Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? - Volume 4 - Chapter 2

Matsudaira Kenji Is Troubled

Thursday, September 10th

Matsudaira Kenji was troubled. And it wasn’t because of his less intelligent best friend. He was worried about the cultural festival that was coming up the month after next.

“All right, I guess I’ll put one up around here...”

The drama club he was in traditionally put on a play during the festival. They were planning to do the same this year, but they hadn’t yet decided on what to perform. That was because the stage director couldn’t find a manuscript she liked.

“If only the president would compromise a little...”

The club president was the one serving as the stage director, but she wasn’t satisfied with student-level work and had ended up rejecting all of the manuscripts the club had.

And so now the drama club was putting up posters requesting manuscript submissions. Being on the bottom of the totem pole, Kenji was using his lunch break to put up said posters all around the school.

“Is there even anyone capable of writing a manuscript for a play in this school? Even if there was... would they even apply?”

As Kenji absentmindedly put up the next poster, a familiar face passed by.

“Oh? What are you up to, Mackenzie?”

“Kou?”

The passerby was none other than Koutarou, who was holding bread and juice in his hands. He was on his way back after buying his lunch at the cafeteria.

“This is what I’m doing,” Kenji said, pointing to the poster.

“What’s this? ‘Manuscripts wanted’?”

“Yeah. The drama club can’t decide on what play they want to do, so they’re looking for submissions from outside of the club.”

“I see... But you know, Mackenzie, if you’re in trouble, you can always ask me for help. There’s no need to hold back.”

“What good would asking you do? Do you even know anyone capable of writing something proper?”

Kenji had excluded Koutarou from the list of possibilities right away. Yet despite his skepticism, Koutarou responded confidently.

“You’re gonna regret that, Mackenzie-kun. Last year might have been one thing, but I’m a new man now. Do you think you can get away with saying something like that to me?”

“I do. Obviously. Where, exactly, is there anything worthy of being called an author in you?”

In the end, Kenji still didn’t trust Koutarou.

“Mackenzie, you fool. This year, I have a powerful ally by the name of Sakuraba Harumi.”

“Th-That’s right! I forgot about Sakuraba-senpai!”

The moment Sakuraba Harumi’s name was mentioned, Kenji’s expression changed. He knew that Harumi loved reading books. If he asked her, he might be able to get a worthy manuscript. Although he’d been making fun of Koutarou, he had a good point.

“I’ll ask her if she has any ideas”

“Please do! Right now we’d do just about anything to get our hands on a good manuscript.”

“Still... You’re rude, you know?”

Kenji’s quick change of attitude left Koutarou astounded.

“Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s your own fault for acting the way you do. Anyway, I’m counting on you, Kou!”

Seeing Kenji laughing his complaints away, anger began to well up inside of him. That anger gradually took form, and Koutarou eventually made a decision.

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

Mackenzie, you bastard. I’ll show you...

Koutarou nodded at Kenji while scheming on the inside.

Later that day, Koutarou spoke with the residents in room 106 after they had finished eating dinner.

“Listen, everyone. May I, Satomi Koutarou, have a moment of your time?”

Hearing Koutarou speak so formally shocked everyone.

“Wh-What’s wrong, pleb?! Did you eat something strange?! Should we take you to a medical bed on board the Blue Knight?”

“Your Highness, that’s going to far!”

“Satomi-san, you can’t eat things you pick up off the ground!”

“Karama, Korama, bring some stomach medicine.”

“Understood! Ho!”

“Koutarou, just wait one moment! Ho!”

The only one who didn’t seem to find it strange was Sanae.

“It’s nothing like that.”

Sanae sighed and began explaining in Koutarou’s stead. Since she was always with him, she had heard the entire exchange between Koutarou and Kenji.

“You see, Koutarou’s friend, Glasses-kun... Mackenzie, was it? Well, the drama club he’s in is looking for manuscripts.”

“Ah, so that’s why Satomi-san is being so dramatic.”

“That’s right, everybody! I, Satomi Koutarou, would like to help my best friend, Matsudaira Kenji, in his time of need!” Koutarou continued in a theatrical tone of voice, complete with excessive gesturing.

“...So, Sanae, what is this horrible actor really trying to say?”

Kiriha could tell at a glance that Koutarou was actually after something else. In response, Sanae exaggeratedly drooped her shoulders and smiled wryly.

“He’s frustrated because he got told that he doesn’t have a talented bone in his body and that no one was expecting anything from him.”

