「 Oh, I guess you accept your defeat because I showed off my body first 」
Megu;
「 I didn’t lose 」
She stands up looking offended .
「 I get it, I’ll take my clothes off and get to my underwear . That’s all I have to do, right? 」
Then, she starts taking off her uniform .
She unbuttons her blouse .
Then puts her hand on her skirt .
「 Darling, take a close look at it 」
Edie tells me .
「 Don’t just look at her body but understand the thought of her body 」
That’s .
「 Okay, I took them off 」
Megu who took off her clothes methodically says while sitting on the chair .
「 So, say something?! Either way I know that Hoshizaki-san has a better proportion than me . Yoshi-kun, you dummy! 」
Megu throws her anger at me .
「 No, that’s not it 」
I…
I compare Edie, Mana, and Kana-senpai’s bodies side y side .
Then, I looked at Megu’s body once again .
I now understand .
「 Get it? Darling 」
Edie whispers to me .
Yeah, I get it .
「 Megu’s body is beautiful too 」
Megu’s slender .
Her body’s slender and tight .
Her legs are built for a fashion model from the start anyway .
It’s a clean look of beauty that’s very much like a 16-year-old girl .
「 You’re lying . I’m not beautiful 」
「 That’s not true . Megu’s beautiful, it’s just that 」
Oh, why did I not notice it until now?
「 What? 」
Megu looks at me worriedly .
「 How should I say it, compared to four months before 」
「 The balance in her body has gotten worse 」
Edie cuts in as I can’t explain it clearly .
「 Megumi, you’re taking the club activities half-heartedly compared to four months ago . Even in the housework in the mansion, you’re doing it half-heartedly . You’re also half-hearted when helping out Darling in the bakery . The balance in your body is breaking as you’re not committing on anything 」
Edie explains . Now I finally get it .
Megu four months ago has a body that you can tell that it’s trained from the track and field club at a glance .
But Megu now .
I don’t get it, her body seems hard to express in a single word, it doesn’t have a right balance .
「 I-I’m doing my best on everything! 」
Megu said .
「 We know . But, as a result, you’re taking everything half-heartedly . I know all of that Megumi 」
Edie tells her while smiling .
「 Just doing all your best isn’t enough . You only cause trouble for the people if you don’t produce a good result . Besides, if you’re talking about ‘doing one’s best’ then we all are too 」
「 That’s 」
「 Are you saying that I didn’t do my best in learning Japanese in just a few months? 」
Megu;
「 Sorry . That was improper of me . But still! 」
「 Don’t say anything, Megumi’s body is what’s talking right now 」
Edie said .
「 Megumi right now thinks of everything is ‘something I must do . ’ Your club activities, household chores, helping out Darling . ‘I must do it myself,’ you think . That’s why everything’s too heavy for you 」
Obligation .
「 Furthermore, Megumi’s an earnest girl, and so you do all that you can because ‘it’s something I must . ’ That’s why the balance becoming worse, both in your body and in your mind 」
Is that so?
「 If it was Ruriko for example . She only finds the housework in the mansion as fun . She moves for the sake of everyone . She finds Katsuko’s teachings as impressive . Therefore, she’s not feeling the burden . She grows beautifully because she’s not being weighed down . Both her body and mind that is 」
Indeed, Ruriko has become more beautiful compared to last May .
Is that the balance?
「 Look at Mana here, she has a clear purpose . She doesn’t want Darling to hate her . Therefore, she does her best on making herself beautiful, but not out of obligation 」
Mana;
Mana, who lost her place to go home to fears that I would abandon her .
No, that’s because she knows that Minaho-neesan would dispose of her…
If she gets carried away next time .
Therefore, Mana’s taking the initiative to help out in the housework, and she’s always moving discreetly .
She’s become like this before one’s aware .
「 The discipline and strictness to herself is what makes the excellent balance for Mana 」
Edie said .
「 However, what about you, Megumi? Since you got the title of Darling’s “fiance” from Minaho, you stopped caring . You became relieved . You thought that nobody can overthrow you from that position . That’s why your actions on your daily life have become crude 」
「 That’s not true . I 」
「 No, that’s true . You gained the fiance status so fast, and that’s why you think of everything you do in your daily life as an obligation 」
「 That’s wrong, I 」
「 Then, do you really understand each and everyone in the mansion, Megumi? Are you looking at them? 」
Edie?
「 How many snacks does Agnes eat during tea-time? 」
「 Two 」
Megu replied .
「 It’s always two snacks together with the tea . Agnes-chan eats it all and never have leftovers 」
Then .
