ALL NOVEL Chapter 8: Home
Suiri went to the shoe cabinet to change. She put her hand on her shoe box, but there was no next movement. While the right hand was holding her door box, she raised her phone by the left hand to take a look. Her pitiful phone directory just increased by one person. Besides her parents and older sister, 'blank' must be an adjective to describe it.
She suddenly remembered a meme in her previous life.
[Hero: Let's fight somewhere empty.
Villain: As you wish.]
She wondered if they were fighting in her phone directory.
'Youth, huh?' Suiri felt tired when trying to find its definition. It was varied to many people. Each person had their own youth and their own stories. What about her in this life? She didn't know..., but she did know that her youth in her past life was a tragic story.
Akane-sensei once said to her that 'bad' made her stronger. Yeah, she agreed with the former, but the latter of her sentence made her doubtful. 'Consolidate relationships,... know who are friend and enemy'. What she said was true. Suiri didn't find any fault in it. It was just that the people she had met in past life, all had problems including the Minazuki family. Blame for her misfortune.
Her teacher also had some unspeakable past and didn't share truthfully with her. Suiri also understood. She was just an outsider in the eyes of the other party. She didn't blame her because she also didn't let her teacher dig too deep about her.
She gave up the dream of being the most famous rock band to follow the teaching field, which was enough for Suiri to know the backstory or 'Youth' of Akane. She knew for sure it wasn't a pleasant thing. Suiri also accepted the reason 'profit' to avoid the minefield.
Suiri realized that she didn't know anything about this world, this novel, and the characters. She didn't know a single thing. Maybe she'd distanced herself from the world for too long. Maybe she didn't even try to move on. Maybe...
'Hah'. She sighed in her mind.
'Death God. Am I worthy of having your second chance?' Suiri thought inwardly. After she received a touching consultancy from her teacher, she realized that the problem lay mainly on her. Instead of enjoying a new life, she'd decided to run away and push everything away. Was she right? She didn't know...But this feeling was so uncomfortable.
'If you met a situation like hers, you would do the same as her'. Suiri thought and made an excuse for herself.
Then, she almost forgot about these things.
She looked at those love letters inside her fabric bag. She felt too lazy to reply. Almost all of them were unfamiliar and strange names. She couldn't help but restart her movement to change her shoes.
"Sui-chan..."
Suiri looked back and caught a twin-drills blond-haired girl standing and rubbing her hands anxiously.
"..."
"Hey, I just want to apologize about this lunch..."
"Classmate Shinonawa-san, I don't remember...we're close enough to call nickname"
"But you said 'do whatever you want'..."
"..."
Suiri indeed said so, but it was intending to chase this girl away. She didn't expect her to make full use of it directly.
Suiri couldn't help but feel Charlotte whether shameless or silly. However, she didn't have the mood to entangle with Charlotte.
She finished changing her shoes and went to the back building of the classroom because the object in the letter made an appointment with her there.
"Wait...Sui-chan"
"What's your problem with me?"
Suiri replied emotionlessly.
Charlotte wanted to fix her mistake because she had messed up a lot. She knew emotions and feelings couldn't be forceful. However, Suiri was turned into an Omega, which made her lose her clear mind as she was becoming more impatient. She also knew that love must be mutual from two sides.
In the past, her problem with her parents had been solved by the courage that Suiri gave her. It was a condition that triggered her attraction to Suiri. Plus, she witnessed a gentle, loving, and warm Suiri on the stage. She couldn't help but fall in love with her. She wanted to know more about Suiri, about the true face behind that mask.
It was her mistake to execute the process hurriedly. She forced Suiri into an awkward relationship. Suiri was true, except for her constant annoyance by the rival's relationship, both didn't know each other very well. She wanted to condemn herself to get a second chance.
"Actually, I want to get closer to you by using rival's relationship"
However, the next moment, Suiri gave an unexpected answer to Charlotte. The icy cold tone resounded.
"I knew"
"...You knew???"
"Yeah, I just don't understand what did I do to get your attention. The sole daughter of the Shinonawa family"
Suiri folded her hand under her chest and waited for Charlotte's answer.
"I..."
She couldn't say it. No words spitted out from her mouth. 'Because I like you'. Charlotte realized she couldn't speak those words. It was so scary that it would lead the relationship between her and Suiri to the cliff. Now, it was really bad and she couldn't make it worse. She thought hard, but the blizzard of those beautiful eyes stared at her to get the answer. She needed to say something.
"I want to be your friend...and build the relationship between two families..."
Before Charlotte came back to her senses, those words slipped through her lips. She was panicking. What would the other party misunderstand her?
'Fuck you, Charlotte. What did you just say? Now, she will think of me as I seek her like a benefit woman'. Charlotte groaned inwardly.
