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Sense of Incongruity.

There’s a sense of incongruity that I can’t quite place.

What should I say? It’s like a feeling that’s usual and yet not usual at the same time.

It was a peculiar feeling that couldn’t be expressed in words or sentences, and it resonated with the others around.

Tokitaka concentrated on that strange feeling and observed the people around him.

He didn’t stare directly at anyone. Glaring at others would be rude; after all, each person there was a big shot, so it was wise to avoid upsetting anyone.

Using his other skill, which helped him stand out in the cutthroat entertainment industry—observing in detail while pretending to glance elsewhere—he took in the people around him.

While pretending to survey the mansion, he discreetly caught sight of others and perked up his ears to eavesdrop on conversations.

“I heard your son passed this time.”

“Haha! Did you hear? I just casually boasted a little, and it made it all the way to the boss’s ears…”

“I too have a son, so when it comes to education, I can’t help but listen closely.”

“Ah, I heard your son also got into a good school. He’s not going to the Kyōto Heisei Ability Specialization High School, is he?”

“Ha-ha, that’s true enough. But even if it’s the Kyōto Heisei Ability Specialization High School… doesn’t it pale in comparison?”

“Oh, how modest! But it’s not so much that my son is exceptional, more like he just has a knack for it. The truly impressive one would be your son, who has never slipped out of the top ranks at Gakushuin Junior High School, right?”

The first conversations Tokitaka caught were those of two people climbing the stairs. Each was fervently discussing their children and education, quietly praising each other’s offspring while boasting about their own—clearly veterans of this game.

Of course, it was just typical bragging about their sons, but the content itself was highly valuable.

The president of a subsidiary belonging to a company in the Geiretsu, and a director of a foreign corporation.

These were not people of trivial standing, even if they were just idly talking.

Moreover, the children they were mentioning were no ordinary kids either. One was entering a school where the government offered all sorts of perks after graduation, while the other was excelling at the Gakushuin Junior High School, attended by members of the royal family.

Even without their fathers’ power, cultivating connections would be of no detriment.

‘One is going to a renowned Ability School, and the other is excelling even at a school for royalty… If only they had decent looks, I could start a group based on the concept of being both literarily and militarily talented and debut them as idols…?’

Unknowingly, Tokitaka contemplated how popular they might become if he were to debut them.

Naturally, based on his “estimation,” they would at least achieve medium success, and if luck smiled on them, they could gain fame to the point where no one in Japan wouldn’t know their names.

But…

‘No, why would they want to become idols?’

He soon dismissed the thought.

They were all students with bright futures ahead of them. So why would they engage in the arduous and uncertain path of becoming idols?

Especially if their families were fine. Their families were well-to-do, rich, well-connected, and talented.

They wouldn’t even consider his proposal.

And no matter what, he had no desire to persuade those people into becoming idols.

If it succeeded, great! But if it didn’t… he would be shouldering the risk of turning them into his enemies.

With that, Tokitaka resigned himself and turned his gaze to others.

There was someone outside on the terrace, sipping tea.

‘From the color, it looks like black tea… and paired with scones?’

There was nothing strange about the sight.

Is it particularly unusual to enjoy tea time on the terrace?

Yet…

Why was there a sense of incongruity about it?

‘What is this?’

The steaming black tea.

Scones eaten with the tea.

Nothing was strange about this.

The table had only those two items on it… so what could be odd about that?

A man is drinking black tea, setting down his teacup, spreading jam on his scone, bringing the scone to his mouth, lifting his teacup again to drink, setting it down, taking out jam to pour it on the scone, rubbing the jam-covered scone against another scone to spread the jam, bringing it back to his mouth, and clapping his hand in delight as if he enjoyed the taste…

‘Yeah. Nothing strange at all.’

There wasn’t anything unusual in the slightest.

So why do I feel this way?

Tokitaka tilted his head, puzzled by both the sense of incongruity and his own feelings regarding it.

But no matter how much he thought and thought, he couldn’t find anything strange, and he eventually followed the direction in which the people were heading with an inquisitive expression.

The people seemed to have heard some prior news, discussing amongst themselves yet moving in the same direction, arriving at a single door, accompanied by the sounds of footsteps, presence, and even a peculiar smell.

The place marked with elegant calligraphy as the Banquet Room displayed a charmingly vintage exterior. It showcased a traditional Japanese appearance while being constructed in a Western style, with the door alone appearing to be worthy of being termed a piece of art.

People were entering one by one through the open door.

