The fake Ms. Yukihime made a shocked face and turned around.
The real Ms. Yukihime was standing behind her, making a cold expression.
「……Oh? You already came? I didn’t notice at all」
Unlike the fake, the real Ms. Yukihime was wearing an outfit with much less skin exposed. She replied.
「As you know, my Fugi family is a ninja family. It is a piece of cake to sneak up behind you」
Her eyes were as cold as absolute zero.
「Well, Yukihime. I was practicing my disguise skills, and I did not intend to offend you…… 」
「Doppelganger」
「……What? 」
「Apparently legends say that there are such things as doppelgangers which resembles you perfectly」
「Er, well, I have heard of that legend…… 」
「And apparently once you meet your doppelganger, you would die」
「Ah, yes the legend says so」
「Then since you have now met your doppelganger, you must die」
「What」
The real Ms. Yukihime grabbed the fake Ms. Yukihime by his neck. Then she brought him somewhere else.
「Master, sorry but I will be going to the toilet in the back」
While being bewildered by how there were two people of the same appearance, the master nodded his head.
「Let’s go then」
「W, wait, Yukihime! I am really sorry! Young master, help me! I don’t want to die yet! 」
I closed my eyes and plugged my ears during his desperate plea for help.
Forgive me, Mr. Shū. I don’t want to die just yet.
I had sacrificed a person I know to save my own life. After a while, I heard Mr. Shū’s dying cry.
「Now then, young master. I haven’t seen you in a while」
Although the back of the café had echoed with the cry a while ago, currently the café was silent. The real Ms. Yukihime came out from the back after finishing her task, and wiped off something red from her hands. Then she made an order「Please give me a cup of lemon tea」
「Nice to see you, Ms. Yukihime. Thank you so much for helping me earlier on」
「No, it just coincidentally happened to be mutually beneficial. It was a mere transaction between us ((Matsuri)) and you, a stranger」
How cold of her.
「You are so mean to call me a stranger. I had thought I was in quite an intimate relationship with you」
「I had thought so too. Nonetheless, since you have been disowned by your family, I merely consider you a stranger」
I could sense that she was clearly in a bad mood.
「Here are the drinks」
The café’s owner placed a cup of English tea in front of Ms. Yukihime and went back. Ms. Yukihime sipped the tea a little, then looked at me again.
「Now that the greetings are over, there is something important to ask about. When are you returning? 」
「What do you mean? 」
「I am asking, when are you going to return to the ((Matsuri))」
((Matsuri)) is the name of a bandit clan that has been stealing from the rich since the Edo period. Due to how they specifically steal from the evil, and how they always place a symbol that they have stolen something, the ((Matsuri)) is well known in the industry.
Ms. Fugi Yukihime in front of me, as well as the dead Shū Todomatsu in the toilet, are both members of this ((Matsuri))clan.
The ((Matsuri)) clan is known to be something like Robin Hood, doing evil for just purposes. The reason why two members of this organization are on this island is because they are targeting Nanana’s Buried Treasure, as well as the Nanana Collection.
By the way, the Yama family is the head of this ((Matsuri)) clan. Well, that means that my reletive is their chief.
「Erm, although we had talked about this before, I had been disowned by my dad」
The boss of the organization, known as the ((Chief)) is my dad. My dad had exiled me to this island because he did not want to see me anymore. He had also promised to disown me once I graduate high school. That is why currently, I am partially disowned right now.
「That is why I am saying, just come back. Can’t you beg the boss to return? 」
「No, I am not going to return」
When I plainly said so, she glared at me and said,「Ah」. I was very scared.
「Alright then. I shall hear your reason out」
She was really scary. She was so scary, she reminded me of past traumas.
「Concerning that, I have already discussed it with my dad earlier. I had told him, 『I would return when I feel like it』」
「I had heard about that from the boss」
「So, that is why…… 」
「However, I do not think you, young master, will return」
She said so without any hesitation.
「You have always been like this. Unless there is something rather convincing to you, young master, you will be very stubborn. Even if you say 『I might return』, it is equivalent to saying 『I am not going to return』. Thus, currently, I do not think you will come back to the ((Matsuri))」
How mean. But yes, she was perfectly correct as well.
「Then it is my job to drag you back into the organization」
I tried to act tough.
「How condescending of you! What do you think you are!? 」
「I am Yukihime Fugi, the descendant of the Fugi family that has been serving under the Yama family since the founding of the ((Matsuri)) as the ((Master Artisan)), as well as the only child of the aide to the current Chief, Genzō Fugi. By the way, I have taught both you and your sister martial arts since you were young. What do you want from me? 」
「Nothing ♥. You are absolutely correct, my teacher♥」
She said it in one go without even breathing in between. I really could not argue back.
