Three Hundred And Fifty-Two

Three Hundred And Fifty-Two

“Feeling any better now, Aki?” Shiro asked me, her dark eyes narrowed. “You were looking pretty shitty yesterday.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair, combing it in front of the mirror. Casting a glance at Shiro, who was in her more usual attire, a pair of tight white jeans, highlighting her long legs, and a similarly clinging white t-shirt with accents of grey and blue, I nodded. “Yeah, I do feel a bit better. Though physically I’m a bit washed out. Shaeula and Hyacinth can certainly be wolves when they get going.”

“Come on, don’t give me that shit. You love it, Aki!” She accused me jovially, clapping me on the shoulder, and I had to agree. “Well, I hope you went easy on poor Natsumi, she’s a beginner at sex, right?” she paused. “Motoko was trying to hide it, but I could tell she was jealous. You’d better make it up to her Aki, but... not tonight.” Her pale skin had a pink tint. “Tonight is my night, though... oh god, I’m not sure whether I’m more nervous about that, or the meeting with Arisu.”

Now it was my turn to reassure her, and I did it by giving her a light kiss on the cheek. She scratched at the spot idly, embarrassed. “It’s all right.” I said. “After the initial lovemaking Natsumi mostly watched them drain me dry, though they did teach her a few tricks. They carried on even after she went home.”

“I know. Eri and I could hear it. Sometimes I think it must be hard being a harem protagonist. Then I realise what gorgeous girls you’ve gathered, and realised if you complained, all the losers in the world would have the right to burn you at the damn stake.”

“Yeah, don’t I know it.” I agreed, my good humour restored.

“Well, tonight, you’ll finally be sealing the deal with the most eligible, beautiful and powerful princess in the world, Aki. So look forward to it!” she joked, and I kissed her again, surprising her.

“It’s been a while since you’ve done your usual Shirohime thing.” I observed. “It’s good to have it back. You may have a rotten personality, but it’s yours, and you don’t feel right without it.”

“Rotten? My personality is perfect!” she mock-complained. “Besides I know you love it, Aki. You’re the sort that gets off on being teased by cute girls, I get it.”

“If you say so.” I fended off her insults. “Well, Hayato-san and the gang are visiting today as well, aren’t they? We did say you’d be healed by the weekend, after all.”

“Yeah, and as promised, I am!” She spun around, showing off her bare arms, which were of course fully mobile. I had dusted off the few remaining scars her healing in the Boundary had left on her Material body, and she was now good as new, better than new in fact, as some old scars she had from invasive hospital tests had also vanished. “On a more serious note...” she frowned, down to business. “This mess with Nie Ling, I know you’re still torn. You’re too kind, Aki, especially to girls in pain. I don’t think this a case you need to deal with. You’re too close.”

“I know. Seeing the dead, it... makes it hard to be objective.” I admitted.

“Well, why be? Just delegate. Isn’t that why we’re all here? I don’t mind taking charge of her, so you don’t have to struggle with it. Eri’s already put her in her place, you should have seen her Aki, it was certainly something! But I think it could be for the best, after all...” she shrugged, a very interesting sight in that tight t-shirt. “... I made the same sort of decision as she did, so while I sympathise a bit, I’m also understanding just what was wrong about it. Though I will say, considering how you’re working me to the bone buffing your Trees and staff, as well as making me grind like a pro-gamer, I feel like I work for a black company.” Her radiant smile robbed that of its sting.

“Well, the Trees are vital for now, as is Ixitt and Bjarki. I need it too, to hasten the return of Tsukiko-san and Ginneka, as for the rest...”

“Ugh, I know. And we’ve cut back on buffing others like Hyacinth so I can cope, but even so... it’s damn tiring.”

“Well, you must be starting to feel it getting easier as you level.” I observed, and she agreed, though she was still pouting unhappily.

“I am, yes. But it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, having powers. It was easier when Tan was doing everything and I was just a passenger. That’s right. We have my... well, Tan’s Territory to think about. Mine too, I guess, when we decide where to put it.” At that, her eyes flamed crimson for a moment while Tan spoke up.

“Yes, as thanks to my aid the princess has the ability to call upon such blessings, I do believe it is only just to provide me with adequate compensation.”

