The Daughter of Busujima Clan

[Saeko's POV]

I have recently grown fond of books. The abundance of knowledge and wisdom written on the pages kept me occupied in my free time. As my father had often cautioned, a mind left unattended is a playground for the devil, a fertile soil for chaos and discord. Unrestricted thoughts can, at times, transform into our worst enemy.

His words proved to be right four years ago. Yes, my mind was that of a demon when I had nothing to do. To keep these demons at bay, I had found peace in an intriguing book — 'Sickness Unto Death,' a product of Søren Kierkegaard's brilliant mind. Though its dense philosophy made it a challenging read even for seasoned adults, I was drawn to its amazing insights and concepts.

'The greatest hazard of all, losing one's self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other loss can occur so quietly; any other loss - an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc. - is sure to be noticed.'

This quote dived deep into the crippling effects of a hectic, stressful life on our personal identity. How stress impacted our lives and twisted our emotions, carving us into a stranger to our own loved ones.

A complete stranger.

While I would not categorize myself as a stress victim, this quote resonated deeply within me. In violent times, I became a stranger to myself. I turned into a being made of pure malice and hatred.

…I feared becoming that person again. I feared losing control over myself.

The bus's harsh stop jolted me out of my reflections. I closed the book, carefully placing it into my bag. How I wished for more leisure time to immerse myself in the philosophical masterpiece. As the captain of the Kendo Club, a substantial portion of my after-school hours was dedicated to instructing students in the elegant art of kendo. Coupled with my college entrance exam preparations, my days were jam-packed, leaving barely any downtime before I succumbed to sleep.

Sometimes I wish the school gave us some vacations to destress. Japan had been constantly noted as the country with most victims of suicide. A little freedom here and there would go a long way in preventing these meaningless deaths.

As my thoughts drifted back to school, I paused to take in the sprawling campus, bordered by imposing fences and gates. A relic of pre-World War Japan, the school was built like a maze. The primary building housing our classrooms, the dormitory, and the administration block spanned four stories, interconnected on the second and fourth floors through walkways.

We also had an observatory where students went to slack off and sometimes get caught performing sexual activities. It was always Miku Yuuki, her friends, her acquaintances, or distant acquaintances… Yes, I had some bias towards my kouhai. Flaunting her body to attract men was against the way of Busujima.

"Use your body to attract the man you love and only him" was my mother's wisdom. Apparently she used the same tactic to win my father's heart. Oh I wish I had her confidence sometimes.

I shook off the envious thoughts and walked into the academy grounds.

"Good morning, Busujima-senpai!"

"Morning, Senpai!!"

Tucking my hair behind my ears, I smiled at my kouhai students from Class 1-A. "Good morning."

Busujima Code #4 Politeness: You shouldn't act polite out of fear of offending others. Courtesy and benevolence must be shown by heart for you to be truly polite. I could never live up to this standard but I tried my best.

A daughter of Busujima Clan never gives up!

The kouhai looked at me with what I interpreted as admiration in their eyes. To them, I was a role model — a woman worth respecting. But the harsh reality was far from this perception. I was unworthy of this treatment by them — by anyone. They would be repulsed if they saw my true self. A Saeko that was stranger even to the man who raised me.

Fujimi Academy was a blessing to me as much as it was a curse. It was my sanctuary, my place to unwind. Yet, it was also the stage where I put on a constant facade, a mask to hide my true self.

Shaking my head, I waved goodbye to them and headed toward my class. I received numerous greetings from my acquaintances. There were two types of people in this world — the ones you are indebted to and the ones you are not indebted to. I had yet to find someone who could put me in a 'debt.'

Some time was left before class started so I decided to study for the college entrance exams.

Soon the homeroom teacher stepped foot into the classroom. I stood up and bowed my head, only to hear whispers and murmurs around me, growing louder with each moment.

"Who is this guy carrying a katana in a classroom? He is kinda scary."

"He got the elite aura around him."

"H-He is he joining our classroom?!"

"I'm transferring out if he comes to our class!"

"Kyaaaa, he is hot!"

"Soooo hot~. Take me now, Transfer Student-kun."

The strange and somewhat lewd opinions compelled me to take a look at the new visitor. As my fellow students described, the new student was a tall, lean figure, his long brown hair pulled back into a neat low ponytail. Despite the sheathed katana hanging at his side, his demeanor seemed almost gentlemanly. His well-constructed features, stoic expression, and open posture radiated an air of refined confidence. He had the so-called elite aura oozing from him.

And those eyes… They were the eyes of a true man who had seen the world. The eyes of a man like my father. What a rare sight to have in a high school.

I observed the intricate design on his sword's hilt. Oh my, that's quite a lovely katana. It must be quite expensive. Was he from some rich family?

His scanning gaze finally landed on me, transforming his aura from one of quiet authority to approachable warmth. I reciprocated with a polite smile and a gentle wave. In the early days of this semester, we were blessed with an interesting transfer student.

The teacher introduced the student as Takamura Genji. He wrote his name on the board. Takamura as in high town and Genji as in Two Beginnings. His name reminded me of the Japanese classic Tale of Genji. The quote 'Nothing can be learned that is agreeable to one's natural taste' is still used by my father to teach newcomers at the dojo.

My father is such a distinguished gentleman. I only hoped to find a man half as brilliant as my father… Those were thoughts four years ago. I don't know what I will do now… Probably graduate from the university and inherit my family dojo. Starting a family was out of the question… Yeah, it's impossible for someone like me. If I couldn't hold my demons, I might harm my loved ones.

Lost in these musings, I barely noticed when Takamura-kun approached... me. He seated himself on the empty desk to my right. Over the years, numerous boys have been drawn to me, towards my body rather than my personality. Each one of them had been turned down since I feared dating. The thought of anyone finding out my monstrous side terrified me.

I might have to add another man to the list.