Reiko’s Manners – She’s Referred To As A Villainess, But Actually She’s Just Penniless

“They’re blooming wonderfully this year too.”

　The white magnolia visible outside the window is swaying in the wind.

　Two months have passed since I started to live by myself.
My self-centered grandmother died recently and, though this may sound cold, I was actually relieved.
She was my grandmother but she preferred to be called Mary-sama.

　In her last two years, Mary-sama who suffered from dementia started speaking in French, I helped Fuki-san care for her since Fuki-san cannot speak French.
It was really painful.
But I’m glad Fuki-san didn’t hear about the horrible things she said.

 

“Well, I have to get going soon.
I’ll be late for the entrance ceremony.”

　Originally, I was too impoverished to afford high school, but I was given a special recommendation by my junior high school teachers to take an exam at the prestigious Meisei Private Academy, which has a special scholarship system which include tuition exemptions and provide all school supplies. 

Scholarships that do not require repayment are also provided.
50,000 yen a month! You can live well if you have 50,000 yen!

　The uniform at Meisei Private Academy, which I will go to for the next three years, is really splendid.
The sewing is also wonderful.
The disadvantage is that it is white.
It would be very noticeable if dirty.

　White blazer, white skirt, ruffled blouse and ribbon tie.

　It’s a lady specification.
It doesn’t suit a poor lady like me.
I can’t check my whole body because the only mirror is one with a small washbasin that’s broken and cloudy, but I don’t think there’s any problem with my appearance.
Fuki-san isn’t here to fix my hair so I cut it myself, thus, the ends were rattled and weaved together.
They are tied with a ribbon of French-made Argentan lace, which is a heirloom from Mary-sama.
At least it looks fashionable.

    The school-designated bag I am holding is a famous brand item with a rose and pen school emblem embroidered on it.
This fine bag contains two rice balls wrapped in bamboo skin, boiled wild vegetables picked from the back mountain, fried eggs, and writing instruments.
Unlike the fine bag it is, its contents seemingly contradict with it.

“Hrnn! Hrnngh!”

　Prying the poorly built sliding door with both hands, the door opened with a rattling sound, a field and a blue sky spread in front of me.
And then I close the door, again with force.
I locked it, but there’s really nothing to steal, so it’s not very meaningful.

　In the first place it can be invaded from the edge.
Crime prevention is important just for the sake of it after all.
Even so, this lock can be opened with just one hairpin….

　There was still time before the bus arrived, so I walked to the bus stop.
There is one bus around here in the morning and evening.
A 40-minute bus ride and a one-hour train ride from a large terminal station will take you to Tokyo’s prestigious school, Meisei Private Academy.
It will take almost 2 hours to reach school, but since I have a scholarship paid, this is not a problem.

　Meisei Private Academy is a prestigious school with elementary, junior, high schools, and universities.

　Universities are widely open for admission, but there are few students up until high school.
It seems that everything is important for admission, not only in grades but also in family.
Meanwhile, about five scholarship students enroll in high school every year to increase their admission rate in famous universities.
These five students are expected to gain admission to prestigious schools such as Cambridge, the University of Tokyo, Harvard, and Stanford, as well as perform meritorious deeds.
Of course, the cost of taking the exam is paid for by the school.

　With that done, it’s marvellous! It looks like an academy that has five students who have passed the University of Tokyo, two who have passed Oxford, three who have passed Harvard, two who have passed MIT, and so on.
In fact, only these five people are taking the exam.

　So it’s no wonder these scholarships do not require repayment.
It’s more like a salary.
But in return, if your grades drop, you’ll be expelled immediately.
I couldn’t afford to go to high school in the first place, so even if I am expelled, I won’t feel sorry.
If you are in high school, you can work and learn online.

　Anyway, if I do not drop out, I will go to Meisei Private Academy every day.
I’m new to train, so I’m nervous as I stand on the platform waiting for the train.
Because it is the first train station, I can sit down as well.
Looking at the outside scenery from the train, I could see skyscrapers in the distance.
I’ve been to Tokyo since the entrance exam, but it really is a big city! I can’t help but be impressed.
I have to get off now.
However, it’s really crowded and I’m washed away in unexpected directions.

“Haa, haa, haa.”

　I was already tired before anything had begun.
Meisei Private Academy is just a 2-minute walk from the station.
When I arrived at the school while swaying, a splendid gate greeted me.
I’ve seen something like this gate in a large art book banned from the library.

“It’s like the gate of Dolmabahçe Palace …”

　When I muttered so, I heard a voice from behind.

“That’s right, it seems this gate was built as an imitation.”

　Somehow this person seems especially exceptional.
Definitely not the type that can be seen in the countryside.

“That’s right.”

　Certainly, there is an unwritten law that external students must not be friendly with the internals.
A junior high school teacher taught me.
The hierarchy of high school externals seems to be at the bottom.
So we have to keep our eyes off.

“I’m Katsuragi Kaoru, a second year.
I assume that you are a first year?”

“Yes, my name is Kujouin Reiko.
Please Take care of me in the future.”

　Let’s smile for now.
Smile is free.
Free is wonderful.

“You look tired, are you okay?”

　Ara, for a student from the countryside to go to school by train is quite the complication.

“I’m a little ashamed to admit, but I’ve never gone to school by train so I’m not used to it.”

　Pardon this country bumpkin.
I’m a Natural Born Country Bumpkin!

“Oh.
You earnestly take the effort to commute to school by train.
You’re quite the diligent one.”

　Katsuragi-sama says with a surprised face, but diligent in what way perhaps? I wonder if he thought I was evading the fare because I was too poor.
How rude! I got enough for the school expense, so I properly bought a commuter pass! He is one of the arrogant sort.
I wonder if everyone inside is like this.

“I’ll get used to it soon.
Sorry for taking your time.”

　Hmm! Is it bad that I’m a bumpkin? I have bad reflexes, but I have great stamina.
I won’t just wait to be beaten up by the city kids.

　At the moment I was thinking that, I was tackled from behind and fell forward.
I don’t think this is related to stamina.
It’s a surprise attack.

“Kaoru-kun, did she do anything to you? You see, that is the villainess young lady I told you about!”

　Aaah! I’ve fallen down, and my white uniform is dirty!

　It’s really hard to remove dirt once they get into the fiber!

　But wait, what? Villainess young lady?

“You, Kujouin Reiko! I won’t permit anything that disturbs this school!”

　A petite girl with wavy brown hair stood up, with one hand on her waist and the other pointing at me.
I was at a loss for words.
I couldn’t move, so Katsuragi-sama helped me up.

“Yuria! You are still saying that nonsense?”

“But it’s true.
This woman will be the greatest threat to the school.”

　It seems this person i