Chapter 1063. Pastry Filled Adventure / moto – con

Mariko says as the vehicle drives.

「 What’s wrong? 」

What did come to her mind while listening to Kudou-papa and Haiji’s conversation?

「 I mean, Kou! I got too nervous because of that quack Diet member and so I misunderstood the swindler that came after him as a big person 」

She speaks discontentedly.

「 I’m so stupid! I got too timid and got deceived! 」

Oh, she got caught in the trap the man named Shimada set up.

Creating an opportunity by making the Diet member nervous, Shimada tried to bring us down to his pace.

「 You don’t have to mind it. You can stay as you are, Mariko 」

I said.

「 That’s not okay, is it?! I mean, just a little more and I would’ve been fooled! 」

「 You weren’t, right? We were there with you 」

I said. Mariko’s eyes turned round.

「 B-B-B-B-But, I won’t be by Kou’s side all the time, right? 」

「 Then call me. Do it when you feel that there’s something weird. You can consult with me anytime and if it’s really dangerous, then I’ll rush to you 」

That’s natural. Mariko’s my woman.

「 I-I see. O-Okay. 」 I-If that’s the case, then I’ll consult with you. Always 」

Mariko said bashfully.

「 I mean, how did Kou notice that the guy is a fake? Speaking of which, you noticed it before Kou did, right? 」

Mariko looked at Ai.

「 Well…you see…it’s a trick… 」

Ai replies with a small voice.

「 If you think…that there’s something weird…when you meet someone…then it’s weird. That’s why…I look for the reason…why it’s weird 」

「 What’s with that? Do you mean to say that it’s your intuition? 」

Mariko asks.

「 Well, of course. Inspiration is always important 」

Kudou-papa says from the driver’s seat.

「 Most of the people who got tricked by scammers always think “Oh man, this guy’s weird” in their first impression. However, the scammer uses logic to guide the other party. Even if you sense that they’re suspicious with their first impression, once you think that the conversation is logical, then people start to trust them 」

Really?

「 Once you notice that, you’ll see the guy only as a scammer who is about to rip money off from you and nothing else. There are more cases of people thinking “Now that I think about it, I’ve been suspicious of that guy from the start,” instead of “I never thought that guy was a scammer.” It’s a foolish story 」

Kudou-papa said.

「 Furthermore, people who think that they have an eye for people and smart are those who get deceived. They examine each and every one of the logic the scammer talked in their head and so they’re framed inside the scammer’s logic 」

「 Oh, that’s the pattern that happened to you 」

Kana-senpai looked at Mariko, grinning.

「 W-What’s with that? 」

「 Oh, am I wrong? 」

Mariko’s frustrated.

「 You see…it’s the same…as baking bread 」

Ai said.

「 When making pastries, you have to concentrate on the work in front of you. You have to pay attention to the dough…the temperature of the oven…the time it takes to bake…and several other things…at the same time 」

「 So, what about it? 」

Mariko asks.

「 It means that Ai didn’t focus on what Shimada’s saying but she’s having a bird’s-eye view of the whole tea lounge 」

I said.

「 There was something wrong with Shimada. Sensing the enemy intention, you listen to Shimada’s story while checking the other tables, the Diet member, the bellboy, and everyone 」

Yes, I was looking around.

「 The Diet member… had a strange look. They’re looking at us… with interest. But, they seem afraid 」

Ai told Mariko.

「 Afraid? 」

「 Yes. That’s why…I realized…that if he’s a man from the government…then, the Diet member… won’t make that kind of face… You can’t easily take hold of a Diet member…and he’s in the opposition 」

If a man from the government makes a strange contact with the young lady of the Torii electronics, then…

He won’t fear Shimada and he’ll start gathering information.

「 Ai is a slow person at a glance but, she looks around a lot, thinks a lot. You can’t look down on her, okay?! 」

Kana-senpai said.