“I see. Now I understand.” Kiriha nodded and took a sip of her tea.

“So everybody! Please lend your strength to me, Satomi Koutarou! Let us save the drama club from their crisis together!”

“He really is an idiot...”

“Satomi-san sure is stubborn...”

“So what do you want from us, Koutarou?”

“I would like you to write manuscripts with me! If we were to write one manuscript apiece, the possibilities of one us being chosen would be much higher than if I just wrote one on my own!” Koutarou appealed to them in a mighty voice and slammed a poster he got from Kenji onto the table.

“Submissions are limited to one per person...”

“And the deadline is the end of the month...”

“Isn’t finishing a manuscript that would fill an hour of stage time by the end of the month a little too much?”

“That’s impossible for meee!”

“Why? Isn’t fantasy your specialty?”

“That’s not my specialty! Besides, there’s not enough time!”

However, unlike what Koutarou had hoped, nobody was showing any interest. The short deadline and the unfamiliar medium were major obstacles. But Koutarou didn’t expect the residents of room 106 to accept so easily. He had prepared a suitable reward.

“Of course, I understand the situation everybody is in quite well, which is why I won’t ask you to help for nothing. First off, if you decide to participate, you will receive five of my tatami points. And that’s not all! If your manuscript is chosen, I will reward you with an additional 20 points.”

“I’ll do it! I’ll participate!”

The moment Koutarou mentioned points, Yurika jumped at his offer. Just participating would give her five points, and winning would give her an additional 20. It might even turn out to be the chance she was waiting for to turn things around.

“In the worst case, you would lose 20 points if all four of us participate, and an additional 20 if one of us actually wins. You could lose a total of 40 points just like that. That’s a big gamble, Koutarou.”

Kiriha lowered her tea cup and smiled. It was difficult to tell whether she was smiling because she was astounded or if she was happy.

“I only need to come out victorious, and my expenses would be limited to 20 points.”

“You really are an idiot... Is it really worth using that many points for something like this?”

Compared to Kiriha, Theia’s emotions were easy to read. She let out a big sigh, obviously amazed. However, not even she realized the worry hiding beneath her amazement.

“Princess Theiamillis, there are just times a man cannot back down.”

“Y-Yeah...”

Theia froze for a moment with surprise at Koutarou saying her name.

P-Princess Theiamillis...

It was the first time Theia had heard Koutarou call her Theiamillis. She didn’t dislike it, but something felt off. Her feelings were complicated.

“Koutarou wants to show up Glasses-kun using us instead of relying on Sakuraba Harumi, who is the only one Glasses-kun is expecting anything from.”

But Theia’s expression changed the moment Harumi’s name was mentioned.

“Sakuraba Harumi? I see. So if we don’t do it...”

Her hesitant expression became one of determination.

“So please, everybody, lend your powers to me, Satomi Koutarou! With your help, we will be able to deal a fatal blow to our enemy, Mackenzie!”

In the end, Koutarou sounded less like an actor and more like a politician. And of course, Yurika was the first one to respond to his call.

“I’ll do it! Please let me help! I’ll get 25 points if I’m chosen! A whole 25! Even if I don’t make it, I’ll still get five! I’d do anything to get back some points!”

In Yurika’s case, the points were the most important part. If all went well, she could get 25 points, and even if things didn’t go her way, she would still get five. That alone was enough to encourage her. She was planning on earning some points this way to stage her comeback.

“V-Very well, pleb. I owe you for working for me for the past few days. It is only natural that I would lend you a hand. I don’t want you to think that Forthorthe is quick to forget its debts.”

Theia quickly agreed as well, although her reasons were different from Yurika’s. Points didn’t really matter to her. Just like when Koutarou had worked aboard the Blue Knight, Koutarou and Theia trading points didn’t have any real meaning to her. She was more concerned about her vassal running to Harumi for help.

The pleb is my vassal. As if I would let Sakuraba Harumi just do with him as she pleases!

However, what was motivating Theia right now wasn’t really the bond between a master and servant. Swimming at the beach in the bathing suit Koutarou had bought her, running against each other at the sports festival, and playing together in room 106... Theia hadn’t really noticed it yet, but these happy, eventful days with Koutarou were what she truly desired.

“Hmm, so Yurika and Theia are doing it?”

“Are you going to participate too, Sanae?”

