「 I knew it, leaving these girls to you was the right choice 」
Jii-chan looked at me and laughed.
「 Now then, it’s time for me to go back. I’ll come to see the results tomorrow. I’ll leave it to you to judge whether they’re suited to become prost.i.tutes or not 」
「 And if they’re not, what will you do? 」
I asked.
「 Then I’ll have to cut my losses 」
「 Cut losses? 」
「 Yes, dealing with the loss even if little is better than nothing. I’ll replace the head of the Yakuza who want to take over the Takakura shrine and replace it with someone who’ll do what I tell them. That the first one 」
「 So what about these girls? 」
「 I’ll sell them to the Yakuza with the highest bid. What’s left is for them to do whatever they like, then the history of Takakura shrine maidens will be over 」
Jii-chan said. The Takakura sisters shivers.
「 Why would you do that? 」
I asked.
Can’t you freely use the arbitration system if you get your hands on these sisters?
「 These girls are not shrine maidens. They’re in the middle of training. They don’t have their “Miko power” yet 」
「 Miko power? 」
「 Yes. Currently, hardly any Yakuza uses the “Miko power” formally. But that’s not it. “Miko power” does exist 」
Looking at the Takakura sisters, they’re looking down.
「 People who’ll buy them at a high price will not train them properly. When that happens, they won’t be able to obtain the “Miko power” 」
「 That’s why we asked for Kouzuki-sama’s help 」
Takakura Yomiko looks up and speaks to Jii-chan.
「 Kouzuki-sama should know the worth of the “Miko power!” 」
Jii-chan.
「 Yes, I know. I know it more than you do 」
He answered in a cold tone.
「 I know it not only from your mother but your grandmother and great-grandmother as well 」
Kouzuki house was originally a n.o.ble family in Kyoto.
The peerage from Meiji era went to Tokyo and developed various enterprises and created an economic boom. They have deepened their relationship with the government.
On top of that, Jii-chan mentioned that he went to college in Kyoto.
He should know the Takakura shrine from Tokyo long ago.
「 Therefore, I know well that now your mother is gone, it would be challenging for you three to train by yourselves to become shrine maidens 」
「 That’s 」
Yomiko-san mumbles.
「 That’s not true! Yomiko-sama will be able to do it! 」
Tsukiko-san defends Yomiko-san.
「 That’s right! I’m sure Onee-sama will become a Miko 」
Luna-san too
「 I wonder, if you ask me, what he said earlier was a legitimate evaluation of you 」
Jii-chan looks at me.
「 Tsukiko-kun is worth more than Yomiko-kun. The Yakuza who want to get their hands on Tsukiko-kun are earnest. I think that they’ll buy you at a high price 」
I knew it, Tsukiko-san’s a daughter of a big boss.
「 Luna-kun as well. Those who want you will surely pay out the asking price. Yomiko-kun’s the problem. You probably won’t sell that high. You’re not a shrine maiden right now after all 」
「 ！！！ 」
「 The young ones who tried to take over Takakura shrine will manage somehow even with the current you. However, elderly people like me who know and have seen the “Miko power” with my own eyes knows the reality. To be honest, Yomiko-kun now won’t be able to succeed becoming a shrine maiden 」
「 K-Kouzuki-sama!!! 」
Yomiko-san screams to Jii-chan, showing a sorrowed face.
「 The people who’ll buy you will turn Takakura house’s shrine maiden as their subordinate. Therefore, even if you say that you’ll become the future arbitrator and leave things to you, they’ll ignore it. It’s meaningless to call yourself a shrine maiden if you don’t have the power. Shouldn’t you be the one who understands that the most? 」
Oh, Jii-chan’s using his negotiation techniques.
He denies the value of a shrine maiden and then making them recognize the “Miko power.”
Actually, is that “Miko power” even real?
I don’t know if the Yakuza are really thinking about that.
I think that just being a nominal shrine maiden and having the blood of Takakura family will have considerable influence.
That’s why the sisters were desperate to escape to Tokyo, away from the Yakuza.
However, the Takakura sisters. Especially Takakura Yomiko.
She believes that “Miko power” has worth.
She agrees with Jii-chan.
「 Then what should we do? Why did Kouzuki-sama bring us who have no worth to Tokyo? 」
Jii-chan grins.
「 It’s to make you meet him. If not, you cannot train yourselves 」
Me?
「 Though your late mother had taught you to train your mind, she hasn’t taught you to prepare with your body yet, has she? 」
「 That’s right 」
Takakura Yomiko admits.
「 He will teach you. All you have to do is put it to practice 」
「 Kuromori-sama will? 」
I don’t know how to train shrine maidens though?
