Chapter 649. Is it there? Is it not there?

「 Well then. Nei-san, Nobu, Fujimiya-san, and also, Mana-chan, was it? 」

Kana-senpai smiles at us.

「 I don’t mind if you call me Reika-san 」

Rei-chan replied.

「 Then, Reika-san. Later. Oh right 」

Kana-senpai shows a paper bag that’s packed with the items she got from the mansion.

「 Tell Katsuko-san thanks, Nei-san as well, thanks for this 」

It’s about the brand accessories Katsuko-nee gave and the lipsticks Nei gifted her.

「 What’s up, Kana-chi? 」

「 What’s that, Senpai? 」

The tennis club girls got curious and went closer.

「 Ah, it’s a gift. Actually, Nei’s house is close to school, so I went with her. Then, Nei-san’s elder sister gave me branded items she no longer uses, and Nei-san even gave me lipsticks! 」

「 Wow! That’s nice! 」

「 Ah, if I recall that pouch is a limited item! 」

「 Eh? Limited item in Japan? 」

「 No, no, if I recall, it’s from the Paris’ flagship store 」

「 For real?! That’s nice! I want one too! 」

Those who were not interested in Rei-chan were drawn in by the branded products.

「 No, no, I’m Nei-san’s best friend, so she gave this to me. Right, Nei-san? 」

Kana-senpai looks at Nei.

「 Yeah, well, that’s how it is 」

「 Nei’s elder sister even told me “I’ll give you some more, come over to play next time” Just me, okay? 」

Kana-senpai is telling everyone that she’s special.

「 Eeh?! Then I’ll become best friends with Natou-san too! 」

「 Aaah! Me too! 」

「 Uhm, I’ve been a fan of Natou-senpai since before 」

“Wow!” The girls in the tennis club move to Nei.

「 You all can’t just say irresponsible things. Nei-san has eyes that see through people, that’s why she made me her best friend. Right? 」

Kana-senpai, that’s what we call irresponsible.

「 Oh right. Nei-san’s elder sister said that she’ll give me an invitation letter on branded items only sale. She promised me. Nei-san and I will go there but, I might be able to add another one 」

「 Ah, pick me! 」

「 Kana-san, I want to go! 」

「 Well, I’ll consult Nei-san by then and decide 」

I thought that she’s a special among the ordinary, but.

That’s not it.

Kana-senpai is the Queen among the ordinary girls.

My women, Nei and Misuzu don’t know much about ordinary girls.

They don’t usually make contact, and they think of themselves as someone different from what’s ordinary from the start.

But, Kana-senpai is that ordinary girl.

She knows how their ecology.

Therefore, she holds the power to control ordinary girls.

「 Well then. For real, see you guys next time! Okay 」

Kana-senpai smiles.

「 Also, Nobu, I’ll mail you tonight 」

Huh?

I haven’t told Kana-senpai about my mailing address though

「 Oh right, listen everyone! Reika-san was just joking earlier! 」

Kana-senpai is laughing.

「 You see, I’m head-over-heels for Nobu right now 」

She declares to the tennis club loudly.

「 Eeeeeeeh?! 」

That’s the loudest scream I’ve heard so far.

「 Eh, but he has a fiance, right? 」

「 Breadboy’s got to be the most famous couple in the school, Kana-san?! 」

The girls are surprised.

I mean, it’s not just Kana-san, is my official name really Breadboy?

「 But, I can’t help it! I really started liking him! 」

K-Kana-senpai!

「 I’ll do anything to get what I want, after all, I think that having Nobu would make me happier 」

Mana clings to my back.

「 T-That’s bold! As expected of Kana-chi 」

「 Is that what they call overthrow? 」

「 No, isn’t it subordination? NTR? 」

「 NTR? 」

Hey, stop.

「 By the way, who’s the cute girl behind Breadboy? 」

「 Yeah, she’s not wearing our uniform 」

The tennis club girls look at Mana.

「 Oh, she’s Nobu’s little sister. You’re in middle school, right? 」

Kana-senpai asks Mana.

「 Yoshida Mana. I’m in second-year middle school 」

「 She’s an Onii-chan girl! I’ll be your brother’s wife soon, so best regards 」

That’s Kana-senpai’s declaration of war.

「 K-Kana-san won’t become Onii-chan’s wife! 」

Mana said.

