559 - I Was Genderswapped and Reincarnated as a Villainess, but I’m Making this My Personal Yuri Game

Golden Week has ended, and on this Saturday, the Kujou family's party is taking place. Honestly, it's kind of a hassle, but since it's our own party, it's manageable. Compared to the parties of the Konoe or Takatsukasa families, there's some comfort and enjoyment to be had. The Konoe family parties are exhausting due to their sheer scale, and the Takatsukasa family's events come with too many rules and restrictions. In contrast, my preferences influence our party significantly, so it's bearable. A lot of friends and underclassmen are invited, and there's no obligation to dance with any men either... "Sakuya, it's about time to go out and greet the guests." "Yes, brother." Yoshimi called for him, and together they headed towards the venue's entrance. Initially, his brother would join him in greeting the guests, but that wouldn't last long. Soon enough, Yoshimi would need to retreat to handle final preparations for the party, leaving Sakuya to manage the greetings. If anything, Yoshimi had the tougher job, constantly running around to ensure the party's success. All Sakuya had to do was stand at the entrance and greet guests, which wasn't that difficult. Moreover, these days, fewer people made snide remarks, and those who did weren't invited in the first place. Of course, there were people that had to be invited regardless of personal feelings, like those from the Konoe or Takatsukasa families. Additionally, there were families that either bumped heads with him or tended to offer backhanded comments, but these were fewer compared to other parties, making it easier to handle. Thus, he stood and greeted alongside his brother initially, until Yoshimi departed, leaving Sakuya to greet guests solo. His usual group of friends, underclassmen, upperclassmen, and even teachers like Iris entered the venue. Hozuki and Shion, who were newly invited, hadn't arrived yet, though it was still early. "Oh! Hozuki, Suzuran, Karin, welcome!" "..." Finally spotting the trio, he called out, but they seemed spaced out and silent. It couldn’t be someone who merely resembled them—it had to be them. It was impossible for three lookalikes to be together by pure chance. "Oh... Uh, Sakuya-chi, thanks for the invite today." "...Yeah. Saku-nyan is so pretty." "Umm... Thank you for inviting us." Eventually, they responded, albeit in a dazed manner. All three seemed off somehow and attracted some attention from others around. At parties like these, figures who loitered around aimlessly, keen on information gathering, would appear. Though they did not pose a direct threat, they'd keep a respectable distance under the guise of gathering useful information, observing everything—from exchanges of pleasantries to eavesdropping on potential sensitive topics. Hozuki and the others were just average middle school students externally or, in Karin's case, belonged to a branch family of the Yoshida internally. Eavesdropping on their conversations would likely yield little of value... unless they were targeted because the trio was attractive? Regardless, there was no need to give these eavesdroppers unnecessary information about the trio. "Hozuki, Suzuran, Karin, you’re all looking lovely. Please enjoy yourselves today." "Oh! We surely will!" "Yeah!" "Umm... I'll do my best." After a brief exchange, he sent them off, and some of the listeners started moving busily, likely intending to probe into the trio's background. Though it wouldn't be troublesome if they did, he wanted to ensure the trio wouldn’t get dragged into or used in anything untoward. "Thank you for inviting me today, Sakuya-sama!" "Shion..." Just after seeing off the trio, Shion appeared. It was surprising to hear him speak so properly at first; Shion would typically say something unusual. Perhaps he was making a conscious effort for the party setting? "Sakuya-sama! Your dress is stunning today!" "Uh, thank you?" "Your light, everyday makeup is lovely, but your party makeup tonight is also beautiful!" "Well... um..." "Sakuya-sama! The way your shoulders are exposed is very sexy!" "Umm..." "Sakuya-sama!" "Shion! Stop for a second!" "Mmph..." He covered Shion’s mouth, silencing the barrage of compliments. The audience was stunned by Shion's torrent of words. Something seemed off because Shion usually wasn't such a chatterbox. "Can you explain what's going on? Did someone tell you to say all that?" "Uh... well..." Shion, who had been speaking with great enthusiasm, suddenly became tongue-tied. Clearly, someone must have instructed him to speak in this manner. "Sorry, Kujou. I gave Shion some advice on how to properly greet you, and he tried to recite everything I suggested." "Oh, hello there, Nishikori." Nishikori came up behind Shion. It appeared that Nishikori had coached Shion on proper etiquette, prompting Shion to blurt out everything he’d been told before he could forget. "Were you the one telling him to say all those things?" "No, no. I provided a few suggestions on civil ways to greet someone, but it was Shion who tried to say everything." "Now, now, both of you..." He interjected before the two could start quarreling at the entrance. Perhaps the two made a good pair? Despite differences in financial strength, they were childhood friends from families of similar status. It sounded like the classic setup for romance. "Your advice got me scolded by Sakuya-sama!" "No, this one’s on Shion trying to say everything!" Sigh... Telling them to stop doesn't seem to prevent them from fighting. Anyway... "You're wearing a regular tuxedo today?" "...What? I thought I was supposed to?" Nishikori tilted his head, seemingly confused by the remark. It's not a simple tuxedo that everyone expected from him. Come on, he knows what people really wanted to see. "You know, you could have shown up in a