「 That’s right . You have been training ever since you were young 」
Michi slowly cuts their distance .
「 Please stop! 」
Sonoko-san desperately pleads to me, but…
「 It’s okay . Michi-san’s not serious 」
Tsukiko speaks gently .
「 If she’s serious, her first hit would kill Tendou-san 」
I think so too .
But, that doesn’t mean that Michi’s cutting corners either .
She’s holding herself back like in ordinary freestyle training .
「 Suaaaa, haaa, haa! 」
Look, she’s purposely giving a tell before she attacks .
If Michi’s serious, she will only breathe . She will take down the other party without making a noise .
「 Yaa, haa, toaaa 」
Tendou Otome also catches Michi’s attacks while yelling .
It may look like an equal fight but Michi’s trying to match with Tendou Otome .
「 Is that all you’ve got? Letting me do all the attacks? 」
「 Kuuuuu!!! 」
Tendou Otome tries to give Michi a roundhouse kick but Michi guarded with one hand .
「 That’s not it . This should be the kick you’re doing 」
Michi flips the skirt of her uniform and hits Tendou Otome with a sharp kick .
「 Guwaaaa 」
Tendou Otome fell on the floor .
「 Otome-chan! 」
Sonoko-san shouted .
「 This is cruel! Stop it! 」
This time, she protests to Michi .
「 That’s not a lot of damage . I purposely made sure that the kick won’t hurt . I didn’t place my weight on it either . She only fell because she didn’t train her trunk 」
Michi speaks calmly .
Wait, is Michi thinking of taking Tendou Otome as her disciple?
Since her plan to take the Anjou sisters as her disciple is on hold…
「 In the end, your martial arts are just on the same level as a delinquent playing around . You can take hold of the thugs on the streets but you can’t fight us 」
Michi speaks coldly . Then, Tendou Otome who’s groveling on the floor .
「 Dammit, looking down on me 」
She stops the “frightened mode,” and she glares at Michi .
「 You look down on me . You’re just a young lady’s lapdog…Goddammit! You’re bullshit! You’re full of shit! Fuck you all!! 」
She stands up .
Then, she glares at me .
But, she looked back at Michi again .
「 Don’t look down on me! 」
As soon as she shouted that…
「 !!!!! 」
Huh?
What?
「 W-What happened? 」
AS soon as Tendou Otome stood up, Michi jumped at her as if she teleported, she grabbed her head and pushed her down the floor again .
「 Hmph!! 」
「 Gueeee!! 」
Michi pushes Tendou Otome with her weight .
Tendou Otome groans like a crushed frog .
「 You’re the one looking down on me 」
Michi grabbed Tendou Otome’s head with her strength and pushed her face on the floor .
W-What happened?
「 Tendou Otome-san was about to use a Qi skill 」
Tsukiko said .
「 Oh, so that’s why . Michi sensed it and she pushed Tendou Otome down before she could use it? 」
I said . Tsukiko smiled .
「 That’s not it . She’s learned a lot too 」
Tendou Otome learned?
「 Last night, she used her Qi skill and Edie-san warded it off 」
Tsukiko reads Tendou Otome’s memories .
「 Therefore, she was thinking of trying to do the same move if Michi-san used her Qi skill too 」
I-I see .
「 That’s why Tendou Otome-san threw her Qi to her… 」
Tsukiko points at Kurosawa-san .
「 W-Why me? 」
Kurosawa-san’s surprised .
「 She tried to fire it to Kou-sama at first . But, she thinks that Michi-san is cautious that she might do it to Kou-sama, Torii-sama, or me, and so she changed her aim to you 」
So that’s why she looked at me for a moment .
Yeah, Torii-san, Tsukiko, and I are in one point, but Kurosawa-san’s over there .
Michi is guarding us and so she orients her position .
Kurosawa-san’s out of Michi’s area .
「 But why?! Why does it have to be me?! I have nothing to do with all this! 」
Kurosawa-san’s right .
Why would Tendou Otome attack her friend, Kurosawa-san?
「 It’s because she thinks that it’ll create an opportunity if she hits her Qi to someone unrelated, like you 」
Michi continues to push down Tendou Otome .
