Vol 1 Chapter 2 (1/2)

Solomon's Treasure

In the dor, Jin donned his uniform in a refreshed mood

With a large s in had the room been so clean

”Aaaah, what refreshi+ng weather”

Looking out the , he gave a big stretch The 's breakfast had also been quite wonderfully delicious Yuuya was also in a goodto music with his headphones

”You organized the room pretty quickly Sorry about yesterday, blood just rushed to my head that's all”

Yuuya apologized to Jin,the sound spill out

”Everybody makes mistakes Don't worry about it”

”Hey, what's with that high and ?”

Despite all the trouble Sierra had brought upon Jin, it was still thanks to her that all the boxes were gone It would have been troublesome for the Genie of the Laht

(I really should have shown ain)

The lamp had been put in a box, and then sealed into the deep recesses of a desk This was for safety That way Sierra wouldn't be called out fro

When it cao to school, the two left the room The smell of sweat and mold were a unique part of the inside of the men's dormitory, but for some reason there was a new unique fresh scent in the air Yuuya wriggled his nose, sniffing

”This smellwhere have I smelt it before”

”I wonder if it's incense”

Jin replied while his nose sniffed the air as well Yuuya shook his head

”An incense stick doesn't have this kind of scent”

”That's not what Ia folding fan”

”Ah, I see It's like the smell of an old lady”

Yuuya laughed aloud, while over his back so shadow

”This incense is a type of citrus fruit Calling an upperclassman an old lady, the first years this year sure have a lot of courage”

In shock, the two could only shake A tall slender figure wearing a traditional Kendo Gi and Haka hair, the young man stared doith cold, strict eyes Behind hi their school uniforroup They were the doruardsmen, subordinates under his direct control, and all were third year students at the dorm

The scent had risen fro Incense used to be burned in the Heian Period to provide kimono's with a pleasant smell, and it seemed Ukyou had these traditional hobbies

“No way dormitory head, that isno”

Yuuya's face was beco headphones fro them into a nearby wall

“You're a japanesein the Western Music Culture, hoeak!”

Ukyou was the head of the Kendo club He was pale fro indoors all the tirow more and more pronounced Yuuya shook from his uncontrollable fear of him

“S-Sorry, please forgive me”

“You trash, well, it's true you're in the Light Music Club For the sake of winning the girls you buzz around like ato beat you up!”

Ukyou thrust against Yuuya's shoulder with the bas wobbled Watching this, Jin blocked the way

“Wait a minute! The first one to say you smelled like an old lady, was me!”

Ukyou lifted his thin eyebrow in response The surrounding protection squad moved to stand in front of Jin

“First year kid! Watch what co to the dorm head!”

“Yeah, well I haven't broken any of Tachibana Dor!”

“J-Jin, hurry up and apologize!”

Yuuya was being encircled by the protection squad However Jin had leapt out powerfully like a bunny, evading capture

“I don't think there's anything to apologize for though I just said what I was thinking that's all”

“What the, you first year brat!”

“Anyait a minute”

With that, Ukyou raised his hand, restraining his protection squad He had an icy coned them in

“If I remeuys, you're pretty gutsy But with the authority I hold, it's not good for you to mouth off”

Ukyou gripped Jin's chest, pulling him close The smell of tachibana incense filled the air

“We protect the rules and order of the dorm, so show some more respect to your upperclassmen This is an order froainst it Araki Jin, normally you would be sent off to be punished butsince you're a new student, we'll just take away your meals”

“T-Take away my meals?”

Jin's raised voice held a bit of hysteria

“That's right There will be no lunch or dinner for you today”

Jin was astonished at Ukyou's cold words Suddenly a member of the protection squad spoke up

“Dor patrol in the neighborhood”

“Okay Just let e my clothes”

Ukyou and his protection squad withdrew, leaving a chilling wind over their shoulders Yuuya grabbed ahold of Jin

“For saying all that, it's kind of good you got off so easy”

“Where does it say they can take away meals?”

