Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! (The Eminence in Shadow)

(12) I'm Pochi, Nice to Meet You All

Author: Aizawa Daisuke

"In other words, Alexia and Zenon-sensei are engaged, and I'm the stalking horse?"

　I confronted Alexia behind the school building after school.

"We're not engaged, He's just  a candidate."

　Alexia says with a clear face.

"Whichever, same thing."

"No, it's not the same, I'm in trouble to push things forward even though it hasn't been decided yet."

"I don't care about that. I'm sorry, but I have no intention of getting involved in your affairs."

"Oh, you're so heartless to your lover's habits."

"A lover? You just wanted a convenient stalking horse, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but that's for each other, isn't it?"

　Alexia makes a disgusting smile.

"Both of you? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Ara, will you fall in love with me? Sid Kagenou-kun, who confessed to the punishment game."

　With a deeper smile, Alexia said.

　Yeah wait a minute. Calm down.

"How cruel, to play with a maiden's innocence like that."

　A woman who doesn't even have a fragment of a maiden's pure heart says while crying.

　Okay, no pronlem. I am calm.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Is there evidence of that?"

　Yes, it's proof. No matter how much she doubts, as long as those two don't betray her, the evidence is...

"I wonder if it's Jaga-kun. When I talk to him, his face turns bright red and he talks about everything I didn't even hear. You are a good friend."

　I kept my mental hygiene by mashing potatoes in my head.

"Are you okay? Your cheeks are greatly drawn."

"It's okay, my personality is twisted, so my mouth is twisted."

"Ohhh, I see."

"Still, I'm better than you, though."

"Hmm, did you say something?"

"No. So what do you want..."

　I admitted defeat. The reason for the defeat is that I made a mistake in choosing my friends.

"Hmm, let me see..."

　Alexia folded her arms and leaned against the school building.

"For now, let's continue pretending to be lovers. The deadline is until that man gives up."

"I come from a Baron family after all. Tobe honest, I don't even have the strenght to be of much use as a stalking horse."

"I know that. As long as we can buy some time, that's enough. I'll take care of the rest.

"Also, I don't want to be in danger. My opponent is a swordsmanship instructor."

"Blah, blah, blah... you really are noisy..."

　Alexia said so and scattered gold coins from her pocket.

"Pick up."

　100,000 zeni each, and there are at least 10 of them.

"Hey, do I look like a man who flutters with money?"

　I said while crawling on the ground and carefully picking up the gold coins one by one.

"Yes you do."

"Exactly."

　11, 12, 13... oh, there's still one!

　Alexia's shoes are stamped on the gold coin in front of me when I reach for the last one. I looked at Alexia. Alexia's red eyes stare at me. I could see inside her pleated skirt.

"Are you sure you're listening to me?"

　Alexia says with a smile that shows her bad personality.

"Ah, yeah, of course."

　I answer with a big smile.

"Good boy, Pochi."

　Alexia stroked my head and fluttered her short skirt. I carefully wiped the gold coin with her footprints on it and put it in my pocket.

　◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆　

　Even after entering the academy, I continued training by cutting down on my sleep time, but that time decreased after I became in a fake lover relationship with Alexia.

"Come with me."

　With just one word, I was taken to the first class of the Bushin royal capital school early in the morning. It was just the two of us in the large classroom. The morning sun shone in and a calm air flowed in.

　Early morning practice.

　With all her heart, Alexia swings her sword.

　I also swing my sword next to her. Alexia is serious about swords. For that one point, I don't hate it. There is no conversation between the two. Just shut up and swing your sword. That time was unusually painless for me.

"It's quite mysterious, your sword."

　Alexia says.

"The foundation is ready. That's it, nothing else."

　Alexia stops talking there.

　Naturally, I swung my sword while suppressing all my strength, speed, magic and skills. Only the foundation remains.

"For some reason it catches my eye"

"Thanks, I guess?"

　I heard birds chirping outside. That beautiful voice was not singing, but the voice of territorial disputes. They do it all at once.

"But I still hate swords."

　Alexia said so, and after that we waved our swords without saying a word.