Kujo Michiji felt like he was in a mess in his head.

At dinner, he didn't see Noriko on the table. When she asked the maid of the house with a lot of anxiety, the maid replied, "In the afternoon, a young gentleman came to visit Miss Noriko at home and invited her out, and she agreed, saying that she would come back at dinner before leaving."

...... However, the reality is that Noriko didn't come back at dinner.

...... And who was the man who came to her?

And now my father called himself to the study...... It looks like "I'm going to explain something very important to you now, don't come to see me if you can't do it!", but the Noriko he has always relied on - since his father suddenly became interested in him again and assigned him all kinds of difficult tasks, he has been by his side to support him, and come up with all kinds of ways for him to achieve his father's tricky requirements, and the powerful and beautiful Noriko who can rely on him with peace of mind, is not at home.

Kujo Michiji felt a wave of panic.

He stood uneasily in front of his father, and listened to his father's rambling commands to him:

“...... In short, it seems that the former shogun, the Tokugawa family, has decided to prove his loyalty and deference to His Majesty, and to present to His Majesty one of the 'Five Swords of the World' that has always been enshrined in the Tokugawa family, Mikazuki Sokin!"

"Of course, since it is one of the five swords in the world, it is not something that can be taken by someone casually...... Although the Tokugawa family is said to have enshrined it in Edo, it is now publicly stated that they brought it to Kyoto when Iemoko Kamiraku was the first time, and has been enshrined in Nijo Castle ever since...... Hmph, who knows if this is because they are reluctant but forced by the situation, they must take out this famous sword and present it to His Majesty, in order to delay time. ”

Kujo Michiji felt like he was listening to a book from heaven right now.

Although the language his father was using was undoubtedly Japanese, he seemed to be completely unable to understand everything he was saying. His father's voice rose and fell in the quiet room, babbling a lot, but listening to his ears, it did not enter his mind at all, but swept over his body like autumn leaves, and fell and fell on the ground beside his feet.

Father finally took a breath, paused, and then strengthened his tone a little.

“...... In short, now it is necessary to find a safe person to go to Nijo Castle in Kyoto, and respectfully welcome this famous sword back to the imperial capital, and then present it to His Majesty...... This man needs to have a certain status, to be cautious, to be reliable and reliable, and to be trusted by all parties, because no one wants to give up such a pleasing task and therefore the credit for being remembered to someone of another faction......"

Kujo Michiji blinked blankly.

“...... And, we must be cautious along the way. If something goes wrong with this famous knife in his hand, this is not something that can be easily ended by apologizing......"

Father said emphatically. Then, with a grim expression, he cast an unusually stern glance at his only son.

"However, taking on this task and successfully completing it will allow you to win more favor and trust in front of Your Majesty. ...... Daoji, my father put a lot of thought into it to get this opportunity-"

Although I can't understand why my father said such a big thing, Kujo Michiji also knows that it is right to cater to my father's statement. So he replied blankly, "...... Congratulations to my father. If you can win the opportunity to accomplish this, you can prove that everyone trusts your father......"

Of course, there is no one who doesn't like to hear good words. So, Kujou Tadashi smiled triumphantly.

"No, Michiji. This proves that everyone trusts you. ”

“...... Me?!"

Kujou Michiji only had time to blurt out a reflexive rhetorical question when he heard his father laugh and give him a stern ultimatum in that laughter.

"That's you, Doji. ”

Father said.

"I've got this opportunity for you, you have to behave well and give me a good job!" Although there was still a smile in his voice, the tone of the seren, with a hint of warning, almost instantly stunned Kujo Michiji.

"But, but I ......," he muttered.

But he was immediately interrupted by his father.

"Don't show that useless look! As a man, even if you pretend, you have to pretend to be a reliable adult for me! That cowardly look is really unbearable! You must know how much effort I spent to plead for you desperately in front of Kirino-sama! Kirino-sama is also well-intentioned, knowing that you are not reliable enough, but for the sake of Miss Yuko, he also tried his best to fight for you, and finally got such an appointment!"

Kujo Michiji swallowed in fright.

Then he heard his father sigh, and suddenly softened his tone a little, and said, "Daoji, don't make that useless gesture again...... The Kujo family can only ask you after that. ”

Michiji Kujo: ?!

He stammered, wondering why his father, who had always been very strict with him, would suddenly say something that was close to mildness.

Then he heard his father ask again, "You have to show that you are the head of the Kujo family...... I ask you, for the former generals...... What do you think of the fact that the Tokugawa family plans to present one of the 'Five Swords in the World' to His Majesty, the 'Three Days Moon Sect'?"

My father probably wanted to test him for a deep understanding of world affairs and factions within the court. However, Kujo Michiji, whose mind is full of plants, can't answer at all.

Then he saw his father's disappointed gaze and heard his father sigh.

"Alas...... If Daoqing was still alive, I wouldn't have to worry so much...... Speaking of which, why did Daoqing go to Ezo when the shogunate had already lost...... It's good to be waiting for news to come from Edo...... As a result, his life was lost there in vain......"

Daoqing. The son of a father who was born outside and a woman whose name he did not know.

This kind of person is not qualified to be compared to him at all. He is not qualified to be mentioned in the Kujo family at all. He should be left to fend for himself outside, instead of dying outside like he is now and letting his father keep thinking about it.