Suiri on the other hand nodded at her. She thought it was as expected. She didn't do anything to Charlotte. Why was the other party so persistent? Maybe this was an answer. Her family must have some projects relating to Suiri's family business. She needed a relationship with her to lend her a hand. Sure enough, it was all because of the benefit. If she came from a commoner's family, Charlotte wouldn't have come to her.
If Suiri were 'Haruto' in the past, she would've been mercilessly rejected. However, she was reborn as the second daughter of the Hoshiyuki family. She had to be responsible for the future of her family. Her family didn't reject her in this life, and they even pampered her a lot. She hated that she owned anyone. Then, she would accept this beneficial relationship as a plastic girlfriend. Besides, Charlotte's family was more superior than hers. She wouldn't be selfish for her own to offend the other party which could affect her family.
Suiri replied coldly.
"Fine, then, I'll be in your care"
Suiri said so as she walked away to the back building. Leaving Charlotte dumbfounded, Suiri took her fabric bag and school bag to leave. Following behind was a red-haired woman, Sasaki just took a glance at Charlotte, then went after Suiri.
Charlotte thought she was in an illusion. Suiri accepted her? But Charlotte felt that she was at a loss. She should've been joyful. But...
It shouldn't be like this. She realized that she'd screwed up again.
"Sui-chan...I'm sorry, I couldn't be honest with my true feelings"
Charlotte clutched her chest and squatted down. It was even more difficult than the confession with her parents. Love, why was it so hurt?
There was no way of turning back. She regained her determination again. It was fine. At least, she got one step closer to her Goddess.
"Oujo-sama, are you going to reply to those love letters?"
Sasaki followed Suiri from the moment she walked out of the teacher's office. It was her duty to protect the safety of the master. Her expressionless face was still there, but she was curious about the so-called 'love'. Her master received many love letters, which made her arouse her human nature. What was love?
According to her understanding, it was highlighted as a divine feeling between two people with mutual feelings. It brought a happy or painful moment. Unfortunately, Sasaki didn't understand those things, which were so abstract to her. As someone relying on scientific logical senses under training, she could only observe and analyze to learn those.
"Um..."
Suiri was still behaving like normal, which made Sasaki at a loss. She couldn't help but recall the rain scene on the rooftop. Her master had such a side...
Sasaki didn't want to dig too deep, which was beyond her status and role. She decided to remain silent.
After a while, Suiri arrived at the appointed destination. To be honest, Suiri was curious about the mysterious master of the letter because it was sent anonymously. She didn't even know their name or appearance. She must raise her vigilance toward this person.
There were other people here too. Suiri was speechless when several of the letters chose this place to talk with her.
"Hoshiyuki Suiri-san, we already discussed to confess our love to you..."
"I can't live without you..."
What was it? Group's confession?
"Sorry, I don't have any intention to date someone"
Suiri made a strong statement to refuse all of them. She didn't even give them a chance to speak their thoughts. They could only sigh because they knew too well that Ice Queen couldn't be easily conquered. Then, they walked away dejectedly.
Then...
The blond-haired boy with a handsome appearance stepped forward. He has a confident grin on his face.
"Hoshiyuki-san, could you think again? Maybe we are made for each other. A pair of heaven~"
"Sorry, who are you?"
A smile on the boy's face disappeared. His name was Konoe Tatsumi, a seventh-grade student, one year older than Suiri. He came from a branch house of the Royal Family. His face was the only weapon that he was proud of. In this Academy, they called him a prince from Western stories. He was also a high-class Alpha, which made countless suitors have to fall for him. Yet, Suiri's existence had arisen his domineering trait as he wanted to conquer this Iceberg Omega.
"Ahaha~, My name is Konoe Tatsumi. Nice to meet you, Hoshiyuki-san"
He kept his funny and friendly face to lower the guard of the other party. Deep down in his heart, others couldn't help but be fascinated by his charm. He also releases a bit of his pheromone to make it more efficient.
Suiri on the other side raised her guard immediately when she smelled a cinnamon in the air. She felt so disgusted with him, but she couldn't let that expression out because her facial muscles didn't follow her will anymore. Her face was still emotionless and cold as ever.
"Hoshiyuki Suiri"
Then, her words stopped here. Tatsumi didn't know what to do next because the other party didn't play cards according to his calculation.
The whole process was recorded into her mini-camera. Suiri was sure that if this young master wanted to threaten or something, she would entrust those videos to the Police Force and Media Companies. Suiri felt that the sunny smile was so malicious toward her as if his eyes wanted to devour her whole body.
"I knew you didn't want to date anyone"
"Um"
Suiri gave an icy cold answer, but it was too short.
