Chapter 413. Rei-chan no baka

Err, what do you mean?

I ask Nei.

Yeah. Were misunderstanding Reika-oneesan!

Nei said smiling.

Reika-oneesans already a fine adult since shes older than us so we thought of her asOnee-san

No, isnt she?

Reika-oneesan has a tall figure, even taller than me

Shes got an amazing proportion as a sportsman.

On top of that.

She can crush anything with her special alloyBattle Cane

Didnt we see her destructive power multiple times?

Ah, I get that too

Megu speaks up.

Reika-oneesans agirl

What, girl?

Well, Reika-oneesans a virgin so, I guess, shes still aGirl

I see, so thats how it is. A girl among girls, a really young girl

Nagisas also convinced.

The only ones who dont get it are Reika and me.

Uhm, what are you talking about?

Reika asks.

Just a question, Reika-oneesan, did you go to an all girls school?

Nei asks.

Yes, what about it?

Is it the same in middle school/

No, only elementary school

Reika answers.

I lost my parents early and Grandfather raised me. Grandfather is a famous Kendo instructor, his house is also the dojo, so I was introduced to a private girls school from one of the disciples he had. Its a small school which is 12 years old

Ah, I knew it

Nei nods big.

Your grandfather taught you Kendo, right?

This time, Nagisa asks.

Yes, I was practicing with Grandfather since young age

Did your grandfathers dojo accepted a child from the same generation as Reika-oneesan? Gender doesnt matter

No. When I was born, Grandfather was really old. Even though the whole building is a dojo, he hasnt taken any young apprentice ever since

Then you practice alone with your grandfather?!

Nei asks.

Well, when I was in elementary grade. There are times Grandfathers old disciples come to the Dojoso they accompany me in practice but every one of them is on their prime age

At Reikas elementary age, she didnt practice with anyone but her old grandfather and people as old as her father.

Reika-oneesan, did you play with friends during elementary school?

No, it would make Grandfather worried. I go home right after school is over. I had to buy dinner along the way. Grandfather was also very pleased to practice with me

What about middle school?

During middle school, of course, I joined the Kendo club. The adviser was a woman, but shes one of Grandfathers old disciples. I was given lots of lessons

What about the other girls from the club?

Thats, I have already learned Kendo from elementary, however, the others started from middle school, besides

Besides?

The others were doing Kendo as a sport, but I was trained to aim to be a swordswoman

Swordswoman?

From there on, its already

I have decided to surpass the sword techniques passed to me

Err.

Shouldnt you become a Kendo instructor in that case?

Normally you would

When Grandfather passed away, I know that it would be a lifelong loneliness

Reika said.

Then, you didnt get along with the people from the club?

Nei asks.

Thats not true, I was famous for being strange, but they all know that I strive towards my way of the sword, its surely showing in the results After the national convention during the first year, nobody talked behind my back anymore

No, thats not it.

That would just make potential friends keep their distance.

Was it like that during high school too?

This time, Nagisa asks.

Yes, I went to the same school. In High school, the advisor is a female, this time, she wasnt my Grandfathers disciple but, the local coach knows who Grandfather is

As expected, Reikas isolated

Shes been concentrating on the sword alone.

Then, you won the national competition and was scouted by Tanizawa-san

Yes, my skill as a swordswoman was acknowledged, I was hired as a guard in Kouzuki security service I feel grateful to that

Yeah

I somehow see it now

Reika-oneesan, can I ask a bit of a strange question?

Nei shows a distressed face.

Yes, go on

Onee-san, do you like swords, Kendo?

Reika

Hmm. I have never thought of that

Youre not doing it because you like it, right?

Yes, because my sword is my livelihood. Its a technique I learned in order to live. I dont think of things whether I hate it or like it

For Reika, her way of the sword is too sacred.

Since its a specially big pillar in her life among the rest.

She doesnt feel like or hate it.

Then, another questionOnee-san, have you ever come to like a boy?

I havent

Reika replied calmly

Have you ever thought of relationships, or dating a man?

I havent, men dont like me after all

Reika replied.

I know that everyone evaluates my strength in swords, my ability as a guard and that I dont have the charm as a woman. I kept it in my mind

Reika

Why do you think so?

Nei asks, showing a sad face.

Because, Im very tall for women, Im also muscular. Ive grown very tall ever since elementary. When I went to middle school Kendo match, the boys saidHuge!when they saw me They even sayBoys can hide in your skirt

Finally.

Weve arrived at the origin of Reikas complex.

Then, you started to dress manly?

Nei cuts to the chase.

That wasnt the case, in particular, the people from the club wants me to have that image

Did the people from Kendo club tell Reika to look boyish?

Neis surprised.

Reika shook her head.