「 S-Seems like it…P-Putting that aside, how did you know that he’s a fake? 」

Mariko turns to Yomi.

「 Well, Shimada is just a messenger and he doesn’t even know the actual person that gave the order to him 」

Yomi said.

「 His instructions were only to show his business card to the Diet member as they’re talking to us and start the conversation like that 」

Meaning, he’s just a grunt who doesn’t know the whole truth.

「 Well, that’s obvious. Knowing that the other party has a person who can read minds, you won’t send someone who knows everything 」

Kudou-papa said.

「 Therefore, I knew that the man is just a man hired to do what he’s told, not knowing the truth about us. But, I couldn’t figure out how to find the person who hired him 」

Even if Yomi has the Miko power, she’s still a 14-year-old girl.

If she has problems with her judgment, she panics.

The enemy understands us.

「 It’s okay. You don’t have to worry about them, we’re dealing with the boss before the day is over 」

Kudou-papa said.

They already figured it out.

That’s great.

「 Haa, Kou. You are so calm at times like this 」

Mariko sighs.

「 Well of course. A lot of skilled people are moving around after all 」

Kudou-papa’s allies, and the top elite units of Kouzuki SS>

I believe in them.

So, I don’t have to worry and just wait for them.

No.

「 Mariko and Kana-senpai, stay over for tonight 」

I said.

「 Huh, why? 」

Kana-senpai’s surprised.

「 Kudou-san, when do you think the operation will be over? 」

I asked…Then the freelancer on the driver’s seat…

「 It’s got to be at the 0th hour. We’d like to finish it before the date changes if possible 」

He says while looking at the inside of the van in the mirror.

「 I’m going to request the same thing. If you girls stay in the Kuromori house, it helps because we need fewer people to send as guards 」

The enemy should be checking our movements today.

That means they have done their investigation on Kana-senpai and Mariko who were with us today.

「 Doesn’t that mean that my family is in danger? 」

Kana-senpai asks.

「 It won’t happen. They’re in panic from our sudden counter-strike. If it’s girls who have direct contact with the Kuromori family then they might go desperately and take them as hostages, but they have no idea if making a move on your family will have an effect on the Kuromori house or not 」

「 Why? It’s my family you know?! 」

The young lady of the Torii house gets angry.

「 That’s because your family isn’t like the Kuromori house, a demon-like household in the underground society that’s stained with blood and tears 」

Kudou-papa smiled.

「 And so, putting you aside, if they take your family as a hostage, it’s unlikely that there will be a negotiation. Kuromori house can just abandon those who are just acquaintances to them 」

So that’s how the bad reputation propagates.

「 Half of it is Kyouko’s fault. Didn’t she blow up a yakuza office in Kansai yesterday? 」

She went around and do some side activities with Miss Cordelia happily.

「 What’s scary about that woman is that she is not interested in nightlife or other stuff at all. If it’s an ordinary male criminal, that’s where the witness could come and people can trace his footsteps, but that woman buys ingredients for her dinner and cooks them. She only drinks alcohol in her place too 」

She enjoys the dishes together with Miss Cordelia.

Miss Cordelia’s twin subordinates. Eenie-san and Meenie-san, I wonder if they’re doing well?

「 But, half of the bad reputation is your fault 」

Kudou-papa’s lips in the mirror show a smile.

「 Nobu, you did something? 」

Kana-senpai looked at me.

「 Well, yeah 」

I have a mountain of things I can recall.

Shirasaka Sousuke’s public execution.

The fight with Cesario Viola, where I shot him in the end.

Ruriko’s father’s murder. Since Miss Cordelia did it, others probably think that we’ve done it.

Also, the fight with the Kansai Yakuza.

Beating up half of the Yakuza who came to Tokyo to make the deal…

Some got erased too.

Furthermore, the dispatched Yakuza group coming from Kansai…

Using the Miko power to turn Tendou Sadao and his group into madmen and they died from the shootout with their boss.

