Chapter 1392. School Festival Day 2 / As it is and Intolerance

Still, you sure are amusing, Baker

One of the boys watching us from the side of the cafeteria said.

Yeah, youre so amusing when you get angry

Amusing?

Also, angry?

No, I was just talking seriously.

Err, rightI guess they find it funny if I speak seriously.

Yeah, its my first time seeing someone get angry but get logical

Err.

Uhm, just so you know, I think that shes really the daughter of the president of Torii electronics

A girl said.

Yeah, I heard it from Hos.h.i.+zaki Kana-san from the tennis club. Shes Hos.h.i.+zaki-sans best friend she says

Hos.h.i.+zaki-san doesnt seem like she would lie

Oh, the tennis club girl, the beauty?

Yep, that Hos.h.i.+zaki-san

Kana-senpais a popular girl in our high school as she stands out a lot.

I saw her earlier this morning giving the tennis girls makeup. Together with Katsuko-san from the bakery

Oh, some of the spectators from earlier are here.

I saw it too, Katsuko-sans good at giving makeup that it makes you think that she really is an adult, but, this girl knows a lot about makeup even though shes still in high school

True, she even brought in a huge cardboard box filled with tons of brand-name cosmetics. Shes got to be the daughter of Torii electronics to have so many of those!

The girls speak one after another.

And so, the people over there, especially the girl wearing that weird leather jacketI dont know your reason to come to our school, but I dont think its a good idea to offend someone whos from the Torii Electronics house by saying something crazy

I mean, shes smiling right now but that blonde there is scary when she gets angry

Yep, definitely scary

Youre going to die

The senior boys see Margo-san as the scary delinquent.

No, I wont I already graduated from that

Margo-san laughs.

Im wondering if anyone among you saw the broadcast of the martial arts tournament Edie competed in? I also appeared there, but it was a late-night broadcast so Im not sure if many people know about it

Oh, I saw that!

One of the boys raised his hand

You mean the martial arts where that freshman exchange student who stands next to Baker won?

A third-year boy asked the guy who was raising his hand.

Edie s.e.xton won the lighter weight cla.s.s, and Margo Starkweather-san over there competed in the open-weight division

Did she win?

Yes, she won by a huge margin. I mean, its a huge win with so much momentum that she finished all the other pro female martial artists in the finals in just seconds!

Whats with that, won by a huge margin? Dont exaggerate it.

Err, wait a second, wasnt she a student in our school until last year?

Margo-san just graduated this year.

Thats right! Margo Starkweather senpais just 19, and yet she beat all the top fighters in the country. Even Rudolfo Seiko-san from the Golden Balm Gym was defeated in an instant

You like womens martial arts?

Margo-san asks the boy.

Y-Yes, I love watching martial arts, whether its men or women

I see. Then, you probably know it already but later, at three pm, Rodulfo-san will also be in the tournament Edies holding

Eeeeeeh?! Is that so?!!! I know that they were putting on a ring but I didnt plan on watching it since I thought that it was just Edie-san and Grace Marinka-san fighting

It wont be just the two of them. A young girl from Rodulfo-sans gym and girls from our team will also be competing

Kudou Haruka-san too?

Yes, she will be on the ring too

Kudou Harukas a famous high school karate champion so its no surprise that a student who loves martial arts knows her.

Todays game will be televised so everyone should gather in the schoolyard and cheer for them

Margo-san said with a smile.

Ooooh, seriously?!

Ill go watch it!

I want to watch it too

Lets go together!

They get noisy in the cafeteria.

Uhm, Margo-senpais going to partic.i.p.ate too?

The guy from earlier asked Margo-san.

Me? I wont be partic.i.p.ating today

Margo-san replied with a smile.

Huh? Why?

Because if I appear, well have too much extra airtime

Margo-san, who easily beat the other contestants, said.

So Im just watching for today, Oh, Ill also deal with the TV crew. Edie cant deal with them after all

Margo-sans still 19,

But, Margo-sans got enough style to overwhelm even old men.

Now that we had some good bread, we should go check on Edie and the girls now

Margo-san stood up

Lets go

Smiling and looking at Mariko, Tsukiko, Kurose Anju, Erica, Marika, the Matsumoto siblings, Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi, and me.

Right, lets go

I stood up and then Mariko and the girls stood up too.

Erica, Marika, then the Matsumoto siblings.

Youre not coming?

Margo-san asks Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi.

I-I

You might want to follow us and get to meet some folks on TV

Margo-san said.

O-Okay, Ill go

Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi also stood up.

Leaving the school cafeteria, immediately;

Uhm, we were nervous earlier, so Im sorry

Matsumoto-san, the elder, Maki-san, approached me with her sister, Miki-san.

No, its okay

Were they worried that I got angry?

Also, thank you for the delicious bread. And the drinks too

Thank you, it was delicious

The little sister bowed to me along with the elder.

Sorry for the late thanks

Sorry

Oh, these sisters can say their thanks properly.

On the other hand, Igaras.h.i.+ Izumis just staring at Matsumoto-san, then turned around.

