Chapter 94

As the summer vacation entered its second half, the time for the annual Pivoine Summer Party arrived.

It’s always glamorous and fun, but after going every year, the initial excitement has faded. And my brother has already graduated.

My mother loves dressing me up, so whenever there’s a party, she enthusiastically drags me around to pick out dresses.

This year, she chose a powder pink dress with layers of chiffon. I thought it might be a bit too cute, but my mother seemed very pleased, and she’s in a good mood.

Thinking this might be a good opportunity, I casually brought up a topic.

“Hey, Mom. Since it’s summer, I was thinking of changing my hairstyle…”

“Oh no, that won’t do. I absolutely love your current hairstyle.”

…Of course. I knew that. I just asked.

“Mom, ever since I was little, I’ve always dreamed of being like a Jumeau bisque doll. I wanted to dress my daughter up as beautifully as a Jumeau doll.”

Well, that’s a bit unrealistic, isn’t it? Jumeau dolls have blonde hair and blue eyes. They’re fundamentally different. I’m glad I didn’t have to dye my hair blonde and wear colored contacts…

But wouldn’t it be scary if there were actually girls who looked like antique dolls? They’d be like living dolls. Definitely scary. Besides, I’ve always been very uncomfortable with dolls.

The more intricately made a doll is, the more it seems like it could move at night, especially Japanese dolls…

The Kichijōin family has a new set of dolls that were bought when I was born, as well as an old set that has been passed down through generations. The old ones are particularly impressive.

Every year when we bring them out, I wonder, “Were their eyes always this narrow? Was their mouth always smiling like that?” I get a bit nervous. It feels like their faces change every year.

I know that the doll repairer sometimes trims their hair. …Does it grow? I’m too scared to ask.

I do my best to prevent the dolls from being displayed in my room, but when I go to the room where they are displayed, I feel like they’re watching me, and it gives me chills.

Those dolls could easily wander around at night. They say old things have souls.

Ah, I should stop. If I keep thinking about this, I might wake up in the middle of the night with a doll on my chest, and if it looks at me and smiles, I might turn completely white instantly.

…But a Jumeau doll.

I guess I have no choice. To fulfill my mother’s girlish fantasies, I’ll have to endure this Rococo hairstyle a bit longer.

When I arrived at the Summer Party, there were already girls crowding around Tachibana and Enshō.

Since Yurie-sama is absent due to a homestay this year, I thought Tachibana might not come, but he’s here, as expected.

I exchanged greetings with the other guests and went out to the garden with a drink in hand.

It was evening, and the wind had picked up, but it was still a bit humid. Still, I always look forward to the rose arch here every year.

The first time I attended, I rang the bell with my brother. It’s nostalgic. The photo from that time is still displayed in my room.

As I was looking at the rose arch, I noticed a small girl and boy, probably from the elementary school, wandering near the bell. Ah, maybe they want to…

“Do you want to ring the bell?”

When I called out, the children turned around, surprised. They were holding hands, which looked very sweet.

“Um, no…”

They looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

“I’ve rung it before. It’s a lot of fun. It’s okay, I’m here, so go ahead and ring it together.”

“…Is it okay?”

“Of course! The bell is meant to be rung!”

They held the rope together and rang it hesitantly.

“Oh, you need to ring it more vigorously to get the beautiful ‘clang, clang’ sound.”

I encouraged them, and they started ringing it with more force. I took their picture with my digital camera.

People started gathering to watch, and the children, though blushing, smiled happily.

“Are you satisfied now?”

“Yes! Thank you very much!”

“Thank you.”

After them, more people came to ring the bell, which felt like déjà vu.

I promised to send the photos to the school later and introduced myself to the two children. They are classmates and good friends. I’m jealous; I don’t have any sweet elementary school memories like that.

We chatted a bit, and then they went back to the hall.

“Thank you, Rika-onee-sama.”

The girl turned back and smiled shyly, thanking me again.

“Rika-onee-sama”… That’s wonderful!!

Thinking about it, there are hardly any children who call me “onee-sama.” Only Ririna sometimes calls me that on purpose.

It’s touching. It’s not often that younger children look up to me.

“Good evening, Kichijōin-san.”

While I was still savoring the “onee-sama” moment, Enshō suddenly appeared beside me. I didn’t even notice his presence! Is he a ninja?

“Good evening, Enshō-sama.”

I replied with a polite smile. He’s a bit devious, so I can’t let my guard down.

“Are you not going to ring the bell today?”

“Huh?”

“You used to ring it, right? I remember you and your brother.”

How does he know!

“Yazaya was looking at you enviously.”

Great! Not only did he see the waltz, but he saw that too! And don’t read my mind!

“Your dress today looks very nice. I’m glad the fasting was successful.”

“…Thank you.”

He still remembers that… What a jerk.

“You’ve really won over Yazaya’s mother. She said she wants to invite you to a dinner party next time.”

“Huh?”

A dinner party? No way! It’s even more challenging than a tea party.

“I’m not happy about it.”

“Oh, no, it’s an honor.”

Oops, did I show it on my face?

“Hmm.”

I don’t like his penetrating gaze. There are quite a few people around me who can read minds.

“Since the wind has picked up, I’ll go back inside.”

I walked away quickly, and I could feel Enshō laughing behind me.

Enshō has a mysterious and unsettling presence, like those old dolls…