CH 1383.

「 No problem 」

Edie came out of the break room.

「 Thanks, how was it? 」

I ask as I remove the first batch of baked bread from the oven.

Megu and Ai are also doing their job in the bakery.

「 Nobody suspicious around school as far as I’m concerned 」

It’s the school festival today so the students are much more buoyant than usual, and many of them aren’t wearing uniforms because they’re going to sell, or do some band performance.

Even so, Edie judged that nobody was suspicious based on their behavior in the surveillance footage she saw.

「 Anju will continue watching the surveillance system, she’s a good one so she’s already mastered the system perfectly 」

Ishigami Mizuki’s former bodyguard, Kurose Anju.

Tsukiko read Katsuko-nee’s memories and Edie taught her how to use the monitors, so she could use them already.

She’s a girl who’s thorough with her work so it should be fine to leave it to her. Tsukiko’s staying in the break room, watching Kurose Anju.

「 There were some weirdos around the mansion, right? But we don’t have them in school? Then that means… 」

After checking the pastry, I fill the pad with only pastry that has no problems.

「 They’re enemies, but they don’t know who we are 」

The fact that they came to the mansion means that the enemy knows about the Kuromori family.

However, they don’t know how many people are there, and that some are attending this school.

「 How much does this enemy know about us? 」

That’s what I’m worried about.

If they’re using old information, then it would be that the Kuromori mansion is a high-class brothel for the political and financial VIPs

However, if they know details about us, then…

If they know the connection to the Kouzuki house, or Misuzu, Ruriko, and other daughters of nobility…

「 We need to consider how to deal with them 」

I want to avoid making poor moves that’ll give unnecessary information to the enemies.

「 Don’t worry, I don’t think they know much about our family 」

Edie said.

「 If they did, they won’t be that nonchalant 」

Oh right. The enemy didn’t know about the police and Kouzuki SS waiting on the road in front of the mansion.

「 But, maybe they just sent minions who didn’t know anything on purpose just to see our approach 」

I’m considering that possibility.

「 If that’s the case, there’s going to be a watchdog behind the people we captured. But there was nobody like that 」

Edie and Michi are similar, they can sense Qi in their surroundings.

If Edie says that, then I don’t need to consider that likelihood anymore.

「 We also frisked the guy before giving him to the police. He had a smartphone and an audio recorder. so Mitama and I took it. But since they don’t have any recording device that broadcasts live, there’s no information leak. They didn’t have any transmitter 」

「 Where are those stuff you confiscated now? What did they get to record? 」

「 We put them inside the mansion and handed them to Rei-chan. Don’t worry, we already cut off the power. We arrived late at school because we were doing that 」

Kinoshita-san and Rei-chan are at the mansion, and Kyouko-san and Anya are there, so they must be analyzing it now.

Rei-chan’s coming here with Nei and the girls, and we can always communicate inside the mansion and in the bakery anytime.

「 Okay, thanks. As expected of Edie. You didn’t miss a thing 」

I praised Edie as I continue working.

「 Obviously, it’s your Edie after all 」

Edie happily said.

Then, Edie operates on an external monitor at the top of the wall.

The screen shows the inside of the cafeteria switched to outside the bakery, around the back entrance.

「 They should come now. Darling, they’re here 」

Oh, Katsuko-nee’s van is parking.

Rei-chan’s driving.

She’s the driver today so she’s disguised by wearing a hat and sunglasses.

I also see the one on the passenger seat.

Is Nei in the trunk?

Right, she brought some cosmetics for the tennis club girls. She should have a lot of luggage.

I look at the clock and it’s 25 minutes since the call earlier.

Nei and everyone acted on time as they said.

「 Megu, Ai, I’ll help with unloading. I’ll also get Mana to help here right away 」

They need a male helper there.

「 Okay 」

「 We’ll take it from here, Yoshi-kun 」

Hearing their replies, I head to the back entrance of the bakery

「 I’m going too Darling 」

Edie followed after me.

◇　◇　◇

I opened the rear entrance and Rei-chan’s car just finished parking.

「 Onii-chan, I’ll help inside now 」

Mana got off the passenger seat and she was already wearing her apron.

「 Yeah, please do 」

We passed by each other and she went inside the bakery.