“Yeah. Me and Koutarou have a truce, so me winning would be the best outcome. Besides, I feel like helping Koutarou out a little.”

Sanae nodded and smiled brightly as she fiddled with the charm hanging off her neck. Unlike Theia, she was more honest with her feelings. She would follow her heart and help Koutarou. For as long as the charm swayed around her neck, she had reason to do so.

“In that case, I can’t be the only one not to participate.”

Finally, Kiriha was the last one to agree.

“Kiriha, you’re in now too?”

“Indeed.”

She smiled as she put her cup down on the tea table.

“If I don’t participate, Theia-dono would automatically retake first place. I’m not kind enough to just let that happen.”

Kiriha was the current leader in terms of tatami points, but only by a narrow three point margin. Declining to participate would mean handing the lead to Theia.

“A wise decision.”

“However, to be honest, participating sounds like fun.”

“That might be true in your case.”

Like always, Kiriha looked like she was enjoying the situation.

“I am grateful for your assistance. I am greatly pleased that you have given me, Satomi Koutarou, a chance.”

Koutarou was in high spirits as well after all the invaders had decided to contribute. Normally he could be very stern with them, but right now he gave them all a friendly smile.

“Heh heh heh. Just you wait, Mackenzie. I’ll show you a thing or two!”

It wasn’t until he muttered Kenji’s name that Koutarou’s face twisted into a harsh expression.

“By chance, this has become an autumn literature competition.”

Ruth was watching over them all as the situation developed. Since she disliked fighting, she was very satisfied that everyone was working towards a common goal.

“Heehee... Do your best, everyone.”

Ruth smiled as she poured tea into the empty cups on the table.

As the clock reached 9 PM, all of the invaders had retreated to their respective lairs. Normally they would remain in room 106 a little longer, but from now on they would be using this time in the evening to write their manuscripts. And so the only ones now left in room 106 were Koutarou, Sanae, and Yurika, but Yurika had jumped into the wardrobe. Only Koutarou and Sanae were left in the inner room.

“What are you going to write, Koutarou?”

“I’m thinking about it. It will probably be something about a hot-blooded club and its members.”

Koutarou had been crossing his arms for a while now, thinking of what to write, but he still didn’t have a solid ideas. Because of that, the paper in front of him was still pure white.

“Hmm, that’s just like you.”

“So what are you going to write about, Sanae?” Koutarou asked as a change of pace.

“Me? I was thinking of writing about my mama and papa eloping.”

Sanae already had a good handle on what she was going to write. So unlike Koutarou, she looked quite pleased.

“Hmm, so it’s nonfiction... Wait, your parents eloped?!”

“Yeah.” Sanae casually brought up something rather surprising. “Apparently mama was the only daughter of a really rich family, and before she became a political tool to them, she ran away with my papa who was her childhood friend.”

“I see. So that’s why you’re so obsessed with this room.”

“Yeah. Mama and papa would worry if I wasn’t here when they got back.”

“I see...”

This was the first time Sanae had explained her situation to Koutarou. And the only reason she felt like sharing it with him now was the charm dangling from her neck.

So that’s what’s going on with Sanae... In that case, maybe I should let her stay for as long as she likes...

Koutarou accepted Sanae’s her story as the truth, even though just half a year ago he wouldn’t even hear her out. But his reason for that was the same as Sanae’s. Just like Harumi had said that during summer vacation, their feelings had grown over all this time.

“Koutarou, if you still don’t know what to write, can I start writing first?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

Sanae was a ghost, but she could use her psychic powers to lift a pen. Koutarou didn’t understand why she was asking him for permission.

“I can move the pen like this, but...”

Sanae floated the pen into the air and began rotating it in front of Koutarou.

“That’s your Poltergeist power, right?”

“Yeah. But it’s really hard to make complicated motions like this. My writing would look terrible and it would exhaust me.”

Sanae stopped spinning the pen for a moment and then began writing letters in the air. The movements were very awkward. Like she said, her power was too clunky. Granted, it was primarily intended as the ability to cause a ruckus.

“So instead, I thought it would be easier if I possessed you.”

“Ah, I get it. I’ve heard of this before. It’s ghostwriting, right?”

“Yeah. I think it was something like that.”

Sanae was talking about a spiritual form of automatic writing known as psychography, not ghostwriting. But as Koutarou and Sanae were the only ones in the inner room at the moment, no one was around to correct them.

“Well, if that’s all, then fine.”

