Volume 13 Chapter 331 Sumeragi Kukuri, With Aqua-sama
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Rain pattered against my umbrella as I slipped through the gates alone, careful not to draw the eyes of the guards. My disguise held well enough—no one would imagine that the head of the Sumeragi family was sneaking out under such weather to meet an old friend from Stars.
”Of all days,” I muttered, glaring at the gray sky, “why must it rain today?”
By the time I arrived, the map app had led me to a quaint, timeworn café tucked between narrow streets. The sign creaked softly in the wind. Warm light spilled through the windows, and the scent of roasted beans drifted out—a welcome refuge from the rain.
”So this is the place,” I murmured, closing my umbrella.
As the reigning head of one of the Six Noble Houses—leader of the Sumeragi and by extension guardian of Japan’s aristocracy—I scanned the street out of habit. No tails. Good. My upcoming meeting was too delicate to risk the tabloids spinning some absurd romance rumor.
A voice called from the back as I entered. “Welcome! Sorry, my hands are full at the moment. Please, take any open seat.”
I glanced around and found her—seated by the window, facing the drizzle. Even from behind, that calm poise was unmistakable. I hurried over.
”Did I keep you waiting?”
She looked up, smiling. “Not at all. I just sat down myself.”
The café was charming—soft lamps, wooden panels, and the faint jazz of an old radio. Despite the rainy afternoon, we were the only customers.
Mary chuckled at my glance. “Lovely little place, isn’t it?”
”It is,” I replied, easing into the seat across from her. “So empty, I might borrow it for my own secret visits.”
Her eyes gleamed with mischief. “You haven’t changed a bit, Kukuri. You should relax once in a while—at least when you’re with a friend.”
”I don’t have that luxury. Unlike you, I haven’t retired from the throne yet.”
I sank into the velvety sofa, smoothing my skirt. “It’s been a while… or should I say, since yesterday’s call?”
Mary laughed, the sound warm as tea. “We did talk yesterday, didn’t we? And played that online game three days ago. Some reunion this is.”
Mary Stars Goshenite—former Queen of the great nation of Stars. She had abdicated in favor of her daughter, Furia, yet her presence still carried the quiet gravity of a ruler. Even dressed plainly, her aura shimmered like sunlight under silk. Whether she realized it or not, that radiance refused to dim.
”You seem to have plenty of free time,” I teased.
”Not seem—am!” she said with mock pride. “I told Chiyoko yesterday, this life of leisure suits me perfectly. You should try it someday, dear.”
My gaze drifted to the paper bag at her side—doujin books peeking from the top. So much for ‘leaving the world behind.’ I sighed inwardly.
”If only I could. Though I wonder, have you forgotten my age?”
”Oh! That’s right—next year you’ll be in your third year of middle school. Congratulations!” she said brightly. “You and my granddaughters make it easy to forget how young you still are.”
Despite the fifty years between us, our conversation flowed as easily as always. Perhaps because we both lived in gilded cages of duty.
”So, what brings you to Japan this time?” I asked lightly. “I heard you even met with Prime Minister Habu.”
She waved the question away and instead picked up the paper bag. “Hehe, I came for Yakumo Itsuki-sensei’s new artbook! Look—Yuujin-sama is on the cover this time! Sadly, Hakuryuu Aiko’s new romance isn’t out yet, but this alone made the trip worthwhile.”
Only Mary could say such things with a straight face. I watched her hug the artbook with a blissful expression, my suspicion dissolving into helpless laughter.
”So, when will the next ‘Nourin’ volume come out, I wonder?” she sighed dreamily. “I’ve reread that rice-bale embrace scene a hundred times. You’re important here, right? Can’t you nudge the publisher a little?”
”Absolutely not!” I said, scandalized. “You of all people should know better than to use authority for that!”
She laughed until her shoulders shook. I couldn’t help smiling, though I hid it behind my teacup.
Just then, I sensed movement from the back room—a presence so distinct it drew my eyes at once.
