I had gradually grown accustomed to the dance lessons with Tennoji-san.
Ballroom dancing requires a man and woman to keep their bodies in close contact. At first, I felt like a total embarrassment, but as I watched Tennoji-san’s focused intensity, any lingering impure thoughts within me quickly vanished.
"That will be all for today."
With those words, Tennoji-san lightly wiped away her sweat.
Looking at the clock, I realized we had only been practicing for an hour.
"That’s earlier than usual."
"Yes. Honestly, I would like to continue a little longer, but... I have an appointment today."
"An appointment?"
When I asked, Tennoji-san’s expression clouded over for some reason.
"...It is regarding the marriage arrangement I mentioned before. Today, I am to meet the other party face-to-face."
Even as she told me this, the shadow on Tennoji-san’s face remained.
"Um... Tennoji-san, do you have some reservations about this arrangement?"
"Whatever makes you think that?"
"You just didn't seem very enthusiastic about it."
Until now, I had planned to support her, assuming she was eager for it. While she had shown signs of anxiety once before, I recalled it being mere hesitation toward the unknown experience of a marriage arrangement, not an attitude suggesting she was truly troubled by the arrangement itself.
However, I might have been wrong.
Once more, I tried to gauge Tennoji-san’s true feelings.
"You need not worry; I am viewing the marriage arrangement positively," she said, offering a smile that seemed to mask the truth. "Besides... given my position, I must accept it."
"Your position...?"
"Yes. Since we are here, I shall tell you, Tomonari-san."
Tennoji-san looked at me with a formal air.
"I am... adopted."
I widened my eyes at the revelation. Tennoji-san continued calmly.
"I say adopted, but I was taken in by the Tennoji family as an infant, so it doesn't feel entirely real to me... regardless, I am not the biological daughter of the Tennoji family."
With a trace of indebtedness in her eyes, Tennoji-san went on.
"Both Father and Mother treat me like their own flesh and blood. However, it remains an undeniable fact that the blood of the Tennoji family does not flow through me. Because of that, I must strive all the more to act in a manner befitting a daughter of this house. Since I did not inherit the blood, I must at least inherit the achievements. This is my duty."
Managing to wrap my head around the confusion, I organized Tennoji-san’s story. In short, because she was an adoptee, she felt she could never betray the expectations of the Tennoji family. To her, this was her ultimate obligation.
"W-Wait a minute."
As I processed this, the foundation of my assumptions began to crumble.
"Don't tell me, Tennoji-san... you only entered this engagement out of duty?"
At that question, Tennoji-san gave a thin smile and a nod.
"Yes. But this is a common story for people of our class."
That might be true, but...
Was that really okay? Could she truly leave it at that?
Hinako was the first person who came to mind. Doing exactly what your parents say doesn't necessarily lead to happiness. I understood that well through my time with her.
However, Tennoji-san herself was currently accepting her circumstances. An outsider shouldn't interfere. Even though I knew that, it still weighed on me.
"My case is a little special... but you, of all people, can understand, right?"
"Eh...?"
"After all, you are also an adoptee, aren't you?"
The sudden words left me frozen, mouth slightly agape.
"Do you remember what I said during the study session with Konohana-san and the others?"
Then, I remembered. During a break in that session, Tennoji-san had asked me if I was truly the son and successor of a middle-market company.
"If I recall, you said my etiquette was a rush job and that I hadn't been raised as a successor."
"Yes. At that point, I had already guessed your status. I believed you were... like me, someone trying to fulfill a heavy responsibility to protect a family name."
It seemed she had concluded I was an adoptee based on that.
But—unfortunately, she was wrong.
She was right up to a point; I was indeed trying to fulfill a responsibility to protect a family name. However, the name I was protecting was the Konohana family's. I wasn't an adoptee; I was just a servant they employed.
I couldn't explain this to Tennoji-san. It would violate my contract with the Konohana family. I wasn't the smartest guy in the world, but even I could imagine the massive amount of trouble I would cause if I revealed my true identity here.
"...Please keep this confidential."
"Of course. Hehe... as I thought, my eyes did not deceive me."
Tennoji-san wore a pleasant, knowing smile.
A sharp throb of pain hit my chest. It was the guilt I had been pretending not to feel all this time.
"Itsuki?"
I had been back at the Konohana manor for some time. Hinako called out to me curiously when she noticed I had stopped eating.
"O-Oh, sorry. What were we talking about?"
"The part where... I want to skip the Academy tomorrow..."