「 It’s one 」
Mana said .
「 Since the last two Wednesdays, she only eats one . Agnes-chan’s copying Katsuko-oneechan’s diet, and so she’s holding back on eating another one . 」
「 Huh? 」
「 Megu-oneechan, you didn’t notice that? 」
Mana asked . Megu hangs her head .
「 I mean, there’s the house, school, and Yoshi-kun’s bakery 」
「 Katsuko’s in charge of the house . Mana and Ruriko’s present as well . And as for the bakery, well, Most of the work is Katsuko’s doing, Not Megumi 」
「 I 」
「 With your thinking “I must do this and that,” the balance got worse 」
Edie said .
「 Oh, so that’s how it is . I finally understand now . Uh-huh 」
Kana-senpai nods suddenly .
「 I guess that’s why I’m the one to take care of Nobu in the bakery as the vendor . Then, you can go to your club activities . The world will be at peace if you do that 」
「 I don’t want that! 」
Megu shouts loudly .
「 But you know, if you keep on going You’ll just get crushed by the thought “I must do this,” Oh well, I don’t care about whatever you do, but still, I feel sorry for Nobu who has to soothe you from hysteria 」
Kana-senpai said .
「 I’m not going hysteric! 」
「 Yes, sure . Go speak in a lower volume then 」
「 Calm down . Megumi 」
Megu fell silent .
「 Still, that’s amazing of you, Nobu . If you were an ordinary guy and this girlfriend of yours keep on screaming, you should’ve shouted back “shut up” by now . That composure of yours is quite impressive . As expected of my Nobu~ 」
No .
「 That’s not it, I’m thinking for a bit 」
…I
「 I thought that maybe I’m the same as Megu . I’m burdened by the thought that “I must do it” after all . I also keep on telling myself that “this is something I must do . ” And now I’m wondering if I’m looking at things properly 」
If that’s the case, then I’m the worst .
「 Indeed, Darling and Megu are quite similar . The two of you are quite earnest, and you don’t complain even if you don’t like it and just continue to do your best 」
I knew it .
「 But, Darling and Megumi are different 」
Edie .
「 Onii-chan, you knew that Agnes now only eats one snack each time, right? 」
Mana asks .
「 I do 」
I asked Agnes what’s her reason during the first day .
「 Then that’s good enough 」
「 No, that’s not what I mean 」
I…
「 For example, the bakery, managing it is Katsuko-nee’s dream, not mine . That’s why I keep on thinking inside that I must do the job in the bakery by all means out of my sense of mission, it feels like my head is filled with only that thought 」
Was I feeling the heavy responsibility as well?
「 Well, you’re half-right . Darling has been going a bit too far lately . You keep on reading on books about management for the bakery until your break time . To be honest, our classmates were drawing away from you . Your friends have definitely decreased Darling 」
I knew it .
「 But compared to that, Megumi’s different . Darling’s focused on craftsmanship after all 」
Edie?
「 You’re having fun, don’t you? You bake bread every day and make dozens of kinds every day . The taste is getting better as well . You know that your skills are growing better, don’t you? 」
「 Well, yes 」
「 Furthermore, the bread you make every day is sold out . You receive an evaluation . Aren’t you having fun? 」
Hearing that from Edie,
I had a sudden realization .
「 Yeah . The work I’m doing has a response . You’re right, I’m not doing this unwillingly . I’m having fun while I do it 」
「 Naturally . That’s the reason why Minaho’s letting Darling make bread 」
Minaho-neesan?
「 Anything else would’ve done the same thing . It just happened to the bakery because that was Katsuko’s dream . Minaho doesn’t really need to have Darling become a baker 』
「 Then why did they make this bakery in the school? 」
I think about the bakery here right now .
This has all the latest equipment .
Even after graduating, I might take a course related to the bakery after the vocational course, but,
But Minaho-neesan paid a considerable sum for this .
「 Minaho doesn’t care how much she spends if it’s for Darling 」
Edie said .
「 Darling, if you’re asking to know the bad points, then it’s about you thinking that you’re useless, or that you don’t have talent . Minaho wanted to fix that part of you . That’s the reason why 」
That’s the reason why Minaho-neesan .
「 How was your experience making bread and selling it for a month? It’s all your creation . It sells well with the students . They all say that it’s delicious 」
「 That’s 」
「 Darling, you’re not someone who can’t do anything . That’s true in baking pastry at least . If you can understand that, you’ll renew your way of thinking . That’s Minaho’s aim 」
Is that really it?