「 The Takakura shrine maidens were wandering shrine maidens, mainly prost.i.tutes. Furthermore, they’re not just prost.i.tutes. They’re divine prost.i.tutes that connect people to G.o.d 」
Jii-chan said.
「 Entrusting your lives as prost.i.tutes under Minaho-kun was, of course, a way to repay your debts and living expenses I pay for but at the same time, it’s also your training to become shrine maidens 」
Being a prost.i.tute and selling their bodies to men is training?
「 A divine prost.i.tute must be able to devote their bodies to those seeking salvation more than anything 」
「 W-We know that even if Kouzuki-sama doesn’t tell us 」
Takakura Yomiko refutes, but.
「 No, you don’t understand. Didn’t he just say it earlier? 」
What did I say again?
「 You have no att.i.tude to serve. It’s an interesting expression. However, it means that you have no will to serve people 」
「 That’s 」
「 He met you just now; however, first impressions go a long way for prost.i.tutes. You should be worried about your future 」
Jii-chan’s harsh.
「 However, we’ll do it! We can! We’ll show that we can become prost.i.tutes! We’ll become shrine maidens by all means! We will follow Mother’s legacy!
Even so, Takakura Yomiko doesn’t break.
「 It’s nice to see you a.s.sertive. However, those are just words 」
「 We will give you satisfactory results! 」
「 Then, show me the results by tomorrow 」
Jii-chan turns to me.
「 Thus, it’s your job. I’ll have them in your care for tonight and see through their apt.i.tude as a prost.i.tute 」
Me?
「 If they can’t do it with you then it’s impossible for them to become prost.i.tutes 」
Even if you tell me that.
Still, I’ve got to do it.
「 Do you have any request for me? 」
Request?
「 I’m giving some unreasonable demands for you until tomorrow. Give out your conditions as well. I’ll accept it whatever that is 」
Minaho-neesan that the Takakura sister’s case will become insurance for Kuromori.
However, I don’t know what that insurance is currently.
Jii-chan and Minaho-neesan are keeping a couple of secrets from me.
Is it really okay to turn the sisters’ prost.i.tutes? Should this fail?
I can’t see the common ground Jii-chan thinks about.
Therefore, I’ll have to do what I’m told with the best that I can./
I’ve made my resolve though.
「 Can you drop one from the prost.i.tute candidates at this stage? 」
I said.
「 She won’t sell after all 」
The Takakura sisters are startled.
They look at each other’s faces.
Then, Takakura Yomiko glared at me.
She thinks that I’m talking about her.
「 Luna-san is still 12, right? She can’t become a prost.i.tute on our brothel 」
I replied.
「 Oh, why is it? 」
Jii-chan replied.
「 Well, even if we sell her, she won’t be making profit 」
「 There should be customers who like children of her age, isn’t there? She doesn’t look bad either 」
Jii-chan said.
「 No, we’re a high-cla.s.s brothel 」
I replied.
「 Customers who have troublesome hobbies don’t pay that much 」
That was true during Shirasaka Sousuke’s era.
Men with abnormal hobbies are reluctant to pay up.
They’re vicious that they hurt the bodies of the prost.i.tutes.
「 Indeed. We don’t need customers who are satisfied with compensated dating. It is as he says, Kuromori house is a high-cla.s.s brothel. We won’t do business if we can’t earn at least a million per night 」
Minaho-neesan follows up.
In a sense, the 14-year-old Yomiko-san shouldn’t be okay either, although.
Yomiko-san is the representative of the Takakura sisters so she shouldn’t be taken out.
Besides, it feels like she’ll sell high too.
「 I see. Now that you mention the circ.u.mstances, I seem to have not considered your management side. I apologize 」
Jii-chan said.
「 So, what will you do? Should I take back Luna-kun with me? 」
「 P-Please wait! D-Do I(Boku) have to separate with my sisters?! I don’t want that! 」
The short-cut haired 12-year-old girl appeals to Jii-chan.
Oh, Luna-san is a “Boku girl.”
「 No, that’s what I want to discuss 」
…I
「 Jii-chan, can you sell this girl to me? 」
「 To you? 」
「 Yes, she’s just perfect to Agnes 」
Agnes is 12-years-old as well.
She’s playing with Mao-chan and Mana for now, but.
She needs to have a friend of the same age, I think.
Agnes won’t just be playing but also study.
They can go to the same school together.
「 What do you think, Minaho-kun? 」
「 I don’t mind. In this matter, we will have to do an apt.i.tude test with them, and if they yielded good results, then we will adopt them as our prost.i.tutes. To make up for it, we would like to take her 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 No, I will pay for the expenses. If you want Luna-kun, then I will have to sell her not to Kuromori house but to him, as his personal woman. 」
Jii-chan?
