Chapter 1398. School Festival Day 2 / Chiki Chiki
「 That’s how Marika-oneesama and I met thanks to Kou-san 」
Erica gave a brief history of her and Marika’s story.
「 Yes, I would’ve had to quit high school and become unable to treat my mother’s illness if I didn’t get Kou-san’s help 」
Marika said.
「 It’s all because we joined Kou-san’s family. We’re not talking about funding to become a musician we mentioned earlier, but, these are things other people would never do for me. No, I think that some things in the world can’t be done unless it’s with the family 」
「 Erica-san and I were lucky that Kou-san accepted us. And, Kou-san loves us, his family, and the family also loves him 」
「 They’re all precious people to us now. I love our family 」
「 Me too. And, I want Matsumoto-san to join our family too 」
Marika and Erica speak with their best, but…
The Matsumoto siblings look confused.
Oh, our family’s too specific that you can’t convey the image that well.
「 I’m also in Kou’s family. Tsukiko-san too. Also… 」
Mariko’s speaking with a bright tone, but…
「 No, Mariko, that’s far enough. It’s too early to let them meet the whole family 」
I said and looked at Matsumoto Maki-san.
「 Matsumoto-san, let’s eat dinner at my place. That’s okay, right? If you want to go home before the curfew, then we can send you off with a car. Marika always goes to school on Monday mornings however 」
I’m hinting that they can stay over.
There should be no problem as Marika always does this and just tell the dorm that she’ll stay out.
「 As for Miki-san’s, maybe we should contact your mother’s family telling you’ll have dinner outside? Well, if you want, I can have an adult from our family call them, but I don’t think that would cause them to worry 」
「 Not me 」
Minaho-neesan smiled wryly.
「 Unlike me, we have people in our place who are much more well-received. Don’t worry 」
Katsuko-nee or Nagisa can talk it out with Matsumoto Miki-san’s family.
But if it’s Minaho-neesan, she’ll definitely get mistaken for kidnapping them as soon as she says “We have your girl in custody”
「 Also, do you know where your grandfather is right now? 」
I asked.
「 We’ll take care of the trouble first. It’s nothing much to us anyway 」
We just need their grandfather to give up on his desire to take control of his granddaughters.
If not, the Matsumoto siblings can’t be at ease
「 No, uhm, but… 」
Matsumoto Maki-san looks at me.
「 We, haven’t decided whether we’ll join your family or not 」
「 We haven’t decided yet, and we can’t decide. We still have a lot we don’t know 」
Miki-san speaks her unease.
「 That’s something else. But when it comes to joining the family, that’s where we’ll continue supporting you two until you become professionals 」
I looked straight into their eyes and replied.
「 Although, your problem with your grandfather is something that needs fixing right away. Otherwise, Maki-san will have to quit high school, and Miki-san will have to sell her violin.
Hearing that, Miki-san looks at her treasured violin.
「 Therefore, we’re cleaning up the problems first. Also, we’re taking our compensation 」
「 How do we pay it back? 」
Maki-san looks at me worriedly.
「 That’s for later. This is all too sudden for me too 」
I’ve already decided to take these beautiful sisters.
Marika also wants her, and the sisters have a good personality.
I think that it’s good for all of us if we let these girls join the family.
However, we can put that discussion for later.
「 Anyway, we want to fix your Grandfather’s issues first. Matsumoto-san, should we move on? 」
I ask for their confirmation.
「 Miki? 」
Maki-san looks at her sister with unease.
「 Uhm, as for the compensation, do we have to pay only if it all goes well? 」
Miki-san asks.
Oh, she knows. What a clever girl.
「 That. You don’t need to compensate for anything if it fails. I won’t tell you to pay for all the necessary expenses. I can guarantee you that 」
「 Nee-san, if that’s the case, we should make the request 」
She decides quickly as she hears my promise.
「 R-Right, then, if you’d please 」
Maki-san bows her head.
I
「 We can’t just ask Jii-chan if it’s a drugstore chain owner, right? 」
I asked Mariko.