「So come back to the ((Matsuri))」
Now, she was ordering me.
「I don’t want to」
Thus, I responded without any hesitation.
「By the way young master, even though you have been disowned, I heard that your dad sends you money」
「Yes, because I am still not yet officially disowned」
「How dare you rely on your parents, even though you rebelled against your parents and escaped on your own accord」
「Well, yes. But…」
「So there will be no money for you anymore」
「What……why? 」
「Because I am going to stop it」
「Who are you to stop it…… 」
Then, Ms. Yukihime took out an envelope.
「This is the money from the boss for you, young master. Earlier, I told the boss that I would pass it to you in person」
Oh yeah, I haven’t gotten my money for this month.
「What are you going to do with it? 」
「I will take it」
「Corruption red-handed! 」
「I am going to use this money to buy cute clothing, as well as go to the salon」
「Wow, you feel no guilt huh!? 」
「My breasts are not that small」
Freestar
「You were quite annoyed by our conversation just now huh!? It’s alright, I do think your breasts are fine as is」
「Do you think I would forgive you so easily? 」
「Oh no, you are quite sensitive about that! This issue seems more deeply rooted than I had thought」
「That is why this is a compensation fee」
「Wait a minute, Ms. Yukihime! I did not say anything! Mr. Shū is to blame! 」
「That is why I already took out all the notes from his wallet after I killed him」
「You just ganked him! 」
Ugh, that is Ms. Yukihime I know. She is really aggressive.
「Now then, 10% of that is a joke. That aside」
「So, the remaining 90% is real, right? 」
「Yes, only the part about how my breasts are small is a misinformation」
「Wow, what a specific joke! You refer to only that one line of dialogue, huh」
Oops, we sidetracked. Let me return to the main issue.
「Erm, so you are saying that you will not give me the money if I don’t return to the ((Matsuri))」
「Yes」
「A siege, huh」
「It is a natural response to a selfish individual」
I see. So that is what she is going to do. Even though I was helpless if she used this strategy, I replied.
「I still don’t want to return」
Then, she made a face as if she knew that would be my answer. Ms. Yukihime, you really know me well, huh?
「Young master, I have a question. When we received the order from our boss, we came to know about Nanana’s Buried Treasure. However, it is not that you were told by the boss about it, right? 」
「Yes」
「So, you came to know about it yourself? 」
「Yes」
「I see. Then you must have some sort of purpose in finding the Nanana Collection」
「I might be finding for the Nanana Collection just to sell it and earn money, you know」
「If you are trying to earn money, you would not have a reason to be against returning to the ((Matsuri)). We are quite well-off anyways」
「That is, by selling things you stole from other people」
「Things that we stole from evil people. The fact that you make such sarcastic jokes clearly shows how your purpose is not to earn money. If you do intend to earn money from selling the Nanana Collection, it would be almost the same as what we are doing」
She simply twisted the argument in her favor. Well, not that she was wrong though.
「Are you done with the unnecessary rebuttals? 」
「Yes, sorry. Yes, you are correct」
Thus, I surrendered.
「Then, what is your purpose」
「Erm…… I don’t want to say it」
「Why? 」
Because it is embarrassing to say it.
「It is a secret♥」
When I said so, Ms. Yukihime did not ask further, and simply nodded saying 「Alright then」
「Then next. You cooperated with us last time. Even though in the end the effort was futile. You do understand how advantageous it would be if you gain our cooperation, right? 」
Freestar
「Of course I do」
I had begged them to help me last time.
「Keeping that in mind, did you not conclude that returning to the ((Matsuri)) would help you find the Nanana Collection? 」
「Don’t treat me like an idiot. Of course, I knew such a choice exists」
「Then why won’t you return? 」
「Because I cannot agree with the principles of ((Matsuri))」
The moment I said so, Ms. Yukihime’s expressions visibly became stern.
「What do you mean」
「I do not want to help others at all」
「I have never heard of this before」
「Because I never told anyone」
「So you got disowned because you told that to the boss? 」
「Yes」
She sighed deeply, as if she was really disturbed.
「Then, all the more, return to the ((Matsuri))」
「Have you not been listening to what I had said? 」
「I was listening. And I became annoyed at how childish you are」
「What! 」
I could not help but widen my eyes at her sudden insult.
「I am going to train your rotten attitude from scratch. That is why promise me now that you are going to return to the ((Matsuri))」
「I don’t want to」
All the more, I did not want to return.
