s indirect affiliates out of adoration for Yukishiro-sama, have quit their affiliation with Takuya-sama, I hear.”

“Well, yes, that is correct. Something like targeting the position as Takuya-sama’s direct affiliate to replace Yukishiro-sama would be despicable… Besides, Takuya-sama doesn’t have that much appeal anymore nowadays.”

Just as planned, Akari and the other girls had stopped being Takuya’s indirect affiliates.

“No doubt. Even so, one has to pity Yukishiro-sama. Ever since then she has stayed cooped up in their mansion, hasn’t she?”

“I heard so too. She seems to seclude herself in her own room. Even the people working at the Minato residence haven’t seen Yukishiro-sama at all, I was told.”

At that point, the gossip-loving girls lowered their voices even further.

“Is that rumor actually true?”

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“You mean the one about Iori-sama having been assigned as the next family head of the Eternal Minatos?”

“Yes, yes, that one! Is it true?”

“Who knows. There basically has been no information about Yukishiro-sama since that ball.”

“Iori-sama is going to become Katsuya-sama’s direct affiliate today?”

“So I heard.”

March the 31st, which was also the end of the junior high’s third year, was the day when the girls would receive their man’s permission to become direct affiliates during highschool. Iori should have received that permission in Katsuya’s classroom by now.

“But, I heard Iori-sama has virtually stayed away from the other girls. Has she decided on any indirect affiliates?”

“I’m curious about that part as well. Unlike Yukishiro-sama, Iori-sama has had no interactions with other girls, right? Well, everyone believed that Yukishiro-sama would become the next family head of the Eternal Minatos. They probably didn’t really care about her in her position as Yukishiro-sama’s younger sister.”

“Yes. It’s going to be an issue, if she becomes the next family head, I’d suspect.”

Another girl, who had been near the two sneakily talking girls, joined their conversation. Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

“I have heard a somewhat interesting story.”

“Oh my, what might that be?”

The girl’s excitement reached new heights thanks to the prospect of new information.

“It’s about Iori-sama. My little sister has been in the same class as her.”

“Oh my! Is that so?”

“It seems like Iori-sama has lost all of her outstanding liveliness with the beginning of the year… She has been repeatedly asking around about Akari-san, or some such.”

“Akari-san? Iori-sama is looking for information on Akari-san?”

“Yes. Akari-san’s cousin is currently in her second year of junior high, but I heard Iori-sama has been spotted asking that girl about Akari-san.”

“What did she ask the cousin about Akari-san?”

Even though they were supposedly having a secret conversation while putting their faces together, that voice carried into the vicinity for some reason.

“That’s…it appears she has been asking the cousin to organize a meeting between Akari-san and her.”

“A meeting? If she wants to meet Akari-san, she can just ask Yukishiro-sama to set it up, no?”

Even as the surrounding girls gave up on the girl, who had talked about consulting Yukishiro, showing on their faces that she didn’t get it at all, one of them said with a tone that couldn’t conceal her joy, “Akari-san is Yukishiro-sama’s right hand, right? Iori-sama, who is rumored to have been designated as the next family head, has no girls who would help or assist her.”

“Ahh!”

“Shh, you’re too loud.”

“S-Sorry. S-So, you’re saying Iori-sama is trying to make Akari-san her right hand?”

“I think that would be the conclusion. Very likely it’s not just Akari-san either. She wanted to talk to Akari-san about all the girls, who have assembled around Akari-san, to support her, don’t you think?”

“But, aren’t they in a different year?”

“Iori-sama doesn’t want to turn Akari-san into Katsuya-sama’s indirect affiliate, but she probably wants to unify the girls in her year under her with the power of Akari-san and the other girls. The girls with deep connections to the Minatos.”

“Okay. Was Iori-sama able to meet with Akari-san then?”

“According to my little sister, she was very likely unable to meet Akari-san. Akari-san’s cousin apparently consulted her teacher, leading to Iori-sama becoming unable to contact her any further.”

Even though the girls, who heard this, could come to terms with it, the next words were quite bitter and biting.

“It’s just a guess, but if Iori-sama really planned to do something like that, she’s unfit to be the family head of the Eternal Minatos.”

“Indeed. Relying on the trust and relationships built by Yukishiro-sama instead of her own would be just an illusion, suggesting that she was capable of building such relationships.”

“The girls, who have been adoring Yukishiro-sama, have supported Yukishiro-sama not because of her position as next family head of the Eternal Minatos, but because they were drawn to Yukishiro-sama as a person.”

“That’s quite a nasty misunderstanding to make.”

The girls, who had no way of knowing the feelings of Akari and the other girls, got all excited by themselves. The flowers, who bloomed thanks to the rumors of others, continued without withering away.

“Is Takuya-sama’s class going to spend the second high school year with just the direct affiliate Layla-san and the two indirect affiliates Emily-san and Monica-san?”

“Maybe they are looking for a new direct affiliate among the temporary affiliates?”

“No matter who it might be, they all fall flat when compared to Yukishiro-sama.”

“Well, the only one of the same rank would be Aoi-sama.”

As soon as Aoi’s name dropped, their stifled voices suddenly became much shriller.

