Ken yo, kaku katariki – 90

33 – Like the petals of the arne flower

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“Ahhh! You got me…!!”

Under a clear blue sky.
The boy with blonde hair said as lay down on the ground and looked up at the sky.
Next to him, the dazed boy with black hair also sat down.

Tor and Jay…. Yukito looked at them and chuckled.

“Ah… Maybe that was a little too harsh?”

“A little…?”

“Of course it was.”

Enya said with an exasperated voice.

“Aize’s training was so harsh that I could not even watch.”

“Well…I wish I could have seen that…”

Tor said as he caught his breath. Now that he thought about it, he had been helping to set up the dueling grounds, and had not watched her train.

“I think you two aren’t ready to ask to be trained.”

“That’s not true.”

Yukito said while offering them a hand.
However…they could not stand up yet, and he squatted near them instead.

“It’s never too early to want to become stronger. Besides, I think you have plenty of potential.”

“Re-really…!?”

“Aye.”

They had fought for their friend. Even though it could have meant their death.
That was a very admirable trait. Not everyone could do the same.

“Do you mean…I’m a genius…?”

“No, you idiot.”

Enya hit Tor on the head, and Jay laughed.

Their reason for wanting to be trained by Yukito was simple.
It was so that next time—they really could help their friend.

(Old friend, huh…)

Even in his past life, Yukito had no one like that.

“Mr. Yukito!”

A voice shouted from a distance, and he turned to see a girl running towards him. It was Aize’s younger sister, Mimi.

“You have a letter, Mr. Yukiyo! From the old capital.”

“A letter?”

He looked at the envelope. It was from Count Orlando.
Yukito opened it and scanned the contents—before folding it up again and placing it in his pocket.

“Both of you. If you want to try again, let me know.”

“Aye…”

“Th-thank you.”

Yukito then turned away and started to walk. And then Mimi took his arm.

“Teacher Yukito. Are you going to my sister now?”

“Uh, yes…”

“So am I! Let’s go together!”

“I don’t mind…”

For some reason, the other three seemed to raise their eyebrows as the two walked away.

“Come in.”

Yukito waited for permission and then opened the door after knocking.
There was a drawing room table, where Ms. Iria and Sherry sat. They bowed politely after seeing Yukito.
He raised his hand at them and turned to the front of the room.
It was the lord’s study. Aize sitting at the old desk.

“It suits you, Ms. Aize.”

“…You’re making fun of me.”

But it wasn’t a joke.

…Aize Lilieth. Acting lord. Well, she was the heir, after all.
However, he could not help but feel sympathetic when he saw the mountain of documents on the desk.

“…This is the result of my actions.”

It was probably not what she had been hoping for.
For years, she had been bound by the idea of nobility. It was a curse.

However, it was not something that you could easily escape from.
Baron Lilieth governed this village. And so her decisions did not just affect her, or just her family.
And she was not the kind of person to run from the fruits of her own actions. Everyone here understood that.

…One week had passed since the duel.

The baron’s surgery had been a success. And he was on his way to recovering. Well, physically, that is.
But he was an empty shell of a man now. And it was clear that he would not be able to work.

On the other hand, Aize’s mother seemed to be returning to her senses.
At first, she had wanted to pay for her sins, the crimes she and her husband had committed. However, they were not being charged with anything by the law. So she would repent in her own way…
Currently, she alternated between visiting her husband in the hospital, which was in the neighboring town, and visiting her daughters.
But even though she would have been very busy, Yukito thought she seemed more cheerful than before.

“Aize. These documents are ready. Just add your seal.”

“Hmmm. Thanks, Sherry.”

Ms. Sherry and Ms. Iria also offered their support.
Of course, that would not last long. Summer vacation was about to end.

“Ms. Aize. Have you decided what you are going to do now?”

“Mmm.”

She nodded and then looked at Yukito.

“I will continue at the academy. And the tournament, of course.”

“I see…”

Yukito felt a little worried by her answer.
Would it really be alright? Still, she could not abandon these lands now…

“It’s fine. Next week, the deputy governor will arrive.”

According to her, there was a system to support landowners who had to live far away from their lands.

“My father contacted someone in the government. And since I’m still a student, it was decided swiftly.”

“Huh…”

“A director will also come, and my father will be watching. I don’t think anything strange will happen.”

Ms. Iria added, and Yukito nodded.
Count Orlando was now quite involved with the matter.
After all, he had bought joint mining rights for the elyzium mines from Ms. Aize.

“Thanks to that, we have repaid our debts. I cannot express my gratitude to the Count.”

“It’s nothing. The result of a proper negotiation. If anything, my father is probably the one who is profiting.”

“Well, that’s how things are. I think your father was more generous than most. Besides, it would not have been possible for House Lilieth to mine the elyzium alone.”

“That’s…”

“Indeed. There is no reason to worry about it, Iria.”

Aize smiled.

“In the first place, everyone in Arnes agreed. And it will enrich the village. It was an easy decision.”

“…I see.”

Yukito did not know much when it came to money matters.
But he could see that this role fitted Ms. Aize.

“By the way, teacher. Why are you here today? I thought you said something about training…”

“Ah…well…”

The incident had reminded Yukito of how much he needed to grow.
Also, it had brought up many old memories of his past life.

His parents had died in an accident. To be precise, it was a truck that had veered out of the opposing lane.
However, the driver was judged to be not guilty in court. The reason is that it was caused by a mental breakdown due to excessive overwork.
After leaving the orphanage as an adult, Yukito searched for the truck driver.

Not for revenge. At least, that’s what he told himself.
However, the driver had already taken his own life. However, the boss of the company that had overworked him, had escaped abroad.

There was little to say after that.
His life was like a rock rolling down a hill.
The results, a hopeless, and plain man.

That was probably why he had become emotional.

(I’m still so far away from the old man.)

—A polished mirror and still water.
That’s what the old man’s sword was.
A serene moon reflected on water.
Even now, that scene was etched into his memory.

It was as if he was scolding Yukito even now.

“Teacher?”

“Ah, sorry. It’s nothing. More importantly, I received a letter from the count.”

“My father?”

He took out the letter and handed it to Ms. Iria. Her eyes widened after opening it, and then she handed it to Ms. Aize.
She looked puzzled, but Iria nodded.

The letter was about Rand Ranes.

He had been arrested after the incident.
But he was sent to a mental hospital soon after.

‘It is likely that his mind was broken for a while.’

The count wrote. Before trying to end himself, he had wish Ms. Aize well.
He probably meant it.
Compassion. Sympathy? Or something else? No one knew.
Perhaps that was why he had shot the baron.

“I see…”

Ms. Aize put down the letter and looked out of the window.
Yukito followed her gaze.

Outside, the sky was blue and white clouds spread out.
She had lost a lot. And not everything would end neatly.
You could not change the past no matter how hard you try.
Still—she had regained and protected some things.

Yukito thought he saw Arne petals flying in the wind.
And then Ms. Aize’s mouth curled into a smile.

Summer is almost ending…

“By the way. I was wondering. Teacher Yukito and Ms. Iria. Are you two dating?”

“What!?”

“No, that’s not…”

“Oh, so that means we have a chance. Right, sister?”

“???”

Ms. Aize looked puzzled while Ms. Sherry burst into laughter.

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