3 bar menu

Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 9 Chapter 2.5

「That’s something a villain would think of.」

「That’s better than a hero making excuses… And actually, I don’t try and change the subject.」

He glared at me, so I opened my mouth to say ‘I will’.

「…..」

But for some reason I can’t say it.

「Juugo?」

I’ll answer honestly. You should answer sincerity with sincerity, especially when it comes to questions like this.

Hearing my answer, Ishbal burst out laughing happily.

「I’m relieved to hear that. At least I know that you are sincere about this, Juugo.」

「That’s not true.」

「I don’t believe in giving my sister to someone who says ‘yes’ to a girl he’s not even in love with. So if you are up for it, Juugo, I’ll give you my blessing.」

「Ishbal.」

「When that happens, leave Yukihime to me.」

Once again, he’s a little too honest about his intentions.

「You’re the worst.」

After changing trains, I finally arrived at the station nearest to my parents’ house.

As I left the platform, I said to Ishbal, 「I have to make a little detour, so I’m sorry, but you’ll have to go home by yourself.」

「Come on, not only did you not let me into the limousine that was supposed to pick me up, but you left m out here by myself, what kind of hospitality is that?」

「It’s not like it’s a town you’re unfamiliar with, is it?」

「Yeah, I guess.」

Ishbal stayed with us as a foreign exchange student when he was in elementary school, so he knows this area very well.

「That’s why I’ll see you later.」

「Jeez… I get it. I’ll just head to the Yama house at some point, so don’t worry about it.」

Thank you for your consideration, friend.

4

After parting ways with Ishbal, I wandered around town. It wasn’t that I had any particular plans to go anywhere. I just wanted to be alone for a bit to think.

No matter how you look at it, there’s no doubt that this marriage talk is strange. There’s some ulterior motive behind it all. Which makes me curious as to what it is. Why on earth would the Korunald family want to form a blood relationship with me… or rather, with the Yama family? There’s no doubt that Jurus is behind this.

Well, at this point I don’t really care what Jurus’s goal is. What I’m most concerned about is Ulysses.

This is what they call a political marriage. I don’t feel good about a girl being used for something like that.

What does Ulysses think about this? Dammit.

This is all speculation though. I don’t have any solid information.

And then…

「My dad’s going to do something about it anyway.」

This isn’t about me, it’s about the Yama family, or rather <<Matsuri>>. This time I just happened to be dragged into it.

Apart from that, I’m also curious about what Ishbal mentioned earlier. The people being robbed of their Nanana collection items. Something is clearly happening on Nanaejima.

As I was walking and thinking about this, I came across the riverbed near my house. The riverbed here is wide and has long been a great place for children to play.

「How nostalgic」, I blurted out as I looked at the scenery before me. A scenery I’ve known for a long time. A place that hasn’t changed in all the time. The exact same scenery as before I went to Nanaejima.

Looking at the scenery, I thought to myself, 「What am I doing?」

Leaving Nanaejima, training under the boss, and then suddenly being confused by the news of marriage.

「I can trust that you will give your future to Ulysses.」

Ishbal’s words weigh heavily on me.

All sorts of thoughts run through my head. But in the end, the one that comes through most clear is, Nanana-chan’s smile.

「You seem to be worried even in the evening, Young Master.」

I was startled by a sudden voice. Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw a young woman in overalls standing in a corner of the grass, running a brush across a white canvas. She had a lively, bright smile, and long, neatly tied hair. The top part of her jumpsuit was off, with the sleeves rolled up around her waist. For her top she was wearing white dry-fit shirt with various colors of paint stained on them.

What an incredible style. I could look at her forever. …That’s beside the point though.

「Um, who are you?」

「I wish you wouldn’t look at me like a murderer glaring at his prey.」

「I don’t mean to look like that.」

「Don’t worry. I’m just a passing artist, Juugo Yama.」

I narrow my eyes without thinking.

「Don’t be so wary. I’m related to you.」

The older sister type girl shakes her hips to show off the key that was hanging from the keychain attached there.

There was a silver emblem with the character <<iki>> on it. It is a sign of someone who knows about <<Matsuri>> and supports them from behind the scenes.

…Well, I’m not a big fan of it, but it wasn’t something I came up with. It was my ancestor who started it, so please forgive me.

But it’s also proof. My father, the current head of <<Matsuri>> will only give it to people he trusts. Incidentally, Yukihime was able to borrow the helicopter because of such a <<iki>> member.