A man emerged, tall and composed, his steps measured. A waiter? No, there was something more—grace in every motion, an aura almost regal.
My breath caught.
He smiled—a serene, dazzling smile that seemed to light the room—and placed glasses of water before us. “Thank you for waiting.”
”N-no, it’s fine,” I stammered.
As he turned away, I found myself staring, half-hidden behind the menu. The lines of his face, his posture—everything about him radiated quiet perfection.
My heart thudded once, annoyingly loud.
I blurted before I could stop myself, “Um… who are you?”
Heat flooded my face. How rude of me—to question a working man so bluntly on first meeting! I pressed the menu higher, wishing the rain outside would swallow me whole.
”Ah, I’m Shirogane Aqua,” he said with a modest smile, voice steady yet warm. “Starting today, I’ll be helping out here at Tomarigi Café. I hope you’ll favor us with your visits.”
”I–it’s a pleasure,” I blurted, bowing far too deeply. “I’ll do my best to… to get along.”
Wait—what? ‘Get along’? That sounded like a new bride greeting her in-laws! And why was I bowing like some commoner? I’m Sumeragi Kukuri, for heaven’s sake! Pull yourself together!
He tilted his head slightly. “Also, I’m handling the cooking today. The owner threw out her back, so she’s resting in the back room. I’ve learned the recipes, though—if that’s all right, I’ll prepare your meals myself.”
”Yes! Of course!” I answered too fast, too loudly.
Oh no. My pulse was skipping like a faulty metronome. I wasn’t unaccustomed to men—but this one felt different. The others I’d met were cardboard cutouts beside him.
”I’ll have a coffee and the house Omurice, please. Coffee after the meal.”
”I’ll take the same,” Mary said, eyes glinting. “And yes, coffee after.”
”Understood. Please wait a moment,” Aqua said with a courteous bow before retreating to the kitchen.
A man cooking—what a rare sight. My heart fluttered absurdly. Wasn’t this practically… marital?
Mary leaned toward me with a mischievous grin. “He’s divine. For a moment I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.”
”Don’t go killing me along the way,” I murmured, and we both burst out laughing, forgetting rank and reputation for a fleeting moment.
We watched him move behind the counter, his motions sure and graceful. “He’s skilled,” Mary observed. “Look at that rhythm.”
”Yes… he really is,” I whispered, eyes fixed on his back. I could have watched him forever.
When he returned, two golden omelet rice plates gleamed before us, as perfect as anything served in a luxury hotel.
”Here you are,” he said. “Please enjoy.”
He placed the clipboard with the bill neatly at the edge of the table, then stepped away. I couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at his handwriting—elegant, deliberate. But… what was that little creature in the corner? A doodle? A monster?
”Maybe it’s a cat,” Mary said, squinting. “It’s even saying ‘Relax and stay meow.’”
”It looks more like a kaiju,” I muttered.
Perhaps he simply couldn’t draw—but even that imperfection made him more endearing. No, endearing wasn’t enough. It made him real. And suddenly, I found myself in full ‘Aqua-sama appreciation mode,’ eyes sparkling with delusion.
”Come on,” Mary said gently. “Before it gets cold.”
”Right,” I said, cutting into the omelet. The velvety egg split open, spilling golden fluff over rich sauce. My breath caught. Could someone who started today really cook like this?
Each bite melted with warmth—not just culinary skill, but heart. It had been so long since food had felt this human.
We finished every grain. When he came to collect the plates, I smiled. “That was delicious. Truly.”
”Really!?” His face lit up like morning. “You’re my first customers—I was terrified I’d mess something up. Hearing that makes me so happy.”
His joy was so pure that I couldn’t help smiling back. Around him, all the walls I’d built as head of the Sumeragi family quietly fell away.
What would it be like, I wondered, to walk beside someone like that? To… to bind my life with his? Ridiculous, I scolded myself. We’d only met minutes ago.
