「 Please wait! 」
Torii-san?
「 I’m coming with you. Also 」
Torii-san sends Jii-chan a glance, but…
「 Mariko-san, don’t mind him for now 」
Misuzu smiled.
「 Oh well. I think that Danna-sama’s okay bringing Mariko-san along, right? 」
「 Yeah, you can come with us, Torii-san. However, we’re the ones talking to Kurama-san. You’ll stay quiet 」
If Torii-san lets her emotions take over and talk to the Kurama sisters, it’ll become chaotic.
「 You might talk about the hidden assets of the Kurama house carelessly that it might give them false hopes. We should not talk about it until we confirm that it’s real 」
Especially Misato-san, the elder, she’s quite sensitive.
Once she finds out that “as expected, there’s nothing,” she might die from hopelessness.
「 I know that even if you don’t tell me 」
Torii-san got offended.
But you know, it’s Torii-san’s trait to speak some controversial statements because she can’t read the mood.
「 I’ll be watching her, Sensei 」
Yomi told me.
I see. Yomi can monitor her mind and just stop Torii-san when she’s about to say something unnecessary using the Miko power.
I think giving an order saying “Don’t talk about that for now,” won’t break Torii-san’s mind.
「 Anyway, let’s go 」
Misuzu said.
「 Ah, wait for a second 」
I finish the Hayashi rice and salad on my plate and drink water.
「 Ruriko, Yomi, Yoshiko-san, the food was delicious. Thanks for the meal. If there are any leftovers, I’ll eat them so save it 」
I told the girls who are in charge of cooking this lunch.
「 Yes. I’ll leave some for Nei-oneesama and Tsukiko-oneesama just in case, but in case the two hasn’t returned yet, then please consume them, Onii-sama 」
Nei and Tsukiko, are in the middle of altering Tendou Otome.
They probably ate lunch in that building already.
Minaho-neesan’s over there, and Shou-neechan’s probably in another building for Kouzuki SS, but still…
Minaho-neesan’s giving Tokuda-san a lecture as candidates for Black Forest’s prostitutes.
Shou-neechan’s got a job of checking out the movement of Kansai Yakuza.
Ruriko didn’t mention her name just now probably because Minaho-neesan called and said that she doesn’t need lunch.
「 We delivered the same meal to Katsuko-oneesama and them 」
Katsukiko-nee and the Anjou sisters also had Hayashi Rice for lunch.
「 What about the Kurama sisters? 」
I asked.
「 The intention is to bring them food later…
Oh, Ruriko prioritizes feeding our young group.
Once we’re done, she intends to deliver food to the Kurama sisters.
「 Everything’s prepared on that wagon over there 」
Oh, there are plates, a rice cooker, and a pot with Hayashi rice in there.
「 Then, I’ll bring it 」
Edie said and head to the wagon.
「 Ah, I know all of it 」
Yomi comes after Edie. Yomi was in charge of cooking too and so she prepared the wagon together with Ruriko.
「 Okay, then, let’s go 」
I stood up.
「 Huh, Papa? Another job? 」
Agnes noticed and called me out.
「 Yeah, I’m sorry that we can’t play but I still have a lot to do 」
I smiled at Agnes.
「 Look after Mao-chan, Haiji, Eri, and Rie, okay? Be kind to them 」
「 Mana-chan, Luna, and Koyomi-chan will help out, nobody will be lonely 」
「 Get along 」
「 Yes, desuno! 」
Yeah, just as Jii-chan mentioned earlier. Agnes is a flower.
A flower that only needs to be there and sparkle brightly.
Mana and Luna can help out with the minor details.
「 Darling, everything’s okay 」
Edie and Yomi are pushing the wagon.
「 Look after them. I’m entrusting it all to you 」
Jii-chan, who is in the same table as Ruriko and Yoshiko-san, looked at me and smiled.
◇ ◇ ◇
We walk down the corridor for a while, then…
「 Mariko-san, as for earlier… 」
Misuzu speaks.
「 It is as you guessed, Grandfather knows something 」
Huh?
Oh, when Torii-san sent Jii-chan a look earlier…
She’s thinking of asking Jii-chan directly.
「 Grandfather was strangely talkative just now. At times like this, Grandfather is hiding something 」
Misuzu said.
