Kure-nai Vol 1 Chapter 2.02

Volume 1
Chapter 2-2

Yesterday, even after everything was settled, taking care of Muasaki had been a real ha.s.sle.

What Benika said, deliberately making Murasaki wear that dress, everything was done so that s.h.i.+nkurou would accept the job. True to Benika’s reputation, she told Murasaki to use eye drops to fake her tears as well.

s.h.i.+nkurou, standing with the small s.p.a.ce that acted as the kitchen behind him, asked Murasaki, “You put these in your eyes, didn’t you?” Once she heard that, a look of astonishment formed on her face. s.h.i.+nkurou’s expression was one that said ”You’re rather simple, aren’t you?” Murasaki cast her eyes downwards in order to avoid his sneer.

From the way her shoulder tensed up, Murasaki was obviously displeased. From beside Murasaki’s grumbling self, s.h.i.+nkurou pat her head. Everything had been set up by Benika. It was now too late to refuse the job. While thinking that, s.h.i.+nkurou tried to explain the existence of six-tatami sized rooms to Murasaki, who had been incessantly complaining about it. Before long, Murasaki understood, and said—

“So commoners are able to live in such a cramped s.p.a.ce…”

—as if she were experiencing culture shock. s.h.i.+nkurou finally began to understand how reckless he was to have agreed to take care of this child. However, it was too late to regret his choice.

Once again, s.h.i.+nkurou introduced himself to his new roommate.

“I’m s.h.i.+nkurou Kurenai. Let’s try to get along, Murasaki-chan1”

“Stop using -chan, it is weird.”

Her response lacked any charm whatsoever.

Proudly folding her arms across her chest, Murasaki said,

“My name is Murasaki Kuhouin. I have already told you this, but just because I am a child, do not think that you can take me lightly. First of all, I am a Kuhouin. Being from such a family, I am different from everyone else. Do you understand?”

s.h.i.+nkurou did not agree with what she said, but since she did not seem finished, he just nodded.

Seemingly satisfied, Murasaki continued.

“I am only seven years old. However, I have already mastered hiragana and katakana2. And I am somewhat good with difficult kanji. Ah, I get it! Since I am a young girl, you naturally think that I lack intelligence. Let me demonstrate.”

Murasaki held out her hand. When s.h.i.+nkurou looked at the palm of her small hand, she became irritated and began to wave her hand up and down. He a.s.sumed that she wanted something to write with, so he handed her a memo pad and a pencil. Unexpectedly, Murasaki moved her pencil with elegance.

“There, just like that.”

“Ahem,” said Murasaki as she proudly threw out her chest. “Murasaki Kuhouin” was written on the memo pad. s.h.i.+nkurou saw a subtle mistake on one of the more difficult characters for Kuhouin, but he pretended not to see it and applauded.

“Hehe,” beamed Murasaki, filled with joy. She probably was only able to do this thanks to a considerable amount of practice.

No matter how you look at her, she’s just a child.

“Umm, so…”

s.h.i.+nkurou tried to say something but hesitated. Murasaki then said,

“It is fine to address me without any honorifics.”

She was definitely an ojou-sama3, but because s.h.i.+nkurou thought about what it would mean to call her that, he was a little reluctant to use the honorific. Murasaki bowed her head to show her good will.

“Why, I really am touched. You’re a very big-hearted person.”

“Ah, is that so… Since I do not discriminate against commoners, I will be kind to you, my servant, as well.”

“Thanks for that…”

“Now, s.h.i.+nkurou, I am tired. Get the preparations in order.”

Did she mean, get the bed prepared?

When s.h.i.+nkurou thought about how things would be like from now on, he became a little depressed. However, s.h.i.+nkurou obeyed her wish. As he did not have a guest futon, s.h.i.+nkurou took his own futon out from the closet and laid it on the tatami. When he turned around and saw Murasaki, he was taken aback. Contrary to what he thought she would do, which was to start rummaging through her bag and change into her pajamas, Murasaki was stark naked.

“Huh? Why are you making that doltish face?”

Murasaki stared suspiciously at s.h.i.+nkurou, who stood with his mouth gaping. After taking a deep breath, s.h.i.+nkurou asked her why she had stripped and Murasaki replied that she had always slept like this at home. When he checked her bag to see if there were she had any pajamas, he found nothing.

If one considered the general view towards sleeping naked, it didn’t seem that absurd. s.h.i.+nkurou came to realize this and kindly explained the typical manner of sleeping to Murasaki. However, she was not at all surprised or embarra.s.sed, but rather regained her previous dignified att.i.tude.

s.h.i.+nkurou did not care much for Murasaki; his taste was more inclined towards women who were fully mature in both mind and body. s.h.i.+nkurou did not feel that Murasaki’s body, which had yet to develop around the chest area, had any healthy beauty. He was not interested in her at all. However, s.h.i.+nkurou averting his eyes in embarra.s.sment was not the only thing bothering Murasaki.

“Am I supposed to sleep on the floor?”

Murasaki, who had never slept on anything but a bed, was once again hit with what seemed like culture shock. However, with an arrogant “Well, I will permit it”, she laid down on the futon after elegantly covering her mouth and letting out a yawn. After commanding s.h.i.+nkurou to turn off the lights, s.h.i.+nkurou was able to hear her relaxed breathing in no time.

s.h.i.+nkurou truly admired Murasaki’s courage. It was her first time being in this room, her first time meeting s.h.i.+nkurou, yet she was still able to naturally flutter about. s.h.i.+nkurou at her age paled in comparison to her. s.h.i.+nkurou went to where he would sleep as he recalled how he was not able to sleep when his mother or older sister was around. Was Murasaki really that tired?

The next morning, s.h.i.+nkurou snuck out of the room and went to school.

Translation Notes and References

(1) (ちゃん) An honorific put at the end of names, usually of small children, to give an endearing tone.

(2) Hiragana and Katakana are the two j.a.panese syllabaries used in conjunction with kanji, Chinese characters, to spell words or used alone to show the phonetic spelling of kanji. Katakana is most often used for words of foreign origin.

(3) (お嬢様) A term used for daughters of rich or powerful families.