「You are going to make me angry 」
She glared at me.
「You are already angry」
Thus, I glared back at her.
「I had not seen you in a while, but it seems that you have developed quite a rude attitude, huh?」
「I did not say such things because I was simply trying to get along. I have thought so the whole time. Since I am a stranger to you already, I am just saying it upfront」
Ms. Yukihime now looked like she was actually angry.
「Come back」
「I don’t want to 」
「Come back」
「As I had said, I don’t want to」
「Come back! 」
「I will definitely not go back! 」
We shouted at each other. It could not be stopped anymore.
「There isn’t going to be money for you anymore」
Freestar
「I don’t need it」
「Are you sure? 」
「I did agree with what you said just now. True, I shouldn’t be asking for money since I had been disowned. If you want the money, please use it as you please」
I snorted, and made a gesture saying 「Please go ahead」. Really, I don’t need it.
At my attitude, Ms. Yukihime sighed and closed her eyes a little. As if she was calming herself, she took a deep breath and opened her eyes eventually.
「Last question. Who am I to you? 」
I did not know how to respond to her sudden question.
「Who is Yukihime Fugi to Jūgo Yama? 」
Er, what? What is she trying to say?
「So? 」
When I looked at her, Ms. Yukihime’s expressions were serious. However, I did not understand her intentions.
「Er, erm……you are like my older sister, and I am indebted in you because you have helped me since I was young」
Thus, I replied. Saying something that wasn’t too offensive or outrageous.
「Is that all? 」
「What am I supposed to say? 」
After falling silent for a while, Ms. Yukihime looked downward.
「No, it is alright now」
「Ms. Yukihime? 」
I froze upon seeing Ms. Yukihime’s face when she lifted her face up.
「That’s it. I don’t want to see you again, so please just disappear now」
Her expressions were completely blank. I was surprised at how cold her gaze was towards me.
I could not understand why she was looking at me like that. I had not seen her look at me like this before. Why is she gazing at me in such a way? Why must I be looked upon like that?
I was easily infuriated once again at how unfair it was. I was way angrier than just before. I was boundlessly angry now.
I could not forgive her very existence. I could not endure being in such a situation, where Ms. Yukihime has to look at me with such eyes. I could not tolerate how I was in a situation I had never thought would happen.
I was really annoyed.
Thus, I could not help but say.
「Can I ask one last question? 」
「What is it? 」
Freestar
「You stole a blue gemstone from Shunjū Ikkaku earlier, right? 」
「Yes, I stole it」
「Why did you steal it? 」
「What do you mean? 」
「Although I don’t know about him that well, he is one of the GREAT7 that founded this island, and I don’t think he is a bad guy. Nonetheless, you guys targeted him as the ((Matsuri)). Does that mean that Shunjū Ikkaku is a bad guy? 」
「……No, as far as I can tell, Shunjū Ikkaku is not a bad guy」
「Then, why did you steal from him? 」
「…… 」
「Wasn’t the core principle of the ((Matsuri)) to only steal from bad guys? But in fact, you did not keep to your principles. In the end it is just a mere excuse, that you are helping others. I am quite disappointed in the ((Matsuri)). In the end, you guys are just robbers who enjoy stealing. ((Matsuri)) is really just a disgusting bunch of bastards」
I was dumbfounded at what suddenly happened next. When I noticed that my cheeks hurt, and that I was slapped, she already grabbed my collar.
「Since I am not going to talk to you ever again, I shall reply your question」
Ms. Yukihime, while looking down on me, said with a voice shivering in anger.
「It is because I believe in it」
Saying this, she dragged me to the entrance and kicked me out of the café.
While I rolled on the ground, the door slammed in front of me. As if to escape the gaze of the passersby, I stood up and hurriedly entered the alley nearby.
Then, I held my head and sat down there.
「Hm? Why did I say that? I am such a bastard……. I am just so trash. Ms. Yukihime definitely hates me now. Actually, was my reply not enough? Then what should I have said? Was I wrong? What did I get wrong? 」
As I calmed down, I felt more and more regret about the conversation just now.
Even though I thought about it for about an hour, in the end I could not fathom what I should have said and what I should not have said.
Someone, please tell me what I should have done.
Well, there is no use thinking about it now.
I won’t be able to return to the past. I can’t do it all over again anyway.
In the end, what remained was just the result, full of mistakes.
「……Argh」
I don’t care about how I am not in good terms with the ((Matsuri)). I don’t mind if I don’t get the money anymore. But to be frank, I was quite sad that my friendship with Ms. Yukihime was hopeless now.
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