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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 10 Chapter 3.3

「That’s right.」

「The only way to stop that is for Ageha-dono to become the only student council president in history to lead the First High School to consecutive school festival wins.」

Ageha gave a wry smile at her words, which were mixed with speculation.

「That’s right. I was officially commissioned by the current First High School Student Council just now. I literally have no choice but to win. And if I were to lose, my reputation would be ruined.」

「So, for Yaichi Tokoro, this would be the ultimate revenge against the person who beat him last year.」

「That scenario is just too perfect. It’s like someone orchestrated it.」

「In that case, there’s no problem in forgetting about this molestation incident. Once the school festival is over, the suspicion will be cleared.」

Ageha smiled fearlessly at Tensai and tossed the documents aside.

「That seems to be the case.」

「But wouldn’t it be a good idea to decline, considering the possibility that you might lose?」

When Tensai asked this, Ageha looked puzzled and asked, 「Well, there’s no way I’d lose.」

A firm statement that left absolutely no room for doubt. That’s Ageha Kachou.

「So? Putting everything together, it seems that you have suspected Dokoro Yaichi from the beginning and intend for me to find evidence of his crimes.」

「That’s correct. You’ve saved me the trouble of having to explain it all myself.」

「I’m a kind kohai, after all.」

「Thanks for that, but I have one condition.」

「Condition?」

「I want everything to be made public after the school festival is over and I’ve won.」

In other words, Ageha Kachou was implicitly saying that she would expose all of the misdeeds of the coward who challenged her like that. All of this after making him suffer a shameful defeat. This is what Tensai would expect from this Ojousama.

「Excuse me for asking, but why are you entrusting this matter to me?」

「Is there a problem?」

「No, it’s nothing.」

「Then I WILL leave it to you.」

As Ageha finished, Tensai crossed her arms and thought for a moment.

「What’s wrong, Little Mouse?」

「I’ll do what I can. But please don’t expect the results you want.」

Tensai’s words must have been so unexpected that Ageha was genuinely surprised.

「Oh, you seem quite timid.」

「To me, that’s the kind of man Dokuro Yaichi is.」

「Do you know him?」

「Well, kind of.」

Tokuro Yaichi is one of the four children adopted by Shunjuu Ikkaku. Tensai has never acknowledged Yaichi as her step brother, and she despises him from the bottom of her heart as a person.

However, that doesn’t mean she’s underestimating him.

「Ageha-dono. Yaichi will do whatever it takes.」

「I know. I beat him to a pulp last year.」

「That’s true. But if that’s the case, you’d better be even more careful this year. He’ll never forgive anyone who has looked down on him even once.」

「He’s a small man, isn’t he?」

「Yeah, that’s true. But that doesn’t mean he’s incompetent.」

At Tensai’s unusual advice, Ageha nodded and said, 「I’ll keep that in mind.」

「That’s right, Little Mouse. While I’m at it, there is one more thing I want to ask you.」

「I’m not a handyman.」

「I know. You’re a great detective, aren’t you?」

「Hmmm, what is it you want?」

Tensai is very arrogant, and Ageha Kachou boasts about being good at using people. She says, 「There’s someone I’d like to introduce to you.」

3

「Noooooo!」, Ageha screamed in front of Tensai.

The Ojousama, who had been manipulating Tensai until just a moment ago, now had a grim expression on her face.

The location was Nanaejima Central Hospital. It’s a large hospital known among students as the nurse uniform hospital, but the facilities and the doctors’ skills are first-rate. In one of the hospital rooms there a dangerous-looking one-eyed woman in a black nurse uniform was sitting on a bed, and a cute girl was sitting on her lap, smiling. The cute girl had beautiful black hair and fair skin. Looking more closely, she seemed to resemble Ageha in some ways. Incidentally, Tensai felt that the black nurse in question was very familiar. After all, they had only just met the other day.

「Ageha-dono, I don’t want to be introduced as a dangerous woman.」

「No! I wanted to introduce her to you… Ugh, what are you doing, Sansa-san?」, a screaming Ageha asked, and the nurse in black grinned.

「It’s a get-well gift.」

「Why are you holding Hinako?」

「Because she likes this, don’t you Hinako?」

「Yeah.」

The two of them nodded at each other as if they were very close friends, and Ageha held her head in her hands.

「Ahh, Hinako. My Hineko is being defiled!」

「That is rude of your big sister. Right, Hinako?」

「Yeah, Sansa-onechan.」

Hinako smiled and snuggled up to Sansa. Ageha was completely broken, crying and clutching her head.

「Always? W..what do you mean always? How are you always with Hinako without my knowledge?!」

Ageha clutches her head at incoherent words.

「Onesan, are you okay? You’ve been acting a little weird today.」

Suddenly, Ageha collapses to her knees.

「Hinako told me I was… weird. I can’t take it. I can’t live anymore.」

Ignoring the affectionate exchange between the sisters, the black nurse looked at Tensai and grinned.

「Hey, Great Detective. It’s been a while.」

「Are you sure, Sansa-dono? Want to get out of Tsukuyomi-gai?」

「Well, the other day, the Great Detective forced me to go out, and after enjoying my freedom, I couldn’t stop myself.」

「I didn’t take her out or anything. In fact, she was the one who took me.」

[insert picture]

In any case, Tensai thought that once people have had a taste of crime, they will turn to crime again.

Sansa laughs at Ageha, glaring at her like a vengeful spirit.

「Don’t glare at me with those scary eyes. I’ve just come to give you a present.」

It’s a nasty stuffed rabbit.

「Such a filthy thing… If something were to happen to Hinako…」

「Thank you, Sansa. I’m so happy.」

「Take good care of it.」

Sansa pats Hinako’s head once and then sets her down on the bed.