The leather jacket girl doesnt say her thanks.

Well then

The cafe outside the school cafeteria where Kana-senpai and the girls are working is filled as usual.

Margo-san, lets go around this way

Going through the cafe is closer to Edie and the girls, but

I suggest that we took the long away around so we avoid interfering with Kana-senpais work.

Going out?

Out?

Mitama and Kinuka, who were doing a street performance to attract customers to the cafe sensed that we were leaving the cafeteria so they rushed to me.

Wait, thats Anjou Mitama?

Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi seems to know about Mitama, who appears in Yukinos show every week.

Ill be fine. I have Tsukiko Kurose-san, and Margo-san with me

I speak first so Mitama and Kinuka dont say that theyll come and guard me.

You girls can continue guarding this place

Roger that

Roger!

Mitama and Kinuka bowed, then.

Well leave this to you, Kurose Anju

Youre in charge

Eeeeeeeh?! Me?!

Kurose Anju looks troubled as the Anjou sisters stare at her.

Dont worry, everythings an experience!

Experience!

Well then, Anjou Mitama will return to her post. Excuse me

Excuse us!

Mitama and Kinuka runs off like a ninja and returned to their original spots.

What was that?

Igaras.h.i.+ Izumis dumbfounded.

Kou-samas surrounded by people that you see on TV

Tsukiko told Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi.

You seem to doubt Marika-san and Fujimiya Reika-san, but

Huh, Tsukiko.

Tsukiko should see through Igaras.h.i.+ Izumis mind with her Miko power.

Rei-chan did send off Marika to her school back then.

She purposely went in front of the school, telling the schoolgirls there that shes a relative of Marikas.

We thought that Marikas status in school would get better if Rei-chan, whos become a national celebrity on TV now, introduce herself as a relative of Marika.

Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi and the Matsumoto elder are students in the same school as Marika, so

They may have not seen Rei-chan in person, but they shouldve heard the rumor that Marika and Rei-chan are relatives.

Theres no lie in what Marika-san told Matsumoto-san

Tsukiko said.

What? What did Marika tell Matsumoto-san earlier?

Lets go

Margo-san urged us and walked.

I talked to Marika.

Why wont you tell me what exactly do you want with me, Marika?

I asked her directly.

Sorry, I

Marika replies.

I just wanted Kou-kun to see Matsumoto-san as she is before I tell you anything

As she is?

And I want Kou-kun to see with his own eyes that Matsumoto-san is truly a wonderful person

Oh, I see.

The Matsumoto sisters are, from what I guessed, in need of money, and scholars.h.i.+p to continue their music studies.

Marika wants me to ask for Minaho-neesans support for her friends.

But, if she just mentions that the sisters have money troubles, so help them, then

Ill see them as siblings who want money.

She thinks that I wont try to understand the Matsumoto siblings apart from the thought of if I should help them or not.

Okay, Matsumoto-san is good friends with marika

In the end, I should get to know Matsumoto-san as Marikas friend.

Talking about money can be for later.

Yes, shes a precious friend of mine

Marika looks me in the eye.

Takahata-san, thank you

Hearing our conversation, Matsumoto Maki-sans eyes turn moist.

Miki-san bows to Marika too.

Okay, I get Matsumoto-sans case, but

I looked at Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi who makes a sullen look.

What kind of relations.h.i.+p do you have with Igaras.h.i.+-san?

From how I see it earlier, shes not close to Marika at all.

I dont know much about Igaras.h.i.+-san either

Eeeh, Marika?

She heard me talk to Matsumoto-san that Ill introduce her to Kou-kun, and she came along

So Igaras.h.i.+ Izumis not a friend of Marika, yet she just came along without permission?

Im sorry when I mentioned today, she said: Ill go too

Matsumoto Maki-san looked down and said.

Oh, shes not friends with Marika, but Matsumoto-sans?

I see it now.

No, I hardly talked to her either

What?

It seems that she heard Takahata-san and me talk in the lounge room in the dorm, after Takahata-san returned to her room, she told me Tell me the details of the conversation just now, then, Takahata-sans deceiving you, then thats too good to be true and forced herself today

What an absurd woman.

Haaa, now I know why she made a fuss in the cafeteria earlier.

Anyway, Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi wants to prevent Marika from introducing the Matsumoto siblings to me.

I dont know the reason why though.

N-No, thats not it!

Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi comes to us running.

I-I just want to make sure that Takahata-san is a relative of Fujimiya Reika

How do you confirm that?

I ask her.

T-ThatsF-Fujimiya Reika appears on TV, right? I-If so, she knows someone from the entertainment industry

Entertainment industry?

I-IMy parents told me to sing cla.s.sical music, but the truth is I dont want cla.s.sical, I-I want to sing more like Im on TV

Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi says.

Thats why, I want to get acquainted with Fujimiya Reika and ask her to introduce me to someone in the industry, yes. Thats why I came here!

Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi says while shes sweating on her forehead, but

Suspicious, too suspicious.

If thats the case, then youre just nuts

I looked at Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi and said.

What part of me is nuts!

Every part of you!