Hearing Taṇhā, a Rakshasi, talk about what is just never fails to amuse me, but I’ve come to accept she’s somewhat different to the myths I’ve looked up. I wonder how different things would have been if she had successfully allured the Buddha... “Don’t worry. I won’t forget to aid those who aid me. First though, we need to form a safe corridor between our Territories so that we can use mobile Artificial Ether Silos to move the goods. Getting my Territory to Rank 4 is the agreed-on priority, but surely you have the ability to push for Rank 3 anyway...”

“I was cautious. When Territories try and expand, they are at their most vulnerable. I have seen them fall many times over the centuries. Even here, in a world I should have the clear advantage, I cannot be careless. But I digress.”

“Aki won’t forget you, Tan.” Shiro promised. “Anyway, we can talk about this with the others. Arisu, Suzu, Bunta... they all need to be involved in our decisions. I’ve already hurt their trust with the loss of the Contracts the Favour from Sancus enforced, and the mess with the Raven and the death of Daizen...” she winced a little at that, though it didn’t seem to affect her much, and I once more realised that Shiro was surprisingly cold when it came to the fate of others she had no care for. Maybe she is a good one to oversee Nie Ling, she’d be objective, anyway...

“... well, I’d like to not lose any more allies, if I can help it. Besides, I think they’d be safer working with you, and potentially this Ministry, right?”

As we talked, I had finished dressing, and today I was in casual clothes to match Shiro, also in jeans, though mine were blue, and an understated but fancy shirt. My watch and accessories were also suitably understated but expensive, the sort that would appeal to Arius’s sense of taste. Motoko is very knowledgeable about what looks good on men, perhaps due to her noble upbringing, and has given me good advice. Hinata tends to go a bit too flashy for subtle events, though she does know what products are quality and which are looked down on despite the price. Oddly enough, Miyu has been giving me solid advice as well...

We headed over to the office building, Shaeula having already gone out earlier, and Eri doing her schoolwork before she planned to head into the Territory to continue her exercises, apparently Shiro’s recovery having motivated her to push herself further. I really need to keep an eye on her. There really is no rush, and when Ginneka returns, I can ask her advice...

On entering the office, Karen-chan and the others were there, as well as a surprise guest. Shugo-san was waiting for us, and on seeing the two of us he looked up from the mug of tea he was drinking. “Akio-kun, Shiro, looking good!” His eyes went to Shiro’s bare arms, and she moved her previously injured one, giving him a thumbs up.

“Don’t worry Shugo, all fixed! But if you stare too much Aki’s going to get jealous, plus I might have to tell your hot teacher girlfriend all about it.”

Shugo-san coughed. “Hey, you have to expect I’m going to check. The others will as well.”

“So, what brings you here so early?” I asked, as Karen-chan brought us over more tea, smiling.

“Well, unlike the others, I’ve wrapped up all my outstanding work. I’m a free agent now.” he laughed. “So, hopefully you’re still hiring, or I’m in trouble!”

Shiro snickered nastily at that, but I clapped him on the back reassuringly. “Of course we are. In fact...” I had been discussing with Shiro, Ixitt and some others just what my friends could actually do for me. Sure, I needed more loyal staff, but when it came down to secretaries and administrators, Haru-san could find me suitable ones through her connections, as could Fujiwara-san, Ichijou-san or even the Prime Minister, if I was pushed. No, we need to play to our strengths.

Spying Azuki sitting on a desk in the corner, trying to look inconspicuous, I grinned. Striding over, I picked her up. “Wandering about again, trying to avoid Hyacinth, no doubt.” I said to her, and for a moment Shugo-san looked confused as to why I was talking to a doll, only for his jaw to drop as Azuki struggled, her small fists and feet flailing.

“Put me down, please, you brute! I am a Zashiki-Warashi, not a plaything!”

“Sure, sure. I need you to do me a favour though.” I said, and she nodded slowly.

“Of course, just put me down...” she complained, so I lowered her to the ground, and she dusted off her lace and velvet dress slowly, straightening the creases.

“Uh, what the hell...” Shugo-san said, open-mouthed.

“If things like this phase you, you’ll go crazy in the future.” Shiro laughed, pleased at effectively pranking her friend.

“Can you go fetch Ixitt for me, assuming he’s not in the middle of something?” I asked her. “I’d like to start filling my friends in on the plan.”

“I shall. Oh, I do hope I can avoid the maid...” her body went limp, eyes returning to their normal, glassy doll-like sheen.

“Zashiki-Warashi huh?” Shugo-san said after a moment, ignoring the sympathetic gazes from my employees, who had rapidly got used to working in the madhouse that was Shirohebizumi shrine. “That’s something you don’t see every day.”

