Kuroba Short Story - Budding of True Love

‘My dear Lord Brother, you’re in love with Olympia, aren’t you?'

Hearing such a question suddenly whispered to me, I nearly spat out the alcohol I had been drinking.

‘.....Of course not.’

‘Do you really think you can deceive these eyes of mine?’

Yosuga was smiling elegantly before me.

He called me brother, but of course we were not related by blood. It was just that it wasn’t unusual for there to be brats with no parents in Yomi, and all the adults were completely untrustworthy. That was why those of us who got along formed relationships as brothers and sisters and helped each other. Strictly speaking, Yosuga wasn’t born in Yomi, but was a Purple who had fallen down here from the surface because of “certain circumstances.” Even so, we strangely got along well and had been friends for a long time.

‘Olympia’s husband will be Akaza for sure, who else would it be?’

‘But you like her, don’t you?’

‘.....In that case, what about you? You do flower fortune telling for her, prepare her baths, give her rare snacks to eat…..you enjoy spending time with her too, don’t you? Lord Jigoku never accepts the invitations of any woman, and only laughs coldly, right?’

‘Olympia is Tsukuyomi’s beloved child, of course I'd be polite and hospitable to her.'

As he spoke, Yosuga directed his gaze towards the lavish carpet. No—more precisely, down towards the underground of Shikinjou.

Beneath Shikinjou was the place called Naraku, it seemed that the man called Tsukuyomi had been living there for quite some time. I don’t like to speak ill of others, but truth be told, he was such a strange guy I didn’t really know what to make of him.

‘Well, it does seem most people are betting on Akaza.’

‘There you go, talking about this again.’

‘Simply put, I’m just amusing myself. The one and only White has started looking for a husband, it’s only natural for everyone to be interested in who it will be.’

‘There’s no need for betting. Is there really anyone out there who can hold a candle to Akaza?’

‘He’s tall, handsome, of good lineage, and the head of the Kotowari. Akaza sure is the perfect marriage candidate.’

‘Exactly. They should hurry up, have intercourse and then give birth to healthy children. As a doctor of this island, I’ll feel relieved once they do.’

‘Big brother, I did say you couldn’t hide anything from me, remember?’

And he used to be so cute.

Sighing a little, this time I took a sip of my drink.

‘.....I don’t love her, it’s nothing like that. She’s simply a rare “White.” As a doctor, it’s a given I’d be curious. She’s so completely white, no matter where you look it draws your attention. Truth be told, I do think I’d like to sleep with her at least once.’

‘Ah, I see.’

He snatched my glass that was still half-full with rum, and drank it all down in one go.

‘Did you know that Nagusa of the Jade has his sights set on her as well?’

‘There’s no way a tomboy like her would give a guy like that the time of day.’

‘You seem upset, big brother.’

Yosuga refilled my glass to the brim with rum, and placed it in front of me.

‘Anyway, of course her husband will be Akaza! He’s the most certain, and safest choice!’

‘Well, to be sure, Akaza is acting a little different than usual. Even though he was always running away from getting married, ever since he became of suitable age.’

‘I’m looking forward to their wedding.’

I made a show of smiling, but Yosuga frowned exaggeratedly.

‘And here I was thinking of cheering you on.’

‘As if I’d need you to.’

‘I don’t care if you don’t believe me, but I’ve never given my body to any man, no matter who.’

Back then, she had said that decisively while glaring at me.

Olympia of the White, who lived with Douma of the Yellow, was certainly also his lover too— that was indeed a rumour well favoured by everyone. I could tell immediately that she knew nothing of men. No, not only that, but of love as well. Born and raised on a strange island of only women, after she had been taken from there, she had spent all her time cooped up in the mansion. Her body and heart were pure white.

Even though I— was so pure black.

‘I’ll be betting on you then, big brother. Do your best.’

My little brother who wasn’t related to me by blood smiled meaningfully and left.

---

That’s right—I was pure black.

On this island those of the Black were shunned and hated. The colour of a darkness that sunlight did not penetrate, an unlucky colour. To the point that there were those who killed themselves in despair when their hair and skin became black due to illness. And of course we were also of low rank. All those of the Black apart from me, lived in Yomi where the rays of the sun did not reach.

There was no way someone like me could be loved by her, who was so completely pure white and the closest existence to the sun.

But even so.

‘It’s a necessary colour for this island.’

She’d said such a foolish thing.

Even though she was so pure white, she’d said the kind of thing to make me get carried away.

The one most suitable for her was Akaza. He was the most trustworthy man on the island, and she would definitely become happy if she were to choose him. Not only that, she was under the authority of such important people as Tsukuyomi and Douma. They likely did not want someone as pure black as I to get close to her.

But even so.

‘Would you give me that Iroha flower? I’d like to try and research its composition a little.’

‘Eh? Ah! Of course.’

The moment she had put her hand to the flower in her hat—I had ended up touching her.

Her body froze as I gently kissed her forehead. Her eyes had widened and she had stood stock still, not even blinking.

‘You’ve got a pretty nice forehead, I just couldn’t help it.’

‘Eh….!?’

‘I’m glad, you didn’t cry, punch, or try to stop me.’

‘J-Just now- um…..!’

It was just a little joke. I just wanted to try teasing her, who was so bright and innocent.

The gardenias at Douma’s mansion were in full bloom. The fragrance was just too sweet, I had just wanted to touch her skin a little, which was even more pure white than its flower petals.

That’s right, even though I had wanted it to end as just a little joke.

Love me, Olympia.

But—don’t love my pure black self.

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