Pure Love ✕ Insult Complex

Chapter 1145. Approaching the Night / Anna House’s Family Members

Chapter 1145. Approaching the Night / Anna House’s Family Members


「 We’re arriving 」


Kudou-papa says from the driver’s seat.


Our motorcade reached the bay coast area before we noticed.


I speak to the girl in the back seat.


「 Uhm, speaking of which, how old are you Takahata-san? 」


She talked a lot about the past problems of Anna-san’s house and Takahata-san’s house. And the problems Takahata has now.


Despite that, I haven’t heard of any data about Takahata Marika-san herself.


「 I’m sixteen. Freshman in high school 」


So she’s the same as me. She looks a little bit more mature though.


「 So, where do you live right now? 」


「 In our school dorm. Uhm, I’m attending a music high school 」


「 Oh, I see. Do you play instruments? Or do you sing? 」


Nei asks.


「 I play piano. But, I don’t think I can continue at this rate 」


Takahata-san looks down.


「 The tuition in music schools is expensive. I don’t think I can rely on the same thing I had so far anymore 」


Oh, I see.


That’s one of the reasons why Anna-san is opposing her father, that she even ran away from home.


「 How long are you okay staying out tonight? Does your dorm have a curfew? 」


Nei changes the topic. It’s to brush off the gloomy mood.


「 I have permission to stay out for tonight. Seki-san talked to them saying that I will be staying in Mother’s apartment today 」


「 Right…if unlucky, the conversation might reach midnight 」


I see. Shou-neechan’s not cutting her corners here.


「 Depending on the results of the discussion tonight, I might leave school for real 」


「 But you want to continue playing piano, don’t you? 」


I confirmed with her.


「 If possible, yes. But I know that I can’t ask for that in my place 」


「 But, I want to hear Takahata-san’s wishes. Do you want to continue? 」


Takahata-san…


「 Well, I want to. But… 」


「 Can you do anything as long as you can continue studying piano? 」


Nei asks Takahata-san from the sides.


「 Uhm, if I can continue, then… 」


「 Okay. You want to 」


I confirmed Takahata-san’s determination.


「 But, I have no right to do as I please 」


「 Then, if you can’t continue playing piano, what will you do, Takahata-san? 」


I continued asking.


「 That’s…I don’t know. If you ask me, it’s so sudden today, that the truth is, I never knew where my tuition is coming from, and uhm, I never asked Mother at all 」


Takahata-san replies.


「 She told me not to worry about my tuition, and I just enrolled in the music high school on this year’s spring 」


「 For a musical instrument like piano, a high school student can’t continue their studies while doing part-time work too 」


Nei said.


「 Yes. I know that I had to stop going to school 」


So far, she has never had to struggle with her school or living expenses.


「 So, anyway, our first priority is to keep Takahata-san’s status quo maintained, and let her continue her dorm life, right? 」


「 Wrong, Yo-chan, I believe that the minimum is to guarantee that she can pay for her tuition and living expenses until she graduates from music high school and music college 」


Nei said.


「 No, I feel guilty asking that far 」


Takahata-san’s voice is becoming smaller.


「 I never knew who was the one supporting my living expenses before… 」


「 But, you see, if you don’t graduate from a music college, then what’s the meaning of graduating from a music high school? 」


Nei asks.


「 Yes, therefore, if I can’t go to a music college, then I have no choice but to stop coming to high school 」


Though she says that, she’s got no plan on what to do after that.


I can see in her expression how sudden this story is developing from Takahata-san’s view.


「 We’ve arrived 」


Kudou-papa said.


We see a huge hotel in the bay coast area.


The dark night sky is dazzled with cast light.


「 I can understand Takahata-san’s situation now. Leave the rest to me 」


I promised her.


「 Ah, yes. Please take care of me 」


The long-haired beauty replies with a small voice.


「 But, I don’t mind if it’s impossible. I know the situation I’m in 」


「 Yes, I can understand how Takahata-san feels 」


This girl shouldn’t stand in the negotiation that decides her fate.


