Life.5 Flower Arrangement of the Princesses
I???Kiba Yuuto, was following my master, Rias-neesan. who came to a cafe in the Underworld. There we rented one of the conference rooms provided and there a secret reunion was happening.
The other party was Rias-neesan’s childhood friend Sona Sitri: the former Kaichou of the student council. Similarly from the same generation, the next family head of the Archduke Agares family, Seekvaira Agares, was also here.
Including Rias-neesan, these three girls were the next family heads of noble Devil families.
Since the anti-terrorist team ?D×D? was established, this could be called a regular social gathering. The socialisation of High-Class Devils and ones who were going to be the next family heads is valuable.
It has the important meaning of strengthening the relations with the Sitri household and Archduke Agares household too.
......Well, although they would just talk about things that ojou-samas of their age would talk about from beginning to end. Things like romance, fashion and other various similar subjects.
But I think that this is a good thing that the next family heads of the same age can gather around and talk about their worries.
For the time being, it was a gathering of High-Class Devil princesses, but as it was taught from long ago, one should bring a ?Knight?from your peerage together.
Other than me, a ?Knight? from the Sitri and Agares peerages were here too. From Sitri's side is Meguri Tomoe-san and from Agares’ side is a woman with long chestnut-coloured hair dressed in a suit, who seemed to be in her early twenties.
I heard that this female Agares Knight’s name is Bafeel Furcas-san, and that she is the little sister of the?Knight?from Sairaorg Bael-san’s peerage; Beluga Furcas-san. (The person riding the [Pale Horse], who I fought against).
A ?Knight?has this custom of following their masters. Unexpectedly, after the ?Queen?, we are the busiest. Although I feel that this is an honour.
Then, about the talk with these princesses, they were exchanging information about the postwar dealings of the Evil Dragon's War and after finishing this kind of stiff talk to some extent, they started talking about some private things.
Rias-neesan said her worries to those two.
Sona ex-Kaichou...... Or rather, Sona-senpai asked back about the worries that Rias-neesan had.
"Bridal training.....?"
Rias-neesan nodded.
"Yes, when I was talking with Ise's Okaa-sama, she mentioned the time when she did her bridal training, so I started pondering about various things. It seems like in Japan, since long ago, there are many cases where someone in bride training learns about flower arrangement or tea ceremony, so I was thinking about learning one of them".
The relationship between Ise-kun and Rias-neesan is something already recognized by the surroundings, Rias-neesan too is already looking at the future to some extent.
That's why it’s probably natural for her to be worried about bride training.
Since she's going to make a Japanese man her husband, she's thinking of becoming a wife who has nothing to feel ashamed about the knowledge and art of his place.
While raising her glasses, Seekvaira-san asked back.
"Mobility? Operation? What about Japanese mechanical engineering? Robots in bride training?"
She probably misheard, Flower arrangement = Mobility, Tea ceremony = Operation.
She is profoundly knowledgeable about Mecha animes...... no, seeing the perspective of this next family head of Agares, who is a little too passionate about it, I think that she's more used to hearing about mobility and operation than flower arrangement and tea ceremony.
"It's different, Seekvaira. She is talking about flowers and tea".
Sona-senpai taught her.
"Ah, about flowers and tea, is it?...... Surely I thought it was about....."
Seekvaira-san was feeling a little regret.
Hearing Rias-neesan concern, Sona-senpai replied after drinking tea.
"If it is about Japanese bride training, I heard quite a lot about it. Why don't you try learning from Akeno? Maybe she learned it indirectly?"
As Sona-senpai said, Akeno-san more or less knows about the traditional arts and customs of Japan. Akeno-san who lives in the Hyoudou Residence sometimes is responsible for decorating everywhere in the house with flower vases with vibrant and colourful flowers.
Rias-neesan shook her head.
"She said that because she doesn't have a particular style of it and just learned by imitation, it would be better if I learned from a real school".
Certainly, if it is Akeno-san, she would reply like that thinking for Rias-neesan. She probably judged that it would be better for Rias-neesan, who is the next head of the Gremory family to learn from a pro teacher than from a friend who has a little knowledge about it.
Sona-senpai was quietly pondering while putting her hand on her chin.