「 I’ll return to the mansion immediately after the luggage is dropped off. 」

Rei-chan on the driver’s seat told me.

I don’t think that Ruriko, Agnes, and the girls have already finished making their pastries at that time.

Rei-chan kept the engine on so she could depart right away.

「 Sorry for making you do all these roundtrips Rei-chan 」

「 Don’t mind it. I’m happy that I can do something to help out, besides 」

Rei-chan whispered.

「 There are no problems on Minaho-san or the mansion’s side, have fun with the school festival 」

That’s…

「 Shou-neechan’s sending Kouzuki SS for Minaho-neesan already? 」

I also whispered back.

「 No, Kouzuki SS won’t be involved this time. That’s what’s decided 」

「 Huh, then… 」

「 There should still be no problems 」

Rei-chan smiled at me.

「 Everything is according to Minaho-neesan’s plan then? 」

I knew that Minaho-neesan was doing something and leaving us out of it.

Using the national news appearance to give us an alibi that we were inside the school for the festival today.

Kouzuki SS isn’t involved on purpose either.

The reason is that Minaho-neesan’s actions would be a crime.

「 Kouzuki SS won’t be moving, but Shou-oneesama’s ready to respond immediately, just in case. Don’t worry 」

Shou-neechan’s on standby at the main office.

「 I’ll hear the details later 」

「 You should ask Minaho-san instead. She’ll return by evening 」

「 Okay, I’ll do that 」

I’m still a bit worried, but…

I have to focus on the school festival today.

「 Yo-chan, help me! 」

The sliding door of the van opened and Nei took out a huge bag of cosmetics.

Oh, it’s the bag Katsuko-nee took to the hotel room when Misuzu and Ruriko gave flowers at the Russian film festival party before.

「 The box at the back is heavy! Those are all cosmetics! 」

Box?

Oh yeah, there are three huge cardboard boxes.

And next to the box is…

「 Morning, Kou! 」

Mariko’s there.

She’s not wearing her uniform, but instead, she’s wearing a white one-piece dress since it’s Sunday

「 I have come 」

What?

「 No, I thought I mentioned that girls from nobility can’t come to our school festival! 」

The security had to tighten up, that’s the reason why Misuzu, Ruriko, Sakurako, and Karen can’t come here.

「 Oh? But I’m okay though, I’m not a daughter of nobility! Kukuku 」

Err.

Sure, Mariko’s Torii house isn’t from the nobility.

But still, her mother is from the Kanou house, one of the big three…

That’s why Mariko, who’s not from the nobility, was allowed to have a bodyguard with her in school.

Geez.

「 That aside, I know that we’re busy 」

Oh right.

「 I’ll take the two, take one of the boxes Darling 」

Edie stacked the boxes and lifted them.

Nei’s holding Katsuko-nee’s cosmetics.

「 No, don’t push yourself, Edie, there’s three so the three of us can carry one each 」

「 No, this is heavy, Mariko will break her back 」

「 Yes, I can’t carry those 」

Is it that heavy?

「 Many of them are also in glass bottles so you can’t drop them, Kou, 」

Trying to lift one of the boxes, yep, this is heavy.

I see. Many of the cosmetics are liquids in bottles.

And to think that Edie can lift two boxes easily.

I quickly took it to the temporary terrace where the tennis girls are gathered.

Hmm.

「 Wait, Mariko, these three boxes are… 」

「 Yep, these are mine 」

Mariko laughs again.

「 I thought of coming here today but, Nei-oneesama sent a mail 」

Nei sent the mail not just to Kana-senpai but also to Mariko.

「 But, that was an hour ago, right? 」

Right after we left the mansion in the van.

「 I could come here in an hour, I had my driver go to this school. I met up with Nei-oneesan at the back gate 」

Mariko’s house has a chauffeur car since she’s the daughter of the president of a large company.

「 But, it was only 25 minutes ago that I decided to bring some cosmetics and such. 」

The women’s tennis team makeup assembly was decided just a short time ago.

「 Oh, it just happened. Kana and I get along. SO, for Kana, I mean, I just thought of bringing some presents to the tennis girls who also helped Kou this time 」

Right, Mariko and Kana get along.

Then, Kana-senpai loves branded and expensive cosmetics.