That’s why I’ll have to speak for Takahata Marika-san.


「 Your time is almost up 」


Kudou-papa’s right.


The motorcade gets into the bas.e.m.e.nt parking lot of the hotel.


「 Kudou-san, where will you bring Takahata-san? 」


I asked Kudou-papa in the driver’s seat.


「 After sending you off inside the hotel, we’re going to be in a different room on the same floor as you 」


Oh, we still have to hide to Anna-san and her father that Takahata-san is here.


「 This hotel is affiliated with the Kouzuki house, and so Kouzuki SS rented the whole floor. This girl can watch the discussion you’re having in her room 」


「 Okay. Kudou-san, look after Takahata-san 」


「 I know 」


「 Takahata-san must be feeling uneasy, wait here. We’ll bring Anna-san to you once the conversation is over 」


I said.


「 Yes. No matter what the result is, I will accept it, it’s my fate. It’s just that, I wanted to meet Anna Erica-san tonight no matter what, and so that’s why I came here 」


「 Yes, I’ll make sure that you two meet up. I promise you that 」


◇ ◇ ◇


The car stopped at the bottom layer of the parking lot.


In front of us, Shou-neechan’s minivan opened.


First, Michi checks the safety of the location then, Tsukiko and Ruriko come down.


「 Yo-chan, we should 」


「 Yeah, well then, see you later Takahata-san, Kudou-san 」


「 Yeah, I got this 」


I opened the door and went out.


The bas.e.m.e.nt parking lot has a dark mood. It’s heavy.


Nei also gets off the car.


She meets with Shou-neechan.


Everyone, even Shou-neechan, got off the car now.


Anna-san hasn’t noticed the girl in the rear seat of our car.


Momoko-neechan either.


「 Seki-san! 」


A male bodyguard from the Kouzuki SS comes running towards Shou-neechan.


Seems like he whispered a report.


「 I understand. Thank you 」


Shou-neechan turned to us.


「 Anna Kenichirou’s already here. He brought in extra people 」


She smiled wryly.


「 Who is it? 」


Momoko-neechan asks.


「 Anna Erica-san’s fiance or I should say that he’s still just a candidate. Madohori Tadashi-san is here 」


Err, it’s that “Mad Hori” who wants to become the first president of j.a.pan.


「 Oh, it’s gonna get messy then 」


Momoko-neechan smiled at somebody else’s problem.


「 Also, Anna-san’s mother is also with him 」


Shou-neechan said. Anna-san froze.


Seems like it’s beyond her expectations that her father would bring her mother into the discussion.


「 So, do you have some instructions? 」


Shou-neechan smiled at me.


She probably is asking about what I have to say after talking to Takahata Marika-san in Kudou-papa’s car.


「 No, nothing special. I know that Shou-neechan still hasn’t revealed all the cards at hand 」


I replied.


「 I’ll just get in Shou-neechan’s plan for now 」


「 Okay. Well then, let’s go 」


We follow Shou-neechan and enter the hotel from the parking lot.


There are Kouzuki SS escorts in front of the elevator too.


They handed over several keycards to the rooms to Shou-neechan.


「 The guests are in 2504. 2503, 2505, and 2506 are open. These are the keys, please use them as you please. 2513 is the staff room 」


「 What about the lawyer? 」


「 He hasn’t arrived yet 」


「 I understand. Thank you 」


The Anna couple and Mad Hori are already in room 2504.


The lawyer, it’s probably that lawyer that’s managing Anna-san’s inheritance from her late Grandfather.


Also, I think that Takahata Marika-san will be in 2513.


That’s where they can watch our discussion in real-time.


「 Do you want to go to another room to calm down before talking to your father? We have prepared some waiting rooms for that 」


Shou-neechan asks Anna-san.


It’s 2503, 2505, and 2506.


「 No, we should go 」


Anna-san replies with a stern expression.


「 We don’t need to go to the waiting room either. We’ll go with Kou-chan. Instead of peeking from the waiting room, I also want to be in the conversation 」


Momoko-neechan said.


「 I understand. Then, let’s go 」


We get in the large elevator.