"I think that's a hard no. Also, I’m pretty sure we weren't talking about that."
Hinako played it off with a cute "Tehe~" face.
Ah, right. We had been talking about our studies. Since we both made sure to stay on top of our prep and review, we had a lot to bond over, even if our grades were on different levels.
"Itsuki... I want to eat this next..."
"You can eat that yourself."
"...I can't."
Knowing it would be pointless to point out the lie, I sighed a "Fine, fine," and fed her a piece of the pork sauté.
While Hinako chewed happily, I took a bite myself. It was delicious. The mustard-infused cream sauce gave it a wonderfully smooth texture.
"Come to think of it, Hinako, when do you find time to study at the manor?"
"After the Academy and before dinner. Sometimes I’m made to do it afterward, too..."
The way she said "made to do it" was classic Hinako.
"If you're doing it at night, too... you’re studying for a long time."
"It's not just the school stuff. I have to know the Konohana Group's performance so I can keep up with conversations at dinner parties... and if I have to show my face at meetings, I have to prep what to say beforehand..."
Thinking about it, while Hinako and I lived in the same manor, we weren't always together. During the hours between school and dinner, I was usually training with Ms. Shizune or Tennoji-san. Hinako must have been diligently working on her own studies during that time.
Tennoji-san wasn't the only one carrying the weight of a family on her shoulders. Hinako worked for her family every single day—
"...Does that kind of thing ever make you feel bad?"
I voiced the question almost unconsciously and immediately regretted it. Even though I knew her struggles, I had made it sound like someone else's problem.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it to sound like I was pitying you. I just... I was curious how you, as a lady of the Konohana family, deal with your duties."
Hinako let out a thoughtful "Hmm."
"Studying is... usually... a total pain."
Well, that much was obvious.
"But... I don't like it when people are sad because of me, either... so sometimes, I think I have to work hard. Even if the family stuff feels stifling sometimes."
I see. So Hinako also felt the weight of her environment. It was only natural, considering she sometimes worked herself into a fever. But hearing it from her own mouth for the first time made me realize the gravity of that fact anew.
"That's why... when Itsuki came to save me, I was really happy..." Hinako said with a warm smile. "Because I realized... my world isn't just the Konohana family..."
She wore a smile so beautiful it drew the eye more than a shooting star. But as I looked at her, another girl’s face crossed my mind.
Tennoji-san had said that marriage arrangements were a common story for people of her class.
Does she... know a world outside the Tennoji family?
That day, Mirei met with her suitor for a face-to-face dinner.
The meeting took place at the Tennoji manor where Mirei lived. Most people visiting for the first time were intimidated by the place, but the young man showed no such signs.
His mannerisms were befitting of the upper class, and his speech was refined and educated. Mirei understood why her parents had chosen him.
However, even so... Mirei’s heart did not clear.
"Well then, let us call it a night."
Mirei’s mother, Hanami, announced the end of the dinner party. The suitor and his mother gave one last polite greeting before departing.
"Mirei, good work today~"
"Yes... thank you, Mother."
After giving instructions to the maids regarding the cleanup, Hanami turned to her daughter.
"How was he~? From what I saw, the conversation seemed quite lively~?"
"He was fine. An intelligent and capable man, I think."
Mirei recalled the man who had been sitting across from her.
"He was well-groomed, and his etiquette was flawless. He certainly seems like the successor of a major corporation. He is exactly the kind of partner I would expect from you and Father."
"Well, we only want you to be happy, Mirei~" Hanami said with a gentle smile.
"But... he is so sensible, so refined and reliable..."
"My, what's wrong with that~?"
"It's not that anything is wrong, but... when someone is so perfect, there is nothing for me to teach him. He would never do anything that would make me worry..."
"...And what's wrong with that~?"
Her mother was genuinely bewildered. Mirei herself felt the same confusion. What was she even saying? A complex expression played across her face.
"By the way, how did he compare to Tomonari-san~?"
"W-Why bring him up?"
"Oh~? I was just curious, no ulterior motive~"
Her attitude suggested nothing but ulterior motives. What a troublesome mother, Mirei thought with a sigh.
"Naturally, compared to the successor of a major corporation, there is a world of difference. Tomonari-san still has many unrefined qualities... I have a mountain of things to teach him. If he were at a dinner like this, I’d be constantly worrying about him."
"My, my, just as I thought~"
Mirei didn't quite understand what her mother was implying, so she chose to ignore it.
