Chapter 18: The State Visit P2
'What about me?' Natsuki was caught off guard by the Queen's question. Staring at her, it took Natsuki a moment to realise what she was doing. She had heard it was unsettling to stare at Zipangese people. "Ah, er—" Natsuki veered her gaze away, thinking quickly. "I've been feeling better recently." She shrugged afterwards, unsure with what else she should say. Oh, wait. "His Maj—"
"—Yuuichi." The King raised his hand, interjecting her.
"I think that you...Yuuichi—" Natsuki's eyes fled again. "I'm awful at this." A sigh escaped her, causing the royals to smile encouragingly. "I think that you had nanomachine surgery of some kind?"
"Yeah, I did." Yuuichi toothily grinned, pulling up his left sleeve, he showed Natsuki his arm.
But… It looked real? Natsuki frowned in confusion. That was until the sovereign pressed his thumb to his prosthetic wrist. Before her very eyes, the faux limb shimmered and flesh transformed into metal. "Whoa."
"Cool right?" Yuuichi twisted his arm this time. "Watch this." He turned so he didn't directly face Natsuki. Before Natsuki, Saeko and Shizuru could react, a rectangular hole appeared within his palm. Moment's later, an entire blade shot from out his prosthetic arm, the hilt swiftly slotting within his hand.
"Yuuichi! I told you this was a bad idea!"
"What? It's cool!"
Natsuki stared at the sword before leaning towards Shizuru. "...Is that like the weapons which the Otome use?"
"Partially, perhaps."
It looked like the blade was within the prosthetic rather than being teleported? Trust Natsuki though, huh? Obscenely she wished she had lost an arm instead of having her legs messed up. Nevertheless, Natsuki watched the two royal's go back and forth with each other. She couldn't quite tell whether they were arguing or just bantering.
"How is it that long? I'd understand if it was the length of your forearm." Natsuki asked suddenly, causing the royal's to stop their bickering and look her way.
"The blade is stored in my upper arm and forearm." Yuuichi nodded. He pointed to the middle of the blade. "The nanomachines stick them both together here."
There was no evidence it was halved at all. Thinking about it, Natsuki was yet to see Shizuru's weapon. Or whatever it's called.
Later that evening, Natsuki was with Shizuru taking a break outdoors.
"Shizuru, how you do this stuff frequently is beyond me." Propping her elbow against her wheelchair's armrest, half of Natsuki's attention moved to the main road. The crowd from this morning had considerably calmed down, but many were still there. Apparently the fanatics were camping over there. Well, Natsuki would give this to them; they definitely had determination.
"I never really got used to it." Shizuru confessed, standing by her side. "The art of becoming an Otome is to pretend you are another person entirely. I may seem the master of etiquette, negotiations and all manner of things, but…" The Meister's gaze turned to Natsuki. "In the end we're all similar. We wish to be things we cannot become."
It turned out her Meister was a treasure trove of wisdom. Natsuki stared at her for a moment. "What do you wish you were like?"
"I have no idea." Shizuru's gaze raised skywards, studying the darkening horizon. "Even as a child I did not know. I suppose in life I have been incredibly lucky. Things just seem to slot together so conveniently for me." It was heartbreaking, really. She had seen so many people give it their all yet it was never enough. "There were lower ranking students in Garderobe who would struggle for various reasons. Some held on, while others improved their rank. However… it never seemed enough. One in particular was not able to find a sponsor nor was employed after education."
"That happens in Garderobe?" Natsuki's face scrunched up, unsure how to feel about it. Garderobe was the education every family strove for in the developed world. If you became an Otome, you were practically worshipped if you were from a rural area. So to hear the fact those fifty students were still up against unforeseen odds was… "That's disgusting." Natsuki grunted. "If I led Garderobe I'd make sure the 'failed' students went somewhere, at least."
"You're kinder than you realise."
"Eh, I just know how fucked up society is." Natsuki shrugged. After all, people such as herself were hunted down and imprisoned inside travelling circuses. That was usually the best case scenario as well. "As far as I'm concerned, Garderobe failed those people. What are they doing now?"
"It is hard to say." Shizuru mused thoughtfully, brushing her fingers to her lips. "Some broke ties with Garderobe entirely. They were understandably upset. There are a few I am indirectly in contact with. Why?"
"Hm, well…" Natsuki sighed. "It's probably hopeless but I'm still stuck on that idea. The one to make an organisation similar to SeaRRs."
"It is not a stupid idea. Never stop yourself from dreaming big, Natsuki."
Truly, where would she be without this woman? Their gaze locked, but before long Natsuki's gaze retreated. It feels like she had known her for years. Or perhaps they just matched well? How, though, she barely knew Shizuru? "What's your favourite colour?" Natsuki suddenly asked.
"Violet shades. Crimsons, pinks. I love the setting sun. Recently I quite like greens. "What is yours?"
"Huh, lots really. Depends on the mood, I guess." Natsuki said, her Meister's hinting of her eyes clearly flying over her head. "Blues, blacks, greys, whites, greens. Anything with darker shades."
"Mh." Shizuru made an amused noise.
"What's so funny?"
"I am imagining you in a dress. I think you would look—" "—Ugh—" "—adorable."
"I wouldn't be caught dead in a dress!" Natsuki muttered, though realised a moment later that Garderobe has revolting dresses. "So when Garderobe reforms their employment, can they also modernise the uniforms?"
Shizuru laughed, catching her off guard a little. "I like you, Natsuki. You are not afraid to speak your mind at all."
"It's exhausting keeping needless stuff hidden." Natsuki felt her face heat up. She turned away discreetly, scratching her cheek gently. "You're my bodyguard, so." Obviously Shizuru had the right to know. "You need to know what I'm like?"
"It is certainly a plus." Shizuru agreed, hearing a disturbance come from the doors nearby. A large gathering of the Windbloom officials filtered out. This likely indicated that the royals had finished their meeting with Saeko.
Sure enough, the King and Queen exited next, closely followed by Saeko.
"I will notify my staff of the adjustments we agreed on when I get to our room." Yuuichi declared, slotted between both Mai and the President. "Good evening, Saeko."
"Good evening. Have a nice night, the both of you." The President said, smiling.
"Did it go well?" Shizuru asked as Saeko came to a stop beside them.
"Perfectly, somehow." She exhaled tiredly, stretching her arms above her head. "Mhhh… well. I'll be in the quarters. I am completely drained from all of that."
"I'm exhausted and I hardly did a thing." Natsuki turned her wheelchair in order to start following Saeko. Shizuru was close behind, gaze never straying far from Mahya. The fellow Otome was directly behind King Yuuichi. In fact, it was a wonder she hadn't bumped into the sovereign. Seriously, there absolutely is something weird going on between Mahya and Shizuru. What was it, though? Nor was the royal Meister taking any notice of Shizuru. In fact, she behaved like Shizuru did not exist. This conflict loomed within the back of Natsuki's mind as they journeyed to her quarters.
"Shizuru, can you come to my room? There's something I want to talk about."
"Mh? Ah, of course."
Saeko watched the interaction from the corner of her eye. Was something the matter?