「 Indeed. Kouzuki-sama’s position in the financial world is too high that it might not go through 」
He’s the first generation who grew a large drugstore chain.
If he faces someone from the n.o.bility, especially the Kouzuki house, he might just rebel and the conversation gets complicated.
「 I don’t think our Torii electronics made deals with the drugstore chain, but I’m sure Momoko-oneesama knows someone who has business with them 」
Kaan Momoko-neechan.
Momoko-neechan runs her own online shopping company, and she knows various business owners through the parties in the business world and in the Kaan group.
「 I’m hoping to get a meeting with Matsumoto-san’s grandfather tonight in some hotel 」
Then.
「 If you go through the surface line, then it’ll take so much time that you won’t get that far 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 True, Mariko will contact Momoko-neechan, ask Momoko-neechan to introduce us to someone who knows Matsumoto-san’s grandfather, and then, introducing us to that person, it won’t end today 」
「 Yes, Kou. At times like this, just go directly through him from behind the scenes 」
Minaho-neesan looked at the Matsumoto siblings.
「 You girls have your grandfather’s contact number, don’t you? 」
「 Y-Yes, I have it on my phone 」
Matsumoto Maki-san replies.
「 Then, give it to me, I’ll talk to your grandfather. It’ll be a little intimidating, but it’s inevitable in your situation 」
Minaho-neesan then goes back to me.
「 You don’t have any significant information that can make an impact on Matsumoto-san. But, I do know the names of people who may have that kind of information 」
「 So we’re going to use that name to reel him? 」
「 Yes. I’ll let him know that I have a good deal for the Matsush*ta chain. Saying that it’ll be beneficial for Matsumoto-san’s corporate group to know that information, and it would create significant damage if they remain ignorant 」
Minaho-neesan.
「 For example, I can tell them that a well-selling drug from a certain pharmaceutical manufacturer that Matsumoto-san’s chain sells actually has a major problem and major side effects. However, it’s kept under the wraps by the political and business circles. If I tell him that he can find out what drug it is before the information is leaked to the press, I’m sure he’ll be on board 」
「 But, the Matsush*ta drugstore just sells regular medicine, right? I don’t think that a pharmaceutical scandal would affect the chain that much 」
Mariko rebuts.
「 It would be the manufacturer’s responsibility. Matsumoto-san would just be a victim as he only trusted the manufacturer to put the product on the store shelves 」
Minaho-neesan laughs.
「 Mariko-san, you don’t understand the mindset of company owners like Matsumoto-san. Matsumoto-san grew the drugstore chain in his generation, see? A manager like that would want to know everything about the drugs sold in his store. And I’m a.s.suming that he’s a licensed pharmacist, right? 」
「 Yes, Grandfather graduated with a pharmacy degree and he has a license 」
Matsumoto Maki-san replies.
「 Someone like him would feel responsible for every drug he sells in his store. So, he would want the information saying that this or that drug is dangerous. and if he removes it from the store before the media went public with it, then he could use it as an advertis.e.m.e.nt, saying that he knew that the drug was dangerous. He could brag to the other owners that he knew about it before others 」
「 So it’s about pride? 」
Mariko’s shocked.
「 It’s important to have a sense of superiority if you’re a rising business owner 」
I see.
「 I’m from the other side, and I’m quite famous there. If Matsumoto-san does a little research, he’ll figure out who I am. And, it becomes a position where he can gather information from our side 」
Minaho-neesan’s an owner of a brothel that serves the big names in politics and business.
「 If he continues to doubt me, then I can just bring a big name from the pharmacy industry that Matsumoto-san knows. I can tell him that they’re my client and that the big name told me the story, then Matsumoto-san will believe me. Then, I’ll ask him to come to the hotel so I can give the name of the specific manufacturer and the name of the drug in detail, Matsumoto-san will come over 」
「 But, would the company owner come by himself? 」
Mariko continues to argue further, but…
「 He will. We’re not a company like the Kouzuki or Kaan group, or your family’s Torii Electronics. As a business owner, he thinks that he guides the company he grew himself, so he’ll come. He won’t leave it to others. Well, he’ll bring a couple of secretaries, but we’re only interested in meeting the man himself 」
And as long as we can meet him, we can just change his mind using the Miko power.