「 Does that mean that Jii-chan knows about Kurama Misato-san’s fiance not abandoning her even though she’s in debt? 」
「 Yes, Danna-sama. I think that Grandfather knows it all 」
But…
「 According to Rei-chan, Shou-neechan’s still investigating, right? 」
Misato-san’s fiance’s family, Kenmochi house.
「 But, Grandfather probably already finished his investigation through Yazawa-san 」
Oh right, Shou-neechan’s not the current head of the on-site division, but…
Yazawa-san, the former chief, and the appearing president has the top elite unites and Michi’s father in his hand.
He can make investigations without Shou-neechan knowing.
「 If that’s the case, why are we not asking Kouzuki-sama? 」
Torii-san asks.
「 No. That’s because Grandfather entrusted the case to Danna-sama 」
That’s right.
「 That means doing the investigation oneself. Of course, that means it’s okay to use all of the resources of Kouzuki house, including Kouzuki SS 」
「 It means becoming a man who can freely take control of the Kouzuki house 」
Edie smiles.
「 Grandfather is giving Danna-sama a test. He’s fond of him. Even now, he’s looking forward to seeing what kind of conclusion Danna-sama will have 」
This is another trial?
「 So, do we assume that this is all part of Jii-chan’s plot? 」
Besides, to think that the Kurama house would be drowning in debt and become bankrupt.
I wonder what Jii-chan’s aim is?
「 That’s not true. Grandfather truly loves the old building of Kurama Kaku 」
The ancestral house of the Kurama house is filled with precious history.
Jii-chan and the nobility have been using that as a gathering place from before.
「 The current head of the Kurama house opposed Grandfather and the other heads of nobility, and destroyed the Kurama Kaku with the reason of building a new high-rise hotel, and he grieved at heart for that 」
Right, the current head of the Kurama house; Misato-san and Arisu-san’s father, destroyed the Kurama Kaku and turned the land into a vacant plot.
「 He destroyed the Kurama Kaku before Grandfather could make a substantial action. It’s already lost, and so there’s nothing they can do about it 」
Misuzu said.
「 And now, the foreign investment funds is pulled back while the high-rise hotel construction is on the way, and Kurama house reached bankrupt 」
The hotel construction already started.
And because the construction stopped due to the lack of funds, Kurama house is in a tough spot.
If the hotel isn’t finished, they can’t recover the investment they spent.
「 Does Kenmochi house have no funds? If they finish the hotel, they can manage somehow, right? 」
Edie asks Misuzu.
「 We won’t know until we have the report from Kouzuki SS’ investigation. However, I think that Kenmochi house doesn’t have that good financial state. Mariko-san, don’t you agree? 」
「 I don’t buy any of the stocks Kenmochi house company owns. From what I heard, it’s not good at all 」
Oh right, she’s into stocks if I recall correctly.
「 And the incident with the Kurama house, it’s widely known that teaming with a foreign investor to build a new hotel has angered Kouzuki-sama and others. Even if they’re engaged, Kenmochi house is unlikely to help Kurama house with the resolve that Kouzuki house will not look at them kindly 」
If they move poorly, then not just Kouzuki house, but also all the other noble houses will get angry.
「 Wait a second, is the Kenmochi house from nobility? 」
I had to confirm.
「 Kenmochi house is in the complicated side 」
Misuzu said.
「 Sure, Kenmochi house is nobility. But, Kenmochi-san, the one engaged to Kurama Misato-san, is from a branch family of that clan 」
「 To be precise, he’s from a branch family, of a branch family, of another branch family 」
Torii-san?
「 If I recall, he’s the second son of the son-in-law of the youngest daughter of the seventh son of the 5th generation head of Kenmochi house 」
Oh, they’re all Kenmochi but just a subsidiary line.
「 If I recall, Kenmochi Yuugo-san’s grandfather is in silk goods trade business, and it succeeded, and so he’s currently in the Kenmochi group 」
「 Their founding age is hardly far from our Torii electronics 」
That means, they’re a company that became big since the postwar period.
They inherited the noble blood from Kenmochi house but they’re only a new upstart in business.
「 The contents of their business is covered, or should I say that when their company became big, they used the name of the head house, and so they have a bad relationship with the main family of Kenmochi house 」
Torii-san said.