dress, Yanagi-chan." "—!" Leaning in slightly, he whispered in Yanagi's ear, causing Yanagi to jump and blush fiercely, clutching his ear. Ah, I see, young one. You wanted to come in a dress, but didn't have the courage to do so. But deep down, you wanted it, didn't you? Wanted everyone to see you. I understand, truly... "I'm not like that! Shion, let's go!" "Why do I have to listen to you, Yanagi-chan!" "Don't call me Yanagi-chan! A simple greeting just needs a word or two! Now, let's go!" Still red, Yanagi forcibly dragged Shion into the venue. Really, Yanagi-chan is quite straightforward. --- The party began with greetings from his brother and himself. Mostly, his brother did the talking, and Sakuya just added a few words. At times like this, having an heir brother, while Sakuya stands as a sister, proves very convenient. No one condemns tossing family matters to the brother. After the initial greeting, they began receiving greetings from various families. The top families like Konoe and Takatsukasa came forward first, followed by the Nijo family. With the Nijo family comes Sakura. "Good day, Sakura." "Thank you for inviting me today, Sakuya-sis!" Unlike Yanagi-chan, Sakura boldly wore a dress. She's superbly cute, even more so than most young ladies, which could be considered troublesome. Were she plain or unfit for the dress, it might warrant a warning, but year after year, Sakura only seems to become more feminine. Could there be some secret to this? "Sakura, may I ask for your help?" "Of course! I'll do anything for you, Sakuya-sis!" Did she just say 'anything'? "You see, Yanagi-chan was invited today, but he was too embarrassed and showed up in a tuxedo instead..." "Oh..." Sakura knowingly nodded, as if perfectly understanding the situation. Perhaps she genuinely empathizes with those who have the desire but lack the courage to present themselves in public. Not that this matters now... "Sakura, could you perhaps trick— I mean, persuade Yanagi-chan? I'm sure you can appreciate his concerns." "Absolutely! Leave it to me!" Sakura accepted readily. If Yanagi-chan can become more honest with himself, that’d be wonderful. Helping a friend this way makes everything feel right! This alone promises a joyful experience at the party. "Good morning, Sakuya-sama!" "We just exchanged greetings earlier, Azami-chan." Being from the Tōdaiji family, Azami-chan approached soon after Sakura. Even though they had previously greeted each other at the entrance, 'Good morning' was her go-to greeting whenever they met beginning or not. "Kujou Sakuya-sama... Thank you for attending to our daughter." "Oh, no, it's I who should thank Azami-chan for all her help." Azami-chan's parents, who rarely engaged in conversation with him, now bowed in appreciation. Their unexpected gesture stirred a bit of murmur among the company. To him, it was completely unforeseen. Though having met them famously in social settings before, such behavior was unprecedented. Something must be up. "This Tōdaiji Kinmichi hereby pledges his service to Kujou Sakuya-sama." "—!?" The atmosphere buzzed after Tōdaiji's statement. The Tōdaiji house is one of the stalwarts of the Seven Pure Families, independent of the Five Northern Factions. Yet his words seemed to imply allegiance to the Kujou house. Surely, the stoic head of the Tōdaiji couldn't have spoken without understanding the implications, which implies a deliberate statement meant to resonate publicly. "Kujou Sakuya-sama... Please forgive any past rudeness. My heart has changed since then, and nothing like that will ever happen again." "Please, raise your head." Azami-chan's mother also apologized, but he was unsure what for. This display, however, could cause misunderstandings, making it appear he commanded authority over the Tōdaiji family heads in public. Azami-chan's mother was robust and stout, comparable to the most formidable matriarchs, so her lowering her head drew conspicuous attention. "I cannot raise my head until forgiven." "I understand! Your apology is accepted, so please raise your head." Not knowing specifically what the apology was about, he compelled them more to avoid the scene. With these words, Azami-chan's parents smiled broadly, concluding the encounter and stepped aside for the next in line. What just transpired remains a puzzle... It presented as if the Tōdaiji allegiance had succumbed to the Kujou faction. It could be a calculated noble maneuver, yet the abruptness caught him off guard. Despite this peculiarity, not only did the Tōdaiji heads undergo this ritual, but many others did too—heads from various houses addressing him, akin to the Apologies from Azami-chan's parents. Typically absent were apologies, except from Azami-chan's mother. Yet, all seemed resolved to pledge their service or join ranks, akin to an alliance. Publicly, no less, bowing not to his parents or heir brother, but to him. This year's masquerade under the guise of a party seemed as usual, only the series of events thus far differed wildly from expectation. What on Earth had come over the houses this year...? To leave a comment, please log in. +Notice+ All works posted, unless otherwise noted, are fictional and have no connection to real individuals or organizations. Unless otherwise specified, the copyright for the works posted belongs to the author (with some exceptions). Unauthorized reproduction of the works beyond citation by anyone other than the author is prohibited and constitutes a copyright violation if done. This work is link-free. Feel free to link (introduce) it. This work is smartphone compatible. It automatically detects whether you are on a smartphone or a computer and displays the appropriate page. The estimated reading time for this work is based on reading 500 characters per minute. Please use this as a guideline. Author's My Page Report Typos Information Submission Shousetsuka ni Narou Let's Read Novels!