「 But still, three boxes of these… 」

If Mariko prepared some presents, then it would be some expensive cosmetics.

That means that this cost a lot.

「 Don’t mind it, it’s okay. I’ll explain later 」

「 But still 」

I feel sorry that Mariko spent her money.

「 Just hurry up, everyone’s waiting for us 」

Mariko told me with a smile.

「 Yeah, let’s do that 」

I took the heavy box from the car.

Mariko closed the van’s side door.

Then, after parting from the car…

「 Reika-oneesama, thank you 」

Mariko thanked her.

「 Yes, good luck. I’ll be coming over again to see what’s going on 」

Rei-chan drives off the van.

◇　◇　◇

「 Thanks for the help, I’m going to borrow the corner of the cafeteria to do the makeup for the tennis girls 」

I carried the heavy cardboard boxes and Katsuko-nee looked and thanked me.

Nei and Edie had already taken their luggage inside the cafeteria

「 How is it Katsuko-nee? 」

「 I explained to them and they understood 」

He gave the details to the tennis girls about the national TV coverage and apologized for informing them so abruptly in the morning.

Now that’s over…

The girls wearing matching tennis clothes look satisfied for the time being.

But, the atmosphere seems to be filled with anxiety and anticipation.

Then.

「 Hey everyone, Kana, I came over 」

Mariko in her white dress shouted at Kana-senpai.

「 Huh, who? 」

「 Who’s that girl? 」

The school festival hasn’t started yet.

Outsiders can’t come to the school yet, there’s a stranger here, so the club girls are showing a suspicious look.

「 Oh? You’re here already Mariko?! 」

Kana-senpai didn’t expect Mariko to come at this time

「 Hoshizaki-san, who’s that girl? 」

「 Kana, isn’t it bad to bring someone from the outside? 」

The club girl seniors approach Kana-senpai.

「 Oh my, I’m one who got all three boxes of cosmetics here just for all of you! 」

Mariko purposely emphasized it.

「 Kana, hurry and introduce me to them 」

Kana-senpai

「 Well, you know, she’s a friend outside the school 」

「 Best friend! 」

Mariko speaks sharply

「 Kana, we’re best friends, right? 」

「 Well, my best friend, Torii Mariko-san 」

Kana-senpai said. She had no choice.

「 Hello once again, I’m Torii Mariko 」

Mariko introduces herself to the tennis girls with grace.

Then.

「 Kana, what’s the next part? 」

「 There’s none 」

「 There should be, like, my family 」

Mariko says it herself

「 Is it okay 」

「 That makes it easier for them to understand that way, right? 」

Mariko smiled at Kana-senpai.

「 Torii Mariko-san is like, Torii Electronics’, you know, the huge company, right? 」

Torii Electronics is a world-renowned leading manufacturer of electrical appliances in japan.

「 She’s the daughter of the president of Torii Electronics? 」

「 My father is the president, and my grandfather is the founder! 」

Mariko puffs her chest.

「 She’s that kind of rich girl. 」

Even if Kana-senpai explains it, the tennis girls are looking at Mariko with dumbfounded faces.

I guess the image of a girl suddenly appearing and telling them that she’s the daughter of the president of a global company doesn’t connect in their head.

「 That’s right, I’m what they call an “Ojou-sama” And, I brought some presents for being so good to my best friend, Kana 」

Mariko looked at me.

「 You can put the box there and show what’s inside to everyone 」

I did as told and put the box on the floor and opened it.

「 Wow, it’s packed! 」

「 Wait, isn’t this one really expensive? 」

「 That cute bottle over there, I saw them go on sale just last week! 」

The tennis girls all got captured by Mariko’s high-class cosmetics.

「 This box and the box Edie brought in. All three of them are for you girls 」

Mariko said with a smile on her face.

「 T-This is bad, Mariko! 」

Kana-senpai…

「 I mean, these are expensive, right? This or this, wow, this one’s expensive but a popular foundation! This is impossible to get! 」

「 Why, Kana? 」

Mariko asks back calmly.

「 Well, this is bad 」

「 What’s bad about it? We just got too many so I’m giving it away 」

Mariko said the tennis girls are surprised.

「 They send some to me every month. They just deliver so many. That’s why it’s accumulating 」

「 Send? 」

「 Deliver? 」

「 Accumulating? 」

Kana-senpai and the girls can’t understand what Mariko’s talking about.