Dinner at the dormitory started at six, and unless everyone was there no one could start eating Also, that ti time for the doro out Those were the rules for ht in later Consequently, withholding meals actually meant that until the next day's breakfast, there would be nothing to eat Yuuya pressed his forehead in shock

“In this situation what are you going to do for food! Why didn't the guys with the dor food from you?”

“I know, meals are the basis for human life after all”

“With all this talking about hueez it's because you transferred from another school that you don't understand yet how scary the dorm head is When he's in a bad et off with only a few meals taken away?”

“Even though you said that yesterday too, he really wasn't in that bad a uy”

“Shhhh! You may think it's fine to say stuff like that, but that's what lost you your food! Back when I was in h, I stepped on his shadow, and did you know I got punished just for that?”

“Sounds like an anachronism”

“His entire household is extremely old fashi+oned, they're like nobles Especially froh student”

A stand was put out in front of the doriri stacked up They were bentos for the boarding students There were five second year junior high school boarding students distributing, bowing their heads each time they handed one out

Because of their weak position as underclassmen, their job as second years was to prepare the , breakfast, lunch and bentos, and also dinner, each of the three meals had a systeroup It had been arranged so that there would always be around ten first year high school students, with thirty junior high second years, so that there would always be people to take care of the work

Jin and Yuuya both reached out their hands towards the bundles, when a boy on duty shook his head The first year student had a serious expression on his face

“I'et any”

“You don't have to be so uptight What if there are extras?”

“It's alright Anybody that wants seconds can have as much as they'd like”

“So you're listening to an upperclassman's orders then?””

“The dorm head's orders are absolute”

The boy cut the conversation coldly Stout hearted and with the appearance of a kid, he really didn't see to look like he wouldn't be getting anything to eatJin dropped his shoulders in defeat

“Let's get going, Jin It'll be bad if the dor breakfast tomorroell”

With that Yuuya began pulling him away by his shi+rt's collar Jin reluctantly iri he was unable to obtain

Turning towards the school and walking along the embankment, Jin asked Yuuya for help

“Hey, Yuuya Is there any way you'll split your lunch with me?”

“Don't joke around If I don't eat ar will decrease”

“Ah! I forgot the book I borrowed from the library”

“Coo to a convenience store and buy so?”

“It's the end of the month already, so I'm kinda out of money Let me borrow some”

“Don't give e to lend you thirty-eight yen”

“Together with h to buy bread”

“If it's 'Alf Layla,' they use tabs”

“'Alf Layla'?”

A thousand nightsthat's what it hts, where it was used as 'One Thousand and One Nights'

“We're at the back of the place The food is cheap yet delicious You've never been?”

“No I haven't been yet”

Jin looked to his side, as just then Yuuya had laughed

“Then, just follow me Since it's your first tiirl who's ridiculously cute But not at Zadou's level Zadou climbed up to the first rank, so she's in a totally different world”

Ignoring Yuuya's words while he was in dream mode, Jin re as so good about herhe couldn't co like that to Yuuya who had entered a worshi+p group from his love of her, would cast hi spoken his mind

As they continued walking along the embankment, sounds approached fro of a small deer's footsteps

“Onii-cha~n!”

Jin was being waved down A s hair, as her face was blushi+ng deep red She seee eyes Yuuya tilted his head to the side in confusion

“Jin, you know her? Which kindergarten is she from?”

“Ai-Aika?”

Jin was surprised for a irlKasumi Aika, suddenly fell on her face With both hands thrown out in front of her, it looked as though she had dove for home base Jin rushed over to her side

“Aika! A,-Are you alright?”

“Just nowshe tripped when there was nothing to trip on”

Yuuya muttered with stiff eyes Aika picked herself up, and turned to face Jin

“Onii-chan, we finally meet!”

Jin's body was hugged tightly The other person's body was slender, and seeht break easily That body like athe Harusha Middle School Academy's uniform Surprised, Jin asked Aika about it

“You, why are you wearing that uniform?”