In the tournament, I became someone who everyone pulls in the club. I was chosen as the representative from the first year, as a first match athlete, I had to work as a point getter. Then, its more effective to change the look to intimidate the opponent, making the best use of my height and strength

Reika

During the second half of the second grade, I was appointed to be the captain, then, everyone in the club trusts me so to embody the strength and dignity, somehow, it became one thing

This persons desperate to have her isolated self-be accepted by the people around

Then, I tried various things to bring out a masculine image. I tried to cut my hair like the boys from athletics club. After losing in the semi-finals of the national tournament, The people around saidput on some spirit

Its actually not that.

Reika wants to establish her own image as a swordswoman.

To intimidate the enemy with her form.

Thinking that the club members depend on a strong captain.

But, the closed clip hair was for delinquent. Uhm, back then, there was a fan club for me at the school

Reikas fan club?

Since its an all girls school, they immediately draw into a boyish senior. In my case, half of the Kendo club and the other was from literary clubs. Then, the literary club member saidSenpai, please do this hairand I was shown a photobook of Tarazukas men

I-Is that so?

At first, I did that. Then, then a butler from a Shojo Manga? They showed me a lot of photos about butlers

Fujimiya-senpai, please copy this imageI was told

Nagisas amazed.

I see

Takarazuka to a butler

Then, could it be this British Gentleman look too?!

Nei asks.

No, well, a lot happened. Until I became a butler, I somehow understood their feelings but afterward, those girls brought books of Shinsengumi or Sengoku commanders

Ah, they went that way?

But, I was aiming to be a swordswoman, not to play historical drama. Besides, Ive read most of the books about Samurai in the past in Grandfathers library back in elementary

Reika shows a gloomy face.

What those girls brought have different contents. Their books have a bit of strange history, The Sengoku warrior was a woman and Shinsengumi were vampires!

Err.

Then, well, I didnt go for that. Feeling that, one of the girls from the fan club brought her British Victorian Art collection

Oh, were finally in the British Gentleman!

No, its a book of maids. Its a book about the dress and lives of a British maid at the end of the 19th century, but the illustration of the maid is serving tea to a guestI thought what a great world that is

Thats why you went British Gentleman route?

Nagisas dumbfounded

Yes, its much better than the strange warriors or Shinsengumi

Well, thats true though

Then the girls from my fan club came to me dressed as a maid when cheering me on a match

No way, what about Reika-oneesan?

Im in my school uniform, I havent crossdressed in high school yet

Ah, good

Nei said, but

Thats not good at all

If the girls come to cheer her are supposed to be in maid clothes.

Wont Reika think that she has to be a British Gentleman to match the maid?

Everyone called meMaster And I was made to call themMy cute maids

Look.

Then, I begin to research more and more about British culture and customs, that I got hooked. To the gentlemans world. Therefore the start was the fan club but, Ive come to really like Victorian era. I think that the customs and culture at the end of the 19th century is my lifework

Coming from Kendo.

She didnt have any other hobbies after all.

Then, after Graduating high school, I bought my first genuine British menswear from my first contract money from Kouzuki security service. I

Tanizawa-san must be surprised.

The best Kendo high school student he scouted.

Became a British Gentleman as soon as she joined the company

Yeah, I somehow get why Reika-oneesan became a British Gentleman, but

Nei said.

But, Onee-sanhave you never thought of wearing maid clothes/

Well, it wont suit me

Reika laughs.

No, you wont know it until you wear it

I said.

I have this build. It surely wont fit

Reika declares.

Sorry, lets change the force of the argument! Reika-oneesan, do you think that girls wearing maid clothes are cute?

Yes, I think theyre cute

Nei.

I think thats the point. In short, Reika-oneesan didnt react to Takaarazuka or the Sengoku commander, neither Shinsengumi, yet you reacted to Maids, didnt you?

Yeah

The people around Reika-oneesan pushes a boyish impression but Reika-oneesan herself likes cute, girlish things!

Me?

Reikas surprised.

That cant be, Im a swordswoman

Thats when Megu speaks up

No, I also thought that Reika-oneesan likes cute things. Because back in the basement of the hotel, Reika-oneesan has been playing with Mao-chan all the time

Right.

True, from the story I heard a while ago, I think that Reika-oneesan is trying to respond so hard to not break the image of herself from others

Nagisa said

Or rather, its not just the people around, Reika-oneesan also tries to preserve the image she thinks of herself, thats why shes getting worn out like this

I think.

Reika-oneesan, you should have another hobby aside from British Gentlemen, right? Are you gathering something/

Yes, I gather cat accessories

Look!

But, its just minimal. Its not even ten pieces

As expected, she likes cute things

Her British Gentleman hobby is supposed to be the conviction that she must live as a man, this is a result of the sublime training that turned to a strange shape.

Then.

Reika, have you not worn maid clothes even once?

I use a card.