“Around here you do.” Shiro teased, taking another sip of her tea, thanking Karen-chan for it. “Anyway, I’ve contributed to this plan, so you’d best be impressed!”

“I’m always impressed by what you do, Shiro!” he promised, and as we continued to talk about simple matters, Shugo-san turned to his newfound powers. “You know, I’ve never worked so fast in my life. My fingers fly over the keyboard, I don’t have to look up nearly so many libraries or sources, I remember them, and I don’t get tired or suffer eye-strain. I must have done a month’s worth of work in a week!”

“I remember those days.” I reminisced. “I suppose you’re all at the stage I was around level eight. That seems so long ago... Chirurgery might be the most cheat ability I’ve picked up, thanks to Shaeula.”

“Level eight, huh? What about now then...” he asked, curious, his gamer spirit boiling.

“Let’s just say I’m a lot higher than that...” I teased him. As he was trying to get me to confess my true level, Ixitt in his human form strode in, eyes bright.

“I have answered your summons, Akio. It was a good time for a break, anyway. I have reached an impasse without access to a method to move devices between the Boundary and here. So, this is one of your comrades? I am Ixitt, Akio’s Master Mortal Engineer. A pleasure to work with you!” Behind him Azuki woke up and headed for the exit, no doubt to hole up somewhere else.

“So, he’s not human, right?” Shugo-san remarked.

“I think we can do it.” Aimi-san said, her hair still damp from the sauna. Her mood had completely changed, and now she was bright and bubbly, back to her usual self. “I’m pretty excited. This is the sort of thing that goes down in history, right? Wins prizes! Maybe even a Nobel!”

“Well, I don’t think there’s a Nobel for Astral Sciences.” I pointed out.

“Yet!” Yasu-san said ebulliently. “it’s going to happen for sure, man! Have some faith!”

“I agree. Not about the prizes, I don’t care about that, but... it’s an opportunity. Considering we went to a decent but middling University, and spent most of our time messing around programming games and other hobby projects... I never thought I’d be working on something so ground-breaking.” Hayato-san mused. “Most importantly...” he exchanged a glance with Hina-san, who continued.

“We get to do it as friends, stick together. And after seeing Shiro so hurt, that gives us peace of mind.”

“Hey, you won’t be able to do anything about that sort of thing...” Shiro warned., but Hina-san answered back strongly.

“We know! But we want to do what we can!”

“You’ve changed, Hina. You’d never have talked back to me before like this! Shit, love sure changes a person, right Aki?”

“You can talk, Shiro!” Aimi-san shot back. “You’ve changed too!”

“Well, it’s not all down to love. I’ve had my hardships too, you know.” She said mournfully. “Well, enough gloom. So, now we’ve laid out the goals, any ideas?”

We continued to set out our plans and brainstormed ideas, and after a while Shaeula returned, followed by someone I hadn’t seen for a while, Ichika-san. On seeing me she nodded politely, before looking nervously at the others.

“Oh hey, it’s your other girlfriend, Akio-kun.” Yasu-san laughed. “And who’s the girl behind her? She’s cute. Another one of yours?”

Ichika-san and I both shook our heads in denial. “No way, Yasu-san. Don’t scare her, she’s had a bad time recently. She’s a good friend of Shaeula’s who I’ve helped out a bit recently. That’s all.”

“A good friend, huh? I don’t feel that way.” She said, a bit down.

“I have told you, have I not-not? Friends are not-not defined by what one does for the other, it is simply a matter of feelings. I say you are my friend, therefore you are-are!” Shaeula protested.

“Yes, but... the Police told me I wouldn’t get much of my money back, and the little I’d get wouldn’t come until long after trial, so... I can’t keep accepting all this money from you! I only turned to you in the end because I was at rock bottom.”

“I told you, that does not-not matter. I have money, I wish to spend it in this-this manner...”

“What’s going on with her?” Hayato-san asked. “Police? Money? Sounds rough...”

I explained some of the details, enough that wouldn’t embarrass Ichika-san anyway, and at the end, Hina-san and Aimi-san were wiping their eyes, and Shiro looked angry.

“Good job wiping them out, Aki! Trash like that deserve oblivion!” Shiro spat.

“The poor girl...” Hina-san and Aimi-san, the guys too, were looking at her with sympathetic eyes. As the argument wound down, though it was hard to call it an argument, as Shaeula rebuffed all her points with the irrefutable statement that she was her friend as Shaeula said so.

