Chapter 2

I have enrolled in Suiran Academy's Elementary School.

It was completely different from the public elementary school I attended in my previous life (if that's what it was). The academy, with its long tradition, had an appearance reminiscent of a grand European cathedral. The main entrance was adorned with beautiful stained glass. However, the interior was equipped with the latest facilities. Air conditioning was standard, but each classroom also had a humidifier and a water dispenser. There was underfloor heating in winter.

The school also had a heated swimming pool, tennis courts, a soccer field, a baseball field, and a concert hall. There was even a mini-theater and a planetarium. Additionally, there was a dome-shaped greenhouse and a tea room. There were many other facilities that were beyond my comprehension. There were several facilities shared by the elementary, middle, and high school, but they all challenged my previous concept of "elementary school."

Despite being in the city center, the vast campus, filled with greenery, was affectionately called "Suiran Forest."

The uniform was designed by a famous designer and was a blazer type. For middle and high school students, it was a white blazer with stripes, with girls wearing ribbons and boys wearing ties. The ribbons and ties were burgundy for middle school and deep blue for high school. For elementary school students, the blazer was navy to hide dirt, and the ribbons and ties were light blue. They were all very cute.

As expected of a famous designer. Just being able to wear this uniform makes me feel that enrolling in this academy was worth it. Suiran's uniform consistently ranks first in the "Most Desired School Uniform" rankings, making it the dream uniform for girls. Indeed, one of the reasons the protagonist aspired to attend Suiran was because of this cute uniform. Yes, I understand that feeling. However, the protagonist's uniform was often dirtied by bullying...

In middle and high school, students could choose between bringing a lunch box or eating in the cafeteria, but in elementary school, there was a school lunch. However, it wasn't made by cafeteria ladies but by chefs. There were no lunch duty students because there were dedicated servers in the cafeteria. The menu was so luxurious that it was hard to call it a school lunch. Dishes like vichyssoise and veal terrine were served regularly. This was part of the curriculum to teach table manners.

The drink was tea, with lemon or milk available as options. There were no children who would drink milk and make a white beard. The dessert was not frozen mandarin oranges but crepe suzette.

Oh, everything is just unbelievable. It's a real culture shock. The protagonist must have felt this way when she entered high school.

I wonder how much the tuition for this academy is. I'm too scared to think about it.

The biggest feature of Suiran Academy is the "Peony Society."

Pivoine is a group of privileged Suiran students who have cleared strict criteria such as lineage, family background, and wealth, among the internal students from elementary school. It is organized by middle and high school students and receives various special treatments from the academy.

There is also a Petit Pivoine for elementary school students. These students will join Pivoine when they move up to middle school. Since it is composed only of pure-blooded Suiran students, no matter how excellent their lineage, family background, or wealth, students who transfer in during middle or high school cannot join. It is a coveted organization that only the chosen few can enter.

I, Kichijouji Reika, am also a member of Petit Pivoine. In "You Are My Dolce," Reika used the power of Pivoine to do as she pleased. Being a Pivoine member means that most things are forgiven. But as an institution that should guide students on the right path, is that really appropriate?

Pivoine members wear a small badge with a peony, the society's emblem, below their school badge. It is made with real gemstones and sparkles beautifully. It also serves as a pass for immunity within the academy. ...When I think about it, it's beautiful but a bit scary.

By the way, the reason it's called the "Peony Society" is that the peony's flower language is "the dignity of a king." ...That kind of thinking is a bit scary in itself.

Just being a Pivoine member makes other students look at you with half admiration and half fear. That makes sense. If you get into trouble with Pivoine, it's difficult to continue attending the academy. And their families might also suffer due to the background of the members. A wise person would avoid conflict with Pivoine. I want to do that too.

No, it's impossible. I'm a member, so I'm deeply involved. Oh, it's scary. And their sense of money is even more terrifying to me. After all, I still have the feeling of a 5,000 yen monthly allowance from high school. How much allowance do they give to elementary school students? It's no longer an allowance but an expense. Yes, including me.

Thanks to my family's power and wealth, I am living quite comfortably at the academy. No, saying "quite" is a luxury. I am living very comfortably. I already have a group of followers in first grade. These kids were also Reika's followers in "You Are My Dolce." They've been around me since such a young age.

Even if you only live for six years, you can still learn the art of getting by. Oh, it's a tough world. Even the world of children is tough.

But if I may be a bit picky, I want friends more than followers.

Huh? In "You Are My Dolce," there was no character called "Reika's friend." Could it be that I have no friends in the future? Oh, no. Tears are...

The manga starts with the protagonist entering high school, so it's unclear what kind of school life Reika had before that. But probably, she looked down on those below her, with her left hand on her hip and her right hand by her mouth, laughing loudly, and doing as she pleased. While clinging to the emperor.

But I can't do that now. I can hear the footsteps of destruction. Besides, I don't have the nerve to do a "Ho ho ho" laugh unless I'm aiming for a certain role. I do know the word "shame." Although, in Suiran, there might be other students who do the "Reika pose" normally...