From an outsider's perspective, Shiina had certainly been wide-eyed at Miyuki's otherworldly beauty. But in her heart, she felt it was only "fitting" for the sister of the man who had defeated the 'Crimson Prince' to be her brother's fiancée.
While there was an element of family bias, it was an objective fact that Yugen possessed extraordinary talent, even among the bloodline of the current Mitsuya head. Shiina's eyes would often sparkle when listening to her grandfather, Gozo Kamizumi, recount Yugen's heroic deeds, such as "overwhelming a massive army single-handedly."
Gozo himself had strictly instructed Shiina to simply do what was within her own reach, but Shiina continued to hone her skills, striving to reach the level of the brother she admired so much. Whether this gap in perception would lead to something more... only the gods knew.
"Shiina, good work today."
"Saburo-kun!?"
They were in front of the main gate, so she kept her voice down to avoid looking strange, but Shiina was still visibly startled. The boy, Saburo Yaguruma, merely shrugged.
"I told you my errands wouldn't take that long today. You could have gone home."
"It would look bad if a bodyguard let his charge walk home alone. My dad would skin me alive."
"I suppose, but still..."
Shiina and Saburo were born only two days apart. Given the close relationship between the Mitsuya and Yaguruma families, they felt more like siblings. Part of that dynamic was influenced by Yugen, who was close to them in age. Saburo understood why Shiina admired Yugen, but he had always harbored a somewhat unsettled feeling about it.
However, when his father told him that it was Yugen who had changed Saburo when he was struggling to use magic properly, Saburo's opinion of Yugen shifted drastically. That turning point had also been the beginning of Saburo's own struggles.
"...Based on that look, did you see Yugen-niisan?"
"Eh? How did you know?"
"How? Because your face is completely relaxed. It's obvious who you've run into when you look like that."
Yugen's influence had begun when Shiina volunteered to learn martial arts. Saburo, who had been studying Shinkage-ryu sword arts at the Mitsuya family's recommendation, found himself training even harder, determined not to be left behind as Shiina's skills improved. It wasn't just male pride; it was the stubbornness of a young man in love with a girl.
"So, aren't you going to ask?"
"Ask what?"
"You know... about President Shiba or Shiba-senpai?"
"What good would asking do? All I can do is make sure I don't do anything to provoke them," Saburo said.
Saburo had hit a wall with his magic for a time. But because that shackle had been broken for him, he was determined to maintain his self-discipline. While one had to be cautious around the Yotsuba, Saburo wasn't entirely ignorant.
"Come on, let's get home, Lady Shiina."
"...You know, Saburo-kun, you don't have to try so hard to act like my brother. I think you're wonderful as you are."
"S-shut up..."
Just between us: when a proposal came from the Yaguruma main house to take a mistress, Shiina's mood had turned incredibly sour. It had taken Saburo three full days of fawning over her to get back into her good graces.
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