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Chapter 57 – “The Last Garden Party?”

A fine day in May.

This year’s Ootori garden party saw a sudden surge in attendance. No surprise there—Ootori had absorbed Suzuki.
As proof of that, nearly 30% of the attendees were from Suzuki, which directly contributed to the increase in participants.

Even the spacious garden of the Ootori estate had its limits, so this year, part of the mansion interior was also opened up.

Still, it was said with cheerful resignation that next year nothing could be done about it, and this would likely be the last garden party held at the main Ootori residence.

Thanks to the fact that I alone knew about the “Showa Financial Crisis” and managed to avoid it, the adults’ expressions were generally bright.
At the very least, the Ootori family is on the winning side right now.

(Well, since the previous generation’s “Dreaming Miko” and my grandfather had prepared buried treasure, even if I hadn’t reincarnated, the kind of collapse Ootori faced in the game probably wouldn’t have happened.)

“What’s with that satisfied look on your face?”

Katsujirou called out to me.
A little ways away, the Ootori children were playfully messing around.

The number of people at the garden party had increased, but our age group remained the same.

However, because of the larger crowd this year, there was less freedom, and the overwhelmingly few children had been pushed to the sidelines.

Being near the sweets table was the least consolation, as if to say, “Well, at least there’s that.”

“It’s peaceful, which is nice. But we really inconvenienced your family this time, didn’t we, Katsujirou-kun? I don’t think even my household expected the turnout to grow this much.”

“Don’t worry about it. If anything, it’s our side that keeps barging into Ootori’s events every time. But Reiko, you should be cautious of people outside the Ootori group—for a different reason.”

“Oh? Is that so? Am I going to be kidnapped or something?”

“Don’t act like some delicate young lady. But yeah, be that cautious. There are plenty of fools who’ve started to see you as a walking pile of money.”

“You’re not one of them, Katsujirou-kun?”

“I’m from a branch family, but I’m even more of a cash cow than you. Besides, you’re going to be my partner—my future spouse. Like I’d ever do something that stupid.”

“Just to check—are you hitting on me? Even though you’re seven?”

He kept talking non-stop, but I was getting a bit tired of Katsujirou-kun’s self-important attitude, so I couldn’t help but throw in a serious jab.
But Katsujirou-kun was confident to the core.

“Huh? I don’t even need to hit on you. I mean, sure, I’ll have to beat Gentarou and Ryuichi, but I’ll be the one who wins. Age has nothing to do with it. …Hm? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking, ‘Yeah, that’s totally Katsujirou-kun,’ and kind of stunned by it.”

“…I’m not asking you to fall in love with me, but at least be a little impressed. Also, I don’t like to brag, but I’ve been doing enough to not lose to those two.”

“Really? Gentarou-kun is top of his class at Teidai, and Ryuichi-kun is aiming to be top of the Army. Can you beat that?”

“I won’t be competing on the Army side, so I can’t say for sure. But I’ll beat him at Teidai. By the way, Reiko, aren’t you going to Teidai?”

“You’re asking a seven-year-old that? Besides, I don’t need to go to a place like Teidai. If the world’s peaceful when I’m an adult, I plan to study abroad.”

“…I see, that’s a valid option too. I’m interested in Cambridge or Oxford—or maybe Harvard.”

This wasn’t a conversation between children anymore.
Well, to an adult it might just sound like a bunch of childish nonsense.

What’s scary is how serious we are about it.

While I was thinking about that, Katsujirou-kun looked around the area.

“What is it?”

“Well, since I gave you a warning, I figured I’d act as your knight too. But no adults are coming.”

(Oh boy, he hasn’t noticed. You’ve still got a lot to learn, Mr. Self-Important.)

“What?”

He didn’t miss my slightly mocking look, but for Katsujirou-kun, I guess I can reveal the trick.

So I discreetly pointed to a few spots.
Katsujirou-kun immediately caught on—got to hand that to him.

“I see. Gentarou and the others are good. They’re pretending to mess around, but they’re actually positioning themselves to keep adults from getting close to you, and drawing attention to themselves. I guess the only reason I managed to get here so smoothly was thanks to them.”