No, uhm, it doesnt really suit me

That is for everyone to judge when they see Reika in that clothes

Yeah

Because, its just strange

Thats not true! If you want, Ill coordinate!

Yes, I think that it would suit you

Nei and Megu tells Reika

Yeah, lets try it right away once we return to the mansion

Anyway, we have to break her thoughts that cute things dont suit her.

Oh, Reikas problem is getting more visible.

Reikas suffering from the gap.

Gap?

Youve been meeting up the expectations of your grandfather when youre a kid, you always prioritizeI must do thisorI have to be like this Reika. But, Reikas own heart also has a desire to be a normal girl. Theidealand thedesireare always fighting inside of Reika. It should be incompatible, the two had been forcibly balanced in a form, and thats the British Gentleman crossdressing

The British Gentleman look is slick and elegant.

But its too eccentric for Reika who wears it during her job.

On top of that, the skills she learned from Kendo had changed to abattle stick

Calm and Frenzy, by accepting the contradiction at the same time, Reikas able to work stable.

Too late to say but, Reika right now doesnt function as a guard unless she wears the British gentleman outfit

I look at Reika.

Yesterday, you went to help out in Nagisas shop, it was just all failures. And you went with your Gentleman outfit today, you were able to fulfill your duty as a guard boldly and elegantly

Yes

Reika looks at me with serious eyes.

But. This cant go on. This isnt natural at all. Youll break soon

Is that so?

Reika looks down.

If theres no problem wearing the British Gentleman outfit, then I want to stay like this

Wont that just be an escape from that outfit? If you stop thinking, nothing will change

I dont mind even if I dont change

I

I dont want that, I want Reika to be happy!

Lord?

Reika looks at me in surprise

If you dont change you wont be happy! Reika, you can be happier! I will make Reika happy!

Thats right.

Listen everyone

Nagisa, Nei, Megu, and Reika all look at me.

Dont think of Reika asOnee-sananymore

Eh, what do you mean Yo-chan?

No way, you want to remove Reika-oneesan from the family?

Reika

No, certainly, I think Im not someone who can be everyones family. I think Lords judgment is correct

Dont rush

I stop Reika

Everyone, please think of Reika as a younger sister

Reikas mouth opened wide.

True, Reikas older in age but, shes a little sister!

I tell Reika.

If she doesnt feel that Reikas problem wont be fixed

Nagisa and everyone looks at me silently

Therefore, as long as we call herReika-oneesanHer rank will just be higher, that she might not be able to accept Nagisa and Neis story

I speak desperately

Currently, Reikas job gives her a pride of an elder in a bad form, that would make Reika feel even more inferior

Then.

Above all, I think that Reikas still a child at heart. She tried to grow up with all her best, that the adult figure became a British Gentleman. Actually, shes still very much like a child. Therefore, I think that she has to return to her childhood for once

I look at Reika.

Reika. For example, Nagisas two years older than Reika but, shes already raising a three-year-old girl, in a sense, she has more experience in life than Reika, am I wrong?

N-No, youre right

Then, think of Nagisa as an elder sister in life

Yeah

Have you thought of her as an elder in life?

Reika.

Yes, it seems

Then, do the same to Nei, think of her as anOnee-san Think that she has something that makes her older than you. Then, think of her as yourOnee-san

I force in an unreasonable logic to Reika.

Anyway, stop thinking that youre theelder sisterbecause youre older. Reika would be, lets see, a bit older than Mao-chan, okay?

I-Ill do my best

Reika reluctantly promises

Everyone, is that okay?

Then, Nagisa, Nei, and Megu look at me with their mouths open.

Wait, is that a no?

Nei.

Its not a no but, thats the idea I just proposed

Huh?

Didnt I say it at first? Reika-oneesan has to wear pink lolita clothes?

Huh?

Reika-oneesan is still a girla small girl, didnt Nagisa-san and Megu say that?

Nei stares at me.

C Could it be, that I didnt get it at all?

Yes, yepNei, Nagisa, and Megu nodded

On top of that, I was late to notice it and I talked looking satisfied?

Another nod.

Ah, that wasnt cool

Then

Nei laughed.

Nagisa and Megu too

Well, thats fine, we ultimately had reached the same opinion!

Oh, Im glad.

Then, from now on, well callReika-oneesanas Rei-chan

No objections!

Ah, Im okay with it too!

Then, me too

Reikas the only one whose eyes are blinking in surprise.

Then, once we come back at themansionwell put on cute clothes on Rei-chan!

No objections

Seconded

Third

Ah, when Nei does the talking, it goes fast.

Then.

Bururururu

Nagisas phone vibrates

My, what could it be?

Nagisa answers the call.

The voice coming out from the speaker

Mama, Im hungryyyy!

Mao-chan

Oh, this isnt good!

We have to hurry back, everyones waiting for the dinner!