Yoshida-kunwhat do you think it means to bedignified?

Minaho-neesan asks me.

Dignified?

What isElegantwhat isVulgar? What is the difference between first class and second class?

I never thought of that

I lived in a world where that doesnt matter.

Even in the upper class, there are some vulgar people, and vice versathen what decides a personsdignity

Minaho-neesans question is hard.

Yoshida-kunhave you seen a genuine art of either Picasso or Van Gogh?

Genuine?

Not a printed or seen on TVhave you seen a genuine thing with your own eyes

Never

Then, lets go see next time

Go see?

Once you see the work of a top-class artist exceeding the first class with your naked eye, even amateurs can tell its amazingness

Un

Therefore, you should feel the amazingness of the top-class workthen compare it to the first class, second class works

Shouldnt we avoid showing Yoshida-kun the later works of Picasso? Thats a different fight after all

Margo-san intervenes from the side.

Different fight?

Picasso has lived long and has always been a mastereven his graffiti scribbles, art dealers collect all of it at high price. That said, its not bad work butI think its not good for the aesthetic eyes

Ill let him see from his initial worksBlue PeriodRose periodtoCubism

Minaho-neesan tells Margo-san

Thats a lot. Wont it be a month trip to Europe?

But still, its important to experience the genuine article

Err

Is it that important to see the genuine articles?

Margo-san

If you didnt see the genuine thing, you cant clearly know how the author actually made the work

Un

Talking about my experiencetheres an art textbook that listed a painting of the horse of the King of Europe.1 That horses picture is somewhat strange. The horses neck is thick and the head is too big

Then?

Thenlooking at the textbook, it says The dynamism is being expressed by drawing the thick horse neck. When I read that, I thought Is that how it is? but

Margo-san smiled.

Minaho brought me to the national gallery in London, the real thing was therethen

This personeven though shes strong.

Shes having fun when talking about arts and music

The horse picture is very hugeits an image you look up from below

A big imageyou look up from below

Thats rightlooking from below, the neck of the horse that was too fat for the small textbook photo is actually fitting. Its a perspective trick. The author has that picture from the beginninghe has calculated the angle and distance from where the viewer would see. Its big after all. Those kind of things wont be discovered unless you saw the real thing, Im really moved

I see.

The photos size is reduced so you cant understand it.

Geez, Maru-chan. In the first place, the color of the real thing and the photo is different dont you think?

Nei-san comes in too.

Yo-chanthe real oil painting is really sparkly and beautiful!

Rightno matter how much printing technology develops, the real colors cant be reproduced

Minaho-neesan said.

Besidesthe real thing still has the painters brush mark still remaining. You can really tell that its made by human hands. Itll make you think humans are amazing. They can express a lot of things with just the point and lines made by the brush sweep

Nei-sans eyes are sparkling too.

Id like to bring Yoshida-kun to a photography exhibit instead of paintings

Margo-san said.

When a real top-class photographer takes it, the photos developed have a completely different depth. Thats why printing is only half the charm. I think you wont know the real value unless you see the original print!

Is that so

Anywayfirst well let him touch something top-class. Experience the genuine greatnessthen understanding the first and second class will be later

Minaho-neesan said.

Right. If you see something half-hearted, your eyes would be clouded

Margo-san said.

Uhmwhy is Margo-san and Nei-san so familiar with art?

Margo-san laughs.

Isnt that obvious?Nei and I received Minahos education

Minaho-neesan

Kyouko-sans hobby is included too. That person is really fussy to see the first class and hone her aesthetic eyes

I never met her yet butit seems that Kyouko-san has a variety of hobbies.

If you obtain the power to see through the value of thingsthen you can also understand the value of others

Minaho-neesan said.

For examplethe suit youre wearing right now. Why do you think its a luxury item?

WellMargo-san said that the cloth of the fabric is vintage

If I recallthats what she told me.

Then, why do you think that fabric is vintage?

Wellthat is.

Todaytheres no machine remaining that weave that fabic

Margo-san told me.

Theres a much more rational loom now. That cloth takes time and effort to weave.

I-Is that so?

When you think you want to know the value of thingsyou first need to imagine how much work it would take. Top-class craftsmens creation with time and effort are absolutely expensive.

I-I see.

Nextfeel whether the work contains ideas that only geniuses and skilled craftsmen can come up with. Its calledflash

Un

In the end, you have to put emphasis on the time and effort taken. Pay flash to the inspiration afterwards

Minaho-neesan said.

Why?

The flash and novel ideas stand out butit doesnt match the time and effort taken. Trying different ideas after a hundred of timesit removes failures and accumulate experience

Thats whats boring with the modern art you see. They just come up with a new idea, then splash their paint then announce their workthe weight of it being developed over time cant be felt!

