「 If we’re throwing her out, we have to erase all her memories about us 」
Minaho-neesan looks down on Tendou Otome and said.
「 Also, her memories of Tokuda Sonoko-san should be erased too 」
Sonoko-san’s shocked.
Tendou Otome who can’t speak and can’t move groans desperately.
「 I mean, we have no choice, do we? They’ve been childhood friends but their lives are going to different paths now 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 I think it’s okay for Tokuda-san to remember Tendou Otome-san. But for Tendou-san, I think that it’s better if she can’t remember Tokuda-san 」
Sonoko-san isn’t just a childhood friend, she is Tendou Otome’s love.
Sonoko-san betrayed her Father and asked for our help.
If we release her like this, she’ll use every possible way to take Sonoko-san back from us.
Sonoko-san;
「 Right. Kuromori-san is right 」
Hearing that, Tendou Otome’s shocked.
「 Sorry, Otome-chan. But I think that we need to part ways. I’ll remember you. I’ll never forget about Otome-chan. So Otome-chan, please forget me 」
Becoming a prost.i.tute of Black Forest means belonging to the underground society.
Sonoko-san should already know that Minaho-neesan’s brothel entertains the big-shots of the political and business circles.
If Tendou Otome makes a move on Sonoko-san, it’ll only cause trouble to the guests.
And on the other side, Tendou Otome’s life will be in danger.
「 I’m going my own way. Otome-chan, you need to find yours
Sonoko-san speaks to Otome flooded with emotions.
However.
「 Wait, are you sure about this? 」
Torii-san speaks.
「 Can you decide to erase people’s memories that easy? 」
That’s…
「 If we can’t erase her memory, the other option is killing her 」
Tsukiko says with a smile.
「 Huh, why? Why do you always jump to the extremes! Shouldn’t you convince her and make her swear that she will never talk about this to other people? No, I don’t know whether she’ll keep it or not but still, shouldn’t you ask her will first? Especially in cases like this! 」
She screams somewhat agitated.
「 This is just weird. You shut her up and decide her fate without her input. This is wrong 」
That’s…
「 I don’t think we need to hear her input at all 」
I said.
「 I’m the one taking responsibility for this. Tendou Otome herself isn’t at fault. After all, we forced her to this 」
「 Indeed, we gave Tokuda-san the choice. She will be our accomplice hereafter. She will carry the sins in regards to Tendou-san with us 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 Yes. I don’t mind 」
Sonoko-san replies.
「 I mean, I don’t know who you are but you really are annoying. You’re unrelated to this and yet you speak so bossily 」
Kurosawa-san who listens to our conversation shows her displeasure towards Torii-san.
「 Excuse her. She’s a young lady who’s in the middle of learning about the world. I apologize if she rubs you the wrong way 」
Minaho-neesan tells Kurosawa-san.
「 No, not that I mind 」
Kurosawa-san knows that Minaho-neesan’s the boss of the brothel so she won’t say any more than that.
Therefore.
I should’ve given a warning that we’re bringing Torii-san to this room.
「 Torii-san, we’re not people from the surface. We’re on the other side, the so-called crime syndicate. We’re people who live violating the laws of this country 」
I looked at Torii-san in the eyes and speak to her frankly.
「 However, we’re not just a crime syndicate. The people we deal with are the big-shots of the country, people from n.o.bility 」
「 Among the customers is Kouzuki-sama, and most of the heads of the n.o.bility Torii-sama knows 」
Kuromori tower was a secret social club for the men of n.o.bility before Shirasaka Sousuke hijacked it.
The heads of the family close to Jii-chan’s age all come to Kuromori tower.
We have the client list of those days.
Some of them are dead or retired, but most of them are heads of the clan, like Jii-chan.
Some customers came to the mansion during Shirasaka’s age. Nagisa and Katsuko-nee’s customers from before. I saw them during Misuzu and Ruriko’s dance presentation.
