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

I'm here today at the Konoha residence for two reasons. Usually, Konoemother greets me with a smile that suggests she's up to something, but today, she welcomes me with a smile that seems rather displeased. I know the reason behind that. During the recent Kujo family party, I was approached for greetings by the heads of various families. If it were just simple greetings, it would've been fine, but the way they proclaimed something resembling a shift in faction allegiance with all those houses gathered made it appear as though I was intentionally antagonizing the Konoha family. Among those houses were followers of the Konoha faction, which from Konoha's perspective, could understandably be seen as me slighting the Konoha family. "Hey, hey, Sakuya-chan, could it be that you're not just planning on marrying into the Konoha family to seize control over them and their faction, but you're also thinking of establishing your own faction?" "Uh... well..." Konoemother, with a smile that isn't smiling, moves in with a 'zumomomo!', causing me to be at a complete loss. I'm not plotting anything, nor am I thinking about it. I was more surprised than anyone by those greetings. But that's not something Konoemother would be concerned about. The families that greeted me at that time did so with an attitude as if they were submitting to me. Regardless of whether I instructed them or plotted something, being lifted as a figurehead by so many influential families is inevitably my concern. I really don't understand why things turned out that way, and I'm not aiming for anything. But even if I sincerely explained it, Konoemother wouldn't be satisfied. At worst, she'd think I'm incompetent if I said I had no control over the situation. "Sigh... Fine. Let's head over there then." "Yes..." I doubt Konoemother is really satisfied, but perhaps she realized it was pointless to pursue further. She turned on her heel and guided me to the usual room. Today I came to the Konoha residence for two purposes. One is to continue my role as Yamabuki's tutor. The other is because the merchandise related to the recent debut concert performance has been completed. I've visited Yamabuki as his tutor numerous times, but today marks the first time since the recent party. During this time, which is usually devoted to tutoring, everyone else will soon join us to discuss the concert merchandise. It's been nearly a month and a half since the concert, and it feels like it took quite a while just to edit the video and music. Nowadays, editing can be done quickly on a computer, and the data can be sent off to a pressing plant. Even amateurs can have their work pressed in just a few days as long as they pay. If the Konoha family decided to move, it shouldn't take that long for editing or pressing... "Yamabuki~! Your future bride has arrived! Isn't she awful for only coming so infrequently?" "What!? Konoha-sama!?" Upon arriving at Yamabuki's usual room, Konoemother started joking around. Wasn't I supposed to be Ibuki's fiancée candidate? If that's the case, I should be considered Yamabuki's older sister rather than a bride. From Konoemother's perspective, I might be a bride whether I marry one son or the other, but the way she's talking suggests she's considering Yamabuki as the main party, which is odd for several reasons. "I'm Ibuki-sama's 'fiancée candidate,' so I have nothing to do with Yamabuki-sama, right?" "That's not true at all, Sakuya-chan. You can marry Ibuki if you absolutely want him, but you seemed not so keen on Ibuki, so I had Yamabuki for you instead. So feel free to raise Yamabuki to your liking." "What!? Huh!?" Wait, I... I really don't get what she's saying... Does she think of her own children as just pawns? As long as she can unite the Konoha and Kujo families, it doesn't matter to her which of her sons I marry? Is she really a mother? Isn't a mother's top priority supposed to be her child's happiness? Even if the father insists on a political marriage, a mother is supposed to support her child till the end, right? Of course, resisting a political marriage is practically impossible. Even if both parents didn't want it, or if the person involved strongly disliked it... political marriages are unavoidable. Whether it's for me, Ibuki, or Enju, the marriages of children from prominent families carry significant influence. In the game, Ibuki being able to marry the heroine because he loves her is only possible because it's a game. In reality, such a thing isn't allowed. And even in the game, it was necessary to destroy Kujo Sakuya and Kujo's household to make it possible. Although it's one hundred percent impossible, if I were to marry a man like Nishikoori Yanagi, the entire noble society would be turned upside down. The Nishikoori family, despite being half of Doujou's family, doesn't have financial power. If it were known that the daughter of the Kujo family married into such a place, it would cause an uproar in noble society. In that sense, Ibuki and Enju are pitiful victims as well. They can't marry whomever they want and are forced to choose from a very limited pool, dictated not by their desires or preferences, but by family convenience. A marriage between the children of the Kujo and Konoha families itself would cause a significant stir due to its implications, but it's not a bad match. If the heads of two major, long-opposed factions were united, it would undoubtedly trigger a major transformation in noble society. And if the Konoha family takes in a Kujo daughter with a Konoha son as head, it ensures that the Konoha family maintains dominance in any collaborations or mergers between the factions. Indeed, from the perspective of both the family and faction interests, as long as a Konoha son weds a Kujo daughter, it’s a favorable outcome. Whether it’s the eldest son, Ibuki, or the second son, Yamabuki... But still, how can Konoemother speak like this? Is she truly thinking of her children as a caring mother should? Her words suggest her sons are mere tools to be used to bring a Kujo daughter into the family, and it doesn't matter which son it is. "I see it in your face—you think I'm a terrible mother, don't you?" "Uh... it's not that..." Well, it is, but I can't just admit that outright. Even if saying it outright might somehow be better, it's certainly not something I can say here. "But you see... ensuring the prosperity of our family, maintaining stability without unnecessary conflict, and keeping our noble society—and by extension, the country's economy—stable, is for the happiness of our children, grandchildren, and descendants. To outsiders, I might seem like a lousy mother. But I do