「 However, Yuugo-sama’s family business is prohibited from using the Kenmochi name at all, and so they are operating nationwide as “Sword Hub” 」
Oh, I know “Sword Hub” They’re a mass marketer of suits for gentlemen for the whole country.
I see. It’s Kenmochi, so it’s “Sword Have”
「 Then that means, they’re trying to tie themselves with the Kurama house to make connections with nobility apart from the main Kenmochi family? 」
The main family hates them, and so they won’t introduce them to other nobility.
I mean, the head family probably doesn’t want to lower their heads.
Therefore, they’re marrying into the Kurama house and get associated with other nobility through them.
Just like how Torii-san’s family tired themselves to Kanou house through marital relationship.
「 Yeah, I get the situation now 」
I think for a moment.
「 I see. Jii-chan 」
「 What’s wrong, Danna-sama? 」
Misuzu asks.
「 Torii-san, you saw Kenmochi Yuugo being intimate with Kurama Misato-san at a party last week, right? 」
「 Yes, as mentioned earlier 」
Then that means…
「 Jii-chan knows Kenmochi house is approaching Misato-san. Then, he sensed danger. So that’s why… 」
I looked at everyone.
「 He thought that it’s necessary to isolate Misato-san and Arisu-san here 」
「 What do you mean? 」
Torii-san asks me.
「 First of all, the party yesterday is only exclusive to the young ladies of nobility. That means Kenmochi Yuugo will not come to this place 」
The only men allowed to enter the party is Jii-chan and me.
「 And if it’s a party hosted by the Kouzuki main family, the noble among the nobility, then, Kurama house, a member of the nobility will have to participate unless they have a reason not to 」
The Kurama sisters think that they might be able to directly appeal to Jii-chan to save their family and so they will definitely come.
「 Then, Jii-chan scolded the Kurama sisters right in front of the other daughters of the nobility. Jii-chan is hard to please influential man, and they know that he treasures the tradition of nobility, and so they can feel his anger 」
I mean, he appeared together with me before the party started.
Then, he shouted at Torii-san who greeted him with a familiar tone, planting the image of a scary old man who you can’t reason with.
「 That’s why when Misato-san and Arisu-san are brought to a different room, everyone thought that it’s inevitable. I mean, there’s hardly anyone who asked about the Kurama sisters after the party, right? 」
They all thought that it’s inevitable for them to receive some punishment as Kurama house is just suffering the consequences.
The young ladies of nobility feel that what the Kurama house did this time is a shame to all the nobility.
「 Then, once the girls return home, they will report what happened to their father and grandfathers. Most of the heads of nobility will know his wrath and sentence. If the Kurama sisters can’t return home from the Kouzuki house, they will only see it as inevitable 」
Besides, Mizushima Karen-san is also here.
Mizushima house allowed a spy to enter the Kouzuki mansion, and let the daughters of nobility face danger.
Therefore, Karen-san can’t come home.
「 I think that this is all just a method to keep Kenmochi Yuugo from contacting Kurama Misato-san 」
Leaving the Kurama sisters here is a problem between Kouzuki and Kurama house.
Kenmochi Yuugo who isn’t from nobility is unrelated to the conversation.
Kenmochi Yuugo cannot protest against Kouzuki house.
「 I see. That’s possible 」
Misuzu nods.
「 Then that means, the part about turning Misato-sama into a prostitute is also a fake? 」
Torii-san said, but…
「 That’s unknown 」
In regards to the reopening of the brothel…
We indeed lack in prostitutes.
We can hire Tokuda Sonoko-san and Kurosawa Naoko-san but it’s still not enough.
Also, those who were prostitutes from before who received funds and support from Minaho-neesan but couldn’t find a new job to do in the end…
Like Iwakura-san, our student council president.
I think that some couldn’t leave the prostitution work are still a bit unstable.
They’re not prostitutes who can reliably increase our customers with their stability like Katsuko-nee and Nagisa.
They can’t be the ace of our brothel.
Iwakura-san’s specialty is mostly the extremely perverted fetishes.
Misato-san, there’s a problem with how weak her nerves are.
But, if a daughter of nobility were to become a prostitute.
The new Black forest will surely have a featured product.
Well, that depends on Minaho-neesan’s guidance.