「 I’ve never met Torii-sama’s father or grandfather though 」
Minaho-neesan laughs.
Torii house isn’t n.o.bility. They’re a postwar upstart, and so none of them came to the Kuromori tower.
「 So what? 」
Torii-san gets annoyed as she’s poked on her insecurity.
「 That means that we can’t make a mistake. We’re not allowed to make naive decisions. A slight failure can involve our precious customers 」
Minaho-neesan.
「 Torii-sama’s Grandfather is of n.o.bility, and so you should know about the weight of the honor of the family, don’t you? 」
She stirs her up
「 Let’s say that Tendou Otome is let go for some reason, and then, she talks about what she discovered for the past few days, about us…It’ll become a huge problem 」
Therefore, I hurriedly interject.
「 She hid in Mizushima house for several days and went to Torii-san’s school as a bodyguard. She also grasped most information from the party yesterday. That includes Kouzuki house 」
「 Letting the other party know which room is connected to which in the head mansion will be troublesome 」
Michi said.
「 Therefore, if you ask us, we’re going to erase all of her memories for the past few days. If we can’t do that, then the other option is her death. Besides, the fact that Tokuda Sonoko-san and Kurosawa Naoko-san is with us has to stay a top-secret, and so we have to erase her memories. It’s a necessity. Even if we have to force it to her 」
「 Therefore, if we do what Torii-sama says and ask for Tendou-san’s agreement that we’re going to erase her memories, it will no longer be a high-handed work, but that’s just torture 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 Don’t you feel sorry for her? It’s much faster if we ignore her will, make a decision, and do it immediately 」
「 Uuu 」
Torii-san groans.
Minaho-neesan looked at Sonoko.
「 This will be your last meeting, give her a good look. You’ll become a stranger to her soon 」
Sonoko-san looks at Tendou Otome.
Tendou Otome looks at Sonoko-san like a cat that is about to be abandoned.
She wants Sonoko-san’s embrace.
She wants her to speak kindly to her.
「 Otome-chan. Thank you for everything you’ve done so far 」
However, Sonoko-san.
「 Thank you for saying that you love me. But, I can only see Otome-chan as a friend. Ever since we met, today, and tomorrow 」
Tendou Otome’s eyes turn cloudy.
「 Goodbye. I’m sorry, that’s all I can say 」
Sonoko-san said and cried.
「 Kurosawa-san, do you have anything to say to Tendou-san? 」
Minaho-neesan calls out to Kurosawa-san, one of the subjects of Tendou Otome’s bullying.
「 Goodbye. I hated you all this time. You show favoritism on Tokuda-san, fill yourself up, and when the three girls were bullying me or her, you didn’t come to save us 」
Kurosawa-san speaks filled with spite.
「 You keep on saying that you saved Sonoko, but your father and his group raped Tokuda-san while you were gone. You never saved Tokuda-san 」
The last few words struck Tendou Otome.
「 You speak like you’re the boss and yet you can’t do anything, that’s what you are! Dammit! 」
Then.
「 That’s enough! You can stop now 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 Then, Kou, can you ask Tsukiko-san to do it? 」
Minaho-neesan doesn’t give the order Tsukiko herself.
She thinks that I should be the one to manage Tsukiko’s Miko power.
Torii-san’s watching too.
No, I’m sure that Shou-neechan’s watching through the cameras too.
If the other scene happened, she’ll report to Jii-chan.
Miko power isn’t a property of the Kuromori house.
We have to be thorough to show that it’s used because of my relationship with the Takakura sisters
「 Yeah, Tsukiko 」
I turned to Tsukiko…
「 W-Wait! 」
Torii-san speaks to me.
「 Shouldn’t she speak her goodbyes too? 」
Tendou Otome to Sonoko-san and Kurosawa-san?
「 Huh, why? 」
I asked.
