Rich Girl Caretaker Vol. 2 Epilogue

Epilogue

After Mirei Tennouji successfully refused the engagement. Kiou Academy held its mock exams. Unlike midterms, there were fewer subjects, but this being Kiou Academy, the test was still massive, taking a full three days to complete. Then, another week passed. The mock exam results were posted.

"Everyone~! Over here, over here~!"

A large crowd of students was already gathered in front of the bulletin board by the faculty office. After dropping my bag in the classroom, I walked to the board with Hinako. Asahi-san was waving at us from a distance. Tennouji-san was beside her.

"I just ran into Tennouji-san!"

She said, and Tennouji-san gave a silent bow. Then, she looked at me.

"Let's check our results together."

If I wasn't being narcissistic, I felt that was directed at me, not the group. A nervous shiver ran down my spine, and I swallowed. When Kiou Academy holds an exam, the top 50 scores and names are posted. My goal was to be in that top 50. I steeled myself and looked at the board. My name was—

"............Not there."

I barely managed to keep my legs from giving out. I hadn't made it.

"That's to be expected."

Tennouji-san said from my side as I wallowed.

"The students at this school have received elite educations since they were children. It would take years of effort to catch up to them."

She was probably right. Still, I wanted to have some results. She had taught me so much, and I couldn't even give her good news. As I stood there silently, she sighed at me.

"...Have you checked your answers yourself?"

"Eh? No..."

"From what I've seen, you probably just barely missed it. In terms of score improvement, I'd wager you improved the most."

She looked at me with approving eyes.

"If that's still not good enough for you... you just have to keep working hard."

Those words saved my sinking heart. I looked at her smiling face, and the pressure in my chest vanished.

"...Yeah."

That's right. I'll just keep at it. After all, since she's not leaving the school... I can just apply this frustration to the future.

"Mmm, I'm not on there either. Oh well, I knew I wouldn't be."

"Of course I'm not up there."

"Yep, me neither."

Asahi-san, Taisho, and Narika had already accepted their fate. All that was left was... Hinako and Tennouji-san.

"Konohana-san and Tennouji-san should be in the top 10. Mmm... but it's so crowded, I can't see from here."

Asahi-san stood on her toes, trying to see past the crowd. The top 10 were on a separate board, which was even more crowded.

"Whoa, no way! Someone got a perfect score!"

Taisho said excitedly, overhearing another student.

"Is a perfect score rare?"

"Yeah! The tests here are crazy hard, so it almost never happens."

The questions were difficult. I instinctively glanced at Hinako and Tennouji-san. If anyone got a perfect score... it had to be one of them.

"This time, I will beat Hinako Konohana...!"

Tennouji-san whispered, too quietly for anyone else to hear... but I heard it. I was the only one who knew her resolve.

As I felt a new wave of nervousness, the students in the crowd noticed Hinako and Tennouji-san and made way. The noisy sea of people parted like the Red Sea. The two great ojou-sama of Kiou Academy walked calmly to the front. We saw the results—and stared, stunned.

"This..."

"There are two perfect scores...?"

The top name was Hinako Konohana. The one below it was Mirei Tennouji. But both of their total scores were identical—800 points. The students began to applaud. Amid the clapping, I whispered to Hinako:

"You worked hard, too."

"...Mhm."

She replied in her normal voice.

"Because I didn't want... to lose to you two."

She said, pouting slightly.

Ah—that's right. I couldn't help but smile. It was obvious, now that I thought about it. It wasn't just Tennouji-san who had been studying frantically. Hinako had been working hard, too.

"...Hehe."

Tennouji-san let out a small laugh. She hadn't achieved her goal of beating Hinako, but—

"Ohohoho! This is a worthy rival!"

She laughed, full of joy. It was as if she was just happy she could continue to compete with Hinako.

"As my rival, I have a proposal for you."

She looked at Hinako, a nervous blush on her cheeks.

"T-Tonight... would you like to come over to my house?"

◆

That evening. I visited the Tennouji family home once again.

"Alright, we will split up here."

Shizune-san stepped out of the passenger seat and bowed to Hinako and me.

"What about you, Shizune-san?"

"I will accompany Kagen-sama to greet the heads of the Tennouji family. Itsuki-wakasama, please go and pay your respects with the Ojou-sama later."

"Understood."

Behind her, Kagen-san was adjusting his tie. While I, Hinako, and Tennouji-san chatted, Kagen-san and Shizune-san would greet Masatsugu-san and Hanami-san.