「Well, well…. A lot of things happened, and I came back recently.」

「Oh, I see」, the woman in the jumpsuit pokes her chin with the back of the brush she is holding.

「I’ve been watching you for a while now, and it seems like you’re worried about something. If you don’t mind, I think it would be a good idea to talk to a girl you just happened to come across about it.」

She suggests this, and I stare at her face.

「What’s the matter?」

「No, nothing.」

I think for a moment, and then I say, 「OK then.」, and decide to take her up on her offer.

「A while ago, I met a wonderful girl. She’s not just cute, but has a wonderful heart and way of thinking… I mean, she’s just a really cute girl… Anyway, I’ve been trying to do a bit of work for her, in a lot of different ways. I’ve always thought it was stupid to try hard for someone else’s sake, but I threw away those silly thoughts and wanted to do something for her… But then one day, I realized that it wasn’t for her sake, it was for my own sake.」

I can’t help but laugh. A dry laugh.

「Then, the next thing I knew, I was on a ferry leaving the island, and five minutes had passed since we’d left port. I thought, ‘Dammit! What am I doing!?’ and frantically tried to swim back, but a passing sailor mistook me for trying to commit suicide. I was immediately taken to the captain’s quarters and given a lengthy lecture, and by the time I got they were done we’d already reached the mainland. Anyway, I thought if I didn’t hurry back, the pudding would go bad….」

「What were you thinking?」

「I just couldn’t go home.」

In front of the boat bound for Nanaejima, I couldn’t move my feet at all. Not even a single step, not even a millimeter.

「Jeeez.」

Then, the next thing I knew, I was in front of an old friend’s house, and I thought that if I trained there and got stronger, I might find the answer, but it didn’t work out. Then, the next thing I knew, I was getting asked about marriage, and I was wondering what I should do. So, I’m thinking about a lot of things like that.」

The young lady, who was listening to me and sliding her brush across the canvas, muttered, 「I see.」

「Well, there’s talk of marriage, but wouldn’t it be better if you went back to Nanaejima for now? For the sake of that girl?」

Hearing this, I give a bitter smile.

「I don’t think a day or two will make much of a difference, since I ran away with my tail between my legs at one point.」

「No, it will make a difference. The longer you leave her, the more worried she’ll be.」

That’s what I think. I’m probably making her worry.

However…

「I don’t think there’s any point in returning tomorrow and continuing to lie forever.」

「Isn’t it normal to think about it after you get back? Lies will eventually become the truth.」

「A lie will remain a lie. The only one who it’s true for is the person who believes it’s true.」

「You’re twisted, Young Master.」

「How about telling me I’m honest instead?」

I deny helping others, but I still hold it as precious.

I wanted to do it, and I thought I was able to do it, but it turns out I’m not. In the end I’m just acting for myself.

I guess I don’t really have the qualifications to help anyone.

「By the way, if you were me, what would you do in a situation like this?」

「What would I do?」

‘Hmmm’, the older lady thought as she skillfully twirled the brush between her fingers, then grinned.

「I don’t know because I’ve never run away before.」

This was an unexpectedly cool thing she said to me.

So I grinned and said back, 「Well, you weren’t the right person to consult then.」

I turned away after grumbling that line.

「What? Are you leaving already?」

「There’s no point in staying here.」

「Um, maybe I said something I shouldn’t have?」

I scratch my head.

「I’ll just take your kind words. I’m sorry, I’m not really at peace right now, or rather, I’m a bit confused about a lot of things.」

What the hell was I doing, flirting with someone I’d just met?

「I see. It was a sudden marriage proposal after all.」

I chuckle at her words and say again, 「I’ll see you again sometime.」

Hearing this, the older lady laughs out loud.

「You set off a reunion flag with a beautiful older woman you bumped into by the riverbank and then dash off. Not bad, Juugo.」

「Thanks for that.」

「Well, what’s a playboy going to do when there’s a scary black-haired woman over there?」

Looking in the direction the brush was pointing, I froze.

That’s because standing there was a familiar, scary black-haired woman, Yukihime-neesan.

「What on earth are you doing here?」

Yes, of course I got scolded a lot, and in the end she grabbed me by my ear and told me to go home.

Then he notices that the painter has completely disappeared without him noticing. It seems she made a hasty retreat.

As I continue walking, with Yukihime pulling me by the ear, I suddenly look up at the sky. Under the same sky, far south of the mainland, there is an island where young people can pursue any dream

What is happening on Nanaejima right now?