「 Oh my, Kana-chan seems to be hated 」

「 What? The fight is just starting! If you’re trying to shoot the commander, take down the horse first. I’ll conquer Mana-chan first! Call me “Onee-sama,” okay? 」

Kana-senpai laughs loudly

◇　◇　◇

「 Still, what an amazing girl Kana-san is 」

We leave the tennis court and head to the grounds where Megu is.

Rei-chan said when we were far enough from the girls from the tennis club.

「 I can understand her. I can see what she wants to do to make things better 」

Nei said.

「 If she wants to compete with Mii-chan, Ruri-chan or me, she needs to take over the position of Yo-chan’s girlfriend in the school. Mii-chan’s on a different school, as for me, I already told her that I’m keeping my “Onee-chan” position 」

If she gets hold of me, Kana-senpai will be able to speak forcefully to Misuzu and the girls.

Then, Kana-senpai would be able to have more benefits taken from Kouzuki house.

「 Ordinary girls are tough-minded 」

Nei smiles at me.

「 Yo-chan, if you don’t get careful, Kana-chan might take hold of you 」

…I

「 Don’t make that gloomy face. She’ll never cross the line. Kana-chan never asked us anything, didn’t she? 」

「 What do you mean, Ya-chan? 」

「 For example, how did Yo-chan and Mii-chan met? Or what’s the identity of the school chairman, the owner of the mansion, or why does Katsuko-nee have too many branded items at her age 」

Now that she mentioned it, Kana-senpai never asked.

「 I know why. It’s because those things are better left unknown. It’s Kana-chan’s way of not thinking too deeply. She knows that our true nature, that we’re dangerous people 」

We’re members of the criminal organization, Kuromori.

「 However, she probably doesn’t want us to think that she’s afraid of us, that’s why she’s doing that kind of mischief in the end! 」

I see.

After showing Kana-senpai how much financial strength and authority Kouzuki house and our Mansion have and as well as the violence of Kouzuki SS,

I raped her and forced her to become a member of my harem.

Her body has yielded completely.

Her spirit has done the same.

However, Kana-senpai doesn’t want to accept that she’s broken down to her heart.

She’s telling her friends in tennis club that she’s trying to make herself my girlfriend.

She even calls herself Nei’s best friend.

Instead of saying that she was forced,

She convinces herself that she decided it out of her own will.

「 Kana-chan’s serious. She’s really trying to take you away from Megu-chan. What would you do, Yo-chan? 」

…I

「 Just turn the tables 」

Mana mutters.

「 Kana-san cannot take away Onii-chan 」

「 Oh my! Mana-chan’s participating the war now? 」

Rei-chan laughs.

「 Nei-chan, is this what you were aiming for? 」

Nei replies to Rei-chan.

「 Well, yeah! I didn’t think that it would go this well though 」

What does that mean?

「 You see, we’ve entered a period where we need to feel tense with our relationships. Recently, the family’s been giving in to the inside 」

Nei.

「 Kana-chan’s strong. If we take her lightly, she’ll take a bite on Yo-chan. She only looks at things with gain-and-loss. She’s never done anything that won’t benefit her. On the other hand, when she thinks that she can gain something, she’ll do anything to get it 」

Kana-senpai’s not a bad girl to the core.

However, she’s honest to her desire, it’s easy to understand.

She lives with such clear rules in mind.

「 Making an exchange with Kana-chan had me think that she will be a good way of learning for everyone in the family 」

Nei’s opinion is right, I think.

We can learn a lot from making contact with Kana-senpai who lives under fundamental rules different from us.

We can be more cautious. Or even bolder.

She’s Misuzu, Ruriko, and Michi’s first “ordinary girl” friend.

「 Yo-chan needs to make Kana-chan surrender before Margo-oneechan, and I go to America 」

Nei’s worried if I can do it while she’s gone.

「 Recently, Margo-oneechan isn’t joining together with Kuromori’s activities, is she? 」

Nei said.

「 Well, Margo-oneechan will start a business in women’s martial arts in the United States, so she tries to get away from the underground work as much as possible but, she believes that Yo-chan and everyone will be fine even if she doesn’t move 」

Us, without Margo-san.

「 If it’s security, Edie’s present, Michi’s strong, Rei-chan and Shou-oneesan tandem is also present 」

That’s why she’s taking a step back.

「 But my belief isn’t as strong as Margo-oneechan. I’m still worried about Yo-chan 」

Nei.

