Reiko’s Manners – She’s Referred To As A Villainess, But Actually She’s Just Penniless - Main Story 57
Main Story 57
“Reiko-chan, I’m sorry, so sorry. I’m sorry that I could not stop Tooru-san from turning that way.”
I shake my head.
“There is no such thing. Landlady, thank you so much for being kind to me.”
Through the landlady and Lawyer Tamaru, I came to know of Fuki-san’s terrifying side. Aside from feeling a lot of rage over it, I feel sad beyond measure. The sadness consumed me.
Lawyer Tamaru tells us that he has regained some presence of mind now that he’s reformed the way he dresses. As such, he has dug around to find out whether everything my father had said were true. And as a result, he found out that Mari-sama had nothing to do with the treatment the landlady received. I wish he had commanded these impressive detective skills of his when I was still a baby. Lawyer Tamaru also went on to find out whether my father was behind the debt his parents had, and found that they were not. Father was only looking for some young forces to use as his own puppet, and he happened to find Lawyer Tamaru at just the right time.
Behind him, Mossad Tanaka-san looks as if his soul has left his body. In his case, not only was he used by my father as he pleased, but the ideals he held, which he was willing to throw his life away for, has been made fun of.
I say my goodbyes to the landlady and leave.
It was already dark outside when Comrade Yoshio and I made it back to Ichijou General Hospital.
“Thank you for today. I declared earlier that I will be going to see Fuki-san after my discharge tomorrow, but I will push the date back. Tomorrow, I will go directly to the dormitory apartment.”
With how I am right now, I cannot meet Fuki-san. I know that Comrade Yoshio is worrying about me, but I just want to be alone as soon as possible.
Once I am alone in the hospital room, the tears started flowing and will not stop. Right now, even if I were to read Kamui or Barefoot Gen, this sadness will not go away.
You cannot help it when you feel sad. Fuki-san was not normal. And I was hated by her. She said that I disgust her.
Pulling my blanket over my head, I continue crying.
I seem to have fallen asleep from the fatigue of continuous crying. When I came to, it was already morning. It is the day of my discharge.
I’m just being discharged from the hospital, but not only Comrade Yoshio, but Sara-chan, Sou-kun, Hongou Takeru-sama and Youko-sama were also there. Madenojouki-sama, Katsuragi-sama, even Shiroyama-sama also came.
They were all shocked when they saw my face. I looked in the mirror and therefore am also aware of it, but my eyes were largely swollen. I had cried too much.
When I was a child, even if something unpleasant happened, I had only to go to sleep for the night and would wake up having forgotten it all.
With the atmosphere as if that in a funeral, I got discharged. Although I do feel sorry towards all those who had come to see me, I just could not do it. I could not act merry.
Comrade Yoshio took me to my new abode. I would have wanted to have Sara-chan come with me too, but for now, I just want to be alone.
The dormitory apartment was close to the hospital, and riding the car, we soon arrived. With Comrade Yoshio pushing my wheelchair, we enter the building. After receiving short explanations about receiving packages and where the mailbox is from the concierge lady, we went to my room.
The room was a one bedroom apartment, around 19.4 m2 in size. The furniture inside came with the apartment, but stuff made out of fabric, such as the window curtain and the bed cover, were prepared by Sara-chan. They were all flower patterns from Sanderson. Lovely without being too much.
I take a seat on the sofa and ask Comrade Yoshio to let me be alone. Though he appears to not want to leave me by myself, he reluctantly conceded and left the room.
Still sitting on the sofa, I start to cry again.
I feel sad. Hitherto, I have always thought that in comparison to Kamui from Kamui, or Musubi from Barefoot Gen, I can still be happy. But no, it was not so.
I cannot help it when I feel sad or hurt. For the first time, I have realized that it is not a race to compare.
While I am still crying, my cell phone rings. It’s from Sara-chan. It says that she is at the building’s entrance. With the help of a cane, I walk towards the interphone and release the auto-lock on the door. When I open my room’s door to greet Sara-chan, who has come up here, I find that not only Sara-chan, but Sou-kun, Madenokouji-sama, Katsuragi-sama, and even Shiroyama-sama were all there.
For the time being, I let them in. I apologize to them for not being able to serve them as guests well due to my current immobility, but Sara-chan scolds me instead.
“Do you think I would let an injured person do such things? I have prepared for this visit.”
She proceeds to take out bottles of drinks, 10 of those 500 ml bottles. I chose the coca cola and Sara-chan pours some into a cup for me. Since I never had the opportunity to purchase drinks such as these, I almost never drink carbonated beverages. But I do think coca cola taste good and like them. They have bubbles, they’re sweet, and gives you a little kick. I think it’s a perfect drink.
“It’s nice to have these when going to a friend’s house, is it not? That’s what Kimoto-san said. And there will not be dishes to be done after. I will go pick some pizza up later. Ufufu, it’s to celebrate your discharge! … Though it may be a bit forceful of us, we figured we should do this, since you are very much not used to being spoiled.”