「 Indeed . She thinks that she can create a counterattack on Michi-san if she finds a gap 」
Tsukiko said .
So that was a feint?
She’s going to sacrifice Kurosawa-san to create a moment of opportunity with Michi?
Is that all the reason?
「 Have you ever thought that I would assume that you’d do that? 」
Michi can’t read minds like Tsukiko, but she can read the flow of Qi .
She can sense Tendou Otome’s accumulating Qi to fire it off…or the person she’s targetting .
Therefore, she jumped at Tendou Otome with all her strength .
It’s all to prevent harm from reaching Kurosawa-san .
「 You really are despicable 」
Michi said and let go of Tendou Otome’s head .
「 Hmph, what’s wrong with it?! If someone like me wants to fight people like you who have everything then I will use any cowardly means! A lapdog of a young lady will never understand 」
Tendou Otome shouts at Michi .
「 Dammit! Making me look like a fool! I…We do not have any other way! 」
She slowly gets up .
She’s still aiming for an opportunity to turn the tables .
Then .
「 Are you going to live your life with that pathetic excuse? 」
Tsukiko said .
「 You’re trying to gloss over the fact that what you did is betrayal to your comrades . Am I wrong? 」
Tendou Otome .
「 S-She’s…Naoko’s not my comrade! 」
She glared at Kurosawa-san .
「 She immediately swore obedience to your boss . She says that she’d gladly become a prostitute . Are you stupid?! She betrayed me and our parents first! 」
Kurosawa-san voluntarily accepted to become the Kuromori house’s prostitute .
But .
「 She’s not my comrade! Naoko’s been looking down on Sonoko and me ever since last night . All night long . I know that 」
Hearing that, Kurosawa-san;
「 What are you talking about? You’re the one who looked down on me all this time! You’ve been bullying me and the other girls!! 」
Tendou Otome and the other daughters of Yakuza bullied Naoko-san .
「 That’s because you were weak! As if I care! 」
Tendou Otome turns her down .
At that moment .
「 And since you’re weak too, you have no say in this 」
Michi releases her Qi .
「 Ugyaaaaa!!!! 」
Tendou Otome’s in pain, but…
「 It’s just body paralysis . Your consciousness is still awake 」
Michi speaks coldly, Then she looks at me with a fed-up face .
「 Wait, is she trying to do it again? 」
「 Yes, her aim was at Torii-sama while the quarrel was ongoing 」
Tsukiko looks at Torii-san .
「 Huh, me? 」
She makes us think that since she’s fighting Kurosawa-san, she will not aim at Torii-san .
But, Michi can sense Qi with extreme caution, and Tsukiko’s also here .
Why does she think that it’ll work?
「 People are creatures that put themselves as the standard 」
Tsukiko read my thoughts and replied .
「 Tendou Otome-san also puts herself as the standard 」
If she thinks that it’ll work on herself, she’ll do it .
「 Kou-sama, you think that others are much smarter, much skilled than you, correct? 」
「 Yeah . That’s obvious 」
I’m quite dumb, I believe .
「 Tendou-san thinks that other people are below her 」
Tsukiko said .
「 She puts herself as the standard and thinks that everyone else is below her 」
Huh, why?
「 That’s why she hates Michi-san and Edie who is much stronger than her . She thinks that it’s unfair . In her world, she’s the strongest 」
That’s…
「 It’s not just about their strength . She sees Kou-sama and all the young ladies of nobility, those who lived in a blessed environment as unfair people . That she should be on the top 」
「 Oh, a lot of people are like that recently 」
Torii-san said .
「 Therefore, she bullies the weak . And if she meets people who are above her, she gets angry because of her insecurity . She’s a problem child 」
She speaks as she looks down at her .
No, look, Torii-san .
You have that same insecurity too .
She’s not a real young lady because of her status as semi-nobility, but her attitude with those who aren’t from nobility is big-headed .
「 Kou-sama, people don’t notice it themselves 」
Tsukiko said .
「 You’re judging me yourselves! Do you think that you’re so great?! 」
Tendou Otome’s body is paralyzed yet she continues to shout curses .
「 No we don’t, but we’re not going to attack our friends for whatever reason it may be 」
I replied .
「 Allies are allies . Those who betray trust aren’t allies at all .
