Chapter 27: Tomoe Yamaguchi
T-They just kissed, didn’t they? ’Oh my god. Why do I have to see that?’
"Young miss? Where did you go?"
Hearing Rika’s voice made me run away from the garden. It’d be terrible if Night learned that I saw him kiss someone in the garden. But who was that girl? Is she his past lover? Or maybe she’s his girlfriend, that’s why he hates me so much because he has a girlfriend.
Upon realizing it, it made me wonder why he doesn’t care, no matter how much I tried to snatch his attention. It’s because he already has someone he likes! Oh no, he’s forced to marry me despite liking someone else. And how will I face his girlfriend? What if she tries to slap me and starts picking a fight with me? The fear made me crouch on the floor while holding onto my head.
"Young miss, I thought you went out." I looked up to Rika. "What are you doing on the floor?"
I immediately stood up. "N-Nothing. Let’s go. I got to change clothes now." I pulled Rika to my room to avoid being seen by Night and his girlfriend. Rika helped me change into more comfortable clothes while still feeling distracted because of the scene I saw. I-I mean, I’m only using Night for my safety. It’s not like we love each other that’s why we’re marrying. It’s not my position to get in between him and his girlfriend.
"Young miss?"
"H-Huh?"
Rika giggled. "Are you still thinking about your lessons? I’ve been telling you you’re good to go, but it seems like the lady is distracted." If she only knew why I’m distracted, I don’t think she’ll be laughing like that. "Shall I accompany the miss to where your teacher is?"
I nodded. That’s also when we heard a knock on the door. "Lady Tomoe has arrived in the dining area. She wants to take dinner with the young miss." Kenji said outside my room. So my teacher’s name is Tomoe? That’s an elegant name. I wonder how old she is. Wait, what if she’s the mom of Night’s girlfriend, and she hates me because I stole Night away from her daughter or something?
"D-Does lady Tomoe has a daughter?"
Kenji and Rika looked at each other, and they both laughed. "There’s no way she’ll have a daughter," Rika said while laughing. What? Is she gay?
"You’ll know when you meet her," Kenji said. "The oyabun will be coming late, so he said to start dinner without him." Does that mean Night will also be eating dinner with us here? "Yes, the young master and lady Tomoe are already inside." As if Kenji read my mind when he said that. He can be really creepy sometimes.
"The young miss has arrived," Kenji announced. Does he really need to say that all the time? It’s not like we’re in a palace of royals. "Please enter." He said as he opened the sliding door. I took a deep breath, I felt nervous meeting my bridal lessons teacher, but I must deal with it since I agreed to what grandpa wanted.
I entered the room, and my eyes quickly widened. ’Oh no.’ That same brown hair tied into a bun with sparkling flower ornaments, that turquoise yukata with flower designs, and that elegance. She’s the same girl that kissed Night in the garden! "Greetings, lady." The girl said with a soft smile on her face. "My name is Tomoe Yamaguchi, and I will be your teacher starting today." Y-Yamaguchi? So she’s a relative?
Wait, what?!
"I-I’m Noelle Alcantara." I introduced myself and subconsciously did a curtsy due to how flustered I was. T-This girl who looks like she’s the same age as me will be my teacher? And I saw her kiss my soon-to-be husband! How am I going to act in front of her now? Also, she’s so pretty that I feel like I won’t be able to talk to her well.
Despite my awkwardness, I sat beside Night because I felt like I’ll die if I sat beside lady Tomoe. But her expression changed upon seeing me sitting beside Night. ’Oh god, did I make a mistake? Should I have sat beside her instead?’ The awkwardness suffocates me, and all I want to do is leave.
"The oyabun has arrived."
Grandpa Kenta arrived before the food, which relieved me a little. At least I don’t have to deal with this on my own. "Greetings, grandfather." Lady Tomoe bowed in front of grandpa, and a broad smile formed on grandpa’s face.
"You’ve grown into a fine lady, Tomoe," Grandpa said. "So you’ve met Noelle."
