Chapter 3: Tora Was Driven By A Touch Of Anxiety
TL: Akabane
***
The next morning.
The first day of school at Saibo High School began with a plot by his father, Torahiko.
""""Ohh‼""""
"It suits you very well, Nekomaru-sama."
Along with the butlers, whose eyes sparkled, Hyoma cheered at the sight of Nekomaru in his uniform.
A navy blue blazer was worn over his shirt, and black slacks, cinched with a belt, perfectly encased Nekomaru from the waist down, with no gaps.
Finally, a blue-and-white tie hangs from his neck, and he looks exactly like a student of his age.
"I thought so when I tried it on yesterday, but it's not as bad as I thought. My father told me that when you put on a uniform, you are struck by some kind of discomfort, and it usually takes a while to get used to it. ......"
"Because of his usual work, Nekomaru-sama was often in a suit. Perhaps that reduces the stress of the attire."
Nekomaru naturally let slip that he had an exceptionally good feeling about the uniform, which tends to receive low marks, as he adjusted his collar.
At this reaction, Hyoma thought, "Oh?"
"Yesterday, you were so reluctant ....... In fact, you're not afraid of it, aren't you?"
"No, I'm not. Absolutely not. Next time you tell me a joke that isn't funny, I'll crash you out of your position as head butler, okay?"
Nekomaru and Hyoma are conversing in a friendly atmosphere since the morning, while interspersing jokes that border on blackmail.
The other butlers were momentarily reminded of their age difference as brothers. Immediately after that...
"Wooooooo......"
A haggard man appears from the door of the hall where all the people of the mansion are gathered, with a haggard absentminded yawn.
Only a second later. Including Hyoma, who had just been amiably conversing with Nekomaru. All the butlers spoke in unison,
""""Good morning, Torahiko-sama!""""
They shouted at a volume that it might leak outside.
"Oh?! What's up, Neko, you're already wearing your school uniform! You really don't mind going to school that much, do you?"
"Of course not. I'm still filled with a feeling of displeasure."
"Again, you're so bossy! You look great! Even a horse should wear a costume!"
"Hey, are you trying to compliment me or put me down?"
Nekomaru responds to his father, who approaches him with a big smile on his face, in a rather cold tone.
It's evidence that he hasn't yet forgiven himself for being set up.
The son has been pushed around by his parents' selfishness and has become completely unfaithful.
The father is still laughing as he scratches his head, not caring about such things.
Incidentally, he doesn't have a single hair that sticks to his head, and he owns a dry land that cannot even become a burnt field.
"Hmm?"
"What's wrong?"
"No, I feel like someone just made fun of me ....... Oh well."
Torahiko suddenly clapped his hands without warning.
As if in response, the four butlers, including Hyoma, approach Nekomaru, who is standing still.
"Nekomaru-sama, excuse me."
"????"
As if suddenly bowing their heads, the four butlers held out their hands to Nekomaru, then all at once touched his body as if they were fishing for him.
Nekomaru was touched on both hands, both feet, chest, and stomach, one after another, and he had no idea what they were doing or what their purpose was.
The answer, however, soon appeared.
"--! There it is!"
"There's another one here ....... Oh, and over here, too!"
"Okay, bring them all to me."
After touching all the bodies, Hyoma and the others quickly leave Nekomaru's side.
In their hands and arms, they hold several props, all of which they carry before Torahiko's eyes.
"Well, first of all, we confirmed the planted gun from the right arm and the piano wire wrapped around it from the left arm. Next are the secret knives, one belt buckle shaped, two card shaped, and three each key and pen shaped ....... Finally, there were a total of 36 throwing knives, hidden inside the blazer. In total, 47 items, the murder weapon was identified."
"I see. ......"
Hyoma's report was delivered in a calm and unaffected manner. Torahiko let out a deep sigh this time, as if he had been replaced by Nekomaru from yesterday, in front of the array of murder weapons.
"Dad? What are you looking so beaten down by reality?"
--- What on earth is he unhappy about?
Nekomaru tilted his head, unable to comprehend his father's dismay.
"Hey, Neko. Where in the world were you planning to go with this?"
"Where is it, of course it's going to school. You said that yesterday, didn't you?"
"Uh, yeah, that's right. Yeah. ......."
-- This is pretty serious .......
Torahiko truly accepts the fact that his son is unconscious from his words, actions, and reactions.
At the same time, right before the show, I'm really glad that I realized it.
I must teach him this properly.
A light went off in my father's chest, and he made up his mind to do something.
With a small cough, he looked into the eyes of his son, who was looking at him with a question mark in front of him.
"Neko, after all the preparations you've made this morning, I'm going to have to confiscate all of this and more."
"Why? I thought I chose equipment that wouldn't attract attention from those around me and wouldn't look suspicious. ......"
"That's not what I'm trying to point out. --The purpose of your trip to the high school is not to go undercover, which is what you've been doing for work, but to be a normal student. I'm not asking you to abandon your awareness as an assassin, but at the very least, don't bring these kinds of dangerous things with you."
For Nekomaru, who has lived as an underworld person for many years, it's extremely difficult for him to abandon his previous common sense and live a normal life in just one day.
Torahiko was well aware of this point and thought it would probably be impossible to solve the problem.
However, he couldn't leave the situation as it was.
If that were the case, he would at least try to persuade his son to send him off in a slightly better condition, even if it was only apologetically.
"Going to an uncivilized place empty-handed is not a good idea. ....... At least allow me a knife and a piano wire."
"No, that's a little ...... too much."
"You think my request is unacceptable after you made such a selfish offer to me yesterday? I'm sure I showed a lot of consideration for you."
"Ugu......"
Torahiko was hit right where it hurts, and he clammed up.
Then, lost in thought for a moment, he continued to dwell on the question of what to do.
"I don't think you'll ever, ever get a chance to use it. But you're still going to take it with you?"
"Yeah, it's better than nothing."
Finally, he settled on a form that would accommodate his son's wishes.
As soon as he received approval, Nekomaru picked up one of the knives with the appearance of a pen and a piano wire that had been collected by Hyoma and the others.
--- Well, after a while, you're going to realize, even if you don't like it, that it's just baggage.
At first glance, this decision could be seen as a compromise, but it's difficult for anyone to make major changes to the person they have become.
Deciding to take the long view, Torahiko looked at his son who was rewinding piano wire around his left arm.
"Okay, I guess we're all set now."
"Yeah, yeah, I guess so. ......"
Suddenly, a new problem appeared in Torahiko's mind.
It was as vague as if a haze was hanging over it, and compared to the previous issue, it didn't seem like much of a problem.
"What is it? Is there something more?"
"Oh, no, nothing. ......"
"I'm telling you, I'm not going to listen to you any more. I'm just getting tired of my father's selfishness."
But it was certainly a fact that shouldn't be neglected.
--- What is it? This indescribable frustration .......
While Torahiko's head was once again troubled by a sense of uneasiness that he couldn't see the shape of.
Without looking at his father, Nekomaru picked up the bag at his feet and said, "Well then, I'm off."
""""Have a nice trip, Nekomaru-sama‼""""
With the butlers' words at his back, he disappeared into the outside world.
"He's gone, Torahiko-sama. ...... Torahiko-sama? What happened?"
"It'll be okay, right? Really, there is nothing's wrong, right ......?"
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