Chapter 1

"The cherry blossoms have bloomed beautifully again this year."

Outside the window, the white magnolias sway in the wind. It has been two months since I started living alone. My grandmother, who was a spoiled lady, passed away, and although it might sound cold, I did feel relieved. She was called Lady Mari.

For the last two years, Lady Mari suffered from dementia, and I helped the helper, Fuki, take care of her. Most of Lady Mari's conversations were in French, so I had to be the one to interact with her more often. Fuki couldn't speak French. It was really tough, but I'm glad Fuki didn't have to hear those dirty insults.

"Well, it's time to go. I can't be late for the entrance ceremony."

I shouldn't have the luxury of going to high school, but thanks to the recommendation of my middle school teachers, I took the entrance exam for the prestigious Meisei Academy, which offers a full scholarship and all school supplies. I was accepted, and I receive a non-repayable scholarship of 50,000 yen per month! With 50,000 yen, I can live comfortably!

The uniform of Meisei Academy, which I will wear for the next three years, is truly impressive. The tailoring is excellent, but the only downside is that it's white, which shows dirt easily. It consists of a white blazer, a white skirt, a blouse with frills, and a ribbon tie. It's a ladylike design, but it doesn't suit me, a poor person. I can't check my entire appearance because I only have a small, cracked mirror, but I don't think there are any issues with my appearance. Since Fuki is gone, I cut my own hair, so the ends are uneven, but I braid it and tie it with a French-made Argentan lace ribbon, which was one of Lady Mari's possessions. It's a small touch of elegance.

The school-provided bag I carry is a famous brand with the school emblem of roses and a pen embroidered on it. Inside this impressive bag are two rice balls wrapped in bamboo leaves, cooked mountain vegetables from the back hill, an omelet, and writing utensils. The contents are very modest compared to the bag.

"Ugh! Ughh!"

I open the sliding door, which is out of alignment, with both hands, making a rattling sound, and in front of me is a field and a blue sky. I close the door with force and lock it, though there's nothing to steal, so it's not a very meaningful act. Besides, you can enter from the veranda. Still, it's important to have some security, even if it's just for show. Not to mention, this lock can be opened with a single hairpin...

Since there's still time before the bus, I walk leisurely to the bus stop. Buses in this area run once an hour in the morning and evening. After a 40-minute bus ride, I take a 1-hour train from a large terminal station to reach the prestigious Meisei Academy in the city. It's almost a 2-hour commute, but since I receive a scholarship, it's not a big deal.

Meisei Academy is a prestigious school that has elementary, middle, high school, and university levels. The university is open to many students, but the number of students in high school and below is small. Apparently, family background is also important, not just academic performance. To improve the rate of students entering famous universities, five special students are admitted to the high school each year. These five students take entrance exams for prestigious universities like Cambridge, Tokyo University, Harvard, and Stanford, creating a track record. Of course, the school covers the exam fees.

As a result, the school appears to produce a high number of successful students, such as 5 Tokyo University graduates, 2 Oxford University graduates, 3 Harvard University graduates, and 2 MIT graduates, even though it's just these five students taking multiple exams.

Therefore, a non-repayable scholarship is provided, like a salary. However, if my grades drop, I will be immediately expelled. I didn't have the means to attend high school, so if I get expelled, I won't be too disappointed. I can always attend a correspondence high school while working.

In any case, if I don't get expelled, I will have to commute to Meisei Academy every day. Since it's my first time commuting by train, I stand on the platform, nervous, waiting for the train. Since it's the first station, I can sit all the way to the school. As I look out the window, I can see the high-rise buildings in the distance. It's been since the entrance exam that I've been to Tokyo, and it's truly a big city! I shouldn't be marveling, though. I need to get off. However, the crowd is overwhelming, and I get pushed in an unexpected direction.

"Huff, huff, huff..."

I'm already tired, even though nothing has really started yet. Meisei Academy is a two-minute walk from the station. As I stagger to the school, I'm greeted by an impressive door. I've seen this door before in a large art book that couldn't be taken out of the library.

"It looks like the door of the Dolmabahçe Palace..."

As I mutter this, a voice comes from behind.

"Yeah, it's modeled after that palace door."

The person behind me is very glamorous, a type I've never seen in the countryside.

"Is that so?"

I've heard that there's an unwritten rule that external students shouldn't get too close to internal students. My middle school teacher told me this. Apparently, external students in the high school are at the bottom of the hierarchy. I need to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.

"I'm Katsuragi Kaoru, a second-year student. Are you a new high school student?"

"Yes, I'm Kujouin Reiko. Nice to meet you."

I smile. Smiling is free, and free is wonderful.

"You look tired. Are you okay?"

Oh, you can tell, can't you? Commuting by train is tough for a country girl.

"I'm embarrassed to say, but it's my first time commuting by train, and I'm not used to it."

I'm a country girl, so I apologize. I'm a natural-born country girl!

"Wow, you're commuting by train. You're serious, aren't you?"

Katsuragi-sama looks surprised and says, "Serious? What do you mean? Do you think I look too poor and am riding the train for free? How rude! The school covers the commuting costs, so I have a valid pass! It seems like you have a condescending attitude. Are all internal students like this?"

"I'll get used to it eventually. Excuse me, I'll be on my way."

Hmph! Just because I'm a country girl, don't underestimate me! I may not have good athletic skills, but I have stamina. I won't lose to city kids.

As I think this, I get tackled from behind and fall forward. I don't think stamina matters in this situation. It's a surprise attack.

"Kaoru, did something happen? Look, this is the villainous lady!"