Shes wearing a black leather jacket on top of the same neat blazer uniform as Marika and the girls.

Her hairs shaken up, her lipstick is too red, and shes got a poorly applied makeup.

Is that how high-school girls who want to get introduced to someone in the entertainment industry should look?

If they were to look at Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi right now and give their opinion, theyll say that shes nothing but an idiot.

Thatsuhm

Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi suddenly fell quiet and fidgeted.

Whats with this girl?

Kou-san, uhm

Marika talks to me.

Hm?

Kou-san, thatyou have Tsukiko-san with you, yet, why do you not ask her?

Marika knows that Tsukiko can read minds and memories.

Marika-oneesama, you dont get it

Erica, who had been watching us from the side, speaks up.

Kou-san not doing anything unfair is whats best about him

Erica said, and went to Miki-san, the younger of the siblings.

Miki-san, you dont have to worry. All we need to do is watch

She speaks to her gently.

Dont worry, in the end, Kou-san will give it a good ending, its true for Marika-oneesama, and me back then

Erica-san

Dont make such a worried face! You need to relax, youre safe now! You wont be able to play well in front of Kou-san like that

Right, I still have to listen to these sisters play music.

Its essential to understand the Matsumoto siblings as they are since theyre girls who do music.

Im supporting Marika-oneesama too

Erica shows a smile that makes her the star of the middle school for the young ladies as she speaks to Miki-san.

Yes, Ill do my best

Miki-san replies, I feel like this middle-school girl is a good kid.

Igaras.h.i.+-san wont get any cheer from me though

W-Whats with that? Hmph

Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi gets sullen from what Erica said.

While were having that conversation.

We pa.s.sed by the school building, the gym, and out to the schoolyard.

What the h.e.l.l?

Its surprising.

Right in the middle of the schoolyard with the main gate directly in front;

Its a huge martial arts ring.

No, thats not it, around the ring are four platforms about four meters high, a.s.sembled from metal frames.

Apart from that, there are three white large tents.

Also, there are four large trucks parked on the corner. Those must be what brought these in.

Then, there are several cars from the TV station parked there.

Darling! Margo! Here!

Edies wearing her jersey in the ring, waving at us.

As expected, shes not dressed for the school swimsuit judo yet.

Im getting off

Edie crossed the ring ropes, down the white metal stairs at the corner post, and ran towards us.

This platform seems to be called In-tray Thats where the TV camera is put

Edie says while pointing at the four tall platforms around the ring.

I asked the crew why its called In-tray and they answer, I dont know. Weird

Edie laughs.

You know the reason, right, Edie?

I asked.

In-Tray is mostly a shortening of Intolerance. Its from the American movie from a hundred years ago, Intolerance

100 years ago?

That movies built a set of the gate of Babylon so big, but because the labor cost was low at that time, they made huge things without hesitation. However, it was too big that it was hard to capture it with a camera

A set too big that the camera cant capture it?

Thats because 100 years ago, there were no dedicated lenses like there are now. If they want to take a photo of a big gate, then they have to get far enough away and from a high spot to take a picture

I see.

At first, they tried to put the camera on a balloon and shoot from the sky, but the balloons of the time were unstable because the wind sweeps them away. So, they had no other choice but to build a platform across from the same height as the big gate, just to capture it with their cameras.

They made a platform the same size as the gates to take a photo of it.

That became an anecdote, and the j.a.panese film and TV productions refer to this platform used during filming as in-tray. Whether its big or not, even if its used for camera or not, if its a platform, you call it an in-tray

Edie sure knows a lot.

She couldnt even speak j.a.panese just a few months ago.

By the way, do you know what intolerance, the origin of in-tray, means?

Hmm.

In English, In means to negate the word, right?

So

It means that Theres no Tolerance?

Thats right, tolerance basically means generosity, and intolerance means the opposite

The opposite?

Narrow-minded, so you shouldnt turn intolerant, Darling!

Edie smiled.

I see, so the platform used for filming also means narrow-minded when used in j.a.panese.

Edie, is everything going well? Do we have problems?

Margo-san asks Edie with a smile.

The setup went without a hitch, everything else is full of problems

Edie said with a smile.

I cant do anything about it, so I was waiting for Margo to come

Must be the TV crew, right?

Margo-san replies

Thats correct

TV crew?

Margo-san turned to me.

The people filming Yos.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun earlier were from a national TV, well, national TV companies have a lot, but theyre mostly in the news department, so there was no problem with the broadcast

Margo-san looks at the TV station car parked in the schoolyard.

Edies martial arts coverage is on a commercial TV, so they will bring a lot of trouble

What kind of problems?

I asked.

Simply put, all the crew from the national TV are employees of that TV station. Thats why you can get straight to the point. Theres only one superior, so if they say something, the people below will make their move

True, the news crew from earlier were the serious types.

They met with Katsuko-nee beforehand and everything went well.

Well, its also a five-minute corner in the noon news.

However, this martial arts tournament is broadcasted by a commercial network, but all the staff here are from subcontractor companies

Margo-san sighs.

Depending on the situation, it could be a lot of trouble