「 Although, I don’t think that we should think what’s behind the scenes 」
I can sense it.
「 You know, can’t you just peek into Kouzuki-sama’s mind with your mysterious power or something? 」
Torii-san asks Yomi.
「 We swore not to do that with Kouzuki-sama 」
Yomi said with a sullen tone.
「 We’re receiving Kouzuki-sama’s protection and so we can’t be rude to him. We try not to get close to Kouzuki-sama as much as possible 」
Oh right. Earlier;
Jii-chan sat down on Yomi and Ruriko’s table.
Yomi made sure to take distance and he never looked at Jii-chan in the eye.
Tsukiko, Luna, and Koyomi-chan do the same.
Also, the girls with the Miko power from the Takakura house always look at each other’s minds.
If there’s a girl with an unstable mind, someone will always follow up.
They also report to me.
If their power goes to a rampage and their mind collapsed, it could repeat the disaster like with Yomi’s mother and Koyomi-chan’s mother.
Both of their mothers took along their husbands and a lot of people to their deaths.
Especially Yomi and the girls, they fear that our family will become affected by their rampage.
「 Jii-chan’s right, we have to do something about this on our own. Peeking into Jii-chan’s mind would be cheating, right? That’s not okay 」
I told Torii-san.
◇ ◇ ◇
Knock. Knock.
Misuzu knocks the door.
Then, she unlocks the electronic door.
「 Kurama-san, we’re coming in 」
We enter the room where the Kurama sisters and Mizushima Karen-san stays in.
「 We’ve come to bring in your meal 」
「 In here 」
Yomi and Edie push the wagon in.
Torii-san and I enter the room after them.
I closed the door, and it locked electronically.
Just like private rooms in the hotel, this has an auto-lock.
「 Misuzu-sama 」
The Kurama sisters haven’t changed since yesterday.
Misato-san looks afraid and Arisu-san, her little sister, embraces her.
Karen-san sits on the sofa facing the sisters.
「 Karen, where’s your greeting for Danna-sama? 」
Misuzu asks Karen-san.
「 Ah, I’m very sorry. Good morning, Kuromori-sama 」
Err, it’s already past noon, but oh well.
「 Yeah. You seem lively, Karen-san 」
「 Y-Yes 」
But not too much.
「 How about Kurama-san 」
I asked, but Misato-san and Arisu-san don’t respond.
The two are looking down.
「 Feel free to eat lunch 」
Misuzu said with a smile.
「 No, uhm, my sister and I have no appetite 」
Arisu-san replies for her sister, but…
「 Ruriko made this lunch. Is Kurama-san saying that you don’t find the meals Ruriko made palatable? 」
To be precise, Yomi and Yoshiko-san did it together, and Agnes and the other girls helped out too.
But, let’s not say that.
The young ladies of nobility can’t refuse the meal handmade by Kouzuki Ruriko.
「 I-I’ll take it 」
Karen-san speaks first.
「 Misato-oneesama, shall we dine in as well? 」
Arisu-san asks her sister.
「 R-Right, Arisu 」
The elder accepts.
「 Then give us a moment 」
Yomi opens the rice cooker and pot and prepares Hayashi rice on plates.1
「 We have salad and water here 」
Edie places the meals on the room table.
「 Enjoy your meal here 」
Misuzu has the presence of a landlady right now.
「 Ah, yes 」
The three imprisoned young ladies sit down on the table.
「 Danna-sama, this way. Torii-san, please sit over there 」
Misuzu gives instructions and we take our seat.
「 We have coffee here. Do you drink coffee? 」
Oh, there’s also a coffee pot in the wagon.
「 Then, please. What about Torii-san? 」
「 I’ll take it 」
「 Got it~ 」
Edie enjoys playing as a waitress.
Yeah, Yomi’s also behaving like a servant.
「 Go ahead. Enjoy your meals. We’ll tell Ruriko your impressions later. She’s curious about it 」
Misuzu asks the three to eat their meals with the pretext that they have to tell Ruriko their impressions.
「 Y-Yes, thank you for the meal 」
Karen-san holds the spoon.
「 Let’s eat as well, Misato-oneesama 」
「 Yes, Arisu 」2
「 Thank you for the meal, Misuzu-sama 」
「 Thank you for the meal 」
The Kurama sisters also started eating.