"Yes, grandfather. She is indeed such an adorable person." Why do I feel like her giggle after that sounds so fake? Even I can point it out. "I am delighted to teach her our ways in the yakuza." Even though lady Tomoe is Japanese, she’s fluent in our language, and her voice sounds so pretty.
The food arrived while grandpa and lady Tomoe caught up with some things. They started talking in Japanese, and I felt out of place. Night isn’t talking either; even if he is, he won’t talk to me. If Tomoe is a relative, then why did she kiss Night before? Do relatives from other countries do that kind of thing?
"Right, Noelle, dear. If you didn’t know, Tomoe is Night’s cousin." Grandpa said just to make me join in their conversation. ’I’m all good sitting here while eating food. I don’t want constipation.’
"That’s right, Yoru and I have been together since we were children." Lady Tomoe said. Yoru? Does she mean Night? And why does that sound so frightening? Is she picking a fight with me? "I’m glad to teach her soon-to-be wife the yakuza’s ways and values." She said as she took a bite of her sushi.
It made me gulp as I averted my gaze. I don’t know, but I feel so scared of Tomoe. It must be because she’s too elegant and graceful that I can’t look at her too long. Also, she’s gorgeous! How come her skin looks so flawless and sparkly?
When grandpa finished eating, someone knocked on the door. "I will be going first. I have things I need to do." Grandpa said as he went out of the room. Night soon went out without saying anything, leaving lady Tomoe and me inside the dining room. ’Uh-oh, this doesn’t feel good.’
"Tomorrow, we’ll be starting our lessons, milady." Lady Tomoe said as she smiled at me. "I need the lady to go home before 4 pm, and we shall start the lessons. I have learned that the young master and the lady have a study session at 9 pm, but since our lessons will be tough, your study session will be moved to 10, and we shall finish our bridal lessons at 9. If that’ll be fine with you." Her formal and graceful tone keeps getting me distracted. "Milady?"
"Y-Yes, that will do, Miss."
Lady Tomoe smiled and nodded. "That is all. If I may excuse myself."
"Y-Yes, sure."
She stood up from the floor and walked out of the room with her companions. One of her companions even glared at me, which caught me off-guard. Did I do something wrong again? "Shall I accompany the young miss back to her room?" I nodded to what Rika said. "I shall also prepare the warm bath for the miss." She added, and I nodded again as we walked back to my room. No matter how much I think about it, it isn’t normal to kiss your cousin like that, right? Or is it just me?
"Does rose water sounds good, young miss?"
"Y-Yeah," I said as I lay on the bed. "Say, do you know anything about Tomoe and Night’s relationship?"
Rika looked at me as she went out of the bathroom. "I’ve never been in the Yamaguchi-gumi that long, and all I know is that lady Tomoe and the young master have been childhood friends." Childhood friends? "Apparently, the lady has been living in this mansion since she was 5 to become the young master’s companion." Companion? Does that mean lady Tomoe is supposed to become Night’s friend from the beginning?
I know it’s not good to gossip about other people, but I’m inquisitive. "What else?"
Rika brought in the rose water. I don’t know where she got it. "I know that lady Tomoe is supposed to be the wife of the young master. It’s been planned since they became friends." W-What? She’s supposed to be in my position? "Lady Tomoe’s father, Touma-sama, is the second highest member of the Yamaguchi-gumi. Despite not being the oyabun’s real son, he has proven himself worthy of his position."
"So you’re saying Tomoe and Night aren’t blood related?"
Rika nodded. "That is right, young miss. I think you should get into the bath while it’s still warm." She helped me remove my clothes as I soaked my body in the bathtub.
"Is that why she’s allowed to marry her cousin? Because they’re not blood-related?"
Rika shook her head as she started scrubbing my arm. "Not at all, young miss. In Japan, first cousins are permitted to marry each other." What? Really? "Does the young miss feel concerned about the young master’s relationship with lady Tomoe?"
It’s not that I’m concerned about them. I’m more concerned about myself. What if lady Tomoe hates me and starts making me suffer through the bridal lessons?
"I can’t even imagine."