「 Yes . That’s right, Master 」
Michi said, then looked at Sonoko-san .
「 What do we do with this woman? 」
Sonoko-san looks at Tendou Otome collapsed on the floor with a pale face .
She’s listening to our conversation with Tendou Otome .
「 Otome-chan, you lied… 」
She speaks in a thin voice .
「 S-Sonoko, I-I’m 」
「 Quiet down 」
Tsukiko smiled and sealed Tendou Otome’s mouth with her power .
「 You kept on saying that you’re scared as you cling to me, it was just a lie 」
Sonoko-san looks down on Tendou Otome .
「 I think that she regressed to infancy yesterday 」
I said .
「 Yes . But it’s only this morning when she returned to her former state 」
Tsukiko reads .
「 But, you thought that it’s easier to regress to infancy and cling to Sonoko-san, right? You don’t need to stay away from Sonoko-san after all . You can take it easy feeling spoiled from Sonoko-san . Wait for our arrival and loosened caution, then escape together with Sonoko-san 」
「 Correct 」
Tsukiko affirms my guess .
「 Michi, how did you know? 」
Michi noticed that Tendou Otome’s acting . That’s why she picked a fight .
「 You can see it if you look at her . A person who is afraid and confused won’t have that look in her eyes 」
Michi said .
「 Otome-chan fooled me 」
Sonoko-san said . Tendou Otome shakes her head, frantically denying it .
She can’t shake it that well since her neck and below are paralyzed .
「 You lied . You fooled me . You think of me as stupid, don’t you? 」
Sonoko-san .
「 Just so you know, I hugged Otome-chan last night, I’ve been thinking about you . Wondering what to do from now on . I was really scared . I was worried that Otome-chan might not come back, that you’ll have to rely on me forever, about what will happen to us 」
Tendou Otome looks away from Sonoko-san . She looks at the ceiling that has nothing .
Ah, she’s no good .
Why is she escaping the gaze of the other party?
Sonoko-san’s staring at Tendou Otome .
「 I will become a prostitute . There’s no other way out of this . My fate is tied there . I will endure five years, and I think that these people keep their word when it comes to contracts and business . They gave me time to think, and they don’t give orders without listening, they let me decide 」
Sonoko-san said . Tendou Otome looks at her in panic .
She shakes her head intensely .
“They’re fooling you . Don’t trust them” is what she’s trying to say .
「 I get what Otome-chan’s trying to say . But, sorry . But right now, I trust them more than Otome-chan… 」
Sonoko-san said . Tendou Otome hangs her head .
She looks back up the ceiling again .
「 Even if we’re together Otome-chan, I don’t think I’ll open up my life for you . Sorry, but I don’t want a life with Otome-chan anymore 」
And then, Sonoko-san…
「 Naoko-chan, I think you hate me, but we’re both going to become prostitutes . If we’re going to work together, we have to get along . It’s as you can see . Please get along with me 」
She bows her head to Kurosawa-san .
「 T-That’s, s-stop it . I-I’m the one who should ask for it 」
Kurosawa-san bows her head to Sonoko-san .
Then…
「 Oh, it looks like the situation’s better now 」
Minaho-neesan enters the room .
Oh, she’s been here since earlier .
She’s been eavesdropping the conversation and waited for this timing to enter .
「 It’s good that you two get along as fellow prostitutes . If you don’t help each other, it’ll only become hard for you 」
She goes inside as she speaks .
「 Later, I’ll be introducing another prostitute candidate to you girls 」
Minaho-neesan said .
「 Other than us? 」
Kurosawa-san asks .
「 Yes . That girl is a genuine young lady . Her family has collapsed, and so she has no choice but to become my prostitute, even though she’s a young lady . Don’t you feel sorry for them? 」
She laughs .
「 Wait, Kurama-san? 」
Torii-san speaks without thinking .
Right, Torii-san didn’t know the details .
It’s her first time talking to Minaho-neesan this way .
「 Oh, it has nothing to do with Torii-sama 」
Minaho-neesan purposely stirs her up .