I dont get the meaning of Nei-sans opinion.

For examplethis ball-pen here

Minaho-neesan took out a pen.

This thingit took dozens of blueprints to make it

blueprint

How many mm should be the lengthwhat kind of mixture of king should be put in. A lot of blueprints are drawn, a lot of prototypes have been made to just put ball-pen into the world

I-I see.

Making things isnt that easy.

Then they make it into a product and sell itthe buyers will see the beauty as the ease of use and select it again. The unaccepted ones will be weeded out. Then theyll take the data of the remaining designs and use it for the next product

Un

That takes time and a lot of people refine it. Dont you think its wonderful that things are made like that?

Minaho-neesan smiles.

Imagine every time you see things. How much time and effort taken to create a single thing

I look around.

The theater buildingthe sofa in the lobby. The lighting in the ceiling. Carpet. The reception desk. Chair.

Its things everyone spent time thinking.

Thinking about ithuman world is amazing.

All of the things in this world are created by everyone that way. First, the accumulation of mans effort and time should be felt. Even artiststhey take many years to acquire basic skills, then they take over their master and seniors guide with trial and error

Well, in the era where everyone you can easily debut without being someones discipleeven if you dont take time to train, the environment lets you create work-like things

Minaho-neesan and Margo-san look at each other.

Truethe young ones only have theflash Without the backing of skills and experience, theflashalone wont become a work

Doing only that and in the end, unable to earn experience, there are artists who became old-men

Nei-san speaks as if venting out.

Theres no need to be that angry. Those kind of artists disappear

They dont! Arent they being arrogant?!

Wellthe art industry is a small world. Especially in Japan. Well, there are people who have reason in irregularity and boast around

Thats what grinds my gears!

ButI think that artists who doesnt have that kind of content will keep their status until they die. Theyll disappear in arts history without leaving any traces. During 19th century, the academy painters who were just stupid impressionists are completely forgotten now

Wellyoure right but!

Minaho-neesan breaks the conversation of the two.

Neikeep the criticisms on the modern art at that level. Yoshida-kun would be troubled

Ah, sorry, its an uninteresting story for Yo-chan right?

UnI dont get Art that much

Or rather, why is everyone so knowledgeable?

Lets go back to our topic. Yoshida-kun, its about time for the opening. Then, there will be a lot of people with a family standing offirst class noblecoming

Yes

Its a good opportunity so observe it. Then, compare theirdignity

Earlier, Minaho-neesan said that there areelegantandvulgarpeople even among the top-class families.

Whats the difference?I have to think on practice.

Its not just Yoshida-kun, you too

Minaho-neesan is talking not only to mebut also to theyounger generationwhos been staring until now.

Got it

Un, Ill try

Certainly

Megu, Mana, Michi answers

Hmm, you really like teaching people something. Is this why you became a teacher?!

Yukino criticizes Minaho-neesan.

Minaho-neesans face turned dark.

She glares at Yukino

Its not. Minahos personality isnt suited to become a school teacher

Margo-san laughs.

RightSensei doesnt teach children she doesnt like

Nei-san looks at Minaho-neesan meanly.

She likes to educate the children she likes very much though!

TrueMinaho-neesans not the type that teaches everyone in the class equally.

Shes not a school teacher but a tutor. Shes much more suited to be a governess

Margo-san said.

Whats governess?

Its a private tutor live in teaching elementary education to the noble children in old Britain

Oh, Minaho-neesan fits that one more

You two, remember this!

Minaho-neesan seems to be a bit angry.

Whats wrong?

Katsuko-nee comes back with a cup of coffee

Here, your share

I receive the cup.

Minaho-neesan said that its going to open soon, so she told us to observe the visitors and discover the difference indignity

I explained.

RightItll be the time of hardship for Ojou-sama and me

Right

Todays audiencethere will be former customers ofKuromorias well.

The famous people who look forward to watching their daughters and granddaughters dancingthey dont think that they would be meeting women from brothel here.

Will they be ignoredthey might even go to the security to report.

Should I go to the third floor seats?

Katsuko-nee speaks timidly.

TodaysSymposiumis a all free seatsince no guests would come on full house, I dont think anyone would come to the third floor

Its the dancepresentationof the children from the Konpeki school.

Only relatives and friends would be coming to see

Todays performers also has daughters of celebrities like Kanako-sanKouzuki security service guards would check and chase away the media at the gate

Katsukobe dignified

Minaho-neesan said.

You have retired from being a prostitute havent you?

Yes

Do you intend to be dragged down by your past and live looking down?

I dont feel that way

Then, be calm. If youre not a prostitute then youre just an ordinary woman, arent you?