"I see......Should I attend it too?"
And she said something like this.
As expected, as a woman and as the next family head of the Sitri household, her interest in the thing called marriage is high.
"Ara, Sona is interested in bride training too?"
Sona-senpai nodded at Rias-neesan's question.
"Yes, since I live in Japan, I have to properly experience and understand its culture. That's why It would be better to learn from a proper school".
Seekvaira-san, the next family head of Agares household and a High-Class Devil woman like them, silently raised her hand too.
"If it is like that, I'll experience it too. Lately, I shut myself in my research room making pla-models......"
Saying that until there, Seekvaira-san cleared her throat and corrected herself.
"Because lately, I shut myself in my room researching about something, by doing a cultural exchange like bride training, I'll be having a good experience".
After hearing the opinion of the two of them, Rias-neesan said.
"If that's the case, the three of us should start by learning...... flower arrangement?"
Sona-senpai and Seekvaira-san nodded. Looks like the two of them have the same opinion as Rias-neesan.
In this way, these three High-Class Devil princesses-sama of the same generation are going to learn a part of bride training, flower arrangement.
Looking at each other, we?Knights?, came to the mutual understanding that [Looks like it'll be something like this].
On a holiday many days after the end of the reunion???
As an extension of the regular social meeting for those three princesses, we the?Knights?would accompany them in the bride training too, or rather??? ?Flower Arrangement Experience Classroom?.
And through Sona-senpai’s subscription, we joined a classroom about the Japanese art of flower arrangement.
Rias-neesan and Sona-senpai invited the girls from their respective peerages, but [The socialisation for those who are on the top should be done only by those who are on the top. If there's another opportunity, I want you to invite me.]
Our comrades thought that the socialization between ladies was something important, so they declined.
Of course.....we couldn't invite Ise-kun. Because it would be a little weird if we brought the future husband of one of the girls doing bride training.
In this way, I'm the only one joining from the Gremory's side. I'm a ?Knight?and it's the socialisation of princesses. It's my duty to accompany them.
Rias-neesan and everyone were dressed in kimonos. The thing called flower arrangement and the thing called the bride training is something that starts with the looks. Because the three of them have their origin in the upper class, they were elegantly dressed in kimonos, it really suited them.
The female?Knights? from the Sitri and Agares were following their masters in kimonos too.
For the time being, as it would be awkward with me being the only man, I once again used that gender-swapping gun to become a woman.
.....I didn't plan to use it anymore, but..... however, this is an important role as a ?Knight?......
And because it's the first time I’m wearing a kimono, so I'm not used to it, I feel like I'm going to fall.
Seeing my appearance in kimono, the ?Knight?of Sitri, Meguri-san instantly became happy and took her smartphone out and asked if she could take a photo.
"Kiba-kun, I'll take one. I have to send this to Tsubaki-san later.....!"
Despite this kind of thing, we finally knocked on the gate for the flower arrangement school. On the signboard [Blast Style Head Temple] was skillfully written with thick letters.
The main gate had a splendid style. We let the other side know that we came through a doorbell camera.
From the interior of the gate with double doors, a woman who we thought to be a disciple, opened it. Ahead of the gate, a stone pavement stretched until the front door.
While walking through the stone pavement, Rias-neesan asked Sona-senpai.
"This school of flower arrangement has a tradition?"
"Yes, it's famous in the field of not making distinction if the other person is Human or Devil, as long as you have the will to learn, they will teach you, or so I heard".
......Ah, so they teach even Devils. Somehow, I couldn't help but feel a bad presentiment. This kind of sensation is generally right.....
While I was feeling a little anxious, the disciple-san opened the front door.
The one who was waiting inside was???a middle-aged woman dressed in a kimono. However, a vase of flowers was placed on her head! A vase of flowers with vibrantly coloured and beautiful flowers was placed on her head!
The middle-aged woman with a vase of flowers on her head leisurely bowed.
"Be welcome to my Blast style. It's written with [Burst] from explosion and [Flash] from flash of light and read as Blast. I'm the present head of the family and head of the school, my name is, Bakusan Umeko".
"Nice to meet you, we'll be under your care today".
Rias-neesan and her group bowed their head, exchanging greetings.