want my children to be happy. I'm merely choosing the best option available within the constraints we have." I couldn't say anything in response to Konoemother's words. It's likely a path every noble child must walk, and one that Konoemother herself has walked. Her sons will walk it too. It's just that simple... For children of high-ranking families, political marriages are the only option. Within that, she seeks at least to choose the best possible option for her children, grandchildren, and, if possible, for the future of this country. That could be Konoemother's own form of love for her children. If choices aren't available, then from the limited options, choosing the best one... That might be the only thing a parent can do. Well, that being said, I have no intention of marrying either of the Konoha family sons! Even if I were to marry into the Konoha family, it doesn't mean Konoha and Kujo are merging! That's something Ibuki and Yoshimi-kun can discuss. Then they can collaborate or merge as much as they want. I'm not involved in this! "Well then, Sakuya-chan, shall we begin?" "Yes..." Konoemother handed Yamabuki over to me with a 'zuzui!', so I held him as I'd been taught. Usually, Yamabuki would smile at this moment, but... "Ah, aaaaah! Aaaah!" "What? What?! Wh-wh-what should I do?" Yamabuki suddenly started crying, and I was at a loss. What happened? Was I holding him wrongly? Did I accidentally hurt him? Could I have held him in a strange way that left some sort of aftereffect...? "It's about time for a snack. I thought I'd have Sakuya-chan give it to him today, so I haven't given it to him yet." "Wait, but, um..." While I was flustered and unsure what to do, Konoemother handed me a cup with a straw. This slightly yellowish, thick drink... "Banana juice?" "It's Yamabuki's snack. Try giving it to him, Sakuya-chan." Even though she said that, my hands were full holding Yamabuki... Well, I can hold him with one hand, but it's not a matter of arm strength. I'm worried and scared that I might drop him if I don't hold him securely with both hands! "Ah! Ah! Mamma! Mamma!" Yamabuki reached his hand towards the cup. This is... "So cute~~! Here you go, Yamabuki-chan, it's snack time~~!" When I brought the cup closer as Konoemother had given it to me, Yamabuki started sucking on the straw. "You can drink like this already! You're such a good boy!" "Well, of course. At his age, he can eat a fair amount of food." "Wow! Really? That's amazing! Yamabuki-chan, grow up big and strong!" What was it... It feels like we were having an important conversation... "Ah! Ah! Auya! Mamma!" "Here, here! It's your sister Sakuya~!" "Sakuya-chan... you're too easily charmed." Konoemother seemed to say something, but it didn't register with me after a point. --- While playing with Yamabuki, eventually everyone began to gather at the Konoha residence. Konoemother said she wanted to greet them, so I stayed with Yamabuki in his room until a family member came to call me out, and I regretfully left. The maids are watching Yamabuki, so it should be fine. But he started crying as I left, despite being in a good mood before... Seriously, it's troublesome dealing with both the Konoha family and Yamabuki. "Good morning, Sakuya-sama! What has you smiling like that?" "Good morning, everyone... I'm not smiling at all?" As I entered the room, everyone greeted me. It seemed that almost all who performed were present. "Sakuya-sister, sit here!" "Good morning, Akigiri-chan. Thank you for saving me a seat." While officially I should sit elsewhere, since this is informal, it's fine. No one complains... Akigiri called me, so I sat in the seat saved for me. "Sorry to gather you all so suddenly. Since the concert merchandise is ready, I wanted to show you. First, please watch the BD." Konoemother said succinctly. The lights dimmed, and the video began to play. A grand screen with 7.1ch sound offered an impressive sense of presence. Though the equipment was simply set up in an ordinary room, at an ordinary house it could qualify as home theater-like. For families like ours, this level of "general home theater" is commonplace, so a set in each room isn't unusual. This level of setup is fine for a quick viewing. However... regardless of the equipment, the video and music were extraordinary. It wasn't about the devices... it was more about our feelings. "Wow..." "And at that moment, I messed up..." "Sniff! Sniff!" Some shared their thoughts in whispers, recalled what had happened, and some even cried. I, too, felt tears welling. The memories of the year spent practicing with everyone and on the concert day welled up. "So, how is it?" "It was wonderful~~!" "The concert... everything feels so nostalgic..." Chigaya-san! Isn't that a cliché?! "Is it decided then? We have the BD, DVD, CD set along with posters and pin badges!" "Ooooh!" Wait, hold on! Everyone's excited, but let's reconsider. Were posters and pin badges really necessary? Are you planning to sell them? "Konoha-sama... were those merchandise items really needed? And surely you don't plan to sell them...?" "Oh my! Don't be silly. I'm not selling them. And the merchandise is necessary! In fact, I wanted to include more, but the plan was stopped! Can you believe the nerve of stopping my project! I even tried to intimidate them, but they halted it anyway." Oh! Whoever stopped her is commendable! And... to think someone could put a halt to Konoemother's ideas and plans... I might have underestimated the structure of the Konoha family and Konoha Productions. I assumed it was a one-person show where Konoemother called all the shots, but if there's a system in place that can dismiss her ideas despite her being practically at the top, it shows the organization is quite balanced. If it were truly a one-person show, then simply removing Konoemother would destabilize everything, but a well-structured organization means that even if Konoemother were removed, the Konoha family would still stand strong. In case of any future conflicts with the Konoha family, this could prove to be extremely troublesome. "Then I'll distribute a hundred limited edition copies for free to those involved. We'll track which product each copy comes from, so the management is thorough. Please let me know how many each of you would like. Also, we’ll play the music in Ko Tokui's official shop, if that's alright?" "Uh... well... as long as the video isn't played alongside it..." Ultimately, I can't shake off the feeling that Konoemother got her way. But constantly opposing or resisting her wouldn't be good either. In situations where some concessions are acceptable, we have to compromise to some extent, and so that's where we reached a resolution.