Then, we go up to the 25th floor.


◇ ◇ ◇


Even on the 25th floor’s elevator hall…


There are Kouzuki SS bodyguards.


Ruriko from Kouzuki house and Momoko-neechan from Kaan house are both here after all.


Naturally, they’ll have strict security here.


「 This way 」


This is a floor that Kouzuki SS rents regularly, so…


Shou-neechan goes straight to room 2504.


I can see that Anna-san’s nervous.


The heavy atmosphere is in the hotel’s corridor’s air.


We stand before the door.


「 Ah, wait a second Shou-neechan 」


I stopped Shou-neechan


「 Anna-san, you should take deep breaths at times like this 」


「 Deep breaths? 」


Anna-san looked at me.


「 Even without it, I… 」


「 No, you should do it. Calming down your emotions is necessary. Michi 」


I looked at Michi.


「 Yes, it will be Kudou style’s breathing exercise 」


「 Right. Teach Anna-san that 」


「 This is a breathing technique pa.s.sed on to my family, to calm down our minds when dealing with our enemies 」


Anna-san should know that Michi is Misuzu’s bodyguard since they both attend the same middle school.


A bodyguard of n.o.bility should have some knowledge of martial arts.


「 Inhale slowly on the count of eight, and then, exhale slowly on the count of eight 」


「 Ooh, I’ll try that too. Let’s do it together, Ruriko, Sebastia.n.u.s! 」


Momoko-neechan joins in, so Anna-san had no choice now.


Nei and I joined in.


「 Then, count 4 」


Shou-neechan also joins in. Now everyone’s doing breathing exercises.


「 Then, two counts. Breathe in, out. 1, 2! 1, 2! 」


Haa, fuuu.


「 One count! 」


Ha, fu, ha, fu!


「 Then, two counts, and then four… okay, now go to 8 counts. Then, 16 counts 」


Our breathing starts to slow down.


「 Okay, we’re done 」


Yeah, when you breathe in fresh air, your body feels refreshed.


And yet, it’s relaxing.


Above all, it connects everyone nicely with our breathing.


「 Anna-san, I’ll say it beforehand, I didn’t come here purely out of my curiosity 」


Momoko-neechan said.


「 You’re my cute junior, so I don’t want to see you feel unhappy. I won’t do anything bad 」


Then, she looked at Ruriko and me.


「 Kou-chan and Ruriko too, everyone here feels the same way, right? 」


Momoko-neechan looked at each and one of us.


Michi, Sebastia.n.u.s (Yamada Umeko-san,) Nei, Shou-neechan, and…


Tsukiko.


「 Kou-chan even prepared his last card for you 」


Momoko-neechan smiled at Tsukiko


「 After talking in the car earlier, you look like someone with a much more simple and good personality than I thought 」


As long as they make contact and a conversation, I know that Momoko-neechan and Tsukiko will get along.


「 Although, maybe you already are manipulating my thoughts,… 」


She smiled.


「 I won’t do that 」


Tsukiko replies with a straight face.


「 I’m joking. Anyway, in the worst case, Tsukiko-san can lend her power to cut a way through so you don’t have to worry, Anna-san 」


「 As long as Kou-sama orders it, then I’ll do it 」


Anna-san.


「 I-Is that so? I don’t get it, but… 」


Naturally, Anna-san can’t understand what it means since we haven’t explained Miko power to her, and she hasn’t seen how fearsome it is in reality.


「 Anyway, we’re here with you, you don’t have to worry 」


I declared.


「 Then, shall we? 」


Shou-neechan asks Anna-san.


「 Yes 」


Anna-san seems to have resolved herself.


Knock. Knock.


Shou-neechan knocks on the door.


Then.


Click.


The door opens, and a tall slim man wearing dark gla.s.ses shows up.


He’s wearing all black.


Black suit, black shirt, and black jacket.


「 Yes? 」


He glares at us with a face that’s in bad mood.


He brings in a threatening atmosphere


「 I’m Seki from the Kouzuki SS. I’ve brought Anna Erica-san 」


Shou-neechan replied to the young man.


