Kenkyo, Kenjitsu o Motto ni Ikite Orimasu

Bara (, rose), also known by the wasei-eigo construction Mens Love (ML , menzu rabu), is a j.a.panese technical term for a genre of art and fictional media that focuses on male same-s.e.x love usually created by gay men for a gay audience.

Mount Hiei is a mountain to the north-east of Kyoto, lying on the border between the Kyoto and Shiga Prefectures, j.a.pan.Enryaku-ji is a Tendai monastery located atop Mount Hiei by the monk Saichou in 788.Mount Kouya is the name of mountains in Wakayama Prefecture to the south of Osaka. First settled in 819 by the monk Kuukai, Mt. Kouya is primarily known as the world headquarters of the Kouyasan Shingon sect of j.a.panese Buddhism.

Saigyou was the name of a monk said to have created an artificial human. Recalling tales of lonely ogres gathering human bones to create a person, Saigyou was said to have used the secret necromantic sance teachings of the Tokudaiji n.o.ble house to create a human from human bone remains.

I met Aira-sama in a caf the next Sunday in the early afternoon.

Sorry for making you come out here, Reika-chan.

There is nothing to apologise for. Being able to meet with you is a pleasure.

I ordered a latte. This caf did latte art, so I asked for a sheep.

Cute sheep. Speaking of which, you wore sheep ears during the school festival didnt you?

Yes.

The reception that my sheep butler costume received was surprisingly good, so I had become a little fond of sheep since. Hmm, it was a bit of a shame to ruin this by drinking it.While I was appreciating my latte art, Aira-sama began speaking hesitantly.

So you see, Im sure youve already guessed why Ive called you out today. Its about Yurie and Masaya.

Here it was I had pretty much guessed it. I took a gentle sip to avoid ruining the sheep. It was delicious.

Youve noticed too that Masayas been acting strangely, right?

Yes.

After seeing that it would be stranger if anybody failed to notice. He was like an empty cicada sh.e.l.l of himself. Even if I had somehow missed that, Enjou had already told me about how he went on a journey, and then handed over those unlucky souvenirs.

You see, Yurie has finally given him her decision.

Aahh

I thought so

Yurie cares about Masaya a great deal as well, but its always been the love for a younger brother. Thats why she thought it was about time to make things clear. I mean, the two of us are already twenty. In a sense you could say she was taking responsibility.

Hahhh

It was more or less the same in Kimidol. I cant see you as anything other than a brother, so I cant answer your feelings or something. Kaburagi had still replied No! I wont give up! and was pretty persistent about it. In the very end though, Yurie-sama wouldnt take back her words, for both their sakes.

It happened a little while after the school festival. Truthfully though, Yuries been trying put some distance between them since Masaya entered high school. Shes been trying to create chances for him to notice other girls as well. Remember the girl she brought with her to the school festival?

Ah, Maihama Ema-san.

Right. The two of them studied under the same tea master and go back quite a while. Ema-san looks up to Yurie and adores Masaya too, and has been to his house a few times with Yurie. Since Yurie dotes on her, Masaya cant flat-out reject her either

I see

Originally we had planned to come with just Yurie and I but Ema-san came along to the school festival as well. Masaya was really unhappy about that. He had planned to walk around with Yurie but then Ema-san was stuck to him the whole time instead. And then later when he went to Yuries house to visit, Ema-san was there again Eventually the stress built up and he demanded that Yurie tell him what was going on.

And so Yurie told him that she could only see him as a little brother and asked him to give up on her. It went something along the lines of telling him that her feelings wouldnt change no matter how much he pined after her. She thought it was a good opportunity to set things straight.

So the exam results

Yeah. Masaya of all people dropped ranks, didnt he. I heard about it later. Yurie was worried too. Whats worse is that after that a young man we met in the UK came to j.a.pan on business. Yurie and I had gone to welcome him, but then Masaya saw. He a.s.sumed that Yurie had said all that because she had found a boyfriend and flipped out. The guy took a lot of care of us while we were overseas so Yurie was furious at how rude Masaya had been. So she went and said Who I date is none of your business, Masaya! I dont want to see you anymore! Of course, they werent actually dating, you see.

I see

So thats why he went on his journey.But wow, Kaburagi hadnt matured since primary school at all. It was the same mistake all over again.