.....Even when she lowered her head, the vase didn't fall. Water didn't spill too..... I was curious about how this vase was created.....
Or rather, she called it Blast style..... does this mean that it is not Japanese?
It's not the explosive style, right? This is a school I've never heard about. If they even receive Devils, does this mean that they probably have a big influence behind the scenes.......how should I explain this?
But, my anxiety is only increasing.....!
While confirming our appearances, the eyes of the head of the school became sharp.
"Before starting the style of my school, there's a test....... to be honest, the test already started".
! A test? Moreover, it already started......?
We were confused, so Rias-neesan asked.
"A-a test.....? What kind?"
The school head hid her mouth with her hand while laughing [Ohohohoho], however, suddenly she released a pressure filled with intensity???, no, she was releasing aura from all over her body!
Aura is not something that a normal person should be able to release...... but, the school head is covered in a dense Ki that one wouldn't think she was a teacher of flower arrangement!
The school head said.
"???You need to show me your aura. In my style, somehow or other, the aura is something absolutely essential, So I need you guys to show me your aura!"
! T-to think we would receive a test in front of the door of the flower arrangement classroom, moreover, she said to show our auras!
With this kind of situation, us three ?Knights?could only be confused, but the three princesses???.
"Understood, I just need to show my aura, right?"
Rias-neesan smiled suggestively and gave glances of confirmation to Sona-senpai and Seekvaira-san.
[[[Ha!]]]
These three high-class Devil women, who will be the next family head of their families, released aura from their bodies at the same time!
The front door was broken and the shoe shelf was smashed!
Seeing the aura released by Rias-neesan and the others, the school head became wild with joy.
"???! ......Beautiful..... to start training my style, there's this big wall that needs to be surpassed, if one is able to release or not his aura, but looks like everyone has enough qualification to knock on my door".
As if encouraging us to enter, the school head said once again.
"All right. I'll immediately teach you the essence of flower arrangement inside!"
Looks like we passed the entrance test..... we can see it in that form? But I-I think that this way of introduction to the flower arrangement is unheard-of".
Sone-senpai who brought us here, made a puzzled expression while releasing her aura, and murmured like this: [.....Was the information wrong?].
Going through the front door and walking through a long corridor, the school head said with a disturbing expression.
"???The flower arrangement already started, be careful".
......That bad presentment that I felt just before, splendidly hit the mark.
"Ha! Cloud Dragon style!"
"Hah! Beautiful mountain, battle formation!"
One after another, valiant voices could be heard.
We were brought to a???Dojo! It was an expansive training ground with wooden floors.
The women dressed in kimono were facing each other with needle-point holders or a vase of flowers. They vigorously inserted the various kinds of flowers they were holding in their respective needle-point holder and vase of flowers.
When they inserted, together with that valiant voice we heard before, they made a strange pose, a very strange pose. And the needle-point holder and the vase of flowers, became an arrangement of flowers.
.....Wh- what kind of thing is this?
A normal classroom of flower arrangement happens in a Japanese-style room, where one sits in seiza and learns the art of flower arrangement, right.....?
I-I've never heard or seen this kind of Martial arts-like Dojo where one is surrounded by flower vases and do the art of flower arrangement for each other......
While we were in a state of shock, the school head said.
"With the flower vase as the centre, the disciples practice every day just like in real battle. My style is mainly focused on using flower vases, vases and needle-point holders, but it's a free conception. So one can use another vessel or tool different from these".
Flower vase. this person, she's using a flower vase as a battle ring..... things like battle, or training..... I don't understand what she's saying anymore.
While we were confused, the school head asked us.
"Do you know what is the origin of the flower arrangement?"
Sone-senpai replied while raising her glasses.
"Tall trees or big rocks were treated as objects representative of Gods, is one of its origins, or it was developed together with the tea ceremony during the Muromachi period (1333-1573), it was something like this, right?"
The school head shock her head and replied like this.
"Ohohohoho, the reality is different. on the third century, in the Severus dynastic period, the emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, commonly called Heliogabalus, killed the guests who he invited to his banquet by suffocating them with a grand quantity of roses which fell upon them. Seeing this, I don’t know if enjoyed it or not,but, that's right, in the dynastic period of Severus, the emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, commonly called Heliogabalus, became the originator of flower arrangement! Probably!"
