Living in a Class-Based World
Chapter 10 Yukishiro ②

Around the time when Yuuta was having a fun shopping spree with Aoi and the gang, the mansion of the Eternal Minato was wrapped up in a gloomy atmosphere. The reason was clear and simple: Takuya, who was supposed to become Yukishiro’s future husband, had assigned Layla as his direct affiliate without any prior consultation.

Ever since they found out about this on the day of the high school entrance ceremony, the mansion itself was constantly filled with an air of unrest and anxiety.

As Takuya requested on that day, Yukishiro had suggested all sorts of business-related Services to Takuya as he had shown interest in this field of work. The girls, who had become Takuya’s indirect affiliates thanks to Yukishiro’s recommendation, had also suggested business-related Services to him.

And Takuya had been actively tackling those Service suggestions.

Back when he had heard about the details of the Services from Yukishiro, Takuya had frolicked like a little kid. Seeing him like that, the fifteen indirect affiliates all looked relieved. Takuya had somehow become weird after he started to spend time with Layla, but it looked as though he was interacting with Yukishiro as the excellent man he used to be before.

However, Yukishiro wasn’t misled by that. Watching him rejoice like a child, she felt that something was off about him. And that worry proved to be spot on.

Takuya started to cause problems at the Service destinations which he had accepted for being business-related.

His speech and conduct of acting as if he wants to become the president of the company stands out in all of them.

Takuya’s behavior at the respective companies and enterprises posed a problem. Apparently he went beyond his boundaries as a man and meddled in the business operations as if being the boss. Information about these problems mainly gathered at the Eternal Minato family through the women working at those companies.

As of yet, they weren’t complaining. They just didn’t know how to deal with Takuya’s troublesome behavior. But, it was pretty obvious that they’d eventually start complaining, if the situation continued to deteriorate.

Then again I won’t be able to talk back, if I’m told that I cannot control Takuya-sama.

The one losing her temper the most over Layla becoming Takuya’s direct affiliate was the matriarch Saori, but as the reports about Takuya’s problematic behavior kept flowing in, she just felt increasingly exhausted with every new case, apparently having recently run out of strength to get upset over Takuya’s antics.

Takuya-sama had been such an outstanding man until junior high, but the instant he entered high school, he demonstrated an interest in business as if he’d become a different person altogether. He was acting as though he doesn’t even care about things like the class’s Sports Day. And yet we haven’t decided on what sort of Sports Day we’re going to hold, let alone the program.

Today was yet another day of Yukishiro getting scolded by a worn-out Saori. She told her daughter to have a proper talk with Takuya and make sure that he wouldn’t cause any further problems. Harboring interest in business was a good thing, but it was wrong for him to meddle too much with the company’s operations. Ultimately men were managed by society and it was wrong for them to try leaving that framework, Saori explained.

If Takuya-sama wishes to secure more rights for men, this is the wrong way to do it. It will only cause chaos in society. In the first place, the current societal structure is the very reason why Takuya-sama can conduct himself however he pleases. If he demands even more rights while basing his whole being on the existing societal system, it will just earn him a backlash from society.

Yukishiro didn’t know the reason why Takuya was showing such interest in business, but assuming it was for the sake of claiming even more rights for men, she’d judged his method as flawed. Trying to expand the privileges based on the huge benefits society was granting him and the other men as precious existences was mistaken on a fundamental level.

But even if I try to admonish him indirectly, he doesn’t lend me an ear. Just what has happened to him…?

Yukishiro suspected Takuya’s change to be connected to Layla. Going by the information she obtained from behind the scenes, these two already shared a physical relationship. However, Yukishiro didn’t really mind that. Even she was aware of Takuya having knocked up many of his caseworkers.

Layla has apparently feigned friendliness during junior high, but as soon as she entered high school, she revealed her true nature. But, would only this much suffice to make Takuya-sama change so much? Was he attracted to the life of men in Mir or something like that?

In Mir men would become company presidents and earn their own money. Using that money, they could live in luxury and do as they pleased, but no one said that their business would always work out. Rather, they’d be targeted and exploited by women.

I don’t understand. I hear the men of Mir only cause problems.

Every year several men would visit Nihon as state guests from Mir which was producing precious metals which Nihon needed. Each time, those men would apparently cause a significant number of issues in Nihon. Things like suddenly trying to rape women who were walking the street, and similar.

Well, I heard that some women also accept it if it allows them to have sex with a man.

After Saori finished her sermon, Yukishiro returned to her own room and pondered about her future schedule.