Kujo Daoqing contrasts with the incompetence and mediocrity of him, Kujo Michi. My father couldn't even see that he had published a paper that was written through careful observation of plants that would be admired by plant experts at the university. In his father's eyes, how to restore the Kujo family to its former glory is the key. The declining side branch of the Kujo family does not need a botanist like Kujo Michiji, but a careerist like Kujo Michikiyo.

My father was still talking.

"Is there any great opportunity on the Ezo side, which is why Daoqing is so risky...... but I'm too old to see any good opportunities in the changing situation...... It's a shame I didn't catch it......"

Kujo Michiji's heart, which had been dull and numb for a long time, gradually ignited a small flame.

Noriko's words echoed in his mind again.

"There is nothing wrong with Daoji-kun's hobby...... No, it's better to say that in this situation, such a hobby is the right thing...... There is no need for the Kujou family to take any risks to gain any status in the court, so it is best to quietly study the plants and be set up by His Majesty as a model of the Westernization of the old Chinese......"

"Don't go near those Satsuma. They are all dangerous...... In the future, I will also pull the Kujo family down the dark valley together......"

“...... Father, why do you have to be near those Satsuma?" he asked unconsciously.

Kujou Tadashun was stunned.

"What did you say?!"

After saying that, I felt that I shouldn't be so frank. However, the words that had already been said could not be remedied, and Kujo Daoji subconsciously closed his lips and fell silent, his eyes lowered to look at the few books on his father's desk, and refused to come out again.

This manifestation of weak qi undoubtedly stimulated Kujou's loyal nerves even more. A bruise jumped on his forehead, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say anything, but roared:

"Get out, you idiot with nothing but flowers and flowers!"

Kujo Michiji fled in disarray.

He wandered in the hallway of his house in despair, and happened to run into the maid he had asked about Noriko's whereabouts again. This time, with a cheerful expression, she brought him good news.

"Young Master Daoji, Miss Noriko has returned! She heard that Lord Chungshun was talking to you, so she didn't bother you—"

Kujo Michiji's heart suddenly crossed with joy, like a ray of light splitting the gloom that had just been caused by his father's merciless reprimand.

He turned and rushed to Kujo Noriko's room, pushed the door open, and saw Kujo Noriko sitting in a chair in front of the window, as if looking out the window at the dark courtyard.

Seeing him walk in with such a disgraced face, she didn't shout, let alone refuse him to enter her room, but just turned around silently and watched him slowly walk in front of her.

Then, suddenly, as if all his strength had been drained, he fell to his knees and pressed his face to her knees.

The next moment, he felt Noriko's hand fall on top of his head, gently stroking his hair. He heard her melodious voice whisper, "It's okay, it's okay—"

"What Daoji-kun likes must be the best. Lord Chungshun can't understand, this is his regret. ”

A fragile tear suddenly rushed into the eyes of Kujo Daoji. He suddenly turned his face around her lap and wrapped his arms around her well-shaped calves.

"Noriko...... Noriko ......" he vaguely called her name.

"Huh?" he heard her whisper softly above his head.

“...... Don't abandon me. He whispered, and he felt a pang of pain and uneasiness as the image that came up from the depths of his memory suddenly pierced his heart like a sharp blade.

"But...... You like that guy, don't you? What kind of student is that infantry non-commissioned officer school...... You went to him on the day of the engagement feast, didn't you?"

He felt Noriko's hand caressing the top of his head for a moment, and after a moment he resumed stroking his hair, as if nothing had happened.

...... No, something happened.

"You like him?...... Why do you like him?...... Did you think you wanted him at first sight?...... But he's still a student, and can't give you anything!, and he must be younger than you!" he said incoherently, feeling his voice choked with anger and uneasiness as he spoke.

He heard Noriko laugh softly above his head.

"Oh, look what you're talking about, Michiji-kun. ”

Her soft voice sounded calm, and there was no panic at all when her mind was exposed.

"There's no such thing as 'wanting to get the other person at first sight'. I did talk to him that day, and that's because—"

"No! You dare to say that you don't want to be close to him, you don't want to hug him, you don't want to go...... Kiss him?!" A savage rage surged through Kujou Michiji's heart, prompting him to jerk his head up and stare at Kujo Noriko, saying something that even he didn't believe he could say.

"Why ......? Didn't he be cold to you at first? He didn't even look at you after we walked into the hall......! But then you all disappeared, didn't you? Did you take a fancy to him? Want to get him?!"

He heard Zezi sigh with a smile and shook his head helplessly.

"What do you mean by 'looking'...... What can I say about this inexplicable accusation—"

She deliberately prolonged her voice, and the tail note was slightly raised upwards like a coquettish, looking at him with a smile.

Kujo Michiji became angry. He tried to recall what had happened after that difficult night, and his eyes were red.

"Don't ...... Don't laugh at me, even if you come back later, you don't say a word to him again, but...... But!"

A powerful anger and panic as if he was about to lose something important raced through his chest. He finally shouted:

"I—I saw it! And then, when you came back, no matter where the man stood, his eyes were fixed on you all night......! I really wanted to gouge out his eyes! His pretended cold look couldn't fool me! In fact, he just wanted to...... I just want to ......"

He couldn't go on and choked.

The author has something to say: March 13:

Sorry for the super busy weekend, the phone is broken again and I went to fix it... It took most of the day to get it right...

Well, this one is even more present. I will try to make a better shot tomorrow.

hhhI can finally say! German orthopedics is so interesting [mud and dirt

In addition, everyone will know when you see this chapter that grandpa is about to appear hhh