“Really?! Then, then... After I’m done, I’ll help with your stiff shoulders!”

“Cool. Then it’s a deal, Sanae.”

“Yes!”

Sanae nodded and circled around to Koutarou’s back with a cheerful look.

“What? So it’s just like always?”

“Yeah! Hyah!”

Sanae jumped onto Koutarou’s back with a cute cheer.

“Oh?”

“Heeheehee...”

Sanae put her arms around Koutarou’s neck and rested her chin on Koutarou’s right shoulder. As if doing that was fun, her expression was even brighter than before.

“Wh-Whoa, my right hand is moving on its own!”

“This is the power of ghostwriting!”

Koutarou wasn’t doing anything, but his arm began moving. His right arm picked up the pen lying on the tea table and began scribbling away on the paper in front of him.

“...It feels kind of weird having your right arm move on its own.”

“Heh. It’s cool, isn’t it?”

Letters filled the paper as puzzled Koutarou watched.

“It’s cool, but the letters look better than when I write them, so it’s a bit unnerving.”

“Then why don’t you try remembering how your hand is moving now?”

“I guess I will.”

As Koutarou nodded, his right hand stopped moving.

“...”

Sanae was just staring at Koutarou’s profile without doing anything.

Huh?

Confused, Koutarou looked at the paper in front of him. The last thing written on the page was a short sentence.

“Yeah, yeah. Jeez...”

After reading it, Koutarou let out a small sigh and put his left hand on top of Sanae’s head.

“Good girl,” he said as she began patting her head.

“Heeheehee!”

The sentence she’d written was simple: “Compliment me more, you jerk!” Although since Sanae was possessing Koutarou, he couldn’t help wondering if he was patting her, or if she was doing it herself.

“Koutarou, you could be more gentle too.”

However, at that point, Koutarou didn’t care either way. He now understood that the affection she showed him was the same kind of love she used to show her dear parents.

That was when the sliding door behind Koutarou opened.

“S-Satomi-san!”

As Koutarou and Sanae turned around, they saw Yurika jumping out from the wardrobe. For some reason, she had tears in her eyes and the plastic bug cage in her hands.

“Waaaaaaaah! Please help me, Satomi-san!”

As soon as she hit the floor, Yurika broke down crying.

“Wh-What happened, Yurika?”

“What are you crying for?”

After looking at each other and asking Yurika what was wrong, she crawled closer to Koutarou and Sanae while embracing the plastic case.

“A-Actually, I was trying to sleep but Hercules-chan won’t stop making noises!”

“Who cares about that?!”

“You really do worry about the dumbest of things...”

Realizing this wasn’t something serious after all, Koutarou was angry and Sanae was dumbfounded. Despite that, Yurika continued to plead with them.

“I-It’s not dumb! If Hercules-chan moves even a little bit, it sounds just like the time a cockroach got into the wardrobe!”

Although Koutarou and Sanae didn’t care, it was important to Yurika. Since she had been through an ordeal with a cockroach once, she couldn’t get a wink of sleep because of the small sounds Hercules was making.

“I’m too scared to sleep with Hercules-chan!”

“Then just put that box outside the wardrobe.”

“But if Ruth-san found it, that would be the end!”

“I think it would be crushed by Koutarou in his sleep before then.”

“Sanae, I’m letting you use me for your ghostwriting, so can’t you be at least a little nicer to me?”

“Hmm... Yeah, then I’m going with Ruth finding it too.”

“Both of those are no good!”

Yurika crawled closer to Koutarou and Sanae, still clutching the case. As she approached with tears still streaming down her face, both of them reflexively winced.

“Please do something, Satomi-san!”

“Just what am I supposed to do?”

“You could just give up and set Hercules-chan free.”

“I can’t do that! The vice president’s little brother would cry!”

Perhaps sensing danger from the excited Yurika, the Hercules beetle shook its large horns. And as its horns collided with the wood chips inside of the box, it made a sound similar to that of a cockroach.

“Please help me, Satomi-san!”

“I get it, I get it. So just calm down, okay?”

“Really? You won’t bully me like normal?”

“I won’t.”

Koutarou was sincere about helping Yurika. He didn’t want to do things haphazardly and risk Ruth losing her temper. He knew how scary Ruth could be ever since the beetle incident over summer vacation.

“But what are you going to do, Koutarou? If Yurika and Hercules-chan can’t be together, there’s nowhere else to put them.”