「 I don’t mind it if you buy her as a playing partner for your girl but, make sure to have s.e.x with this one. I’ll sell her as a s.e.x slave 」
Will that girl be my s.e.x slave?
Oh right, that’s natural.
I need to show that we’re having s.e.x for Agnes to open up her heart.
I mean, she can’t have friends unless they’re also s.e.x slaves.
「 I understand, how much? 」
I’ll have to borrow money from Minaho-neesan again.
But, Agnes needs friends.
「 The same price with Ruriko will do. Transfer it to my bank later 」
Huh? 3000 yen?
We can hand it via cash, although.
Showing it to the Takakura sisters would be harsh.
「 Let me tell you beforehand, I sold Ruriko to him as well 」
Jii-chan talks to the confused sisters.
「 Yes, and I’m treated with proper care 」
Ruriko tells Luna.
「 Therefore, you don’t have anything to worry about 」
「 Hey, Hey wait! 」
Takakura Yomiko shouts.
「 Don’t make decisions on your own! Luna’s my little sister! 」
「 And what about it? 」
Jii-chan glares back.
「 Right now, you’re in my hands. Furthermore, you made that choice yourselves, haven’t you? 」
「 That’s true, but 」
「 I’ve decided to entrust you three to Kuromori house as I judged that becoming a prost.i.tute is your best way to train to become shrine maidens. And that Kuromori house has decided that she cannot be used as a prost.i.tute, so Luna-kun’s road on becoming a shrine maiden is closed down. I believe that you have no choice but to agree with it 」
「 In that case, we’ll find another place, we don’t want it here. That’s not it, the three of us will become prost.i.tutes on a different location! 」
Takakura Yomiko says.
「 If you are dissatisfied with my decision then I’ll drop you off outside. The Yakuza will surely come and get you 」
「 That’s a problem! We! 」
「 What is your primary objective? 」
Jii-chan asks.
「 Is it to become a shrine maiden? Or is it to not let the three of you get separated? 」
「 That’s 」
「 It’s to live together! 」
The oldest, Tsukiko-san answers instead of the hesitating Yomiko-san.
「 Becoming a shrine maiden is a higher priority 」
「 No! Yomiko-sama! 」
Tsukiko-san holds Yomiko-san’s hand.
「 If we stayed in Kyoto, we would’ve been separated. Isn’t that why we depended on Kouzuki-sama? 」
Perhaps, Tsukiko-san will be returned to her father, a big boss from Yakuza. Or maybe, she’ll be taken to those who want to have a blood relationship with a Yakuza.
Yomiko-san will be confined to Takakura shrine, even only by name.
As for Luna, I haven’t confirmed her father yet, but, if she’s a child of Yakuza, she’ll be placed there. If she’s a daughter of Takakura house, then she’ll be a spare shrine maiden. No, a lolicon Yakuza might rape her.
「 If we disobey Kouzuki-sama, there won’t be anyone in the world to help us 」
The eldest tells the second.
「 But, Luna would be sold! 」
「 She’ll be sold to Kuromori house. If you pa.s.s the apt.i.tude test for prost.i.tutes, then you’ll be working for Kuromori house. Think that you’ll be together most of the time. At least, until the training period is over 」
Jii-chan said.
「 Since Luna-kun’s bought, her living expenses and necessities, and of course, her school and protection will all be taken care of Kuromori house. I will add my support naturally. Isn’t that right? 」
「 Yeah, I’ll take the responsibility 」
I tell the frightened Luna-san.
「 Then that means that your worry about Luna-kun is gone 」
「 Yes, we’ll accept her as a child of Kuromori house 」
Jii-chan and Minaho-neesan say, but.
Takakura Yomiko doesn’t reply.
「 Onee-sama, I’ll go with them 」
「 Luna 」
「 After all, it’s impossible for me to become a shrine maiden. I don’t have Yomiko-oneesama’s power since I was born 」
「 Luna, Luna, Luna 」
「 Onee-sama! 」
The two hug each other.
Tsukiko-san’s looking confused from the sides.
I knew it, Tsukiko-san and Yomiko-san have a deep trench between them.
「 Then, that’s all. 」 It’s about time for me to go back, I’ll leave the rest to you 」
Jii-chan tells me and leaves his seat.
「 Seki-kun, stay for the security of the Takakura ladies. We mustn’t lower our guard tonight. Fujimiya-kun as well 」
「 Yes, Kakka, Reika, please send off Kakka 」
「 Yes, Onee-sama 」
Shou-neechan and Rei-chan start moving.