“Huh That girl, she's from yesterday's”

Yuuya pointed at Aika That ti the e next to her He turned an amazed look towards Jin

“How do you know Aika?”

“Wasn't she in Zadou Sierra's car yesterday? I thought she was in kindergarten, but could it be she's in middle school?”

After Yuuya's question, Aika was e behind Jin's back

“W-Wait, why are you hiding?”

“Don't get too close She's not very iuys”

“Immunized, what, do you think I'm some kind of infectious bacteria?”

Disregarding an upset Yuuya, Jin turned to ask Aika a question

“You were in her car?”

“Yeah Onme back to the dormitory”

“You probably, just fell onto the level ground like you did just now”

“Being able to ride in Sierra's car, was like a drea careful about ere talking about”

“Hirl can show some kindness”

Slightly surprised, Jin brushed his forehead with his index finger

“Dormitory?”

“Yeah Sakura Dormitory”

“Wait a irls elementary school? Actually, why did your parents say 'okay' to you living in a dor?”

“That's because, Onii-chan moved here so suddenly”

Aika puffed out her cheeks

“I asked auntie if I could transfer to this school, and she said if there's a vacancy in the new students entrance exam it would be okay”

“That's rightin spite of your slowness, you must have done pretty well”

“Geez! Onii-chan! Don't call me slow!”

Angrily Aika closed both hands into fists But sla into Jin's stomach was instead, Yuuya's elbow

“She's pretty cute Your little sister that is”

“She's not hborhood”

“Uhether?”

Looking out toany closer, Aika was shi+ around Jin

“Sorry, Yuuya I'll meet you in the classroom”

“Why are you suddenly so cold-hearted? My my, I never noticed”

After finishi+ng his sarcas his pace, he paused suddenly

“Wait a irl?”

“Well I didn't have a more appropriate adjective Evil maybe, or brutal”

“Don't say so you don't understand Since it's me, it's okay, but if anyone else heard you talk about her like that, I don't think it would be good You'll probably be attacked in the back of the head”

Yuuya walked off first, as Aika latched herself onto Jin's shoulder

“It's just as he was saying, Onii-chan Sierra-sairls want to be like her”

“I si about the same person”

Thinking about how Sierra had appeared from the lamp yesterday, Jin crossed his arms

(It couldn't be that there's a different person with the exact saht?)

“She brought h she is a beautiful person with a lot ofmore and more of a fan of hers”

“Wellaccording to Yuuya, it's rare for a guy to not be entranced by her”

Jin didn't really understand Aika tried to reign in her laughter

“Is that true I think everyone's the same, that they all really like her a lot But, I was the only one she had a heartfelt conversation with”

“What's that?”

“Well, it looks like there's soreen caterpillar on a twig, into her shoe locker”

“Seriously?”

Jin thought Sierra was certainly selfishbut after listening to those cruel words, his stoet a little upset

“What kind of idiot would do so like that”

“I don't know butafter asking the boy next to her about it, he just said it was a really bad thing for soed Sierra-sama, and she thanked s If everyone in class knew this, then they'd be burning with jealousy Tehehe”

“I guess it must be pretty troublesome, for her to stand out so much”

“Ah, that's right Onii-chan, Are you free for lunch break today?”

Aika asked, with her head tilted to the side Perfor that motion her hair shi+fted over her face With that, Jin remembered he didn't have his bento, at the same time his stomach rumbled loudly

“A-Ah I didn't have any plansI don't have a bento to eat”

Hearing that, Aika happily clapped her hands together, followed by grabbing onto Jin's arm

“Yay! Today, third, fourth period is ho some extras to outside the staff room Onii-chan, would you eat them?”

