Ikémen Sengoku: Transcriptioned Romances Across Time (Masamune)

The Equation to Your Heart [July 2019] Chapter 1

. . . This is awful! How could this have happened?  As soon as I heard the rumor, I went to see Masamune. I'll just talk to him and find out the truth!

Mai: "Excuse me, Masamune?" I opened the door with nervous hands. But when I stepped inside--

Masamune: "I figured it would be you, lass." He was waiting by the door. He enveloped me in strong arms as soon as I entered. Judging by the handsome grin on his face, Masamune had planned this.

Mai: "You really must have been expecting me! How did you know?"

Masamune: "I might have given a few accidental hugs before you arrived. Just kidding. I can tell when my kitten's scampering to see me." His smile practically gleamed.

Mai: "I don't know if now's the time for jokes--" Though to be honest, I was relieved to see him in good spirits. ". . . I mean, they just told me you're confined to your quarters! Is it true?"

Masamune: "Yeah. Something like that." Something like that? Isn't it EXACTLY that? What I don't know is what he did to deserve being put under house arrest!  Masamune was the very definition of a bad boy -- but he wasn't a criminal!

Mai: "What happened?"

Masamune: "Well--" The smile dropped away, as did his voice.

???: "Allow me to explain." . . . There's only one person who consistently manages to sneak up on me when I'm talking with Masamune.

Mitsuhide: ". . . Many confined to quarters are too overcome with shame to take their usual pleasures. Not you, Masamune. Clearly."

Mai: "Mitsuhide! How did I know you'd be there?" He stood in the doorway, looking as if he'd risen out of my very shadow. I separated from Masamune and faced the smirking Mitsuhide.

Masamune: "Nice of you to come by, Mitsuhide."

Mitsuhide: "I thought you might wish for some reading material to pass the time. Little did I suspect, you'd already found a way to while away the hours." . . . Yes, yes. You caught us. AGAIN.

One of these days, I would stop being spooked by Mitsuhide. He snuck up on us so often it had to count as immersion therapy.

Masamune: "Yeah, I'm a little busy appreciating my lass at the moment, but I do appreciate the books."

Mitsuhide: "Then I'll leave them here for you." Mitsuhide set the volumes on a desk and invited himself to take a seat, sitting cross-legged upon a cushion. "Now, Mai. You wished to know why Masamune was suddenly confined to quarters?"

Mai: "Yes, please."

Masamune: "Mitsuhide, she--" Mitsuhide smiled thinly at Masamune's objection.

Mitsuhide: "Is it not better she hear the truth? I assure you, the rumors she'll hear elsewhere will be much worse."

Masamune: "Yeah, I'm sure you just want to tell her so you can watch her reaction."

Mitsuhide: ". . . You know me too well." I suspected as much.  Ignoring Mitsuhide, I touched Masamune's shoulder.

Mai: "Masamune, I would like to hear what happened. I'm worried about you." He didn't immediately reply-- Masamune patted my hair. He was always more about action than words.

Masamune: ". . . You got me. Just don't give me those sad eyes, all right?"

Mai: "The sad eyes are going away!" Masamune shook his head with a wry grin then took a seat next to Mitsuhide. He doesn't like to give in, so it must've been hard for him to agree. But I'm glad he did.  I sat next to Masamune; the three of us looked at each other. "Now, what happened?"