In the third century, Severus dynasty.....? ......being suffocated to death by roses, Heliogabalus emperor..... moreover, she said [probably].....
I could only question it, but was she pondering about it? Rias-neesan started groaning.
"......By no means, to think the origin of flower arrangement was in the Severus dynasty period...... After this, should I ask a retired ancestor who knows about this period about this.....?"
.....When only talking about her view of Japan, Rias-neesan is really dull. Even when I just came to Japan, I became extremely bewildered by the incorrect knowledge taught to me about Samurais and Ninjas. Now I understand it properly, but I wonder about Rias-neesan......
This is all my master's fault..... Master-sama, why did you make Rias-neesan have thing kind of view of Japan.....? He's a magnificent and respectable master, but only this part, makes me want to resent him.
I sighed, but the school head as if summarizing, said with an expression filled with dignity.
"???Flower arrangement is the same as discovering death, this is the ideal held and taught by the founder of Blast-style, Jiroumaru".
Oohh!
And, Rias-neesan and Seekvaira-san were deeply impressed by this!
I and the other members could only tilt our heads to the side in confusion! One can perceive that this founder of the Blast-style, Jiroumaru, surpasses by far the extent of being someone suspicious!
It would be better if I were to tell Rias-neesan for us to immediately leave this place and find a genuine flower arrangement school.
It happened when I took a step forward to make this proposal.
The school head said to a person training in the Dojo.
"There! ???That's really stylish!"
At this sudden shout of encouragement, Sone-senpai made a puzzled expression.
"It's s-stylish.....?"
The school head said while laughing [Ohohoho].
"Yes, the art of flower arrangement. Originally, It was a word used to mean that the flowers were exceptionally arranged in the vase. However, on the occasion that one shows an exceedingly good technique in it, it became the custom in the art of flower arrangement to say that is [Stylish]".
The reaction of the princesses was???.
"To think it had this kind of meaning......"
Then, Rias-neesan started groaning once again.
"It's that really so.....? Somehow it feels like I'm going to be swallowed by this strange atmosphere".
Seems like Sona-senpai confusion increased. And, Seekvaira-san???
"That needle-point holder, looks like a good idea for a new weapon for the Original version?Gundam Muramasa?one-sixth-size(1/6), that I'm creating....."
Looking at the scene of people practising, she had a completely different impression!
If we continue in this place, these girls will learn about something not good......!
Then, a person approached.
It was a woman with a fierce look, she was dressed in kimono with needle-point holder in her shoulders. ......I think that those needle-point holders are not something to be put in one shoulder.
"School head"
The woman with needle-point holder in her shoulders called the school head. The woman glared at Rias-neesan and the others. From her whole body aura was released, she is not someone normal, but I wanted her to be!
"Ara, Trevian-san......that's a really aggressive atmosphere".
The woman with needle-point holder in her shoulders, smiled at the words of the school head.
"Yes, I'm interested in those new faces, because they are releasing quite the stylish aura".
The woman stood before Rias-neesan and the others and greeted them.
"I'm one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Blast-style, my name is Trevian Suzumoto??? Ojou-chan with crimson hair, can I ask for a bout?"
[[[???!!?]]]
A sudden challenge! It didn't take even 10 minutes since we crossed the gates and a disciple??? one of their leading disciples, picked a fight with Rias-neesan!
Did she do this because she felt that the aura of Rias-neesan and others was something extraordinary?
Rias-neesan too, looked blankly in amazement, but she immediately understood it and showed a confident smile.
"Yes, if you are okay with me, I would like to receive the teachings of the senior by all means".
Ah, since long ago, Rias-neesan always accepted this kind of fight joyfully.
"School head, is it alright?"
Rias-neesan asked the school head.
The school head laughed cheerfully. It was as if she was watching a silly play between her disciples.
"Ohohoho, you two really are hopeless disciples??? do as you like, in the art of flower arrangement whatever the type, freshness it's important. There are things that can't be understood only through the flower vase".
Rias-neesan and the leading disciple woman, were staring at each other with enough intensity to fly sparks around.