「Are you leaving already?」

Sansa grins at Hinako’s sad expression.

「I’ll come again if you’re well behaved.」

Sansa sashays out of the room.

On the other hand.

「Hinako, let’s disinfect that filthy stuffed animal.」

Ageha was completely broken.

***************************************************************

「She’s my little sister.」

Having left Hinako’s hotel room and regained her composure, Ageha spoke as if her earlier embarrassment had never occurred.

「I see.」

Then Ageha told Tensai about Hinako. About her illness. About how she was abandoned by her parents. About why she was searching for the Nanana collection.

「She’s the only family I have. I’ll protect her no matter what.」

「Why is Sansa Kurosu involved?」

「I made a deal. She’d find a way to save Hinako, and I’d give her a Nanana collection if I could find it.」

「I see.」

「I’d like to ask the same of you Little Mouse.」

「Me too?」

「Yeah.」

「Are you asking everyone?」

「Not at all. The only people I’ve talked to this about, are you, Sansa-san… and Yama.」

「I see. So that’s what Juugo meant when he said he’d cooperate with Ageha-dono during the third stage of the <<game>> the other day.」

「That’s it.」

「Why did you tell me?」

「Because I thought maybe you could find an answer that I couldn’t.」

「Why do you think that?」

Seeing Tensai narrow her eyes, Ageha chuckled.

「Don’t get all suspicious. I simply accept you Little Mouse.」

「…Did you eat something bad, Ageha-dono?」

「Just accept it honestly.」

「If you ask me, I’m a little dissatisfied with being trusted on the same level as Sansa Kurosu or Juugo.」

「Well, that’s true. Those two are bad people> But Yama is at least a man of integrity.」

「What about Sansa Kurosu?」

「……..」

「Why are you staring off into the distance and remaining silent?」

「She lies and deceives people. But somehow, I can’t help but want to believe in her.」

「Aren’t you being deceived then?」

「Maybe. But at least she’s fair.」

「Fair?」

「The thing about her that he openly claims to be a liar.」

A truly dishonest person wouldn’t go out of her way to spread the word that she is a conman.

Tensai could somewhat understand Ageha’s feelings. There must be something about Sansa Kurosu that makes her an appealing person.

「I think I understand a little bit more about why Ageha-dono was interested in Juugo.」

「Oh, so you think I’m in love with Yama?」

「I wouldn’t go that far. But I’m sure he’s interested.

「Well I made him my servant. That much is true.」

「Maybe you are drawn to bad people, Ageha-dono. It makes sense. An Ojousama raised in a rich household falling for a bad boy.」

It’s a story that D’arc would probably love to read.

Ageha was annoyed for a moment when Tensai gave her a mischievous smile, but she quickly relaxed her lips.

「So what do you think of Sansa-san, Little Mouse?」

「She’s just a bad person. I don’t have much interest in her.」

「I see. Then you’re even more evil.」

「Huh? Why?」

「I mean, you’re the one that’s crazy about Yama.」

「…….」

「What’s wrong Little Mouse?」

「…No way! What on earth are you basing such a nonsensical thing on? First of all, Juugo and I are rivals, so…」

Tensai’s face was red with rage as she shouted.

Seeing Tensai like that, Ageha muttered, 「I guess that’s what girls who fall for bad boys are like.」

「Ae you trying to piss me off?」

「Oh, I’m just stating the truth.」

「Grrrrr」, Tensai growls.

In any case, Tensai also recognized in her heart that this Ojousama was someone worthy of her respect. There was something about Ageha coming to her for advice that made Tensai happy.

So Tensai asked, 「Hey, Ageha-dono. What exactly does family mean?」

「What’s this all of a sudden?」

「Well… I was just thinking.」

Hearing this, Ageha opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it again. Tensai realized that Ageha was about to say ‘Why are you asking such an obvious question?’ but stopped herself.

Facing Tensai, Ageha began to speak again.

「It’s difficult. I’ve given up on my parents. I don’t mind being looked down upon and called foolish. I don’t think my thoughts or choices are wrong. That’s why I consider Hinako my only family.」

「Then how do you feel about your sister?」

Ageha was silent for a moment, then answered with a gentle expression.

「I want to be with her forever, I guess.」

「Forever?」

「I imagine seeing her happy and running around when she’s healthy again, and I want her to be by my side all the time. So, yeah… how can I put it?」

Ageha thought about this for a while, then gave a wry smile.

「I’m sorry. I can’t explain it well. Maybe I don’t fully understand it either.」

「No, that’s not true. I think you understand it well Ageha-dono.」

Tensai smiles. And then she thinks. For Ageha, that feeling is so natural that she can’t quite put it into words. When there isn’t a reason for her to think about it, she hasn’t had to put it into words before. Perhaps being with who makes you feel that way is what family is.

***************************************

Hinako sat in her hospital bed, hugging the rabbit doll.

「Nice to meet you, Bunny.」

「Hahahaha.」

A strange voice comes from the rabbit doll.

***********************************************

After leaving the hospital, the nurse in black sits in the passenger seat of a bright red convertible driven by her subordinate, smoking a cigarette and watching the sunset.

「By the way, you’re looking great in that get-up Anego.」

「It’s cool, isn’t it?」

The subordinate driving the car thought to himself, ‘she’s amazing’, as she spoke so confidently.

「By the way, have you noticed?」

「Noticed what?」

「There was some strange people hanging around the hospital.」

「No… I didn’t think much about that.」

「You still have a lot to learn.」

Sansa sneered fearlessly.

「It seems like that Ojousama has a lot of enemies.」