First up was the Sports Day. Several of the indirect affiliates had expressed their worries about the Sports Day program not having been decided yet.

Tomorrow I must somehow force a decision while meeting with Takuya-sama. Usually, I’d prefer to have him entrust everything to me so that I could decide everything myself, but…

With the other direct affiliate, Layla, in the mix, things had become complicated. Even if Yukishiro were to run the Sports Day while managing everything herself, Layla would doubtlessly find fault with Yukishiro’s methods, saying that she’d have been able to produce a much better Sports Day.

Yet, she hasn’t made a single suggestion so far.

Layla, Monika, and Emily were taking their lessons in another classroom because they were receiving a Mir Kingdom-styled education. Yukishiro would have to expressly visit that classroom to talk with Layla. But, Yukishiro visiting Layla’s classroom was similar to her admitting that she was the inferior one of the two.

Even if I send a messenger, she curtly tells me that she leaves things to me. And my proposals to Takuya-sama for creating an occasion for us three to have a discussion haven’t gone anywhere either.

An unconscious sigh escaped her lips as she found herself in a situation where she seemed to be blocked in every direction. The only salvation within this mess were the indirect affiliate girls who were idolizing Yukishiro. All of them were supporting Yukishiro, who was trying to somehow handle the current situation.

I must do my best for the sake of everyone else. One way or another I’ll fix Takuya-sama’s thinking…no, not fixing, but offering him to search for a method that would be accepted by society. Just why has Takuya become so interested in business…? Him not having talked with me before making up his mind on this is definitely mortifying.

“Hahaha!”

Yukishiro could hear loud laughter outside her room. A laughter that was abnormal for this mansion.

Katsuya-sama is visiting again, huh? Ever since he came here once, he’s taken quite a liking to this place.

Katsuya, the guy aiming for Yukishiro’s little sister Iori. They shared a relationship you could describe as mutual love.

It’s nice that she won over Katsuya-sama’s heart, but… He apparently neglects his interaction with the other girls.

Iori was clinging to Katsuya as she didn’t put any value in him being in contact with other women like Yukishiro did.

She should admonish him and not be so proud about not allowing any other women getting close to Katsuya-sama.

Among the girls visiting his classroom, Katsuya only entertained Iori. During junior high, girls with the permission to attend the boy’s zone school were free to enter any classroom they liked to interact with the boy inside, but Katsuya ignored all the girls attending his classroom except for Iori, and Yukishiro had even heard that he’d sometimes chase them out.

Katsuya had been able to reach D-Rank after finishing the second year of junior high, but rumors about him causing many problems with his attitude after becoming a third-year had started to circulate.

If they can live the many coming years with just the two of them, this much is okay. But, we’re allowed to live thanks to society. Living as a couple without contributing to society… Mother should scold Iori as well, but she can’t say anything because she’s so happy about their romantic relationship. Yet, she’s fully aware that Iori is unfit as family head. Mother sure has her awkward parts as well.

Yukishiro’s thinking had gone astray because of Katsuya’s laughter, but now she reconsidered that she should worry about herself rather than Iori.

Silly me. Right now I don’t have the leeway to think about Iori.

Tomorrow Takuya would visit the class. She kept sorting the things she had to talk about with Takuya. She put her ideas in order to the tune of her fingers racing across the keyboard.

“Please excuse me.”

Yukishiro reflexively turned around with a smile on her lips due to that voice.

Lilika. She was standing in the door, holding a large bag and cleaning tools.

“I have come to do the cleaning.”

“S-Sure…is that alright?”

“Yes. Iori-sama told me that she wishes to spend time with Katsuya-sama alone.

“I see…”

Iori had been bullying Yukishiro by placing Lilika, who was like a big sister to Yukishiro, at her side, but apparently she still cherished her time with Katsuya over her dislike towards Yukishiro.

This in itself is very appreciated, Yukishiro secretly thanked Katsuya.

Lilika prepared a milk tea for Yukishiro. Yukishiro liked the milk tea she brewed herself, but she loved the milk tea prepared by Lilika.

『I love milk since it’s sweet and white like snow♪』

Lilika had brewed a sweet milk tea while saying so to the still young Yukishiro in the past. She was always supporting Yukishiro who was isolated and lonely as the next family head.

“Hehe, it has been quite a while since I was last able to slowly clean your room like this, Yukishiro-sama.”

“Indeed. Thank you for always helping me out, Lilika-san.”

“Oh my, what might you be talking about?”

“Ehehe.”