「 I mean, won’t she regret it if she didn’t say her goodbye now? 」
「 No, but Tendou Otome will forget all of it anyway 」
All the events so far and this moment.
「 But, even if she forgets it… 」
Torii-san looks at Sonoko-san.
「 Don’t you feel the same way? Don’t you feel bad that you can’t hear her voice, her goodbyes? You don’t like it? You’ll regret it, right? 」
Sonoko-san.
「 No… 」
She speaks mournfully.
「 That’s a lie! That can’t be! 」
Torii-san can’t agree with it.
「 What’s with this?! Are you stupid?! 」
Kurosawa-san glared at Torii-san.
「 You’re the one who feels that way, aren’t you? It’s not us! You’re just a spectator here! 」
「 I’m!!! 」
Torii-san tries to retort but…
「 Okay, please go to sleep. Take a deep sleep 」
Tsukiko takes down Tendou Otome’s consciousness.
She gently closed her eyes and lose strength.
「 H-Hey! Didn’t I say wait?! 」
Torii-san tries to protest half-cryingly, but…
「 I’m sorry, but I’m only doing Kou-sama’s orders 」
Tsukiko smiled. She’s not dealing with her.
「 It takes time to remove memories and alter them and so I had her fall asleep. Once she wakes up, she will be different from who she was before 」
She needs to be meticulous and careful to make sure that it doesn’t break her soul.
「 Hey! Wake up! This is too much! 」
「 That’s enough, shut up 」
I told Torii-san.
「 Not everything that you disagree on has a solution. Why do you not get it? 」
「 Because! 」
Then.
Sonoko-san touched the unconscious Tendou Otome’s cheeks.
「 Actually, I like you too. Otome-chan. I mean that as a friend, but still, I like the self-confident, cheerful, and energetic Otome-chan. I… 」
「 Huh? 」
Torii-san’s surprised.
「 Thank you for keeping me safe all this time. I really thank you 」
Sonoko-san’s tears drop on Tendou Otome’s face.
「 I did say that I hate her earlier, but not that much 」
Kurosawa-san mutters.
「 What the h.e.l.l?! What’s with you!? Why did you not say that when she was still conscious?! 」
Torii-san barks.
I…
「 They can say it because she’s unconscious! They couldn’t tell her. Why do you not get it?! 」
I shouted back at Torii-san.
◇ ◇ ◇
Sonoko-san, Kurosawa-san, and Minaho-neesan head to another room for more prost.i.tution briefing.
Tendou Otome remains here.
Michi, Tsukiko, Torii-san, and I head to the room next door.
「 My power might be needed even in this room 」
Tsukiko said.
Right, we don’t know how Rie and Eri would react if they discover that their father died.
Therefore, Tsukiko’s coming with us and she just let Tendou Otome sleep.
Heading outside to the corridor, Kinos.h.i.ta-san from Kouzuki SS is waiting for us.
「 Are you done here? Then let’s go to the next one 」
She’s cheerful and takes everything at her pace, that helps.
Michi’s always expressionless, Tsukiko’s always smiling.
And Torii-san’s in a gloomy mood right now.
「 Uhm, Kuromori-sama 」
While we head to the elevator hall…
Torii-san speaks to me with a displeased look.
「 What? 」
「 Are you going to erase my memories in the end? 」
Oh, she’s angry.
「 Or do you intend to kill me? 」
Now then, what do I answer her?
Edie smoothens the conversation at times like this, but…
No wait, I’m relying too much on her.
「 I haven’t decided yet 」
I replied honestly.
「 If we erase Torii-san’s memories, Momoko-neechan will get really angry 」
Kaan Momoko-neechan knows about the Miko power.
She explicitly warned us not to use the Miko power on Torii-san, her protegee.
「 Even so, killing you will make her angrier 」
「 That’s obvious! 」
Torii-san speaks angrily.
「 But, I discovered a lot of your secrets! I have to report all of them to Momoko-oneesama 」
Err.