"I'm also in love with you, but my family arranged an unknown fiancee for me"
"And I didn't want it at all so I confessed my love to you"
"If it was successful, I could be with the one I really loved and reject that fiancee"
"But you rejected me. And I'm hurt"
Suiri was so skeptical about this boy. She mercilessly cut off.
"Get to the main point..."
Tatsumi laughed awkwardly.
"Hahaha~. Hoshiyuki-san, could you help me play a fake girlfriend's role for my family..."
"I promise I won't do something over your bottom line"
Suiri's atmosphere turned colder and colder. This person was so disgusting.
Tatsumi was clueless about those atmosphere things. He'd changed his tactics to get closer to the other party since she was so resistant. He was eager to get the boyfriend's position of the Ice Queen of Stardust Academy.
"No"
Suiri refused clearly, but Tatsumi couldn't back down. He showed his weak side to her and pleaded.
"Please, please, please, Hoshiyuki-san, please help me, I don't want to engage with that fiancee at all"
Suiri retorted emotionlessly.
"Then, tell your family to change..."
Suiri wondered if this boy was an anonymous sending her a love letter. She felt that the style of words didn't match with this boy. Besides that, his excuse to make her his girlfriend was so sick. This boy's brain must have had a problem. Why did you choose her? Of course, Suiri knew, in fact, he was not wrong. She was from the Hoshiyuki family. It was justifiable.
"Please, could you be my fake girlfriend? I won't do anything"
"No"
"Yes, please"
"No"
"Yes"
"No"
"Yes"
"..."
Suiri felt powerless against this type of person. He was more annoyed than every subject she'd met in the past. He certainly wanted to manipulate her psychology to say yes.
"Oi, stop there, you didn't see her getting more uncomfortable"
A tall woman with long straight black-haired shouted out. She was quite tall, 1m79? Suiri wondered. A faint scent of Matcha tea dominated the cinnamon ones. The other party must be an Alpha. Her facial features had the standard beauty of a Japanese like Yamato Nadeshiko. An ideal Japanese woman. Although she was an Alpha, she had a gentle, and pure atmosphere surrounding her. She looked smart as if everything was under her control.
The closer the other party approached, the more uncomfortable Suiri got. Until her face was shown, Suiri wondered if today was the meeting day with heroines. Suiri knew this woman.
Minamoto Mio.
Suiri had a feeling that the mysterious owner of that letter was also her.
"Minamoto-sama"
Following behind her was an Alpha with some traits like Mizuno Sasaki. Suiri guessed that she was Mio's attendant from the Mizuno family as well. What was she doing here?
According to her understanding of Minamoto Mio in the original plot, this girl hated the most was her life being arranged by others. She was known as the smartest and most beautiful in the harem of the male protagonist.
When 'Suiri' forced the engagement with Mio, she showed her disgust toward the original owner. Although Mio was smart, she couldn't be against her family when they were eager to move to the technology field of the Hoshiyuki family. This heroine's personality was described to be willful, humble, and calm. She was also known as a genius in the business.
She was a student from eighth grade. She was the same age as Hoshiyuki Maria.
Her plot was quite simple. She was born with high intelligence and beautiful appearance. She developed an alien's thinking. Why was she able to do this, do that, but others couldn't do those easy tasks at all? She was often getting jealous of her peers and her older sister. She remained indifferent toward everyone.
The existence of 'Suiri' was a catalyst connecting the male protagonist with Mio. The reason for her falling was how she witnessed the male protagonist working hard and not giving up. His number 1 position in the Academy was a fruit of hard work. While she was a genius, she felt that this boy's existence could fill her piece to be more completely, rather than a vicious female partner.
However, Mio didn't have a gut to go against her family. During the engagement ceremony, the male protagonist appeared like a hero saving the beauty. Not only that, but it was also the beginning of the demise of 'Suiri'. Her family disowned her when the male protagonist together with Mio showed pieces of evidence of Suiri's misdeeds.
This was the first time, Suiri'd met Mio in real life. As for Mio's intention, Suiri already guessed a part of it.
"Minamoto-senpai, I asked Hoshiyuki-san, not you"
Tatsumi's face distorted as he felt that this Alpha woman wanted to interfere with his business. As Alpha with each other, Tatsumi didn't have any lustful feelings toward Female Alpha like Mio despite her beautiful appearance, because they were the same kind.
"Heh~, obviously, you forced her. She already refused you, but you shamelessly corrected her answer"
Tatsumi grew anxious because he knew some information about this alpha. She was dangerous...At the age of 14, she'd already a little management of the E.C.D (Electric Convenient Daily Life) Group, the largest Japanese tools over Japan. He didn't want to offend the other party as he could only withdraw his existence.