「 But Kurama house is a noble family! Doing that to a daughter of nobility is… 」
「 It doesn’t matter if they were a noble family, if they fall, it’s their end . Or does Torii-sama have enough assets to pay for the debts of Kurama house? 」
「 That’s… 」
「 Kouzuki-sama already gave his approval . Changes aren’t allowed anymore . Therefore, any more interference is futile 」
Minaho-neesan oppresses Torii-san with her cold smile .
「 Who are you? 」
Torii-san asks . Minaho-neesan;
「 I am Kuromori Minaho, Kou’s elder sister 」
「 Yeah, my elder sister 」
I said .
「 As mentioned in the conversation, the other prostitute that you’ll work with will be Kurama Misato . She’s been a young lady until yesterday, but could you get along with her? 」
Minaho-neesan asks Kurosawa-san and Sonoko-san .
The two looked at each other .
「 We will . It doesn’t matter if she’s a former young lady . After all, it’s just her past 」
Kurosawa-san replies .
「 Me too, if she will live in the same environment as the two of us, then we will get along with her . The three of us will work together 」
Sonoko-san said .
「 Right . She will live together with you two for the contract period, so get along, okay? 」
Minaho-neesan said . Then she looked at me .
「 Now they’re prepared to accept it . Kou, the plans with Kurama-san is a ‘go,’ best regards 」
I see .
First, arrange the two prostitutes as friends then make Kurama-san fall .
Right, Kurama Misato-san who depends on her sister and weeps a lot will burst if she has no allies to rely on .
Speaking of which .
「 Kurama Misato-san’s name is the only one mentioned, but… 」
Torii-san asks before I could .
「 What about Kurama Arisu-san, the little sister? 」
Minaho-neesan;
「 We don’t use girls who are too young in our brothel . Arisu-san is 13 if I recall? 」
「 Then, is she coming back to Kurama house? 」
Torii-san said . Minaho-neesan laughs .
「 No way . She will be a valuable item to earn money for Kurama house 」
「 What does that mean? 」
「 She will not become a prostitute . But, we will sell her as a sex slave 」
Minaho-neesan speaks that way on purpose .
It’s to make Kurosawa-san and Sonoko-san king to Kurama Misato-san who comes later .
「 T-That’s… 」
「 It’s okay . I picked a respectable man who’ll buy her . I’m not selling her to a man who’ll hurt her or kill her . I’m selling her to a man who will cherish her and love her . I’ve done my investigation and background check . If there were any abuse, they’ll incur the wrath of Kouzuki-sama . Torii-sama does not need to worry about her 」
I mean, I’m the one taking her .
「 B-but… 」
Torii-san still hangs on but Tsukiko;
「 If you speak any further than that, it will only be hypocrisy 」
Yeah .
The fall of Kurama house is definite .
It’s to prevent any spread to other nobilities .
Jii-chan had to show them a harsh punishment as an example .
That is to say; selling the Kurama sisters .
And since Jii-chan made the decision, nobody can stop it .
「 Benevolence is about what you can do with the best that you have . If you wish for something that you can’t do, then you’re only causing trouble to Kurama-sama 」
She’s right…
「 I… 」
Torii-san seems to feel that she’s powerless .
「 I was also a prostitute . Furthermore, it wasn’t actual work 」
Minaho-neesan said .
「 Therefore, Kurosawa-san, Tokuda-san . And Kurama Misato-san who will come later . Kurama Arisu-san who won’t become a prostitute but sold off . I cannot change your fate . I’m only doing the duty given to me with all my best . But, I want to improve it to the extent that I can . I want you to experience happiness, even if it’s just a little bit, instead of the experience I had as a prostitute . You don’t have to trust me now, but I will promise you that 」
She tells Kurosawa-san and Sonoko-san .
「 Yes, I don’t trust it for now but I’ll remember it 」
Sonoko-san said .
「 I don’t get it either but for now, I look forward to working with you 」
Kurosawa-san bows her head .
「 Yes, my best regards to the two of you . And an apology . I didn’t come to see you until now . This building was busy until the case with your parents ended 」
Minaho-neesan apologizes for leaving them alone after the briefing last night .
「 No, I think that there were circumstances 」
Sonoko-san said .
Oh .
Kurosawa-san is frank and she’s decisive, but she’s bad at thinking deeply and speaking politely .
Sonoko-san is timid and shy but she thinks a lot and is polite when speaking .
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