Oh! Falling isn't the issue, but my white uniform is dirty now! Dirt is hard to remove; it gets into the fibers!

Besides, what? Villainous lady?

"Miss, you are Kujouin Reiko, right? I won't allow you to disrupt this school!"

A small girl with wavy brown hair stands tall, hands on her hips, pointing at me. I'm speechless. As I stand there, Katsuragi-sama helps me up.

"Yuria! Are you still saying stupid things?"

"It's true. This woman will become the school's villain!"

This must be the "crazy girl" I've heard about! I've never seen one before! Oh, she reminds me of my grandmother, Lady Mari. It feels a bit nostalgic. Lady Mari used to say irrational things, even before she had dementia.

"You've scraped your knee. Let's go to the infirmary."

Katsuragi-sama tries to carry me, but I can't stand out like that. I'm at the bottom of the hierarchy as an external student.

"No, thank you. I can go by myself. I think it's more important to have your friend see a doctor. Early diagnosis is crucial."

I think about Lady Mari's dementia. If she had been diagnosed earlier, it would have been better for everyone. Crazy girl, modern medicine is advanced! Don't worry, you'll get better! Try your best!

I feel sorry for the crazy girl as I head to the infirmary. However, I don't know where it is, so I ask a nearby girl. She is a proper lady.

"I saw it. You were attacked by Yuria Sakurada. She's always like that."

I've never seen such a perfect perm before. It's amazing that she can do such a complicated hairstyle in the morning. She's even wearing makeup. Ladies are different, indeed.

"She seems to have some issues, so I'm not bothered by it. Could you please tell me where the infirmary is?"

"I'll take you there. This way."

"Thank you. I'm Kujouin Reiko. I've just been admitted to the high school."

"I'm Honjo Sara. I'm in the same grade as you. I'm a purebred school student, so I know most things about the school."

Honjo-sama is a purebred lady. Apparently, you need to have a good family background to enter the elementary school. Do they live in a castle with maids and butlers? Ah, the imagination of a poor person.

"Is Kujouin related to the Kujouin family?"

"I don't know which Kujouin, but my grandfather is Kujouin Shigichiro, and my grandmother is Mari. I was raised by my grandmother."

"Oh, so you are from the main Kujouin family!"

Being called from the main family, but I don't have any relatives left.

"It's not a grand family. It's a fallen one."

That's the truth. My father went bankrupt after the bubble economy burst and disappeared. Ten years after the collapse, he left me, a baby, with my grandmother and disappeared again. He was already over sixty at that time. What a failure. His young photos show a dim-witted rich kid.

"My grandmother passed away two months ago, and I'm all alone now."

"Oh, how sad."

Honjo-sama with the perm looks shocked. She probably hasn't seen anyone in such a situation. She's tearing up. She looks tough but seems to be a sensitive person.

"My grandmother was 102 years old. She had a good life."

As we talk, we reach the infirmary. It's completely different from the infirmary at my rural public middle school. The school building itself is on a different level. The hallway is very wide and shiny. It's beautifully polished!

"Thank you, Honjo-sama."

"Since I've come this far, I'll go with you to the infirmary. Call me Sara, and I'll call you Reiko-sama."

"I can't accept that. I'm an external student."

And a country girl. My speech has been polished by Lady Mari and Fuki, but I'm just a poor person. I can live comfortably with a 50,000 yen scholarship. I'm a purebred poor person!

"Oh, you're so humble, Reiko-sama."

I'm called Reiko-sama. This means I have to call her Sara-sama. Sara-sama knocks on the infirmary door and enters. I follow her.

The infirmary is spacious with a high-end Poltrona Frau sofa. I've seen this sofa in an interior magazine and always wanted to sit on it.

"Dr. Ichijo, a new student is injured. Please treat her. And get a spare uniform. Reiko-sama, Dr. Ichijo is young but has a proper medical license, so don't worry."

A young doctor in his late twenties appears. He's a real doctor! Not a school nurse. I can get free medical treatment. I'll go to the school instead of the hospital when I have a fever.

He flips his white coat and gestures for me to sit on the sofa. I'm so happy! I can finally sit on my dream sofa!

"Excuse me."

The elasticity and softness! It's perfect!

"Oh, you've scraped your knee. It will sting a bit, but I'll disinfect it. The spare uniform is in the storage room."

Dr. Ichijo winks. He's so casual! But it's free, so I can't complain.

"Really, what did Yuria Sakurada do? She pushed you and didn't even apologize!"

"Perhaps she has some kind of illness. Please don't be too angry."

"You're so kind, Reiko-sama."

I can't blame her when I think of Lady Mari with dementia. Yuria Sakurada, the crazy girl, is sick, so it can't be helped.

"Hmm, you were pushed by Yuria. So, you're the villainous lady, huh?"

Dr. Ichijo looks at me with interest. It seems that the "villainous lady" is known to a few people.

"Should I not deny her delusions while treating her? If so, I'll cooperate. By the way, how should I act as a villainous lady?"

Dr. Ichijo bursts into laughter. Sara-sama looks very displeased.

"You don't seem like a villainous lady at all. According to Yuria, a lady named Kujouin Reiko has entered the high school and will cause chaos. I'm supposed to be deceived by you and lose my medical license."

"Losing a medical license is serious. Does it mean I will incite some crime?"

"Something like that."

"Sakurada Yuria is crazy!"

Sara-sama is very angry, but I'm not a lady. Therefore, I can't be a villainous lady. I think "villainous poor girl" is more appropriate.