When Rias-neesan becomes like this, she definitely won't retreat. .....well, it's not like they are going to try killing each other, so for a short while, let's just watch the situation.
While I was looking at it in blank amazement, the stage for the ......flower arrangement m-match(?) between Rias-neesan and the leading disciple was arranged.
The two of them were holding a flower-arranging tool??? a big needle-point holder and confronting each other.
.....The needle-point holders were as big as a mat of tatami. What kind of flower arrangement one needs to make to fight?
Hearing this commotion, the other disciples are already in watching mode too. ???and, looks like Seekvaira-san will have a match with another disciple, so people are gathered there too.
The school head confirmed with Rias-neesan and the leading disciple.
"The flower-arranging tool that will be used is this needle-point holder. This needle-point holder was specially forged by a renowned spiritualist and swordsmith. A mysterious energy resides in every one of its edges; therefore, if both are mutually ?Stylish?it'll display various effects. As she is a novice, the first move will be done by Gremory".
Spiritualist..... mysterious energy.....! With this line up of words, one can't think of this as a flower arrangement anymore!
My concerns were increasing, but Rias-neesan and the others were looking at flowers placed in a platform.
Looking there, there were various kinds of flowers prepared, but..... other than flowers, there were vegetables and fruits too.....
"Start the etiquette!"
With the start sign, Rias-neesan moved quickly. After seeing the platform with flowers, fruits and vegetables, she took out a certain thing that was placed there.
"I decided, It's my turn!"
She inserted it in the needle-point holder.
In that instant, the disciples started a commotion and the school head groaned.
"???It's a bamboo shoot!"
That's right, the thing that Rias-neesan chose in her first move was??? a bamboo shoot! It was the surreal scene of a bamboo shoot being pierced by a needle-point holder!
Suddenly a bamboo shoot! ......Can this be considered a flower arrangement?
However, the face of the leading disciple was filled with sweat when looking at Rias-neesan’s first move (?). Looks like it was an unexpected sharp move.
The school head looked moved too.
"......On her first move, a bamboo shoot. I've never seen it before. What a bold arrangement. ......It's really stylish! 40 points to Rias-san!"
At some point a scoreboard was placed there!
Was this match under a punctuation system!?
.....There are only things to be surprised. I can't read the creation of these flower arrangements, I can't understand it.....
Even while frustrated, the leading disciple extended her hand to the platform. From there she took out a scissors that was prepared, handling it, she processed something that we couldn't follow with our eyes.
"You did a clever first arrangement! However, In the end, that's just the luck of a beginner! A mere empty threat! I'll show you what a genuine flower arrangement is! It's my turn!"
With a good momentum, the leading disciple woman carried the needle-point holder in her two hands and threw it!
The target was a fruit??? a big and plump watermelon! In the instant that the watermelon was hit by the needle-point holder, like a flower blossoming, it split in 8 parts!
Oohh!?
Cheering voices were raised. The surrounding disciples and the school head looked impressed at this move of the leading disciple.
"???A watermelon! Moreover, for it to split the moment it was hit is a stylish arrangement! This is just like a mother placing pieces of watermelon on the table to her children in an afternoon of summer! the watermelon split cleanly like this because it was cut beforehand, right? It's stylish! 40 points to Trevian-san too!"
She has the same points as Rias-neesan! A moment ago, when she used the scissors
and plugged it in the needle-point holder, the leading disciple was preparing for this!
.....U-unexpectedly, this style has a deep meaning? No, no, calm yourself! Don't be swallowed by the atmosphere of this place! I think that using bamboo shoots and watermelons in flower arrangement is weird!
......At times like these, if Ise-kun were here he would raise a voice pointing out their inconsistency, Ahh.....! I really miss his sharp retorts now!
And, about the confrontation that was happening on the side of the bamboo shoot and a watermelon one.
Seekvaira-san gave birth to a surprise move in the flower arrangement showdown that she was participating.
"T-this can't be! To arrange a needle-point holder in a toy!"
It was the confused voice of the disciple! Looking in that direction???a plastic-model robot was placed above the needle-point holder!
While fixing her glasses, Seekvaira-san said something like this.