So he doesn’t try to take control of his granddaughters again.
「 We’ll use the hotel in front of the station. That’s one of the hotels that Kouzuki group doesn’t use 」
Right, we’re cleaning this up as the Kuromori house.
「 Then, I’ll make the call, give me the number. Don’t worry, the phone here is a secure line, and I won’t tell Matsumoto-san where I got the number from 」
Minaho-neesan told the sisters.
「 Then, we’re going back to the mansion for now. Matsumoto-san can come too. That’s for the better, right? 」
Right, I told them that they can have dinner at our place, but…
The Matsumoto siblings should see our family as soon as possible.
「 Marika-san and Erica-san, you don’t mind going back to the mansion with us, right? 」
「 Yes, thank you 」
「 I’ll take care of Matsumoto-san so she doesn’t worry 」
Marika and Erica replied.
「 Then, I’ll return to the mansion too. There’s Matsumoto-san and the girls, but Minaho-san, can you let me watch your call with their grandfather? 」
Mariko wants to spectate as Minaho-neesan does her schemes.
「 I don’t mind, as long as you don’t get in the way 」
「 I won’t obstruct! I’m only observing for future reference! 」
Mariko smiles in excitement.
In that case, the remaining group would be me, my bodyguard, Kurose Anju, and…
「 Everyone, Igarashi-san’s ready now 」
Tsukiko brings back Igarashi Izumifrom to the open door to the bas.e.m.e.nt.
「 U-Uhm 」
Igarashi Izumi put on makeup badly and deliberately ruffled her hair…
She’s still wearing her black leather jacket, but…
「 Oh? You’re actually a cute girl 」
Mariko’s right, now that she dropped her makeup, she looks like a cute first-year high school girl.
「 Ugh, uuuu 」
Her eyes turn moist out of embarra.s.sment
「 Igarashi-san will accompany Kou-sama and me 」
Tsukiko said.
「 Huh? But I’m… 」
Igarashi-san looks at Matsumoto Maki-san who she admires, but…
「 You can meet with Matsumoto-san later 」
Right, we should pull Igarashi-san and Matsumoto Maki-san apart for now.
Igarashi-san’s jealous of Maki-san and Marika, that she might react violently.
We need Matsumoto-san and her sister to take a good look at our family.
「 Besides, Kou-sama has heard Matsumoto-san’s performance, but has yet to see Igarashi-san sing 」
Igarashi Izumi’s song.
Oh right, I recall that this girl was studying vocal music in the same high school as Marika and Maki-san.
「 Right, then let’s hear it 」
I’m interested.
Earlier, she looked like a fake delinquent, but now…
But if she’s a cute girl, I’d like to hear her sing.
Right, while at it.
As soon as I came up with another idea, I noticed that I forgot something.
Oh sh*t.
I look at the clock and it’s already 2:51!
「 Oh, this is bad. I have to swap with Ya-chan already! 」
I have to ask Nei to be the host of Edie’s school swimsuit judo tournament before 3.
I have to meet with Nei in the bakery!!
「 This is bad 」
I have to meet with Nei in nine minutes, and Nei has to get to the ring in the schoolyard in time for the broadcast to start. There’s no time.
Then.
『 Geez, you’re late, Yo-chan!! 』
Nei’s voice comes from the speakers on the wall.
「 I’ll open the door 」
Minaho-neesan unlocks the door to the princ.i.p.al’s office, and then…
Nei and Mitama were on the other side.
「 Yo-chan, you’re being late so I came here instead! Silly 」
「 S-Sorry, Ya-chan 」
I apologized.
「 I’m sorry, I took too much of Kou-kun’s time 」
Marika bows to Nei, but…
「 Don’t mind it, Jasmine-chan’s a member of the family, so you can rely on Yo-chan when you need him, but… 」
Nei comes over and hugs me tightly.
「 Yo-chan~ Do you think I can do the host role? 」
Oh, she’s worried as expected.
So, she met with me right at the last minute.