Hearing thatKatsuko-nee.

Im very sorry Ojou-sama. Katsuko has been mistaken

She bows to Minaho-neesan.

As long as you understand!

Minaho-neesan intends to close theKuromoribrothel.

Thereforeshes trying to stand in public calmly.

This theater lobby is a battlefield for the two.

Mana-chan, stay with Megu-chan and Me!

Nei-san told the uneasy Mana.

Its fineMana-chan and Megu-chan looks fashionable. When you two line up, you look like sisters

Unwith me asguardNei asretainer, Michi looks like your friend

Margo-san said.

True, Margo-san and Nei-santhey both look like servants, wearing black suits.

Michis wearing the same super-ojou-sama school uniform, her identity is guaranteed.

Now then, should we attach one more item to Kuroko-chan!

Saying thatNei-san took out a black thing from the bag.

Its an Alice band.

Its a headband with two round black discs tied to it.

Is this the one the sell on the amusement park in the mouse country.

Here you go, Kuroko-chan, wear this!

Err

With her hair braided in the middle, ugly makeup and dark glasses.

Black and yellow stripe dress.

And when you add a mouse ear headband.

Yupits perfect.

Yukinos completely anout of placegirl

Itsout of placeor rathermistaken

From which world are you from?

What do you think? My identity wont be found out right?

Yukino asks me.

Yukinos not good with anyone fromKuromoriso she can only talk to me.

Even if she talks with her sister, she knows that shell only respond harshly.

UnWell, nobody would think youre Yukino

I answered honestly.

Then finewho cares about my outfit

Yukino said with a negligent feeling.

You see, I also have glasses with mustache growing on it

Nei-san took out theNose mustache glasses

I dont want thatIm not from a variety show!

Yukino got angry.

Noyou already are.

If youre not, then what are you?

Hmmm.

We will be opening soon! Performers, return to the dressing room!

Whe woman at konpeki style reception shouts.

Okay, return immediately! The guests are waiting outside!

There are guests already in front of the theater

The children doing their last practice in the lobby returned to the dressing room in a hurry.

Theretainersandescortof those too

Those holding the childrens clothes or have tools used in practice, have left the lobby.

Man in black suit appears from the stage.

The theater is clear. The curtains dropping down

A woman runs from the dressing room.

The performers have all entered backstage!

The chief receptionist declares.

Thenlets open!

The theaters front door opens!

Soon, about thirty people enters.

Welcome!

The people at the reception must be apprentices of Konpeki school too.

They greeted the guests with a loud voice in unisopn.

Welcome! Please show your tickets!

A spectator whos holding a boquet

A lady in gorgeous Kimono coming to visit the dance.

There are girls with the same uniform as Misuzu and Michi too.

The lobby turned colorful in a dash.

then.

Dear!

Yoshida-kuuun!

At the receptiontheres two people waving their hands at us!

A beauty with a soft and gentle smile.

And an angel-like cute girl.

This two

Are Nagisa-san and Mao-chan!!!

Just wait for a moment!

A moment!!!

When the two were done at the reception

They ran towards me with light footsteps.

Nagisa hugs me

Mao-chan clings to my feet!

EheheI came!

Mao also came!

The mother and daughter smiled at me.

Err

Were you okay?

I wasnt able to make contact with them since yesterday

Yeahfor now

Nagisa said.

For today, the shop is closed. The children were sent home as well

Un! then, Mao and Mama came to Yoshida-kun!

Does that mean?

When it comes to thisits safer if were all together, dont you think?

Its safe!

Nagisa and Mao-chan smiled.

If theyre not with methe bad people wont be dragging the girls in the shop

TrueCesario Violas power is limited.

They can take Nagisa and Mao-chan as hostage to control our movement but

Were all now gathered here.

Furthermore, they dont have the room to target Nagisas children at shop.

Instead of distributing their strength, theyd rather go attack us all at once.

You see, Minaho-san has been sensing footage all this time

Nagisa said.

ThereforeI know everything. Even the sex at school

No wayYukinos school broadcast rape?

Ufufu! I know~!

Mao-chan laughs.

Eeeh?!

Rape me later too!

Nagisa speaks cutely to me.

Lets take video too! Un, thats great!

Thats great!

Err

This high-tension mother-daughter

But, Im relieved that Nagisa and Mao joined us

I feel relieved.

By the waywhos this female entertainer?

Nagisa looks at Yukino.

Kyahahaha, so funny!

Mao-chan laughs.

Im not an entertainer! Im Kishima Kuroko!

Yukino shouts angrily!

Kuroko-chan! Kuroko-chan! Kuroko-chan! So funny!

She completely became Mao-chans toy

1. Equestrian Portrait of Charles I