Chapter 87: Sub Heroine Is Also A Heroine
After reluctantly eating the onigiri, I remembered my original purpose for coming to the Student Council room and asked the Vice President,
Vice President, when do you plan to return the manga I lent you last time?
The Vice President, who had been nagging beside me, then remembered with a start and made a late realization.
Can I have a little more time? Ive been busy with Student Council work and havent finished it yet.
Its already been a month since you borrowed it. If youre not going to read it, please return it.
Alright. Ill finish reading it and return it within this week.
Having firmly secured a promise from the Vice President, I greeted the President and Minami and stood up to return to the classroom.
Then, Senior Fuma quickly got up to follow me.
Seeing this, the President asked,
How long do you plan to follow Kim Yu-seong, Fuma?
Senior Fuma replied with a brazen face,
Until he accepts my offer.
Isnt that too brazen? It seems like he doesnt like it.
Then Senior Fuma looked at me.
Do you dislike it?
Yes, its a bit bothersome.
No matter how pretty someone was, it was honestly not pleasant when it disrupted daily life.
Then, Senior Fuma groaned and then, with a look of having an idea, said to me,
How about this, then?
What do you mean?
Come to my house after school. Then I will explain to you why Im clinging to you.
If I listen to that, will you stop following me?
Ah, I promise.
Well, if that was the case, I guess I couldnt help it.
Okay. Lets do that.
Then the President, who had been listening, blushed and exclaimed,
Wh-wh-what?! How dare you speak so boldly of an impure relationship with a girl in front of me, the Student Council President! I did not raise Kim Yu-seong to be like that!
Calm down, miss. Nothing like that has been mentioned yet.
No, the possibility is definitely there.
The Vice President interjected, agreeing with Minamis words.
A young man and woman of that age in the same house and same room? That means the game is already over.
It seems like whats really over is your brain, brother
It was a nonsensical statement, yet it seemed plausible enough to our President.
Fuma! Is it only Yu-seong whos going to your house after school?
Why are you asking that all of a sudden?
Its a natural question. Im planning to follow along.
Senior Fuma then showed a rare grimace.
That seems a bit problematic.
Im not planning to just tag along for nothing. I will compensate you properly.
Upon saying this, the President clapped her hands, and the Vice President pulled out a cheque from his wallet.
Will this suffice?
Then Senior Fuma snatched the cheque as if there was nothing more to see and said,
You can come as often as you like. In fact, Id prefer it if you came every day.
With no trace of pride left in her capriciousness, the President covered her mouth with a fan and laughed, Ohoho! That was easy!
Money couldnt solve everything, but most things could be settled with money.
After school.
I met up with Senior Fuma, who had been waiting for me at the school gate.
Rika looked at us with a resentful expression, but when I explained it was to shake off Senior Fuma, she reluctantly agreed.
After sending Rika ahead, I waited a bit longer, and a long limousine slowly pulled up to the school gate.
It was the Presidents limousine I always saw.
Click!
As the door of the black car opened, the President greeted me from inside.
Did you wait long?
No, I just came out.
I naturally responded and got into the limousine, but Senior Fuma behind me hesitated to get in.
When I asked why, Senior Fuma swallowed hard and answered,
Its my first time in such a car. To be honest, it feels a bit overwhelming.
Then the President covered her mouth with a fan and laughed, Ohoho!
A commoner like Fuma must have never had the chance to ride in a limousine. But since Im offering you this special experience, you should be grateful and get in.
Swallowing her saliva nervously, Senior Fuma got into the limousine with a tense expression.
She then sat down next to me, across from the President.
Seeing this, the Presidents ladylike smile faltered.
Fuma, why are you sitting there so naturally?
That side is too intimidating.
Senior Fuma said this and placed her bag on her lap.
It was a stalemate.
The uncompromising battle of pride between the two women was fierce, even to my oblivious eyes.
Was this why they say that when a woman harbors a grudge, frost falls even in June?
After riding for about 20 minutes in the Presidents limousine, we arrived at the apartment where Senior Fuma lived although it was more like an old row house.
Not just me, but even the President seemed startled by the old wooden apartment that looked like something out of a manga, muttering with a shocked expression.
I had no idea such buildings still existed in Tokyo.
Senior Fuma, seemingly accustomed to such reactions, nonchalantly replied and went up the stairs.
Im sorry to live in such a building.
The President, realizing her mistake, made a surprised noise but then followed Senior Fuma up the stairs, just like me.
The third room on the second floor.
Room 203 was where Senior Fuma lived alone.
Upon opening the key-locked door, a small, bleak room about six tatami mats in size was revealed, hardly believable as the residence of a high school girl in her prime.
A typical one-room apartment.
It seemed to be about 10 square meters in size.
Excuse me.
Perhaps it was her first time visiting such a house. The President looked flustered as she spoke and took off her shoes.
The President and I followed Senior Fuma into the house.
Senior Fuma hung her uniform on a hanger, placed her bag on the desk, and asked,
I have green tea and coffee for drinks; which would you prefer? Note that both are instant.
The President straightened up like a tense meerkat and replied,
Ill have coffee, please.
How much sugar?
Two spoons.
Got it. And you, Kim Yu-seong?
Ill have the same as the President.
Senior Fuma then familiarly filled the kettle with water from the sink.
While the water in the kettle was boiling, Senior Fuma fetched some cushions from the corner and handed them to us.
We sat down on the cushions on the floor, and an awkward silence ensued.
It was because we were unsure of how to start the conversation.
Even the President, who had reluctantly followed along after spending money, was cautiously observing Senior Fuma.
Then, Senior Fuma, sitting formally on the cushion, leaned one hand on the tatami and began to speak.
First off, since Ive already explained to you, Kim Yu-seong, we can skip the initial part, right?
Ah, yes.
And since Saionji has ninja families under her command, she should know the basic principles of the underworld.
The President, sensing that something serious was about to be discussed, nodded with a tense expression.
I have some knowledge of it.
Then this will be quick.
Senior Fuma said this and lifted a tatami mat next to her.
Underneath was an old book.
Whats that?
Its the reason I invited you today. This is the Fuma Ninja Arts Book, a secret book passed down through the Fuma family for generations.
Senior Fuma said this and quickly flipped through the book, stopping at a specific page.
And this is Gale, one of the two martial arts only the direct lineage of the Fuma can learn, as I mentioned before.
Senior Fuma said this and turned the book upside down to show me its contents.
There were various movements depicted in a dynamic style, as if coming to life, illustrated with a brush.
Reading the brief annotations, there were many instructions for movements that ordinary strength couldnt accomplish.
Using hands as if they were swords, it seemed impossible for ordinary people to imitate them even upon seeing them.
As you can see, this martial art is designed for superhumans. And since my father, the 17th generation Fuma Kotaro, left the village, theres no one left who can master this martial art. This means the secret techniques that have been passed down for hundreds of years in our family might be lost in my generation. As the acting head of the family, I cant let that happen.
Listening to our conversation, the President asked with a puzzled expression,
Hold on a moment. Im lost about all this talk about Fuma Kotaro. Are you saying you, Fuma, are a descendant of the Fuma Kotaro mentioned in historical texts?
Thats correct, President.
I had no idea!
Of course. Its been kept a secret until now. Even if the Presidents subordinates are ninjas, their experiences and mine are vastly different.
Senior Fuma nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and the President, looking somewhat offended, swallowed hard with a hmph.
She seemed particularly irked by the suggestion that the Vice President and Minami were on a lower level.
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