「 Four months ago, Darling needed something to focus his hard work . Darling back then might’ve been crushed from just thinking about the family . Therefore, the bakery was made to solve that problem, and it produced good result 」
I see .
Back then, with the whole family stuff .
I suddenly made a lot of people like my family .
I obtained women .
I feel like my head is full of everything .
Therefore, back then,
I took refugee on studying on how to make bread .
When I’m learning the how-to from Katsuko-nee, the other women are backing off .
No, Minaho-neesan keeps them away so I could concentrate .
That’s how it is even now .
The time I make bread with Katsuko-nee is silent .
It’s a time where I concentrate on production and not about the girls .
It’s a precious time for me .
That’s for sure .
「 Now then, now that we’ve made progress, it’s about time we head to the main subject 」
Edie said .
「 Megumi, listen . That was a bit harsh from us, but it’s not like we’re going to kick Megumi out 」
Megu’s surprised .
「 I mean, sorry to tell you but we think about Darling first . We’re worried about him 」
Then, Edie looked at me .
「 Darling . It’s already a month since you started baking the pastry for the school, right? 」
Yeah . It started at the end of the summer vacation .
「 And what do you think about the current state of the bakery after trying it out for a month? 」
That’s .
「 No, well, it’s going so-so . The products are sold out every day, although, that’s because we have low production sometimes . Even so, my classmates help out with the advertisement, they often to come to buy some . I don’t think there’s any problem for now 」
Edie .
「 That’s not true, it’s filled with troubles 」
Huh?
「 The products Darling are making currently are from Katsuko’s recipe, it’s delicious . If it’s in the town, it will sell for double the price . Actually, it would be strange if it doesn’t sell that hard . If it’s the quantity we have right now, it would be sold out in ten minutes as soon as the lunch break starts 」
Edie said, but,
「 This is the economic situation of high school students 」
Actually, Tanaka, my classmate told me;
「 Oh, about the 50 yen cheaper products? 」
「 That’s right . My products are too expensive for high school students to buy he said 」
「 That’s only a one-sided view 」
Edie said .
「 If you’re talking about 50 yen cheaper bread, then it won’t have to be just the price but also the taste, would it? 」
Hmm?
「 Oh, I get it . Nobu’s products are too delicious 」
Kana-senpai said .
「 I think everyone feels uncomfortable because it’s too delicious 」
Uncomfortable because too delicious?
「 Right . That’s why Darling’s products should sell more, but it doesn’t . The high school student customers are running away from it 」
Err .
「 Well, for a first-year high school student, and furthermore, someone who started baking right after the May holidays, ain’t his product too good? 」
Katsuko-nee mentioned that before .
「 That’s not all . We’re too much of an alien in our school 」
Alien?
「 Darling, you only look at the students around you . Well, as for our classmates, you’re familiar with them, but still, we seem to be a floating existence to everyone else 」
Edie said .
「 Darling and Megumi are first years, and yet they’re engaged, the school and your parents have approved you to live together . That alone is too abnormal . Furthermore, Darling’s the only man taking this vocational course of bread making study . The other students think “what kind of black magic did he use?” and doubt you 」
Well, that’s true .
「 Our classmates are somewhat favorable of Darling, but that’s because you’ve been with them since the entrance ceremony, right? 」
「 I mean, Megu’s an honest girl . She has a lot of friends from the start . As for me, they consider me as someone weird since I entered school 」
Back then, I had no friends in class .
My head was going crazy after my father’s disappearance .
I only stare at Yukino and escape the reality using her .
「 If talking about weirdo, then Nei and I are here too . I look like a “mysterious American girl,” and Nei gives off an air of mystery with her too, right? 」
Nei’s feared by the students in the school as she’s the blonde delinquent on the roof .
They know her hoodlum hunting with Margo-san at night .
「 Darling’s bakery is a gathering of weirdos you see? Ordinary people would be scared to go here 」
I see .
「 But that’s what makes it interesting . I got drawn near to Nobu because of that 」
Kana-senpai smiled .
Speaking of which, she was around during Anya’s visit .
That was also abnormal .
Anya helped out selling on my bakery as well .
「 Oh, I see, there are those who find it interesting, so they go and buy some, but there are also students who feel uncomfortable and stay away 」
「 That’s right, Darling only sees the customers who come to the store, you forgot those who don’t come 」
I see .
「 This isn’t just about the bakery, from now on, this will be related to Darling’s high school life 」
If this goes on, my existence in this school will become a badly floating one .
Furthermore, I will only be able to communicate with the students interested in buying my products .