Aika brought her flushed face up to look at Jin It was a sight for the Godsbut because of how it looked to have Aika plastered to his ar more nervous as he furrowed his eyebrows

“Ah, nahit's better if you don't cook Back when you were in eleet all kinds of wounds, re an occasional scrape”

“I' the school, the reason I haven't been able to search for you until now is because I've been on kitchen duty at the dorotten hurt, I've been getting better and better”

“Hht it would be i student, but it see okay”

“Geez, I'm in middle school after all I'm not a kid anymore”

In a provoking gesture, Aika placed a fist on her hip, while sticking out her tongue anda “blaah” sound

“Yeah, I guess you've really grown up frouess you don't use diapers anymore then huh”

“D-DIAPERS WHAT THE HECK'S WITH THAT!?”

“You don't wear pampers now do you?”

“Geez! I hate you! You're not getting any cake!”

Aika quickly turned her face away If this continued he would end up losing his meal

“Sorry I apologized, so please don't take my cake away”

“A cake?”

“That's right A cake”

“Geez!”

Shocked, Aika began laughing It was a bright, rolling laugh Because they had both lived in the sahborhood, Jin had known her since the ti family, Aika had been quite obedient Her name had come from her white body, which re happiness and love Her nah, showed the light from her soul

“If you want forgiveness, will you say ChiChinPuiPui?”

“ChiChinPuiPui?”

Reing to Jin, Aika showed him her knee

“This is yesterday's injury Onii-chan, didn't you say whenever I have an injury, you'll say ChiChinPuiPui?”

Like a baby deer she was looking up at Jin with her eyes and long eyelashes Saying “Ahh,” Jin brought hionfly as it came closer

“♪ChiChinPuiPui, pain pain, hurry up and fly to the mountain top♪”

Having often done the spell for her when she was younger, even though it was the same chant, he didn't feel the sa of it as he finished the incantation

“Ehe Onii-chan look, it's being effective”

“It's just your mood that's all It's just a superstition after all”

“Hey Are you still searching for that treasure thing?”

“Nnmore or less”

Jin turned his face Aika was grinning

“It's confusing for me, butOnii-chan, you'll definitely find it When you do, show it to me, k?

At the sa in Jin's head A sirl with money and an excellence record, and one day could suddenly use ranted, and why, did she sometimes appear sad

Even though it was fun to go together with Aika, Jin was feeling heavy Wondering what to do, he still had no idea

After parting with Aika and entering Class 1-B, his eyes focused abruptly on Sierra Up till now, Jin had never even noticed her before Always buried deep in an archeology book, he had never paid attention to as in his class

Finally realizing this, he noticed that out of everyone in class, she really did stand out Anyho kno ht sh they were attendants, they surrounded the Ojou-sama If Sierra was compared to others, in ter to see what Yuuya and Aika were talking about

(This is strangewhat I saw yesterday, did I mistake her selfishness?)

Looking at Sierra's surroundings, he noticed all the boys were staring at her with burning eyes

Upon Jin entering the classroom, Sierra turned her eyes towards hi like what happened yesterday, he put hi with the other girls, taking no notice of him

(Hah?)

Receiving a tap on his shoulder, Jin blinked his eyes in surprise Yuuya was taking his seat, with his thread thin eyes turned towards Jin

“Despite what you said before, you seem fascinated by Zadou”

“No, it's not like I'm fascinated”

“Everyone's fascinated by her”

“Even if they are, it doesn't seeh”

“Well, everyone knows they can't catch her, so all they can do is watch her in awe Someone that would talk to her with their own voice, doesn't exist right?”

Thinking about the Sierra fro at the Sierra of now, he could understand Yuuya's desire to get closer

(Are all the guys in class like that?)

Inundated with such co to speak up and instead keeping silent, he had one thing that he wanted to ask After Sierra had left his roo what had happened to all those cardboard boxes

(I don't even know her phone nuht)

Sierra as well, seemed to want to keep yesterday a secret, so she probably hadn't told anybody anything Looking for a suitable tiht moment

She had definitely seen hi no heed, she continued to ignore him

However, with the coirls entered Class 1-B with cupcakes, and the situation began to change

“Onii-chan, I got them!”