The scene seemed somewhat strange to Tokitaka.

‘Why open the door just a crack and insist on entering in a line?’

It wasn’t like they were confirming identities or greeting one another as they passed.

The door was open enough for a single person to pass through comfortably, yet they lined up to go in.

So was this show of order necessary?

Considering that, it seemed odd; those who entered were casually shoving past others and emerging from the door.

They weren’t even attempting to widen the door further or push through to exit, instead just bustling out while ignoring the line.

It was behavior far from orderly—a rude manner.

And what’s stranger still…

“Thank you for your hard work.”

One shamaness near the door remarked that as someone exited each time, bowing her head.

Thank you for your hard work.

At first glance, it didn’t seem out of place.

But… considering the people within this villa, it felt somewhat inappropriate.

Though there was no error in etiquette, the powerful and wealthy typically dislike being assessed by others. Especially if that other person is someone beneath them and not a peer or superior.

That shamaness didn’t seem to be just any shamaness; she appeared to be a definite underling to the next Shinto Priest who had bestowed a “blessing.”

Would such a lower-ranking individual be greeting others for their effort…?

It didn’t seem like a great look.

If even one person felt displeased, was that really a successful reception?

‘The next Shinto Priest is young. Could it be that they’re unaware of the etiquette due to their age?’

Yet Tokitaka, while tsking internally at the sight, didn’t think it was a significant issue. Etiquette can vary greatly depending on small details and personal perceptions, and there’s often no established right answer. Furthermore, it can be hard to grasp in detail, so it seemed plausible that a young person might not know.

And besides… it wasn’t a grave mistake.

After all, they weren’t just ordinary folks. This was someone capable of granting “blessings.”

Surely, one wouldn’t be able to get overly upset over a slip from a subordinate of a rare individual whose substitutes weren’t easily found.

Tokitaka pondered this as he looked beyond the door.

As the line shortened and he moved onward, he found himself nearing the entrance.

Surprisingly, the line moved quite quickly, and before long, it was Tokitaka’s turn to enter.

Tokitaka prepared to enter the Banquet Room, just like those who had gone before him.

But just then…

“Hey, kid. You’re pretty sharp, huh?”

“But you know, you often misplace your trust in that awareness and end up being careless.”

“Even like when you get on an elevator. You just stomp in when you hear the door open. That’s a very bad habit.”

“I’m not saying to excessively pay attention; just, at the very least, wouldn’t it be better to look at where you need to go once?”

Suddenly, memories of his grandmother’s words from long ago resurfaced in Tokitaka’s mind.

When he was in elementary school, that’s what she had advised him when he was carelessly wandering around here and there.

Back then, Tokitaka, who dutifully followed his grandmother’s guidance, developed a habit of always looking up and checking before stepping onto an elevator or crossing a street.

Thanks to that, he had avoided a serious accident after ignoring a traffic signal and nearly being hit by a speeding car shortly after hearing that warning.

Since then, he had made it a habit to regularly keep his head up and look ahead.

But why… suddenly, now, did that childhood memory arise?

Tokitaka furrowed his brow, coming to a stop.

Instead of entering, he stood silently, gazing inside the door.

“There’s nothing strange here…”

It wasn’t odd at all.

True, it was a bit dim, but not too dark. While the lighting was low enough to only make the table and the food on it somewhat outline, he could still see faces clearly, and he could hear chatter.

There weren’t any problems at all.

But despite knowing in his mind that everything seemed fine, his instincts vehemently rejected entering the room.

Do not go in.

You mustn’t enter.

Tokitaka’s internal sense of unease felt like his late grandmother was whispering in his ear, as if she were grasping his shoulder and preventing him from moving forward, causing him to click his tongue in discomfort.

“Aren’t you going in?”

Was it because he hesitated to step inside? Someone from behind urged him on.

A rough-skinned man, his face dotted with age spots.

He appeared to have neglected personal grooming.

With a rather annoyed expression, he was staring at Tokitaka, fixated on whether he would go in or remain out.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Startled by the man’s urging, Tokitaka stepped aside.

The man then shot Tokitaka a look that conveyed, “If you’re not going in, then move aside faster,” and stepped inside without another word.

Tokitaka quietly watched the scene, letting out a small sigh.

“Ugh. Yeah, I don’t know what it is, but it feels wrong…”

He thought so, turning his back on the room.

In an effort to shake off this bizarre feeling, he planned to head out to the terrace for some fresh air.

 

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