“That’s right. Honestly, it’s a huge help. …Well, maybe not anymore.”

“Hm? What’s that? I’ve never heard that kind of music before.”

Just as we both noticed, Koshirou-kun started singing, drawing attention from everyone around.
He’s still just a six-year-old child this year, so his voice has a bit of that youthful tone, but it’s truly an angel’s voice.

That angelic voice kept delivering melodies no one had ever heard before, one after another.

(I know every single one. After all, I taught them to him—songs from the future.)

It was the kind of situation that made me break out in a nervous sweat.
Essentially, I was rewriting music history ahead of schedule.

Every time we met, Koshirou-kun would beg me to teach him something, and his smile always got the better of me.
I ended up teaching him songs and music that no one in this era knew.

And he performed them perfectly, even supplementing the parts I hadn’t taught with his own creativity.

The melodies and lyrics don’t match the era at all, but he overcomes it all with overwhelming vocal talent and an angelic voice.

(Well, anyone would be captivated hearing that angelic voice sing.)

As I was admiring it, my hand was suddenly grabbed firmly.
When I turned my head, Katsujirou-kun was holding my hand tightly with a somewhat serious expression.

“There are too many people gathering. Let’s escape inside the mansion. Is there a safe place?”

“Umm, if we enter through the servant’s back door and go up the servant’s stairs, no one except the household staff will come—!”

Before I could finish, he pulled me toward the back of the mansion.

While being pulled along, I searched for Shizu.
But Shizu was doing her best to block the adults trying to get in this way. 

However, our eyes met for just a moment, so she should be okay for now.

Then I looked for another person assigned to Katsujirou-kun, and over there, they were nodding at each other.
That attendant was also fully occupied with stopping the adults.

After that, with directions like “there,” “that way,” and “this way,” we somehow reversed the relative positions and succeeded in retreating to a quiet spot on the upper floors of the mansion.

On the way, except for passing by our servant in the servants’ quarters, we didn’t encounter any adults.

“Thanks. But we can’t go back now, can we?”

I looked down from the window of the room overlooking the garden where the party was held, and for now, there was no sign of chaos.

However, it had turned into an outdoor live concert centered around Koshirou-kun.
Some people were even filming with cameras.

Since there’s no technology yet to record sound beyond records, the songs and music from the future probably won’t spread widely, but Koshirou-kun himself seems likely to become a major focus—a turning point, so to speak.

“Wow, it’s really lively. Well, since he stood out more than you, Reiko, maybe it was a good distraction.”

From beside me—or rather, leaning over from above—Katsujirou-kun peered into the same window.
If we weren’t both kids, that closeness would be pretty inappropriate.

“You’re heavy and sticking too close.”

“So what?”

“That’s not okay. Have you forgotten our family rules?”

“I remember them. That’s why I’m not doing anything.”

“Then why won’t you move away?”

“Well, there’s no one in my family who would get this close like this. At best, my mother sometimes pats my head.”

He spoke about his somewhat sad home life with a hint of childlike sorrow in his expression, but I thought it wouldn’t be good to spoil him too much.

“…So I’m the only one it’s okay for?”

“Not just you, Reiko. Koshirou also hugs me from the other side. Honestly, I envy how close you all are.”

“…I’ve made an effort too. More importantly, it doesn’t have to be me, does it?”

Taking advantage of his momentary distraction at my mention of effort, I quickly slipped away, causing him to awkwardly collapse.

“Isn’t that a bit harsh? But yeah, it’s true you have to make an effort. And Reiko, your parents already passed away, right? Sorry about that.”

He got up while speaking, then gave a formal 90-degree bow.
I deliberately let out a small sigh.

“That’s fine. Besides, everyone in the clan treats me well. The servants too.”

“That’s definitely something to envy. My family’s strict all the time. So I’ll come visit sometimes.”

“A lively atmosphere is always welcome.”

(Only while we’re kids, though.)

I added that silently in my mind, but Katsujirou-kun probably understood.

That’s why I think the innocent period among children is precious.