「 Ya-chan’s going to be fine 」
I also hugged Nei’s voluptuous body.
「 I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited to tell the people in j.a.pan that my big sister’s so beautiful, so wonderful! 」
「 Yo-chan 」
「 I can’t watch over Ya-chan nearby, but I’ll be watching from the bakery. You’ll be fine 」
「 Okay, but… 」
Nei’s worried.
「 Don’t worry, just be the usual Natou Nei on-screen 」
I said.
「 It doesn’t matter if it’s the TV or whatever, you’ll be fine as long as you’re Natou Nei, right? 」
Natou Nei’s the personality Najima Yasuko created modeled from Kyouko-san.
「 I’m the only one who knows the real Ya-chan 」
She only shows her real personality when it’s just us two.
Nei can remain as the Natou Nei in the family.
「 Right, Yo-chan knows me, so nothing else matters 」
Nei smiles.
「 It matters, it’s for Edie, for Margo-san, for me. For the bakery, for the mansion, for the family, we’re all going to watch Ya-chan hosting the show. It’s for all of us, so Ya-chan’s got to get herself together! 」
「 Oh, right. Yeah. I got it! I’ll do my best 」
I somehow managed to cheer Ne up.
「 Hurry now, you don’t have much time 」
Minaho-neesan hurries us.
「 Yeah, let’s hurry, we’ll go down now. Mitama, Tsukiko, Kurose-san, also Igarashi-san, come with me 」
We hurriedly left the princ.i.p.al’s office.
◇ ◇ ◇
「 Okay~ Here’s the carriage! 」
Kinosh*ta-san from the Kouzuki SS is outside the building, and she picks us up in the commercial van Margo-san always uses.
Nei’s barely making it so Margo-san contacted the mansion to have her come.
Kinosh*ta-san today isn’t wearing a school uniform like yesterday, but she’s wearing an adult suit and a brown wig and sungla.s.ses as her disguise.
「 I’ll deliver the princess to the ring. Then, I’ll also bring Kuromori-sama and everyone back to the mansion 」
I see, everyone can get in this van.
「 Mitama, keep Ya-chan save. Tsukiko and Igarashi-san, join them 」
I ordered them.
「 Roger that 」
「 Huh, me too? 」
「 Just get inside 」
「 See you later, Yo-chan 」
Mitama, Igarashi-san, Tsukiko, and Nei went inside the car.
「 Take care of them, Kinosh*ta-san! 」
「 Yes, leave it to me! let’s depart! Puppu~ 」
The van runs off.
「 Let’s go back to the bakery too 」
「 O-Okay 」
I took Kurose Anju back to the bakery.
◇ ◇ ◇
「 Welcome back, Onii-chan 」
Entering the bakery, Mana and the girls are inside.
Katsuko-nee, Ai, Mana, Haiji, Kinuka, Eri, Rie, and Yomi.
It’s just the family members, none of the tennis girls are helping out.
Our bakery operation has stopped too.
「 Huh, what about work? 」
「 It has settled down so we’re taking a break 」
Katsuko-nee and Yomi are preparing ea.
「 The customers are gathering at Edie-chan’s tournament so we have leeway in the cafe. 」
「 Look, they know that the news would be only for five minutes, but Edie-oneechan’s tournament would be nearly two hours long, and Reika-oneechan also came 」
Mana smiled.
Oh yeah, Rei-chan, who’s popular on TV, is also appearing, so the customers went there instead.
「 It’s okay to take a rest too, we’re nearing our limits, that’s also true for the tennis girls 」
Katsuko-nee smiled wryly.
「 We sold more souvenir bread than expected. But, the presentations at the auditorium and the gym are almost over, and after Edie-chan’s martial arts tournament, we’ll have our after-party, right? 」
The only people left at the closing party would be the enrolled students.
Most of the guests would’ve already left.
「 That’s why we also stopped work in the mansion too. 」
The parents of the students at today’s school festival may want to buy some souvenir pastries to take home, but…
It’s hard to believe that the students who just finished the school festival would buy bread to take it home.
