Chapter 116: CH 115

“Hey hey, Rei-okaasama.”

“There is something we would like to ask.”

It was the afternoon of a holiday.

I was in the middle of reading a book by the table on our terrace when Mei and Alea approached me.

To be honest, it was a bit rare for them to come to me whenever they needed something, as they would usually go to Claire-sama.

On that note, Claire-sama was just working on her embroidery in the living room.

“What’s up?”

“You see…”

“What is it about Claire-okaasama that you like, Rei-okaasama?”

“Geez, Alea! Mei wanted to ask that!”

The girls were only six years old and already interested in talking about love.

Compared to boys, girls were said to mature a bit quicker and wonder about these things before them. Even so, this was way sooner than I expected.

Geez, these precocious children.

“There’s no need to fight. It’s a bit difficult to answer that question, since I love everything about her.”

“Kyaa!”

“Kyaa, indeed!”

The two of them put their hands on their cheeks and shook their heads around in excitement.

Even their reactions were precocious.

Don’t tell me these girls were reincarnated.

“Well, that being said, the Claire-sama now and the one from our very first meeting give off completely different impressions though.”

“Different in what way?”

“Please tell us.”

Mei and Alea asked, both brimming with curiosity.

Well, they both love Claire-sama, after all.

Although, when it comes down to how much (?) I love Claire-sama, I won’t lose.

“In short, she was a lot more hostile. While I think the calm Claire-sama right now is wonderful, the domineering noblewoman Claire-sama from back then was lovely as well.”

I wonder if she could nag me like that again.

Probably not.

“She was hostile?”

“And domineering?”

“That’s right. If I had to put it simply, that is.”

I thought back to when Claire-sama and I first met.

“She was somebody who would confidently put her hand to her mouth and laugh with an “ohh-hoh-hoh” and her posture was extremely befitting that of aristocracy and whether it was in paying attention in class or pulling pranks on me, she would always pour all of her might into it and despite having a rich girl attitude, she would never send her underlings out and she’d do all of the dirty work herself and it’s because of her principles that I think she’s so amazing and since her pranks and insults never bothered me at all, she’d always complain about it to my face without thinking of the consequences and I found that really cute and if anything, it was like receiving a reward from her and my joy would sometimes bring her to tears because I was so eccentric and she couldn’t find my weaknesses and her voice is as adorable and energetic as a puppy’s, but her cuteness also rivals that of a cat, but I guess it doesn’t matter which one she is because I’m okay with anything since she’s so perfect.”

“Rei-okaasama, there there.”

“Please calm down.”

I may have lost my cool and gone off on a tangent there.

Mei and Alea ended up having to console me.

Huh?

Well, whatever.

“So? Did you get all of that?”

““Not at all!””

“I see! In that case, all you need to keep in mind is that Claire-sama is cute.”

“That’s something I can do!”

“Claire-okaasama is cute!”

“Now, you two, let’s do it together. Ohh-hoh-hoh-hoh!”

““Ohh-hoh-hoh-hoh!!””

That was the conversation that took place.

While I was cheerfully yapping away with Mei and Alea, all of us failed to notice one thing.

That is, Claire-sama was also a participant in that conversation.

◆◇◆◇◆

Claire-sama stepped on my foot.

“A…ara, I beg your pardon! I-I-I… thought it was a bug!”

“Is there something wrong, Claire-sama?”

“Eh? Oh, umm… R-Right! You were being cheeky, so I thought that was terrible of you!”

“Huh…?”

Was I being cheeky?

I see.

“If I did something that bothered you, then I apologize…”

“T-That is not it!”

“It’s not?”

“G-Geez, forget it!”

Claire-sama stormed off.

I wonder what that was about.

◆◇◆◇◆

Claire-sama hid my books.

“What’s the matter? Are you too poor to buy books?”

“My salary is the same as yours, Claire-sama.”

“T-That is true…”

“If anything, I’m the one with more savings.”

But she thinks we’re poor, huh.

I see.

“I’ll do my best to earn more money for us.”

“N-No, everything is fine as it is now! That was not the point!”

“It wasn’t?”

“G-Geez! Rei, you are being mean!”

Claire-sama stormed off.

Eh, seriously, what’s going on?

◆◇◆◇◆

I was being ostracized.

“Hehe. Mei and Alea are smitten with me! How does it feel!?”

“…. sniff.”

“Are you seriously crying!?”

“It’s alright… As long as you are all happy…”

Even if I end up as an observer.

“I’ll leave you guys alone and watch over you.”

“You two, please go and comfort Rei for a little bit.”

“Okay!”

“Rei-okaasama, there there.”

I was healed.

I’m happy.

◆◇◆◇◆

I was splashed with hot water.

“Ara, ara. You were dirty, so–”

“Ahh, thank you very much. I was just about to wash my hair.”

Since we were in the bath already, it wouldn’t have been a hassle at all.

I reached over and grabbed the shampoo bottle.

“Claire-sama, your hair really is beautiful.”

“T-Thank you very much… W-Wait, that’s not it!”

“Did it hurt?”

“No, it feels good.”

I enjoyed it.

I’m happy.

◆◇◆◇◆

After getting out of the bath, I found a flower vase on the table.1

“How’s this!”

“Ahh, these flowers are pretty. They’re arranged nicely too.”

“…..”

“Claire-sama?”

Claire-sama looked a bit depressed.

I wonder what happened.

“Is something wrong?”

“I give up….”

“You’ve been acting weird all day today though?”

“Whose fault do you think it is!”

She got mad.

I love seeing that expression on her face as well.

“Claire-sama.”

“What is it.”

“Claire-sama, it’s been a while since you acted like a villainess, so I really enjoyed it today.”

“You were aware of it this entire time!?”

Well, about that.

I noticed, since she was secretly trying to replicate the things she did during our time together at the academy.

“You were really giving it your all trying to play the part of the villainess again. That was extremely adorable.”

Right as Claire-sama tried to storm off to the bedroom, I caught her by the arm.

“Claire-sama, please try telling me you hate me.”

“Why should I do that?”

“It’s the finale to the villainess act that you were going for today. Now, now…”

“Hah…. I understand.”

While grumbling about how much of a pain this was, Claire-sama stayed put.

She turned to me with a serious look on her face and opened her mouth.

“When it comes to you, I…”

“What is it?”

“I-I-I… love- wait, that isn’t right. I-I… really…!”

“Claire-sama! Fight on! You can do it! Just a little more!”

Claire-sama’s face turned completely red while I cheered her on.

“I haaaate you! That’s it! Haah, haah…!”

“Claire-sama, Claire-sama, you did your best.”

“It was tough. It was really tough…!”

I praised her like she was a hero who had just come back from a fierce battle.

“I can no longer treat you the same way as how I did from back then.”

“Fufu, I really am loved, aren’t I?”

“Of course? You have to take responsibility for it.”

“I will.”

“Fufu…”

Claire-sama happily linked arms with me and nuzzled our cheeks together.

We disappeared into the bedroom after that.

Meanwhile, in the kids’ room that night.

“What was up with Claire-okaasama today?”

“I think I heard Lene-oneesama say something about this before. She said that it was something for the extremely advanced.”

That was a conversation that took place between the two of them that neither Claire-sama or myself knew about.

1) Putting a flower vase on top of someone’s desk is seen as bullying in Japan, as it implies that the recipient has passed away.