Did Shuusuke tell you that Masaya went missing? We had a decent idea of where he had gone, but Yurie was white as a sheet what with the destination and all. She came crying to me that she hadnt expected him to take it that badly and asked me what to do. Shuusuke spent each day talking Masaya down until he knew enough to go pick Masaya up Ojisama and Obasama were obviously horrified and wanted to know what happened to their son, so it was chaos over there too. Yuries been depressed and guilty towards them and told me that she couldnt face them. Its been a horrible start to the year.

To think that while I was nomming on red bean soup and New Years mochi broth, these guys were going through something like this

Anyhow, we managed to somehow bring Masaya home, and you remember his cold? Because of that he had to call off the rest of his journey, but hes been completely listless, like a different person. Weve all been really worried.

I see.

This went into a lot more detail than I expected I wasnt liking where this was going.

Are you certain that you should be telling an outsider like me about all this?

I made sure to stress outsider. Not that I thought it would save me at this point

Aira-sama leant forward and continued.

You see, I was hoping you could lend your help in getting Masaya back on his feet. Please, Reika-chan.

I question what aid I could possibly lend The two of us are not particularly close, after all. What if you asked Maihama-san, or?

Aira-sama shook her head and took my hands into hers.

Thats not true. I know you can do it, Reika-chan! Back at the school festival the only time Masaya stopped looking moody was when he saw you in your butler outfit. He said something about you not listening to what he said at all. Masaya rarely shows any interest in any girl that isnt Yurie, you know!

He wasnt interested in me so much as in pointing out why my costume was bad, though.

And I feel a little bad for saying this, but I dont think Ema-san could move Masayas heart, she declared.

Ah, but~

Please, Reika-chan! Yuries been feeling responsible for it all and has been in really bad shape. Couldnt you give Masaya some advice or something to cheer him up? Please?

Uuuu It was really hard to refuse Aira-sama like thisBut I didnt wanna do itttt. I had no idea how to cheer somebody like that up, and to begin with I didnt want to get involved.

Reika-chan.

Uu I understand.

I had taken the first step into a bottomless bog.

Advice What kind of advice was I even supposed to give?Ways to get over heartbreak? This was actually the best chance for him to start a new love with Wakaba-chan, but there were no signs of that at all.What if I tried spurring Wakaba-chan on? No, no, it wouldnt do to cross any more dangerous bridges than I already had.Oh, how about

Umm, Kaburagi-sama?

I called out to Kaburagi while he was sitting blankly in the salon. Sitting next to him, Enjou smiled.

Why not leave behind the troubles of the material world and join one of the strictly male convents in Europe? How about it? The World of Roses awaits you.

Kisshouin-san, could I have a word with you? smiled Enjou as he grabbed my arm and pulled me away.

Why exactly does Masaya have to get a tonsure and join a convent? And in Europe too.

As a scion of the Kaburagi house, I believed it suitable for him to go to the true home of convents.

Vetoed.

Wow, somebodys being picky.

I returned to Kaburagi for another try.

Kaburagi-sama, j.a.pan has Mount Hiei and Mount Kouya. How about it? Throw away your worldly ties, shave your head, and enter the service of the Buddha. I think the shaved-look would suit you very well, Kaburagi-sama. You might even get a chance to meet Saigyous homunculus.

Kisshouin-san, could I have a word with you? said Enjou, grabbing my arm a little stronger than last time and pulling me away. Do you think you could maybe step away from advice that involves running away from home? Kisshouin-san, youre really just trying to seal something troublesome far away, arent you?

Goodness, no! I thought that it might be best if he had a change of pace. My intentions are entirely pure.

Liar.

How mean. Doubting peoples sincerity like that is just proof that his own heart is twisted.

A tonsure Monkhood we heard Kaburagi mutter.

You see? Kaburagi-sama seems to be interested as well. Kaburagi-sama, I personally recommend the tonsure!

Kisshouin-san, thats enough out of you.

Despite the efforts I used to come up with this advice, Enjou shooed me away. I thought it was pretty good advice too.I only wanted the best for him.

Well do something about Masaya on our own. Thanks.

said a message from Aira-sama.

Goodness, is that so? I apologise for not being able to help.

Based Reika.