I can’t make contact with the students avoiding us .
「 I see . I failed then 」
I should think more about how to sell it better .
This bakery course suddenly started this September,
Furthermore, I’m the only student in this course .
Selling the pastry, I made in the cafeteria is just too unusual .
For example, if on the first half of September, I was trying to learn the basics of how to bake, then,
Then, if I start selling by next spring, the students won’t think that it’s strange even if the bread is delicious enough .
「 But, I thought of earning income as soon as possible 」
Not asking for Minaho-neesan’s financial assistance .
I thought of at least paying off the expenses for Megu, Mana, Agnes, and myself .
「 That kind of reflection isn’t necessary . You don’t know until you try, that’s how most of the things worked . Then, once you tried it out, you can just fix it next time . It’s a waste of time to reflect on it and feel depressed . Just be bold with your life, Darling! 」
Edie said with a smile .
「 Furthermore, this is just your first time, and the first month, it’s still at the point where you can correct it 」
That’s right .
Let’s think positively .
「 Then, there’s another one that needs fixing first 」
Edie said .
「 In short, fixing Darling’s relationship with Megumi 」
Megu starts to tremble .
「 To be clear, this isn’t my idea . Minaho, Nei, Misuzu, and Ruriko talked it out . First, they want you to understand it 」
「 Mana was there too 」
「 Oh right . Sorry about that, either way, 」
Edie looked at Megu .
「 Everyone accepted that Darling and Megumi’s engagement failed to become a camouflage at school 」
「 W-Wait! 」
Megu reacts .
「 Listen to the whole story first before complaining! I’m still talking here! 」
Edie holds back Megu .
「 Darling and Megumi have a similar personality . Therefore, the affinity wasn’t good 」
「 That’s not affinity! Yoshi-kun and I are…! 」
「 Wrong! That’s not what I’m talking about! I’m talking about Darling and Megumi as a couple and your compatibility with the other students 」
Megu and I, to the other students?
「 The two of you are too earnest, and having you two engaged even though you’re just in the first year is too heavy for the other students to digest . It’s too serious of a topic for them . The image that marriage is a graveyard is being ingrained in their thoughts
「 That’s right . That’s what I told you earlier . You stink 」
Kana-senpai tells Megu .
「 Nobu’s quite anarchic, he looks interesting and yet you’re an annoying engagement partner for him . It’s too dark that nobody can see the future 」
It goes that far?
「 Right . At first, it’s just Nobu and you taking care of the bakery, right? Back then, when you go to the school cafeteria, it smells like poor people, the thought corners you down . Furthermore, you don’t even smile . Your face looks like it’s saying “my future’s bleak if I can’t sell my products,” as if you’re the matchstick girl . That really repels people . That’s how it looked like on the first days . 」
I see .
「 It changed a lot since Nei-san joined in as the vendor . She’s quite flashy after all . I mean, she’s got this gorgeous atmosphere, right? That’s very unlike you . She’s not tensed . Her atmosphere says that she doesn’t have problems with money at all . Oh right . That’s when I got interested in Nei . I mean, the products looked totally different . Unlike you, Nei-san makes the bread look classy . Ah, I said that wrong . If you’re the one selling it, the products seem cheap . Even though the products Nobu made didn’t change 」
Megu’s tears accumulate in her eyes .
「 Megu-oneechan, if you start yelling, or crying at us here, then it would really be your loss . I won’t help you anymore if you do that 」
Mana tells her .
「 I know it . That’s the reason why I’m a failure as Yoshi-kun’s fiance . Everyone’s backing off from Yoshi-kun because of me 」
Then, Edie .
「 Nobody said that though 」
She tells Megu .
「 Darling and Megumi’s relationship is already made public . It’s too late to make a grand scale change 」
Then that means .
「 We only talked about making corrections, nobody said that we’re going to forget everything that happened for the sake of fixing things 」
「 What do you mean by that Edie? 」
I asked .
「 Well, Nei said that “you must make them laugh” 」
“You must make them laugh?”
「 That’s right . Darling, the other students, never saw you smiling . Smiling leads to friendliness . But Megumi and Darling aren’t smiling at all . The two of you are too earnest, too heavy, that everyone thinks that you should be laughing . That’s what makes the students keep their distance from you 」
「 What should we do to make them laugh? 」
I’m not good at jokes .
That’s not my forte .
「 It’s easy . We just have to add another person in Darling and Megumi’s heavy relationship 」
Edie said and looked at Kana-senpai .
「 And that’s why Kana’s here . If it becomes a love triangle relationship, it would be funny 」
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