Actually, I know what Misuzu and Ruriko’s thinking.
Misuzu and Ruriko want Torii-san to become my woman.
I mean, Kaan Momoko-neechan’s also a target.
「 Besides, the more I discover, the more I start to hate you all. You’re all sweet to your family but cold and cruel to others. I hate that 」
And she’s throwing her frustration towards me.
「 The right way is to be strict with your family and be kind to others! You’re all strange 」
I…
「 I accept that we’re strange but I think that Torii-san’s wrong 」
「 What’s ‘wrong?’ 」
「 They’re my allies, my family, and that’s why I’m gentle with them compared to other people. Why do I have to be cold with my family compared to others? 」
I don’t get it.
「 You know, if you use your common sense or morals, you’ll get it, right? 」
「 No, Torii-san, your common sense might be different than mine 」
That one line annoyed her it seems.
「 Are you mocking me?! 」
Then.
「 Kou-sama and Torii-sama’s concept of “words” differ 」
Tsukiko intervenes.
「 Torii-sama’s “family[身内1]” and Kou-sama’s “family[家族2]” are different in the first place 」
That’s…
「 Yeah, our family isn’t connected by blood 」
I said.
「 Therefore, it’s never the blood that creates bonds between us. It’s our warn trust with each other that binds us 」
Torii-san’s dumbfounded.
「 That’s why I will never betray my family. I will prioritize my family more than other people. If the girls discover that I treasure some stranger more than them, then… 」
Agnes’ soul will collapse.
Mao-chan will be shocked.
The other girls too.
Megu will scold me for hours.
「 Isn’t it natural for one to prioritize their family first, to treasure their family? After all, without my family, I’m no longer myself 」
「 I don’t get what you’re trying to say 」
「 My family is a gathering of people who created it. We help each other. Because I have this family, I survive my life without feeling down, sulking, committing suicide. To me, my family is a higher existence than myself 」
「 This is increasingly harder to understand 」
Torii-san doesn’t get it.
「 Anyway, we value trust. Everyone trusts me, and I also trust my family. They have to believe that if there’s a problem, I will definitely come to help them. Err 」
I don’t know how to say this…
Argh.
「 Conveying “I love you” is a necessity 」
Michi said.
「 Master says that he loves me. He tells us that every day. Master is easy to understand after all 」
It seems that my thoughts are in plain view.
「 Of course, he also loves Misuzu-oneesama. Ruriruri too. Tsukiko-sama as well. He loves the other women too. Our family is a gathering of the people Master loves 」
「 What? You just mean that Kuromori-sama’s flirtatious 」
Torii-san asks Michi.
「 It’s not on that level. When Master says that he loves someone, he means it. He loves us with all his body and soul 」
Michi.
「 That is why we also love Master back. It’s not a 50-50 relationship. It’s Master who pulls the rope first. Master shows his feelings, no, it’s not just that, he shows that he loves us with his actions and feelings, he makes us feel that “he loves us,” that respond with the same love 」
「 I don’t get that explanation 」
Torii-san’s discontented.
Then, Kinos.h.i.ta-san, who’s taking the lead, turns around.
「 Huh? You don’t get it? 」
She smiled.
「 W-What? 」
Torii-san looks puzzled.
「 It means that Kuromori-sama likes Torii-sama, right? 」
What?
Me? Torii-san?
「 I mean, Kuromori-san’s always answers when Torii-san’s talking 」
「 No, that’s natural 」
I said.
「 T-That’s right! K-Kaan Momoko-oneesama gave the orders to me, and Kuromori-sama must guide me as I give my inspection 」
Torii-san speaks in panic.
「 Nononono, I don’t know much about Kuromori-sama, but you know… 」
Kinos.h.i.ta-san smiled.
「 Kuromori-sama loves women who smell like trouble, right? 」
Auuu.
I mean, Kinos.h.i.ta-san.
You’re the most troublesome one here.