「 I’m a shareholder so..well, it’s a little different than the so-called normal shareholder benefits where the company gives you tens of thousands of yen per year. I own a huge percentage of the company’s stock. That’s why they make sure to send me the products they’re selling now and the new ones they’re launching 」

「 Eeeh? Wait a second. Mariko’s father also owns the cosmetics company in addition to his job at Torii Electronics? 」

Kana-senpai asks.

「 No! Father doesn’t do stocks, he’s busy with his work at Torii Electronics. I’m the shareholder! 」

Speaking of which, I heard that Mariko’s learning how to do stocks from Kaan Momoko-neechan.

「 I own shares from various companies. Like I own stocks on three cosmetic makers right now. That’s why we have three boxes here. The three companies send me their products every month 」

Mariko said.

「 I’m a major shareholder so I check how well the products are doing. If I find a bad product, then I make sure to tell the company that sold me. But, three companies kept sending more and more so I’m having a hard time keeping up with the pile 」

Then.

「 So, I thought that it would be a huge help to the girls who are usually helping out Kana 」

「 But, Mariko, you could’ve just handed it to your friends at school instead of us 」

Kana-senpai who was happy to receive the high-end products from Katsuko-nee seems to be put off by the number of cosmetics she’s receiving this time.

「 This won’t do with girls in our school. They sure are getting the same products as I am 」

Mariko’s right, the school she goes to is only open to the young ladies of nobility and wealthy daughters that Jii-chan screens.

「 I mean, the daughters of the founders of these cosmetic products are also students of our school. I can’t just give these away to the students if they’re there 」

「 Oh right, this company is one of the old ones. This was from the Meiji era if I recall correctly 」

Kana-senpai saw the company logo on the product inside the box.

「 Oh, sorry, I only brought Japanese manufacturer cosmetics. As expected, foreign companies don’t send one to me all the time, just sometimes 」

Sometimes, so they still do.

「 T-This girl’s a celeb! 」

「 W-Wow 」

「 Kana-san’s best friends with her too! 」

The tennis girls are speechless, but they have figured out that Mariko’s the real deal

「 Katsuko-san’s going to apply makeup to them, right? Then you can use these as much as you like. You won’t know what they do until you use them after all 」

Mariko told Katsuko-nee.

「 Yes, thank you. I’ll use them 」

「 Also, you can bring home whichever you like. I’m giving all these to you girls 」

Mariko emphasized it once again.

「 Mariko-san, help us do the makeup for the girls too! 」

Nei comes from the cafeteria and shouted.

「 Katsuko-oneechan, Mariko-san, and me! The three of us can cooperate together and we’ll finish sooner! 」

「 Yes, please do, Mariko-san 」

Katsuko-nee also asked for Mariko’s help.

「 Yes, if you’re okay with me. But Katsuko-san will still do the final check. They might not like the makeup I do on them 」

Mariko said cheerfully

「 Yes, you need to balance the whole thing so the girls the two of us will make up will still need to show it to Katsuko-oneechan and make adjustments 」

Nei said.

It’s a bakery terrace cafe for the tennis girls, so it’s a bad idea to make the makeup too flashy.

Katsuko-nee will do the final adjustments.

「 Well then, let’s go to the cafeteria! 」

Nei calls the tennis girls.

「 Kana, you need to get in shape 」

Mariko taps Kana-senpai’s chest.

「 R-Right, we’re getting Katsuko-san to do our makeup in turns so we can prepare to open the terrace cafe while they’re at it! 」

「 O-Okay! 」

The tennis girls replied.

Now they can stand proud when the TV coverage comes.

That’s one of the problems fixed.

「 We’ll use the school year and alphabetic order. Those who are free can start working. Mariko’s giving them later anyway so don’t think about it for now! You don’t have time to pick what you want right now. We’re not going for first-come-first-serve! If there’s a lot who want a single item, then we’ll be deciding with rock-paper-scissors by the end of the day 」

Kana-senpai gave instructions.

「 Darling, let’s go back. They’re good now 」

Edie came over and said.

「 Yeah, we should 」

Katsuko-nee, Nei, Mariko, and Kana-senpai will be okay here.

I also have my place to be.