Whenever Yukishiro watched male V-Streamers and commented during their streams, she used Lilika’s ID. Under normal circumstances, this was forbidden, but Lilika was lending her ID to Yukishiro out of consideration. Because of that, Lilika herself couldn’t write any comments, even if she was able to watch the streams.

While cleaning Yukishiro’s room, Lilika happily said, “Yuu-sama’s stream sure was incredible.”

“So you watched it after all, huh?”

“Of course. Now that Konohamaru-sama retired, he’s a hopeful newcomer who appeared out of the blue like a comet! Moreover, that succubus suit…that is one amazing piece of invention, I would argue.”

“Yes, for a person to come up with something like that is definitely unexpected. They’re a genius.”

“And because of that…it’s a bit early, but, this is my birthday present for you, Yukishiro-sama! Tadaaaah♪,” Lilika exclaimed with a cheerful voice while opening the big bag she brought with her.

Inside was…

“T-This is…!”

“Yes! The succubus suit which is the talk of town at the moment! I thought it might be difficult for you to buy it directly.”

Yukishiro’s birthday in June was still a bit away, but she received the best present from Lilika. Seeing the succubus suit, Yukishiro’s face broke into a lovely, natural smile.

“Thank you! I’m so happy!”

She spontaneously flew into Lilika’s arms, expressing her gratitude with tears in her eyes.

She wanted this suit. After watching Dreamseducer Yuu’s first stream, she wanted the succubus suit so much.

But, someone in the mansion would have found out, if Yukishiro had bought it herself. In the worst case, if Iori found out about Yukishiro buying a succubus suit…it was quite possible that she’d have immediately prattled on to Takuya. And if Takuya heard about this, it might lead to a huge problem.

For this reason, Yukishiro had given up on the succubus suit.

“A succubus suit!”

Yukishiro delightfully picked it up. It was the same suit, which the woman with the extremely huge breasts had worn when Dreamseducer Yuu’s stream had switched to a live feed. This black suit reached all the way up to the neck, covering the whole body down to the ankles.

Yukishiro expected that this might become a receiver.

“This here is the cable for charging it. There’s a place to insert the plug on the backside of the ankle.”

“How long does it take to fully charge it?”

“Umm, it seems like it’ll generally take around one hour.”

“One hour at this size!? Wow. The fabric of this suit…I wonder what they’ve used for it.”

It was something she’d love to request the Minato’s research department to analyze, but she couldn’t do something like that.

“I also bought these here♪”

“Ohhh! Yuu-sama’s exclusive earphones♪”

Lilika had prepared not only the succubus suit, but even the exclusive earphones as presents for Yukishiro.

“You’re a true lifesaver…thanks to you, I can keep going, Lilika-san.”

“Hehe, I’m happy as long as I can be of help to you, Yukishiro-sama.”

Yukishiro enjoyed this time of being alone with Lilika after such a long time. Time flew by as she got all excited chatting about Dreamseducer Yuu with Lilika.

•°• ⚠ •°•

“I must go back soon. It is time for Katsuya-sama to go back home.”

“You’re right. It’d be bad for me to cause you trouble.”

“Yukishiro-sama, whatever might happen, I’ll always be your ally. Please do not forget this.”

“I know. Thank you Lilika-san.”

After gently hugging Yukishiro at the end, Lilika left Yukishiro’s room with a smile.

•°• ⚠ •°•

I suppose Lilika-san hasn’t realized. …I’d like to tell her, though.

Under the current circumstances, it wasn’t easy for Yukishiro to say it. It wasn’t as though she had proof for it, and she didn’t know the situation of the other party either. She guessed some other people had also noticed, but as far as she had investigated, no one was actually voicing it out. You couldn’t even hear it as an online rumor.

What is he trying to achieve by doing this? And, how much does Aoi-san know about it?

She wanted to ask. If permitted, she wanted to meet Aoi and the boy in person.

I wonder what is different about him compared to Takuya-sama. Assuming he’s aiming to rise in society as a man…I don’t understand why I consider Takuya-sama as dangerous, but not him.

Yukishiro couldn’t comprehend the contradiction existing inside herself. It was a comparison based on nothing but guesses, but assuming all of it was true, she asked herself about the difference she felt in her heart.

Is it because it’s a new initiative? No, that’s not all…

Yukishiro questioned herself while deciding on a place to hide the succubus suit and exclusive earphones she had received from Lilika. She tried to ask her own heart.

Why…? Is it the same reason as to why Yuuta-sama’s voice sounds so nice to me? His gentle voice…

Yukishiro continued to brood for a while while gazing at the earphones and succubus suit she had finally hidden inside her room.

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