“Hmm...”

“Please! I’m counting on you, Satomi-san!”

“Stop your crying and help think of something, Yurika!”

“Waaaaah! Satomi-san got angry! It’s all over! Not Hercules-chan! How could you be so cruel, Satomi-san?!”

Yurika looked at the plastic cage she’d set on top of the tea table with tears still spilling off her cheeks.

“This is too awful! Too cruel! I thought you were a bad person from before, but I never imagined you were this bad!”

“Calm down, Yurika!”

“It’s all oveeeeer! Hercules-chaaan!”

“Aaaaarghhh, jeez!”

“N-Now that it’s come down to this, I have no choice but to leave this room! N-No, but I still have to protect this room! Awww, Hercules-chan, what should I do?!”

Yurika was still crying and whining, but that was when an idea popped into Koutarou’s head.

“Leave the room...? That’s it! Hey, Yurika!”

“Hhhngh... Wh-What is it? How else are you planning on bullying me?”

As Koutarou shook Yurika’s shoulders, she turned around to look at him. Tears were still flooding out of her eyes, leaving wet streaks down her face.

“You’re way off. I got a good idea for how to protect Hercules.”

“Huh?! What is it?!”

But as soon as she heard Koutarou say he had a good idea, her tears instantly stopped and her expression transformed into a smile.

“Satomi-san, I knew you were a good person after all!”

“I’ve been thinking, but that selfishness and emotional turning on a dime... Yurika, you’re really something else.”

Despite Sanae’s amazement, Yurika looked up at Koutarou with eyes filled with expectation. If she weren’t still holding on to the beetle box, she probably would have shaken his hands.

Yurika... Are you really okay living your life like this?

Koutarou and Sanae had similar opinions on the matter, but they held them in for now as they continued talking.

“For starters, we put Hercules in the wardrobe.”

“Okay, and then what do I do?”

“Then you leave without any hesitation.”

“Noooooooo! Tell me you’re kidding!”

“Don’t make it any worse, Sanae.”

“B-But, Koutarou...”

“I know how you feel though.”

Koutarou also wanted to throw out Yurika, but she was Harumi’s best friend. He couldn’t just turn her out. But he also had another reason for not kicking her out...

“Just bite your tongue for now, Sanae.”

“O-Okay...”

Sanae held back when Koutarou asked her to because she didn’t want to trouble him.

“Good girl, Sanae.”

“Hee...”

Koutarou smiled and patted her head.

Koutarou is...

Koutarou then turned away from Sanae, but she remained motionless. She simply put her hand on top of her recently patted head and looked at his back.

Heeheehee, he said I was a good girl!

Sanae was filled with warm, pleasant emotions. They were very similar to what she felt when Koutarou had come to her rescue after she had been captured by ghost hunters. That’s why she used her other hand to hold her charm and just kept smiling at Koutarou.

“Yurika, just put Hercules in the wardrobe. You can live in the room for a while.”

“...Huh?”

Hearing those words, Yurika froze and timidly looked up at Koutarou.

“W-Would that really be all right?!”

“Yeah. Even though you only have half the points of anyone else, you still have the right to some of this room.”

“Th-Thank youuu!”

Yurika bowed and thanked Koutarou before looking back at the plastic case.

“Isn’t that great, Hercules-chan?! Neither of us has to leave!”

She then cheerfully talked to Hercules in his habitat. Koutarou had one more reason for not throwing out Yurika. And that was this Hercules beetle.

“Now you can safely return to the vice president’s little brother when the time comes, Hercules-chan!”

The magical girl of love and courage, huh? Just like she proved when Sanae was caught, it’s not like she doesn’t have any love or courage...

For Hercules’s sake, and for the sake of the young boy who was its original owner, Koutarou felt like helping Yurika because she hadn’t given up and abandoned the poor creature.

Aside from the typical, small commotions, the days passed without incident until the end of the month. Koutarou, Sanae, and Yurika in room 106, Theia on board the Blue Knight, and Kiriha in her secret underground lair all finished up their respective manuscripts. The completed manuscripts were then handed over to the drama club via Kenji. And since Sanae was a ghost, Shizuka put her name down on Sanae’s manuscript instead.

At the time, it seemed like that the odds of being chosen were the highest in favor of Yurika, who looked like she was good with fantasy, and Kiriha, who could do anything. However, the manuscript that was chosen was written by the hand of someone nobody would have expected.