We’ve done some inhuman acts.

「 We don’t settle with just a compromise after all 」

That’s right, we’re…

「 If you’re not thorough, like, if you strike a deal, there could still be a grudge, right? If that happens, the enemy will come at us, and so we make sure to finish off their will to fight back 」

「 Err. Finish it off? 」

Kana-senpai asks.

「 It’s better if you don’t know 」

「 I know just a bit 」

Mariko knew about the ending of Eri and Rie’s parents.

「 And I don’t want to know any more than that 」

「 Then, I won’t ask either 」

Mariko said. Kana-senpai replied.

「 Oh well, we still sent some people from the Kouzuki SS to your house. If anything happens, they can deal with them 」

「 Oh geez, you should’ve said that sooner 」

Kana-senpai smiled brightly.

Well, they’re not there to guard them but to monitor them.

Kouzuki SS had their guards concentrate on the gathering of the young ladies.

They lack formal bodyguards.

「 Well, my family already has a contract with Kouzuki SS so I have no need to worry about them 」

Mariko’s house. Torii house has no problems.

As for Kana-senpai.

「 Sensei, it doesn’t seem like there should be a problem 」

Yomi speaks to me suddenly.

「 That’s what Kudou-san’s saying 」

「 Hey now, that’s unfair. Peeking into my mind 」

Kudou-papa laughed.

「 But yeah, that’s how it is. I won’t go as far as saying that it’s 100 but lass shouldn’t have to worry about her home. It’s just that, if possible, stay in the Kuromori mansion for today. It helps the situation a lot 」

I don’t know what’s going on, but…

It seems that it’s going to be bad if Yomi continues to read Kudou-papa’s mind.

「 I’ll tell them that I’m staying over at Misuzu-oneesama’s place 」

Mariko said.

「 It’s Sunday today and so if I tell them that, it shouldn’t be a problem 」

Mariko’s father seems pleased that Mariko’s developed a close relationship with the Kouzuki house, following the Kaan house.

「 What do I tell my parents? 」

Kana-senpai seems troubled.

「 I can’t tell them that I’m staying on Megumi’s home. Megumi’s famous that even my parents know about her 」

Megu and I engaged and living together.

Furthermore, the two of us live alone in one house.

Megu did use the borrowed home during the party of the track and field club.

Kana-senpai’s parents won’t allow her to stay over in a house where it’s just high school students.

「 Should I make the call and tell them? 」

Mariko said.

「 You? 」

「 Oh? Are you not satisfied with the young lady of Torii electronics? 」

Mariko smiled.

「 But, my parents won’t trust me if I say that I became friends with the daughter of Torii electronics, and then I’ll stay over your home! 」

Kana-senpai said.

「 That depends on how we do it 」

Eeeeeeh?

「 Anyway, let’s go back to Kuromori-sama’s mansion first…that place has a good display so it will go well 」

Mariko smiles.

◇　◇　◇

「 Well then. I’ll be going back to the scene 」

He drove the car until the entrance of the mansion.

We get off the car.

We hold the pastries we bought and sampled together.

The sun’s already gone down, it’s already dark.

Oh?

Kudou-papa gets off the driver’s seat.

「 Oh? You’re not using this? 」

「 I mean, isn’t this your van? 」

Well, true. But…

No, but, Kudou-papa came here using Mariko’s car, right?

The luxury car from the Torii house is parked at the side of the entrance.

Kudou-papa goes to that car.

「 No, if you use our car, I’ll have problems later 」

Mariko said.

「 Hey now, I’m already in pain borrowing this minivan produced here, why do you think that I would hijack someone else’s Rolls-Royce? 」

Kudou-papa said and goes to the trunk of the car.

「 There we go! 」

It looks like he brought out something square and heavy from the trunk.

It’s two sets of tires but there’s no handle.

It’s a bike, but isn’t this a bit too small?

「 Well then, I’ll be going now 」

Kudou-papa rattled and moved it around…the handle is a foldable one?