「 That’s why I brought in Kana-chan. She’ll be making scratches on the family, but now the problem of stagnation will be resolved 」

Yeah, we were used to our family for the past four months.

In exchange, our familiarity with each other has increased.

Kana-senpai will get in between that change.

Even from what she said earlier, Kana-senpai noticed that my relationship with Megu is the most dangerous.

I usually sell bread,

Comparing it to my relationship with Misuzu and others,

「 We can’t say that Yo-chan’s grown up unless we let in people like Kana-chan. Get it? 」

Yeah, Kana-senpai,

She’s the new person to fill in during Nei’s absence.

This is a new trial for me.

◇　◇　◇

「 Darling! Darling! Darling! 」

When we arrived at the athletics club, Edie comes to me running.

「 I’m watching after Megumi, okay! 」

No, look.

「 Didn’t I tell you to hide and watch over her? 」

「 You don’t have to mind the small details! 」

No look. Megu’s glaring at us.

「 Hey, look at that! 」

「 Wait, it’s Fujimiya Reika this time? 」

「 Why is it that people from TV are coming here today? 」

The athletics club who saw Anya in the morning are surprised by Rei-chan’s visit.

「 Also, who’s that? 」

「 Oh, if I recall correctly, she’s Breadboy’s sister 」

Mana has been here before.

「 Thanks for the hard work 」

I greet captain Takeshiba who noticed us coming.

Captain ignores me.

「 Fuimiya Reika-san? 」

「 Yes, I am 」 1

「 I was at the venue when you worn at the high-school tournament. M-My sister is taking Kendo 」 」

Rei-chan’s high-school days? That’s 4-5 years ago.

「 It was beautiful, Fujimiya-san’s swordsmanship is beautiful 」

「 That. Thanks 」

「 C-Can we shake hands? 」

「 Feel free 」

Rei-chan shakes hands with Captain Takeshiba with a smile.

「 Why did you stop Kendo after that? 」

Captain Takeshiba asks.

「 Hmm? I didn’t stop though 」

「 But 」

「 Oh, I stopped going to competitions, yes. However, I’m still using the way of the sword 」

Rei-chan lifts her cane.

「 Such as showing up on TV? 」

「 No, that’s just part of my job. My primary work is protecting VIPs. You know that, don’t you? 」

「 Ah, yes. Somehow 」

Captain Takeshiba answers.

「 In reality, it’s nothing like the flashy action you see on TV. My real job is simple. All I do is escort people for hours 」

「 Then, how can you continue your way of the sword? 」

「 I was satisfied with sports Kendo 」

Rei-chan smiles.

「 In sports, the rules are defined, all you have to do is aim at the top, I thought that I had enough in high school 」

「 But, Sports Kendo is even more profound than that 」

「 I know. However, that’s not the way of the sword I’m born for 」

「 Are martial arts really just to kill people? 」

Captain Takeshiba’s face turns gloomy.

「There are also swords that protect people, isn’t there? 」

Rei-chan replies.

「 In Japan, even if you’re a bodyguard, you cannot arm yourself with a gun. This is my sword now. If it’s a cane, I’m not given restrictions on how heavy or how tough it is. I swing this to protect people now 」

She swings the cane with one hand.

The point made a blur then stopped.

It shows Rei-chan’s trained body and skill.

「 Doing Kendo as a sport only raises my strength for me, at most, the honor of my school and Dojo at best. However, now that I’m a professional bodyguard, I protect people with the skills I trained. That strength and ability are rewarded. There’s satisfaction in here that can’t be gained from sports 」

Rei-chan looks at Edie.

「 Edie. Try going all out. However, try not to bother the people around us 」

She holds up her cane.

「 Okay~ 」

Edie gets away from me, then.

「 Haaaaaaa!!! 」

She suddenly throws a three-hit combo at Rei-chan.

「 Hai! Hai! Hai!! 」

Then, Rei-chan blocked it all off with her cane.

A shuriken falls to the ground where there are no people.

「 Gyaaaauuun!! 」

At that moment, Edie rushed at her full power, jumps and sends Rei-chan a flying kick.

「 Hauu!! 」

Rei-chan tries to intercept it with her cane at full power, however,

「 Muda Muda muda! 」

Edie avoids the tip of the cane barely and then does a roundhouse kick.