"No, this isn't a toy. It's a Gunpla. A plastic model of a Gundam, in short, a Gunpla. This isn’t such a shallow thing that can be placed together with toys???."
And she started talking.
......When Ise-kun hangs out with Seekvaira-san, it seems like they only talk about robot anime shows, but..... on the next day, his exhausted appearance is really memorable.
Seeing the flower arrangement that Rias-neesan and Seekvaira-san made, Sona-senpai tilt her head in contemplation and sighed.
"......As expected, I had the hunch that this was the wrong place, but..... Rias and Seekvaira are having fun..... so, this should be a way of flower arrangement too".
"Th-that's right....."
I replied like this. I and the two other ?Knights?, didn't know how to respond in this situation.
Without a doubt, here is the wrong place, but Rias-neesan and Seekvaira-san were enjoying themselves, but above that, they had serious expressions.
While we were troubled in how to react, a change happened in Rias-neesan's flower arrangement showdown???.
"How could this be!"
"Amazing! Everyone, look at that!"
Someone said that.
Looking in that direction???what! A splendid bamboo grew from the needle-point holder! It was the bamboo shoot that Rias-neesan arranged in her first move!
With her body trembling, the school head leaked a voice of wonder.
".....It's probably due to the spiritual power released by the needle-point holder and Rias-san's aura, the bamboo shoot she arranged grew splendidly..... This is a miracle..... it's like a spear piercing through the heavens....."
S-so this kind of thing happens..... That needle-point holder, I wonder how was that thing made.....
The school head shouted.
"Probably there's no result more stylish than this???Rias-san is the winner of this match!"
Bravo!!?
A wave of cheers and applauses was started by the other disciples. L-looks like Rias-neesan won (?) this.....
Even while frustrated, the leading disciple woman applauded Rias-neesan as if recognizing her victory.
".....It was splendidly done. However, I'm the weakest among the Four Heavenly Kings. The remaining three who aren't here now, are more skilled than me in their arrangement???"
And the leading disciple woman started saying this! .....Co-could it be that we have to do a showdown with every member of the Four Heavenly Kings.....?
"I'll receive the challenge of anyone! As this is part of the training too!"
Looks like, after this victory Rias-neesan is fully motivated.
Suddenly, Sona-senpai slipped out a chuckle.
"Look at that, Kiba-kun. Rias seems to be really happy and enjoying it..... Above all, she's really serious about this...... That girl really wants to make this bride training a success. To make her think like this, just proves that she is really in love. And as a woman, this makes me a little jealous".
That's right, Rias-neesan seriously loves Ise-kun. That's why, even if this flower arrangement classroom is wrong, she's seriously trying to learn it. To become a wife that won’t make him ashamed no matter where they go.
.....To support this Rias-neesan from the shadows is my duty as a ?Knight?, no..... it's my duty as a?Little brother?.
"We should join too".
I invited the other ?Knights?to experience this unusual flower arrangement classroom.
In this way, Rias-neesan and her group and the three ?Knights?, to enjoy the essence of flower arrangement or something like that until exhaustion, joined the flower arrangement classroom...... No, we joined the flower arrangement dojo???.
This happened on a certain day.
When I went to Hyoudou mansion to play, Ise-kun was standing at the front door looking at a vase of flowers with a surprised appearance.
The flower arrangement in it was???a bamboo shoot placed on a needle-point holder!
Ise-kun asked Rias-neesan.
"H-hey, Rias. This thing is placed on the vase of flowers in the front door....."
Rias-neesan smiled while petting the bamboo shoot.
"Ufufu, it's stylish, right? This is something I learned in the flower arrangement. It's called: ?First move Bamboo shoot?. Flower arrangement is really profound. I want to challenge all styles!"
The spirit of a challenger was burning in Rias-neesan, when she becomes like this, it's part of this person to go until the bitter end.
.....Looks like my role as a ?Knight?and as?Little brother?will continue. However, Rias-neesan is happy with this, so this may be a form of peace too.
Although, I'm sure that the next place that Sona-senpai introduces will be a normal place, so I can feel relieved about this.
.....But, If I continue following Rias-neesan through these bride trainings and continue to learn those skills, in the end, where should I display it?
As a boy, that's something that I could only worry about.
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