「 I think that there will be another surge before the closing party but I think we have enough prepared for it 」
「 It’s ready for baking 」
That just means you all worked hard while I was gone.
「 This way, we can watch Edie-chan and Nei-chan’s efforts at ease, right? Here, coffee 」
Katsuko-nee gives me a coffee.
「 Thanks, Katsuko-nee, everyone 」
I thanked the girls.
「 Hey, Onii-san, that’s okay now, let’s watch TV 」
「 That’s right, they’re about to start 」
The twins point at the monitor.
It’s the spare screen, separate from the usual monitoring screens, it’s showing the TV broadcast of Edie’s tournament.
They’re doing news right now.
『 Around 12:30 p.m. today, a group wearing balaclavas and carrying metal bats attacked the car of a business owner at an intersection in Roppongi Tokyo 』
The screen shows a car parked at an intersection, battered and gla.s.s shattered.
12:30, that’s when we were on the national news.
「 The victim was Marnie Ushiyama-san, 76, the owner of Jopee’s entertainment office. The group wrecked Ushiyama-san’s car, but she was not injured. The perpetrators immediately fled the scene and were still not found. The police suspect that a grudge against the entertainment company run by Ushiyama-san may be the cause 」
「 As expected of Agrippina-san 」
Katsuko-nee.
「 Huh, it was Agrippina-san who attacked that Ushiyama-san? 」
I’m surprised.
Since she’s a bodyguard, I thought that she specializes in defending, not attacking.
「 No. The culprits were aiming for Minaho-ojousama 」
Minaho-neesan were to get attacked by the group carrying metal bats?
「 Agrippina-san saw through their plans and switched the cars right before the point of attack 」
「 That means, Minaho-neesan swapped with a 76-year-old woman and that woman got attacked instead? 」
Agrippina’s amazing to make that switch, but, I feel like it’s not okay to divert the damage to someone unrelated.
「 Oh, you don’t have to worry about it 」
Katsuko-nee said lightly.
「 That Ushiyama-san was the one who sent the attackers to Minaho-ojousama 」
Eeeeeh?
「 That’s what’s amazing about Agrippina-san 」
Yeah, she’s got the same thoroughness as Kyouko-san.
But…
「 Why would an old lady, who’s a manager of a talent agency, send people to attack Minaho-neesan? 」
「 Oh? That wasn’t obvious? 」
Katsuko-nee smiles.
「 That’s because Minaho-ojousama obtained a talent agency 」
Death Star Productions are ceding their female talent department to Minaho-neesan.
And then, I’m going to Death Star Productions tomorrow.
「 Show business is a bunch of vested interests, so they don’t want newcomers who don’t know any better to come in 」
「 All the talent agencies got some scary people following around them 」
Rie said.
The twins are daughters of the Yakuza so they know about it.
「 Then, Minaho-neesan knew that she’s got a target on her back so she hired Kudou-san and Agrippina-san 」
Instead of dodging the attack, she sent it back. That’s very much like her.
「 It’s not over yet. There are other people hired by other agencies that are after Ojou-sama. But, Kudou-san and Agrippina-san have erased Ojou-sama’s footprints, and now she’s back here 」
She appeared to bait the enemies until noon, but…
After the first attack failed, she vanishes.
「 Now, Kudou-san and Agrippina-san’s dealing with the enemies one by one 」
It’s just the two of them this time, so they’ll finish their work fast
「 Ah, it’s starting Onii-chan! 」
Mana said, I looked up at the monitor again.
The screen shows our schoolyard in the afternoon.
Wow, that’s a lot of students around the temporary ring.
Then, on top of the ring;
The idol, Saito Yuki-san, will be the a.s.sistant.
And Nei in her uniform.
「 Nei-oneechan’s beautiful 」
Mana’s right. Nei’s beauty is conveyed even through the screens.
Nei smiled at the camera, and then…
『 Special program coverage! Our first chiki chiki, doki doki, school swimsuit judo contest full of girls! it’s a rare and fantastic animal, kantan, present in our high school festival special! We’re starting!! 』
『 S-Starting!! 』
Nei’s mood is overwhelming Saito-san from the start of the broadcast.