(Translate) Fanfic Clamp Gakuen Tanteidan - Clamp School Detectives

Chapter 13: This trouble is not over, another one is coming

If your strongest opponent, the one you consider a rival from the moment you knew how to walk, the one you tirelessly study and train to defeat, to feel confident and strong, to be yourself, was standing in front of you, what would you do? What would you say? Ichikawa Seiji had never thought about this. Since setting his goal to defeat the successor of the Takamura family, Seiji had never thought about sitting down and having a conversation or even saying more than three sentences to Suoh. Besides, Seiji always used actions as his standard measure, considering all words as mere passing wind with no effect.

On the contrary, Suoh didn't think like that. It could be said that Suoh had a very simple and kind nature. He knew that Ichikawa Seiji didn't have a favorable opinion of him and for some reason always saw him as a rival, but that wasn't a problem for Suoh. He always tried his best to show his true self and always expressed his intentions to others regardless of whether they accepted them or not, shaping Suoh's character to be calm and quiet like a serene autumn lake. But as someone once said, "Don't be foolish enough to shoot a gun at a peaceful lake."

Under the silence of his cousin, Setsu, unintentionally curious, wanted to observe the one considered a role model in the world of teenage martial arts, Takamura Suoh. Setsu felt that Suoh's demeanor was very good, not inferior to his cousin Seiji, and even somewhat superior. This Takamura Suoh had something that immediately impressed Setsu, from talent to demeanor, while with his cousin, Setsu always felt a desire to provoke and challenge. However, on the surface, between the two clans and in the minds of these young people, their own clan was always number one, but the other clan was always viewed with scrutiny, competition.

Under the curious gaze of the boy standing beside him, Suoh turned slightly, smiled, and nodded, causing Setsu to startle and quickly regain his composure. And in the end, they sat like that for a while, until Suoh decided to break the silence with a question for the visit to the Takamura house that day:

"So, the Ichikawa clan has decided to protect Hanazaki-san?"

Seiji furrowed his brow slightly, surprised that Suoh's first question was about his lady. What did the Takamura clan know in the end?

But not as composed as Seiji, although Setsu admired Suoh, he felt that Suoh was trying to provoke them and interjected:

"Don't think that protecting the Imonoyama house makes you great. Our house has taken on the protection of... Miss Hanazaki, so she must be special, surely superior to the Imonoyama."

After saying this, Setsu felt absurd because it was clear he didn't even know what was special about Hanazaki Kanon. Seiji's face darkened wanting to just throw his impulsive cousin into the lake. Regaining his composure, Seiji tried to say something to salvage the situation. He couldn't reveal too much, but he also couldn't let others misunderstand that their clan was protecting someone of unknown background, as it would damage the reputation of the Ichikawa clan and make Kanon, the one being protected, appear ordinary. Seiji couldn't allow that to happen because, more than anyone, he knew how special Kanon was. But before he could speak, he heard Suoh interject:

"I have no intention of looking down on the Ichikawa clan or Miss Hanazaki. If my question was inappropriate, please forgive me. Miss Hanazaki, from what I know, is extremely kind and intelligent, although it's unclear why she needs such protection."

Suoh avoided mentioning the Imonoyama and Nokoru, this was how Suoh protected Nokoru.

All of Seiji's words vanished, he himself was subdued by Suoh's aura and humility. Setsu, on the other hand, felt even more confused, realizing how rude his words had been. Finally, Seiji spoke up:

"I sincerely apologize, Takamura-san. My cousin Setsu tends to be straightforward, we have no intention of comparing or measuring anyone. You probably understand the situation, I am currently the bodyguard of Miss Hanazaki. I can't speak for others in the clan, but I can say that I chose to protect her not solely out of clan duty."