“I’m sorry you had to see that. I feel so bad...” Ichika-san said.

“Don’t.” I shook my head. “Shaeula may not look it, but she’s a rich princess. And she didn’t have many friends so you were one of her first. No wonder she treasures you. To her, a few tens of thousands of yen is like you buying a cup of coffee. So don’t feel bad.”

“I wished to take her out, all she does now-now is study.” Shaeula pouted, opening the fridge in the corner of the office and taking a beer. As she gulped it down, sighing happily, Ichika-san defended herself.

“I have to study! I let my attendance and grades drop a lot when I was... well, when I was being harassed.” She muttered. “And I need to save money to pay back all the other friends I screwed over with my stupidity. And before you say it again, no! I’m not taking money for that! By your own arguments, you don’t know them, so they’re not your friends!”

“Well, as you can see, I have captured her! Tonight, we shall go out-out in Tokyo.” Shaeula’s amber eyes met mine, and she grinned, still some foam on her face. “Since I have been working too-too hard recently, I need a break.”

“Hey, great idea!” Yasu-san said. “You should come out with us! Hayato-kun says we should all hit Akihabara, the old haunts!”

“Yes, it would be like old times, with some fresh faces.” Hayato-san said magnanimously. “Although...” he gazed between Shiro and Shaeula, a questioning look on his face.

“It’s nothing to worry about. Us princesses get on quite well together.” Shiro said proudly. “But alas, you shmucks are going to be disappointed. Aki and I have plans. We’re actually meeting my other friends tonight. Then... well, we have a luxury hotel booked in Ginza, and Aki and I... well, I’m all healed. Need I say more?”

Shaeula laughed at that. “No. I believe I do understand. Well, enjoy-enjoy it. I find the experience quite magical. Perhaps next time we can enjoy it together.”

“Uh, sure.” Shiro said, now a touch embarrassed, face pink. “Let me give it a try first though...”

“I think I hate you, Akio-kun!” Yasu-san cried. “I knew this day was coming ever since we met all your girlfriends, but even so...” he looked at Ichika-san. “Well, you’ll still come out with us, right?”

“Of course.” Shaeula answered for her. “There is naught-naught to fear, Ichika. These are friends of Akio’s, they will not-not trouble you. And if they do...” her gaze narrowed. “They will regret it! No-no, you should try and forget your cares for a while. Compared to those poor unfortunates who perished in Kyoto, your-your problems are nothing. If you need money, you shall-shall have it, but I will not-not let you waste away. No friend of mine shall!”

“Scary!” Yasu-san said, his expression exaggerated. “Well, I’m the only single guy here, having beautiful women around makes me feel like a winner, even if it’s just an illusion! Anyway, from what I can see... uh...” he paused.

“Konoe Ichika.” She answered.

“Konoe-chan...” he ventured, seeing she was younger than him, and as she didn’t react, he continued. “... it seems to me that you have a good friend there. Take it from someone who has good friends, don’t push her away. It might suck, thinking that you’re not contributing, or that you’re taking advantage of her. We all have times when we struggle, and maybe next time, it’ll be Shaeula here who needs your help.”

“I can’t see it.” Ichika-san shook her head. “But, thank you for the advice. Shaeula... I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Simply enjoy the night. I shall rather enjoy sharing tales of Akio, when I did not-not know him, and we can talk about how you met him-him too.” She giggled happily, reaching for another beer.

“Wise words from Yasu? Damn, that’s a bigger miracle than my healing.”

“Hey, I can be cool sometimes! But I think Akio-kun used to feel the same way, right? Shugo-san too!”

“Speak for yourself...” Shugo-san protested, but I nodded slowly. I do get it. Well, I did, anyway.

“Yeah, when you have a guy like Hayato-san leading the group, it’s not hard to feel a bit overshadowed. But... we each had our place, and the group would be poorer without any of us.”

“Well said. You’ve matured.” Hayato-san said, pleased. “Well, with all the responsibility and people to protect, it’s inevitable, I guess.”

“So, hang on a minute.” Yasu-san said suddenly. “Shiro, you have other friends? I call bullshit!”

“I take it back.” Shiro sighed. “Yasu, you’re still a moron!”

With that the room filled with laughter, and after some more small talk, reminiscing about the past, Shiro and I headed off for our rendezvous in Ginza, while Shaeula, Ichika-san and the gang prepared for their own night out...