"Come to think of it, I've never asked... what does Tomonari-san's family actually do?"
"I believe it was an IT company under the Konohana Group. I haven't heard the specific company name yet."
Mirei realized she had never actually had that conversation with Itsuki. Usually, among Kikou Academy students, such topics came up within the first week—not for the sake of ranking each other, but out of simple curiosity.
(In Tomonari-san's case... it just means there are so many other interesting things about him.)
For better or worse, there was never a shortage of topics with Itsuki, leaving no time for talk of family backgrounds. For Mirei, that was a fresh and comfortable experience.
"An IT company, I see. But for a successor, he's quite down-to-earth... a very friendly person~" Hanami said, resting her hand on her cheek.
Even for a middle-market company, Itsuki was still a successor. Yet he was undeniably down-to-earth.
Mirei knew the reason. She knew she should keep it a secret, but her mother seemed to like Itsuki quite a bit. Thinking it wouldn't cause any harm, Mirei decided to speak up.
"...Just between us, he is an adoptee, like me. So it's no wonder he's down-to-earth."
Mirei expected her mother to show understanding, as she herself was adopted. Instead, her mother’s expression became unusually serious.
"Hey, Mirei. Does that mean... they adopted Tomonari-san because they needed a successor~?"
"Yes... that should be the case."
Mirei answered, puzzled by the sudden shift in tone.
"That's strange~? I've never heard of an IT company in the Konohana Group that was having trouble finding a successor~..."
"...Eh?"
Monday morning, three days after Tennoji-san’s dinner meeting.
As usual, I was heading to the Academy with Hinako.
"Itsuki..."
"What is it, Hinako?"
"How are... the study sessions with Tennoji-san going?"
Hinako asked as we walked through the morning sunlight toward the gate.
"They're going well. My grades should definitely improve... and spending time with someone like Tennoji-san has given me more confidence in social situations."
Tennoji-san had a unique aura, but she was a model upper-class student. Getting used to her had made it easier for me to handle interactions with other high-society types. I felt like I’d be able to hold my own much better at the next social event.
"Tennoji-san’s studies seem to be going well, too... you might actually lose to her in the next proficiency exam, Hinako."
"...Mu."
Hinako let out a small, displeased sound, though she was still too sleepy to mount a real argument.
"Idle talk is fine, but please keep moving, both of you."
"Sorry."
I picked up the pace toward the car. As we approached the black sedan, the driver gave a solemn bow. I gave a light nod back.
In that moment, Ms. Shizune’s eyes sharpened as she glared into the distance—
"—An intruder!!"
"Eh!?"
I jumped as Ms. Shizune suddenly pointed toward the edge of the estate.
The Konohana security team rushed to the spot immediately. A minute later, one of the guards returned to Ms. Shizune and reported that there were no abnormalities.
"...Was it just my imagination?" Ms. Shizune muttered, looking unconvinced. "My apologies. I felt a gaze."
"I-I see..."
I never thought I would hear the word "intruder" used in a serious context in modern Japan.
"But it's strange. My intuition is usually correct..." Ms. Shizune murmured. "...If it wasn't my imagination, then they are quite skilled."
I swallowed hard at her ominous words. What exactly was I getting caught up in?
I stepped out of the car and headed into the Academy building.
"Tomonari-san."
As I was changing my shoes at the lockers, Tennoji-san called out to me.
"Tennoji-san, good morning."
"Yes, good morning."
It was rare to run into her here. I looked over and noticed she had a very serious expression.
"Tomonari-san. I shall ask you point-blank. Are you lying to me about anything?"
The question felt like a physical shock to my heart. I was shaken, but I forced myself not to show it.
There were two lies I was telling her. One was my false status at the Academy, and the other was my true relationship with the Konohana family. Neither could ever be revealed.
"...No. Nothing comes to mind."
"...I see."
Tennoji-san nodded, a look of slight disappointment crossing her face.
"I understand. My apologies for asking something so strange."
"N-No. It's fine, but..."
Why the sudden question? I was dying to know, but I felt that prying would only make things worse.
"Ah, also, today's lesson will be canceled. An urgent matter has arisen."
"Understood....Is it about the marriage arrangement again?"
"No, not this time."
With a fire in her eyes that looked like suppressed anger, Tennoji-san spoke.
"It is something much more important than that."
After school that day, I opened my locker and found something completely unexpected.
Resting inside was a single envelope. On the front, written in masterful calligraphy, were three words:
—Letter of Challenge.