「 Well, you guys probably don’t know about ‘moto-compo’ bikes 」

Yeah, it’s become a bike somehow.

Kudou-papa starts the engine.

The motorbike lights up.

「 See you guys. Don’t leave the mansion tonight. The young ladies of Kouzuki will come here with their Kouzuki SS main unit as security 」

Saying that Kudou-papa rides his bike and goes to the main gate.

「 Thanks a lot! 」

I thanked Kudou-papa from behind.

「 Thanks, Michi-chan’s dad! 」

「 Thank you 」

「 Take care. Thank you 」

Kana-senpai, Ai, and Mariko thanked him.

Yomi and Haiji bowed their heads to show gratitude.

Kudou-papa turned back and waved his hand lightly.

Gagagagagaga.

The iron gate opens up.

Mana’s controlling them from the mansion.

Kudou-papa’s bike leaves.

I don’t know what kind of battle awaits him tonight.

「 Well, let’s get in. It’s getting cold 」

We go inside the mansion.

◇　◇　◇

「 Welcome back! 」

Agnes jumps to me.

「 Agnes, what about your studies? 」

You should be studying for your entrance exam, right?

「 Papa’s home so I’m taking a break! Papa! Let’s have sex! I want to have sex! 」

Oh, she’s stressed out already.

「 Hey, before all that, help me out 」

Mariko told Agnes.

「 You have that appearance so you’re a perfect candidate. Also, Ai, was it? You too, don’t change from your uniform and come with me 」

Mariko also stopped Ai.

「 Err, let’s see. The entrance hall has silk so it’s good but the room before the courtyard looks better. Let’s go there 」

Mariko, what are you doing?

「 Hurry, bring everyone! 」

「 O-Okay 」

We go to the room in front of the courtyard.

「 Oh, welcome back. Were the pastries delicious? 」

Yukino’s sitting on a rocking chair, reading a magazine.

「 What’s that? Fashion magazine? 」

Mariko peeks in.

「 No, It’s infancy guide 」

Oh, magazines to read before giving birth.

「 Oh well. You’re too popular so you can’t participate in this project 」

Mariko said.

「 What’s that project? 」

Yukino asks in ill humor.

「 Photoshoot. We’re taking at least five photos 」

Photos.

「 Oh, Kou can’t join in either. It has to be women only. We’re going to set this place up as the reception room of Torii house 」

This garden room will become a room from the Torii house?

「 You’re…well, due to some circumstances, I invited you and you came to the party in the Torii house. It’s a women’s only party. Then, I pushed you to stay over for tonight and so you had no choice 」

Mariko told Kana-senpai.

「 What circumstances? 」

Kana-senpai said, but…

「 Anything goes! Anyway, we just have to take photos to send as proof that you came to the Torii house and you can’t go back home today. We’ll use your phone and send the photos to your parents first 」

So, they’re sending a photo of a girls-only party to her parents.

「 If you use a photo, your parents have no choice but to believe you, right? Also, I can just tell them the situation after that 」

Oh right, the mansion does have a lot of first-class furniture.

With Kana-senpai already in the mansion, and other girls present…

They’re going to use a photo to tell that situation.

「 You wear the same uniform as Ai so the reality that you came together just adds up. Besides, with this uniform of mine… 」

Mariko’s uniform is coming from a famous school for young ladies, it’s filled with elegance.

「 Then, we’re going to add foreign faces, that’s great 」

Agnes with her blonde hair and Haiji’s Japanese-European blood.

「 Just two or three more people, Kou. Oh right, the famous girl from the TV can’t join 」

Mariko looked at Yukino again.

「 If someone from the TV is at the party, then her parents might be worried about her 」

Err.

I can’t say anything since it’s Shirasaka Yukino.

「 Then, I can’t join in either 」

Mitama comes in from the door.

「 Oh, you’re okay! Come in, we’re taking a photo! 」