Aika handed Jin a paper bag stuffed with cupcakes With his sto relieved

“Thanks You really saved me”

Froirls entered, carrying cake boxes They were all heading for Sierra As all the other girls gathered to Sierra's desk, she had to hold her small lunch box in her palm

“Sierra-sama, I made cupcakes in home economics, please eat them!”

“Please take mine as well!”

The h tension Saying, “Eh, Thank you,” and, “well then, let's all eat together,” a kind smile had risen on her face, which showed her ability to cope while re courteous, while at the saaze in her direction

The cupcakes Aika had given, had risen when baked to reseave off a sweet vanilla scent Holding them, they were steamy and warm Jin admired hoell done the cupcakes were

“These, you really made them?”

“Heh heh, great aren't they?”

Standing next to Jin's desk, Aika had both her hands wrapped around to her back, hugging herself with pride

“Yeah, they really look great It's like you bought them from a store”

“Don't just look at them, praise their taste too”

Placing a hand on top of Jin's desk, Aika brought her face in close to Jin's

“You, don't want to eat?”

“We're not supposed to eat in the middle of home economics Come on and show some discretion when you eat!”

Tre one out to test, Jin ate it, and suddenly the sweet scent of ht texture melted in his mouth

“Woah These are actually pretty good”

“Really? Yes!”

Aika struck a victory pose Extrery, Jin cra away his furious cho

“Yahpreddy good”

“You tried theain?”

“Yeah I was thinking you were going to feed ain”

“Ththat was back in kindergarten!”

In her anger Aika turned scarlet Aika always tended to show her emotions on her face instantly, as she always had since they had known each other as kids, so they could chat leisurely without worries In comparison with the stressful situation he was in with Sierra yesterday, Jin really felt much more relaxed and at ease now

Watching Aika attentively, Jin dropped cupcake after cupcake into his stoh

“Hey It's obvious none of us would have received anything, but why is it you're the only one who gets cupcakes!”

“Because ere in the sahborhood as kids”

As Jin was stuffing his face with cake, that blunt reply was all he could ather around, Aika ducked behind Jin Even though she was energetic when around Jin, around other guys she was really quite shy Sierra as well, had a different attitude in the classrooirls Jin was beco more confused

“Jin-kun It's not good for you to horde Aren't we your friends?”

While clinging to Jin, Yuuya spoke with a voice like a cat With the cake box, Jin separated from Yuuya

“Aika's upset, so quit getting so close”

“If you give us cake, we'll go away”

“Who'd believe that You didn't freaking give ”

“Forget about stuff in the past”

“It's a super sweet cupcake isn't it?”

“Jin-kun, please Give us some cupcakes”

All the other guys were co to Jin, all for the sake of the cupcakes Jin raised his voice into a yell

“It hurts, it HURTS! I'll s the cakes!”

Aika was coht beside Jin and the others

“Could I please have a moment”

“ZaZadou!”

All of the boys stopped irls, Sierra hadlike this had ever happened before Sierra, the unattainable flower, someone as only admired from afar by the boys, had actually co yakiniku Not knohat to do, they all just stiffened in panic

“I have received so many cakes, and I am unable to eat theirls, and they have said that it would be okay if I split them, so if you'd like you may eat some”

S in a friendly manner, the boys couldn't help but be excited

“I-Itadakimasu, Itadakimasu!”

In a moment, all the boys were separated from Jin, and like hyena's, they madly snatched the cupcakes stacked at Sierra's seat After the guys had left, Aika eed from behind Jin's back

“Sierra-sama, thank you very much for yesterday”

Straightening herself out with both hands, Aika see, but Jin could only remember her other face There was no one else who had noticed but, for so with her smile

“Is your injury healed yet?”

“Yes! Ah, sorry If you'd like, I've also made some cupcakes for Sierra-sama”

“No, it's fine I've received a lot from other friends already, so it's okay”

“But, that Onii-chan was in the same class as you, like I heard yesterday”

Trying to apologize, Aika's shoulders had dropped Jin re

(Thatabout ot home yesterday, on that road?)

With a poker-face smile, Sierra turned to Jin