Suiri sighed a relief when this stubborn guy walked away. Then, she looked at this woman.
Suiri was still emotionless.
"Thanks, Minamoto-senpai"
After that, Suiri turned to leave, Minamoto Mio on the other hand shouted:
"Wait...You haven't replied to my love letter yet~"
Mio smiled playfully. Suiri also understood this intention.
"Sorry, senpai, I don't want to"
As expected, Suiri guessed exactly, this woman was the one giving her anonymous love letter.
Her tone was like a tape of radio repeating the sentence, which made the listeners not being able to detect her thoughts.
Mio on the other hand also frowned. This girl didn't know her at all? You must know that she was not only famous in Stardust Academy, but also the financial world. Unlike Suiri was known as Ice Queen, Mio was granted the nickname 'Wise Empress'. Countless female betas and a dozen Omegas had chased after her but no one succeeded in taking her down. Or this girl played hard to get?
In fact, Mio was a true straight girl of steel, because her sexual preference leaned toward boys. She didn't treat female omegas or betas as her love interest. Why did Mio still send a love letter to Suiri?
Actually, she didn't love Suiri at all, because she was assigned by her family to approach and 'seduce' this girl. Her family needed to take a step into the technology field. However, moving to the brand-new field was not easy and her family needed a giant to have their back. Her parents knew the news that Suiri turned into Omega. They urged her to take down this girl because the engagement was hung up by Suiri's parents. She hated her life being arranged and used for a benefit. Nevertheless, she had no choice but to comply with them.
Firstly, she investigated the information of the other party. It was better than she'd imagined. Secondly, she sent an anonymous letter to have a chance to meet this girl directly. Finally, depending on the other party's personality, she would give an offer to form a cooperative relationship.
Now, she came into contact with Suiri, but she couldn't read her like the people in her past. As expected of Ice Queen, this girl deserved that nickname. She also refused her love letter without thinking much, which proved that Suiri didn't have her eyes on her. Mio also thought of a fake engagement like the bastard from the Royal family, but she had to omit this possibility as she noticed something wrong with the atmosphere of this girl just now.
Mio could only watch Suiri walking away with Sasaki.
From Suiri's point of view, she knew this heroine's intention already. They all sought after the Hoshiyuki family, not herself. She didn't care about them anymore. It was time to return to home.
Right now, Sasaki was sitting next to Suiri inside the car. The atmosphere was so silent that the minimal sound could be picked up by people at the scene.
The sound of a pen scratching on a note could be heard clearly.
Suiri thought of Akane-sensei; honestly, she got her sensei's inspiration in this Rock genre. Her family in this life was rich so that she didn't have to continue to follow the trend to earn more money. Plus, she had gotten a second chance, so she should try another genre as well.
'Number 1 Rock band huh'.
The pen on the white jade hand also stopped as Suiri watched the scenery outside the window of the car.
The clouds were dyed in pink and red because the sun was trying to get off his work. Many stores on the street began to turn on the lights one after another. Students from other schools finished their club activities to go home like her. The flow of people was crowded as they represented the vitality of Tokyo City.
This world was a parallel world. It had neither the Minazuki family nor the best newcomer musician Tetsuya Yuu. It was almost identical to her previous world. It was just that many bigshots in the previous world were replaced by some big Japanese families to fit the plot. She felt she lost herself in this unfamiliar world.
Could the Hoshiyuki family be her home? She didn't know...because she took away the position of the original 'Suiri'. She felt that her parents this life didn't belong to her, but their feelings spending on her were so real. If she woke up as 'Suiri' when she was a teenager, these feelings might've grown even stronger. Fortunately, she was born as a baby from the beginning to the end.
"Oujo-sama, welcome back to home"
Sasaki woke Suiri up from those useless and negative thoughts.
"Um..."
Suiri got off the car and walked toward her 'second home'. The house mansion was quite big and luxurious. The front yard was a garden with many cherry blossom trees. Pink petals gently follow the lead of a cool wind passing by Suiri as if they welcomed her home.
After a while, she was at the front door.
Suiri lifted her fragile, and beautiful white jade foot under black stock silk to change her shoes into home sandals with a fox-like design. Then, she stepped into the living room and she caught a long white-haired woman watching the TV show.
"Добро пожаловать, Sui-chan"
(Welcome back)
Natasha realized her daughter coming home, she bloomed a beautiful smile on her face with gentle, doting eyes.
As for Suiri, her mother approached and hugged her tightly into a warm embrace. The unique cherry blossom flower smell brought her a 'home' feeling. She liked it. She wished she could be at peace of mind to enjoy this feeling without worrying about betrayal.
"Я дома, мама"
(I'm home, Mama)