”Please, take your time,” Aqua said, setting down two cups of freshly brewed coffee before returning to the kitchen.
I watched him go, dazed. The warmth from his smile still lingered in my chest. Across from me, Mary chuckled knowingly.
”If you like him that much,” she teased, “why not marry him? With your position, it wouldn’t be impossible.”
She wasn’t wrong. If I revealed my name—Sumeragi Kukuri—the entire nation would bend to my will. But what would be the point if I lost that unguarded smile of his?
I smirked. “I could say the same to you.”
Mary stuck out her tongue playfully. “Touché.”
I laughed softly. After all, Aqua-sama resembled her beloved Yuujin-sama almost too perfectly. There’s no way she hadn’t noticed.
”But you wouldn’t do such a thing, would you?” I asked.
”No,” she said with a wistful smile. “We weren’t born into power to use it that way.”
Mary and I exchanged a silent glance, a single nod passing between us. We both understood without saying it: our families—Japan and Stars—stood upon the sacrifices and discipline of our ancestors. Their power was never meant for selfish desires.
Mary smiled faintly. “I’m glad we became friends, Kukuri.”
”So am I,” I replied. “So promise me you’ll live long, Mary.”
From the kitchen came the gentle clatter of dishes—Aqua-sama washing up, unaware of the silent oath passing in the air. We shared a soft laugh, stripped of our titles for just a heartbeat.
But such moments never last. Mary had already stepped away from her throne; I still bore mine.
”Thank you for coming!” Aqua’s voice called warmly. “Please visit again!”
”Of course,” I answered. Mary chimed in, “Naturally, desuwa!”
Outside, the rain had stopped as if it had all been a dream. We waved to each other, ready to part.
”Kukuri,” Mary said suddenly, her tone different.
I paused.
”If I ever begin to make a mistake—truly lose my way—promise me you’ll stop me. You’re the only one who could.”
Her words tightened the air around us. Was it a warning? A plea? Perhaps her dealings with Prime Minister Habu had roots deeper than I feared.
I forced a light laugh. “That sounds exhausting. So make sure I never have to.”
Mary’s smile softened. “I’ll remember that. Until next time.”
She walked off into the thinning clouds, her figure receding toward the pale horizon. I turned the opposite way, into sunlight.
”Maybe I should post about Tomarigi,” I murmured. “It deserves to be known, even if it becomes too popular to be our secret.”
Opening the town’s bulletin board—a forum my cousin Emily-oneechan often used—I typed a cheerful review. Maybe she’d see it. Maybe she’d even meet Aqua-sama someday. If not her, perhaps Kanon, Mary’s granddaughter. If she found happiness with him, then Mary’s heart might finally rest.
That was what I told myself then.
And now—here I sit again, across from the man who changed all of us.
”Tomarigi’s omelet rice really is as good as ever,” he said, smiling over his plate.
”Yes,” I answered softly.
Watching him eat, I felt a quiet joy. To think I would ever share another meal here with Aqua-sama… the thought once seemed impossible.
He looked up, smiling. “I’m glad, Kukuri-chan. Eating here with you feels special.”
”And I with you, Aqua-senpai,” I said, the honorific trembling on my tongue.
I took another bite, savoring the warmth. This date—my idea—was meant to be the end. A farewell cloaked in sweetness.
I am Sumeragi Kukuri, head of the Sumeragi house. Even if the nobility fades, that will not change. Some among the old houses whisper of reviving the aristocracy through my union with Aqua-sama. They dream of heirs and dynasties.
That will never happen.
So I decided—this will be the last time. For the sake of Japan, for him, for Kanon and Emily. I would seal my feelings here, with grace.
If I could hold onto this single hour, it would be enough to sustain me forever.
Or so I thought—until he looked at me and said softly:
”You know, Kukuri-chan… you only ever came inside the café that first time.”
”Eh?” My spoon nearly slipped from my hand.