“Aoi-sama and Yuuta-sama! Those two are so dreamy, aren’t they!?”

“I hear they’re cozily spending almost every day in the detached mansion which was built for Yuuta-sama.”

“There’s no doubt about this becoming the second love marriage for the Yoshiwaras in a row!”

“With all the troubles over at the Eternal Minatos, the stability of the Eternal Yoshiwaras stands out even more.”

Their voices gradually kept getting louder.

“Did you also hear about the care-taking duty!?”

“Yes! I did! It’s so enviable!”

“Their uniforms are incredibly cute as well!”

“It seems they have now switched from winter to spring uniforms. The spring uniforms’ design is extremely lovely as well, I hear!”

Another girl entered the rumor mongering which had become quite loud at this point.

“The family of my classmate is doing business with the Yoshiwaras.”

“Oh my, oh my! Do you know something more specific!?”

The newcomer started to speak while looking somewhat proud.

“It’s just what I heard from her, but Yuuta-sama invites guests to his detached mansion.”

“Guests?”

“He apparently invites girls as guests to his mansion and entertains them personally.”

“Eh!? Yuuta-sama in person!?”

Even the ears of the girls, who had listened without being in the circle of rumor mongers, perked up as soon as they heard of this.

“Is he doing that as a Service Activity?”

“I hear it’s not a Service Activity.”

“Eeehh!?”

“The girls, who are invited as guests, seem to be mostly girls with deep connection to the Yoshiwaras, but he also has invited girls with no connection to the Yoshiwaras whatsoever.”

“REALLY!?”

The girls cheerfully continued their conversation due to the new information they didn’t know yet. But, just when the gossiping looked like it’d take the next level of excitement, the direct affiliate spoke up.

“Give it a rest, will you?”

“Ah…”

“If you are so interested in Yuuta-sama, quit your indirect affiliation at once and apply to Yuuta-sama’s class.”

“P-Please forgive us!”

“I won’t tell you to not gossip, but you should carefully consider where you are.”

“Y-Yes!”

With her telling them this much, the direct affiliate left. The indirect affiliates quickly got everything ready for returning home and went their way without talking about rumors any further in this place.

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“Forgive me for being late.”

“Don’t mind it. We arrived here just minutes ago as well.”

Most of the girls participating in this meeting were worrying about their relationship with the boys of their affiliation. The objective of this meeting was to discuss the management of the classes which would use Angel Suits.

“Let us begin at once then. First off, about the Angel Suit uniforms and outfits: we managed to secure the necessary numbers.”

The girls reflexively pumped their fists in triumph upon this report by the organizer.

“I have been able to get advice on how to put the Angel Suits to use in the best way after consulting several seniors of Keita-sama’s class, which has already adopted the Angel Suits, in order to manage the classes which would use the suits, starting with the new school term.”

The girls’ faces became all smiles when they heard this additional information.

“Given that it will be fine to change the usage method to match the traits of the individual boys, we should be thinking about how to implement the suits in the class together.”

The girls’ cheering thundered across the meeting room when they heard what appeared to be the greatest news of all them.

Afterwards, they continued to talk about the content of the coaching and the specific schedule. All of them were desperate in their desire to build a good relationship with their boy.

However, after around one hour had passed, the direct affiliates began to gossip amongst each other. Knowing that they’d be able to implement a management system for the classes which would use the Angel Suits, the girls had gradually relaxed their tension and started to chat.

Sighing deeply, one of them complained, “…My family is closely connected to the Minatos, so it’s quite a mess right now.”

“Seriously, how are things going to turn out anyway? If the ones at the top are in chaos, things become quite difficult on those at the bottom.”

“Is the rumor about a change of the next family head actually true? I can’t really believe it.”

“Four months have already passed since that evening ball. Why is Saori-sama allowing the rumors to run wild without making an official announcement?”

Once they started to chit-chat, there was no stopping it.

“I hear many families are groping for a relationship with the Yoshiwaras.”

“Well, that makes sense. They provide the Angel Suit without any discrimination, so anyone would want to form a close relationship with a family as broad-minded as them.”

The Yoshiwaras offered their Angel Suit to all the women, who wanted to use it, without caring about their affiliation. Of course, they took money for it, but the price per unit was pretty low.

“My mother, you see, she told me to go and ask whether I could be invited to Yuuta-sama’s mansion.”

“Eh? Ask Yuuta-sama?”

“No. Meeting Yuuta-sama directly is obviously out of the question at the moment. During my lessons, I got acquainted with a girl, who’s indirectly affiliated to Yuuta-sama’s class.”

“An acquaintance from your lessons…asking her while having such a weak connection sounds quite a challenge.”

“It’s clearly impossible. Haaah…it’s now too late for this, but it would have been great if I got Yuuta-sama to remember my face by visiting his classroom during junior high school.”

“Too late is an understatement for that.”

Yuuta had attended the male junior high two times just before the graduation. During those two occasions, he had spent most of his time with Aoi and his current indirect affiliates.

But, if other girls had planned to meet him, they should have had more than enough time to do so.