Rei-chan blocks the kick with her cane.

Edie uses the recoil from the cane to do a somersault from behind.

「 Ora Ora Oraaaa!! 」

Rei-chan does a three hit combo.

Edie dodged them all.

Edie waited for the third strike when Rei-chan’s body is stretched out then grabs the tip.

Rei-chan isn’t surprised, she kicks Edie’s hand that’s grabbing the cane.

「 Migyaaa!! 」

Edie released the cane on the last moment and jumped backward.

「 Yes, that’s good enough 」

Rei-chan said. Edie smiles.

It was a fantastic fight, and yet the two aren’t sweating nor breathing roughly.

「 That’s how it is. I use kicks, which aren’t allowed in sports. In our world, there’s no waiting, no verdicts, no cheating. It’s not a game. Our job is to protect people 」

Rei-chan turns to Captain Takeshiba and replied.

「 Ooh! Amazing! 」

The girls from the athletics club and the bystanders who were watching applauses.

「 Sorry for questioning your profession 」

Captain Takeshiba apologizes to Rei-chan.

「 I think I said so many rude things 」

Rei-chan.

「 People differ in their choices in life and how they think about it. I only talked out about my thoughts. It doesn’t mean that it has to be correct for everyone. Therefore, you should follow your opinion 」

Captain Takeshiba listens to Rei-chan.

「 All I wanted to do is to be useful to someone with the skills I learned. It just happened that someone has recruited me in this job 」

Rei-chan’s talking about chief Yazawa.

「 Even so, I had a long worry on how should I use my strengths. It’s only recently that I made a clear decision 」

Rei-chan shows a refreshed smile.

「 Showing up on television is just a farce, it’s foolish. However, Nikita-san and I fight to make free use of our bodies that are truly trained. I believe that it will do well if we can convey that degree of seriousness. That’s the propaganda of our company 」

「 I’m truly sorry. I didn’t know anything, and yet I said such things 」

Captain Takeshiba reflects on herself.

「 Don’t mind it. Is the practice over? 」

Rei-chan asks.

「 Yes, all we’re doing is tidying up 」

「 Is that so? Can we borrow Yamamine Megumi-san then? 」

「 What? 」

Captain Takeshiba’s surprised.

「 Sorry, I can’t tell you the details, but it involves my current job 」

She shows the captain a smile.

Takeshiba-san then;

「 Yamamine, come here 」

Megu who’s cleaning up together with the other first years looks up at us.

「 I’m in the middle of carrying this to the clubroom 」

「 Don’t mind that, come here 」

Megu lowers down the basket containing equipment she’s lifting earlier to the ground.

Then, she comes to us.

「 In the end, what’s with her? She’s been like that all day long 」

Captain Takeshiba asks me.

I mean, she could still be angry about Anya,

or maybe, she’s gotten angrier because she’s away from me.

And then, if we report the results of Kana-senpai.

Megu might erupt like a volcano.

「 I’m really sorry for the convenience she’s causing 」

I bow my head to Takeshiba-san.

「 Well, you two might fight sometimes, but still, I don’t get it. Like, why does Yamamine hate that foreigner this morning? 」

「 Well, that one has a long story 」

Megu comes while we’re having the conversation.

「 What is it? 」

Megu looks at me feeling sullen.

Err.

What should I say?

While I’m worried about it.

「 Nice to meet you, you’re Yamamine Megumi-san, aren’t you? 」

Rei-chan smiles and talks to Megu.

「 !? 」

She’s treating her as a stranger since Captain Takeshiba’s present.

Even so, Rei-chan’s actions were a bit strange.

「 Do you know why I came here to see you? 」

Why did Rei-chan come to the women’s athletics grounds?

「 A top elite bodyguard from Kouzuki SS like me went all the way to come for you 」

Megu looks confused.

「 Your family is in an emergency. No, worse, your family is in a crisis 」

The family is in a crisis.

「 You don’t have time to make that face, Yamamine Megumi-san 」

Rei-chan smiles.

It’s not me or Mana who she’s usually with.

Not even Nei who speaks in a joking tone.

Rei-chan speaks seriously, so the words ring inside Megu’s heart.

「 I-I 」

「 It’s about time you stop being like that!!! 」

Rei-chan said.

「 You need the family but, does the family need you necessarily? You must rethink. Yamamine Megumi-san! 」

1. Yes, I am