How—how could he know? I’d disguised myself each time, careful beyond reason. Unless… Mary?
He smiled gently. “It wasn’t Grandmother Mary. You never entered, but you’d often stand outside, right? Watching? I figured maybe you were just being considerate about your position.”
So he’d noticed—every time. My breath caught. Embarrassment burned through me, tangled with an odd, helpless happiness.
”Then… my disguise was that obvious?”
”No,” he said. “Your disguise was perfect. But your eyes—Kukuri-chan, they always gave you away.”
My chest tightened. He’d seen me—not the noble, not the mask, but me.
I smiled faintly, fighting the ache that swelled behind it. Because I knew this time, this day, would end.
”That’s why,” he said, meeting my gaze, “I’m glad we could finally sit here together Thank you for inviting me today, Kukuri-chan.”
”No…”
I set my spoon down, eyes falling toward the table. Not now. Not when this was supposed to be our last, perfect day. I promised myself I’d end it smiling.
”Because… after today, it’s over,” I said softly.
”Kukuri-chan… what do you mean?” Aqua’s voice carried both calm and concern.
I closed my eyes, forcing a brittle smile. “I’m leaving the Harem. As long as I stay, people will keep scheming, using me as their excuse.”
”So this is about your family… the Sumeragi house?”
I nodded faintly.
He exhaled slowly, then smiled—so gentle it ached. “Then I’m glad. I thought for a moment you’d come to hate me.”
”What? Of course not! I could never hate you, Aqua-senpai. If anything, I— I just keep liking you more.”
There was no denying it. From the day we met to this moment, my heart had only grown fuller.
Aqua leaned closer. “If you like me that much, then why leave? Why walk away from something that makes you happy?”
”I…” My words tangled in my throat. Before I could form them, his hand found mine.
”Kukuri-chan,” he said quietly, “you’re Sumeragi Kukuri, but you’re also just Kukuri. Don’t sacrifice yourself for your name. The way you care for everyone—everyone cares for you too.”
Before I could answer, chairs scraped softly. All around us, the quiet customers who’d pretended not to notice stood, faces bright with emotion.
”He’s right!” someone called.
”Kukuri-sama, we’re grateful for everything you do—but please, be happy too!”
”Think of your own happiness!” another cried. “We’ll always support you!”
Their warmth broke through the walls I’d built around my heart. My throat tightened.
”…Thank you,” I whispered. “All of you.”
I turned back to Aqua-sama, my voice trembling but clear. “Aqua-senpai… I love you. Maybe I’m complicated, maybe my life is messy, but may I still love you?”
Aqua’s eyes softened. “Then let me tell you something, Kukuri-chan.”
He held my gaze, steady as sunlight. “Love isn’t something anyone can stop—not the world, not reason, not even yourself. So tell me… what do you want?”
”Aqua-senpai…” I breathed, tears rising. “I want… I want to be with you.”
His fingers tightened around mine.
”Then, Kukuri-chan,” he said, smiling at last, “would you go out with me?”
For a heartbeat, the world stilled. Then my heart leapt.
”That’s unfair, Aqua-sama,” I laughed through tears. “I was supposed to be the one confessing first!”
”So… is that a yes?”
”Yes—gladly!” I said. “Please, Aqua-senpai… get to know me more. All of me.”
”I will,” he replied. “And we’ll have plenty more days like this.”
Joy burst through me like sunlight after rain. Maybe my choice was foolish, maybe reckless—but I didn’t care. Because this feeling, this running heart of mine, couldn’t be stopped anymore.
—
Later, the familiar voices of Emily and Kanon echoed like a cheerful afterword.
Emily: “Kanon’s really that brilliant?”
Kanon: “I used to be, okay!? I had my golden days!”
Emily: “A great nation, Stars…?’ Hagetoru tilted his head again.”
Kanon: “It was great back then! Don’t mock me!”
And somewhere, laughter filled the digital ether—a world continuing beyond our story.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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