The girls, who were present here and now, thinking that it’d have been great to have Yuuta remember their face didn’t mean that they thought it’d have been great if they had deepened their exchange with Yuuta and become his indirect affiliates. After all, just before the graduation all of these girls already had boys with whom they had continued to talk while visiting their classrooms.

Aoi, the daughter of Nanase who was said to have had the romance of a century, and Yuuta who had become her boyfriend. If they had managed to get Yuuta to remember their faces, they could have hoped for a good relationship with the Yoshiwaras. That was the real meaning behind their current words.

“Is the engagement going to happen on the 17th birthday of Aoi-sama?”

“Most likely.”

“Haaah…how enviable.”

“Do you know the story of the middle name, which Yuuta-sama has bestowed upon Aoi-sama?”

The indirect affiliate, who had cautioned the gossiping indirect affiliates before this meeting, asked while looking slightly proud.

“Middle name? You mean a name?”

“Is it different from a surname?”

“Isn’t that a custom practiced in the Sachar Kingdom?”

The girls leaped at the information unbeknown to them.

“Yes, it indeed is a custom of the Sachar Kingdom. It’s a name different from a surname, which the men will only grant to the woman they love.”

“And Yuuta-sama granted such a middle name to Aoi-sama?”

“Yes. He apparently bestowed the middle name 『Yuri』 on her.”

“Yuri from the flower lily, huh?”

The girls had become quite excited due to the talk about middle names. A girl, who had been quietly listening to the conversation from a corner, timidly spoke up.

“U-Umm.”

“Is something the matter?”

“As a matter of fact…my mother…happened to hear a story from someone who received an invitation.”

“Huh? An invitation, you say?”

“T-That’s…an invitation to Yuuta-sama’s mansion.”

The instant they heard her words, everyone’s eyes focused on that girl.

“What sort of person was the one who received the invitation?”

“Umm, they were working at a business with relations to the Yoshiwaras.”

“As expected…it’s difficult if you don’t have any connection to the Yoshiwaras.”

“So, did she hear something we don’t know yet?”

The girl explained with a calm and slow voice, “The girls of Yuuta-sama’s class seem to be taking turns acting as care-takers in Yuuta-sama’s mansion.”

“I have heard about that as well.”

“Me too. They say their uniforms are incredibly cute.”

The curiosity of the other girls dropped by a level as the information brought forth by that girl was something they already knew.

“In addition to uniforms, they occasionally wear a mask that covers their eyes and upper nose.”

“Eh? I didn’t know about that.”

“I heard about this. They say the design of those masks is very adorable.”

“But, why masks?”

“It doesn’t seem like they will always wear a mask. But, maybe they’re wearing them because of the cute design?”

“Does it have to do with Yuuta-sama’s tastes?”

The girl rummaged through her mind, trying to remember other things she had heard from her mother.

“Ah!”

“Is there anything else?”

“Come to think of it…she heard the warm milk tea, which had been prepared by a masked care-taker, tasted very nice.”

“We’re talking about the Yoshiwaras here, so they must be using only the best tea leaves.”

At that point, the girl recalled why she had started to talk about this. She had simply forgotten about it when everyone suddenly directed their looks at her.

“U-Umm, Aoi-sama is the only girl who was granted a middle name by Yuuta-sama, right?”

“Would there be anyone else? I’m sure Manami-sama would be the next choice. But, she hasn’t become Yuuta-sama’s girlfriend yet, has she?”

“No, I haven’t heard anything about Manami-sama becoming Yuuta-sama’s girlfriend.”

“I see…”

“Is something wrong?”

Someone asked the girl when she fell silent, pondering.

“The name of the care-taker, who prepared the delicious milk tea, didn’t match with any of the indirect affiliates in Yuuta-sama’s class.”

“It’s not just the indirect affiliates who take care of Yuuta-sama in his mansion, is it? Naturally women, who serve the Yoshiwaras, also assist Yuuta-sama.”

“Oh, you’re right.”

I guess that makes sense, the girl agreed.

“They’re allowed to stay in the guest room of Yuuta-sama’s mansion on the day when they take care of Yuuta-sama, aren’t they!?”

“Even though it’s separated from the guest room, Yuuta-sama and Aoi-sama must be making love in the bedroom!”

“Just imagining it would make me all horny.”

“Moreover, I hear they’re allowed to use an Angel Suit and dildos!”

The girls’ talk continued for a while, but eventually the time for ending the meeting arrived. While getting ready to go back home, the girl, who had agreed earlier, thought, Come to think of it…

I agreed with them earlier, but…the name of the care-taker…I thought it might be a middle name because it’s not very common, even if it’s adopted from a flower.

“Well then everyone, let us all work hard together during the new term of the second year while using the Angel Suits!”

『Yes!』

The girl was pulled out of her thoughts by the closing words of the organizer. This girl was also worrying about her relationship with her chosen boy. Her relationship with him was much more important than some stories she had heard.

I have to focus on my own matters.

“What was the name of the care-taker you mentioned earlier?”

The organizer suddenly asked at the end.

“It seems she was called Marguerite.”

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Now that the snow (yuki) has thawed, brightly colored marguerites are likely blooming in that public park.