「 I expect good results by tomorrow 」
Jii-chan said. Takakura Yomiko.
「 I’ll definitely make them accept me! I won’t disappoint Kouzuki-sama! 」
She glared at Jii-chan and said while hugging her little sister.
◇ ◇ ◇
The door closed.
Jii-chan and Rei-chan left the room.
Together with Ootoku-san and Choumoto-san, they head to the entrance of the school building.
Now that Jii-chan leaves the school, the surrounding Kouzuki SS guards should withdraw as well.
We should return to the mansion as soon as possible.
Before the members of the Yakuza comes in.
「 Why are you unfazed? 」
As soon as Jii-chan’s gone, Takakura Yomiko asks me.
「 Unfazed by what? 」
I don’t get it.
「 Listen, I’ll start talking. Kouzuki-sama’s already gone home 」
What?
「 We demand comfortable rooms, meals, and a pleasant lifestyle from you. We want our privacy kept 」
What are you talking about?
「 You will also withdraw what you talked about with Kouzuki-sama earlier, you will not separate Luna from us. Okay? 」
Takakura Yomiko glares at me and said.
「 Huh? Why? 」
That’s all I can answer.
「 I, Takakura Yomiko is asking you this much and yet what’s with that att.i.tude?! 」
No, what’s with your att.i.tude?!
「 I will not allow any disobedience again! You hear?! 」
Hmmm.
「 Uhm, Yomiko-san. Could it be that 」
「 What? 」
「 Could it be that you’re an idiot? 」
I said. Yomiko-san’s face turned red.
「 Don’t joke with me! What’s with you?! 」
Oh, is this?
Is this what they call “getting red from anger?”
「 It’s impossible, Yomiko-sama 」
Tsukiko-san said from the side.
「 He’s the same as Kouzuki-sama, Yomiko-sama’s “Miko power” doesn’t go through him 」
Huh?
What are you girls talking about?
「 That is why Kouzuki-sama entrusted us to him 」
Yomiko-san
「 That’s not possible! It must be because Kouzuki-sama’s Qi still remains! 」
She glares at me.
「 It’s not possible for someone as young as him to have such power as Kouzuki-sama’s! 」
Err.
I look at Misuzu and Michi.
「 Could you girls explain what Yomiko-san’s talking about? 」
The two went to Kyoto yesterday.
They seem to know Yomiko-san beforehand.
Come to think of it, Misuzu said that she’s finding it hard to deal with Yomiko-san.
「 Danna-sama’s really amazing 」
Misuzu looks impressed.
「 Master, it’s wonderful 」
Michi too?
「 No, explain it to me first 」
「 When I talked with Yomiko-san, she only made me accept her selfish requests 」
Misuzu.
「 Yes, it wasn’t a proper conversation. Yomiko-san only talks about what she wants us to do. Then, it felt like we have to do it 」
Misuzu, what?
「 it’s only Grandfather who didn’t follow what Yomiko-san wants 」
Only Jii-chan?
「 Grandfather seemed to have gained skill from the late shrine maiden 」
A skill to not let the shrine maiden control him?
「 Danna-sama shouldn’t be able to, and yet, you’re talking to Yomiko-san unfazed 」
What does that mean?
「 Oh, you haven’t noticed it? Nei who’s usually too noisy is being quiet right now 」
Minaho-neesan tells me.
Now that she mentions it.
I look at Nei.
「 I-I’m going outside to breathe some fresh air. It feels dangerous here 」
Nei stands up, looking dark.
「 Ah, I’m going too Nei-oneechan 」
Mana stands up.
Oh, they’re shaking.
「 Shou-neechan, can you look after the two? 」
「 Sure 」
Shou-neechan takes the two to the corridor.
「 Haaaaa! Fresh air smells delicious!!! 」
I hear Nei shouting from the corridor.
「 It feels strange inside the room 」
That was Mana.
「 She seems to be using Qi as well 」1
Michi tells me as she looks at Yomiko-san.
「 Is that so? It’s my first time seeing someone this inconsiderate 」2
「 No, Master. I mean, Qi 」
Ah.
Yoshiko-san has some sort of power in her?
「 Perhaps, the real shrine maidens would be able to make anyone follow her will. However, it’s still incomplete 」
Is that what Jii-chan is talking about? That “Miko power?”
If they indeed have the “Miko power,” then they should be able to use it for arbitrating the Yakuza.
「 It seems like the power of shrine maiden is about conforming people to their will 」
Michi said.
1. Qi wo Tsukau
2. Kiwotsuku