"Itsuki... is that suit new...?"

Hinako whispered.

"Yeah. I heard we were having French cuisine, so I picked a French-made one."

Before I left, Shizune-san had asked, "Which suit will you wear?" I'd given it some thought. I wore an Italian suit to the Konohana party, so this was also a nice change of pace.

Kagen-san, who was nearby, overheard us and muttered quietly:

"You've learned how to dress."

"Huh?"

I couldn't believe it. I stared at him.

"...Did you just praise me?"

"I was praising the Tennouji family's way of education, not you."

He said, turning his back and walking off with Shizune-san. I wasn't naive enough to take his praise at face value, but feeling his acknowledgment gave me a small sense of accomplishment. This was all thanks to my time with Tennouji-san.

I entered the Tennouji mansion with Hinako.

"Konohana-san! Tomonari-kun! I've been waiting!"

Tennouji-san greeted us with a beaming smile. Her expression wasn't that of a noble heiress, but of a girl eagerly waiting for her friends.

"Thank you for inviting us."

Hinako replied, switching to her ojou-sama mode for the formal greeting.

"I have visited your home many times, but this is the first personal invitation. May I ask the occasion?"

"There's no special reason."

Tennouji-san replied with a soft smile.

"If I had to say... it's because I wanted to befriend you not as the Tennouji heiress, but as a simple classmate."

Hinako's eyes went wide. Her ojou-sama mask almost slipped, showing just how shocked she was. Tennouji-san had changed. She had accepted the reality of being both the Tennouji heiress and a teenage girl.

"...I would like to be your friend, as well."

Hinako said, suppressing her shock with a smile. Tennouji-san's cheeks flushed.

"H-Hearing you say it... is a little embarrassing..."

An awkward, shy atmosphere hung between them. I watched from a step behind. Just then, I glanced away—

"Uuu... Mirei... our Mirei is all grown up...!"

"You're right, dear...! I feel like our daughter is shining brighter than usual...!"

—and saw a pair of doting parents, weeping as they watched their daughter.

"Tomonari-kun... No, Itsuki-kun."

Masatsugu-san said, walking over while wiping his tears. For some reason, he'd changed how he addressed me.

"I heard from Mirei. You're the one who helped awaken her true heart."

"No..."

"She's made a wonderful friend... I see now. It would be a true shame if you were expelled."

He said, looking between me and Hinako. Seeing his gentle expression, I felt it again: he truly cared more for Mirei Tennouji, his daughter, than for his family's business.

"By the way, Itsuki-kun, are you interested in the Tennouji Group?"

"What?"

The sudden question made me tilt my head.

"That was too roundabout. Let me rephrase... Would you like to marry into our family?"

"Huh? Wait... Wha?"

"Mirei seems to want to marry for love, and you're the boy she's closest to, aren't you? So I thought I'd check your intentions first—"

"—Father!"

Tennouji-san's shout echoed. She must have overheard us. She marched over, face bright red.

"Please stop deciding things on your own!"

"B-But, if he's going to be our son-in-law, he needs to learn about the Tennouji Group's operations now—"

"You're getting way ahead of yourself!"

Perhaps because Tennouji-san's awareness as a "daughter" had increased, Masatsugu-san's "fatherly love" had run wild. He hung his head, dejected.

"Goodness... Tomonari-kun, I am so sorry."

"No, it's fine..."

Tennouji-san apologized, embarrassed. I just gave her a wry smile.

"Even as a joke, that gave me a shock."

When I said that, she made an annoyed face for some reason. In a pouty voice, she whispered so only I could hear:

"...It wasn't entirely a joke, you know."

"Huh?"

"As of right now, there's no other boy I'm closer to. So, it's possible the Tennouji family might make you an offer one day."

"...Wait, but I'm... not a real corporate heir..."

Hearing that, Tennouji-san gave a confident smile.

"Oh? And do you think my parents care about a title like that?"

Probably not... That's exactly why she was able to escape her engagement.

"If we did make an offer, what would you do?"

"What would I do... I'd have to ask... your opinion first..."

"And if I was willing, you'd accept?"

"That's..."

I couldn't imagine it. I was at a loss for words. As I struggled, she grinned.

"I'm kidding. I can't be pressuring a swindler. That's just too pitiful."

She said, clearly enjoying this.

"But, when that time comes—"

Tennouji-san looked at me with her usual confident expression. She lightly touched my lips with her finger.

"—I will absolutely make you choose me."

<<PREV | TOC | NEXT>>