Sara-chan gives me a tight hug. A pleasant fragrant encompasses me. Sara-chan is kind. Let’s accept her kindness from now on. I, weakened as I am, seek Sara-chan’s help.
“Sara-chan, will you listen? To what happened yesterday.”
Slowly, I began to talk. There are times in the middle that they would get enraged and that scared me a little, but I was able to tell them everything until the end.
The first person to say something after I was done was Katsuragi-sama.
“Ok, Rei-chan! No need to worry. No need to be anxious! I’ll take good care of you. We can’t change the past. But I will be here for you, now and in the future too!”
“Wait, what are you saying?! Are you in your right mind? No matter how you look at it, you are hated by Rei-chan!” (Sara)
“Yeah, that’s right. Katsuragi-san, you ate Rei-chan’s Napoleon Pie, didn’t you? She still hasn’t forgiven you for that.” (Sou)
“Kujouin Reiko and I, we’re bound by our souls.”
With just one word, Shiroyama-sama silenced everyone else. I must clear things up.
“Between Shiroyama-sama and I, we have something called ‘music’ to connect us.”
Madenokouji-sama look towards me with his kind eyes.
“It is just as Kaoru said. You are not alone; and we will neither hate nor shun you.”
Once again, I burst out crying. I could not help it, being surrounded by people with such warm hearts. Sara-chan pulls me into her embrace again. Ah, how soft.
While all these were taking place, the pizza arrives. Since both the table and the sofa are made for two people, everyone else aside from Sara-chan and I sits on the floor.
While I can hardly believe it, the pizza, being too big to fit on the table, is placed down on the floor still in the box it came in!
“Eh? Is this allowed?”
“Of course!”
Katsuragi-sama answers with a smile. I see, the Arabian royal family eats while sitting on the floor too. Maybe this is okay.
Sara-chan and I eat the pizza placed on the low table. While everyone, no, I should say it is mostly Katsuragi-sama and Shiroyama-sama, are livening things up, Madenokouji-sama takes out a considerable number of DVDs.
“Now, Rei-chan. What would you like to watch?”
Everything he brought is from the Shouwa era. Everything. Among them, I chose ‘Sailor Suit and Machine Gun’, in which Yakushimaru Hiroko-san starred. One is guaranteed to feel the impact of combining two aspects so far removed from each other as the sailor suit and guns are. Aside from Madenokouji-sama, nobody has ever seen this film.
Once the film starts, I get so absorbed that I forget about the pizza. And once it was over, I can feel my face burning.
“Rei-chan, your face is bright red. What happened?” (Sara)
He is too cool. That force. That charisma.
“He is too wonderful! My heart is beating fast. My body feels hot all around.”
“Hahaha, talking about me? Rei-chan!”
“Katsuragi-sama, please lay low with your jokes. … She is referring to Sakuma Makoto-sama. She is talking about the Sakuma-sama in the movie!”
Just when they fell silent, Shiroyama-sama says with a cheerful voice:
“Yeah, he sure is cool! I’m not sure what the movie’s actually about though.”
“That is so, he is cool. The main character has it hard, has she not? With her dead father’s lover coming into her life, and having to take over her father’s yakuza gang. But Sakuma-sama, with just his existence, blows it all away! Ah, how wonderful.”
I lost myself in my feelings. Madenokouji-sama, looking as if he does not know how to break it to me, says,
“Rei-chan. Watase Tsunehiko-san, who played the role of Sakuma Makoto, has passed away. Besides, this film was made in 1981. It is not real.”
“I know that! But that does not change how wonderful he is!”
Sara-chan laughs sweetly.
“Ufufu. I think this is good for you, Rei-chan. I believe you must feel a little better now, do you not? I am in support of you.”
“Sara, are you an idiot? Support, you say. You must be an idiot.”
“Sou-kun, please do not say such a thing to Sara-chan. It is okay. I read Tsunoda Jirou-sensei’s ‘Ushiro no Hyakutarou’ while hospitalized. Even if Watase Tsunehiko-sama has passed away, I can just try necromancy! Maybe I can try to make ectoplasm come out of my mouth!”
Needless to say, I said all this as a joke. But everyone, except for Shiroyama-sama, just looks on with cold eyes.
“I hope you realize it is a joke? Please do not worry. But I have come to understand why people lose their minds over celebrities! Ufufu, I will spend the plenty of time that I have until I can take my casts off watching movies.”
As I finished saying my piece, Sou-kun starts doing something to the television. After which he teaches me how to use the newly installed remote control.
“You just need to use it like this and you can watch all kinds of films and dramas. There are lots of anime too.”
Though it is something I must pay for, I can now watch videos! I can watch all the films and anime as I please!
Evening rolls around and everyone leaves. It is time for the helper, who will help me with my bath and chores around the house, to come.
After everything is over, I start to watch some films. During this time. I was able to let go of the rage and sadness I have felt.
And by the next day, I have turned into a fan of ‘Battles Without Honor and Humanity’.