Carriers of Jade - 3

[bladeofresolve]

Location: Garden Terrace

Ritsu: ……?

Hey, Ecchan.
Did you hear something just now?

Eichi: Hm? No. What did you hear…?
……
Oh, I hear it now. It’s a cat meowing.

Ritsu: It’s getting louder and louder…it’s noisy~
Hey Ecchan, don’t you feel like cats are troublesome lately?

Eichi: “Cats are troublesome”? What does that mean? Have you been dealing with cats lately, Ritsu-kun?

Ritsu: No…it’s the cats that one-sidedly give me trouble.
I always hear cats meowing when I’m sleeping lately.
It’s not loud, but it sticks to you…before I knew it my brain was full of cat noises, and I couldn’t get rid of them no matter how I tried.
I can’t even sleep as well anymore. Uu, I hate being sleep deprived…
This never happened before. Maybe it’s because the cats around school have increased?
Sometimes I’ll find what look like cats’ muddy footprints around places where I sleep. I even have to fight my heavy eyelids as I look for somewhere else to sleep…
If it goes on like this, there might come a day where I unfortunately fall asleep on the way to finding a new bed…
And then I’ll be barbequed by the sun. That’s possible, you know?
You’re the student council president, right, Ecchan?
That’s to say you’re in charge of everyone and eeeverything in Yumenosaki.
So shouldn’t you manage the kitties and have them leave me in peace~?
If I really end up collapsed and dried out in the middle of the road, that’ll be Ecchan neglecting his duties. Neglecting your duties, you know…♪

Eichi: Mm, being asked to manage kitties really is something I’m lacking experience in.
Indeed, I hope that everyone can become outstanding idols. However, I don’t pay attention to what slackers experience.
But I also can’t turn Ritsu-kun down, even indirectly. If the cats do increase, and bring trouble to people…
Ah?

Ritsu: Ahh, the calls turned grating again…

Eichi: More shrill and forlorn than anything. Did something happen?
Ritsu-kun, can you accompany me to the garden to take a look? Always sitting around drinking tea becomes meaningless after a while, doesn’t it.

Ritsu: Okay. The sun’s about to set too, I can stand this level of sunlight for a little while ♪

Location: Garden



Eichi: The calls came from that direction, but now it’s peaceful, with nothing there.

Ritsu: Hehe, maybe they knew you were coming and got spooked, Ecchan. Ecchan’s the “black cat of cats”1 … ♪

Eichi: Where does a weird saying like “black cat of cats” come from. Am I that scary?

Yuzuru: ……

Eichi: Oh, Yuzuru?

Yuzuru: ……

Eichi: Ah, so the cats are here, and there’s two of them too ♪
Oh, they ran away.
Yuzuru, are you interested in cats? Your eyes have gone all focused.

Yuzuru: …Kaichou-sama. My sincere apologies.
I was so caught up in the moment, I hadn’t even noticed your arrival. I truly am sorry.
If Young Master were here, he’d likely punish me severely. But even if it were so, I would not have an excuse…there really is nothing to be said.
I can only apologize again. I truly am sorry, Kaichou-sama. Please forgive Fushimi Yuzuru’s rudeness.

Eichi: Yuzuru.
You have nothing to apologize for, you know? I’m not even angry.

Yuzuru: Yes…

Eichi: Mm. Why is it that when it's just you and I interacting alone, there always seems to be some distance.
There’s no need to mention Tori, but even in front of Wataru, your reactions seem to be livelier than now?
Though it hasn’t been long since you transferred to Yumenosaki I’ve accepted you into fine, which means I acknowledge your abilities and character.
Now we are both comrades that belong to fine. How can there be distance between comrades?
Should I consider carrying out some stronger measures? For the sake of fine, and for the sake of deepening my relationship with Yuzuru ♪

Ritsu: Haa~…
The more you chase after him with questions, the more you’ll make him feel like he was rude…just now, you did badly too, Ecchan ♪

Yuzuru: Hoho, thank you for your rescue2, Sakuma-sama.
I understand your thoughts, Kaichou-sama, but I am first and foremost a servant of the Himemiya family.
The Himemiya family’s standards and etiquette have already become one with my flesh and blood, and I am unable to act against them.
What kind of measures will you carry out, Kaichou-sama…I feel quite a bit perturbed hearing you say that.
When the time comes, I would be grateful if you didn’t force me too much ♪

———

¹: 貓見愁 =  likely a pun on 鬼見愁, meaning someone so vicious and terrifying that even ghosts fear them. Ritsu replaces the first character (ghost) for cat. I know my localized pun isn’t even close, so here’s the explanation.
2: 解圍 = to be rescued when one is surrounded by enemy troops, specifically.

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