Anna-san’s hiding behind Shou-neechan’s back.


「 Oh, Erica-san, we’ve been waiting for you. No, really, isn’t your disobedience to your parents a bad thing? 」


The young man tells Anna-san.


「 Well then, Erica-san can enter. As for everyone else, you can wait outside. Okay? 」


The young man tells us with a bossy tone


「 No, we will go in with Anna-san 」


Momoko-neechan tells the dark gla.s.ses man with an offended tone.


「 No, what kind of right do you have to say something that stupid? This is a problem within the family, you don’t want to increase outsiders, don’t you? 」


「 Aren’t you also an outsider? 」


Nei complains.


「 I don’t think I need to answer you 」


The man said.


「 I see. Well then, let’s go back, Anna-san. It seems that this man doesn’t want to have a discussion 」


Momoko-neechan brings out that card.


「 Hey, please stop the jokes. We have Erica-san’s parents with us here. Erica-san is still a middle school girl, a minor. If you bring her away, then we’ll call the police for kidnapping a minor 」


「 So, go ahead? 」


Momoko-neechan speaks with a ridiculing expression.


「 But, are you sure that you can do that? 」


「 I-isn’t that obvious?! I’m only speaking of what’s socially just! Come here Erica-san! and you all should go home 」


Then.


A smart-looking middle-aged man in a suit comes in.


「 S-Stop it Madohori-kun!! 」


This Anna Erica-san’s father. Anna Kenicirou.


Then.


「 K-Kaan Momoko-sama. Please forgive his discourtesy. Kouzuki Ruriko-sama too, we apologize. Oh, Seki-san, I’m sorry for the trouble he’s causing 」


They apologize to Momoko-neechan hurriedly.


As expected of the representative auditor specializing in the large enterprise. They know that they can’t fight Kaan and Kouzuki house.


Then…


「 Erica. You’ve come 」


They call to her daughter.


「 So is it okay if we come in too? 」


Momoko-neechan talks to Anna Kenichirou.


「 Ah, y-yes, of course, please come in 」


「 Hey, Anna-san, I thought I’m the one doing the negotiations?! If you don’t kick them out it will come back to you during the negotiations! 」


Madohori Tadashi shouts.


Yeah, he’s definitely not Madohori. He’s Mad Hori.


「 Shut up for a bit! Besides, I don’t remember ever telling you that you can take care of the negotiations! 」


「 Nono, you shouldn’t say that this late in the game, Anna-san!! 」


Mad Hori whispers to Anna Kenichirou.


「 If we don’t show that we’re a monolith, they’ll pickle us! 」


「 And that’s why I don’t want that from you, shut up for now 」


「 No, I can’t do that! 」


「 They’re the daughters of the president of the Kaan group and Kouzuki group! 」


Mad Hori’s face went “Huh??”


「 Really? 」


「 Yep, really 」


Nei replied.


「 Yes, we’re in our ordinary clothing today, and besides, we always place ourselves as far away from you as possible when in parties so you probably haven’t noticed, but… 」


Momoko-neechan smiled unpleasantly.


「 I thought Erica-san ran away to her school friend’s home? 」


「 You weren’t listening, were you? Erica-san ran away to the Kouzuki house!! 」


「 Eh, I haven’t heard of that?! 」


「 I already told you!!! 」


「 Nonono, I heard that they’re affiliated with Kouzuki SS, but having a relationship with Kouzuki house itself… 」


「 Shut up already! 」


I wonder when will this skit end?


「 Uhm 」


Momoko-neechan looked at Anna Kenicirou.


「 Oh, I’m sorry. Come in! Come inside 」


Room 2504’s interior is a mid-size conference room.


Oh, since we increased our negotiating team, Shou-neechan changed the room to a place where a large number of people can discuss.


In the back of the room, is a beautiful woman in her 40s sitting down.


She noticed us and bowed her head.


「 I’m Erica’s mother. I’m sorry for my Erica causing you trouble on this occasion 」


This woman is Anna-san’s mother.

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